Streaming

SEGA Japan officially allows Japanese users to monetize videos on YouTube and Twitch

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SEGA Japan has released new streaming guidelines for Japanese audiences, which will now allow individual users to monetize videos and streams of SEGA owned games through YouTube and Twitch.

Its actually kinda crazy that SEGA didn’t allow this before considering how games like Yakuza got huge brand awareness in the West due to streamers and YouTubers making videos on the games. But it seems that SEGA in the past allowed users to create videos, but not profit from them. It seems that SEGA is also encouraging players to add reaction faces and comments, but also asking for spoiler tags on videos that ruin story moments. They have also asked not to do unrelated edits that would obscure actual gameplay, which seems a bit vague?

This whole guideline sadly isn’t applying to Atlus or western developed titles such as Total War, but if its a success for SEGA; we can all assume this will all change.

[Via: Siliconera]

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SEGA News Bits: Phantasy Star Online 2 Cloud Announced For Nintendo Switch, What Is It?

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Just the other day SEGA announced Phantasy Star Online 2 Cloud for the Nintendo Switch, via the Japanese Nintendo Direct. On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we will discuss what separates Phantasy Star Online 2 Cloud from the regular versions, our thoughts on lack of SEGA exclusives for the Nintendo Switch and our overall opinion on how Phantasy Star Online 2 missed its ability to release in the West. Give the episode a gander and let us know what you think of this announcement in the comments below.

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a like so it shows up on more like minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

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Puyo Puyo Tetris won’t have video restrictions in the West

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Puyo Puyo Tetris Switch screenshot
SEGA has reached out to us via email concering the story we posted about Puyo Puyo Tetris‘ Japanese video and streaming restrictions. One of the concerns we had was that the western release of the game would be liable to the same sort of regressive rules and SEGA & Atlus’ William Chan had this to say about Puyo Puyo Tetris’ video content rules:

“We highly encourage our American and European fans to stream Puyo Puyo Tetris when it comes out (there are no PS4 share button restrictions). We want them to share their experiences with the world, but we do ask them to please be conscious of revealing Adventure Mode story cutscenes.”

Of course I had to ask for him to be more specific on what he meant about being conscious regarding streaming Adventure Mode, which seemed to be the big thing that SEGA Japan was restricting. William Chan responded:

“Not going to be restricted. Just want people to be aware that there are story spoilers if they stream it.”

I feel like niche titles, like Puyo Puyo Tetris, really benefit from word of mouth and friends recommended the game. While some might argue that streamers could hurt penitential sales, I disagree. I feel that they garner a huge gaming audience due to their personality and them playing obscure titles help those titles succeed with a new audience that might not have known about the game in the first place. What is your take on SEGA Japan vs SEGA West in terms of how they are handling online video content with their products? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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SEGA Japan shares Puyo Puyo Tetris video and streaming restrictions

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PuyoPuyoTetrisSEGA Japan shared their restrictions for content creators regarding Puyo Puyo Tetris, which is getting a port over there on Nintendo Switch. I’ll be honest with you, these sort of restrictions are really bad for the SEGA brand and they need to drop them. Period. Wait till you read their restrictions for Puyo Puyo Tetris, you’ll love it.

  •  Videos of any gameplay can’t be posted for profit unless the website you upload it to already has a mechanism for copyright take downs.
  • Nothing from Adventure mode, or replays from Adventure mode can be uploaded.
  • Any other modes can be uploaded as long as you follow the first rule.
  • You cannot modify the SEGA watermark that gets slapped on videos recorded using the XB1/PS4 share feature, you need to accompany every video you post with the copyright notice.

I’m unsure as to who are setting these rules, considering that Puyo Puyo Tetris is using the Tetris Company copyrights, but seeing that Persona 5 has equally stupid policies like this… who knows? Notice that I said above that this is SEGA Japan, according Sam Mullen this isn’t reflective of SEGA America PR. But he also didn’t say that the Western release wouldn’t have these sorts of restrictions.

If this is an issue that is out of SEGA’s hands, due to using the Tetris license; then they need to come out and say it. I think the gaming community has a very negative image of these sort of restrictions and I feel like SEGA as a brand needs all the healthy PR they can get.  What are your thoughts on Puyo Puyo Tetris‘ streaming and video creation restrictions? Let us know in the comments below.

[Update] SEGA America PR has responded, these restrictions don’t apply to America and European release. [/Update]

[Source: Puyo.Sega.JP]

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SEGA adds more gaming soundtracks to Spotify

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SEGASoundtracksSEGA adds more gaming soundtracks to Spotify for your listening pleasure. It seems that SEGA is going to continue to add more in the upcoming months? I sure hope so. But as of right now, there are a ton of new SEGA soundtracks to feast your teeth into. Here are some of the franchises that got soundtracks added to the music streaming service:

  • Fantasy Zone
  • NiGHTS 
  • Out Run
  • Virtua Fighter
  • Skies of Arcadia
  • Chain Chronicle
  • Shinobi/Nightshade
  • Space Harrier
  • Rhythm Thief 
  • Gunblade NY & L.A. Machineguns
  • Power Drift
  • Alex Kidd

There are more here and there. Want to have a gander yourself? Check out SEGA’s artist page on Spotify. It does seem that this was done by SEGA Japan, only because there are some very Japanese focused soundtracks like Chain Chronicle (never published outside of Japan by SEGA) and Nightshade is using its Japanese name of Kunoichi. SEGA adds more gaming soundtracks to Spotify, does this mean you will be less likely to get a physical version of these soundtracks? Personally I think people that stream, where going to stream it regardless. What soundtrack is missing that you want? Sound off in the comments.

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