Sega West President Mike Hayes has told IndustryGamers that the company is currently implementing a major restructuring of its North American and European operations. The human cost will be 73 jobs (36 in San Francisco, 37 in London), which represents about 12 percent of Sega West's workforce. It's worth noting that these figures are separate from the recent shutdown of Sega Studios San Francisco.
Sega's San Francisco office will now focus on digitally delivered products for mobile, consoles and PC while Europe will continue focusing on "traditional package goods." Hayes stressed this is "very much administrative reorganization, because clearly we want to be very successful with digital globally. Likewise, we want to continue to be successful with traditional goods." So, to recap, instead of Sega's American and European operations running in parallel, working on retail games in addition to digital titles, each now has a specific market to focus on. Whether this strategy will result in better products and increased sales for the one-time gaming giant remains to be seen, but at least Sega's not sitting idly by.
Reader Comments (18)
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 5:17PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said
Once again. Best of luck to these people and their families. Too many lay offs lately.
Reply
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 6:01PM LaughingTarget said
Sadly, this sort of thing is important to the function of an economy as a whole. During fat times, it's hard to figure out if employees are overlapping in functions and operating inefficiently. During lean times, there becomes an incentive to look for those functions. This allows companies to release labor back to the market to perform other functions without negatively impacting the output of the company.
Fortunately, that labor usually finds work, thus allowing the volume of goods and services available to the consumer, meaning expansion of prosperity, because now his efforts are being used in the most effective manner. Everyone usually wins when a recession starts to fade out.
Reply
Fortunately, that labor usually finds work, thus allowing the volume of goods and services available to the consumer, meaning expansion of prosperity, because now his efforts are being used in the most effective manner. Everyone usually wins when a recession starts to fade out.
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 5:19PM Paulmichael said
Oh how the mighty have fallen...At least there's a new traditional Sonic game coming out soon. Best of luck to those 73!
Reply
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 5:41PM Nate Addison said
How many are left? They need laid off too. They have mediocre IP @ best. Thus Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. Samba de Amigo? Aiai? Billy Hatcher? Seriously? People don't really play those games do they?
Reply
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 5:49PM Dr Blight said
Panzer Dragoon
Jet Set Radio
Virtua Fighter
Phantasy Star
Streets of Rage
Golden Axe
Valkyria Chronicles
The House of the Dead
Crazy Taxi
Ecco The Dolphin
Eternal Champions
NiGHTS
Rez
Sega Rally
Shenmue
Vectorman
Yakuza
Studios would kill for a fraction of Sega's IP's.
Reply
Jet Set Radio
Virtua Fighter
Phantasy Star
Streets of Rage
Golden Axe
Valkyria Chronicles
The House of the Dead
Crazy Taxi
Ecco The Dolphin
Eternal Champions
NiGHTS
Rez
Sega Rally
Shenmue
Vectorman
Yakuza
Studios would kill for a fraction of Sega's IP's.
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 6:00PM Nate Addison said
Mario Kart Wii Metascore:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/mariokartwii?q=Mario%20Kart
Crash Team Racing (PS1) Metascore:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psx/crashteamracing?q=Crash%20Team%20Racing
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (Wii because it was the highest version) Metascore:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/sonicandsegaallstarsracing?q=Sonic%20&%20Sega%20All%20Star%20Racing
I think we're done here.
Reply
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/mariokartwii?q=Mario%20Kart
Crash Team Racing (PS1) Metascore:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psx/crashteamracing?q=Crash%20Team%20Racing
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (Wii because it was the highest version) Metascore:
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/sonicandsegaallstarsracing?q=Sonic%20&%20Sega%20All%20Star%20Racing
I think we're done here.
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 6:23PM The Aquacharger said
And it's a shame that some of those we wont get continuations. Ecco 3? How I want, I really hated that "To be continued" ending, same with Rez.
Streets of Rage 4 would be amazing. Vectorman 3 would've been an insta-buy, along with a third Jet Set.
Granted though, if Ecco 3 came out I wouldn't be able to play it because I've a fear of being underwater, especially in the dark.
I really think Sega should leave Sonic alone and let him rest up and work on their other IPs, and make Valkria Chronicles 2 on the PS3. Then after Sonic's all rested and Sega can make a new one.
Reply
Streets of Rage 4 would be amazing. Vectorman 3 would've been an insta-buy, along with a third Jet Set.
Granted though, if Ecco 3 came out I wouldn't be able to play it because I've a fear of being underwater, especially in the dark.
I really think Sega should leave Sonic alone and let him rest up and work on their other IPs, and make Valkria Chronicles 2 on the PS3. Then after Sonic's all rested and Sega can make a new one.
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 7:03PM BananaBoat said
Sega does what Nintendon't!
(in this case; layoff people)
Reply
(in this case; layoff people)
Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 9:35PM Snake Robot Podium said
Focus on DLC? I'm going to protest this by buying a bunch of Sega games on disc!
Reply
Posted: Apr 23rd 2010 11:31AM Snake Robot Podium said
I was afraid I'd get misunderstood. I'm making fun of the people who protested Sonic 4 by buying old Sonic games.
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/sonic-fans-create-the-best-boycott-of-all-time/
Reply
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/sonic-fans-create-the-best-boycott-of-all-time/
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