Swingin’ Report Show #30: SEGA – Ten Years of First-Rate Third-Party Games

This week on the Swingin’ Report Show we celebrate SEGA’s 10 year anniversary as a third-party publisher. George, Barry the Nomad, Nuckles87, and Shigs discuss great third-party SEGA titles like Jet Set Radio Future, Panzer Dragoon Orta and even Outrun 2. But don’t worry we also discuss stinkers like Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 06 and Virtua Quest. Sit back and get a large drink, this is going to be a long one.

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This is a special edition show in which we forego news and talk about SEGA’s ten years as a third-party developer. While yes, it has been eleven years since SEGA made the announcement of the transition, SEGA truly became a full-on third-party dev to Westerners when the last Dreamcast game NHL2k2 released in America on February 14, 2002. The last PAL Dreamcast game, Evil Twin, released on April 12, 2002. After that, it was either import incomprehensible Japanese Dreamcast games or find a new system.

===INTRODUCTION===
• What have we been up to and what have we been playing?

===THE SHOW===

2001
• January 31 SEGA of America announces becoming a third-party software publisher
• Chu Chu Rocket (Game Boy Advance) – SEGA’s first third party game
• Super Monkey Ball (Gamecube) – first major new IP for consoles

2002
• Shenmue 2 (XBOX), Headhunter (PS2) – Dreamcast holdovers
• Sonic Advance (GBA)
• Shinobi (PS2)
• Virtua Fighter 4 (PS2), Jet Set Radio Future (XBOX) – Exciting NEW games!

2003
• Panzer Dragoon Orta (XBOX)
• Astro Boy: Omega Factor (GBA)
• Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (PS2)

2004
• Sonic Heroes (all platforms, all regions)
• OutRun 2 (XBOX)
• Puyo Pop Fever (all platforms) – last SEGA developed Dreamcast title in Japan

2005
• Shadow the Hedgehog (all platforms)
• Sonic Rush (DS)
• Spikeout: Battle Street (XBOX) – Dimps developed successor to a ’98 arcade classic

2006
• Sonic the Hedgehog (360, PS3)
• Phantasy Star Universe (360, PS3)
• Yakuza (PS2) – the epic franchise begins!

2007
• Virtua Fighter 5 Online (360)
• Virtua Tennis 3 (all platforms) – Sumo takes on a popular franchise
• Crush (PSP)

2008
• Sonic Unleashed (360, PS3)
• Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
• Sega Superstars Tennis (all platforms)

2009
• MadWorld (Wii)
• The House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii)
• Empire: Total War (PC) – Talkin’ Creative Assembly

2010
• Sonic Colors (Wii), Sonic 4 Episode 1 (all platforms)
• Bayonetta (360, PS3)
• Yakuza 3 (PS3) – first HD title!

2011
• Sonic Generations (360, PS3)
• Shinobi (3DS)
• Quality digital releases reign – Sonic CD, Guardian Heroes, Daytona USA, Space Channel 5 Part 2

2012
• Discussing whats to come: console releases, digital releases, Platinum Games titles, the future

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