SEGAbits Forums
Gaming => General Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: SaturnineNights on July 07, 2012, 05:21:59 pm
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SEGA seems to be in the process of repositioning itself as a digital distributor (SEGA Networks), and seems to be devoting more attention to their back catalog (SEGA Heritage). Do you think this is a smart move, and what would be your dream release from SEGA Heritage?
For me, a Panzer Dragoon collection would be really nice. I know PDS is never going to get a rerelease, but the first two would be wonderful. Also, Burning Rangers would be great, it's never really gotten its due.
Some of the North American first-party releases would be nice too, Mr. Bones and Astal (That's NA, right?) are really fun games. Oh, and Shenmue would be sorta neat, I guess... ;)
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Digital is a smart move, but they should not solely rely on "old" games, this would be a disastrous move in the long run when they find out they've ported everything and nothing is left to exploit anymore from their past. It should be combination of a solid retail business with solid titles (Perhaps the odd risks every once in a while) new digital releases and of course updated port.
For me though I am more interested in the arcade games that never came out here. This is not one I am sure many would care about, but it's one I want to see released since it was Yu Suzuki's last game he made at SEGA before he left.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRZ9_E2V8xY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tUm5BWTPYM
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My hopes, honestly... none that I can think off.
There's a treasure trove of goodies from the late 90's that SEGA can and should capitilize. But that's up to the suits over at SEGA-Sammy.
I would be all for marching in and demanding an HD re-release of Skies of Arcadia. Shenmue, OK, I'm not not going to touch that, not for one second.
There's a bunch of stuff that I want to see...
Hopefully, a third Sonic 4 episode. Seeing what else SEGA could do with IPs like Hell Yeah, which hopefully will be sucessful.
But with the digital stuff, please at least give us the option to buy boxed copies of SEGA's digital releases.
I just hope they don't give up on the large scale tentpole projects either. The world needs Binary Domain, it needs Yakuza games, it needs a major HD Sonic game, it needs bigger titles that stand out. It needs JRPGs.
Port Gameboy Advance games to Android/iPhone. I would love to play an Android version of Shining Force: The Ressurection of Dark Dragon.
That's all I'm asking...
As with everything else: Hope for best... Expect the worst.
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I like it. The Sega Heritage line is a perfect way to drum up interest in old IP's to make them relevant for continuing the series down the road.
Think about it, would a new Jet Set Radio sell well now, or after they remind everyone why it was great to start with through the HD remake?
Ditto with Panzer Dragoon, Burning Rangers, Nights, and of course Shenmue!
Hopefully, this means some of the Genesis era IP's will get some of the 'Bionic Commando' treatment in the way of HD remakes with enhanced graphics and sound. Alien Soldier, anyone?
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I'd love to see:
Dynamite Dekka/Die Hard Arcade (Saturn)
Panzer Dragoon/Zwei/Saga (Saturn)
The House of the Dead (arcade)
Ollie King (arcade)
Rambo (arcade)
and pretty much whatever other arcade titles that haven't seen a home release.
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It's pretty obvious what I want: More PC, I want VF 5: FS on PC the most right now though. In terms of hopes I'd love to see Sega restart Heat.net in a newer modern form, or something like that.
Obviously anticipating a western launch date for PSO 2 as well, that's POing me.
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PSO2 outside Japan, some classic re-releases (particular some of those hard to get Saturn titles like Panzer Dragon Saga or Burning Rangers), and some new IP experimentation.
edit: Off to a good start.
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I'm all for Digital Sega! Based on the recent re-released classics like Guardian Heroes, After Burner Climax, REZ HD, Daytona USA, Sonic CD, Virtua Fighter 5: FS, Space Channel 5 :P2, House of the Dead 4 and even Monster World 4 translated etc not to mention Jet Set Radio and NiGHTS on the way. Digital Sega is best Sega.
I'm totally down for more of this, Segas classic games are the reason we are all Sega fans, if they are all brought back as lovingly as these have been I'm so down for it. Even more so if it means theres a possibility of a sequal!
As Aki said, I would also love to see perfect console ports of Arcade games we never got. I'm looking at Ollie King, Wild Riders, 2Spicy, Virtua Cop 3, Shining Force Cross Raid and of course Border Break! (many more too)
Then there is the new releases, I /loved/ Renegade Ops, I want more! I'm also very excited about The Cave as Monkey Island has always been one of my favourite non-Sega series. I would like Sega to get behind some of the best indie games plus release some new AAA games for digital, like PSO2.
Classic Game highlights I would love to see brought back for digital release:
Shenmue 1&2 (of course)
Skies of Arcadia
Panzer Dragoon, PD:Zwei, PD:Saga, PD Orta
O.TO.GI 1 & 2 - (loved these games so much.)
