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Sega Forever

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Sega Forever
DeveloperSega
TypeOnline service
Launch date
  • WW: June 22, 2017
Platform(s)iOS, Android
StatusActive
Websiteforever.sega.com

Sega Forever is a service by Japanese video game developer Sega for re-releasing past games from the company on modern platforms. The service was first made available for iOS and Android devices on June 22, 2017, with plans to potentially come to other platforms in the future.

Premise

The service is a means for Sega to re-release their previously developed video games on iOS and Android-based platforms.[1] While Sega stated that mobile devices were the initial focus, the service may also expand to other platforms in the future, such as PC or video game consoles such as the Nintendo Switch,[2] PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.[3] The service will be free to play, with games possessing in-game advertisements that can be removed with a purchase for each game.[4][5] Game types vary between releases - while some games will be direct ports, others will be emulated versions of the originals.[4] Similar to Nintendo's strategy of using mobile games and apps to attract attention to their console games, Sega will release titles not only to promote console games, but also to monitor game usage and buying and use it as a metric to determine which intellectual properties to make new games with in the future as well.[6] The end-goal is to eventually create a service similar to Netflix, instead using Sega-based video games.[3]

Software

The initial wave of games were from Sega's Genesis/Mega Drive, Game Gear, and Master System platforms, although they plan on adding games from the SG-1000, Sega Saturn, and Dreamcast platforms as well.[3] During the testing phases of the system, Saturn and Dreamcast games did not perform satisfactorily, though Sega has on-going R&D efforts working on improving them in hopes of future release.[2] Games such as Panzer Dragoon are being considered for the service, but could not be successfully emulated in the testing phase, meaning that such a release would hypothetically require a lengthy porting process instead.[3] Sega is also open to releasing games that had not previously had English localizations, the first example of this being the Japanese-only Yuji Naka game, Girl's Garden.[6]

Games have new features added, such as leaderboards and cloud saves, and touchscreen controls, though they also have controller support as well.[7] Games are also playable offline without an internet connection.[8][6] Five games were available at launch, with more games being added over time.[9]

List of games

Title Sega platform Developer Release date Reference
Sonic Mania Xbox 1 Christian whitehead January 29 2018 [6]
Phantasy Star II Sega Genesis Sega June 22, 2017 [6]
Comix Zone Sega Genesis Sega Technical Institute June 22, 2017 [6]
Kid Chameleon Sega Genesis Sega Technical Institute June 22, 2017 [6]
Altered Beast Sega Genesis Sega June 22, 2017 [6]
Virtua Tennis Challenge Dreamcast Sega July 12, 2017 [10]
The Revenge of Shinobi Sega Genesis Sega July 27, 2017 [11]
Ristar Sega Genesis Sonic Team August 10, 2017 [12]
Golden Axe Sega Genesis Sega August 31, 2017 [13]
Crazy Taxi Dreamcast Sega AM3 September 13, 2017 [14]
Space Harrier II Sega Genesis Sega September 13, 2017 [14]
Beyond Oasis Sega Genesis Ancient October 11, 2017 [15]
Decap Attack Sega Genesis Vic Tokai October 25, 2017 [16]
ESWAT: City under Siege Sega Genesis Sega November 8, 2017 [17]
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Sega Genesis Sonic Team November 21, 2017 [18]
Streets of Rage Sega Genesis Sega December 6, 2017 [19]
Gunstar Heroes Sega Genesis Treasure December 20, 2017 [20]

Reception

Reception at launch was mixed, with critics noting that that the service had a number of technical issues, mostly regarding the frame rate.[21] Sega later resolved most of the issues in a July 2017 update.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Sega Forever makes Genesis classics free on mobile". Engadget.
  2. ^ a b "Sega Forever: The nostalgia trip that could change the company's future".
  3. ^ a b c d Statt, Nick (21 June 2017). "Sega wants to turn its classic catalogue into "the Netflix of retro gaming"". The Verge.
  4. ^ a b "Sega Forever brings retro games to iOS and Android for free".
  5. ^ "The classic game streaming service SEGA Forever kicks off tomorrow on iOS".
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Donlan, Christian (21 June 2017). "Sega's back catalogue is headed to mobile with Sega Forever".
  7. ^ "Sega is bringing Sonic, other classic games to phones for free".
  8. ^ "Sega announces Sega Forever, a collection of free classic games for mobile devices - Gematsu". 21 June 2017.
  9. ^ Webster, Andrew (21 June 2017). "Sega launches free retro game collection for iPhone and Android". The Verge.
  10. ^ "Virtua Tennis Challenge joins the Sega Forever roster on iOS and Android". pocketgamer.co.uk.
  11. ^ "'SEGA Forever' (ALL) Adds The Revenge of Shinobi". worthplaying.com.
  12. ^ https://venturebeat.com/2017/08/10/ristar-doesnt-have-sonics-legacy-but-it-does-have-sega-forevers-blessing/
  13. ^ Funnell, Rob. "Classic Beat 'Em Up 'Golden Axe' Is the Next Game in the SEGA Forever Series, Out Now on the App Store". Touch Arcade. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Space Harrier II now a part of SEGA Forever". Touch Arcade. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  15. ^ Funnell, Rob. "Classic Action RPG 'Beyond Oasis' Is the Latest Game in the SEGA Forever Series, Out Now on the App Store". Touch Arcade. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  16. ^ Riaz, Adnan. "Decap Attack Comes to Sega Forever". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  17. ^ Musgrave, Shaun. "'ESWAT: City Under Siege' Review - The Suit Fits, the Controls Don't". Touch Arcade. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  18. ^ Riaz, Adnan (21 November 2017). "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Added to Sega Forever Collection". Hardcore Gamer.
  19. ^ England, Rachel. "'Streets of Rage' comes to mobiles with local multiplayer". Engadget. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  20. ^ Workman, Robert. "Legendary Run-And-Gun Shooter Gunstar Heroes Joins The Sega Forever Mobile Line-Up". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  21. ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (21 June 2017). "Sega releases classic games on mobile, for free, but at what cost?". eurogamer.net.
  22. ^ "Best iPhone Game Updates: 'Altered Beast', '868-HACK', 'Candy Crush Soda Saga', 'Survivalcraft 2', and More". toucharcade.com. 17 July 2017.
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