Newsletter: Sega World Weekly issue 135
From Video Game Morgue File
_________________________________________________________
/ \
S E G A W O R L D W E E K L Y
M A G A Z I N E
~~ Issue No. 135 Jun 4th 2001 ~~
Proudly sponsored by http://www.LIK-SANG.com/
\_________________________________________________________/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Please Support Our Sponsors Intro --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> How many reasons to get a Dream Connection 2in1 do
you need ?
- You want to connect your PC Keyboard to your Dreamcast ?
- You want to connect your WIRELESS PC Keyboard to your DC?
- You would like to prepare for OutTrigger meanwhile ?
- The last Quake battle damaged your original Sega Mouse/
Keyboard ?
- There is no good looking Dreamcast Keyboard ?
- You like BLUE ?
Dream Connection 2in1:
http://www.lik-sang.com/?click=pi,4,716,sww
> Share your thoughts online now at our brand new forum:
-- http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
> Sega World Weekly is best read in the Courier New font.
For past issues see http://www.SegaWorldWeekly.com/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Editors Comments Page 1 --
\_________________________________________________________/
It's been over five months now since Sega announced they
were pulling out of the hardware business. Their Dreamcast
stock is selling out, and in the case of Japan already has
sold out, then the multi-platform titles were revealed at
last months E3 show. But still many a Sega gamer is
confused as to why Sega had to dump the Dreamcast... so
this issue's cover feature talks about Sega leaving their
hardware production, from a business perspective, and is
seriously a great read. It's also with that, his first
feature, that we welcome Chris to the SWW staff :)
Then we've got tons and tons of Official Sega Wallpaper
for you to download on Page 5, plus a massive Sonic
website you just HAVE to see in the news. Sadly there's
some big bad news on Half Life after that, but then there's
also the Q&A, letters, oh and even a cheat for that former
mentioned Sonic Website near the end of this issue!
Speaking of the Q&A and letters however, if you want to
speak your mind in SWW, or have a question to ask our Sega-
know-it-all, just send an email to zondaro@usa.net :)
Don't forget to check out our sponsor at:
http://www.lik-sang.com/
Finally, our forum continues to grow by leaps and bounds
as we now approach our 1,500th post! Post your thoughts
online today at: http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
- Graham "Crazzzzzzy Money" Parker (Editor)
NOTICE - From the middle of June to mid September, I'll be
away in America working at Cedar Lake Summer Camp in PA.
Hense please do not send any email to my madcow@ihug.co.nz
address after June the 16th. Thanks :)
/\ /\
|| C O N T E N T S ||
|| ||
|| 2 - Cover Story ||
|| 3 - Websites to Visit ||
|| 4 - Weekly News ||
|| 5 - Sega Downloads ||
|| 6 - Lik-Sang Low-down ||
|| 7 - Question & Answer ||
|| 8 - Letters ||
|| 9 - Cheats ||
|| 10 - Our Support Sites ||
|| 11 - Credits ||
\/ \/
HOT QUOTE this issue: ""
-- - Page
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Cover Story Page 2 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> Why Sega pulled out of hardware - A business view.
-- Written by Chris (Clay.Camel) Heggelund
IMHO this was a strategically correct move by Sega. Sega's
numbers were in the red, and changes were imminent. In a
situation like this there are several options available:
1. Take your money, run & file for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
2. Keep on loosing money, betting it's a short term trend.
3. Divest (get rid off the less profitable parts of your
business)
4. Invest/Merge (try to limit your losses by expanding/
merging to other industries/companies where you can
take advantage of the synergy effect (The interaction
of two or more business entities so that their
combined effect is greater than the sum of their
individual effects)
5. Managerial change. Sometimes hiring a new "hotshot" CEO
can convince the shareholders/public that things are
changing.
As we all know, Sega went with option number three,
divesting from the less profitable videogame console
segment. I also think that option number four is something
they will be moving into; there are already rumors that
Sega and Nintendo are collaborating on an MMORPG (Massive
Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). I think this is a
great idea. Nintendo has had some great storylines in
previous RPGs (Zelda anyone?) and coupling this with the
superior programming talents at Sega may result in some of
the best games ever seen.
