Sega 2013 "We release awesome games and tell nobody!"; " READ POST 498

[Blue Blood]

Which particular department/studio are we talking? SEGA's constantly going through restructuring at the mo', and in Europe they're focusing much more on PC endeavours (cited as a reason for Lost World being published by Nintendo). 

[TheOcelot]

If I recall correctly, when SEGA had the massive restructure a few months back SoE were heavily effected. So I guess this shouldn't come as a total surprise.

[Tani Coyote]

Let us look at the silver lining: if there are job cuts, perhaps it's not because of financial difficulties, but because the jobs just aren't needed anymore. The loss of jobs to carriage operators in the wake of automobiles was sad for those operators, but ultimately restructuring for efficiency is good for everyone else. In the modern information era, geography's increasingly less important, never mind how much more stuff is automated.

At least, that's if it's for efficiency. If it's for financial issues, well, that's not good at all.

[TheOcelot]

From the SEGA Blog:

 

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I and II are Now Available on OUYA! Sonic CD to follow.

 

"Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I and II are now available on OUYA for $6.99 (USD) each with free trial levels to play through (see Free-To-Try details below). Simply fire up your OUYA, download them from DISCOVER, the OUYA store, and collect those rings in an all-new gaming experience. Stay tuned as Sonic CD will be coming to OUYA soon!

 

Sonic 4 Episode I
Game Details

EXCLUSIVE OUYA FREE TO TRY
Download Sonic 4 Episode I and play through the first level, Splash Hill Zone, for free!

 

The sequel that fans have waited 16 years for is finally here – Sonic The Hedgehog™ 4 Episode I!

Featuring enhanced gameplay elements, including the classic Sonic Spin Dash, and the versatile Homing Attack, Sonic 4 picks up right where Sonic and Knuckles™ left off.

 

NEW MOVES
All of Sonic’s classic moves are available, including the newer Homing Attack which will add a new level of control and excitement.

 

CLASSIC SONIC STAGES
Race through 4 unique zones containing 4 acts each as well as 7 special stages.

 

SPECIAL STAGES RETURN
A staple of the Genesis-era games, the special stages return allowing fans to collect the 7 Chaos Emeralds and unlock Super Sonic.

 

REVAMPED CLASSIC BOSS BATTLES
Dr. Eggman returns with new and improved mechas and will go berserk when he accumulates damage.

 

Sonic 4 Episode II
Game Details

EXCLUSIVE OUYA FREE TO TRY
Download Sonic 4 Episode II and play through the first two levels, A New Frontier and Snow Blind Wonderland, for free!

 

The Sonic 4 Saga continues in Episode II with the return of a beloved side kick and fan-favorite villains!

Following the events of Episode I, and complete with two levels free-to-try, another OUYA exclusive, Metal Sonic has returned to form a formidable alliance with Dr. Eggman! To face this new evil, Sonic will have to call upon an old friend to help him save the day! Now joined by Tails, race across four brand new Zones and take down fearsome new badniks with deadly combination moves in order to put an end to this dastardly duo’s plans!"

 

Cool I guess. Oh and as for................ 

 

"The sequel that fans have waited 16 years for is finally here"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztVMib1T4T4

Edited July 8, 2013 by -Bender-

[Tani Coyote]

Yeah, I was about to say. They really should have just called it Sonic Whatever and not 4, it'd be far less panned if they did that (it would just be meh, instead of terribad; always beware of naming a game a sequel to a highly-received one).

Then again with their choice of name for Sonic 06... we've determined they aren't exactly competent at nomenclature.

[Your Vest Friend]

Calling it something other than Sonic 4 wouldn't have generated nearly as much interest in it in the first place. It ended up backfiring, but you can see why they did it. 

[Tani Coyote]

Calling it something other than Sonic 4 wouldn't have generated nearly as much interest in it in the first place. It ended up backfiring, but you can see why they did it.

A fair point. A rare moment of SEGA actually showing some marketing savvy!

Now... if only they didn't tend to be so hit or miss with actual game design. But I guess that's another topic entirely, now isn't it?

Which is why I really hope the aforementioned staff cuts were for efficiency purposes and not money issues. Otherwise it doesn't bode well.

Edited July 9, 2013 by Ogilvie Maurice

[Blue Blood]

Another lawsuit- this time it's SEGA suing THQ

Sega has sued bankrupt THQ over the Steam pre-orders of Company of Heroes 2.

 

The company has asked for $941,710.93 (£630,000), the amount that THQ made from 20,755 sales between September 2012 and January 24, 2013, reports Eurogamer.

 

Sega purchased the Company of Heroes IP along with developer Relic Entertainment for $26.6 million after THQ's assets were put up for sale.

