The strange thing is outside of entertainment, Japan in general is still a massive global leader in several markets. Audio-Technica, Wacom, Honda etc are all top quality companies. I suppose the difference is Japan's other industry have adapted to ensure their products have a global appeal, whilst their entertainment products are designed first at being suitable for the Japanese marketplace and then the world.
It does sure seem that way, although it's surprising how Sony's lost most of their marketshare to Samsung within a few years.
Actually majority of SEGA's software sales come from Europe and America. Whilst it's true they get a bigger share of the revenue in Japan, the fact that they have 4 multi-million sellings IPs (And own the license to 2 more) means their Western core gaming sales outpace their Japanese ones. It really is smartphone gaming that is giving SEGA their bulk of their money in Japan, simply because it is the biggest part of the market.
Indeed, I read somewhere that the younger generation don't get enough money in wages like us or Americans so their entertainment is coming from the Mobile Segment? it wouldn't surprise me that they shifted to that platform due to those problems.
Fan fact, the team that developed Sonic Unleashed was mostly made of new employees. Really what they need is good producers, something they have been seriously lacking. Iizuka is okay to good but often seems out of his depth. He has done well steadying the ship but that's about it I believe, they need a better producer taking care of the Sonic franchise.
Ah I see! Then the producers are the problem then, or a lack of leadership or maybe perhaps a lack of higher subordinates. Either way, you'd think that SEGA could highlight those that show potential like they did in the 90s.
Depends which country and at what time of year. Also all sales for their PC centric titles might not show up in charts due to digital sales eg Rome II did 30,000 in the UK in packaged sales for the first week but factoring in digital sales pushes it to above 100,000 units. However in Japan digital sales often amount to little less than 5% of total sales.
Also true, but I can't help but think that SEGA's rep has been tarnished with the gamers (at least those in the know). General customers are happy to buy a game that just happens to have SEGA on it, but for the gaming audience...they tend to waver.
It is true most of the money is generated from Sammy but we know that Nagoshi pushed for the acquisition of Relic so it's not like SEGA do not have access to the money pot.
Another interesting point. I wonder if he's looking into other studios at this point?
State of the industry I'm afraid. EA was producing 68 games in 2008, by 2014 they only have 14 games I believe.
And that is why I am losing the interest to game. So many things are making it more in line with the Movie/Music Industries which happened to have the same effects on the dedicated fanbases as well.
SEGA's Western arm is making a killing, right now their Japanese packaged sales are hurting but the success of Phantasy Star Online 2 and their iOS games is ensuring that division is making a profit, at least for now but I'd imagine the fact they have Atlus now will only further strengthen their grip in Japan long term.
You'd think that SEGA West would invest some of the money into SEGA Japan's efforts like what's going on over at Japan Studio (Sony), but it doesn't seem to look that way.
I think they have been doing quite well in the charts in Japan and selling much more than 10k units on their bigger games, though Im no expert right now Aki's chart summeries always seem quite positive! And as they are regularly making an overall profit I think they must be doing something right!
I'm not saying they are number 1 on Steam, but they have more games up there than most western publishers and by far more than any other Japanese publisher. Which is a very good thing for me as I'm really not interested in Games Consoles at the moment.
The arcade industry is dying, that is for sure but I'm happy that Sega can still make a profit from it and really are the last big publisher keeping it afloat. I think if Sega dropped Arcades suddenly it would leave a huge hole.
I don't really see much difference between Sega and Sammy at this point, it was a merge the money pot is held by a joined company. But it was definitely Sega which bid for and bought Atlus, regardless of who's money they were using.
I understand that SEGA's in a much better position than most Companies in Japan (even Ninty and Sony), but I don't see how they're going to expand their existing sales/fanbase in the near future.
I could be wrong of course! (I hope I am as I'm a SEGA fan!)
I agree with SEGA dropping the market would indeed be a great loss, since they're the big ones in that market. However, they need to try and get some of those games onto home consoles in the west if they're reluctant to release the arcade cabinets. I am sure that SEGA Vintage Collection would help them once more.
Overall, the profits make for good reading, and I trust that Aki knows this much more than we do. I just have little concerns over some of their markets.
