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Sega Studios To Be Amalgamated In Sammy Merger
jasoncart writes "News from Japan today informs us that the Sega-Sammy merger is progressing apace ahead of the October completion date, with the announcement of new appointments at the holding firm, and news that 'Sega's seven internal divisions, including famous studios such as AM2 and Sonic Team, will be amalgamated ahead of the merger.' Sammy boss Hajime Satomi argues: 'I feel that Sega has high individual capabilities, but it's too separated into different subsidiaries... It's about time that we returned back to the old Sega' - there's also a new company logo for the holding company. At a time of great change for Sega, the only thing now certain is this great shift, with which Sammy aims to push Sega back into profitability."
Maybe the reason I can't think of more Sega stuff is the advertising. Sega used to have FANTASTIC advertising. I already mentioned the Sega scream. I remember the commercial for the Game Gear where they had a guy playing a Genesis on a plane and there was a big orange extention cord that went to the ground, and after a second the cord got pulled out of the wall and the guy couldn't play any more. Then they showed the teenager next to him playing Sonic on the Game Gear and talked about how great it was. Then the flight attendant came up with the cart and asked the question that I will never forget: "Coffee? Tea? Water? SEGA!!!".
And how about those awesome commercials they had for the Saturn. Remember the "Theater of the Eye" commercials? Where they'd show some of the awesome graphics of the system (often Panzer Dragoon, IIRC).
Maybe Sega could use some help in the brand name department. Make it stronger, like it used to be.
Also, yes I have played Sonic Advanced 1 and 2 and they were great games, but we need more than that (before anyone mentions them). They also "felt" different than the old school Sonics, but I'm not quite sure how. Starting with just releasing the "four main" Sonic games as a GBA cart would be great (1, 2, 3, and Sonic & Knuckles). Or release Sonic CD for the GBA. You could compress the music, and the platform is powerfull enough you could do a very good job of it.
PS: Sonic CD is my all time favorite Sonic game, I think it's the best they ever made. Too bad so many people have never played it.
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
Well the Super Monkey Ball series is pretty much incapable of sucking.
Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!