Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rumor: Second 'Sega Pluto' found at a garage sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/rumor-second-sega-pluto-found-at-a-garage-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/rumor-second-sega-pluto-found-at-a-garage-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/rumor-second-sega-pluto-found-at-a-garage-sale/#comments
So apparently people can just find rare, never-released consoles at garage sales now. That's how the second (and purported final) "Sega Pluto" was found, retrieved at a garage sale for a dollar "five or six years" ago by YouTube user kidvid666.

Above, he explains that he didn't know it was a "Sega Pluto" until the first "Sega Pluto" surfaced online last week. His "Sega Pluto" has a damaged disc door, explaining why he has to weigh it down to play games in the video above. Beyond that, it boots up fine and appears to be in working order.

The "Sega Pluto" was a prototype Sega Saturn with a NetLink modem built into the chassis. The NetLink modem was eventually released on its own as an add-on peripheral, unlocking web browsing through the console and online matches in Saturn Bomberman, Virtual On, Sega Rally, Duke Nukem 3D and Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition.

JoystiqRumor: Second 'Sega Pluto' found at a garage sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garage-salesegasega-of-americasega-plutosega-saturnSat, 20 Apr 2013 05:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Platinum creating a fifth game for Sega]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/platinum-creating-a-fifth-game-for-sega/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/platinum-creating-a-fifth-game-for-sega/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/platinum-creating-a-fifth-game-for-sega/#comments In two years, Platinum Games has fulfilled its end of the four-game deal it inked with Sega -- with the release of Vanquish this past October, the all-star development studio completed its contractual run. It appears that the publisher still values the relationship, as executive VP of sales and marketing for Sega, Alan Pritchard, told Game Informer in a recent interview that another title is in the works from Platinum Games, with Sega as publisher.

"We have a further title to announce from Platinum Games as well," Pritchard teased, speaking to the publisher's upcoming lineup. Assuming that Platinum isn't working on another new IP or one of Sega's existing franchises, it's choices for a sequel may be limited.

Given Pritchard's admission that MadWorld was a financial miss for both parties, it's probably unrealistic to expect a follow-up to that one. Bayonetta, however, sold over a million copies and stands out as the only big success to come from Platinum's four-game run. Last we heard, Sega was "reasonably encouraged" by early sales of Vanquish.

JoystiqPlatinum creating a fifth game for Sega originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan-pritchardplatinum-gamessegasega-of-americaTue, 14 Dec 2010 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega restructures US, European operations, lays off 73]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/sega-restructures-us-european-operations-lays-off-73/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/sega-restructures-us-european-operations-lays-off-73/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/sega-restructures-us-european-operations-lays-off-73/#comments 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.

JoystiqSega restructures US, European operations, lays off 73 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesslayoffsMike-Hayessegasega-of-americasega-of-europeThu, 22 Apr 2010 17:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega of America taps Maeda for COO]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/sega-of-america-taps-maeda-for-coo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/sega-of-america-taps-maeda-for-coo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/sega-of-america-taps-maeda-for-coo/#comments Sega's made some strides in trying to reach the Western market and its choice for the new head of Sega of America would seem to indicate the company wants to keep the progress going. Masanao Maeda will serve as the branch's new chief operating officer, Sega has announced.

Though not a Bernie Stollar-level household name, Maeda has helped the company expand into the West from Sega's Japanese HQ, so it'll be interesting to see how effective he can be in the effort stateside. (Psst, Maeda: More House of the Dead: Overkill, please. Thanks.)

JoystiqSega of America taps Maeda for COO originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coohiringhouse-of-the-dead-overkillmasanao-maedasegasega-of-americaThu, 08 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega's Naoya Tsurumi promoted to lofty new position]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/segas-naoya-tsurumi-promoted-to-lofty-new-position/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/segas-naoya-tsurumi-promoted-to-lofty-new-position/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/segas-naoya-tsurumi-promoted-to-lofty-new-position/#commentsThe departure of Sega of America president and COO Simon Jeffery to the much happier-looking ngmoco:) has brought more changes to Sega's corporate Tower of Power. The company announced today that Naoya Tsurumi, former CEO of Sega of America, will now "assume worldwide responsibility for SEGA's Consumer Business, incorporating SEGA of Japan, SEGA of America and SEGA of Europe."

"This unified organization will better position SEGA for growth across these key markets," Tsurumi said in the press release announcing the promotion. It should be interesting to see how Tsurumi's new position will affect Sega's worldwide strategy, though we don't expect any change will be drastic enough for the company to just tell us what's going on with the Aliens games.

(Alternate joke for old-school Sega fans: we don't expect any change will be drastic enough for the company to bring Alex Kidd back to mascot duty.)

JoystiqSega's Naoya Tsurumi promoted to lofty new position originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corporatenaoya-tsurumisegasega-of-americaThu, 18 Jun 2009 18:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega of America president leaves for ngmoco]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/sega-of-america-president-leaves-for-ngmoco/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/sega-of-america-president-leaves-for-ngmoco/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/sega-of-america-president-leaves-for-ngmoco/#comments
So, the long and short of it is this: Sega of America president and CEO Simon Jeffery is leaving Sega, a longstanding name in the video game industry that has created hits in both hardware and software, for ngmoco, a company known for its iPhone titles, namely Rolando. If that doesn't tell you something about the state of the game industry (or at least the state of Sega), we're not sure what will.

