8 replies to this topic

[segastudioUSA]

Yep, it's true. My favorite game developer is gone. 1999 - early 2008.
For those of you who don't know which games they developed.
They created the greatest sonic game of all time (3D if you want to be picky), Sonic Adventure 2 and the gamecube port. They also made Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog (which I feel is very underrated).
And they also brought back the dead NiGHTS franchise for the Wii.
8 Years they've been in the US.
And you want to know why they moved. At least I think this is the reason.
Sega of America's lease ran out in the 650 Townsend building, which is where ST USA was headquartered. Sega of America moved to a new crappier building, which I actually saw with my own eyes when I was there last month.
I found this info out at the Jun Senoue forums. I updated wikipedia too, so if you want the link go there.
I was actually planning on learning a little japanese and getting a job there as an animator for physics.

[viperxmns]

I'd imagine they'd find somewhere else to go..

That'll tEach 'em foR giviNg Shadow GunZ LOLOLOLOLO

[segastudioUSA]

They're all in Japan now, but that's what makes me angry.
Sonic Team JPN is already big enough.
Sonic Team US on the other hand is like 25 people, so what's the point of going back to JPN. Why not find another building in San Francisco.

Edited by Purgatory, 01 September 2008 - 10:57 PM.
Fixed double post

[YamiLover13]

They're all in Japan now, but that's what makes me angry.
Sonic Team JPN is already big enough.
Sonic Team US on the other hand is like 25 people, so what's the point of going back to JPN. Why not find another building in San Francisco.

Because living anyone in California is super expensive and it only continues to rise. Maybe they could not find another place there that they could afford. (Though it would make more sense to find another area in AMERICA then going all the way to Japan. Though it is probably cheaper in Japan than anywhere in America I guess. *shrugs* )

[segastudioUSA]

I could have sworn I saw the art director Kaz Hoshino when I was at San Fran last month, so I'd imagine not all of the members went back to Japan.
And for those that did go back.... what about their cars? What about raising their kids in America?
There was one american artist that worked there. I believe his name was Brad Wagner. I'm pretty sure as hell he didn't go to Japan........I wonder what he's going to do. There are some other developers near the San Fran area. Secret Level and Crystal Dynamics are a few.
Even Jun Senoue said he misses his life in California.

[YamiLover13]

That does sound really sad. I would assume a lot had to lose their jobs and they are going to find replacements in Japan. It does seem really silly to do that though. However, its all about money. I am guessing things are a lot cheaper in Japan as opposed to California. Even the wages may be cheaper.

Similar events are happening to a lot of companies. My grandma works for a huge company in San Diego, California called SAIC. They just fired all their computer help desk people in San Diego and are just going to hire extra and run all computer Help Desk at their Oak Ridge, TN headquarters. They don't care. Its what saves them money. :/

I really hope for the best for all those that worked there. This is s terrible thing to happen.

[phosphorus]

Rent in Tokyo is among the highest in the world. What's strange is that they still need a U.S. office, so I don't think rent was a problem (although I'm pretty sure they moved to a new building). More than likely, the higher ups at SegaSammy were displeased with JoD's poor sales.

What's irritating about it is that Sammy is losing money, but rather than cut back on panchinco machine production (Sammy's specialty), they make cuts at Sega(or so I've heard), which, afaik, is making money (just look at the sales of Mario & Sonic).

[Penelopi]

That makes me sad. If it weren't for them, I would never have found NiGHTS.

[segastudioUSA]

I don't think rent was a problem (although I'm pretty sure they moved to a new building).

Believe me, if they did, Jun would still be living in the US.

I would assume a lot had to lose their jobs and they are going to find replacements in Japan.

I don't think they'll find replacements in JPN, due to ST JPN employing like 50 new guys per year. How do you think they could develop 3 different games simultaneously (for example Sonic Riders ZG, Unleashed and Black Knight all coming from JPN).

They don't care. Its what saves them money. :/

But the funny thing is that all of the US team's games have sold phenomanally........except the new NiGHTS.........I guess after all, the NiGHTS fanbase isn't as big as we thought.

ST USA isn't actually owned by Sega of America, they're owned by Sega of Japan.......so I think they have something to do with this.
I tried emailing Jun Senoue about this issue, but he hasn't responded.

If anyone has a myspace account, and could leave a comment on Jun's page asking him why they moved back to JPN, it would be appreciated.

That makes me sad. If it weren't for them, I would never have found NiGHTS.

Same here.
To tell you the truth, I never found NiGHTS interesting until this new game was announced back in Spring 07.