Difference between revisions of "Sega AM2"

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{{Company
 
{{Company
 
| logo=Am2 palmtree.svg
 
| logo=Am2 palmtree.svg
−
| width=300
+
| mergedinto= [[Sega AM11]], [[Digital Rex]]
−
| mergedinto= [[Amusement Vision]]
+
| mergedwith= [[Sega AM3 (2005-2008)|Sega AM3]] (2008)
−
| founded=1983
+
| founded=1990
 
| headquarters=Japan
 
| headquarters=Japan
 
}}
 
}}
−
[[File:Am2.svg|thumb|right|300px|Sega AM2 logo, sans palm tree.]]
+
'''Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #2''', ('''Sega AM R&D Dept. #2''', '''Sega AM2''') is a division within [[Sega Interactive (Japan)|Sega Interactive]] (formely [[Sega Enterprises]] and [[Sega Corporation]]). It was formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games.
  
−
'''Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department 2''' or '''Sega AM2''' is the second arcade division at Sega. It introduced a variety of innovative concepts for Sega's arcade business. In the 80's it introduced sprite-scaling graphics and moving cabinets with games such as ''[[Hang-On]]'' and ''[[After Burner]]''. In the 90's it popularized polygonal 3D graphics with ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' and ''[[Virtua Cop]]''. In the 2000's, the international arcade market has contracted, but Sega still gained momentum in the Japanese market. This is party due to Virtua Fighter 4 internet and magnetic card features in Japanese arcades. Sega enjoyed large revenue based on these concepts for over a decade, and still does today.
+
Trough all Sega development divisions, Sega AM2 has remained most consistent in it's naming due to the "Number 2" attached. Thus there no multiple pages on Sega Retro unlike other Sega development teams.
  
−
In the home console business, it produced the obscure ''[[Sword of Vermillion]]'' and ''[[Rent-A-Hero]]'' for Mega Drive/Genesis, and ''[[Digital Dance Mix Vol.1 Namie Amuro]]'' for the Sega Saturn. Critically and commerically, the Virtua Fighter series proved to be most successfull home console projects for AM2. Especially [[Virtua Fighter 2]] for the Saturn and [[Virtua Fighter 4]] for PlayStation 2. The most monumental AM2 home console games, were the Shenmue games, built as a killer app for the Sega Dreamcast. Outside of the arcade enviorment, AM2 is currently most prolific with the ''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA]]'' games where AM2 produced the arcade and 3DS versions, and also the look and imagery for her holographic concerts. The arcade versions provided a base for the following home console releases of the series.
+
==Current Members==
 +
{{multicol|
 +
* [[Daichi Katagiri]]
 +
* [[Hiroaki Shoji]]
 +
* [[Hiroshi Kataoka]]
 +
* [[Makoto Osaki]]
 +
* [[Masayuki Masumi]]
 +
* [[Mie Kumagai]]
 +
* [[Noriyuki Shimoda]]
 +
*[[Nobuyuki Yamashita]]
 +
* [[Kenji Kanno]]
 +
* [[Seiji Oaki]]
 +
* [[Shinichi Yoshino]]
 +
*[[Shoichiri Kanazawa]]
 +
* [[Takehiko Mikami]]
 +
*[[Takeshi Goden]]
 +
* [[Tatsuya Sato]]
 +
* [[Takuji Masuda]]
 +
|cols}}
 +
 
 +
==Former Members==
 +
{{multicol|
 +
*[[Daisuke Sato]]
 +
*[[Junichi Yamada]]
 +
* [[Keiji Okayasu]]
 +
*[[Mika Kojima]]
 +
* [[Satoshi Mifune]]
 +
* [[Seiichi Ishii]]
 +
* [[Takashi Fujimura]]
 +
* [[Takeshi Isone]]
 +
*[[Tetsuya Kaku]]
 +
* [[Toru Ikebuchi]]
 +
* [[Toshihiro Nagoshi]]
 +
* [[Yu Suzuki]]
 +
*[[Yukinobu Arikawa]]
 +
|cols}}
  
−
In 1998, Toshihiro Nagoshi formed his arcade department, where he worked on ''[[SpikeOut]]''. In 2000 that department was spun off as [[Amusement Vision]].
+
==Corporate History==
  
−
In 2003, Digital Rex was formed, a seperate division by AM2 chief Yu Suzuki. He worked on several projects, however only ''[[Sega Race TV]]'' was able to be released.
+
The root of Sega AM2 can be traced to [[Yu Suzuki]] entering the company as a programmer. He programmed the game ''[[Champion Boxing]]'', and his superiors were so impressed that he was promoted to project leader the same year he entered the company. With Sega's general atmosphere of high creativity as well as high end technology, Yu Suzuki was able to develop the most stand out arcade products from Sega from this time. The results were arcade games featuring sprite-scaling graphics and moving cabinets such as ''[[Hang-On]]'', ''[[Space Harrier]]'', ''[[OutRun]]'' and ''[[After Burner]]''. The ''[[R-360]]'' machine along with ''[[G-LOC: Air Battle]]'' were the culmination of these efforts. Deluxe cabinets with similar graphics inspiried rival arcade division [[Sega AM1]] to do similar games such as ''[[Galaxy Force]]'' or ''[[Enduro Racer]]''. Yu Suzuki began to manage his own division, and he was not able to direct every title, so [[Satoshi Mifune]] took care of arcade originals such as ''[[Dynamite Dux]]'', or the sequel to ''Hang-On'', ''[[Super Hang-On]]''. Yu Suzuki's division was also the first arcade division to involve itself with the home console market, producing titles such as ''[[Sword of Vermillion]]'' and ''[[Rent-A-Hero]]'' for the [[Sega Mega Drive]].  
  