I mentioned at the beginning of this article that I think
Sega did the right thing. We have to be honest with
ourselves here. Even though the Dreamcast is the best
console I have ever owned, it was costing Sega millions to
keep producing and selling it. Sega is a different kind of
company than Sony, Sega was in the business of making
gaming consoles and games, while the Sony Corporation is a
huge conglomerate that produces anything from stereos, TVs,
DVD players, video games etc etc. Sony can afford to sell
its consoles at a loss because they are a "deep pocket"
company. They can take from one profitable segment of their
business and give to another. Sega did not have the same
freedom.
Why is Nintendo still in business then you ask? Well even
though Nintendo is more like Sega than Sony, Nintendo has
one market that is generating huge profits for them; namely
the hand held console market. Integrating their Gamecube
with the new GameBoy Advance is huge lead that Nintendo has
over both Sega and Sony, and Nintendo knows that their
ultimate survival may rest on channeling the GameBoy owners
into becoming Gamecube owners. In addition, having the
Pokemon license doesn't hurt them either.
The fourth player is Microsoft. They face the challenge of
being a rookie, but we all know that the X-Box will also
benefit from having "Deep Pocket" parents. We have already
seen examples of this when Microsoft went out and bought
Bungie in order to have Halo appear exclusively on the
X-Box.
Sega's strength lays in producing quality products, and in
order to do so in today's market, they could no longer
afford to compete in the video game hardware industry. They
need to funnel their resources towards a market in which
they can make a profit. And now, instead of loosing
millions of dollars in one segment, they can focus on
producing games for four different hardware platforms (PC,
X-Box, Cube, PS2). Sega's games have always been great, and
imagine the potential now, when all their resources are
focused on making games and games only!!
For the future I don't know what system will come out on
top, or if there will be enough room for all of them. I
think Sony has the edge as we look into future. This is
based on the fact that the gaming console, as we know it,
may not exist for much longer. The future is an all in one
machine that combines TV, DVD player, Gaming console,
Computer, Internet and E-mail tool, Phone/Video etc into
one home appliance. Sony's huge conglomerate is best
suited to bring all these technologies together. I think
that in the next 3-5 years we will see companies merging in
order to enable the production of this "all in one wonder
machine". Maybe sometime in the future we will again see
Sega's name on a piece of hardware, but until then I
support Sega's decision and I am looking forward to reap
the benefits.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact
me at ceo@flexicorp.com
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Websites to Visit Page 3 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> United Games Fanzine - http://www.unitedgames.co.uk
Why?
Because email will never be as exciting as post.
<<.>> Play AS MANY Games as you WANT this SUMMER!
- http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?adux+A2cvBw+sumunrenprog.html
Red Octane's summer unlimited rental program membership
entitles you to 3 months of unlimited game rentals, 3 Free
issues of Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine, and more!
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Weekly News Page 4 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> Sega's Super Sonic Website!
As the day draws ever closer when Sega's mascot, Sonic the
Hedgehog turns the big one zero, the celebrations have
already begun online.
This week Sega of America launched the ultimiate Sonic
website with so much to see it will take you at least an
hour of surfing to take it all in.
You'll find an interactive timeline showing you the
complete history of our favorite hog, in which you can even
control the classic 16-bit 2D Sonic with your arrow keys!
Then there's the collection of Sonic Merchandise, each with
a photo and description that will have you begging Sega to
accept your credit card and send you some, even though you
can't order off this website. We're talking about
everything from inflatable chairs, to punching bags, and
even Sonic the Hedgehog canned Pasta!
There's plenty of little known Sonic facts inside the site,
including the fact that the original design for the main
character was a rabbit!
As well as the history, there's downloads for your hard
drive, including two screen savers, one excellent for his
10th Aniverasry, and then lots of Sonic wallpaper. The site
also includes information on the developers themselves,
and of course lots of hot new details on Sonic Adventure 2.
All the game modes are listed, plus you'll be shown screen
shots of a new two player kart racing game (which you can
download more levels for off the net), pictures of the
Chao's, then finally hints about secrets locked away in the
game. It seems there's so much to see and do in Sonic
Adventure 2, and we can't wait till that big day!
Every single person even the slightest bit interested in
Sonic should check out the website now at...
http://www.sega.com/sega/game/sonic2_launch.jhtml
Oh and fans of the old classic games might reconize some
of the background music in places :) Plus there's even a
cheat on the site listed further down here in Sega World
Weekly!!
