Yu Suzuki has left Sega

[108 Stars]

That´s it. Just what the title say. Yu Suzuki is no longer at Sega.

Well, so much for Shenmue III.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3756/the_evolution_of_sega_a_.php?page=4

[Benjamin]

That´s it. Just what the title say. Yu Suzuki is no longer at Sega.

This is news to you? He left Sega two years ago. :p

[Phantar]

two years ago? Really?

In the article, SoA-pres Simon Jeffrey says something about "earlier this year"...

[Rusty Venture]

Apparently "earlier this year" in this instance actually means "two years ago".

[Wesker]

Not true at all.

Yu Suzuki still with Sega as 'Creative Officer' (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19807)

This Jeffery guy seems to be a real dumbass.

[Christuserloeser]

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3756/the_evolution_of_sega_a_.php


My interpretation of Sega of America right now is that it's becoming something of a different company from Sega of Japan. I don't know if that's accurate, but if it is, how did this semi-autonomy come about?


Simon Jeffery: It was by design, very much so. I think we've strongly tried to make Sega of America feel like it's not a Japanese company. We want to resonate better with gamers in the casual market than I think Japanese companies have traditionally been able to do in the west for a few years.

The output from Japan (in general) right now seems to be geared around a small number of huge games which really resonate with the western market, but most Japanese content just does not anymore. So that's a pretty big change from five or six years ago, and it's a big change from last generation.

We're trying to make sure we don't make the mistake of being another Japanese company trying to be another Japanese company in the west. We want to build our success through building products for the west in the west, so there are not many Japanese staff in our office at Sega of America. We have a lot of autonomy now, and it's absolutely by design.


Honestly, my impression is that that's what happened when they

- replaced all the Japanese cover artworks with random ugly drawings
- released the Sega CD with its Western FMV rubbish instead of focusing on the existing (Japanese) software
- made the 32X
- told Yuji Naka to make Knuckles Chaotix for that piece of crap
- just to work on Sonic Xtreme / Sonic 3D Blast: Flicky's Island / Sonic R without Naka
- replaced the original Saturn controller with that godawful thing that made your thumbs bleed after only a few minutes of playtime
- "designed" these CD boxes that destroyed themselves in no time instead of just using the standard CD cases
- avoided to release Japanese Saturn games in the West at all costs - even if it meant not to have a console at all for two entire years
- worked on their own "Dreamcast" hardware
- decided to kill off Dreamcast after just 15 months on the market "because of piracy"
- canceled the US release of Shenmue II because it surely would be big hit on Xbox
- successfully avoided to release even one single edition of the excellent Japanese SEGA AGES series for PS2

In short: They were always "something of a different company from Sega of Japan".

:?

[17daysolderthannes]

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3756/the_evolution_of_sega_a_.php




Honestly, my impression is that that's what happened when they

- replaced all the Japanese cover artworks with random ugly drawings
- released the Sega CD with its Western FMV rubbish instead of focusing on the existing (Japanese) software
- made the 32X
- told Yuji Naka to make Knuckles Chaotix for that piece of crap
- just to work on Sonic Xtreme / Sonic 3D Blast: Flicky's Island / Sonic R without Naka
- replaced the original Saturn controller with that godawful thing that made your thumbs bleed after only a few minutes of playtime
- "designed" these CD boxes that destroyed themselves in no time instead of just using the standard CD cases
- avoided to release Japanese Saturn games in the West at all costs - even if it meant not to have a console at all for two entire years
- worked on their own "Dreamcast" hardware
- decided to kill off Dreamcast after just 15 months on the market "because of piracy"
- canceled the US release of Shenmue II because it surely would be big hit on Xbox
- successfully avoided to release even one single edition of the excellent Japanese SEGA AGES series for PS2

In short: They were always "something of a different company from Sega of Japan".

:?

but thank god for imports :)

a few errors though: the 32X WAS designed in Japan, I read something somewhere that said it was in fact designed in Japan and was quite popular (at least initially) there. Might have been from a vintage GamePro. Also, the Sega Ages games (well, some of them) were released on the "Sega Classics Collection" for PS2, it was a collection of a bunch of Sega Ages games, though I wouldn't exactly call any of them "excellent". I think piracy is probably the best explanation for the demise of the Dreamcast though, since they made it WAY too easy to just burn and play downloaded ISOs without any console modding. I mean, crap, nowadays its almost easier than driving to a store, nevermind having to spend money on the game itself and the gas or shipping to get it.

[gamevet]

but thank god for imports :)

a few errors though: the 32X WAS designed in Japan, I read something somewhere that said it was in fact designed in Japan and was quite popular (at least initially) there. Might have been from a vintage GamePro. Also, the Sega Ages games (well, some of them) were released on the "Sega Classics Collection" for PS2, it was a collection of a bunch of Sega Ages games, though I wouldn't exactly call any of them "excellent". I think piracy is probably the best explanation for the demise of the Dreamcast though, since they made it WAY too easy to just burn and play downloaded ISOs without any console modding. I mean, crap, nowadays its almost easier than driving to a store, nevermind having to spend money on the game itself and the gas or shipping to get it.

The Neptune was designed in Japan, but SOA's Joe Miller decided to turn the project into an add-on device for the Genesis and came up with the 32X.

http://adterrasperaspera.com/blog/2006/01/03/the-downfall-of-sega-part-1

[Joe Redifer]

Yu Suzuki still works at Sega. He has the title of "Creative Officer" or something and he goes around arresting people. Simon Jeffery corrected his statement.

[Rusty Venture]

Yu Suzuki gets to hot rod around in a Ferrari *AND* arrest people?

Awesome.

[Aarzak]

I think "Knuckles Chaotix" was planned and developed by some other group of people at Sega of Japan from the start. Naka and co. were most likely taking a much-deserved break after slaving away for more than a year on the Sonic 3+Sonic & Knuckles project.

Every other Sonic game after "Knuckles Chaotix" and up until "Sonic Adventure" was outsourced.

[Rusty Venture]

It shows.

[Elusive]

No, he hasn't left SEGA. Jeffry has since 'clarified' his position. Phew!

[Christuserloeser]

I'd have left SEGA.

[Christuserloeser]

Also, the Sega Ages games (well, some of them) were released on the "Sega Classics Collection" for PS2, it was a collection of a bunch of Sega Ages games, though I wouldn't exactly call any of them "excellent".

http://ages.sega.jp/vol32/

http://ages.sega.jp/vol29/

http://ages.sega.jp/vol25/

http://ages.sega.jp/df/

[probablee]

http://ages.sega.jp/vol32/

http://ages.sega.jp/vol29/

http://ages.sega.jp/vol25/

http://ages.sega.jp/df/

... and these would cost a couple of pennies each, right? D: Was that ALL the Monsterworld games in vol 29? The Phantasy Star bundle has part 2's Character Adventure Games as well!! And all for just €16! ;_____________;