Industry News | Sega Speaks Nintendo Wii and Next Generation

By Jorge Ba-oh 30.06.2006 27

GameDaily recently spoke with Sega of America's VP of Marketing, Scott Steinberg, discussing Sega's approach to the next-generation of gaming and their plans and thoughts on Nintendo's "New Generation" effort, Wii.

Interview Summary

  • Sega is supporting all three platforms with new and existing brands as launch and post-launch titles.
  • Sega has the capacity and scale to support all three consoles in different ways.
  • The Wii Sonic exclusive will ship in March 2007 (estimated).
  • Super Monkey Banna Blitz remains a launch title.
  • "Nintendo's, which has such a unique architecture to it that we mentally really have to think differently."
  • Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3/Xbox) will be a launch title for the PS3.
  • Full Auto 2: Battlelines is also a PS3 launch title.
  • Virtual Fighter 3 is the final PS3 title in Sega's initial support.
  • "I've been asked this question a lot and it's difficult to put it [in terms] of the kind of relationship you want, headline type relationship, because it's like buying a car... You can buy a $100,000 car or you can buy a $20,000 car. Next-gen games don't automatically cost $20 million dollars."
  • "There's a bit of a design, creative learning curve on how to fully exploit the nunchuks and Sega is already thinking about its second generation software. So if they're not already here, they probably weren't on board at the beginning and the companies are going to have a harder time thinking about ways to innovate and Sega's already thinking second generation."
  • Shenmue III ? "I really can't answer that, although I will say that we look very closely at our IP and a few days ago we [announced] the comeback of Golden Axe...part of our mission is to look at our library of IP and be real selective and smart about which ones we bring out, which ones are "next-genable" and creatively that we bring something new to the table with them."

    The complete interview can be read on GameDaily.

    Stick with C3 for future updates...

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    m0nt is offline. m0nt 30.06.2006#1

    Mmmmm... Shenmue Wii.

    Erm... yeh.
     
    Martin is offline. Martin 30.06.2006#2

    Golden Axe? Fucking awesome!

    GAMER7.
     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#3

    Golden Axe is on 360 and PS3, no Wii version announced. Smilie Though maybe there'll be a port, using the remote as a weapon...

    I like that they're already thinking of second generation titles, even while they're developing two, while other developers don't even have one yet. I bet the second wave involves a Virtua Tennis and House of the Dead title.

     
    Martin is offline. Martin 30.06.2006#4

    Well, I'm getting a 360, so I'm not too bothered. Smilie

    Interested to see what Sega will do with the hardware, though.

    GAMER7.
     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#5

    I'll end with a 360 or PS3 at some point, so I'll get to play it in the end. Been wanting a new Golden Axe for ages!

     
    Buddah is offline. Buddah 30.06.2006#6

    yeh Goldenaxe was classic. Golden Axe 2 was poo though.

     
    jb is offline. jb 30.06.2006#7

    Yeah, I'm a bit dissapointed by this interview though. When Nintendo say "cater for everyone", developers instantly make friendly "happy" games.

    So are people who enjoy more adult/mature titles excluded or something?

    Cubed3 Admin/Founder & Designer
     
    Raff is offline. Raff 30.06.2006#8

    Well if 'fun for all the family films' are actualy all shitty kids bollocks, then a 'fun for all the family console' is destined to be laiden with shitty kids bollocks for the same market.

    All the publishers have said things along the lines of 'when we learnt about the Wii, we looked at our franchises and [cutesy platformer] fitted the audience best.

    Thank lord for Nibris.

    It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#9

    Also for Grasshopper, Capcom, Ubisoft and Nintendo themselves.

     
    Raff is offline. Raff 30.06.2006#10

    Grasshopper?

    I'm sure they said all the people who'd worked on Killer7 and Michigan etc were working on a PS3 game, and Heroes will appeal to 'everyone'.

    It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#11

    If you think Suda51 is going to go from Killer7 to something totally family friendly, I'd think you're wrong. The PS3 game is still in design stages only, as they only have enough staff to do one game at a time, and Heroes is that game at the moment.

