Big developments on the video amusement scene culminated at the height of the summer heat in Japan with ‘SEGA Private Show Summer 2006', the distributor and operator viewing event of the latest production releases only a few weeks after the May 12th SEGA Private Show Spring 2006, - and SEGA had some big titles to show off.
The game on show, ‘Let's Go Jungle: Lost on the Island of the Spice' (LindBergh) making a big splash. The jungle jeep blasting game borrowed heavily from the 1989 release ‘Line of Fire', but now set in a monster animal attack style. The players having to use their machine-gun and some button pounding to escape the perils of the holiday island gone mad. The game presented inside a special enclosure, reminiscent of the Theater Cabinet seen in 1997 (see Stinger feature on the resurgence of Booth systems, Stinger #491).
Another of the games shown ‘OutRun 2 SP SDX' (LindBergh) continues the ‘Special' Big Box cabinets that SEGA R&D has made their forte. The system comprises four units with twin driving positions each, each units rear styled on the Ferrari car classics (F50, Dino, GTS and Spider) – SEGA seeming to squeeze every last drop out of their exclusive Ferrari licensing agreement. The system also comprises CCTV leader-cam (seen on Daytona USA Special), showing the image of the leading player on a big screen. The game as speculated is a modified version of the original with eight-way network racing, and a new feature of two drivers in each cabinet, with skill denoting who is controlling the car on screen in ‘change driver' mode. The game ported to the LindBergh from the CHIHIRO hopes to offer international thrills.
The game needs to make itself distinctive in the increasingly crowded driver scene, the unique ‘Driver Swap' feature hoping to make the game stand out. OT2 SP SDX will be going up against a stiff lineup of drivers Q4 2006, including the already launched Need for Speed Underground, and Fast and Furious SuperBike. Other drivers that are on the horizon include the launch of Konami Digital Entertainment's ‘Thrill Driver 4' (PC Hardware) currently on test for an end of 2006 release – while The Stinger Report has already reported the European developed sequel to Ford Racing that sees the Empire game ‘FlatOut' (PC Hardware) given a arcade presentation.
With World Champion Cup Football, House of the Dead 4 Special, OutRun 2 SP SDX and Lets go Jungle, one would be forgiven for seeing a fixation on Big Box systems (see Stinger #035), systems that can only reasonably be operated by SEGA themselves in their own facilities in Asia or in special relationships internationally. This coincides with developments in Yokohama City of a new 30,000sq.m., themed attraction park that will following in the JOYPOLIS mold.
The reality of the increased focus on facility operation was seen recently with the announcement of major investment in marketing for the JOYPOLIS brand in Japan. The Indoor Amusement venue project was suffering under a cloud following last year's fatal accident. After both police and internal inquires and penance, SEGA now has placed an actor to promote the venue and attractions. The company also plans to push the adoption of new attractions in the site to replace some of the larger ‘physical' rides; the operating of their own machines a core to this thinking.
Returning to the Private Summer event, and the support of the existing SEGA ST line continued with a new update of the Quest of D Japanese ancient combat card system. ‘Quest of D: Ver. 3.0' (CHIHIRO) was shown in a four player terminals configuration with updated D.NET and addition characters, moves and locations. The game seen as a strong Satellite Terminal title for the Asian market released as a kit update to all ST systems in the range.
In the medal side of the show SEGA had the latest Star Horses 2 series (supported by Starhorse.NET). This horse-betting platform rumored at being internationally presented into the gaming market. Other gaming opportunities included new token pushers and a newly branded UFO Catcher and expanding prize selection based on licenses.
News beyond the Private show - the Sammy name has been totally absent from all amusement launches, but in the Pachinko and Pachinsolt business the company has been as strong as ever. News has been hard to come-by regarding Sammy efforts, it has only now been revealed at a board meeting last year a decision to adopt the ‘GINZA' brand name and the creation of a new joint operation with the Ginza Company operation. It was not revealed if the GINZA brand will supersede the Sammy brand, but marks further efforts to consolidate the operations Gaming and Pachinko business.
The importance of the amusement business to the future of the SEGA Sammy Holding bottom line became obvious during a July announcement on the operations first quarter results. Where consumer and pachinko sales were way down, the big surprise was claimed to be amusement (by the consumer media), with amusement game sales increasing from ¥12.71 billion ($110.5m) in 2005 to ¥17.98 billion ($156.4m) for a profit of ¥4.05 billion ($35.3m). Amusement centre operations revenue increased from ¥21.02 billion ($182.8m) to ¥25.30 billion ($220.0m), with a profit of ¥2.01 billion ($17.5m).
News Story with thanks to Kevin Williams, please visit
www.thestingerreport.com for more info.
