New SEGA games and the return of SEGA AGES

[sggg]

Originally posted by opa-opa
Zillion was a licensed game based on an obscure 80's anime. I doubt that it can be revived....

Actually, Sega was involved in the anime. I am surprised you don't know this since it even co-starred none other than Opa Opa!

They also based the SMS gun on the Zillion gun - which was a bit strange since the gun was not used in either Zillion game.

Anyway, I am pretty sure Sega owns Zillion. It was not licensed.

[opa-opa]

yes, but no worse than, erm... Arc the Lad or Lunar 1/2 did when they came out.

Yeah, but when did they come out? 3 or 4 years ago? Can you still expect average people to buy Lunar 1/2 these days, even for $25?

Vic is thinking about the market as a whole, not just from the perspective of hardcore oldschool gamers like us.

[Diff-chan]

Originally posted by opa-opa
Yeah, but when did they come out? 3 or 4 years ago? Can you still expect average people to buy Lunar 1/2 these days, even for $25?

Vic is thinking about the market as a whole, not just from the perspective of hardcore oldschool gamers like us.

01. Doesnt Vic sell to hardcore oldschool gamers primarily? If Phantasy Star Remake is no good for the market "as a whole", then neither is Lunar 2 or Arc the Lad Collection.
02. Didnt Arc the Lad come out, like, in March?

The guy is off his rocker, no matter which way you slice it.

[opa-opa]

sggg:
Sorry, "licensed" was a bad choice of words. I know that Sega and Tatsunoko actually created the Zillion anime, but the fact is that the Zillion video games are based around an old obscure anime, and I doubt that reviving the "Zillion" name now in 2002 would make much sense.

[sggg]

The same could be said of Alex Kidd. But he's back....

The same could also have been said about Shinobi or Rygar.. but they're back too.

Yeh, the game is obscure and the license is not well known. But, it's still a great old game and it could still be made into a great new game. So, why not? Plus, considering the popularity of anime in 2002 compared to 1987.. there is all the more reason to bring it back. I don't see any reason why it could not be very popular if it was well made.

[opa-opa]

The thing is, what exactly do you mean by a new "Zillion" game.

If you just want a game that plays like Zillion, then that would be a good idea. I just don't think that it makes sense to make a new game just because you want a game with the "Zillion" name, like how you would make a new "Dragonball" game or "Starblazers" game.

Argh, I don't think I'm doing a good job of explaining....basically what I'm trying to say is, most old games are "revived" on the basis of the hype/nostalgia surrounding the characters or the name itself...ie there is a lot of nostalgia for characters like Shinobi, Rygar, etc...but I don't think most people really care about Apple, JJ, and Champ....

[Adrian]

I just think it's awesome that Sega is remembering its' past and hope that they treat it with dignity. The return of Shinobi, Outrun and the return of SEGA AGES. This Sega fan is happy and hopes there is more to come. Those 15 games are to come out in 2003 so hopefully there will be more to come in 2004 and beyond.

[sggg]

Originally posted by opa-opa
The thing is, what exactly do you mean by a new "Zillion" game.

If you just want a game that plays like Zillion, then that would be a good idea. I just don't think that it makes sense to make a new game just because you want a game with the "Zillion" name, like how you would make a new "Dragonball" game or "Starblazers" game.

Argh, I don't think I'm doing a good job of explaining....basically what I'm trying to say is, most old games are "revived" on the basis of the hype/nostalgia surrounding the characters or the name itself...ie there is a lot of nostalgia for characters like Shinobi, Rygar, etc...but I don't think most people really care about Apple, JJ, and Champ....

All the more reason why it would be a good game. It would have do be a quality title - not a cheap license. Then it's success would be based on merit.

As for what kind of game? Well, I would love to see Zillion get the same treatment that Phantasy Star and Space Harrier are getting in this new "3D Ages" series.... but even better than that would be an all new game based on the existing series. Not using the name for the sake of it, but building a brand new sequel based entirely on the gameplay of Zillion 1 for SMS. I think the game would translate incredibly well to 3D if you use your imagination. You could have a vast underground maze complex. You can have the computer codes and the pods you had to fond and destroy where you could download data strings from. You could have stealth gameplay from powerful enemies, Power ups like the goggles that can help you see the alarm beams...

The game should be made not because I am nostalgic, but because it would be a great game and between the gameplay I described and the popularity of anime-style these days I think it would have a pretty good chance for commercial success.

[opa-opa]

But what I'm saying is, the fact that it is such an obscure name, doesn't make much sense for Sega to try to revive it. It has nothing to do with the quality of the original game. I have nothing against Sega reviving the gameplay of the original Zillion, but I just don't think it's worth the trouble of reviving the actual Zillion name itself.

I agree with you that an updated Zillion with the same SMS version's gameplay would kickass, but the simple fact that it would be quite an effort to make a quality game like that, makes it even less sense for Sega to stick such an obscure and outdated license on it.

If Sega was going to take the effort to make a great game like that, I don't think it helps them much to attach an obscure name and cast of characters like Zillion's onto it. Might as well create a whole new name/characters/storyline for it.

Yeah, I know anime style games are cool. But I doubt that an anime like Zillion would still be considered "cool" these days. A bunch of teenagers with 80's style outfits and a cheesy rayguns? Stuff like that went out of style with Power Rangers years ago.

[Jeremy]

Maybe their out of style is coming back.