     
    Raff is offline. Raff 30.06.2006#12

    If you think Suda51 is going to go from Killer7 to something totally family friendly, I'd think you're wrong.

    I was thinking more along the lines of Contact to something more family friendly.Smilie

    It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#13

    Either way, all this cutesy talk doesn't bother me. If they think certain franchises that are more colourful are better suited to Nintendo, so be it. If the games kick arse, I could care less.

     
    TimoteiWest is offline. TimoteiWest 30.06.2006#14

    Oh for goodness sake Sega, just release Shenmue III already, even if its crap just release it so we can all stop waiting! It's driving some of us crazy...

    Ahh! Cobras!

     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#15

    If they released a crap Shenmue we'd never hear the end of it until a decent one was done. They need to release one that'll end the story, a good one.

     
    Raff is offline. Raff 30.06.2006#16

    Maybe it's OK for you, but lots of people like the odd moody game with sophisticated and edgey themes. That's the main audiance that Nintendo is missing and has always missed.

    TimoteiWest said:
    Oh for goodness sake Sega, just release Shenmue III already, even if its crap just release it so we can all stop waiting! Its driving some of us crazy...Ahh! Cobras!

    No.

    ( Edited on 30.06.2006 15:19 by Der SegaHund )

    ( Edited on 30.06.2006 15:20 by Der SegaHund )

    It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#17

    Der SegaHund said:
    Maybe its OK for you, but lots of people like the odd moody game with sophisticated and edgey themes. Thats the main audiance that Nintendo is missing and has always missed

    I'm one of those people as well. Those games will probably come with the wider audience that Nintendo are going for, but it just might take a bit of time - their reputation needs to build up before lots more developers with 'mature' franchises hop on board. The amount of Ubisoft games going onto the system, Resident Evil and the newer Nintendo franchises (with the exception of WiiSports) will hopefully open the door a bit wider for them if they succeed, we're probably just going to have to wait a bit longer than we would on the likes of PS3 and 360.

    I still don't think Heroes is going to be all cute, even in a Contactish kind of way. Suda51 seems to like creating dark things (Michigan, Killer7, the forthcoming Blood+ One Night Kiss, and the concepts for the PS3 game, Kurayami), and I don't see him foregoing all that creating something to appeal to all the family. Maybe an adventure game with darkish concepts, but nothing as much as K7. Something still feels odd about Heroes to me anyway, with how it's all being kept quiet despite the fact it was supposed to be presented at E3 in the Nintendo conference...

    According to Wikipedia, Kojima and Suda51 have a project 'Project S' for Wii in development, which is rumoured to be a remake of Snatcher, but that can't be confirmed with it being Wikipedia and all, with everybody being able to add stuff. Just thought I'd throw that in here...

     
    patjuan32 is offline. patjuan32 30.06.2006#18

    their reputation needs to build up before lots more developers with 'mature' franchises hop on board

    No, I disagree. Nintendo needs to keep developing games that appeal to everyone. That's the real appeal of Nintendo. Just look at the Xbox 360, it's all ready in trouble because it is a platform where developers only look to produce/develop m-rated games. A console cannot survive on those types of games alone. The Gamecube without a lot of mature games sold just aa well as the Xbox with all of its mature games. A console has to offer gamers a variety. That is what Nintendo is striving for. This is the only way that a console will have a wider audience. Just check the PS2's library of games.

    ( Edited on 30.06.2006 16:17 by patjuan32 )

     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#19

    I'm not saying that they, I, or anybody else wants mature games only. What I was saying is, they need to build up their reputation amongst those who enjoy those games, so that they have a chance to succeed when they are put on the console. They also have to instil faith from the developers. Wii will probably offer more variety and allow everybody to play if they keep persuading developers, but what Grumbler (DerSegahund) is saying is that mature games need to be on the system too. I fully agree with this, but they need to gain faith with developers and audiences before this can happen.

     
    Raff is offline. Raff 30.06.2006#20

    Just look at the Xbox 360, it's all ready in trouble because it is a platform where developers only look to produce/develop m-rated games.

    Most games on the 360 are rated T for Teen, I would think. Can only think of one which is definately m rated - Condemed.

