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Gaming => General Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: Kori-Maru on December 09, 2012, 01:05:23 pm

Title: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Kori-Maru on December 09, 2012, 01:05:23 pm
I don't know how I am going to explain this in detail but...

Something bugs me about Sega West. I've notice a lot of people complaining that their not advertising their games that well like SOJ's Binary Domain and currently no news about the Western release of PSO2 which is due for a release in early 2013. But in Japan, they have multiple ads. I've also noticed that Sega West is lacking JRPG and tactical games on their list like Valkyria Chronicles and Sakura Taisen. It's like as if the company isn't even trying to bring SOJ games with full attention other than Sonic. What's the deal?

Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Trippled on December 09, 2012, 02:02:09 pm
I don't blame Sega West not bringing over those JRPG Anime games, like the 7th Dragon and the Shining games.

But yeah Sega West can't do nothing about games not being brought over. Sega Japan think way too Japan-centric, which includes like Marketing budget only being limited to Japan etc.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Kori-Maru on December 09, 2012, 02:12:31 pm
Shenmue is Japan-centric. In fact, I like the Japan-centric games that Sega makes.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Trippled on December 09, 2012, 02:35:08 pm
Shenmue is Japan-centric. In fact, I like the Japan-centric games that Sega makes.

Now personally, I think Shenmue was a little more global intented, than Yakuza is.

Now I don't think they should make games "more American" or something. But lately they have been definitly been making more Anime/Otaku style RPG's than they ever have.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Sharky on December 09, 2012, 03:34:38 pm

My favourite Sega studio right now is with out a shadow of a doubt Creative Assembly. I'm excited about their future games too. Rome 2, Aliens and WarHammer aka Fantasy Total War? sign me up!
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Kori-Maru on December 09, 2012, 04:59:45 pm
I'm starting to miss Sega of Japan's older studios. Looks like AM2 & AM3/Yakuza studio is still kicking around.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Aki-at on December 09, 2012, 05:59:41 pm
I'm starting to miss Sega of Japan's older studios. Looks like AM2 & AM3/Yakuza studio is still kicking around.

AM3 is not Yakuza studio. AM3 is Hitmaker + SEGA Rosso. Yakuza studio is part of the consumer division.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Kori-Maru on December 09, 2012, 06:54:29 pm
AM3 is not Yakuza studio. AM3 is Hitmaker + SEGA Rosso. Yakuza studio is part of the consumer division.
Your right, I meant to say AM4 (Amusement Vision) that later went on to become Yakuza Studio.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Barry the Nomad on December 09, 2012, 08:57:47 pm
SEGA of Japan should change to "SEGA East", and the worldwide meetings could be dubbed "East Meets West".
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: DJaw on December 09, 2012, 09:31:38 pm
I think SEGA east isn't that great anymore. I hope SEGA west keeps growing and make great games, and Sumo Digital can make sonic game.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Barry the Nomad on December 10, 2012, 08:06:05 am
I think SEGA east isn't that great anymore. I hope SEGA west keeps growing and make great games, and Sumo Digital can make sonic game.

Welcome to the forums! I have to ask you to infuse a little more substance into your posts.

Sumo Digital has not made a good Sonic game ever... they have made great racing games, but never a Sonic game. And to be honest, I wouldn't want them to make a Sonic game. They don't have experience making platformers. 
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Happy Cat on December 10, 2012, 09:33:00 am
SEGA West has good games studios that make good games, examples being Three Rings and Creative Assembly.

What does bother me about SEGA West though is their marketing. I really don't like the way they are treating PSO2, acting like it basically doesn't exist right now. They could at least post some small updates on facebook pso2 page
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: STORM! on December 10, 2012, 09:33:34 am
  Sega West is almost dead, Sega Japan is almost dead too.

 Sega West is fully controlled by Japan now, and I'm near to kick Sega from my life if they don't stop this shitty mobile telephone things.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Centrale on December 10, 2012, 10:07:14 am
What does bother me about SEGA West though is their marketing. I really don't like the way they are treating PSO2, acting like it basically doesn't exist right now. They could at least post some small updates on facebook pso2 page

I think you hit upon the main thing that bothers me about Sega West, although not just in regards to PSO2 but in regards to every game.  They make no effort to leverage the fact that their Western fans already know, within a day or so, everything that Sega of Japan has announced.  Sega is a global company in the 21st century, but they seem to want to continue to act like separate regional companies in the pre-internet 20th century.  They want to manage expectations in a way that is no longer possible, and in doing so they usually just end up making fans who know what's going on overseas angry, by being silent and refusing to address questions about if and when they're going to be bringing titles over.  In this way they make it clear that they consider their primary audience to be relatively uninformed consumers, and they do little or nothing to acknowledge and show appreciation to their long-time fans.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Kori-Maru on December 10, 2012, 11:43:41 am
I think you hit upon the main thing that bothers me about Sega West, although not just in regards to PSO2 but in regards to every game.  They make no effort to leverage the fact that their Western fans already know, within a day or so, everything that Sega of Japan has announced.  Sega is a global company in the 21st century, but they seem to want to continue to act like separate regional companies in the pre-internet 20th century.  They want to manage expectations in a way that is no longer possible, and in doing so they usually just end up making fans who know what's going on overseas angry, by being silent and refusing to address questions about if and when they're going to be bringing titles over.  In this way they make it clear that they consider their primary audience to be relatively uninformed consumers, and they do little or nothing to acknowledge and show appreciation to their long-time fans.
Exactly the point I was looking for. Another thing that's funny, they've only announced the Model 2 Collection on their blogs, but not on Facebook and Twitter.
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: Nameless 24 on December 10, 2012, 04:47:57 pm
I wouldn't give SEGA East the benefit either...didn't they force many Shining fans to take down their Shining Force III play-throughs? I can understand SEGA West's lack of advertising being frustrating, but let's not forget who calls the shots.

SEGA West can only do what their budget is allowed them to do....I am sure some of the employees want to promote them as best as they can, but they are pretty much tied to the budget....I bet you if SEGA Japan gave them the budget close to Sonic advertisement levels they'd do a very good job at it...but as it stands...both divisions have little money to promote the games.

We know Yakuza will do well based on the fanbase alone, so those resources are never given to the Yakuza franchise since it has word of mouth...but their experimental games such as Binary Domain and Rhythm Thief needed that boost.

SEGA Europe isn't any better in terms of advertising the games either, but I at least seen some adverts on Transformed (despite not being very common on TV).

I hope SEGA Japan start to make money now, and start advertising their games globally rather then segmenting their games....this is one of the reasons why the Japanese Industry is bad....they don't make their games available to everyone (I am sure Otaku/Weeaboos would appreciate the effort...since their own region wouldn't make enough on the game these days) whereas the west have been pretty good giving the Japanese their games translated (you rarely see a western game not released in Japan bar Transformed, they may not sell great, but it's an effort).
Title: Re: Sega West vs. Sega of Japan
Post by: jonboy101 on December 12, 2012, 12:20:40 am
Welcome to the forums! I have to ask you to infuse a little more substance into your posts.

Sumo Digital has not made a good Sonic game ever... they have made great racing games, but never a Sonic game. And to be honest, I wouldn't want them to make a Sonic game. They don't have experience making platformers.

Of course, experience isn't everything. Sonic Team went almost a decade without making a good game, much less a good platformer.