<<.>> Half Life - Never to see the light of day
In a sad, disapointing, and certainly very confusing move,
Half Life for the Dreamcast will never be released. Rumors
of the game being canned, even though the final reviewable
copies were already sent out, have spread around the net
these past few weeks.
But now comes something much more concrete, as all retail
stores have taken Half Life off their websites, removed the
details from their computers, and refunded everyone who
pre-ordered the game. When the publishers, Sierra, were
questioned on the reasons behind this, they only offered a
"No comment", and didn't deniy the game had been canned.
Why lose all the money spent on development and not even
sell a single copy? Here's hoping we will get a
explenation one day, and a real good one at that.
Wether we'll ever get a reason for this insane decision,
who knows, but out of all the games that could have been
cancelled for the Dreamcast, no one ever though Half Life
would be one.
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Sega Downloads Page 5 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> Sega-tize your desktop
Sega of Germany have a wide variety of wallpapers for your
computer desktop online right now. Including Shenmue, Ecco,
Head Hunter, Ferrari 355, Daytona USA, Phantasy Star
Online, Virtua Tennis... and many, many more! There's
around 30 different wallpapers online in fact, enough for
one a day for a whole month of Sega mania across your PC!
http://www.sega.de/home/goodies/wallpapers/index.shtml
Next Week: Sonic Music Videos!
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Lik-Sang Lowdown Page 6 --
\_________________________________________________________/
LIK-SANG...
<<.>> Earn US$ 10.5 off every sale!
- http://www.lik-sang.com/
You have your own web site? You can become a Lik-Sang.com
affiliate and earn real cash. By putting a link on your
web site, we will pay you US$ 10.5 every time a customer
you referred makes a purchase with us! Talk about easy
money!
- Place your links online now, we have 1000+ hot video
game products to sell
- Each of your sales is US$ 10.5, guaranteed!
Join for free:
http://www.lik-sang.com/?click=con,Affiliates,sww
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Question and Answer Page 7 --
\_________________________________________________________/
Do you have a question for your Sega know-it-all? Simply
e-mail in your questions to Ross at zondaro@usa.net and
look for the answers soon in an issue of Sega World Weekly.
We are unable to personally reply to all emails.
You can also post your questions online, via our forum
which we all check regularly at...
http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
Next week: More questions, more run around Answers!
<<.>> Are You Shooting Blanks?
Q) Great mag mate! I really get a buzz when it arrives in
my inbox. I have been hanging out to get Confidential
Mission. I own a Japanese DC that has been modified so
I can play local PAL games and US games. I have read
DC.IGN's review of Confidential Mission and they have
stated that the Japanese DC light gun doesn't work and
that you have to use either the controller or third
party light guns from the states. I have 2 Official DC
light guns that came from Japan that I use with HotD2.
Can I use my guns with the US confidential mission or
do I have to wait until the Japanese or PAL release?
- Matt
A) Well, if the US release doesn't support the official
DC lightguns it wouldn't surprise me. The Japanese
version would be the most likely to support them.
Although I have to say that the version I played at E3
worked really well with a controller.
<<.>> The Headaches...They Hurt...
Q) Hi, I was reading a headline on Dolby.com/press. Dolby
announced that there will be software for the PS2. Is
this going to happen to the Dreamcast? I realize that an
add-on will be required. Cheers mate. - Neil
A) I'm already having flashbacks to the 5.1 surround sound
debacle that ended with me buried under a pile of angry
letters. Short and simple, I have no idea exactly what
this new Dolby software is for PS2 (and now Xbox) but I
do know that it's not coming to Dreamcast.
<<.>> Canadians Mocking Americans...Again...
Q) Ohhh...poor baby...got no mail. Actually, I do have
something that's been on my mind. Crazy Taxi 2. How much
of an improvement is it from the original? My brother
and I rented Crazy Taxi from Blockbuster. Of course,
like everything else it was beaten in no time. I
actually enjoyed just playing it for fun. The music was
cool, but it was the same three songs over and over! As
a result, we decided not to buy it. Now CT2 is out! To
buy or not to buy...that is the question! Is it worth
the $59.99 CND or not? What improvements will there be?
- Angelina Carver
A) If you weren't much a fan of the original then CT2 won't
woo you. There are some gameplay enhancements, but not
that many. I'd suggest reading Dreamcast.IGN's review
to get a better idea of what the game is like.