−
During a 2008 restructure, the third arcade studio, [[AM3]] was dissolved and the ''[[Virtua Tennis]]'' and ''[[Virtual On]]'' franchises became part of AM2.
+
During the Sega wide restructure in 1991, Yu Suzuki's studio became known as AM2, short for being the second arcade software division within the company.
 +
Yu Suzuki continued to pioneer with the early 3D polygonal graphics of ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', as well as ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'', which became one of Japan's most popular arcade series ever made. ''Virtua Fighter'' was, incidentally, the first time AM2's name (and signature palm tree logo) became publically visible - a trend that would continue in the majority of its releases going forward. The AM2 palm tree would even become an unlockable character in in the AM2-developed ''[[Fighters Megamix]]''.
  
−
Sega AM2 was at times called '''AM2 of CRI''' during its short 2000-2001 merger with [[CRI]]—even concurrently referred to as CRI, although they were technically two different companies.
+
Yu Suzuki continued to push graphics technology to it's limits. ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' and ''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' featured the most advanced graphics at that time, with Suzuki negotiating custom arcade boards just to archive his vision. In turn the [[:category:Sega Model series|Sega Model series]] found themselves to be used across all arcade software divisions within Sega, producing countless of succcessful titles.
  
−
==Arcade==
+
Much talent was cultivated within AM2, with directors Satoshi Mifune, [[Toshihiro Nagoshi]], [[Hiroshi Kataoka]] and [[Makoto Osaki]] making other AM2 games such as ''[[Daytona USA]]'', ''[[Fighting Vipers]]'', ''[[Fighters Megamix]]'' and ''[[Virtua Fighter Kids]]''. Toshihiro Nagoshi and Mifune Satoshi formed their own division eventually in 1998, [[Sega AM11]].
  
 +
AM2 found itself at the forefront of [[Sega Saturn]] technology, producing the [[Sega Graphics Library]] in 1995 in conjunction with its Saturn conversion of ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'', which was directed by [[Keiji Okayasu]]. Okayasu was AM2's most experienced console game developer, being the main programmer behind ''Sword of Vermillion'' and ''Rent-A-Hero''.
 +
 +
As with other R&D divisions within Sega, Sega AM2 was briefly renamed Sega Software R&D Dept. #2 in May 1999. Unlike its sister divisions, however, the department continued to trade as AM2 and was largely unaffected by the internal restructure. In 2000 the division went one step further, becoming an entirely separate (but wholly owned) subsidiary of Sega officially known as Sega-AM2 Co., Ltd. AM2 was at this point the only R&D division to still rely on the "AM" name. It was during this period when Yu Suzuki's two ''[[:category:Shenmue|Shenmue]]'' games were released. Together with experienced console game developer Keijii Okayasu, Suzuki pushed video game technology once again, building Sega's biggest title yet, made as a killer app for the [[Sega Dreamcast]].
 +
 +
[[Isao Okawa]]'s [[CSK]] was the parent company of Sega at the time, with its own software development division, [[CRI]]. CRI absorbed Sega AM2 in February 2000 (occasionally leading to credits to AM2 of CRI) and renamed itself Sega-AM2 Co., Ltd. in August 2001{{ref|http://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/8/1/70e819844b813fbf73f290e563297591.html}}{{fileref|Dorimaga_JP_20010824_2001-07.pdf|page=11}}. CRI Middleware Co. Ltd. was then established to handle the sale of CRI's former products such as [[ADX]] and [[Sofdec]]. CRI staff however stayed at Sega AM2, with [[Noriyuki Shimoda]] and [[Seiji Oaki]] eventually becoming prominent staff. However due to too much unfamiliar staff, Yu Suzuki found himself unwilling to continue manage AM2, and instead formed [[Digital Rex]] in 2003.
 +
 +
Sega's separate development companies were merged back into the main business in 2004, and this included AM2, trading once again as "AM R&D Dept. 2". The arcade industry became limited to Japan, and Sega's initiative for it's arcade studios to produce console titles filtered out. Therefore Sega AM2 became much more low key compared to the global impact it had in the past. Nonetheless ''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'', ''[[MJ]]'' and ''[[Border Break]]'' had new features that contribute to Sega's arcade business. This includes nationwide internet play in arcades, and also mobile applications connecting to the arcade games.
 +
 +
Ports of arcade titles developed by AM2 continue to be well received, such as ''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' and ''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram]]'', however became less common in comparision to the past. It was once mentioned by AM2 staff there is a strange atmosphere that console staff could dissapear anytime.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20140328153138/http://blog.sega.jp/amcvt/}}
 +
 +
In April 2009, a restructure took place within Sega's arcade software studios, with part of Sega AM3 staff ended up at AM2. Around this time, AM2 also branched out to mobile development, mainly with AM3 staff, with titles like ''[[Virtua Tennis Challenge]]'' and ''[[Derby Owners Club (2012)|Derby Owners Club]]''.
 +
 +
Overall [[Sega AM1 (2005-current)|Sega AM1]] is Sega's more prominent arcade division as of recent, with a higher amount of successfull titles.
 +
 +
==Softography (arcade)==
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
=== [[Sega Space Harrier]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Space Harrier]] ===
−
* [[Space Harrier]] (1985)
+
*''[[Space Harrier]]'' (1985)
−
* [[Hang-On]] (1985)
+
*''[[Hang-On]]'' (1985)
−
* [[Super Hang-On]] (1987)
+
*''[[Super Hang-On]]'' (1987)
  
