SEGA hit by 73 people layoff, more focus on digital games

[Team Andromeda]

Capcom style games and franchises are closer to mainstream western, Sega style is a lot riskier. Other than Crazy Taxi and PSO which there is no excuse for not having their next gen sequels, games like Rez, Jet, Panzer, and Shenmue didn't sell well to begin with. Management is reluctant to commit major resources to projects that are going to be a gamble in the marketplace

That isn't that  fair . Before Resident Evil , Horror games wereseen as last gen , Alone inthe Dark series was selling ever less, and a complete flop on consoles . It was a huge gamble to produced RE at that time.
 DMC again was a Huge risk, to take what was meant to be RE 4 onthe PS2, and turn it into a brand new action game, the likes of which, wasn't an established seller or genre,  was a risk.  

More of a risk was for a Japanese developer to Endorse a successor console, one that had yet to be established in the USA, never mind Japan, more so after you had dismal sales on the X-Box. Then to make a game that was Sandbox and aimed with Western Markets in mind 1st and foremost;  Were Huge risk for Capcom’s Dead Rising . Never mind to at the same time work on yet another Brand new IP for the same console,  and commit over 20 million for the game production .
Those and in anyone books Huge risks.

Never mind That Capcom also took Huge risks with Steal Battalion, Killer 7, Viewtiful Joe , P.N.03 , Godhand. Some of those paid off, some didn’t.
To make a sequel to a game and formula most though  had died (more so with SF III poor penetration) with Street Fighter IV was risk . Don’t give me this Capcom don't take risks or  their style is less of an risk .

[Suzuki Yu]

Capcom style games and franchises are closer to mainstream western, Sega style is a lot riskier. Other than Crazy Taxi and PSO which there is no excuse for not having their next gen sequels, games like Rez, Jet, Panzer, and Shenmue didn't sell well to begin with.  Management is reluctant to commit major resources to projects that are going to be a gamble in the marketplace.  

totally agreed .

Don’t give me this Capcom don't take risks or their style is less of an risk .

i go with the 2nd option

Never mind That Capcom also took Huge risks with Steal Battalion, Killer 7, Viewtiful Joe , P.N.03 , Godhand. Some of those paid off, some didn’t.

those games you mentioned were games created by the people who is outside of Capcom , and they are working with SEGA right now ...
i think this is make sense i guess

[Team Andromeda]

those games you mentioned were games created by the people who is outside of Capcom , and they are working with SEGA right now

Clover was In-House Capcom Team, 100% funded and 100% owned by Capcom . No different from Smilebit or UGA. Like those teams the risks didn't pay off, staff left , and the rest were merged with the other In-House teams.

And P.N.03 was  made by Production Studio 4

[max_cady]

Hey, guys I wanted to give you an update on Sega's moves.

MCV UK is reporting that Pritchard will be the new head of north american operations:

Sega’s European MD Alan Pritchard will move to the US next month to become vice president of sales and marketing for Sega America, MCV can reveal.
His replacement as the boss for Sega Europe will be Jurgen Post.
Pritchard was promoted to Euro MD last year following a successful stint as head of UK. He will take his new position at Sega America on June 1st. Meanwhile, Post is currently the MD for Sega Benelux and has previous experience working for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
The changes are part of Sega’s Western restructure, which will see Sega Europe handle box product for all Western territories, while Sega America will focus on developing a digital strategy.
This means that several Sega Europe bosses have had their remits extended to look after US operations.

European marketing director Gary Knight will become vice president of brand marketing, European studios boss Gary Dunn will become senior vice president for development, while commercial director Gary Rowe has been promoted to senior vice president of publishing and content.
Sega has also confirmed there will be 73 job losses as a part of the restructure – 37 in Sega Europe and 36 in Sega America. MCV understands that many of these redundancies have already taken place and are happening across all departments.

"All of our central brand marketing initiatives will be done with Sega West in mind, rather than having our team in America going in one direction and our team in Europe going in another," said Alan Pritchard.
Sega is also seeking a senior vice president for digital to work out of its San Francisco office.
For more details on Sega’s re-structure make sure to check MCV magazine or MCVUK.com tomorrow.

Starting June 1st, Sega of America will start operating more like Sega of Europe, that can be a good thing.

[Barry the Nomad]

Reminds me of season 2 of Mad Men, when the Brtis came to the US to run the offices. I hope things go better than they went on a fictional TV show!