 

Sega claims that $508,877.85 of the amount it is owed is entitled to priority because Steam owner Valve paid the money to THQ after the day it filed for bankruptcy protection, December 19 2012.

 

Sega joins a growing list of creditors demanding money from the company.

 

THQ could owe over $200 million in total.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Blue Blood

[Badnik Mechanic]

Anyone going to comic con?

 

The Sega Arcade is coming for it's third year.

 

Confirmed games which are playable to the general public.

 

Sonic Lost world

 

Rome 2 Total War

 

Castle of illusion.

 

Hatsue Miku diva F

 

 

Opening times are as follows.

• Wednesday 7:00pm – 10:00pm
• Thursday 12:00pm – 9:00pm
• Friday 12:00pm – 9:00pm
• Saturday 12:00pm – 9:00pm
• Sunday 11:00am – 7:00pm

Oh and...

 

We will have food and themed beverages (along with cold water and soda) available for purchase.

 

Non comic con badge holders are welcome to attend.

 

http://blogs.sega.com/2013/07/10/sega-arcade-returns-to-san-diego-comic-con/?q6013988=1

[TheOcelot]

Sonic Dash passes 20 million mark and Sonic Jump up to 8 million downloads

 

Built-for-mobile games Sonic Jump and Sonic Dash are spiking big download numbers, and UK Sega dev Hardlight Studios believes they can still rise significantly. Chief Technical Officer Chris Southall told Joystiq vertical platormer Jump is up to 8 million downloads, while endless runner Dash is at a whopping 20 million. Furthermore, each day sees 1 million active Dash-ers, as well as 100,000 new users jog onto the game, some several months after it was released.

Jump, released last October, is a paid download, while Dash is free-to-play after initially requiring a purchase when it raced out in March of this year. Southall said Dash offered a more "natural" fit for the speedy IP than Jump, and he feels there's plenty of scope for growth with the 3D runner, including bringing it to Japan where it remains unreleased.

"You can just see that Sonic is such a big IP; we haven't actually done any advertising or user acquisition yet on Sonic Dash," Southall told us. "We're doing updates through the year, we're going to to keep doing that, and using the learning we've gained as a studio. And [we're going to] start to actually advertise the game and push it more. So hopefully where we are now with Sonic Dash is kind of the beginning rather than the end."

Hardlight recently internally signed off on its next mobile game, Southall told us, before adding that this one won't be a Sonic adventure, but something for another "big Sega IP." He wouldn't be budged on anything more specific than an ETA for open beta, which is early 2014, and the possible option to play it in landscape mode as well as in portrait.

"With the next game we want to facilitate a little bit more ability to move it to other platforms, so one of the things that we're looking at right now is allowing the player to play in landscape mode as well as portrait mode," Southall noted. "As well as the some obvious choices with consoles, there are also some of the newer Android-based consoles, and maybe stuff that Apple's doing would be more amenable to controllers and landscape mode rather than portrait mode, maybe bigger displays. So we're definitely thinking about all that stuff."

 

 

 

They are going to start advertising Sonic Dash? *faints*

 

Something for another big SEGA IP. I wonder what it could be?

Edited July 11, 2013 by Adam West -Bender-

[Blue Blood]

I'm soooo unsurprised that a free to play Sonic game has hit 20million+ downloads, but pleased nonetheless.. I wonder how it's doing profits wise though. I don't think the micro-transactions in the game are very appealing. Users have very little to gain from them.

[LordMetallix]

You know what I would love to see? A Nights mobile score attack game where it works like in the original Nights except instead of going for all the orbs you are just trying to get the best score. 

Now THAT I'd lap up in a heartbeat.

Edited July 11, 2013 by LordMetallix

[Tani Coyote]

Another lawsuit- this time it's SEGA suing THQ

 

Dear god, why would someone even bother trying to sue a bankrupt company? That's like the definition of stupid.

I guess it is technically insurance, however. As I remember from business law, it just means that if THQ ever resumes operation in some way or form that it will have to pay all its debts (not all at once, however; they'd just have to arrange a plan). There are no free lunches.

Anyone going to comic con?

My friend and I tried to get a ticket but they sold like hot cakes. Probably for the best given that Boom never made it to California this year anyway.

As I recall they set up an arcade in LA during the year 2011 didn't they?

If so, I'm hoping there's an arcade in St. Louis this year. Would be a good time waster while waiting for those doors to open.

Well, that and it gives me a chance to get a photo with the Blue God himself. Don't get to do that as much at Boom since it's some time constrained.

 

They are going to start advertising Sonic Dash? *faints*

 

Hooray! The game is doing fantastic, so all is well!

I'm hoping they get to adding more characters eventually. Nothing sells to the broken base like adding pet favorites.