 
=== [[Sega OutRun]] ===
 
=== [[Sega OutRun]] ===
−
* [[OutRun]] (1986)
+
*''[[OutRun]]'' (1986)
−
* [[Turbo OutRun]] (1989)
+
*''[[Turbo OutRun]]'' (1989)
  
 
=== [[X Board]] ===
 
=== [[X Board]] ===
−
* [[After Burner]] (1987)  
+
*''[[After Burner]]'' (1987)  
−
** [[After Burner II]] (1987)
+
**''[[After Burner II]]'' (1987)
−
* [[GP Rider]] (1990)
+
*''[[GP Rider]]'' (1990)
  
 
=== [[Y Board]] ===
 
=== [[Y Board]] ===
−
* [[Power Drift]] (1988)
+
*''[[Power Drift]]'' (1988)
−
* [[G-LOC: Air Battle]] (1990)
+
*''[[G-LOC: Air Battle]]'' (1990)
−
* [[Strike Fighter]] (1991)
+
*''[[Strike Fighter]]'' (1991)
 
   
 
   
 
=== [[System 32]] ===
 
=== [[System 32]] ===
−
* [[Arabian Fight]] (1993)
+
*''[[Arabian Fight]]'' (1993)
−
* [[F1 Exhaust Note]] (1991)  
+
*''[[F1 Exhaust Note]]'' (1991)  
−
** [[F1 Super Lap]] (1993)
+
**''[[F1 Super Lap]]'' (1993)
−
* [[Rad Mobile]] (1991)
+
*''[[Soreike Kokology]]'' (1991)  
−
* [[Soreike Kokology]] (1991)  
+
**''[[Soreike Kokology 2]]'' (1993)
−
** [[Soreike Kokology 2]] (1993)
 
  
 
=== [[Sega Model 1]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Model 1]] ===
−
* [[Virtua Fighter]] (1993)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' (1993)
−
* [[Virtua Racing]] (1992)
+
*''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1992)
  
 
=== [[Sega Model 2]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Model 2]] ===
−
* [[Daytona USA]] (1993)  
+
*''[[Daytona USA]]'' (1993)  
−
* [[Desert Tank]] (1994)
+
*''[[Desert Tank]]'' (1994)
−
* [[Virtua Cop]] (1994)
+
*''[[Virtua Cop]]'' (1994)
−
* [[Sonic the Fighters]] (1996)
+
*''[[Sonic the Fighters]]'' (1996)
  
 
=== [[Sega Model 2A CRX]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Model 2A CRX]] ===
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 2]] (1994)  
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (1994)  
−
* [[Virtua Cop 2]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Cop 2]]'' (1995)
  
 
=== [[Sega Model 2B CRX]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Model 2B CRX]] ===
−
* [[Virtua Striker]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Striker]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Fighting Vipers]] (1995)
+
*''[[Fighting Vipers]]'' (1995)
  
 
=== [[Sega Model 3 Step 1.0]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Model 3 Step 1.0]] ===
−
* [[Fighting Vipers 2]] (1998)
+
*''[[Fighting Vipers 2]]'' (1998)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 3]] (1996)  
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' (1996)  
−
** [[Virtua Fighter 3tb]] (1997)
+
**''[[Virtua Fighter 3tb]]'' (1997)
  
 
=== [[Sega Model 3 Step 1.5]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Model 3 Step 1.5]] ===
−
* [[Scud Race]] (1996)  
+
*''[[Scud Race]]'' (1996)  
−
** [[Scud Race Plus]] (1997)
+
**''[[Scud Race Plus]]'' (1997)
−
* [[Virtua Striker 2]] (1997)
+
*''[[Virtua Striker 2]]'' (1997)
−
** [[Virtua Striker 2 Version '98]] (1998)
+
**''[[Virtua Striker 2 Version '98]]'' (1998)
−
** [[Virtua Striker 2 Version '99]] (1999)
+
**''[[Virtua Striker 2 Version '99]]'' (1999)
  