<<.>> Half-Life outta Life
Q) I just been inform by Buy-Rite videogames that HalfLife
for Dreamcast is not coming out. Is that true?
- Raynard Gaines
A) From all the reports, and lack of denial coming from
Serria...chances are that HalfLife just isn't coming.
I don't think that the rumors about choppy framerates
make much sense when you consider that the PS2 HL port
was running slower then Halo at E3. I think that some
how the bean counters decided that it wasn't feasible
to release it. Don't fret though, because the same
mission that was DC exclusive is now coming out on the
PC.
<<.>> Questions About Tagging And ZOmbies
Q) Zondora, as happy as I am that Sega is developing for
other consoles I am worried about future releases for
the DC and for how long support will actually last.
1) Now that JSRF and HOTD3 have been announced for the
X-Box what are the chances of seeing them on the DC?
The fact that neither of these titles were mentioned
by Sega at the E3 worries me.
2) I've read on the e-zine that Argatha has been
cancelled. I haven't heard this from anywhere else.
Do you know its current situation?
4) IGN reports that Skies of Arcadia 2 has been confirmed
for the DC but I haven't heard this anywhere else.
Have you heard any rumors?
Thanks, Jose.
A) I think that HotD3 has been silently moved to Xbox. From
what I've gathered, if a game wasn't shown or announced
at E3 then the chances of it still coming for Dreamcast
are very low. As Jet Set Radio goes, the sequel wasn't
talked about at E3. Also from what I saw JSRF couldn't
be done on DC so don't expect a port. Hopefully, the
Sega Rep's slip about JSRF 'premiering' on Xbox first
means that at least we'll see a Gamecube version.
Argatha was another no show at E3, I think they are
still working on it. However, I bet its been moved to
Xbox. SoA2 was a no show at E3. I haven't heard to much
on it as of late. And, its Zondaro not Zondora.
Tony Hawk 2 on Gameboy Advance rules! - zondaro@usa.net
Join in our forum - http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Letters of the Week Page 8 --
\_________________________________________________________/
Do you have an opinion who wish to share with all the
readers of Sega World Weekly? Simply e-mail in your
thoughts to zondaro@usa.net and look for them in an issue
of Sega World Weekly. Letters will be edited for length.
You can also post your letters and thoughts online at our
forum... http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
Hot Topic: Sold-Out Gamers
Cold Topic: Paying to Play PSOv2
<<.>> Paying to Be Sharked
I just read at dc.ign.com that Sega is planning to charge
a fee for people who want to play PSOv2 online! Is it just
me or does that suck?! I was planning on buying PSOv2, but
if there is any type of monthly fee I will be unable to. I
have no credit cards, this is due to the fact that im 16,
and my parents won't put up the dough. I use a free ISP for
cryin out loud. I love PSO but I sure hope Sega reconsiders
this. Most people already have Sega.net now they have to
play more for this 1 game! I don't know why Sega is doing
this, but they better not go through with it, or I'm ganna
be pissed!
- Sp134m
[I hate to be the first to break it to you, but it
costs Sega money to run PSO servers. You guys
begged for PSOv2, now don't cry now that you've got to
pay for it like the Japanese. - Zondaro]
<<.>> Zombies and Gamers
How many gamers have heard of Nights or Shinobi you say ?
What, the comerical players who buy whatever is advertised
on TV ? The gamers that think EA makes the best football
games in the world because, they can afford to pay a couple
of million to get exclusive rights to David Beckams
haircut. The generation that lap up Tekken Tag Tournament
as the best fighting game ever, and the boast to their
friends that the ps2 has a "700 mhz processor thats 12
times more powerful than a Dreamcast, combined with a 40
gig hard-drive and Broad band internet". The generation
that has destroyed the original generation through selfish
negligence and ignorance. The mass-marketing of the art of
video gaming, that means everything is just about money.
Not about innovation, creativity or brave idealism. The
original periodic elements that spurred the first man, at
the first computer, to push that first key, and give birth
to the first interactive recreational piece of software.
I'm sure your referring to the generation who judge a
company by it's sales figures, regardless of the actual
quality behind the sparkled lighting. The "well informed"
generation my friend, who scream all day and all night on
forums and chatrooms that "The dreamcast is going to sink
like the Saturn" and that "Nintendo is for baby's and Atari
were shit and went bankrupt cause they were useless". So, I
guess you are right. Scrap a new Streets of Rage, get rid
of the hope for a Golden Axe 2001 or the dreams of a
Shinobi Forever. Let the companies who helped craft the
market into what it is today, concentrate on much more
important things: Like mindless sequels, and buying the
rights for the next damn movie. What a wonderful state of
the art we've got ourselves into. Now...how exactly do we
dig ourselves out? Regards.
