SEGA shuts down SEGA Studios/Secret Level

[Happy Cat]

OK this is possibly the worst day to report any form of rumour (April 1st), so I'm sure a lot of you are going to take it with a pinch of salt... actually I will be too - though we did receive the information yesterday, so if it is an April Fools joke, the person who tipped us off (who has also asked to be kept anonymous) is not playing the game properly.

Anyway it seems that SEGA is going to close SEGA Studios San Francisco.  If you don't know, SEGA Studios is the development team behind the upcoming Iron Man 2 and was formerly known as "Secret Level" - infamous for the release of the sub par Golden Axe: Beast Rider and the poor first Iron Man (movie) game.

It's almost no surprise to hear that SEGA might be looking to close the studio, due to their track record so far.  The studio, as Secret Level, was originally purchased when Simon Jeffery was in charge of SEGA America but since he left, the studio (it seems) hasn't received much support from SEGA management.

We have been told that the San Francisco-based studio will close this Friday. We haven't heard if the employees will be relocated to other studios, but from the sounds of it there could be quite a few unemployed devs very soon - which is a massive shame.

But for people eager to get their hands on Iron Man 2, don't worry, the studio has finished development of the game - so the release date for that shouldn't be affected.  It's going to be a kicker though if Iron Man 2 turns out to be a AAA title.

We haven't been able to get in contact with anyone official yet, so we haven't been able to confirm or deny the news - hence being kept as a rumour.  I guess we will have to see if SEGA makes an official announcement, or if anyone living in San Francisco walks past the studio they can double check to see if any chains are fixed on the front doors.

If it is true, we wish all the employees of SEGA Studios the best of luck for the future.  We will try to update as soon as we find out more information.

http://seganerds.thekartel.com/blog/201 ... _francisco

Who needs SEGA Studios San Fransisco when you got High Voltage Software!

I actually wouldn't be surprised... they closed a bunch of gameworks locations without notice... including Minneapolis this Tuesday T_T never got to go to it.

[Barry the Nomad]

Shadi, you live in MN? I'm from MN!

[Happy Cat]

Shadi, you live in MN? I'm from MN!

I've seen that loon before.. xD, not in Minneapolis, but in other places in Minnesota

[Aki-at]

Hey if SEGA America can restructure itself into a better publisher and developer, I'm all for it. Sad to see people lose their jobs, quite evident how much of a waste of money purchasing them by Simon they were.

I suppose this is the end of his legacy at SEGA now... =[

[Happy Cat]

Well, I say it's a good thing.

Who needs SEGA Studios San Fransisco when High Voltage Software can serve the same purpose and cost tons less.

[Waffle]

BBB

[Orta]

Can I have the Racing Studio back?

[Sharky]

Hey if SEGA America can restructure itself into a better publisher and developer, I'm all for it. Sad to see people lose their jobs, quite evident how much of a waste of money purchasing them by Simon they were.

I suppose this is the end of his legacy at SEGA now... =[

pretty much agreed,

Although SJs legacy will end when Alpha Protocol and Aliens Colonial Marines release... Possibly the only 2 things he did well.

[MadeManG74]

Secret Level was a weird saga really, didn't they buy them because of their 'Middleware tech' (Whatever the hell that is) and then decide, 'nah fuck that' and just set them making movie tie-ins and ruining old franchises instead?

[fluffymoochicken]

So was this news ever confirmed?

[Dr. SEGA Monkey]

Secret Level was a weird saga really, didn't they buy them because of their 'Middleware tech' (Whatever the hell that is) and then decide, 'nah fuck that' and just set them making movie tie-ins and ruining old franchises instead?

No. Simon Jeffrey mentioned in an interview somewhere that they bought Secret Level because they were very close to the SEGA of America building.

I'm not making this up.

[Deefy]

My only fear is that SEGA reduces to the bone the internal development, especially in the west but not limited to, relying increasingly on external studios, becoming de facto a simply publisher. Even if SEGA could improve product quality and become a better producer worldwide, until yesterday i was convinced into a strenghtening of internal R&D, so after the statements in the press, i'm a little disappointed.

[fluffymoochicken]

So was this news ever confirmed?

Again, was it?

[MadeManG74]

My only fear is that SEGA reduces to the bone the internal development, especially in the west but not limited to, relying increasingly on external studios, becoming de facto a simply publisher. Even if SEGA could improve product quality and become a better producer worldwide, until yesterday i was convinced into a strenghtening of internal R&D, so after the statements in the press, i'm a little disappointed.

The thing is though, Secret Level/San Francisco was just dead wood. They hadn't made any good games, and really didn't seem to be much of an asset to Sega.

Now Sega just needs to drop Sonic Team, and they'll have really taken the trash out.  

[George]

So was this news ever confirmed?

Again, was it?

I posted on the front page. Yes it was, SEGA of America responded and confirmed it.