Shining Force 3 Part 1,2,3
Dragon Force 1,2
Valkyria Chronicles 3 (common Sega!)
Also, I've always drempt of an online version of Dragon Force where everyone plays togeather across a huge world creating kingdoms and battling each other for land. They kind of did this on the N-Gage with 'Pocket Kingdom' (anyone remember that?) but I want that idea brought back and revamped. Would be so awesome.
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I just don't really see the thrill of re-buying and re-playing games I've already owned and played. Though I guess I'm alone in that.
My hopes obviously are that Sega won't simply become Atari and rely almost entirely on their back catalogue for any sort of relevance or survival. I'd love to see a new Jet Set Radio game instead of just a port of an old one and I worry that smaller budgets for digital games would make full-on sequels to any of these (or at least sequels of the same/greater scope and quality) far less likely.
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Well my wishes are steam related mostly. I want final showdown on my pc, i want vanquish and resonance of fate On pc. I want valkyria chronicles on pc. I want everything!!!!
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Well my wishes are steam related mostly. I want final showdown on my pc, i want vanquish and resonance of fate On pc. I want valkyria chronicles on pc. I want everything!!!!
Definately. Valkyria Chronicles should be ported to the PC. SEGA's got a good team doing these ports (judging by what I played of the respective PC demos for Sonic Generations and Binary Domain), put 'em to work!
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My hopes, honestly... none that I can think off.
There's a treasure trove of goodies from the late 90's that SEGA can and should capitilize. But that's up to the suits over at SEGA-Sammy.
But with the digital stuff, please at least give us the option to buy boxed copies of SEGA's digital releases.
I just hope they don't give up on the large scale tentpole projects either. The world needs Binary Domain, it needs Yakuza games, it needs a major HD Sonic game, it needs bigger titles that stand out. It needs JRPGs.
Port Gameboy Advance games to Android/iPhone. I would love to play an Android version of Shining Force: The Ressurection of Dark Dragon.
That's all I'm asking...
As with everything else: Hope for best... Expect the worst.
I'm all for Digital Sega! Based on the recent re-released classics like Guardian Heroes, After Burner Climax, REZ HD, Daytona USA, Sonic CD, Virtua Fighter 5: FS, Space Channel 5 :P2, House of the Dead 4 and even Monster World 4 translated etc not to mention Jet Set Radio and NiGHTS on the way. Digital Sega is best Sega.
I'm totally down for more of this, Segas classic games are the reason we are all Sega fans, if they are all brought back as lovingly as these have been I'm so down for it. Even more so if it means theres a possibility of a sequal!
As Aki said, I would also love to see perfect console ports of Arcade games we never got. I'm looking at Ollie King, Wild Riders, 2Spicy, Virtua Cop 3, Shining Force Cross Raid and of course Border Break! (many more too)
Then there is the new releases, I /loved/ Renegade Ops, I want more! I'm also very excited about The Cave as Monkey Island has always been one of my favourite non-Sega series. I would like Sega to get behind some of the best indie games plus release some new AAA games for digital, like PSO2.
Classic Game highlights I would love to see brought back for digital release:
Shenmue 1&2 (of course)
Skies of Arcadia
Panzer Dragoon, PD:Zwei, PD:Saga, PD Orta
O.TO.GI 1 & 2 - (loved these games so much.)
Shining Force 3 Part 1,2,3
Dragon Force 1,2
Valkyria Chronicles 3 (common Sega!)
Also, I've always drempt of an online version of Dragon Force where everyone plays togeather across a huge world creating kingdoms and battling each other for land. They kind of did this on the N-Gage with 'Pocket Kingdom' (anyone remember that?) but I want that idea brought back and revamped. Would be so awesome.
I think these two comments kinda show the hope and reality of Sega's digital entry.
The problem isnt with the content per say but the will to manage the content correctly. And that's been the problem. Sega just cant seem to market their games properly, they are not ultilising their back catlogue or their other game assets properly either. It makes no difference if they remained on physical box format or going completly digital, if they haven't learnt from the problems that they have it will still plauge them on whatever format they decide to support. Far as i can see the thankless mess of the consumer division has been and gotten worse and worse. Thank goodness for arcades.
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As the digital market becomes more and more expansive, Sega will soon run into the same problems that they are now; their lack of marketing ability ensures that their games are lost in the shuffle.
*My hope* is that Sega utilizes this market to release some incredible and risky new IP that otherwise may have been too big a gamble to place in boxed format. Maybe, if these are good enough, they'll help get some exposure, but Sega also needs to boost their marketing.
