It seems strange that the SEGA Saturn under performed after the Genesis’ success, but it suffered numerous issues that crippled the console…and a console to come.
The issues began with sloppy marketing. Kalinske (the then SEGA of America CEO) announced that the console would be released on “Saturnday” September 2, 1995 giving gamers something to look forward to. But at the first ever E3 (May, 1995) Kalinske went against his previous announcement and released the console months before the initial date there at E3, but exclusively to Toys ‘R’ Us, Software Etc., and EB Games. This led to some retailers boycotting the console, and actually promoting and pushing Sony’s PlayStation, the Saturn’s biggest competitor.
Given the struggles of the Master System, it was shocking that SEGA produced a successor so soon. It only took three years after the release of the Master System for the SEGA Genesis (SEGA Megadrive in Japan) to launch in the United States in August 1989. In Japan, SEGA continued to struggle against the NES (and later the Super Nintendo), but in other markets, primarily the American market, the SEGA Genesis flourished. SEGA learned from the many mistakes it made with the Master System…but went on to make fresh ones.
Diablo fans have a reputation for being one of the most hardcore segments in the gaming community–now a new generation seeks the action-RPG battles. It’s been nearly twelve years since Diablo II’s release, and as such, newcomers may not be aware that one of the most challenging decisions occurs seconds after booting the game. Creating a character and choosing a class can prove daunting and even frustrating. It doesn’t have to be, friends.
It’s sad to see a company that I have grown so fond of throughout the years fall into such disarray. A few weeks ago, SEGA reported a 7.1 billion yen loss (roughly 86 million dollars), which resulted in the company axing games off its 2012 line up. SEGA, a company responsible for so many innovations (disc-based games, mobile memory cards, online console gaming, interactive voice gaming) suffer in a very unforgiving market. SEGA has a rich history, that is both foreboding and uplifting, but one that has always played the underdog. But with the Master System, SEGA proved it could produce great entertaining games and a powerful home console.
Over the course of last weekend, I sat down and dove into a world that enticed me when I was a lad. I honestly can’t stress how amazing Phantasy Star Online 2 is as there are vast improvements over the previous iterations. These stem from graphics to control to a revamped UI that’s easier to navigate (and that’s saying a lot, the menus were mostly in Japanese). Throughout the beta, I spent most of my time grinding and getting accustomed to the combat, while questing in the Forest. I didn’t experience much group content due to the language barrier, but the beta was still incredibly fun.
The shooter genre, both first person and third, has become increasingly stagnate and over saturated with perennial copy and paste titles. It has become bad enough to turn a once avid shooter fan away. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is the veracious second breathe this gamer needed. The game is a blend of a few notable titles: It borrows some of Gears of War’s cover mechanics, Socom’s panned-out third-person camera, and Battlefield 3′s objective-based gameplay. It grabs the best aspects of those series and incorporates it with the already established Ghost Recon universe superbly.
When Capcom announced that one of my favorite fighters–Marvel vs. Capcom 2– was making its way to the iPhone and iPad I was overwhelmed with joy. But the excitement wore off seconds after I launched the app.
What happens when you take a well respected member of the fighting game community and give him the freedom to make his own game? Skullgirls happens. Mike Zaimont (Mike Z) and the folks over at Reverge Labs have taken their time (a seemingly long time) to create a deep fighter that almost anyone can jump into. Skullgirls follows eight female fighters and their quest to obtain the mystical Skull Heart that allows the possessor to ask for wishes, but at a disturbing cost. Each characters fighting style is completely unique, yet those accustomed to fighters should find it easy to pick up any of the cast members.
The most world’s popular sport, and sports title, now fits in your hands courtesy of EA Sports’ FIFA Soccer (Amazon $39.99 Digital Download $39.99) for the PS Vita. This game of electronic footie is a mixed bag of extraordinary and unsatisfying features. As a whole the game is great, and contains an interesting take on touch controls, but with a bit more polishing this could have been a phenomenal experience.
It smells of beer and cigarettes at the door, like any other bar. But this bar is special. Sure, the establishment has a wide variety of beers (many from local breweries) and indie rock pumping through its sound system, but this bar stands out from the rest of NYC’s watering holes because aligning its walls is an ode to the golden age of gaming: the arcades.
