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MCV INTERVIEW JOHN CLARK, SEGA UK SALES DIRECTOR ALAN PRITCHARD, SEGA EUROPE NORTH MD With regards to Empire we should also not discount the appeal of the franchise, the depth and quality of the game (review scores averaging 95 per cent) plus the additional content that was available to drive pre-orders. JC: There are a very small number of ‘event’-style PC titles. Critical acclaim and commercial success doesn’t always go hand-in-hand but, when you have a strong franchise coupled with compelling content the chances of success are increased. The success of House of the Dead shows that there is an adult contingent on Wii. And with so many adult titles on the horizon, do you feel this market could grow during the latter half of 2009? AP: There is certainly a reasonably healthy proportion of the Wii market that has an appetite for more mature titles. We will need to see the outcome
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performance of new IP with high cost development budgets. The development team behind Bayonetta at Platinum Games formerly worked on the Devil May Cry series, so ensuring awareness is high with the Devil May Cry fanbase will be key to Bayonetta’s initial success. JC: New IP will always be risky, and as technology develops and costs increase, the risk does not reduce. Bayonetta as a new IP is underpinned by a proven, successful developer and a proven, successful publisher. If the content succeeds it’ll be great for the industry as it should inspire developers to drive creativity and for publishers to support it. Aliens Vs. Predator is a big name next-gen FPS. Could this be Sega’s answer to Halo or Call of Duty? AP: We are really excited about this product. It’s a superb licence and we are working with a world class developer, so watch this space.
There is virtually no area of retail untouched by change, from supply routes, structures to new retailers. John Clark, Sega
of further releases to ascertain if the growth continues or whether it is the same consumers purchasing these titles. JC: It’s more about having the right game on the right platform at the right time. We’re committed to offering broad choice to consumers and our portfolio reflects this. Looking ahead at your upcoming line-up, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is the clear headliner. How key has this franchise become for Sega? AP: We are aiming for this to be the No.1 Christmas title for 2009. JC: Thankfully we’re not a ‘one game’ publisher but, if we were it’s a great game to have. New IP has been a risky business for publishers. How vital are titles like Bayonetta to the continued growth of the games industry? AP: Many publishers including ourselves have had issues with the
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JC: There has been a great level of coverage in the press so far for this title since its initial announcement, which is really encouraging. Obviously we will be supporting Alien vs. Predator with a triple-A campaign. The retail landscape is evolving all the time, with retailers coming and going and buyers moving around. What are your thoughts on games retail in 2009, and what developments most interest you? JC: There is virtually no area of retail or distribution untouched by change: supply routes, ownership, personnel and structures, new initiatives, new retailers and so on. Add to this the current economy and you’d be pushed to find comparable periods over the last ten years. What is Sega most interested in? There is no single entity, our commitment to release games with broad appeal continues and so our approach to support wide availability at retail will continue. What is happening at retail means that we too must evolve. It is a great challenge.
COMING SOON… VIRTUA TENNIS 2009 May 29th The latest in the popular tennis series boasts Wii MotionPlus support, and impressive online options. Read more about Sega’s new sports sim on page 36. THE CONDUIT June 26th A lot of hype surrounds High Voltage’s visually impressive first person shooter, which claimed numerous awards at last year’s E3 expo. LET’S TAP Summer Developed by the creative minds at Prope, Let’s Tap is an intuitive and inventive Wii party game that’s already garnering plenty of critical praise. BAYONETTA Late 2009 Sega’s latest new IP comes from the talent behind Devil May Cry and Resident Evil, and is sure to delight hardcore and action gamers alike. PLANET 51 November 2009 With the film and game being worked on by two sister studios, this is by no means your typical kids movie tie-in. Look out for both at the end of the year. MARIO AND SONIC AT THE WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES Christmas 2009 The last Mario and Sonic has sold well over two million units and is the biggest third party Wii title. Could its sequel be this year’s Christmas No. 1?
ALIENS VS. PREDATOR Q1 2010 The Rebellion-developed FPS allows gamers to play as human, Alien or Predator. The game is set to be one of the first big next-gen hits of 2010. VANCOUVER 2010 2010
Beijing 2008 is Sega’s most successful 360 and PS3 title, and the publisher will follow that up next year with its official Winter Olympics tie-in.