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I just don't really see the thrill of re-buying and re-playing games I've already owned and played. Though I guess I'm alone in that.
My hopes obviously are that Sega won't simply become Atari and rely almost entirely on their back catalogue for any sort of relevance or survival. I'd love to see a new Jet Set Radio game instead of just a port of an old one and I worry that smaller budgets for digital games would make full-on sequels to any of these (or at least sequels of the same/greater scope and quality) far less likely.
I agree with you, I want a mix of new franchises, new entries of old franchises and re-releases too!
I mentioned this in my thread but yeah...they need to expand on their catalogue really and should market them.
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As the digital market becomes more and more expansive, Sega will soon run into the same problems that they are now; their lack of marketing ability ensures that their games are lost in the shuffle.
*My hope* is that Sega utilizes this market to release some incredible and risky new IP that otherwise may have been too big a gamble to place in boxed format. Maybe, if these are good enough, they'll help get some exposure, but Sega also needs to boost their marketing.
They're already running into the same problems, for one example jumping into the pool before the pool has been filled with water. In my opinion there's no evidence that digital games/distrubution has or will overtake the traditional game market anytime soon. If anything, its the method of how people buy their games has changed with the advent of online shopping. Digital Distrubution didnt help Binary Domain's sales or some other big digital only sega games apart from the Sonic titles. No marketing meanssame results regardless of the format.
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I agree that the marketing of titles is key, but I can't agree that there's no evidence that the industry is shifting over to a predominantly digital download method of distribution. Every console manufacturer has made huge moves over the past generation to facilitate it. In the PC space you've got Steam, of course, and EA trying to get a piece of the pie with Origin, plus at least a dozen other download services, not to mention the mobile space. Then you've got the emergence of streaming services, which I guarantee are going to become more and more relevant. And the new indie console, Ouya, is going to be totally download-based. Even the biggest brick-and-mortar retailer, Gamestop, has made moves to provide digital downloads. Like it or not (and I don't, personally) we are in the last few years of physical game releases. Personally I like having a bunch of shelves brimming with games. I like to just look at them like little works of art sometimes. But most people don't want to lug that stuff around anymore. The only exceptions eventually will be the occasional collectors' editions, and the efforts of indie developers like the ones who have continued to support the older consoles long after their own manufacturers have moved on.
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I agree that the marketing of titles is key, but I can't agree that there's no evidence that the industry is shifting over to a predominantly digital download method of distribution. Every console manufacturer has made huge moves over the past generation to facilitate it. In the PC space you've got Steam, of course, and EA trying to get a piece of the pie with Origin, plus at least a dozen other download services, not to mention the mobile space. Then you've got the emergence of streaming services, which I guarantee are going to become more and more relevant. And the new indie console, Ouya, is going to be totally download-based. Even the biggest brick-and-mortar retailer, Gamestop, has made moves to provide digital downloads. Like it or not (and I don't, personally) we are in the last few years of physical game releases. Personally I like having a bunch of shelves brimming with games. I like to just look at them like little works of art sometimes. But most people don't want to lug that stuff around anymore. The only exceptions eventually will be the occasional collectors' editions, and the efforts of indie developers like the ones who have continued to support the older consoles long after their own manufacturers have moved on.
Yes but the consumer hasn't. Digital sales hasn't overtaken traditional box sales. Its just the method how people buy their titles that has changed which is why the high street has lost a lot of revenue in the last several years thanks to online shopping as well as the recession. none of the big guns have yet to really release a major AAA title on download exclusivily and despite what sega is doing has yet to do that themselves. If anything they're doing it because its a cheaper option. Now it may be cool and great to play these type of games on ios,vita and what have you but that isn't what the avid gamer wants to soley play or want. All this is about is trying to reach the casual consumer who wants to play that type of game and thats when they feel like downloading it. the traditional gamer, the base of the industry really wants to keep playing their 40 hour plus PC/console games in boxed editions and it would be unwise to neglect that market, especially Sega because the casual mobile consumer market is notoriously fickle.
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The traditional gamer, the base of the industry really wants to keep playing their 40 hour plus PC/console games in boxed editions and it would be unwise to neglect that market, especially Sega because the casual mobile consumer market is notoriously fickle.
I'm actually unsure whether the traditional gamer exists any more.
When you look back in decades...you have always seen a presence on the PC with the C64, Spectrum and the like of traditional gamers, as well as the console gamers...but the sales of the games have always been pretty low until you look at the sales of Wii Sports, Mario Kart and even Call of Duty!
Those sales were from the casual gamers (yes, even CoD), and like it or not...those are the main audience everyone wants now. The boxed editions will become rarer and rarer because the traditional gamers aren't a strong enough audience to cater to now...and I have read across the internet that many will even give up future gaming if the road to digital is complete with no second hand copies ever being usable on the next consoles.
