Why is there a lack of SEGA Merchandise on the internet?

[Nameless 24]

I see many competitions from SEGA's official blogs, where you get a chance to win some SEGA Merchandise, however...what if I want to buy some of this with my hard earned money?

I have the Valkyria Chronicles Artbook on me thanks to UDON's hard efforts, and have pre-ordered one from Valkyria Chronicles 3 to support the game in any way I can, but the lack of general SEGA merchandise on the internet or the prices for most of the merchandise due to how low in numbers they make them is scary.

In comparison, I would say that Studio Ghibli have a similar audience to SEGA, but I can buy any plushie, poster, what have you anywhere on the internet or eBay for a good price. (I've checked as I have an interest in Ghibli films).

Why does SEGA have so little of their varied franchises as merchandise? I would love to buy an Aika or Alicia doll as long as they don't make about 3 that I have to "win".

I agree that some of their merchandise should be rare and only be given by competitions but for the most part. I would gladly buy this stuff.

Does anyone agree/disagree?

[Kori-Maru]

The only Sega themed merchandise I can think of are the Sega themed T shirts at Hot Topic awhile back. I actually own a few. There's was Shinobi, Sonic (Classic), and Golden Axe. I do kinda wish that Sega sell or give away more merchandises from other franchises other than Sonic, like the rare Virtua Fighter comic by Marvel or maybe a game from their console days.

[Nameless 24]

I don't mind T-Shirts and stuff, but I mean things like plushies and the like.

I know there's a Panzer Dragoon Saga mug you can get on eBay but that's just a heat transfer.

[upsidedown fuji]

It would be nice if SEGA had an online merchandise store for EU/US regions. I know I'd buy the standard SEGA logo t-shirt and something from Jet Set Radio like a hoodie.

[Barry the Nomad]

I always thought a SEGA.com shop would be awesome. Sell clothing, games, download codes, limited edition games, statues and (why not?) refurbished consoles. THey could have a third party do the distribution, or even hire an existing merchant to open a storefront for them.

[Nameless 24]

If Nintendo can do it, why not SEGA?

Yeah, they need some third party to do this kind of stuff.

They could even make a Sonic Pinball machine (in very limited quantities), and advertise to Pinball enthusiasts to have a look at it.

There's so much of SEGA' History they can make merchandise of it's unbelievable!

[ROJM]

I see many competitions from SEGA's official blogs, where you get a chance to win some SEGA Merchandise, however...what if I want to buy some of this with my hard earned money?

I have the Valkyria Chronicles Artbook on me thanks to UDON's hard efforts, and have pre-ordered one from Valkyria Chronicles 3 to support the game in any way I can, but the lack of general SEGA merchandise on the internet or the prices for most of the merchandise due to how low in numbers they make them is scary.

In comparison, I would say that Studio Ghibli have a similar audience to SEGA, but I can buy any plushie, poster, what have you anywhere on the internet or eBay for a good price. (I've checked as I have an interest in Ghibli films).

Why does SEGA have so little of their varied franchises as merchandise? I would love to buy an Aika or Alicia doll as long as they don't make about 3 that I have to "win".

I agree that some of their merchandise should be rare and only be given by competitions but for the most part. I would gladly buy this stuff.

Does anyone agree/disagree?

They do, Sega has a pretty big merchandise machine in Japan and that's the key word Japan. Another key point is that what you think is popular here like SKIES OF ARCADIA isn't as popular there, so you wouldn't get much merc based on that series even though there's a few plastic dolls or something similar. Anyway it got downsized nearly eight years ago and got turned into a joint venture with enterbrain. Dunno all i can say is SHINING has replaced SAKURA TAISEN as their big merc,(not down to popularity just because Sega shut down all Sakura Taisen stuff years ago but they recently started it up again)they also sell more DVDs on various arcade titles which is how to play to top challenge tournament specials and other things like OST Tshirts and other stuff. I just ordered my END OF ETERNITY THE SECRET HOURS item from them, good times.

  http://ebten.jp/sega/

http://ebten.jp/sega/

[Truesonic]

@ROJM: That link is great! Didn't know Sega had an online Japanese store!

