Yet another developer shuts their doors.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...in-liquidation


Another one. First THQ, then LucasArts. EA's CEO steps down and closes EA Canada, SqaureEnix annouces changes and posts losses and now another developer dissapears.

I seriously think more major developers are going to shut doors. The software market is in SERIOUS trouble folks. Publishing Triple AAA games poses serious risks in losses in returns.


Let's face it. Budgets of games and development costs have reached overinflation and that if console manufacturers don't develop hardware that lowers development costs, the industry would begin to collaspe. I kept saying this 4 years ago and was scoffed at by many.

I am so glad SEGA is moving further and further away from 3rd party retail publishing, and even more pleased at the paperwork they've filed. Your time is coming to return back to 1st party SEGA. Shuttering the 3rd party divisions last year was definitely smart and has helped SEGA save budget.

To think, the asshat Sega Forum admin Clumsy said SEGA should move back into full 3rd party AAA publishing and Simon Jeffery said he wanted SEGA to become more like THQ.

Interesting how you twisted an article about Eden Games into an agenda pusher...

Nobody knows what Sega is up to. If they release a new console great, I'll probably buy one like a fool. If not, well nothing lost. If Sega can't make first party-quality games like Nintendo now, I doubt they ever will.

Sega AU is shutting down too huh ?

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Originally Posted by Guntz

Interesting how you twisted an article about Eden Games into an agenda pusher...

Nobody knows what Sega is up to. If they release a new console great, I'll probably buy one like a fool. If not, well nothing lost. If Sega can't make first party-quality games like Nintendo now, I doubt they ever will.

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The point I'm trying to make is how much their decision to publish PC,mobile,digital and portable only content is paying off for them and that its obvious that the inflated budgets of retail console games are beginning to drag down publishers and are bleeding developers dry.

As for SEGA, the time is indeed coming for them to go back to publishing 1st party retail games. If they return, it will lead to the cost and budget of 3rd party retail software being significantly cut. Sega has spent over 7 years trying to develop ways to lower development costs so developers have smaller budgets for big name titles and IPs.


Of course we don't know what SEGA is up to. All we have is paperwork that clearly are signs that they are changing course. That the company is going towards different markets.

The other "ORBI" trademark and it latest updates indicates that Sega is forming a new R&D department of some sorts.

http://www.trademarkia.com/orbi-85517235.html





If more developers close doors, it will bolster the argument that SEGA should abandon retail publishing altogether.

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Originally Posted by Vector

Sega AU is shutting down too huh ?

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Sega of Europe closed down mostly all of its European 3rd party console studios last summer as well. This summer, Sega AU will close which is what's left that Euro software grouping.

While nobody can be sure what this entails, it could likely be related to whatever "Orbi" is.

I liked Eden Games for their experimental take on Alone in the Dark and for Kya: Dark Lineage.

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I liked Eden Games for their experimental take on Alone in the Dark and for Kya: Dark Lineage.

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I'll admit, most of the Test Drive games were hit and miss and they did contribute alot for Infogrames before they brought the "Atari" name.

Is Atari US the 1% of what used to be original Atari ? I think Atari US broke off from Atari France because Atari US was making 75% of Atari France money so they became of their own parent company, which I think both of those were subs of Infrogames who bought Atari in 2001 before it split into 2 Ataris in 90s ? I heard one of the original co-CEOs of Atari now is CEO of one of the Ataris. And maybe Atari US has the original rights to Atari name which was passed around like a hooker, but I'm not sure.

At least Sega isn't that bad yet.

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Originally Posted by Vector

Is Atari US the 1% of what used to be original Atari ? I think Atari US broke off from Atari France because Atari US was making 75% of Atari France money so they became of their own parent company, which I think both of those were subs of Infrogames who bought Atari in 2001 before it split into 2 Ataris in 90s ? I heard one of the original co-CEOs of Atari now is CEO of one of the Ataris. And maybe Atari US has the original rights to Atari name which was passed around like a hooker, but I'm not sure.

