Save sega in one move

[loopy]

you can always do prequels and side-stories and stuff.

 

[Duke_11037]

Go back in time and make sure Bernie Stolar wasn't born

On a serious note, make Saturn have og release and never release 32x.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Legitimate answer: Give SEGA proper control of the U.S. Saturn. If the U.S. branch proved ANYTHING, it was that they were good at marketing hardware. Same thing goes for the UK branch. I’d also make a Mega Drive/Genesis adapter for the cartridge slot on the Saturn FOR THOSE REGIONS (Japan will not care), specifically so we leverage the brand loyalty built up during the Mega Drive era into the Saturn.

Ultimately, nothing we do will crush Sony. They play the game too well and are much more organized than we are. But we need to actually carve out a market for ourselves in the most successful regions we have. With more external control over Saturn, the 32X would not be created, so no money will be wasted on an add on that would damage the reputation of the company. With more external control of the system, each region can tailor the Saturn to appeal well to each market’s tastes and needs, rather than the actual Saturn we got which is AN AMAZING JAPANESE CONSOLE, but is so Japanese that it became a problem for other regions.


Let SEGA of Japan do what they wanted to with Saturn. They did a great job. What we need is for the system to have worldwide appeal, which can only come from letting the people in each region market it accordingly.

 

[prnzo x BOOZE-o ka-BEER-o]

Delete Shenmue 3, pretend it never happened. Release Shenmue 3 but good (fix the story). Also give Ed Annunziata the intellectial property rights to Ecco the Dolphin and fund Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe. Release Sonic Adventure 3 with a proper Chao Garden. Give Compile Heart full intellection property rights of all of Madou Monogatari back, and have them make a new Madou Monogatari game with Arle, Also do an HD-2D remaster of Madou Monogatari for Sega Saturn with English translation. Port Jet Set Radio Future like you did with Jet Set Radio in 2012. Revive the singleplayer Phantasy Star series. Sonic Shuffle 2.

this is actuaLLy closer to what I would've said in a specific sense as opposed to the broad (but quite viable) solutions had I chosen to go the serious route while replying to this thread.

I have Shenmue III on Steam n haven't started on it - but I've heard/seen the criticism. I finished Shenmue OG on Dreamcast back in the day - n while I have both the Euro import of Dreamcast Shenmue II n also have the Xbox OG port - never finished it. I am currently goin through Shenmue I & II comp on Steam before I will start the 3rd one. I hope quality n coherence (or lack thereof?) of the story is not a big detractor for me.

a more expansive open-world Ecco would be great. haven't given Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe a go - have played a fair bit of Gen/MD Ecco, Ecco Jr. (Math lol) n the Sega CD one with Nilsen doin the soundtrack like on Sega CD Sonic USA & Amazing Spider-Man vs. Kingpin

Sonic Adventure 3: Wrath of the Chizzao lol

I love Compile as I've previously stated along with Treasure, n a lot of Climax titles too. n I like what I've experienced of the Madou Monogatari franchise (I think I got a save on a translated-to-eigo Game Gear one)

love JSRF n am a liL miff'd n disgruntled about JSR gettin regular ports with JSRF gettin no love (along with Panzer Dragoon Orta, Toejam & EarL 3, Otogi 1 & 2, Out Run 2 [or is that Out Run 2006 Coast to Coast?], n maybe Gunvalkyrie)

if Phantasy Star went fuLL-on JRPG - I'd throw stacks of currency at that shit without hesitation. n yea the main classic Phantasy Star series ended on (IV:) End of the Millennium. amazing game, IMO every bit as good as Final Fantasy VI - but more objectively, I guess I wouLd crown Final Fantasy VI the king of 16-bit JRPG fare

just like as with Sonic: Lost World - I like how weird n spontaneous Sonic Shuffle is - the sometimes random mini-games that are unclear in how to navigate n thrive is exciting n humorous n a good unpolished counterpoint to other party games (most notably Mario Party Jamboree x Rabbids Maker Mansion Odyssey Sunshine New World Land Island Smash Bros. Is Missing Hotel Kaettekita Clash vs. DK Advance Brothership Wonder Paper RPG 1,000-yr Door Fury Kart Power Tennis Strikers... wow this can go on a while, eh? xD )

 

[Johnathan Smikey]

I would have made a Sonic game for the Saturn

I know that there was a LOT of issues with SEGA during this time, but I believe that if they didn't cancel Sonic X-Treme, they would still be big. They even had a whole ass movie planned for the game, along with several spin-offs based off of it (Sonic Schoolhouse is the only one that survived). If SEGA stayed with the plan and Sonic X-Treme was released, people would, at the very least, have cared a little bit.

