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Introduction
The transition from "current-gen" consoles to "next-gen" consoles is almost always a challenging phase for most publishers, and a time sure to strain profits. Development costs ramp up as a result of more expensive and technologically advanced hardware, which puts a greater need on minimizing risks--but at the same time, the risks are higher for a number of reasons. There's a developmental learning curve involved; it's often unclear which console will emerge as the market leader; it typically takes a long time to bring new entries in top-tier established franchises to the market; lack of familiarity with new hardware often leads to more unpolished efforts that can scare off potential consumers. On and on the reasons go, but on thing is clear--the hurdles are such that it's a rocky time for the large publishers.
Over the past year, we have been transitioning into one of the more interesting next-gens we've seen in quite a long while--the last market leading console dominated the landscape by an almost unprecedented margin (certainly unseen in the last nearly twenty years), its successor began showing early signs of being off to a turbulent start, while all three new consoles took divergent, unique paths to their hopeful eventual success.
But what's a publisher to do? They can't simply refrain from releasing any games at all; they need to find a way to keep releasing content to keep their brand name strong and in consumer minds, as well as to bring in monetary gains, despite the uncertainty and risk involved in the volatile landscape being shaped. If one scrutinizes the market, it's interesting to see how different companies can actually personify viable yet very distinctive approaches in how to make this transition, and it's even more interesting to contrast the roads these companies are walking.
Sega: Everyone's a Winner
When Sega first made the awkward and painful switch from first party hardware manufacturer to third party publisher, the humbled company vowed to move forward as a platform-agnostic distributor of software. As the company entered the first phase of its third partyship, it stuck true to that promise--Sega, unlike most companies who tended to bank heavily on a single market-leading platform, divvied its franchises up and split them amongst the PS2, GCN, and Xbox. To the GameCube went Sonic, Skies of Arcadia, Phantasy Star Online, Billy Hatcher, and the new Super Monkey Ball franchise; to the Xbox went Shenmue, Jet Set Radio, Gun Valkyrie, and Panzer Dragoon; to the PS2 went Space Channel 5, REZ, Ecco the Dolphin, Shining, Sakura Taisen. In Sega's mind, everyone was a winner--whichever console ended up on top, Sega would be there with some of its most storied franchises. And if one of the consoles ended up bombing, well, the exclusives it had been handed could always be ported around.
As we are again transitioning into a new phase of development--this time the dawn of a new console era--Sega seems to be playing out of the same rulebook as before. The company has laid out an ambitious slate of development for the 360 and PS3, including the latest installments in its Virtua Fighter, Virtua Tennis, and Sega Rally series. Meanwhile, the publisher is gearing up high profile Wii titles as well--a sequel to the flagship Saturn score-attack game NiGHTS into Dreams being the most prominent. A new Super Monkey Ball has also already been delivered, a port of the arcade Ghost Squad is on the way, and rumors swirl that a new Samba de Amigo is on tap as well. However, there's also a palpable reticence on Sega's part to surge forward with huge early support, just as their last-gen efforts were noted for being so inclusive of numerous Dreamcast-era ports. Sega still seems almost terrified to abandon the PS2, which is still seeing new Yakuza, Phantasy Star, and Shining titles in high numbers.
So regardless of how things play out, whether HD gaming triumphs or waggle wins the day, Sega looks likely to see moderate success. But while this covering-all-the-bases approach isn't exactly winning points for boldness (as they say: nothing ventured, nothing gained), it should at least prove somewhat financially sound--a new feeling, no doubt, for the historically beleaguered company. And hey, if something doesn't work out: port, port away.
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