At least Sega isn't that bad yet.

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Atari has gone through several cycles of restructuring. The first was in July 1984 when Atari,Inc was sold to Commodore by Warner Communications, the second was in May 1996 when Commodore parent company JTP filed for Chapter 11 and dissolved Atari Corporation, the third was when on March 7,2003 Atari Games,Inc filed Chapter 7 and liquidated all assets and properties to French developer "Infogrames" who brought the "Atari" name as well.

SEGA is actually in very healthy financial shape. Their whole company revenue has been strong since 2009. SEGA's profit has come mostly from outside of the software retail market. Their actually in the best shape they've been in since the Saturn years.

Here's their stock. Its had quite a week. Been going up the past few days.

http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/sgamy#.UWjOMaLqmro

http://www.morningstar.com/invest/st...s-inc-adr.html

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Originally Posted by MrSega

As for SEGA, the time is indeed coming for them to go back to publishing 1st party retail games. If they return, it will lead to the cost and budget of 3rd party retail software being significantly cut. Sega has spent over 7 years trying to develop ways to lower development costs so developers have smaller budgets for big name titles and IPs.

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Are you implying that by New Sega licensing out their franchises, and giving them next to nothing for financial backing, they're somehow saving the industry by setting a precedent that quality can be created cheaply?

Or are you even more delusional than that, and somehow implying that Sega themselves will offer developers easier, open, and more accessible than ever tools for the future.


In either case, there's a ridiculous sense of strength behind their position in the industry being put forward here.

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Originally Posted by MrSega

Of course we don't know what SEGA is up to. All we have is paperwork that clearly are signs that they are changing course. That the company is going towards different markets.

The other "ORBI" trademark and it latest updates indicates that Sega is forming a new R&D department of some sorts.

http://www.trademarkia.com/orbi-85517235.html


If more developers close doors, it will bolster the argument that SEGA should abandon retail publishing altogether.

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Sega is a publishing brand more than anything else these days. There's no loyalty or recognition for them in the next gen gamers, and you're lucky if most 20 year olds were caught up in the tail end of the Dreamcast years. All they have is Sonic, and a bunch of niche titles that barely break even.


The old Sega is dead. Get over it.

If you look at the morningstar qoute, SEGA's equity has turned around in the past 15 years. And their debt has almost vanished. Sega's liability has also drastically decreased. I also looked at Sony's qoute, and it would seem that they are piling on debt and carrying a wideload of liability.

KD "The Sega of old is dead". No. CSK is. And that's a good thing. They were a badly run parent company.

FYI, SEGA has gone out & renewed ALL of its old "Sega Enterprises,L.T.D." properties, so the "SEGA of old" is alive and kicking.

And what's this? "Puyo Puyo TV Sega console retrospective", "Samurai & Dragons console mascots","Sega console theme Laptops", "a public Sega console exhibit at Game Developers Conference '13", & "NEW Dreamcast memorabilia for the first time since 2003",.

The SEGA of old is definatly ALIVE.

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Originally Posted by MrSega

If you look at the morningstar qoute, SEGA's equity has turned around in the past 15 years. And their debt has almost vanished. Sega's liability has also drastically decreased. I also looked at Sony's qoute, and it would seem that they are piling on debt and carrying a wideload of liability.

KD "The Sega of old is dead". No. CSK is. And that's a good thing. They were a badly run parent company.

FYI, SEGA has gone out & renewed ALL of its old "Sega Enterprises,L.T.D." properties, so the "SEGA of old" is alive and kicking.

And what's this? "Puyo Puyo TV Sega console retrospective", "Samurai & Dragons console mascots","Sega console theme Laptops", "a public Sega console exhibit at Game Developers Conference '13", & "NEW Dreamcast memorabilia for the first time since 2003",.

