From: lthompsn@polari.online.com
Subject: Re: A bad OMEN for the GENESIS from Japan
Organization: Seattle Online Public Access Unix (206) 328-4944
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 03:38:19 GMT

In article <92245.021435U20565@uicvm.uic.edu> <U20565@uicvm.uic.edu> writes:
>Then the SNES comes along and despite a much more limited library has
>demonstrated more quality games within that limited library than the GENESIS.
>Not that no quality games exist for the GENESIS but given the much larger
>library the selection has been piss poor. Unfortunately we seemed to have
>gone through whatever quality games existed for the GENESIS and our SEGA
>system has been idle.

This is a difficult area to pin down; the quality games (such as Thunderforce
4, Grey Lancer, Prince of Persia (CD), Thunder Storm FX (CD), and others) 
are out, just not in the United States.     Furthermore SEGA of America's
new "we want to market US-oriented products" attitude is producing some very
very very bad games.   The problem seems to be one of marketing; not 
game production.    

>
>I have gotten a lot more value in my investment in the SNES. I have purchased
>more games in a two month period than I have for the GENESIS in a year. Add the
>fact that the last two for the GENESIS were complete dogs and about $100
>wasted dollars and my apprehension has increased substantially. Lots of new
>games for the GENESIS mentioned on the pages of EGM but very few look
>attractive.

EGM's picture quality has been very questionable of late.  Their pictures
of Grey Lancer and Thunderforce 4 (to name two of 'em) were MUDDY and made
vibrant, incredible-looking games look like crap.    However, in the same 
issue, the SNES/Super Famicom game photos looked crisp.    Where am I going
with this idea?  read on.
>
>After my experimental questionaire, which by no means is scientific, I saw
>some complaints by a couple of GENESIS owners about the lack of any decent
>games coming out. Complaints about the fact that anything that was produced
>by other than SEGA, you had to watch your dollars (potential dogs).

I totally disagree, most of my favorites have been from 3rd parties: Target
Earth, Fastest One (MD), Thunderforce series, Herzog Zwei (released under
SEGA label but Technosoft), Grenada, and many more.

>
>Don't get me wrong, I like my GENESIS. After a very long haitus, something
>came along (that I rented) that I liked. Road Rash from Electronic Arts.
>After seeing "Fatal Rewind" from Electronic Arts (EA) I questioned anything
>put out by the company.
>
>I look forward to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Batman Returns for the SEGA CD.
>I saw the latter two a the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Chicago.
>Problem is, that's about the only thing which caught my eye. And say what
>you want the lack of punch in the GENESIS in quality games finally has
>manifested itself in real world terms.
>
>It was reported that sales of the MegaDrive (GENESIS here in the US) have
>plummetted in Japan in recent months. That and the reception of the MEGA-CD
>have been mediocre. I wonder why.... (source of info: EGM)

This is another EGM lie, the Mega-CD is just hitting it's stride; with MANY
incredible games (finally starting to use the extra power of the Mega-CD)
out now or being released in the next few months.    
>
>I think after you own a SNES system and see some of the games, the latter
>would explain itself very clearly. In fact this has been the impetus for the
>initial research and development of a 32 bit system from SEGA. Such a system
>would be far off. SEGA has to save itself by getting its third party
>licenses in the ass and get some better games out on the market. SEGA itself
>hasn't been a bed of roses either. Their "Alisia Dragoon" which was my last
>GENESIS purhcase was awful, lame, crappy, add whatever else "superlatives"
>you like.e
>
>The SNES may have some inherent advantages, scaling and rotation. Keyword
>here, "inherent." Rotation has been demonstrated very well on the GENESIS,
>e.g. Sonic the Hedgehog in the bonus stages. However inherent facilities are
>different from those which you have to reinvent the wheel for every game.
>The SNES has demonstrated much richer colors as well.

The SEGA-CD will address the scaling/rotation powers.   Personally I'm not
that impressed with the much touted "mode 7" effects.  They look more like
low quality video effects than anything substantial.
>
>Even with the latter points against the GENESIS I still think it can be
>as good as the SNES in terms of quality. "Quality" games that is. People have
>different tastes, but that doesn't explain the great disparity in the amount
>of money I have invested in the SNES per unit of time than the GENESIS.
>
>What is happening in Japan I believe is simply a concrete example of how the
>GENESIS lacks quality in terms of games when compared to the SNES system.
>You can say whatever you wish, but numbers don't lie. When sales drop off
>there must be an underlying reason......

Sales figures are tricky as most companies don't release un-biased figures.
Seeing that the Wonder-Mega and the other 3rd party Mega-CD games and products
are coming out in droves (and that most companies don't release products
into a dead market) I would say the rumors of the CD's demise are greatly
exaggerated.

I think EGM has had a DECIDEDLY pro-SNES anti-SEGA slant of late.  It has 
resulted in me no longer buying the magazine.   I'm tired of it, I wish they'd
resort to objective reporting.    I'm not saying that Sega is the best in 
all areas, I'm not going to play that stupid game.    If you are satisfied
with your system, so be it.    

EGM is the ONLY source talking about dropping Mega-CD and Megadrive sales
in Japan.   EGM is the only source going on and on about the fantastic future
SNES CD-ROM due out in '93.   EGM is spewing a pack of lies.    Granted I'm
EGM bashing but I don't like their crap.



-- 
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+
|Lee Thompson                   | "Marvin?"                                  |
|lthompsn@polari.online.com     | "I'm all right... still very bad though."  |
|TSN: Mailbox: 21452 (Sierra 3) |                                            |