 
=== [[Sega Model 3 Step 2.1]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Model 3 Step 2.1]] ===
−
* [[Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge]] (1998)
+
*''[[Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge]]'' (1998)
−
** [[Daytona USA 2: Power Edition]] (1998)
+
**''[[Daytona USA 2: Power Edition]]'' (1998)
−
* [[Spikeout: Digital Battle Online]] (1998)
 
−
** [[Spikeout: Final Edition]] (1998)
 
  
 
=== [[Sega Titan Video]] ===
 
=== [[Sega Titan Video]] ===
−
* [[All Japan Pro Wrestling Featuring Virtua]] (1997)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter Kids]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter Kids]] (1996)
 
  
 
=== [[NAOMI]] ===
 
=== [[NAOMI]] ===
−
* [[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]] (1999)
+
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (1999)
−
* [[F355 Challenge]] (1999)  
+
*''[[F355 Challenge]]'' (1999)  
−
** [[F355 Challenge 2: International Course Edition]] (2001)  
+
**''[[F355 Challenge 2: International Course Edition]]'' (2001)  
−
* [[MJ]] (2002)  
+
*''[[MJ]]'' (2002)  
−
* [[Outtrigger]] (1999)
+
*''[[Outtrigger]]'' (1999)
−
* [[Virtua NBA]] (1999)
 
  
 
===[[Sega NAOMI 2|NAOMI 2]]===
 
===[[Sega NAOMI 2|NAOMI 2]]===
−
* [[Beach Spikers]] (2001)
+
*''[[Beach Spikers]]'' (2001)
−
* [[The King of Route 66]] (2002)
+
*''[[The King of Route 66]]'' (2002)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 4]] (2001)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'' (2001)
−
** [[Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution]] (2002)
+
**''[[Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution]]'' (2002)
−
** [[Virtua Fighter 4 Final Tuned]] (2004)
+
**''[[Virtua Fighter 4 Final Tuned]]'' (2004)
−
 
 
−
=== [[Sega Aurora]] ===
 
−
* Rhythm Tengoku (2007)
 
  
 
=== [[Chihiro]] ===
 
=== [[Chihiro]] ===
 +
*''[[Ghost Squad]]'' (2004)
 +
*''[[Quest of D]]'' (2004)
 +
** ''[[Quest of D: Gofu no Keisyousya]]'' (2005)
 +
** ''[[Quest of D: Oukoku no Syugosya]]'' (2006)
 +
** ''[[Quest of D: The Battle Kingdom]]'' (2007)
 +
*''[[Sega Golf Club]]'' (2004)
 +
**''[[Sega Golf Club Ver. 2006]]'' (2006)
 +
*''[[MJ2]]'' (2003)
 +
**''[[MJ3]]'' (2004)
 +
*''[[OutRun 2]]'' (2003)
 +
**''[[OutRun 2 SP]]'' (2004)
 +
*''[[Virtua Cop 3]]'' (2003)
  
−
* [[Ghost Squad]] (2004)
+
=== [[Sega System SP]] ===
−
* [[Quest of D]] (2004)
+
*''[[Rhythm Tengoku]]'' (2007)
−
** Quest of D Ver.2 (2004)
 
−
** Quest of D Ver.3 (2004)
 
−
** Quest of D: The Battle Kingdom (2004)
 
−
* [[Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub|Sega Golf Club]] (2004)
 
−
** [[Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub|Sega Golf Club Ver. 2006]] (2006)
 
−
* [[MJ2]] (2003)
 
−
** [[MJ3]] (2004)
 
−
* [[OutRun 2]] (2003)
 
−
** [[OutRun 2 SP]] (2004)
 
−
* [[Virtua Cop 3]] (2003)
 
  
 
===[[Sega Lindbergh|Lindbergh]]===
 
===[[Sega Lindbergh|Lindbergh]]===
  
−
* [[After Burner Climax]] (2006)
+
*''[[After Burner Climax]]'' (2006)
−
* [[Ghost Squad Evolution]] (2007)
+
*''[[Derby Owners Club 2009: Ride for the Live]]'' (2009)
−
* [[Sega Race TV]] (2008)
+
*''[[Ghost Squad Evolution]]'' (2007)
−
* [[OutRun 2 SP SDX]] (2007)
+
*''[[OutRun 2 SP SDX]]'' (2007)
−
* [[Psy Phi]] (2006) (cancelled)
+
*''[[R-Tuned: Ultimate Street Racing]]'' (2008)
−
* [[R-Tuned: Ultimate Street Racing]] (2008)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' (2006)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 5]] (2006)
+
**''[[Virtua Fighter 5 R]]'' (2008)  
−
** [[Virtua Fighter 5 R]] (2008)  
+
**''[[Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown]]'' (2010)  
−
** [[Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown]] (2010)  
+
*''[[MJ4]]'' (2008)  
−
* [[MJ4]] (2008)  
 
  
 
