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As most of you will know, it's normal for a manufacturer to buy out small developers when launching a console- thus filling the launch line up. Microsoft did it when they bought Bungie, Sega signed deals with Bizare Creations, and Sony bought a few small developers.
But now things have really gone mad- MS has signed a deal to buy a HUGE chunk of Sega from CSK (the owner of Sega). The deal (which will be officially announced at the end of the week) basically sees MS take ownership of the folling Sega development teams:
Amusment Vision
Wavemaster
Sega Rosso
Sega Sports Franchises
AND....
Sonic Team
Now, the top 4 names are obvious- all have failed to make money since becoming independent: AV have lacked big sales for Rez and only Super mokey ball has done well; Wavemaster haven't had the market they expected from in game sounds; Rosso's projects have all been delayed and their arcade plans have collapsed; Sega Sports games have been on indefinate hold.
These companies were expected to be merged, sold off or just closed completely... and that's what has happened as Sega are about to announce a fifth year loss!
However, Sonic Team is one of Sega's best known names, and holds the rights to games like Sonic, Phantasy Star, NiGHTS!, and several others. To see this sold is just completely unbelievable. (In fact, when I first heard it, I thought it was an April Fools. However, having got in contact with my friends back at Total Video Games and Gaming Age, it turns out their sources say the same. Expect news stories from them tomorrow at about midday).
So, with Sega now rid of one of it's biggest houses, what next for the company?
Sonic
But now things have really gone mad- MS has signed a deal to buy a HUGE chunk of Sega from CSK (the owner of Sega). The deal (which will be officially announced at the end of the week) basically sees MS take ownership of the folling Sega development teams:
Amusment Vision
Wavemaster
Sega Rosso
Sega Sports Franchises
AND....
Sonic Team
Now, the top 4 names are obvious- all have failed to make money since becoming independent: AV have lacked big sales for Rez and only Super mokey ball has done well; Wavemaster haven't had the market they expected from in game sounds; Rosso's projects have all been delayed and their arcade plans have collapsed; Sega Sports games have been on indefinate hold.
These companies were expected to be merged, sold off or just closed completely... and that's what has happened as Sega are about to announce a fifth year loss!
However, Sonic Team is one of Sega's best known names, and holds the rights to games like Sonic, Phantasy Star, NiGHTS!, and several others. To see this sold is just completely unbelievable. (In fact, when I first heard it, I thought it was an April Fools. However, having got in contact with my friends back at Total Video Games and Gaming Age, it turns out their sources say the same. Expect news stories from them tomorrow at about midday).
So, with Sega now rid of one of it's biggest houses, what next for the company?
Sonic
Oh well!
I didn't know it was april fools until Myst told me on MSN! So I had to mock this up!
My pranks over past years have been far better:
Er-no, as a prank, went round posting as er-[something]. He then went back to er-no and admitted he was er-[something]. At which point I come on as er-yes saying that "I'm er-no! Someone stole my name while I was on the er-[something] account!". People believed it for 3 days!
I didn't know it was april fools until Myst told me on MSN! So I had to mock this up!
My pranks over past years have been far better:
Er-no, as a prank, went round posting as er-[something]. He then went back to er-no and admitted he was er-[something]. At which point I come on as er-yes saying that "I'm er-no! Someone stole my name while I was on the er-[something] account!". People believed it for 3 days!
I haven't seen anything on this yet SonicRav, you sure you haven't fallen for an April Fool's day joke?
Damn dirty Bill gates...
;-)
But does Microsoft owning these mean they aren't going to produce games on any other format??? That's what hey thought about Final Fantasy because Sony had a big share of Square, but it hasn't happened... They found a way round it... will they find a way round this or is MS going to let these teams remain multiformat?
;-)
But does Microsoft owning these mean they aren't going to produce games on any other format??? That's what hey thought about Final Fantasy because Sony had a big share of Square, but it hasn't happened... They found a way round it... will they find a way round this or is MS going to let these teams remain multiformat?
Sega are nowhere near as good as Nintendo anyway.
If you look at the SEGA dev network and then the Nintendo one, there' no real comparison.
EAD Vs Sonic Team - EAD Win wiht Mario AND Zelda
Rareware Vs The rest Of Them - Rare win, hands down.
I'm personally looking forward to Virtua Fighter Quest. To be honest, it hgas the potential to be the best adventure game of 2003 in the UK, but it won't beat StarFox in Japan or the US for the 2002 title.
I still think StarFox will be the best game of 2002.
If you look at the SEGA dev network and then the Nintendo one, there' no real comparison.