I fear that the digital segment is actually going to kill the gaming industry....since the pubs/devs have too much control over it...and once they have control, they will think that "we" are the problem, and not their crappy decisions, making gaming less feasible as the casual market lose interest. (along with their money being spent elsewhere)
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I'd say that digital shouldn't be dismissed entirely.....I can understand its potential and can see why it has *publishers* excited.
That said, I don't think it's at a place where it will dominate retail game sales any time soon...and I think if Sega is going to focus exclusively on digital for all but their big-name franchises, I can't help but think that the unfortunate outcome is their new franchises won't build up any userbases.
Digital services seem great for retro games; low-priced curiosities that people may want to try or re-live. DLC...again, it's a great thing for digital.
But as far as higher-priced hardcore-skewing digital games, (original content...) I just don't think there's any evidence that this is a thriving market.
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Well Sega's focus is all bent out of shape anyway.
The reason is this, whether or not digital is the future it doesn't mean its sega's future. so getting rid of all your eggs into one basket is silly. Sega said they are only focusing on five/six key titles. This is flawed. One, Sonic TW and FM are not big in Japan or the asian markets, the latter two aren't that huge in the states either only in europe. And apart from Sonic,Total war and Football manager which they own ALIENS is a license, and they only got it because Fox was forced to give it to them. there's no guarantee that Fox will continue the partnership after the creative assembly version is completed. if they dont then its down to four titles.
Just because digital is the cool thing does not mean Sega will be succesful at it. Was it really wise to shut all the offices and studios including the australia one especially after their developed Olympic game was a success? And shall i add the only Olympic title outside Mario and Sonic to reach that level of good sales and a number one status. I think its the first olympic based game that has held that spot if you dont count sonic and mario of course. And outside retro titles or remastered Sonic games Sega's digital presence while may be felt is not making a killing in this field, GUARDIAN HEROES and RENEGADE OPS can attest to that and they were deemed succesful. I'm not dismissing digital but Sega shouldn't dismiss the traditional form either. They should really get their bloody marketing campaign sorted out.
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Well Sega's focus is all bent out of shape anyway.
The reason is this, whether or not digital is the future it doesn't mean its sega's future. so getting rid of all your eggs into one basket is silly. Sega said they are only focusing on five/six key titles. This is flawed. One, Sonic TW and FM are not big in Japan or the asian markets, the latter two aren't that huge in the states either only in europe. And apart from Sonic,Total war and Football manager which they own ALIENS is a license, and they only got it because Fox was forced to give it to them. there's no guarantee that Fox will continue the partnership after the creative assembly version is completed. if they dont then its down to four titles.
Why exactly hasn't SEGA said anything about Miku or Yakuza/Ryu Ga Gotoku given that those are SEGA's most financially successful series over in Japan and they still seem interested in making more of those games?
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In the PC space you've got Steam, of course, and EA trying to get a piece of the pie with Origin, plus at least a dozen other download services, not to mention the mobile space.
A little stat about Electronic Arts, they went from 72 retails game in 2008 to 14 retail games and over 50 digital games in the current fiscal year. SEGA have reduced their presence dramatically but relatively is nothing compared to EA's tanking of retail. Heck Konami only has 4 retail titles left this fiscal year I believe, Square's Japan only offering is scarce... You get the idea of course. With game budgets increasing year by year, these middletier titles that made the bulk of all these publishers will vanish from retail, perhaps even altogether, as they have to pour more and more money into their big sellers.
A truly vicious cycle.
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A little stat about Electronic Arts, they went from 72 retails game in 2008 to 14 retail games and over 50 digital games in the current fiscal year. SEGA have reduced their presence dramatically but relatively is nothing compared to EA's tanking of retail. Heck Konami only has 4 retail titles left this fiscal year I believe, Square's Japan only offering is scarce... You get the idea of course. With game budgets increasing year by year, these middletier titles that made the bulk of all these publishers will vanish from retail, perhaps even altogether, as they have to pour more and more money into their big sellers.
A truly vicious cycle.
Indeed, and I don't want B-Tier titles to disappear from the industry, as it only means either opting for the AAA game or the crappy or quality Indie game as an option.
We need those B-Tier titles for something different and unique...so it's really sad how every game pub and dev are being forced to spend bigger and bigger every year.
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Why exactly hasn't SEGA said anything about Miku or Yakuza/Ryu Ga Gotoku given that those are SEGA's most financially successful series over in Japan and they still seem interested in making more of those games?
Same thing, Sega doesn't own Miku, its still technically a license plus its not a game they have been able to bring over to the west...yet.