=== [[RingEdge]] ===
 
=== [[RingEdge]] ===
  
−
* [[Border Break]] (2009)
+
*''[[Border Break]]'' (2009)
−
** [[Border Break Airburst]] (2010)
+
**''[[Border Break Airburst]]'' (2010)
−
** [[Border Break Union]] (2012)
+
**''[[Border Break Union]]'' (2012)
−
** [[Border Break Scramble]] (2014)
+
**''[[Border Break Scramble]]'' (2014)
−
* MJ5 (2011)
+
**''[[Border Break X]]'' (2016)
−
** MJ5 Evolution (2011)
+
*''[[MJ5]]'' (2011)
−
** MJ5R Evolution (2013)
+
**''[[MJ5 Evolution]]'' (2013)
−
* [[Project DIVA Arcade]] (2010)  
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade]]'' (2010)  
−
* [[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2009]] (2009)
+
*''[[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2009]]'' (2009)
−
** [[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2010]] (2010)
+
**''[[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2010]]'' (2010)
−
** [[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2011]] (2011)
+
**''[[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2011]]'' (2011)
−
** [[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2012]] (2012)
+
**''[[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2012]]'' (2012)
−
** [[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2013]] (2013)
+
**''[[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2013]]'' (2013)
−
*[[Shining Force Cross]] (2009)
+
*''[[Shining Force Cross]]'' (2009)
−
**[[Shining Force Cross Raid]] (2010)
+
**''[[Shining Force Cross Raid]]'' (2010)
−
**[[Shining Force Cross Elysion]] (2012)
+
**''[[Shining Force Cross Elysion]]'' (2012)
−
**[[Shining Force Cross Exlesia]] (2013)
+
**''[[Shining Force Cross Exlesia]]'' (2013)
−
**[[Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith]] (2014
+
**''[[Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith]]'' (2014)
−
* [[Virtua Tennis 4]] (2012)
+
*''[[Virtua Tennis 4]]'' (2012)
  
 
=== [[RingWide]] ===
 
=== [[RingWide]] ===
  
−
* [[Sega Racing Classic]] (2009)
+
*''[[Sega Racing Classic]]'' (2009)
−
* [[Operation G.H.O.S.T.]] (2011)
 
  
 
=== [[Nu]] ===
 
=== [[Nu]] ===
  
−
* [[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade Future Tone]] (2013)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade Future Tone]]'' (2013)
−
* Kantai Collection Arcade (2015)
+
*''[[KanColle Arcade]]'' (2016)
 +
*''[[Soul Reverse]]'' (2017)
 +
 
 +
=== Other ===
 +
 
 +
*''[[R360]]'' (1990)
 +
*''[[Virtua Formula]]'' (1993) (with [[Sega AM5]])
 +
 
 
|cols=3}}
 
|cols=3}}
  
−
==Consumer==
+
==Softography (consumer)==
  
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
−
===[[Sega Master System]]===
 
−
* [[After Burner]] (1990)
 
−
* [[G-LOC: Air Battle]] (1990)
 
−
* [[GP Rider]] (1993)
 
−
* [[Hang-On]] (1985)
 
−
* [[Space Harrier]] (1985)
 
−
* [[Space Harrier 3D]] (1985)
 
−
* [[OutRun]] (1987)
 
−
* [[OutRun 3D]] (1987)
 
−
 
 
===[[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]]===
 
===[[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]]===
−
* [[After Burner II]] (1990)
+
*''[[Sword of Vermillion]]'' (1989)
−
* [[Rent A Hero]] (1991)
+
*''[[Rent A Hero]]'' (1991)
−
* [[Space Harrier II]] (1988)
+
*''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1994) (with [[Sega CS]])
−
* [[Sword of Vermilion]] (1989)
 
−
* [[OutRun]] (1991)
 
−
* [[Virtua Racing]] (1994)
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Sega Game Gear|Game Gear]]===
 
−
* [[G-LOC: Air Battle]] (1990)
 
−
* [[GP Rider]] (1993)
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Sega 32X]]===
 
−
* [[After Burner]] (1995)
 
−
* [[Space Harrier]] (1994)
 
−
* [[Virtua Fighter]] (1995)
 
−
* [[Virtua Racing Deluxe]] (1994)
 
  
 
===[[Sega Saturn|Saturn]]===
 
===[[Sega Saturn|Saturn]]===
−
* [[Daytona USA]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' (1994)
−
* [[Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition]] (1996)
+
*''[[Daytona USA]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Digital Dance Mix Vol.1 Namie Amuro]]'(1997)
+
*''[[Digital Dance Mix Vol.1 Namie Amuro]]'(1997)
−
* [[Fighters Megamix]] (1996)
+
*''[[Fighters Megamix]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Fighting Vipers]] (1996)
+
*''[[Fighting Vipers]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Rad Mobile]] (1994)
+
*''[[Virtua Cop]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Virtua Cop]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Cop 2]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Virtua Cop 2]] (1996)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter Kids]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter Kids]] (1996)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter Remix]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.1 Sarah Bryant]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter]] (1994)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.10 Jeffry McWild]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 2]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.2 Jacky Bryant]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.1 Sarah Bryant]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.3 Akira Yuki]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.10 Jeffry McWild]] (1996)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.4 Pai Chan]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.2 Jacky Bryant]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.5 Wolf Hawkfield]]'' (1995)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.3 Akira Yuki]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.6 Lau Chan]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.4 Pai Chan]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.7 Shun Di]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.5 Wolf Hawkfield]] (1995)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.8 Lion Rafale]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.6 Lau Chan]] (1996)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.9 Kage Maru]]'' (1996)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.7 Shun Di]] (1996)
 