But let's be honest with ourselves, if Sega of America/Europe had an online store it would be 99.9% filled with Sonic merchandise. There would be no other Sega IP representation there, since people these days think the only thing Sega has made since their departure from consoles is Sonic.

[ROJM]

Sega west is a strange beast. They can do merchandise as they have shown with the Ryo Fork lift truck for SASASR but they focused all their talent on making toys for the Hulk video games. Nothing wrong with that but these things aren't publically made known to all Sega fans, like you have in the Sega store. If they did not only would it be a good platform to sell special edition titles and promote them but they can also ship in certain titles from japan as well as being a good place to get OST of various Sega western titles.

[Barry the Nomad]

There already is an American Sonic store: http://www.sonicmerchandise.com/

So should a shop appear on SEGA.com, I don't think it would have to be so Sonic heavy since there already is a Sonic store. Ideally, Sonic Merchandise would expand and open a SEGA shop.

[ROJM]

There already is an American Sonic store: http://www.sonicmerchandise.com/

So should a shop appear on SEGA.com, I don't think it would have to be so Sonic heavy since there already is a Sonic store. Ideally, Sonic Merchandise would expand and open a SEGA shop.

But this reinforces the idea that Nameless and true sonic was hinting at, Sega being just about Sonic and nothing else. That's really the problem. Sega IMHO has really failed to centralised its fanbase ever since they became a third party again. Especially with all the assets that they had in the last decade, they could have connected under Sega.com and used it as the main portal just like Sega Japan does. But they didn't and half those assets like Gameworks are gone now. Chris bless him had a similar idea to do that with the old SN site but i'm not sure if it came off. its a shame that there is a lot less interaction with the various Sega fans of specific games like Sonic or Total War to the arcades. Sega west should have easily sorted this out if they did i dont think half of their big titles would have flopped as they did.

[Nameless 24]

Thank you for the links ROJM, I really appreciate that.

But yeah...it's a shame really as SEGA has so much to offer regarding their IPs...perhaps moreso then Nintendo!

I know Alex Kidd and Streets of Rage would sell well in the UK, same with Vectorman and Ristar in the US.

I think SEGA's HQ's could at least open up a small shop at the bottom of their respective buildings and get the word out that they are opening part of the building to the public.

[ROJM]

Thank you for the links ROJM, I really appreciate that.

But yeah...it's a shame really as SEGA has so much to offer regarding their IPs...perhaps moreso then Nintendo!

I know Alex Kidd and Streets of Rage would sell well in the UK, same with Vectorman and Ristar in the US.

I think SEGA's HQ's could at least open up a small shop at the bottom of their respective buildings and get the word out that they are opening part of the building to the public.

Nah they just need a warehouse to store the merchandise and open a website called like Sega Store USA that links to Sega.com just like Sega Japan does. Let's look at it this way. Capcom can sell lots of merchandise over here and japan and so can Konami and they dont have many franchises compared to Sega. even Guilty Gear can sell well over here. Are we seriously saying that ALL their games are well known than Sega's? We both know Sega merchandise sells well here because of the number of TOTAL WAR special packs they keep releasing. And yes if Sega printed T shirts based on half of the big genesis and the DC titles they would most likely sell like hotcakes. but yet again this demonstrates the lack of will that this company has had specifically towards the west. Platinum games said Sega didn't know what they had with their games. And the sad thing is its true, they dont but its not just with Platinum games its really with most of their franchises and assets they have no clue about unless its a big seller.That's why i've had it mostly with sega now, They dream big yet they mess up everytime by not exploiting what they've got. And in some cases giving it away. Anyway glad to be of help its really the best source for sega merch unless you go to Ebay or japanese model sites to get the older stuff.