From: v089l3s3@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Jeremy B Horwitz)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video
Subject: Re: A bad OMEN for the GENESIS from Japan
Date: 5 Sep 92 13:51:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Sep3.033819.25936@polari>, lthompsn@polari.online.com writes...
>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 all of the games you mention except Gley(correct SP) Lancer. Agreed - 
they're the best Genesis games around now. But, I've been hard pressed to
find other games for the Genesis that good. I pick and choose - those were the on
only possible choices.
P> 
>>
>>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.

The TF4 pictures weren't bad, but at a time when all the Japanese mags were
printing full game layouts... EGM, the game masters, were showing 3 pics
and describing them wrong... Oh, well.
>>
>>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.
> 
Target Earth, among my alltime faves, was panned by EGM long ago. I have since
learned for fact that EGM only plays the first level of a game unless it looks
good enough to view the whole thing. Luckily, the sequel, Cybernator (SNES)
is coming out in November or October in Japan as Assault Suit: Valken (T:E
was "Assault Suit: Leynos"). I can't wait!
 r
>>
>>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 was in Japan. Untrue. Sorry to burst your bubble. I own a M-CD, though.
I like it, but it's not selling in Japan, since the Mega Drive was unpopular.
tyt>>
>>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.

With this -- I've only seen two scaling effects thus far. In Tenkafubu's
title screen, a very poor one-color only scaling effect with the characters
Tenkafubu against a fiery background. In Thunder Storm FX, only in the
same manner. The first game to use it in Gameplay is Nobunaga and his
Ninja Force. I can't wait.  
>>
>>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.

The M-D sales couldn't drop much more. They're just not selling. It's really
true. The Japanese are a much different type of buyer than we are - they
love Nintendo to death. I own both systems and vastly prefer my SNES at
the moment, but if the M-CD keeps putting great games out...

-> Jer