Hoopla; Hip or Hype?
Rao Wu
rwu@popd.ix.netcom.comThe dates appear to be set. Sega is planning a massive announcement in a few weeks at the Tokyo Game Show. The announcement, among other things, will reveal some new arcade games, as well as demonstrate the new Sonic Team game ( rumored to be Nights 2 or a new Sonic game;why not both?), a new Andromeda Team game ( Panzer Dragon Series ) and quite possibly the agenda for VF3/Upgrade for the Saturn. THIS IS IT!!! Whatever the news may be, Sega must strike now, or give up the Saturn hardware fight. In a response to my past editorial, I was told that the time to panic is premature. Panic during a fight may lead one to draw from one's already depleted resources, delve deep into one's character,and muster up more resources to fight some more, despite what adversity lies ahead - this concept is otherwise known as survival.The Saturn is at the point where it must survive two more years for Sega to prosper with its next hardware console. The unfolding factors in the next month or so, will tell the tale. If Sega does not worry now, it will simply be too late. I know, I know, some of you are saying: "Why can't you just shut up and enjoy your Saturn as it is now?" I'll tell you why. . . the Saturn is the most entertaining video game console of the three next-gen systems, hands down. I own all three, I enjoy all three, but I would hate for my favorite system to die because of bad marketing decisions and a poor public image. Does anyone remember the TG16 dying for the same reasons?!?
Apparently, since my last Editorial, SOA has unofficially announced that it would bring over Manx TT ( great but short game ) and Grandia-via Treasure. This is definitely fantastic news. What about Thunderforce 5 and the highly acclaimed Virus? Virus. . . what can I say about Virus? I thought I might interject one fact that perturbs me; how does Sega expect to sell as many copies of Virus this year as Nights sold last year ( 1 for every 5 Saturn owners ), without releasing it in the U.S.?????? Does that sound suspicious or what? That leads me to my point. What exactly is Sega up to ? Are they just trying to generate much needed hype and publicity? Or are they genuinely as confused as we are? That's the cue I need to ramble some more.
It's rather quite easy for us video game pundits to comment, complain, and criticize, the moves of SOA without knowing the behind the scenes details. I will start by first trying to defend their actions.Criticism #1)not bringing key import games to the U.S. in a timely manner; SOA probably says:Funds are low, resources to convert the games are limited. What about all the shovelware that SOA develops and then distributes? NFL action 97, NBA action 97, NHL Action 97, and so on. Have all of you seen the SCUD advertisement in virtually every game magazine lately? I haven't yet played, or seen Scud, but the preliminary reports are needless to say, less than spectacular. Why hype and market all of these subpar games when the resources could instead, be used to convert Fighters Megamix,Bomberman,Enemy Zero,Shining T.H.A., etc. in a timely manner? The hype indeed is an actual two way sword. When the public is exposed to all this hype about Scud, and then are treated to an average at best game, they are disillusioned and lose faith in the Saturn. They remark:"this is the best they can do?" As far as Sega's key titles, I only remember advertisements of Nights, and some media coverage of VF2 ( the Saturn's best title ) doing the Saturn any real justice. Clockwork KNight and Bug advertising didn't do a whole heck of a lot of good because although these titles are certainly competent, they do not do demonstrate the Saturn's true prowess. Where was the advertising for Sega Rally,Virtual Cop 2, W.W. Soccer 97,Die Hard Arcade,Guardian Heroes,World Series Baseball 2, etc. Suggestion: Advertise your better titles and use your R&D department to convert import games rather than create shovelware.Certainly, during the development of NFL ACTION 97, SOA knew it had a dud. Instead of scrapping it, they wanted a Football title so bad that they settled for crud. You want a football game but can't develop an exceptional one? Let EA continue its Madden series, and leave it at that!
You Gamers out there ever notice that some of the BEST games on any console system are from third party companies? Of course you do. TombRaider,Resident Evil,Streetfighter Alpha 2,etc. were all KEY titles in the software wars last year. The advertising however, was limited to the smaller third party company budgets. If I were SOA, I would allocate my marketing budget to help the third party titles advertise their key development titles for my Saturn system. Think about it. Have you seen commercials for Tombraider,Resident Evil, or Streetfighter Alpha 2? Imagine commercials demonstrating these titles for the Sega Saturn, on a Sega Saturn paid commercial.Consumers are exposed to more key dynamic titles. Sega Saturn image is bolstered. Third party companies begin to love Sega and earnestly develop for them with knowledge of free exposure and better joint effort marketing.EVERYONE WINS, except the competition.In business, you gotta shmoooooze your allies Sega, especially if their also the allies of your enemies.
Complaint #2) not releasing Virus for the U.S. market. SOA probably says:" resources are too limited to convert the game to U.S. - see answer to complaint #1. Soa might also say:" with a game that is as huge as Virus, we cannot market it properly with the exposure that it deserves." Hogwash I say. At the very least, SOA could convert the import and release the game unjustly in obscurity, like they have with so many other of their top notch games. The game would assuredly still sell very well. I personally think this " not releasing Virus " quote is just some sort of scam to generate more hype. I hope my instincts are correct. The Hoopla is out about the announcements at the Tokyo game show. Soj will reveal some serious answers to many of the Saturn fan's most lingering questions. SOA will in turn respond. Will all the hoopla be hip? Or just more hype?