Then again, I don't know much about the business side of SEGA other than "they released a console without telling retailers earlier, pissing them off into NOT selling the console, then tried to go headfirst into the next generation only to fall flat on their face".

 

[kuroninneko]

Make a new console that has Dreamcast level specs but with some modernization such as fast wifi and ethernet ports and social features. Games and console would be fast and cheap for Sega to produce and gamers dont care so much about polygon count if the art style is there. Gamers would be happy to get sequels of their favorite Sega games in the old graphics style. Sega can still make games on other consoles if they want AAA graphics.

Put some of their past catalog included with the console too.

 

[Juiceala]

Kill the Sony Playstation!

In all seriousness, I don't think there was ever going to be a scenario where SEGA could've been saved, they made multiple poor decisions that further ruined their chances of survival.

 

[dr grim]

Don't release the 32x, don't rush in the FMW games and make better games for the sega cd instead, improve the architecture of the saturn so that it's easier for people to dev on it.

 

[SpikeSlania]

I do feel like there is too many things that went wrong that fixing only one thing would correct it all. But if I had to bet on one thing that could potentially increase the odds of things ending better for Sega, it would be not launching the Saturn super early in North America losing out on the trust of realtors and 3rd party devs right out of the gate potentially putting the Saturn in a way better situation where Bernie Stolar wouldn't be in a position to kill the Saturn when he did.

 

[DanCalibur]

Go back in time and challenge young Ken Kutaragi to a drinking contest on the night before his job interview at Sony. There you go, timeline successfully screwed

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I'd partner with Sony when developing the MEGA CD and turn the PlayStation into the SEGA CD.

 

[TheSoulWalker]

Market the Dreamcast as the arcade home experience and double down on Naomi hardware, Get DDR on your console.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

The 90s, you're at the head of Sega and you're basically the one in charge. What would you do to save Sega with one decision?

It's also valid to make more than one decision, but it will be interesting to see what one thing could save Sega and keep it in console production.

I would cancel the Mega CD and move the CD games to Saturn (more than one move, but I think it would at least help a lot to have Sonic CD on Saturn)

What would you do?

All they needed to do was not shadow drop the Sega Saturn and continue supporting the 32X to stay in the game a little longer. This would allow them to collect their bearings for launch titles and/or allow for more localisations that may have missed the window back when the Genesis launched.

Launch titles (Saturn)

-Thunder Force V
-Panzer Dragoon
-Astal
-Sakura Wars (localized) (a year later but still counts)
-Shining Force III and all scenarios (localized) (2 years off, but a teaser at least could be good competition for other system selling RPGs)
-Clockwork Knight
-Daytona USA
-Myst
-Virtua Fighter
-a Sonic game (optional)

Wouldn't solve the issue of the PS1's dominance, but they would have a leg on the N64's lineup, which was known to suffer from the lack of any interesting 1st party properties and any 3rd party at all.

The 32X would've also played a part if they kept supporting it. Make exclusive games for it and downgrade any Saturn games to work on Genesis hardware to truly make it the cheaper option for a Saturn. The Nomad could be an upgraded 32X that's slightly better. Add Sega CD games to the mix too. They weren't particularly interesting but adding some of the more popular ones like Robo Aleste, Devastator, Snatcher, Sonic CD, Popful Mail, and so on would've done wonders for this console for those who wouldn't move on from the earlier SEGA consoles at this point. Put Thunder Force 2-4 on there as well with a downgraded 5. Keep support running up until the Dreamcast and people will have not lost faith in SEGA, causing the Dreamcast to flop and SEGA to surrender. Wanna get even crazier, then add in Master System and Game Gear games. Now the 32X goes from the forgotten console to a SEGA powerhouse. SEGA's refusal to move on from the Genesis for years kinda screwed them, but they could've clutched it.

 

[Ikagura]

Maybe it's better not to try anything.

 

[NeonKnights]

I would make sure the Saturn adopts Silicon Graphics hardware not Hitachi.
Have a planned release for the Saturn and set the price at $299.

 

[What's His Face]

I see SEGA Japan's failures in the 16- & 32-bit generations as needed learning experiences, which they capitalized on with the Dreamcast. This little machine was WELL ahead of its time and capable of better visual output than even the Playstation 2. What I would do is a make-or-break move...by delaying the Dreamcast by no more than 1 year. Why? To make certain changes:
1. Increase it's pathetic security that was to blame for the mad amount of piracy on the system.
2. Make the Broadband Ethernet adapter a pack-in.
3. Change the GD-CD to full DVD with DVD-video playback (like the PS2).
4. Redesign the controller to still allow for the awesome VMU, but include a second analog stick (which the PS1 had at this point) and model it after the Saturn controller (with the Saturn D-Pad).