[Suzuki Yu]

those games you mentioned were games created by the people who is outside of Capcom , and they are working with SEGA right now

Clover was In-House Capcom Team, 100% funded and 100% owned by Capcom . No different from Smilebit or UGA. Like those teams the risks didn't pay off, staff left , and the rest were merged with the other In-House teams.

And P.N.03 was  made by Production Studio 4

i was talking about capcom this generation .
the people who were known for their unique titles left the company aka ( Clover Studio ) actually the studio closure was by Capcom themselves .  why do you think that happened ?
also most of the Production Studio 4 staff went to Clover at the time when it was first founded .

regarding SEGA , this has nothing to do with UGA or Smilebit !
the whole studios in the company create games that doesn't fit with the mass market in the west not only UGA & Smilebit .

[Team Andromeda]

And P.N.03 was  made by Production Studio 4

i was talking about capcom this generation .
the people who were known for their unique title left the company aka ( Clover Studio ) actually the studio closure was by Capcom themselves .  why do you think that happened ?
also most of the Production Studio 4 staff went to Clover at the time .

regarding SEGA , this is has nothing to do with UGA or Smilebit !
the whole studios in the company create games that doesn't fit with the mass market not only UGA & Smilebit .

Well if you talk about this generation what as SEGA done that's really risk taking on consoles ,or  really Unique?. Making new versions of Monkeyball, Yakuza, VF, VT, Sonic  aren't really taking massive risks, the new version of NiGHTS  not really that unique . About the only real big risk was Val, and not in terms of new IP , but also in terms of tech. But sadly SEGA didn't stick with it for consoles, so we get  PSP version.


Smilebit, UGA, Clover were very much alike in terms of their brief and output, to make games , not quite the norm, and games noted for they Art. Sadly it didn't work out for either, but like with SEGA, not all the staff left

[Sega Uranus]

I think this whole topic is insane. I hate where this is all going so I will just finish it off now.

Bayonetta is a SEGA game and is not like Devil May Cry or especially Ninja Gaiden at ALL.

Shenmue sold over a million, this is not a failure in sales terms, it failed to make it's money back because it was stupidly over budget. I do not even know what Shenmue has to do with any of this.

Most of Capcom's games this generation are not very good at all, same with Square-Enix. Go ahead and make lists if you must, I will tell you why most of them suck. I would argue SEGA is *significantly* better and that, and even the likes of Ubisoft and Activision are releasing better products.

[Sega Stylista]

Capcom style games and franchises are closer to mainstream western, Sega style is a lot riskier. Other than Crazy Taxi and PSO which there is no excuse for not having their next gen sequels, games like Rez, Jet, Panzer, and Shenmue didn't sell well to begin with. Management is reluctant to commit major resources to projects that are going to be a gamble in the marketplace

That isn't that  fair . Before Resident Evil , Horror games wereseen as last gen , Alone inthe Dark series was selling ever less, and a complete flop on consoles . It was a huge gamble to produced RE at that time.
 DMC again was a Huge risk, to take what was meant to be RE 4 onthe PS2, and turn it into a brand new action game, the likes of which, wasn't an established seller or genre,  was a risk.  

More of a risk was for a Japanese developer to Endorse a successor console, one that had yet to be established in the USA, never mind Japan, more so after you had dismal sales on the X-Box. Then to make a game that was Sandbox and aimed with Western Markets in mind 1st and foremost;  Were Huge risk for Capcom’s Dead Rising . Never mind to at the same time work on yet another Brand new IP for the same console,  and commit over 20 million for the game production .
Those and in anyone books Huge risks.

Never mind That Capcom also took Huge risks with Steal Battalion, Killer 7, Viewtiful Joe , P.N.03 , Godhand. Some of those paid off, some didn’t.
To make a sequel to a game and formula most though  had died (more so with SF III poor penetration) with Street Fighter IV was risk . Don’t give me this Capcom don't take risks or  their style is less of an risk .

Capcom = guns and commandos = western mainstream gaming

I don't care what risks Capcom took last gen, that isn't relevant to this gen.  I'm not arguing which company is the greatest risk taker, I'm stating that Sega style is typically less the norm and less mainstream than Capcom's.

It tells you everything that the creators of PN03 and Killer 7 are now working with Sega.  The evidence is right there staring you in the face.

