Sega AM2

From Sega Retro

Sega AM2 logo, sans palm tree.

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 arcade machines internet and magnetic card features. Sega enjoyed large revenue based on these concepts for over decade, and still does today.

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 at home. 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.

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.

Softography

note: incomplete

Y Board

System 32

Model 1

Model 2

Model 3

Sega Titan Video

NAOMI

NAOMI Satellite Terminal

NAOMI 2

Chihiro

Chihiro Satellite Terminal

Lindbergh

Mega Drive

Game Gear

Sega 32X

Saturn

Other

Dreamcast

PlayStation 2

GameCube

Xbox

Xbox 360

PlayStation 3

Nintendo 3DS

External links


Timeline of Sega of Japan research and development divisions








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