SEGA: We are Not for Sale
Celebrates Mario & Sonic instead
6 Mar 2008
SEGA is celebrating five million global sales of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - we would assume that Nintendo's quite chuffed as well.
Obviously, with the political situation in China being what it is, and athletes being barred from commenting, neither the fat plumber nor the Blue Blur were available to comment.
However, slipped into the Reuters report on the celebrations was an interview with former Electronic Arts marketing legend and current chief executive of Sega Sammy Holdings (America), Simon Jeffrey. Aside from pointing out that, “I don't think we believed in our wildest dreams that it would sell 5 million units in just three months" - which is refreshing, Simon also touched on the new world of consolidation.
With EA bidding for Take-Two, and Vivendi and Activision welcoming the ActiBlizzard marriage, everybody would now appear to be prey or hunter. Not SEGA though, apparently.
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“That's not an area we want to play in right now. We have no interest in being acquired, we are very happy with our position right now", said Jeffrey.
As Reuters points out, "Sega ranks as the sixth-biggest game publisher in the United States by revenue, according to market research firm NPD." So, it's intriguing that SEGA should position itself as prey rather than predator in the consolidation killing zone.
Still, Mario and Sonic do make a lovely couple...
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Comments
4 comments posted.
Well, the gaming public probably wouldn't mind more games like M&S and Mario/Sonic Party, especially as they sell well and are far removed from the likes of recent media scapegoats like Bully.
But actually, that isn't why I want Nintendo to buy Sega.
You make my point for me by saying that Sega did a good job with F-Zero - you're quite right, they did, so the dev team(s) involved would be a great fit to carry on with the series.
And as for Sonic - well, I reckon Nintendo should have a stab at making a sonic platformer - can't be any worse than Sega's efforts with the character (Sonic Rush excluded, that was pretty good).
As far Sega's sole output being Sonic, I'm well aware of this too. I think by buying Sega, Nintendo could use the other IPs to great effect - don't Sega own the devs behind Football Manager? Brilliant, I'd love a wiimote version of FM2009 to be released, and what about the dads who've been tricked into playing the Wii with their kids, maybe they'd enjoy it too? If anything, this would aid Nintendo with their market expansion, a game like FM could really carry if it had a Ninty slant, or at least I think it could.
Honestly, Sega and Nintendo could be good for each other if they played to each other's strengths. It doesn't have to be a Mario and Sonic deal.
You're right that Sega also needs to give its fans a little more love too - didn't they do the Golden Compass? Uggh. That decision would have been Sammy pressing the "need more money" button surely?
First comment
Posted by Horatio
I want Nintendo to buy Sega. That would be lovely :-P
Latest comment
Posted by Horatio
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
Yeah because what the world really needs is another Mario & Sonic, or Sonic Party VII. ;)
Seriously, not Nintendo. It took SEGA to make Nintendo's work more interesting (F-Zero GX). They've been going down the crapper mostly because people think 'Sonic = All of SEGA's output'. False. (Recent) Sonic games are shit. SEGA is, generally, not.
Although I do wish they'd stop doing movie tie-ins and focus more on things like Yakuza and Valkyrie Chronicles and make new Shining Forces and Phantasy Stars. Come on SEGA, sort it out.
Seriously, not Nintendo. It took SEGA to make Nintendo's work more interesting (F-Zero GX). They've been going down the crapper mostly because people think 'Sonic = All of SEGA's output'. False. (Recent) Sonic games are shit. SEGA is, generally, not.
Although I do wish they'd stop doing movie tie-ins and focus more on things like Yakuza and Valkyrie Chronicles and make new Shining Forces and Phantasy Stars. Come on SEGA, sort it out.
Well, the gaming public probably wouldn't mind more games like M&S and Mario/Sonic Party, especially as they sell well and are far removed from the likes of recent media scapegoats like Bully.
But actually, that isn't why I want Nintendo to buy Sega.
You make my point for me by saying that Sega did a good job with F-Zero - you're quite right, they did, so the dev team(s) involved would be a great fit to carry on with the series.
And as for Sonic - well, I reckon Nintendo should have a stab at making a sonic platformer - can't be any worse than Sega's efforts with the character (Sonic Rush excluded, that was pretty good).
As far Sega's sole output being Sonic, I'm well aware of this too. I think by buying Sega, Nintendo could use the other IPs to great effect - don't Sega own the devs behind Football Manager? Brilliant, I'd love a wiimote version of FM2009 to be released, and what about the dads who've been tricked into playing the Wii with their kids, maybe they'd enjoy it too? If anything, this would aid Nintendo with their market expansion, a game like FM could really carry if it had a Ninty slant, or at least I think it could.
Honestly, Sega and Nintendo could be good for each other if they played to each other's strengths. It doesn't have to be a Mario and Sonic deal.
You're right that Sega also needs to give its fans a little more love too - didn't they do the Golden Compass? Uggh. That decision would have been Sammy pressing the "need more money" button surely?
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