- Peter G.
[Honestly, we've been buying sequels since the
beginning. How many Sonic games were there? How many
Shinobi games? People seem so quick to jump on sequels
nowadays, but yet they've been around since the start.
Sony didn't start the trend of sequels. Certain
companies may have taken the idea to new levels with
yearly cookie cutter updates. It was always a business
to make money, only now we are the minority who are not
the target market. Grow up. There are still original
games being made, just because some L33t "hardcore"
gamers don't seem to notice doesn't mean that you can't
play the original and innovative games. Certainly these
games don't need to be named after old games to make
you buy them. - Zondaro]
Anyone want to send me a Gameboy Advance? - zondaro@usa.net
Join in our forum - http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Cheats Page 9 --
\_________________________________________________________/
<<.>> Sega of America's new Sonic Website
-- Hidden BG Music:
To find some more hidden background music from the classic
Green Hill Zone, visit Sega's new Sonic website at...
http://www.sega.com/sega/game/sonic2_launch.jhtml
Then click to turn the music off at the top right hand
corner. Wait a few minutes, then turn it back on, and
you'll hear some music that will certainly have those
memories flooding back.
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Support Sites Page 10 --
\_________________________________________________________/
Sega World Weekly goes out to 40,000 gamers every week, but
how did we get so many people signed up? With the help of
these websites, that's how...
<<.>> System Zero - http://system-zero.com
As game music goes well beyond the beeps and bleeps of the
past and into the soundtrack quality tracks we hear today,
Perfect Zero becomes one of THE most important sites for
game fans. Hosting hundreds of MP3s from different games,
turn up those speakers and click that link.
<<.>> DC-United - http://dc-united.com
The Premiere Dreamcast Community, DC-United.com gives you
the ability to view members online, build your own
homepage, send messages, read in-depth reviews, and much
more. DCU Network Members are also eligible for various
monthly prizes.
<<.>> The Next Level - http://www.the-nextlevel.com
The Next Level is a multi-platform gaming magazine focused
on current and upcoming next-generation systems. We provide
up-to-date news, in-depth reviews, reader reviews,
intriguing editorials, and more.
<<.>> PSY Online - http://www.consolereviews.net
PSY Online is a multiformat reviews website specialising in
the Sega Dreamcast console. With 24/7 updated news, forums
and chat, its a great place to hang out for Sega fans.
<<.>> Future Gamez - http://www.futuregamez.net
What ever console your looking for, Future Gamez have them
all. From Dreamcast to GameCube, and X-Box to Playstation
2. So get your news, reviews, previews, and more at Future
Gamez, and stay on top of all systems.
_________________________________________________________
/ \
-- Credits Page 11 --
\_________________________________________________________/
O Editor: Graham "Tails" Parker - Madcow@ihug.co.nz
O Q&A / Letters: Ross Fisher - Zondaro@usa.net
O Staff Writer: Michael Monahan - Mikelad1@aol.com
O Staff Writer: Chris Heggelund - Heggelun@pilot.msu.edu
<<.>> http://www.segaworldweekly.com/ - Our Website
<<.>> http://www.segaworldweekly.com/forum/ - Our Forum
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
<<.>> Do yourself a favour and let Lik Sang work for you :)
You have your own web site? You can become a Lik-Sang.com
affiliate and earn real cash. By putting a link on your
web site, we will pay you US$ 10.5 every time a customer
you referred makes a purchase with us! Talk about easy
money!
- Place your links online now, we have 1000+ hot video
game products to sell
- Each of your sales is US$ 10.5, guaranteed!
Join for free:
http://www.lik-sang.com/?click=con,Affiliates,sww
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Copyright 1998-2001 Graham Parker - Madcow@ihug.co.nz
No parts may be copied without prior permission or correct
credit where due. There should probably be a pile of other
legal lines here, but please just play nice and don't
steal, lol! Thanks for reading Sega World Weekly!
"What are you, stupid??" - Crazy Taxi
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Please note the advert below is added on by our mailing
list, it's in no way connected to Sega World Weekly...