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Sega stopped spending money and started being more fiscally conservative. Renewing licenses and trademarks isn't out of the ordinary for any company.
The only way they could do hardware again is if they were incredibly innovative at competing for customers, and backed by being someone else's puppet.

What leverage would Sega have over the massive competition in the hardware market these days, aside from it's constantly fading brand? What could Sega itself offer that would sell enough consoles to merit 3rd party support, if Sony and Nintendo's current Vita & Wii U struggles are any measure? You need to reassess the point I'm making by saying Sega is dead. I'm saying that all the guys who made Sega what it was, have moved on. Their huge legacy is mostly in the hands of new people. The only real value is their namesake which loses it's relevance every day.

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Originally Posted by MrSega

The SEGA of old is definatly ALIVE.

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Originally Posted by Knuckle Duster

Sega stopped spending money and started being more fiscally conservative. Renewing licenses and trademarks isn't out of the ordinary for any company.
The only way they could do hardware again is if they were incredibly innovative at competing for customers, and backed by being someone else's puppet.

What leverage would Sega have over the massive competition in the hardware market these days, aside from it's constantly fading brand? What could Sega itself offer that would sell enough consoles to merit 3rd party support, if Sony and Nintendo's current Vita & Wii U struggles are any measure? You need to reassess the point I'm making by saying Sega is dead. I'm saying that all the guys who made Sega what it was, have moved on. Their huge legacy is mostly in the hands of new people. The only real value is their namesake which loses it's relevance every day.

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Based on the research and paperwork I've read, SEGA has future plans to go beyond gaming & into diverse markets.

What could they bring to the home game front? How about a "Mainstream Tablet gaming console". Something nobody has even tried yet.

And I have every reason to suspect that SEGA has over a dozen different partnerships & joint ventures planned especially with their hardware dept with larger companies.

They aren't going to execute this "Orbi" idea alone. In order to successfully execute all of that, they're going to need renforcements.

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Originally Posted by MrSega

Based on the research and paperwork I've read, SEGA has future plans to go beyond gaming & into diverse markets.

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Merchandising isn't news. It's life support for the brand.

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Originally Posted by MrSega

What could they bring to the home game front? How about a "Mainstream Tablet gaming console". Something nobody has even tried yet.

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There's flawed logic with this notion. Tablet gaming is horrible in the eyes of traditional gamers, there is nothing remotely mainstream about Sega, and it would involve stepping into a market filled with Nexus & iPad variants & their massive software distribution channels. It would be nothing for Apple or Google to completely kill anybody in the market.

You want tablet gaming with real buttons, easy development tools and connectivity options? Get a Vita.

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Originally Posted by MrSega

And I have every reason to suspect that SEGA has over a dozen different partnerships & joint ventures planned especially with their hardware dept with larger companies.

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I have every reason to suspect that they build amusement machines and urinal games you piss on to play... because they exist.

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Originally Posted by MrSega

They aren't going to execute this "Orbi" idea alone. In order to successfully execute all of that, they're going to need renforcements.

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They aren't going to execute "THIS" Orbi pipe dream of yours at all. The market is fragmented & if they shift into overlapping the tablet market, it's even worse.

You would hypothetically steer this company toward economic suicide. You mock someone suggesting a while back that Sega should be more like THQ, and you suggest they go for releasing a tablet in the face of giants like Apple, Google, and the Windows 8 market. That's ridiculous irony.


All of this is wishful thinking on your part, rooted in a reality that believes Sega is somehow more influential than it ever was. You're a fanboy with too much bias backing up your reasoning skills.

@Knuckles Duster. Wrong on all fronts.

You need to seriously do research. SEGA is in great shape financially. In black. If you'd bothered to look up their financials. You'd find out your wrong.

I love how you claim Vita is somehow capable of competing as a tablet, when the "portable" has proven to be a dismal FAILURE worldwide.

And NO, you DON'T know what "Orbi" is and what it entails. You are clueless and
oblivious to Sega's motives. They have several Amusment parks already, and aren't investing in another.

Thanks for debate. :)