Sega On Classic IPs: "We Need To Deliver A Good Product"
See Full ImageThere was a time when Sega was king of the world...or at least co-king along with Nintendo. One could argue Sega was definitely the king of the arcade but, either way, those days are long gone.
Every now and then, we catch a flash of that former brilliance from the long-time developer and publisher but for the most part, Sega has produced some seriously underwhelming titles this generation. Our ol' blue buddy has suffered more than anyone, but don't think they're not aware of such lagging. Sega made a very bold statement to CVG; essentially saying they won't allow their classic IPs to be used in below-par games again. They're trying to simply "do better" with the PS3 and Xbox 360, and as Sega West boss Mike Hayes says, 2010 could mark the year of the turnaround. They've started well, what with Bayonetta scoring extremely high and topping sales charts (it was developed by Platinum Games, but at least Sega had their name on it), but most will agree that Aliens vs. Predator fell well short of the intended mark. Not that it didn't sell well (oddly enough), but that's beside the point. When old and respected IPs, like Sonic and Golden Axe suffer, it's just painful. Said Hayes:
"It's important that on our old IP that is respected, we need to deliver a good product. And in some instances we have done that - look back at when we re-did Sega Rally. It scored well and was moderately successful commercially. But then with other great franchises like Golden Axe we didn't produce a great game at all.
Going forward, if we're going to look at any existing IP to bring out the locker, we have to make sure we get the quality to a level we now expect. I'm not saying which IP it would be - a Streets Of Rage, a Crazy Taxi, whatever. What we have to do now is build something that is 85 per cent plus [rated]. We can't just get away with PR."
No, no you can't just get away with PR. Maybe that's why you're finally giving us a true-blue 2D Sonic with Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. And when you unveil the return of yet another classic IP, we're going to hold you to these statements. No more games that make us look to the past and go, "damn, what happened to you, Sega?"
3/17/2010 10:38:58 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (35 posts)
daus26
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:25:24 PM
Super Mario 64 and Donkey Kong 64 was one of the best transition from 2-D to 3-D. Sonic just doesn't seem right for 3-D and I think that's because of the gameplay mechanics of speeding through a level while collecting rings and whatnot. Mario and Donkey Kong worked probably because they're true adventure games.
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Naztycuts
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:12:33 AM
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They knew this! They have testers! I will never understand how they let some of their games out the door in the condition they are in, they knew the PS3 Bayonetta was suffering but SONY had to make the patch, I dont care if they do start making better quality games they should have been doing that to begin with.
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Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:05:17 PM
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With the absolutely stunning Yakuza 3 out in the west and 4 ready in the east, talks of Shen 3, true Sonic sequel...it all seems well.
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Ultimadream
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:13:33 PM
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Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 1:12:36 PM
Basically, Sega are willing to do it but, they want a publisher to make it exclusive i.e. Sony or MS.
If sony landed that........
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Scarecrow
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:24:09 PM
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Yakuza 3 is a great start
Love Sega Rally Revolution (pure quality)
This new Sonic game sounds good
And their SEGA All Star Racing game is selling well (at least in the UK). I plan on getting it sometime.
So yes, they're making quality games these days ('bout time)
How 'bout Valkyria Chronicles on ps3 again? Might not have sold incredibly well, but it's a well rated game which with a sequel could really bring them some profits.
----
Skies of Arcadia....
How long must we wait for a sequel to that grandiose rpg...?
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FlyingKickPunch
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:30:10 PM
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anyways, make a new sword of vermilion!
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fluffer nutter
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:33:35 PM
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FlyingKickPunch
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:38:48 PM
Last edited by FlyingKickPunch on 3/17/2010 12:39:04 PM
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fluffer nutter
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:32:45 PM
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main_event05
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:19:33 PM
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vicious54
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:24:45 PM
Last edited by vicious54 on 3/17/2010 2:26:06 PM
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Ultimadream
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:03:17 PM
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main_event05
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:36:10 PM
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phade2blaq
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:26:00 PM
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There was a time when I looked forward to playing games made by either company but that all ended for me after Goldeneye on the N64 !
Too bad these two companies couldn't keep their foothold in the gaming world ! But they did provide some great times back in the day !
