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Shenmue Online Canned???SEGA Targets China!!!SEGA Announce Shenmue Twist
SEGA Targets China!!! News
Chris Leyton
03/08/2004
SEGA announces the formation of SEGA SHANGHAI, citing online business as “crucial” to growth…
Todayâs shock development in the Shenmue saga, concerning the migration of the cult series to the PC and becoming an online title to boot may not have been the news that long-suffering Shenmue fans needed to here.
It does however highlight the latest publisher to cash in on the success of the huge popularity of PC titles, or more precisely online PC titles, in the Chinese and Korean markets.
Following on from the announcement of Shenmue Online, comes confirmation that SEGA Corp would be entering the China market; in preparation setting up a branch office in Shanghai for full-scale business operations, and citing the market as âcrucialâ for growth in the Multiplayer Online Game Business.
Whilst Massively-Multiplayer-Online (MMO) have endured a tough time in the West, with such titles as Warhammer Online being infamously cancelled after years in development, the genre has literally taken off in the aforementioned territories with over 10 million online gamers in China alone.
Itâs this fact that has become a key component in SEGAâs global strategy, one that involves becoming a âmarket leaderâ in the Online Games Business sector. Having launched such operations in Japan, U.S.A and Europe, SEGA plans to operate the new venture through its local branch offices, creating content designed to appeal to market-specific tastes and demand.
Marking an impressive launch, SEGA confirmed the release of three online PC titles for China.
Confirming an agreement to provide Zarva Digital Entertainment, the subsidiary of Zarva Technology Group Co., Ltd -- one of the biggest IT companies in China -- with a license to operative Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst. PSO: BB being the first title in the popular online series to be released on the PC, dating back to the original Dreamcast release in 2000.
In addition SEGA announced a partnership with Joyzone Networks Co to bring CTRacer to China. Although the name CTRacer may not be well known outside of Korea, the beta-test within its home region attracted 3.75 million subscribers within 2 months. SEGA and Hyundai Digital co-created the title, which allows up to 5000 people to simultaneously compete in races; whilst players can communicate in virtual communities, purchasing items such as performance parts and paint schemes.
Finally confirmation of todayâs earlier Shenmue Online announcement - confirming a commercial launch in 2005 and the suggestion that the game will be âbasedâ on the series.
Whether or not SEGA will contemplate such bold plans outside of China remains to be seen; weâll have more information if it develops.