It fits with everything I argued with you about that you didn't want to face the facts that the rise of western mainstream gaming coincided with the fall of Sega.

This is the least artistic, least creative, most commercialized and risk adverse generation of all prior gaming generations.  That is why Sega has struggled to find its place in the mainstream pulse of current western gaming which is dominated by core mainstream, rather than hardcore players, who understand gaming as hollywood style interactive movie, heavy on cinematics and FPS and TPS gun action.

[Sega Stylista]

I think this whole topic is insane. I hate where this is all going so I will just finish it off now.

Free discussion is a good thing!  

SEGA!

Shenmue sold over a million, this is not a failure in sales terms, it failed to make it's money back because it was stupidly over budget. I do not even know what Shenmue has to do with any of this.

Fans never state what Sega stated themselves that a lot of the Shenmue investment was paid off in the training and tech that got applied to other games from the making of it.

[Team Andromeda]

Bayonetta is a SEGA game and is not like Devil May Cry or especially Ninja Gaiden at ALL

What rubbish, you name one SEGA action game with a combo system like Bay, They isn't one. Which is why SEGA singed up Platinum in the 1st place.

Shenmue sold over a million, this is not a failure in sales terms, it failed to make it's money back because it was stupidly over budget. I do not even know what Shenmue has to do with any of this

Shenmue sold well , and just about made its $20 Million Budget back. Shenmue II on the other hand,  was a compete flop in Japan and a poor seller inthe USA and Europe on 2 different consoles, nowhere near enough to make up the $50 million short fall for the Shenmue project in total.

I would argue SEGA is *significantly* better and that, and even the likes of Ubisoft and Activision are releasing better products.

Square for sure. the likes of Capcom or Ubi, not even close.

I don't care what risks Capcom took last gen, that isn't relevant to this gen. I'm not arguing which company is the greatest risk taker, I'm stating that Sega style is typically less the norm and less mainstream than Capcom'

What risks have Sega taken this gen ? , what less norm game have SEGA made this gen In-House on consoles. I'm really not seeing any at all.

It tells you everything that the creators of PN03 and Killer 7 are now working with Sega. The evidence is right there staring you in the face

Where are the creators of SEGA Rally , REZ, Sonic ? They're not at SEGA any more . SEGA it's self as lost load of its best staff.  How done a better job of updating its classic IP, Capcom or SEGA. One takes out AM#2 and SEGA record becomes a bit poor.

That is why Sega has struggled to find its place in the mainstream pulse of current western gaming which is dominated by core mainstream, rather than hardcore players, who understand gaming as hollywood style interactive movie, heavy on cinematics and FPS and TPS gun action.

You want this myth of so called Hard Core gaming, or a gamers machine, then buy a 360. That's the console seen a true gamers machine in Japan (why the like of Cave support it) That the reason why the 360 boats the highest console to game ratio . What's SEGA done on the platform ?, next to nothing when it comes to exclusives . Where's this fab and unmatched Art in the like of  Monkey Ball on the Wii, Yakuza on the PS3 , or Sonic on every platform ??  

who understand gaming as hollywood style interactive movie, heavy on cinematics and FPS and TPS gun action.

So what's Yakuza if it isn't focused on interactive movie style &heavy on Cinematics, Val if it isn't full of gun action through out the entire game. Does Bayonetta this so called SEGA game , not feature a ton of blood and Guts , and plenty of Guns .

What about those Alien games , they not feature any guns, same goes of House of the Dead series , LA machine Guns , GunBlade New York (clue in the title lads) , Virtual Cop, 2 Spicy, Rambo , Lets Go Jungle . No.. there's not a gun its sight in those titles :roll:

[Sega Uranus]

Bayonetta is a SEGA game and is not like Devil May Cry or especially Ninja Gaiden at ALL

What rubbish, you name one SEGA action game with a combo system like Bay, They isn't one. Which is why SEGA singed up Platinum in the 1st place.

But why did you mention Ninja Gaiden and Devil May Cry when they play nothing like Bayonetta at all? Just two pages ago you agreed with me that something that made SEGA so great in the 90s was because the developers made what they wanted to make and not copy the industry, or even themselves.

Plus I do not know why a 'Combo system' is the defining feature in what makes a game SEGA-like or not. Try and name me one other game series by SEGA that plays exactly like Yakuza does. You cannot, because none exist. I guess that means it is not a SEGA game by your logic!

