Digital Distribution - Step it up!

[Big Pája]

Hello everyone! I have a modest proposal.

Ever since it was hinted that Dreamcast games would get a new lease on life on PlayStation Network and other digital distribution channels, very little has happened. We saw a handful of DC games getting the HD treatment and a few Genesis/Mega Drive games being ported to PSN. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to see more of this. So much more.

The games Sega published and developed must not be forgotten and since it seems highly unlikely for Sega to re-enter the console wars, the company should focus on bringing as much of its catalogue as possible to as many gaming platforms as possible. Sega has already overcome the rivalry with Nintendo and released many Master System and Mega Drive/Genesis games on Nintendo's Virtual Console. Sega is no slouch in releasing games from these consoles on Xbox Live either. But the performance could be much better, especially on PSN.

So I entreat Sega to "step it up"! Negotiate with Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft and Valve to bring all of Your back-catalogue to their digital distribution services. Don't limit it to Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis and that poultry offering of Dreamcast titles. Include Saturn, 32X, SegaCD and maybe eventually even SG-1000 games. Re-release digitally the games that came to PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube as well. Re-release EVERYTHING! You will not regret it. The wider the range of products offered and the larger the consumer base they're offer to is, the more money You'll make. It's as simple as that.

Are You with me on this?

[kevin the hedgehog]

Yes but i rather see them in retail collections, then you have a tru sega collection instead of buying only air.

[Miles Prower]

I'm with you on this, I'd love to see SEGA re-release a lot of the classics to go up on online digital content stores such as PSN, XBL, etc.

I'd buy a heap of games instantly

[Big Pája]

Yes but i rather see them in retail collections, then you have a tru sega collection instead of buying only air.

Of course. I wouldn't object to that. Retail is still far from dead and broadband internet connection is not universal. But digital distribution is the future-proof way of making classics available to current gamers. So it cannot be one or the other, it has to be both or at least "air".

[Cireza]

Why always want to release again games already available on older consoles ?

I prefer that Sega uses its resources to port arcade games that were never ported to home consoles, or make perfect ports of games that did not have this chance in the past.

But Dreamcast, MegaDrive games ? Come on, you can buy these easily and a lot of those classics are not expensive at all. Others are too obscure and will never see a new releases.

[Starlight Rage Zone]

They need to pay money to get it on those systems though (ratings that have expired etc), something SEGA sadly doesn't have.

One step at a time...

[shihe]

I'd dare to say that I've played more enjoying titles from SEGA than from Nintendo, and I've been a fan of both since I began gaming.


I'd love to see Knuckles Chaotix re-released as well, either an emulated port or a revamp from Taxman.
And of course, all those Dreamcast games I missed (and SATURN!).

[Starlight Rage Zone]

I'd dare to say that I've played more enjoying titles from SEGA than from Nintendo, and I've been a fan of both since I began gaming.


I'd love to see Knuckles Chaotix re-released as well, either an emulated port or a revamp from Taxman.
And of course, all those Dreamcast games I missed (and SATURN!).

Nintendo have their moments. I think Pikmin for example feels like a SEGA creation then Nintendo but on the opposite side of the coin Billy hatcher feels very Nintendo like. So I do feel they learn from each other.

I bought a Saturn recently, hoping to obtain Nights and Panzer Dragoon for it.

[Big Pája]

Why always want to release again games already available on older consoles ?
I prefer that Sega uses its resources to port arcade games that were never ported to home consoles, or make perfect ports of games that did not have this chance in the past.
But Dreamcast, MegaDrive games ? Come on, you can buy these easily and a lot of those classics are not expensive at all. Others are too obscure and will never see a new releases.

Because those older are not "easily available" as You put it. Yes, there is this magical tool we call the internet and when we know how to use it, we can procure a lot of interesting stuff on it. But not everything is available on the internet. If You live in a country where Dreamcast or Mega Drive have been successful and people are likely to have them and games for them lying around in their attics, You're in luck. But if You're from a country where those consoles never took off (my situation), there's the problem of shipping. That's a needless additional cost and not everyone is willing to ship everywhere around the world.

Also, I'm not asking Sega to re-release only Dreamcast and Mega Drive games, which, despite what I've said above, are more likely to be still around than others. I want Sega to re-release all games from all of their consoles, which includes Saturn, 32X, Sega CD, Master System and SG-1000. You read my starter post, right? Do You think games from those console are "easily available" as well? I don't. Saying that the games are "too obscure" is not a valid argument for me. I'm all about preserving the gaming heritage and customer convenience.

I'm definitely not against Sega putting resources into porting their arcade games to home consoles, though.

[Starlight Rage Zone]

Your point is kind of skewed, since it's readily available in other countries, it should be therefore cheap to import these goods into your country, and some people will already have those games in your neighbouring country (if you don't live on an island).

Plus not all of SEGA's games are that great (coming from someone who has many SEGA games), they should just pick the best and obscure of the bunch and release them.