    Don't be confused by America's M-rating, that just means that it takes a mature mind to deal with the content. A mature game by my definition can be free of swearing, violence and sex.

    I'm one of those people as well. Those games will probably come with the wider audience that Nintendo are going for, but it just might take a bit of time - their reputation needs to build up before lots more developers with 'mature' franchises hop on board. The amount of Ubisoft games going onto the system, Resident Evil and the newer Nintendo franchises (with the exception of WiiSports) will hopefully open the door a bit wider for them if they succeed, we're probably just going to have to wait a bit longer than we would on the likes of PS3 and 360.

    I still don't think Heroes is going to be all cute, even in a Contactish kind of way. Suda51 seems to like creating dark things (Michigan, Killer7, the forthcoming Blood+ One Night Kiss, and the concepts for the PS3 game, Kurayami), and I don't see him foregoing all that creating something to appeal to all the family. Maybe an adventure game with darkish concepts, but nothing as much as K7. Something still feels odd about Heroes to me anyway, with how it's all being kept quiet despite the fact it was supposed to be presented at E3 in the Nintendo conference...

    According to Wikipedia, Kojima and Suda51 have a project 'Project S' for Wii in development, which is rumoured to be a remake of Snatcher, but that can't be confirmed with it being Wikipedia and all, with everybody being able to add stuff. Just thought I'd throw that in here...

    I suppose you're right, developers/publishers need to make some dosh off the Wii with stuff that will definately sell before they take too many risks (Nibris don't, because they LOVE YOU LIKE SEGA USED TO).

    But the audience won't wait around playing Wii Sports, they'll invest in consoles that cater for them from the word go. If the Wii provides mature content, and by that I don't mean things that get rated M in the US, they will come. If the Wii doesn't, it'll end up like the GC and they'll just go for the obvious choices of PS3 and 360.

    'build it, and they will come'Smilie

    ( Edited on 30.06.2006 16:33 by Der SegaHund )

    It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
     
    patjuan32 is offline. patjuan32 30.06.2006#21

    Don't be confused by America's M-rating, that just means that it takes a mature mind to deal with the content. A mature game by my definition can be free of swearing, violence and sex.

    Can you be more specific and give an example of a mature game that can clarify your meaning of mature.

    Secondly, Nintendo does not have to with faith with developers in order to have mature games on the Wii. All Nintendo has to do is be willing to license those types of games. Remeber it's all about money. No developer/publisher will risk not making money in this next generation.

    ( Edited on 30.06.2006 20:45 by patjuan32 )

     
    Raff is offline. Raff 30.06.2006#22

    Can you be more specific and give an example of a mature game that can clarify your meaning of mature.

    Can't think of any without any swearing, violence or sex, but basicaly what I mean is that it isn't the swearing, violence and sex that makes it appeal to older people. More story based, but not in a JRPG sense.

    An example of a mature game would be Snatcher. If you took away the gory bits, you still wouldn't buy it for anyone younger than about 14 because they'd probably find it boring.

    ( Edited on 30.06.2006 21:07 by Der SegaHund )

    It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
     
    Mason is offline. Mason 30.06.2006#23

    Shenmue fits into the 'mature' category for me.

     
    Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 01.07.2006#24

    Shenmue III would be wonderfull on the Wii.

    eg. Persistant world, thanks to the low power network connection.

    Hugely realistic in interaction thanks to the controller.

    Also, the Wii's graphics arnt too good.
    It sounds an odd thing to say..but its true.
    It would cost sega absolutely shitloads more to developer S3 for the PS3/Xbox360.

    It would either have to be much shorter, more liner, or more expensive.

    The Wii offers another option: Less detail.

    After all, the dreamcast game was stunning enough, and we are a few generations past that now.

    http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
    Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
     
    Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 01.07.2006#25

    Eternal Darkness is very mature.
    So is Majoras Mask.

    Maturity comes from complex depth to the themes involved, normally a juxtaposition of darkness and light.

    Swearing and Sex normally make stuff immature.
    Although, it is *possible* for it to be used in a mature way (Fahrenheit on the PC)

    http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
    Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
     

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