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.8 Lion Rafale]] (1996)
 
−
* [[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.9 Kage Maru]] (1996)
 
  
 
===[[Sega Dreamcast|Dreamcast]]===
 
===[[Sega Dreamcast|Dreamcast]]===
−
* [[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]] (2000) (also with [[CRI]])
+
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (2000) (also with [[CRI]])
−
* [[Ferrari F355 Challenge]] (2000) (also with [[CRI]])
+
*''[[Ferrari F355 Challenge]]'' (2000) (also with [[CRI]])
−
* [[Fighting Vipers 2]] (2001)
+
*''[[Fighting Vipers 2]]'' (2001)
−
* [[Outtrigger]] (2001)
+
*''[[Outtrigger]]'' (2001)
−
* [[Propeller Arena]] (2001; unreleased)
+
*''[[Propeller Arena]]'' (2001; unreleased)
−
* [[Shenmue II]] (2001)
+
*''[[Shenmue II]]'' (2001)
−
* [[Shenmue]]'' (1999)
+
*''[[Shenmue]]'' (1999)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 3tb]] (1998) (also with [[Genki]])
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 3tb]]'' (1998) (also with [[Genki]])
−
* [[What's Shenmue]] (1999)
 
−
* [[Yu Suzuki Game Works Vol.1]] (2001) (also with [[Aspect]])
 
  
 
===[[PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]]===
 
===[[PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]]===
−
* [[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]] (2001)
+
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (2001)
−
* [[Ferrari F355 Challenge]] (2002) (also with [[Tose]])
+
*''[[Ferrari F355 Challenge]]'' (2002) (also with [[Tose]])
−
* [[Virtua Cop: Elite Edition]] (2002) (also with RIZ Inc.)
+
*''[[Virtua Cop: Elite Edition]]'' (2002) (also with RIZ Inc.)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 4]] (2002)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'' (2002)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution]] (2003)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution]]'' (2003)
−
* [[The King of Route 66]] (2003) (also with [[Tose]])
+
*''[[The King of Route 66]]'' (2003) (also with [[Tose]])
−
* [[Virtua Quest]] (2004) (also with [[Tose]])
+
*''[[Virtua Quest]]'' (2004) (also with [[Tose]])
 +
*''[[Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 16: Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (2004)
 +
*''[[Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 19: Fighting Vipers]]'' (2005)
  
 
===[[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]===
 
===[[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]===
−
* [[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]] (2002)
+
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (2002)
−
* [[Beach Spikers]] (2002)
+
*''[[Beach Spikers]]'' (2002)
−
* [[Virtua Quest]] (2004) (also with [[Tose]])
+
*''[[Virtua Quest]]'' (2004) (also with [[Tose]])
  
 
===[[Xbox|Xbox]]===
 
===[[Xbox|Xbox]]===
−
* [[Shenmue II]] (2003)
+
*''[[Shenmue II]]'' (2003)
  
 
===[[Xbox 360|Xbox 360]]===
 
===[[Xbox 360|Xbox 360]]===
−
* [[After Burner Climax]] (2010)
+
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On: Force]]'' (2010)
−
* [[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On: Force]] (2010)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' (2007)
−
* [[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]]  (2013)
+
*''[[Virtua Tennis 4]]'' (2011)
−
* [[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram]] (2009)
+
 
−
* [[Daytona USA]] (2011)
+
===[[Xbox Live Arcade]]===
−
* [[Fighting Vipers]] (2012)
+
*''[[After Burner Climax]]'' (2010)
−
* [[Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub]] (2006)
+
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]]  (2013)
−
* [[Sonic the Fighters]] (2012)
+
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram]]'' (2009)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 2]] (2012)
+
*''[[Daytona USA]]'' (2011)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 5]] (2007)
+
*''[[Fighting Vipers]]'' (2012)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown]] (2012)
+
*''[[Sonic the Fighters]]'' (2012)
−
* [[Virtua Tennis 4]] (2011)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (2012)
−
* [[Virtua Striker]] (2013)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown]]'' (2012)
 +
*''[[Virtua Tennis 4]]'' (2011)
 +
*''[[Virtua Striker]]'' (2013)
  
 
===[[Wii]]===
 
===[[Wii]]===
−
* [[Ghost Squad]] (2007)
+
*''[[Ghost Squad]]'' (2007)
−
* [[Gunblade NY & LA Machineguns]] (2010)
+
*''[[Gunblade NY & LA Machineguns]]'' (2010)
  