 

I wonder how it's doing profits wise though. I don't think the micro-transactions in the game are very appealing. Users have very little to gain from them.

It was doing fantastic last I checked. They had a "hottest purchases" or something of the sort on their page and it looked like Dash was getting quite a few. Those microtransactions apparently go a long way.

...still ponder what the hell the headstarts' purpose is. They're good for one section of the run at the start, and that's a section you can do just fine in anyway if you've gained any skill.

[Tenko]

You know what I would love to see? A Nights mobile score attack game where it works like in the original Nights except instead of going for all the orbs you are just trying to get the best score.

Now THAT I'd lap up in a heartbeat.

Didn't they already do that in NiGHTS Score Attack on the GBA? Sure it was a download via Billy Hatcher on Gamecube, but it was still a thing. Would be rather easy to port to phones I imagine. You might get your wish...one day.

[kimplix]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj24MJRq4C4

 

Sonic dancing with the scandilly clad ladies at E3... I am no longer suprised anymore.

I do hate the Just Dance series, But this is just perfect X3

[Tani Coyote]

I do hate the Just Dance series, But this is just perfect X3

 

My favorite part is they actually escort him off the dance floor. He was just too good at keeping everyone's attention off them with his funky moves, apparently. It could have been worse, he could have been doing the Gangnam Style dance or something.

 

It is neat to see him mingling with other franchises though... now if only SEGA got around to making some actual crossovers.

[Willsy]

Apparently he was escorted off because Sega needed him back at their booth. It wasn't the ladies being mean or anything.

[Tani Coyote]

Apparently he was escorted off because Sega needed him back at their booth. It wasn't the ladies being mean or anything.

 

Seems the person who dresses up as Sonic is as rebellious as the actual character...

 

Well. At least they got the right personality for him!

[Badnik Mechanic]

Hardlights next game is due 2014.

 

It's a mobile game, however it's not a Sonic game, but it is a big Sega IP. Also hints it may come to Vita/3DS.

 

"With the next game we want to facilitate a little bit more ability to move it to other platforms, so one of the things that we're looking at right now is allowing the player to play in landscape mode as well as portrait mode," Southall noted. "

 

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/11/sonic-dash-passes-20-million-mark-sonic-jump-up-to-8-million/

[SuperLink]

Hardlights next game is due 2014.

 

It's a mobile game, however it's not a Sonic game, but it is a big Sega IP. Also hints it may come to Vita/3DS.

 

"With the next game we want to facilitate a little bit more ability to move it to other platforms, so one of the things that we're looking at right now is allowing the player to play in landscape mode as well as portrait mode," Southall noted. "

 

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/11/sonic-dash-passes-20-million-mark-sonic-jump-up-to-8-million/

If Hardlight are being given permission to work on other SEGA IPs and bring those to consoles in some form this could be the start of something pretty great.

 

I mean what if they got to work on some mini Streets of Rage game or something from ~that age~? We can dream.

[ArtFenix]

I suspect they may replace Dimps eventually. If they will be better than Dimps, that is.

[Blue Blood]

I suspect they may replace Dimps eventually. If they will be better than Dimps, that is.

 

Considering the work that Dimps and HardLight do, it find that highly unlikely. Dimps are a Japanese development team that work closely with Sonic Team to produce big titles for the series. HardLight by comparison are much more separated from Sonic Team, and make titles of a completely different calibre to tackle a different side of SEGA's business. I would love for Dimps to get the boot and for HardLight to replace them if they were up to snuff, but I don't think that's happening.

[ArtFenix]

Considering the work that Dimps and HardLight do, it find that highly unlikely. Dimps are a Japanese development team that work closely with Sonic Team to produce big titles for the series. HardLight by comparison are much more separated from Sonic Team, and make titles of a completely different calibre to tackle a different side of SEGA's business. I would love for Dimps to get the boot and for HardLight to replace them if they were up to snuff, but I don't think that's happening.

Yeah but what if they ever got a permission/request to develop a 2D Sonic game? I may be wrong but I don't think anyone from professional companies can make worse level design than Dimps.

[Indigo Rush]

I wonder if they'll make a new NiGHTS. That could be interesting with a touchscreen.

[Hero of Legend]

Hopefully whatever Hardlight is making is getting a 3DS port in this case.

 

If it's a cartoony franchise (like Sonic), fair chance it'll have better selling potential on 3DS than Vita, I think that's fair to say.

 

And aside from SASRT, what other Sega game was on 3DS and Vita? So I think if it goes to handhelds, it will be on one, who knows, Sega's not exactly a company that ports mobile games.

 

But I do have to acknowledge JSR and other DC games, they did go to Vita and mobile devices...

Edited July 14, 2013 by Hero of Legend