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Square Enix’s Yoichi Wada says SEGA failed at Globalization.

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“We have to appeal to customers with different preferences. Sega did not succeed. Konami did not succeed. Namco Bandai did not succeed. Western publishers have not succeeded in selling in Japan. Nobody has succeeded at globalisation,”

Bold claims from Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada. He goes on to say;

“But it hasn’t succeeded because it was always based on Japanese direction. It was Japanese people who commissioned the western developers to make games.”

“It is important that what’s in America should be handled by Americans… The same goes in Europe and in Japan. These people who are deeply rooted in their own cultures can engage in their own dialogues. The mistakes I have seen so far are when Japanese people try to do everything the Japanese way, using Japanese workers in different areas of the world.”

An interesting point of view, but with SEGA’s great successes in Europe and America in recent years do these claims have much weight behind them?

[SOURCE: Next-Gen.biz]

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Cancelled Dreamcast games that looked awesome

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When I was in middle school, all I did was read the Official Dreamcast magazine and look at the long list of upcoming games. There is always something about seeing new information about a game before it hits the store shelves, especially when those games you are looking forward to never make it to the shelves. You are stuck wondering what those games could have been, if they came out.

Here is my salute to the most awesome looking cancelled Dreamcast games.

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No Alpha Protocol sequel due to low sales

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Even though Alpha Protocol wasn’t the best Western RPG, I thought it could have really improved for the sequel and deliver an amazing experience. SEGA’s Mike Hayes has decided that we won’t get a sequel due to the low sales of the first game. Which makes sense.

“Let’s speak very commercially; the game hasn’t sold what we’ve expected, therefore we won’t be doing a sequel. The concept was brilliant, though,You know this whole thing with Metacritic where you have to be in the high 70s to mid-80s minimum [to have any success] – well, with RPGs you have got to be in the late 80s. Whilst we had a good game, I don’t think we had a game that had enough to get us to that upper echelon and I think that was the issue. Whilst we had a good game, I don’t think we had a game that had enough to get us to that upper echelon and I think that was the issue.”  – Mike Hayes, President of SEGA West

I hope this does not stop SEGA from doing another Western RPG in the near future. Though, I have to admit that Obsidian dropped the ball on this one. How can a game be delayed for 2 years and it still play like it wasn’t complete, yet out of the blue they announce that they are doing a Fallout game and its coming out in a few months? Makes you think where their priorities where.

[Source: CVG]

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SEGA Mega Drive Digital Download – Series 1

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Here is a trailer showing off the first batch of direct to drive downloadable Mega Drive (Genesis) titles for PC.

Games shown include Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Ecco, Gain Ground, Vectorman, CrackDown, Space Harrier 2 and my personal favourites Shinobi 3 and Comix Zone.

Each classic SEGA titles will be available from £1.99/€2.49/ AUS$3.49 which is dirt cheap and a real bargain even if you own them already.

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SEGA not attending Gamescom for commercial reasons

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SEGA have confirmed that they will not be attending Gamescon this year due to commercial reasons but reiterated that this does not mean they will not appear in future Gamescon and that this decision is solely based on a decision regarding 2010. In a statement release via VG247, the publisher said;

“Sega has made the decision not to attend gamescom this year,” said the firm.

“Gamescom 2009 was a very successful show for us and continues to be the most important European event in the calendar. The decision not to show at this year’s event was not down to the location of Cologne and will not mean that Sega will never attend gamescom in the future, but simply a commercial decision made for 2010.”

GamesCon happens to be the largest Gaming trade show in the world in terms of attendence. SEGA skipping out on such a large event, in particular the fact that Europe has been it’s best region for video game sales will no doubt come as a surprise to many. Attention will now fall onto SEGA’s presence at the Tokyo Game Show.

[Source: VG247]

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Get your limited Yakuza PSP edition signed by Nagoshi

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Toshihiro Nagoshi, producer of the Yakuza series, is  a pretty awesome dude. So awesome that the new  bundle for his Black Panther: New Yakuza Chapter game will have his name on it, literally. It will be signed by Mr. Nagoshi himself. The limited edition version will be called “Toshihiro Nagoshi Produce Premium Box.”

It will also come with a UMD with the theme song’s music video, different artwork than the retail game,  Yakuza branded cloth, and a woman looking purse to hold your PSP. Seriously, looks like a woman’s press, check out the pics below.  The limited edition will retail on September 22nd for ¥9,429 (standard edition will cost ¥6,279).

[Source: Famtisu via AndriaSang]

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Vanquish demoed in Japan Expo (Paris)

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Sega was at a recent Japan Expo in Paris showing off some of their upcoming games. Vanquish was one of those games demoed at the event and I think it produced of the best demonstrations showing what Vanquish has too offer so far.

The game is being played by someone that obviously already knows the ins and outs of the game and it’s much nicer to watch than the odd youtube video hosted by people giving the demo a go for the first time.

Hit the Jump for Part 2 and 3 of the demonstration which have the gameplay.

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Get After Burner Climax for 50% off

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You love After Burner Climax, but having shelled out the 800 Microsoft points to get the game? Well, you are in luck, Microsoft is having a discount on the title and will only cost 400 points.

This is a part of their ‘Deal of the Week’, so try to get it before it leaves. You can read our review, if you need an opinion.