I would argue SEGA is *significantly* better and that, and even the likes of Ubisoft and Activision are releasing better products.

Square for sure. the likes of Capcom or Ubi, not even close.

Where is your argument? You are not even mentioning any of their games. I can say Midway was the best company in the business, but if I never say why my point would not mean shit.

(by the way I never thought Midway was good, this is just an example I wanted to bring up)

Where are the creators of SEGA Rally , REZ, Sonic ? They're not at SEGA any more . SEGA it's self as lost load of its best staff.  How done a better job of updating its classic IP, Capcom or SEGA. One takes out AM#2 and SEGA record becomes a bit poor.

I really hope you are joking... Have you seen their games lately?

Since Mizuguchi left SEGA he has made Lumines, Meteos, the first Ninety Nine Nights and Every Extend Extra. Do you know what all of these games have in common? They all fucking suck shit.

The same is true with Naka, with such classics as Let's Tap, Let's Catch, 'Ivy the Kiwi?' and that iPhone game you touch a bear really fast so he stands up.

Do not get me started on Oshinima, what a fucking sack load of shit his company has produced with Artoon, making crap that is lower quality than even Sonic Team's worst efforts (though I will admit I have a soft spot for Blue Dragon, that is only because I like MistWalker).

I do not know how you can say SEGA is losing itself when all of the people you have named have only made the business equivalent of having explosive diarrhea and vomit at the same time in the past five years.

[MadeManG74]

Fuck you, Lumines was fun.

Also everything sucks and the west sucks and sega needs to make killer 7 part 2 and that will suck and suck suck suck KEEP IT HARD CORE.

[Sharky]

I'll not make out that everthing Capcom does it spot on , and not make out that Capcom have been Faultless. I'm making out they're one of the few Jp Corps with a clear direction , called it right on getting a Multi Platform, Multi Purpose game engine ready for its , right at the start of this gaming Generation, and have made brilliant use of Online.
Sure you can Highlight Dark Void, but was SEGA's Iron Man any better ?, was SEGA own update of Golden Axe, better than Bionic Commando ?.

No Ironman and Golden Axe were just as bad but what I mean is simply both Sega and Capcom have put out good and bad games this gen. Capcom handled this gen better then Sega but then again they handled it better then all 3rd party japanese companies. Capcom know how to capture the crowds with marketing and the frame work engine was a stroke of genius...

 I would say Sega have still come a long way this gen.

 I've never much liked DMC series after the 1st game, but DMC was a well made game , using some decent tech, and pleasing its fans. Lost Planet I thought was fab, stunning use of the Framework engine, inspired Art and design on the stages, and some great use of the Internet,  Fighting it out on a stage made to look like the floors of Capcom offices, was just the icing on the cake. Just a Japanese company that seem to have truly got it this gen. To be fair I've also been very impressed with FromSoftware. Chromhounds was the most fun On-Live I had this generation, enjoyed Nina Blade more than most games, and thought Demon Souls to be amazing,and used the Internet in brand new ways .

I think a lot of people felt DMC4 really dropped the ball. I deffinitly did...

Lets not forget Capcom made the biggest mistake of their existance this gen, closing Clover... was a serious mistake that worked out very well for Sega.

I can but hope, SEGA is working  hard on a full on Next Gen PSO, using a improved HedgeHog engine, and make Monster Hunter Wii, look like nothing. That AM#2 is bringing the likes of Border Break, VF 5 Final to the Home with massive new modes, GFX improvments and fully making use of Live. Maybe we'll get a Sonic 3D game , that floors people, for all the right reasons

I think some of these are likely, most unlikely would be BorderBreak so soon.
I can see VF5, PSO coming true...

As for a 3D Sonic... Well... we'll get one!

[Team Andromeda]

But why did you mention Ninja Gaiden and Devil May Cry when they play nothing like Bayonetta at all? Just two pages ago you agreed with me that something that made SEGA so great in the 90s was because the developers made what they wanted to make and not copy the industry, or even themselves

Because Bay, DMC, and Ninja Gaiden plays very much like each other, and to make out otherwise is quite silly,sure there some differences, but they're very much the same games in the same gene . You know like Last Bronx looks and plays a little bit different from VF, but its much the same game inthe same Genre.