EAD Vs Sonic Team - EAD Win wiht Mario AND Zelda
Rareware Vs The rest Of Them - Rare win, hands down.
I'm personally looking forward to Virtua Fighter Quest. To be honest, it hgas the potential to be the best adventure game of 2003 in the UK, but it won't beat StarFox in Japan or the US for the 2002 title.
I still think StarFox will be the best game of 2002.
Sega didn't.
CSK who own all of Sega did.
CSK who own all of Sega did.
I think that it's a joke that's gone around like Wildfire.
Both Amusement Vision and Yuji Naka have been working closely with Nintendo. I don't think they'd let Sega sell them so easily...
Both Amusement Vision and Yuji Naka have been working closely with Nintendo. I don't think they'd let Sega sell them so easily...
AV are working on F-zero?
Oh, and it's not all bad news. The current projects, like PSO for the GC, will continue.
Sonic
Oh, and it's not all bad news. The current projects, like PSO for the GC, will continue.
Sonic
I don't believe it, literally.
But suppose it is true, that would end Amusement Vision's work on F-Zero GC.
As for poor Naka and Miyamoto. After finally being able to work together, the honeymoon is ended as Naka's family sells him to work with "rich" Bill Gates, having to leave fellow artist Miyamoto behind.
It's like one of those fairy tail love stories! :-D
I've no doubt that Amusement Vision and Sonic Team would be pretty ticked off at being sold away like that...
I don't believe a word of it.
But suppose it is true, that would end Amusement Vision's work on F-Zero GC.
As for poor Naka and Miyamoto. After finally being able to work together, the honeymoon is ended as Naka's family sells him to work with "rich" Bill Gates, having to leave fellow artist Miyamoto behind.
It's like one of those fairy tail love stories! :-D
I've no doubt that Amusement Vision and Sonic Team would be pretty ticked off at being sold away like that...
I don't believe a word of it.
As most of you will know, it's normal for a manufacturer to buy out small developers when launching a console- thus filling the launch line up. Microsoft did it when they bought Bungie, Sega signed deals with Bizare Creations, and Sony bought a few small developers.
But now things have really gone mad- MS has signed a deal to buy a HUGE chunk of Sega from CSK (the owner of Sega). The deal (which will be officially announced at the end of the week) basically sees MS take ownership of the folling Sega development teams:
Amusment Vision
Wavemaster
Sega Rosso
Sega Sports Franchises
AND....
Sonic Team
Now, the top 4 names are obvious- all have failed to make money since becoming independent: AV have lacked big sales for Rez and only Super mokey ball has done well; Wavemaster haven't had the market they expected from in game sounds; Rosso's projects have all been delayed and their arcade plans have collapsed; Sega Sports games have been on indefinate hold.
These companies were expected to be merged, sold off or just closed completely... and that's what has happened as Sega are about to announce a fifth year loss!
However, Sonic Team is one of Sega's best known names, and holds the rights to games like Sonic, Phantasy Star, NiGHTS!, and several others. To see this sold is just completely unbelievable. (In fact, when I first heard it, I thought it was an April Fools. However, having got in contact with my friends back at Total Video Games and Gaming Age, it turns out their sources say the same. Expect news stories from them tomorrow at about midday).
So, with Sega now rid of one of it's biggest houses, what next for the company?
Sonic
But now things have really gone mad- MS has signed a deal to buy a HUGE chunk of Sega from CSK (the owner of Sega). The deal (which will be officially announced at the end of the week) basically sees MS take ownership of the folling Sega development teams:
Amusment Vision
Wavemaster
Sega Rosso
Sega Sports Franchises
AND....
Sonic Team
Now, the top 4 names are obvious- all have failed to make money since becoming independent: AV have lacked big sales for Rez and only Super mokey ball has done well; Wavemaster haven't had the market they expected from in game sounds; Rosso's projects have all been delayed and their arcade plans have collapsed; Sega Sports games have been on indefinate hold.
These companies were expected to be merged, sold off or just closed completely... and that's what has happened as Sega are about to announce a fifth year loss!
However, Sonic Team is one of Sega's best known names, and holds the rights to games like Sonic, Phantasy Star, NiGHTS!, and several others. To see this sold is just completely unbelievable. (In fact, when I first heard it, I thought it was an April Fools. However, having got in contact with my friends back at Total Video Games and Gaming Age, it turns out their sources say the same. Expect news stories from them tomorrow at about midday).
So, with Sega now rid of one of it's biggest houses, what next for the company?
Sonic