[Source: Major Nelson Blog]

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UK Charts for the month of May

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Sonic and SEGA Allstars Racing was one of SEGA's top sellers
Sonic and SEGA Allstars Racing could be quite the seller for SEGA

MCVUK have released the chart positions for the top 50 multiformat titles in the month of May for the United Kingdom. And SEGA was not short of having a significant presence in the charts. Compared to most other third party publishers, SEGA did relatively well but there might be some not too welcoming news on one particular new IP, hit the jump to read on and find out which titles did the best.

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People go crazy for Sonic 4 at SGC 2010

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I wasn’t going to post this video, but decided to due to the fact that this is possibly the most positive reaction to anything Sonic that I have seen in ages. Where are the people complaining about green eyes? Dead hopefully.  The game was a part of the ‘Iron Man of Gaming competition.’

“At the ScrewAttack Gaming Convention 2010’s Iron Man of Gaming competition, two mystery games would whittle down the remaining 16 competitors to the new champion and current Iron Man of Gaming. On day one of the convention it was revealed that the first game was Hydro Thunder Hurricane, up until the moment this video was filmed, the con-goers didn’t know what they were going to see. Though Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 was previously slated to appear, Capcom Japan pulled out at the last second, the result is pretty awesome.”

Wait, people expected Marvel vs. Capcom 3 but they got Sonic 4 and didn’t throw a riot? Maybe it is possible to change peoples opinions about Sonic games. At least people that go to SGC.

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Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown Location Tests Underway!

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SEGA has begun location testing Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown cabinets, and videos have been surfacing on Youtube and Nicovideo. Check out the great Taka-Arashi vs Jacky match above! You can see some new gameplay additions as well as costumes and items (it took me a while to realise it was actually Jacky in the gold!).

Sega has also announced that the game will utilise Twitter in an arcade gaming first!

Hit the jump for some more info, vids as well as some notes on the location tests.

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Weekend reading: SEGA games underrated and overlooked?

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Another week and another time for me to show you some good stories I read around the interwebs, today I give you two list that list SEGA’s games as ‘underrated’ or ‘overlooked’. Isn’t that odd? Especially considering that the ‘underrated’ list has games that rated rather well, like Demon’s Souls did better with critics than Final Fantasy XIII (as did Valkyria Chronicles).

If you’re an American, enjoy 4th of July, which is today (look at the post date). Get drink, come on SEGAbits and click random links. Please, don’t forget to leave a drunken message, you know how much we love those.

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New Sonic Colors artwork & screens

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A new batch of Sonic Colors screens and some artwork have made it to the net, here they are in all their colorful glory. Look at the above scree, it even says enjoy, so don’t whine. Just sit back and enjoy.

I have to admit, the more I see of this game, the more excited I get. I bet there is a million ways this game can fall flat, but so far so good. Hit the jump for more screens.

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Used game sales in Japan 2009: Yakuza 3 charts high

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It’s quite a dubious honour, but Yakuza 3 has become the fourth best selling used game in the whole of Japan for 2009, earning a staggering 230,000 sales used for Japanese retailers. SEGA will feel somewhat uncomfortable with such a high figure, such number is almost 50% of Yakuza 3’s first hand sales which came to around 500,000.  The full list is below

2009 Top 25 Used Game Sales (Famitsu/Enterbrain; 2008-12-28~2009-12-27):

01 [NDS] Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Sky – 378,000 / NEW
02 [PSP] Dissidia: Final Fantasy – 293,000 / 303,000
03 [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G – 267,000 / 650,000
04 [PS3] Yakuza 3 – 230,000 / NEW
05 [PS3] Resident Evil 5 – 229,000 / NEW
06 [NDS] Pokemon Diamond/Pearl – 222,000 / 1,086,000
07 [NDS] Pokemon Platinum – 189,000 / 274,000
08 [PS3] White Knight Chronicles – 186,000 / NEW
09 [NDS] Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride – 173,000 / 354,000
10 [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable – 166,000 / 322,000
11 [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd – 156,000 / 1,161,000
12 [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. – 154,000 / 917,000
13 [PSP] Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce – 153,000 / NEW
14 [PS3] Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 – 143,000 / 147,000
15 [NDS] Animal Crossing: Wild World – 143,000 / 876,000
16 [PS3] Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – 141,000 / 274,000
17 [PS2] Super Robot Wars Z – 140,000 / 204,000
18 [PS2] Final Fantasy XII – 133,000 / 1,016,000
19 [NDS] Dragon Quest IV: The Chapters of the Chosen – 125,000 / 639,000
20 [NDS] Chrono Trigger – 123,000 / 176,000
21 [PS2] Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King – 123,000 / 1,769,000
22 [PSP] Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 – 122,000 / NEW
23 [NDS] Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker – 120,000 / 739,000
24 [PSP] Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam Vs. Gundam – 120,000 / 178,000
25 [PS3] Grand Theft Auto IV – 117,000 / 143,000

[Source: NeoGAF]

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Sonic Free Riders only supports 2 players locally

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Awhile back we posted the Xbox.com listing for Sonic Free Riders, where it said the game would be 4 players offline. Well, Microsoft has edited that listing and now put that the game will only support 2 players locally.  Also, number of players supported via online and co-op are yet to be determined. Last time they said it would support 4 players co-op and 12 players online.

Seems to me that someone at Microsoft jumped the gun or it was a place holder. Most likely a place holder.

[Source: Sonic Stadium]

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