Sega buys "Secret Level" company

[MegaDrive20XX]

With its eye on Western next-gen gamers, the Japanese publisher subsumes the San Francisco indie shop.
Last July, independent studio Secret Level announced a next-generation development deal with game giant Sega. The arrangement was to see the San Francisco-based shop "re-create a classic Sega franchise" on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for the Japanese developer. While the unnamed game in question isn't Sonic the Hedgehog--which is being shepherded into the next generation internally--the prospect of a next-gen Altered Beast or Golden Axe has many gamers excited.

Whatever the project is, it apparently has Sega excited too. So excited, in fact, that today the former console-maker announced it is buying Secret Level outright. Prior to its next-gen project, Secret Level was best known for developing Karaoke Revolution, Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds, and America's Army: Rise of a Soldier.

Though financial details of the purchase were not disclosed, Sega was upfront about its motivation for paying top dollar for Secret Level. "We looked long and hard at building an internal studio from scratch, but were so impressed with the team at Secret Level and their next-gen technology that we decided to create our internal development infrastructure through a direct acquisition," said Simon Jeffery, Sega of America's President and COO.

The deal comes just over a year after Sega acquired The Creative Assembly, makers of the highly acclaimed Total War PC strategy series and the not-so-highly acclaimed Spartan: Total Warrior for consoles. It also comes two weeks after Sega announced another major deal with a Western developer. On March 23, it announced it will "collaboratively develop" an all-new new RPG with NeverWinter Nights 2 developer Obsidian Entertainment for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/americasarmy/news_6147040.html

[Melf]

This is all a part of Jeffrey's plan to boost SOA's part in development. Sega has FINALLY seen that there is plenty of $$ to be had with games made in the U.S., and SOJ is finally slacking the leash a bit.

It's about time, and I'm really interested in seeing what becomes of this.

[j_factor]

It doesn't replace STI in my heart.

[Revenge of Joe Musashi]

Bah, I'm not too pleased with this. Secret level games aren't that good and the latest game Streetwise got a critical mauling. Hope they won't touch SOR.

[mish]

So here's Sega's evil plan:

Create games for all other consoles. Though this will raise support and stability for these consoles, Sega will counteract this by slowly buying up 3rd party companies. When it creates a new console, it'll have all the third party support it'll need 'in-house' and it will drag fans over from other consoles that are loyal to the franchises Sega owns.

EVIL!

[David J.]

I have an idea for a SOR4 in 3D. Remeber that SOR for Dreamcast video? Oh yeah... except mine would have tons of mini games, modes and features to put the new Dynamite Deka remake to shame.

[Joe Redifer]

They should call it "Streets of Rage 4, the Revenge of Sumfucka"

[j_factor]

I have an idea for a SOR4 in 3D.

Oh shut the fuck up.

[Melf]

I saw the concept videos of SOR 4 (which we have on the site in its Forgotten Franchise article) and have to agree that a 3D game would be VERY difficult to make work. I could see it working if it used a style like that used in Batman: Rise of Shin Zsu (the engine, not the repetitive gameplay). Fully polygonal graphics just wouldn't be the same to me.

http://www.armchairempire.com/images/previews/multi-platform/batman-rise-sin-tzu/batman-rise-sin-tzu-3.jpg

Hmm, even so, I see it hard to do.

[mish]

With some non photo-realistic rendering and over the shoulder POV I think it could be pretty sweet.

[j_factor]

SOR4 could work in 3D if it was just the same side-scrolling perspective. The way those games (SOR, Double Dragon, etc.) work is technically three-dimensional in the first place.

[Mr Smith]

Streets of Rage could never work in a 3D world in the same way Street Fighter couldn't. What made those games were the fact they were 2D. Also, look at what happened to Ecco when it was moved into 3D.

[Elusive]

So here's Sega's evil plan:

Create games for all other consoles. Though this will raise support and stability for these consoles, Sega will counteract this by slowly buying up 3rd party companies. When it creates a new console, it'll have all the third party support it'll need 'in-house' and it will drag fans over from other consoles that are loyal to the franchises Sega owns.

EVIL!

stop it, you're breaking my heart with misguided hope :cry:

As for SoR4: I honestly think the gameplay is fine as it is. All the game really needs is a graphical & engine update - 2.5D, polygonised environments - remember how Powerstone for the Dreamcast allowed you to interact with pretty much anything in the stage? I'd love for that style of gameplay to be transposed into a brawler like Streets of Rage. Goons coming at you from all directions? Wrench a pipe from the wall and spin it around you real fast. As long as you can chuck people over the scenery to their deaths like Level 7 of SoR1 I'd be happy :)

[j_factor]

Streets of Rage could never work in a 3D world in the same way Street Fighter couldn't. What made those games were the fact they were 2D. Also, look at what happened to Ecco when it was moved into 3D.

I thought Defender of the Future was great, and a perfectly worthy sequel for Ecco.

[Henry Spencer]

Please do not be angry with me for asking this as i am behind with the latest news but, has Streets Of Rage 4 been announced yet?

[Benjamin]

Dec. 2007 sales chart
Madden 2007 - Electronic Arts (PS3/360) 1.5 million
Final Fantasy XV - Squeenix (PS3) 1.2 million
Flicky Unleashed - Secret Level (360) 17 copies

:p :) :(

[Elusive]

Please do not be angry with me for asking this as i am behind with the latest news but, has Streets Of Rage 4 been announced yet?

Not really. It never got past preproduction prototype stage on the Dreamcast - and that was probably a game with the Streets of Rage label pasted on it anyway.

I remember Yuzo Koshiro hinting he'd like to work with another SoR game, but I guess he meant it like it'd be cool to, I dunno, donate to charity.

[ary incorparated]

Man hinting that guy(Yuzo koshira) is just going to be asked if not the let sega have ah drop kick in their neck.what if on a strange way sor 4 is coming to the genesis.

[Mr Smith]

I thought Defender of the Future was great, and a perfectly worthy sequel for Ecco.

I'll take your word for that as I couldn't even stomach getting past the second level.

[ary incorparated]

Whats wrong with youre stomach? does t hurt or something?Stomach as in belly you mean?i dont really get what youre saying.BTW the game sound great looks great plays okay but its zzzzzzzzzzzzzz Boring after a while manm same for the DC version great game only ZZZZZ.