According to Gamasutra, Jeffery -- a longtime proponent of the iPhone as a gaming platform -- is leaving in order to run ngmoco's new publishing arm, Plus Publishing. The new group will offer support to developers in areas like marketing and technology, while also allowing them to implement its Plus Network, a social networking service for iPhone games. Says ngmoco co-founder Joe Keene, "Building a community of gamers in these kinds of experience is really core to our future strategy, and one of the things that will be leveraged highly in the work that Simon will be doing."

Jeffery says of Plus Publishing that it will have a "fairly open-door policy," adding that he would like to talk to "pretty much anyone" about publishing possibilities, including small independent studios and larger publishers.

JoystiqSega of America president leaves for ngmoco originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleiphoneiPodngmocosegasega-of-americasimon-jefferyMon, 15 Jun 2009 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bayonetta gearing up to hair-kick demons in Fall 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/bayonetta-gearing-up-to-hair-kick-demons-in-fall-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/bayonetta-gearing-up-to-hair-kick-demons-in-fall-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/bayonetta-gearing-up-to-hair-kick-demons-in-fall-2009/#comments In Tokyo last night, Sega quietly announced plans for a "simultaneous worldwide release for Fall 2009" of action/hair manipulation game Bayonetta. New screens revealed at the event show the game's heroine battling enemies on the side of a building, unleashing her guillotine on another and fighting a really, really shiny dragon. Would we expect any less from Devil May Cry director Hideki Kamiya?

As the press event held in Tokyo was, as you might expect, all in Japanese, we've reached out to Sega of America for confirmation of the worldwide-ness of this announcement. Call us skeptical, but we expect the next time we hear about the game won't be until E3.

Gallery: Bayonetta (4-14-09)


[Via Inside-Games.jp]

JoystiqBayonetta gearing up to hair-kick demons in Fall 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bayonettadevil-may-cryhideki-kamiyainsidegames.jpMicrosoftPlatinum-Gamessegasega-of-americaXbox-360yusuke-hashimotoTue, 14 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega of America layoffs confirmed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/sega-of-america-layoffs-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/sega-of-america-layoffs-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/sega-of-america-layoffs-confirmed/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sega of America has let go of 30 employees, a rep for the publisher told Edge. In an emailed statement, the company explained that during this time of "economic recession, harsh retail landscape, and the reality of business challenges to profitability," the company must take steps to reduce "cost structure and ensure long-term success."

In the future, it would be nice to see Sega invest in the promotion of its more unique titles (Valkyria Chronicles says hello) instead of focusing so intently on that past-his-prime blue hedgehog.

JoystiqSega of America layoffs confirmed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>layoffssegasega-of-americasonicWed, 21 Jan 2009 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Sega of America lays off 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/rumor-sega-of-america-lays-off-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/rumor-sega-of-america-lays-off-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/rumor-sega-of-america-lays-off-30/#commentsFiled under: ,


An inside source has informed IGN that Sega of America laid off 30 employees today. We've followed up with the publisher, but calls, emails and IMs for confirmation (even about unrelated stories) have been met with an eerie silence.

We'll certainly update when more information becomes available.

JoystiqRumor: Sega of America lays off 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyignlayoffssegasega-of-americaTue, 20 Jan 2009 18:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega: More Balance Board and Zapper-compatible games on the way]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/sega-more-balance-board-and-zapper-compatible-games-on-the-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/sega-more-balance-board-and-zapper-compatible-games-on-the-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/sega-more-balance-board-and-zapper-compatible-games-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: ,

For those of you with a lot of plastic junk laying around, taking up space (remember, if you bought Wii Fit, you only played it once), there's hope! Sega has plans for your Nintendo peripherals, so you might be dusting them off in the near future.

During an interview, SEGA of America president Simon Jeffrey commented that Sega is "fans of the Wii Zapper" and that their game Ghost Squad "keeps selling." As for the future, he stated that the company has "more Zapper games going," with the same "for the Wii Balance Board, although we have nothing announced yet." We wonder if this will tie in to that mystery Leipzig game?

[Via Balance Board Blog]

JoystiqSega: More Balance Board and Zapper-compatible games on the way originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balance-boardsegasega-of-americasimon-jeffreywii-fitwii-zapperzapperThu, 14 Aug 2008 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega: Don't forget about the hardcore gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-dont-forget-about-the-hardcore-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-dont-forget-about-the-hardcore-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-dont-forget-about-the-hardcore-gamers/#commentsFiled under:

Thank you.

Look, we here at Wii Fanboy love the Wii and often criticize it because, frankly, we expect nothing but the best. If nobody will step up and address certain concerns, then we will. It's our duty to present you with the news, but it's also our duty to be honest and objective with what we see. Considering that, we're not too happy with the amount of "hardcore" games available on Nintendo's latest console.

They've never been one to present oodles and oodles of more serious titles on their consoles, compared to their competition, but with recent games that have changed our life like No More Heroes and Zack & Wiki, we crave more long-lasting games that we can sit down with for more than a half-hour and enjoy. It's just how we feel.

And it would appear Sega of America president Simon Jeffery feels the same way. He thinks it's a mistake for western developers to ignore the hardcore gamers on the Wii, instead flooding the market with tons of casual titles that appeal to a wider demographic. "There's no reason why [hardcore gamers] should be excluded or excommunicated from the Nintendo world," he commented. We agree.

We're excited for Wii Fit and we're happy the console is getting the third-party support it deserves, but we want more. Maybe we're just too selfish?

JoystiqSega: Don't forget about the hardcore gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualhardcoresegasega-of-americasimon-jeffreyThu, 06 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST