SEGA acquire Sports Interactive

[Marc Duffy]

Breaking news : SEGA Buy UK Development Giant, Sports Interactive - Creators of the hugely successful Football Manager™ series

http://www.ootpbaseball2006.com/news...ews=view&id=61

[sfgiants88]

Wonderful, OOTP gets eaten by a bigger fish, which is turn gets eaten by an even bigger fish. I just don't see how this can be a good thing.

[Markus Heinsohn]

Originally Posted by sfgiants88

Wonderful, OOTP gets eaten by a bigger fish, which is turn gets eaten by an even bigger fish. I just don't see how this can be a good thing.

Simple: Nothing changes. We won't even have a Sega guy in the office. No one will tell me to add certain features, or leave certain features away... it's only that on paper Sega now owns SI, instead of the Collyers. That's basically all it is...

[bababui]

Originally Posted by sfgiants88

Wonderful, OOTP gets eaten by a bigger fish, which is turn gets eaten by an even bigger fish. I just don't see how this can be a good thing.

Actually it is a good thing. Japanese companies tend to keep hands off as long as they are successful. This might actually lead to, say, a faster 2 dimensional graphical engine in 07 and 3d in 2010!!

[sfgiants88]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Simple: Nothing changes. We won't even have a Sega guy in the office. No one will tell me to add certain features, or leave certain features away... it's only that on paper Sega now owns SI, instead of the Collyers. That's basically all it is...

I just see this leading down the track of the big developer enveloping the "small guy." They may allow you guys freedom at the start, but if the game doesn't sell as well, or you guys hit some other snag in the road, SEGA might step in and clamp down on you guys.

I was priveleged to be a part of a great little community, but now we are part of a giant, video game conglomerate.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by sfgiants88

I just see this leading down the track of the big developer enveloping the "small guy." They may allow you guys freedom at the start, but if the game doesn't sell as well, or you guys hit some other snag in the road, SEGA might step in and clamp down on you guys.

I was priveleged to be a part of a great little community, but now we are part of a giant, video game conglomerate.

welcome to the 21st century business model; grow or die.

[Marc Duffy]

Honestly, everything stays as it is. The future is bright.

[Joshv02]

Congrats!

[f.montoya]

I'd say this opens more doors than it closes. Of course it's kind of scary to the old customers of this long running "mom & pop" business that was OOTP. I'm sure things won't change much for us as long as we still have access to communicate directly with the man making our little digital drug.

[thomamon]

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Honestly, everything stays as it is. The future is bright.

Awesome!

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Honestly, everything stays as it is. The future is bright.

Is it orange too?

[PotatoPeeler]

Sega aquire? Sega buy?

Sega is a thing, is it not? And "it", as it were.

I buy...
You buy...
He/She/It buys...
We buy...
They buy...

Gawd, I've been doing this teaching English thing for too long.

[Malleus Dei]

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Honestly, everything stays as it is. The future is bright.

Everyone who sells out says that because they're told to say that. (Sadly, some of them have been foolish enough to believe it: "No, really, you can deal with the Devil and keep your soul. Honestly! Would I lie to you?")

Everyone who sells out to the devil and thinks they can still keep their soul is inevitably mistaken.

What we have always, always, always seen in gaming is this:

1. Major company acquires studio which makes awesome niche products.
2. Major company guts studio which makes awesome niche products.
3. Awesome niche products are no longer produced.

We've been here before, Marc. It always ends in tears, because big corporations don't understand niche products, don't understand or approve of operating in small markets, view people (and entire studios) who make small-market products as costs which can be cut at the first opportunity, and are all run by blighted soulless dehumanized zombies who have only one goal: maximizing stockholder value (I walked away from the corporate world many years ago because of that last fact).

No offense, but you sound like every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out doing exactly what every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out was told to do: reassure the customers.

Been here before. Not buying it.

[Malleus Dei]

Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

Simple: Nothing changes. We won't even have a Sega guy in the office. No one will tell me to add certain features, or leave certain features away... it's only that on paper Sega now owns SI, instead of the Collyers. That's basically all it is...

That's all it is *right now*. Fear the corporate future, Markus.

If you don't have an escape plan - a way to take OOTP with you when it all goes to Hell - then for the love of God put one together now.

For if the past is any indication at all - and it always is - then you're going to need one, and sooner than you think.

[redsox45]

Does anyone really think Markus would sell out completely to SI? That he hasn't researched the law, and retained a good corporate lawyer to protect OOTP?

He could have developed OOTP 1-3, then courted a big company like EA or Sega, and probably would have been successful in doing so. Instead, he waits, builds a quality game and a fanbase, learns more about programming and how to build and run a business, and then signs on with SI.

I think the fact that he's in business today -- in Europe -- where regulations are so tight, says a lot for his inventiveness and creativity.

And, if we can get the OOTP game engine with PS2 or 3 graphics someday, why not?

Will

[Marc Duffy]

Believe me, SEGA understand SI fully and are not about to start chopping and changing. The future is rosy, make no mistake.

[redsox45]

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Believe me, SEGA understand SI fully and are not about to start chopping and changing. The future is rosy, make no mistake.

I believe that Marc, I just don't think people give Markus enough credit on the business end, that's all.

Will

[sfgiants88]

Originally Posted by Malleus Dei

Everyone who sells out says that because they're told to say that. (Sadly, some of them have been foolish enough to believe it: "No, really, you can deal with the Devil and keep your soul. Honestly! Would I lie to you?")

Everyone who sells out to the devil and thinks they can still keep their soul is inevitably mistaken.

What we have always, always, always seen in gaming is this:

1. Major company acquires studio which makes awesome niche products.
2. Major company guts studio which makes awesome niche products.
3. Awesome niche products are no longer produced.

We've been here before, Marc. It always ends in tears, because big corporations don't understand niche products, don't understand or approve of operating in small markets, view people (and entire studios) who make small-market products as costs which can be cut at the first opportunity, and are all run by blighted soulless dehumanized zombies who have only one goal: maximizing stockholder value (I walked away from the corporate world many years ago because of that last fact).

No offense, but you sound like every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out doing exactly what every other PR guy for every other firm which sold out was told to do: reassure the customers.

Been here before. Not buying it.

Totally agree. All I see SEGA doing is putting a damper on Markus's innovativeness. Even if there is no SEGA person in their office, Markus will eventually have to clear his ideas with higher-ups.

I guess it's all about $$$.

What an effing stupid move.

[ctorg]

Weird. I thought Sega went bankrupt and out of business a few years back or something. So I initially thought this was an April Fool's joke or something. Apparently not.

[atarizx3]

Originally Posted by Marc Duffy

Believe me, SEGA understand SI fully and are not about to start chopping and changing. The future is rosy, make no mistake.

With Sega's less-than-stellar track record of decision making (not to mention their recent financial issues) taken into account, one should be able to understand the apprehension that some members are experiencing with this news.