Do you really need a sequel?
Many fans can agree that nobody makes games like Sega does. Why? Its because of the great deal of innovation. If it weren't for Sega, Crazy Taxi would never exist. No other developer has come up with a game like that so why would there be an exception if Sega didn't make it. They also introduce themes into games like cel shading. One thing though, unlike Nintendo and Sony that like to run their popular franchises into the ground, Sega (since the Saturn days) has been making several franchises.
One of the most popular Sega games ever is Panzer Dragoon Saga. Released in 1998 by Sega and developed by Team Andromeda (who also took part in Jet Grind Radio and Skies of Arcadia), this game was huge. It was on multiple discs and featured a lot of cinematic scenes. While many who owned it said it was easy, it was an instant classic by many. Sadly, Sega of America released this game in limited quantities. You will have to usually pay at or over $100 if you want a used copy of the game. Of course, Dreamcast owners would want that great game on a new Sega machine.
Another popular Sega game is NiGHTS. Released in 1996 to try to counter Nintendo's Super Mario 64, it even came with a special controller just for having this game. Even though it was pretty much an analog stick placed on the Saturn controller, the design is awfully similar to the Dreamcast. Rumors were flying around about a NiGHTS 2. Then Yuji Naka said in an interview that NiGHTS 2 will never be made because the expectations would be so hard it would be pretty much impossible to make people happy over that game. The man has a point.
I think that the three most anticipated sequels made by Sega are Panzer Dragoon Saga 2, NiGHTS 2, and Streets of Rage 4. Why isn't Sega making these games? Its simple and it was already explained. For Sega to make these games, it would have to be very huge. So that means that these games would have to multi million dollar budgeted, something that Sega can't do to every single game they put out. With the sequels that Sega fans want, development costs would be too much for Sega to have at one time.
Then you would also have to factor in that only Sega fans would want these. Most gamers who aren't Sega fans don't know what Shining Force is. Do you think that these games will sell well? Hardly. These games may pick up at most 500,000 copies worldwide. I doubt it that Sega will make a profit on these sequels unless their predecessors were smash hits (and released less than five years ago) and even then (like Virtua Fighter 3tb in Japan), the success of the game is very debatable.
So Sega would have to put out high budgeted games that won't sell well. How do I know that these sequels won't move systems off of the shelf much? If they were so big, Sega would be making them. Sonic the Hedgehog is big so Sonic Team developed Sonic Adventure. Sonic Adventure is big so Sonic Team is developing Sonic Adventure 2. Plus I don't think that Sega really doesn't want to do much with the Saturn, which is the main cause of the huge debts that Sega has to carry on its back. Had Saturn not come out and 32X and Sega CD be standard for the system, I imagine that Genesis would last into 1997. Perhaps then Sega would develop Genesis games and make Dreamcast still in 1999.
Sure, Sega of Japan had a success with the Saturn but still, they lost a lot of money on it. If the Saturn originals wouldn't do well, why would a sequel or a remake do any better? It wouldn't; that is why. Most people in America don't even know what a Sega Saturn is so what is the point in trying to make sequels? Panzer Dragoon Saga 2? When did Panzer Dragoon Saga come out on? It must have sucked or else I would have known about it so I will skip that game. I know this is going to scan the minds of many people.
Sega should make some of their sequels but which ones? Virtua Fighter 4 is a given (Virtua Fighter X) since this is the most popular Japanese franchise in the 32 bit generation (It outsold Tekken and Super Smash Brothers) Should Sega remake some of the popular Saturn classics? Yes but then there comes the fact of that Sega fans will whine about how there is a lack of extras. There is no clear winner here. However if Sega fans really want NiGHTS or Panzer Dragoon Saga on Dreamcast, wouldn't they just buy the game regardless? I would buy both of these games in a heartbeat if they came out for Dreamcast.
If you ask me, the great way of seeing if there should be a sequel is by Sega remaking these games. Its not like Sega must do it themselves, they should license the rights out to lets say Ubi Soft that can remake this game with more powerful 2D or 3D (if the original was in 3D) and release it out. If people go nuts over it, it means that Sega should probably put out the sequel of the game. If it doesn't do anything, then perhaps the sequel should not be made. This to me seems like its the only way of how these games should be sold.
I like sequels as much as the next guy but I doubt it if Sega tried to concentrate on Outrun 2000, we would see F355 Challenge, Sega GT, and Crazy Taxi. If you ask me, I think that the amount of sequels that Sega is putting out now is fine for what it should be. Plus Sega has a habit of putting out the best games for last. It will be interesting to see what Sega announces at E3 2001 or Tokyo Game Show 2001 in March 2001. I sure hope that some RPGs come this way, like Shining Force IV or Panzer Dragoon Saga II but as I said, Sega will probably just lose a lot of money in the end.
-Shin Egg Robo