Try and name me one other game series by SEGA that plays exactly like Yakuza does

Shenmue Played very much like Yakuza. In combat terms Spikeout plays very much like Yakuza

Where is your argument? You are not even mentioning any of their games

Make a list only for you make fun off and Ridicule?. I make a list by all means , though I wonder what the Point .

I thought both GRAW games were brilliant, using an amazing In-game engine , great single player modes, and some of the best Multi player fun , I ever had on LIVE to date, Speaking of Multi Player  there's  Vegas, if not the best Co-Op LIVE game I played this Generation , and a Great single player game to boot , even the music score was incredible in that game imo .
I thought Assassin's Creed was truly breath taking and awe inspiring when it 1st came put , it also had a wonderful control scheme, that made so much just to walk, jump and Climb around, I very much enjoyed Prince of Persia (loved it arts style) , Currently very much enjoying Splinter Cell Con, and very much looking forward to the next instalment of GRAW.  Also I thought the cell shading graphics in Naruto to be simply breath taking , and it wasn’t a bad game to boot.

Capcom, Well They're no Ubi, but they've created a true Multi purpose, multi task  and multi platform engine, now in its 3rd gen is pushing some Incredible visuals in Lost Planet II, making full use of LIVE/PSN . The pervious LP is one of my all time fav games, the sequel improves on it , and ups the scale .
 I enjoyed Dead Rising , even with its deeply flawed system , DMC IV was fun if a tad overrated .  Street Fighter IV features some of the most breathtakingly Art and graphics I’ve seen in any fighter, never quite seen a visual style like it, and it’s a brilliant re-imagining of the series , and RE 5 a good game, and some of the best visuals I seen to date

I really hope you are joking... Have you seen their games lately?

Since Mizuguchi left SEGA he has made Lumines, Meteos, the first Ninety Nine Nights and Every Extend Extra. Do you know what all of these games have in common? They all fucking suck shit

Lumines was brilliant imo. N N Nights was a good game, hurt horribly but its save system and lack of check points . What have the Sonic Team made since the rest of the UGA game merged with them ?. Maybe Project Rub could be Consider a game UGA would have made in Art terms , but there’s little else.

Best for both Corps,if they joined back up imo.

The same is true with Naka, with such classics as Let's Tap, Let's Catch, 'Ivy the Kiwi?' and that iPhone game you touch a bear really fast so he stands up

At least they're new games, trying something different , and do look very Arty and a little Unique.

Do not get me started on Oshinima, what a fucking sack load of shit his company has produced with Artoon, making crap that is lower quality than even Sonic Team's worst efforts (though I will admit I have a soft spot for Blue Dragon, that is only because I like MistWalker)

Forget Oshinima-san , A far bigger lose to SEGA was losing Yoji Ishii imo, the man who unlike Naka or Oshinima-san should have been boss of Sonic Team. Then there's the loss of the brilliant programmer than was Takuya Matsumotom who did wonders at Sonic Team, never mind the like of the man that shaped the Art of  Panzer Dragoon the one and only Manabu Kusunoki.

There huge losses to any corp, and just because its doesn't always work out with their new venture , should never take away or devalue what they did in the past.  

I do not know how you can say SEGA is losing itself

I can say what I like, and imo SEGA is losing its self. What have those staff that remained produced in the last 5 years ? To most Sonic 06 and Unleashed was a joke, Nights JID not the best . Monkeyball games that plays and control worst than their Cube Counter parts, and endless sequels to Yakuza, using the same art and the same City, and hardly any improvement in animation, much less scope.  Take out the pride of SEGA AM#2 , the brilliant Val (with its stunning engine and art) and Virtual Tennis III, and I haven't been impressed at with SEGA Japan this generation

I think a lot of people felt DMC4 really dropped the ball. I deffinitly did...

Lets not forget Capcom made the biggest mistake of their existance this gen, closing Clover... was a serious mistake that worked out very well for Sega.

I've never been much of a Fan of DMC (bar the 1st) I don't think it dropped the ball, more it was a sequel by number and offered nothing new . I feel the same about Yakuza sequels, at least DMC did use an impressive engine .

I think more a mistake than closing Clover, was closing down Smilebit and UGA.  Smilebit were the best team at SEGA other than AM#2 imo (at the time) and UGA just one of the most artistic Teams I can ever remember. Still to this day REZ looks and plays Incredible