 
===[[PlayStation 3]]===
 
===[[PlayStation 3]]===
 +
*''[[Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub]]'' (2006) (with [[Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 2|GE2]])
 +
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' (2006)
 +
*''[[Virtua Tennis 4]]'' (2011)
 +
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F]]'' (2013) (with [[Sega CS3 (2008-current)|Sega CS3]])
 +
 +
===[[PlayStation Network]]===
  
−
* [[After Burner Climax]] (2010)
+
*''[[After Burner Climax]]'' (2010)
−
* [[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]]  (2013)
+
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]]  (2013)
−
* [[Daytona USA]] (2011)
+
*''[[Daytona USA]]'' (2011)
−
* [[Fighting Vipers]] (2012)
+
*''[[Fighting Vipers]]'' (2012)
−
* [[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Dreamy Theater]] (2010)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Dreamy Theater]]'' (2010)
−
* [[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Dreamy Theater 2nd]] (2011)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Dreamy Theater 2nd]]'' (2011)
−
* [[Sonic the Fighters]] (2012)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade Future Tone]]'' (2016)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 2]] (2012)
+
*''[[Sonic the Fighters]]'' (2012)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 5]] (2006)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (2012)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown]] (2012)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' (2006)
−
* [[Virtua Tennis 4]] (2011)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown]]'' (2012)
  
 
===[[Nintendo 3DS]]===
 
===[[Nintendo 3DS]]===
−
* [[Hatsune Miku and Future Stars Project mirai]] (2012)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku and Future Stars Project mirai]]'' (2012)
−
* [[Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2]] (2013)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2]]'' (2013)
−
* [[Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX]] (2015)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX]]'' (2015)
 +
 
 +
===[[PlayStation Vita]]===
 +
*''[[Virtua Tennis 4]]'' (2011)
 +
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F]]'' (2013) (with [[Sega CS3 (2008-current)|Sega CS3]])
  
 
===PC===
 
===PC===
  
−
* [[Daytona USA Evolution]] (1997)
+
*''[[MJ]]'' (2013)
−
* [[MJ]] (2013)
+
 
−
* [[Shenmue Online]] (1996) (cancelled)
+
===iOS/Anroid===
−
* [[Virtua Cop]] (1996)
+
 
−
* [[Virtua Cop 2]] (1997)
+
*''[[Virtua Tennis Challenge]]'' (2012)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter 2]] (1997)
+
*''[[MJ]]'' (2013)
−
* [[Virtua Fighter PC]] (1996)
+
* ''[[Squads]]'' (2015)
 +
* ''[[Fortisia SEGAxLINE]]'' (2016)
 +
*''[[Soul Reverse Zero]]'' (2017)
 
|cols=3}}
 
|cols=3}}
 +
 +
==Gallery==
 +
<gallery>
 +
Am2.svg|Logo, sans palm tree
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
* [http://www.sega-am2.jp/ Official website]
 
* [http://www.sega-am2.jp/ Official website]
 +
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20010401052513/http://www.sega-rd2.com/ Official website (Archived on 10 April 2001)]
 +
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20040630040721/http://www.sega-am2.co.jp/ Official website (Archived on 30 June 2004)]
 
* [http://games.ign.com/objects/026/026004.html IGN info page for Sega-AM2]
 
* [http://games.ign.com/objects/026/026004.html IGN info page for Sega-AM2]
 +
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
 +
 
{{clear}}
 
{{clear}}
−
{{SegaDevs}}
+
{{SoJ}}

Revision as of 05:42, 20 August 2017

Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #2, (Sega AM R&D Dept. #2, Sega AM2) is a division within Sega Interactive (formely Sega Enterprises and Sega Corporation). It was formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games.

Trough all Sega development divisions, Sega AM2 has remained most consistent in it's naming due to the "Number 2" attached. Thus there no multiple pages on Sega Retro unlike other Sega development teams.

Current Members

Former Members

Corporate History

The root of Sega AM2 can be traced to Yu Suzuki entering the company as a programmer. He programmed the game Champion Boxing, and his superiors were so impressed that he was promoted to project leader the same year he entered the company. With Sega's general atmosphere of high creativity as well as high end technology, Yu Suzuki was able to develop the most stand out arcade products from Sega from this time. The results were arcade games featuring sprite-scaling graphics and moving cabinets such as Hang-On, Space Harrier, OutRun and After Burner. The R-360 machine along with G-LOC: Air Battle were the culmination of these efforts. Deluxe cabinets with similar graphics inspiried rival arcade division Sega AM1 to do similar games such as Galaxy Force or Enduro Racer. Yu Suzuki began to manage his own division, and he was not able to direct every title, so Satoshi Mifune took care of arcade originals such as Dynamite Dux, or the sequel to Hang-On, Super Hang-On. Yu Suzuki's division was also the first arcade division to involve itself with the home console market, producing titles such as Sword of Vermillion and Rent-A-Hero for the Sega Mega Drive.