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ColTater
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:36:36 PM
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main_event05
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:42:54 PM
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BikerSaint
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:37:24 PM
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yeah, but I doubt the Sega will ever return back to making consoles again, seeing how they turned their backs on both, the Saturn & the Dreamcast, once other console maker's entered the picture.
I DO think that the Saturn, & especially the Dreamcast could have been so much more had they stuck it out for a few more years(BTW,I still own both systems & 118 games)
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ColTater
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:51:43 PM
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You truly are a nostalgia collector then aren't you? I had both those systems as well and countless games for both. When it was my mother buying them and not me growing up, it was a snap to have all the latest and greatest games, now that I have to buy them, I just can't do that anymore. Gamefly is a savior to me know. I think it is worth my $40 a month and me being able to run through and enjoy 8-10 PS3 games a month if I so desire. Although with all my new responsibilities as a 30 yr old new homeowner, my gaming time has significantlly decreased, so I average only 4-6 games a month now.
Besides, I am a one and done kind of gamer. Meaning when I get a new game, I put it on the hardest difficulty setting there is, and then set out to beat it. Once I'm done, I have no interest in investting more hours into the same thing again, unless it is great game to me such as Dead Space and the GOW series. Same reason why I don't watch the same movie more than once, unless I haven't seen it for 5-10 plus years.
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BikerSaint
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:24:29 PM
I
yeah, I'm a video games collector, so I've got about 18 systems & hand-helds, w/ over 1400 games(so far).
But being a collector has more downsides than it does upsides, especially when you're not a "rich" collector, LOL
So, in order for me to even make any kind of dent towards my collections, I usually buy my games in batches of 5 to 20 at at time.
And to do so, I have to wait till they're either, used at around a $20 range, or when there's a "buy2-get1 free" sale going on.
The biggest drawback is that I don't get too many games that are current. For example, I just recently picked up COD WAW & COD MW1 & just starting MW1's play-through now.
But since I don't do multi-player modes, I have no problem with waiting it out till the USED price does drop down, even if it's a year or two later.
And for those games that I'll never play(like sports), I just wait them out till they're in the $5 bargain bin, just to add into the collection too(picked up 7 PS3 older sports titles for less than $23 a month ago).
Last edited by BikerSaint on 3/17/2010 7:32:23 PM
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main_event05
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:39:35 PM
I don't know how many times I've played RE4.
Last edited by main_event05 on 3/17/2010 8:40:53 PM
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Arvis
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:52:02 PM
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It really doesn't matter at all if you "deliver a good product" but NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT. Resonance of Fate has not scored lower than an 8 from ANY source that has reviewed it so far, and yet nobody is going to buy it, and nobody in this comments section (or in the article itself!) has mentioned the game once in relation to a high-quality Sega title. AND EVERYONE HERE IS A HUGE RPG NERD!
Market your games. The internet did your job for you with Valkyria Chronicles. But don't expect us to do the work AGAIN.
And for the love of all that is good, DON'T RELEASE YOUR RPGS A WEEK AFTER FINAL FANTASY!
-Arvis
Last edited by Arvis on 3/17/2010 3:52:22 PM
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Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:13:03 PM
Having said that, Sega will have a hand in marketing so you are quite right.
I haven't looked up enough on RoF yet but, it's a purchase anyway because it's Tri-Ace working as a free agent so to speak.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 3/17/2010 4:14:52 PM
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piratedrunk
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:47:39 PM
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kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:23:38 AM
Have yo played resonance of fate? Is it fun, I've been on the fence, waiting for ben and arnolds review. I can't wait to read it, I'm getting more excited about this game more and more.
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Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 8:42:46 AM
Either way, the game seems really awesome, but not without a few flaws. However, all the reviews I've read make me very confident in my purchase. I can't wait until the game arrives in the mail!
-Arvis
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ColTater
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:02:21 PM
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They just aren't hungry enough anymore after they bowed out of the console business years ago.
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Imagi
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:54:46 PM
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iwillbetheone
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:39:05 PM
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___________
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:36:43 AM
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3 strikes and your out!
shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool me twice!
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kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:25:07 AM
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Let's see it sega.
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Darthvintage
Sunday, March 21, 2010 @ 12:28:44 PM
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If you are to bring any classic IP's back.
PLEASE. I Beg Of You!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!
BRING BACK JET SET RADIO
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Highlander
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 11:08:32 AM