 

[Antilocal123]

Buy a shit ton of crack cocaine and profit, fuck video games I wanna see them realise their true potential and become the Heisenberg of the gaming industry.

 

[snes9x]

Go out of business and save them from themselves (but rerelease Panzer Dragoon Saga first)

 

[ThatOneLum]

If I'm early enough I guess my major move would be not to piss off a bunch of retailers just as the Saturn launches and end up tanking the system.

Personally, I also agree with most people on here that the Mega CD should have been scrapped along with the 32x and just released both peripheral libraries onto the main Saturn system. I feel like that would have given them the breathing room to launch the Dreamcast properly.

With all that said, I feel like they would have eventually dropped out of the hardware game anyway. It's much easier for a company like SEGA to make their money directly through games IMO.

 

[Yankee]

I know what I'd do now. I'd launch a Switch 2 competitor called the SEGA Exodus with a lower price and none of the anti-consumer practices that Ninty has decided to go headfirst into. Really capitalize on the blowback that console and company is receiving to reintroduce ourselves as the better competitor.

Have these announced new games from the older IPs (Like Virtua Fighter, Jet Set Radio, etc) ready to launch on it, enhanced ports of the SEGA titles that are out now on other platforms, as well as an expansive library of well emulated retro titles from MS/MD/GG/CD/32/SAT/SDC available to purchase individually or sell access to all of them for a monthly fee, and put the nail in the coffin with a (actually GOOD) Sonic exclusive. For third party, there's plenty of killer titles that could be ported to help pad the early library.

Have a nice digital storefront that's easy to use and has a Steam-like refund policy, but also put more than ¥0.1 worth of effort into the physical releases: Have throwback style boxes that look good on a shelf and include manual booklets. As well as that, have a smoother and more user friendly online experience for voice chatting, inviting friends to games, etc.
For the controller we'll have a sturdy non-gimmick one based on the ABC XYZ layout of the Genesis but with Pro Controller style ergonomics and triggers.

 

[nexy]

Make a deal with sony after the nintendo backstab and make de sega playstation instead of the saturn

 

[Seregios]

Give Sega America full control.
This way the 32X wouldn't happen.
The Genesis/MD would have it's extra year of life which mean more dev time for the Saturn.
People wouldn't loose faith in Sega since the 32X never happened and Saturn is able to compete with the PS1.

The 32x was Sega of America output (Joe Miller the director), when Sega of Japan instead asked SoA to make a cheaper version of the Genesis. This is why Sega lost trust of Sega of America, imo.

Definitely don’t make the 32X happen, like at all, and move those R&D resources to make a way better Dev kits of the Saturn.

Who knows if SoA did what asked maybe the Saturn wouldn’t have that rocky premature launch and landing.

 

[legsrjust4show]

This is how we save SEGA: Keep letting Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio do whatever they want. I will buy it. I'll buy the Majima pirate game that's like 90% complete nonsense and doesn't even expand his character and it's just an extremely weird side adventure. I'll buy it twice. I probably actually will buy it twice because I have actually bought all of the games twice at this point. Just keep it coming.

I even bought Yakuza 4 twice and it's the one that I personally think is annoying to play and I even thought that the plot was pretty weak once you get past the Akiyama chapter.

 

[Aisf]

Scrap the Genesis add ons so the dreamcast would have more time to be made and maybe add a DVD player with the help of Microsoft

 

[Glimbo]

The 32x was Sega of America output (Joe Miller the director), when Sega of Japan instead asked SoA to make a cheaper version of the Genesis. This is why Sega lost trust of Sega of America, imo.

Definitely don’t make the 32X happen, like at all, and move those R&D resources to make a way better Dev kits of the Saturn.

Who knows if SoA did what asked maybe the Saturn wouldn’t have that rocky premature launch and landing.

SoA thought the Genesis had some life left. SoJ did not so SoA came up with the 32x. If SoA had their way to begin with the 32x wouldn't happen.

From Retro Gamer Magazine issue 153, page 27.

"There was a discussion between Sega Of America and Sega Japan, about how long the Genesis could last, and what we needed to do to prolong its lifespan."
“Initially, the argument was that we could get another year of life out of the Genesis before we had to introduce the Saturn. Japan disagreed with me on that, so as kind of a stopgap measure, the 32X came up.”

-Tom Kalinske (Sega of America CEO)