During the Sega wide restructure in 1991, Yu Suzuki's studio became known as AM2, short for being the second arcade software division within the company. Yu Suzuki continued to pioneer with the early 3D polygonal graphics of Virtua Racing, as well as Virtua Fighter, which became one of Japan's most popular arcade series ever made. Virtua Fighter was, incidentally, the first time AM2's name (and signature palm tree logo) became publically visible - a trend that would continue in the majority of its releases going forward. The AM2 palm tree would even become an unlockable character in in the AM2-developed Fighters Megamix.

Yu Suzuki continued to push graphics technology to it's limits. Virtua Fighter 2 and Virtua Fighter 3 featured the most advanced graphics at that time, with Suzuki negotiating custom arcade boards just to archive his vision. In turn the Sega Model series found themselves to be used across all arcade software divisions within Sega, producing countless of succcessful titles.

Much talent was cultivated within AM2, with directors Satoshi Mifune, Toshihiro Nagoshi, Hiroshi Kataoka and Makoto Osaki making other AM2 games such as Daytona USA, Fighting Vipers, Fighters Megamix and Virtua Fighter Kids. Toshihiro Nagoshi and Mifune Satoshi formed their own division eventually in 1998, Sega AM11.

AM2 found itself at the forefront of Sega Saturn technology, producing the Sega Graphics Library in 1995 in conjunction with its Saturn conversion of Virtua Fighter 2, which was directed by Keiji Okayasu. Okayasu was AM2's most experienced console game developer, being the main programmer behind Sword of Vermillion and Rent-A-Hero.

As with other R&D divisions within Sega, Sega AM2 was briefly renamed Sega Software R&D Dept. #2 in May 1999. Unlike its sister divisions, however, the department continued to trade as AM2 and was largely unaffected by the internal restructure. In 2000 the division went one step further, becoming an entirely separate (but wholly owned) subsidiary of Sega officially known as Sega-AM2 Co., Ltd. AM2 was at this point the only R&D division to still rely on the "AM" name. It was during this period when Yu Suzuki's two Shenmue games were released. Together with experienced console game developer Keijii Okayasu, Suzuki pushed video game technology once again, building Sega's biggest title yet, made as a killer app for the Sega Dreamcast.

Isao Okawa's CSK was the parent company of Sega at the time, with its own software development division, CRI. CRI absorbed Sega AM2 in February 2000 (occasionally leading to credits to AM2 of CRI) and renamed itself Sega-AM2 Co., Ltd. in August 2001[1][2]. CRI Middleware Co. Ltd. was then established to handle the sale of CRI's former products such as ADX and Sofdec. CRI staff however stayed at Sega AM2, with Noriyuki Shimoda and Seiji Oaki eventually becoming prominent staff. However due to too much unfamiliar staff, Yu Suzuki found himself unwilling to continue manage AM2, and instead formed Digital Rex in 2003.

Sega's separate development companies were merged back into the main business in 2004, and this included AM2, trading once again as "AM R&D Dept. 2". The arcade industry became limited to Japan, and Sega's initiative for it's arcade studios to produce console titles filtered out. Therefore Sega AM2 became much more low key compared to the global impact it had in the past. Nonetheless Virtua Fighter 4, MJ and Border Break had new features that contribute to Sega's arcade business. This includes nationwide internet play in arcades, and also mobile applications connecting to the arcade games.

Ports of arcade titles developed by AM2 continue to be well received, such as Virtua Fighter 5 and Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram, however became less common in comparision to the past. It was once mentioned by AM2 staff there is a strange atmosphere that console staff could dissapear anytime.[3]

In April 2009, a restructure took place within Sega's arcade software studios, with part of Sega AM3 staff ended up at AM2. Around this time, AM2 also branched out to mobile development, mainly with AM3 staff, with titles like Virtua Tennis Challenge and Derby Owners Club.

Overall Sega AM1 is Sega's more prominent arcade division as of recent, with a higher amount of successfull titles.

Softography (arcade)

Sega Space Harrier

Sega OutRun

X Board

Y Board

System 32

Sega Model 1

Sega Model 2

Sega Model 2A CRX

Sega Model 2B CRX

Sega Model 3 Step 1.0

Sega Model 3 Step 1.5

Sega Model 3 Step 2.1

Sega Titan Video

NAOMI

NAOMI 2

Chihiro

Sega System SP

Lindbergh

RingEdge

RingWide

Nu

Other

Softography (consumer)

Mega Drive

Saturn

Dreamcast

PlayStation 2

GameCube

Xbox

Xbox 360

Xbox Live Arcade

Wii

PlayStation 3

PlayStation Network

Nintendo 3DS

PlayStation Vita

PC

iOS/Anroid

Gallery

  • Logo, sans palm tree

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/8/1/70e819844b813fbf73f290e563297591.html
  2. ↑ File:Dorimaga_JP_20010824_2001-07.pdf, page 11
  3. ↑ http://blog.sega.jp/amcvt/ (Wayback Machine: 2014-03-28 15:31)


Timeline of Sega of Japan research and development divisions








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