Farming out major 16-bit franchises to western devs for revival

[Yoshi]

Sonic Team shouldn't count as a developer. The entire staff sucks.

Fixed.

[kedawa]

They were all developed in Hungary by Novotrade/Appaloosa.

For some reason I just assumed the 16-bit games were developed internally by Sega.

[NeoZeedeater]

Doesn't count unless you cross an ocean.

Maybe not but I used examples from Quebec. Their games have traditionally resembled European games more than the rest of the continent.

I attribute this to European game design styles becoming more popular and widely imitated in North America and, to a lesser extent, the console market starting to embrace traditionally PC-centric game design that the Europeans have always favored somewhat.

I don't know that most gamers have ever been terribly aware of whether they were playing a European or American game, though. Even today, I doubt many people realize that GTA is UK-developed.

I attribute it partly to the decline of 2d. Euro art was more easily noticeable when handdrawn. And today, a lot of games like GTA take place in the US with American voice actors, and so they obviously seem American.

[Yoshi]

Maybe not but I used examples from Quebec. Their games have traditionally resembled European games more than the rest of the continent.

I once heard a senior level Canadian manager ask, "International? Does that mean everybody but Quebec?"

[Frogacuda]

For some reason I just assumed the 16-bit games were developed internally by Sega.

Probably because the developer name didn't appear anywhere in the game outside of the credits. It was confusing back then.

I attribute it partly to the decline of 2d. Euro art was more easily noticeable when handdrawn. And today, a lot of games like GTA take place in the US with American voice actors, and so they obviously seem American.

I can think of early 3D European games that were like that, too. Driver comes to mind.

I do know what you mean about the art style being distinct in the 2D days, but it isn't entirely the shift to 3D that eliminated it. I think that style has has become a bit gauche even in Europe. Games like Shadow of the Beast, Lionheart, and Out of this World bled European style, but I'm pretty sure that style is the European equivalent of parachute pants at this point.

[NeoZeedeater]

Ecco had "developed by Novotrade" on the title screen.

[Frogacuda]

Well nevermind me then. Still not as noticable as a big developer ID screen.

[Beefy Hits]

The F-Chan in me cries knowing the whites are catching up to the Japanese in game design.

[bbobb]

Catching up? They've bypassed em.

[Frogacuda]

Catching up? They've bypassed em.

It really seems like Japan just gave up on this new generation consoles. Maybe that's why they all bought Wiis.

I think eventually Japan is going to break down and start playing Western games more, and when they do, I think they'll kick into gear with their own ideas again. Right now they've just cut themselves off and decided they don't want to evolve.