IGN's SEGA Retrospective
By James Grahame
Bohus just spotted "The History of SEGA" on IGN. It's a surprisingly comprehensive look at the iconic Japanese gaming company formed by Americans after WWII. The article spans everything from the company's arcade era heyday to its eventual crushing defeat in the console wars:
"At the beginning of 2001, SEGA admitted defeat. After 18 years in the console business and only a few short years of real financial success, they were finally calling it quits. The Dreamcast ceased production in March of 2001, and the final units were cut to $50 before disappearing from stores. The announcement echoed Stolar's decision to leave the Saturn, but lacked the silver lining. As with the Saturn, SEGA and a handful of third parties put on a brave face, and games continued to ship in the US into the first half of 2002. By that time the GameCube and Xbox had made their way onto shelves, and the Dreamcast's last hope was gone."
SEGA occupies an unusual spot in the gaming world. American founder David Rosen stayed with the company until 1996, and the frequent use of American talent created a company that straddled the Pacific ocean. While the brand still exists as a software division of Japanese gaming corporation Sammy, hit titles are fewer and further between.
