Press release: 1995-01-06: SEGA GOES LIVE ONLINE AT WINTER CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: Google Groups

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:                Greg Chiemingo/Christopher Kingry
                        Manning, Selvage & Lee
                        818/509-1840
 
SEGA GOES LIVE ONLINE AT WINTER CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW
   
Record-Setting 1994 Establishes Interactive Entertainment Leader as Place to be in 1995 --
                                     
 
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 1995 -- After setting records for online conference attendance on CompuServe and averaging more than 1,000 visitors per hour on Sega of America Inc.'s World Wide Web home page after just two months online, the interactive entertainment leader will set the online agenda for 1995 with live reports from Sega's booth at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, January 6 - 9.  Sega Executive Vice President Paul Rioux will also host a post WCES wrap-up online conference on CompuServe the week of January 23.    

CompuServe customers who visit the Sega Forum and Internet surfers who check out Sega's home page on the World Wide Web(http://www.segaoa.com) will be able to access live reports by Sega executives, game developers, producers and testers, among others.  Sega online visitors will also be able to access screen shots from hot new games showcased at WCES. "Sega has a unique relationship with our fans as evidenced by the response to the Sega home page on the Web and the Sega Forum on CompuServe, which has been outstanding," said Bill White, vice president, marketing.  "Our monthly online conferences, Sega Scream contest and Genesis 32X and Doom drawings were tremendous hits.  In addition, the great graphic clips and screen shots have been very popular, and we plan to do much more in 1995."
 
     Some highlights of Sega's online action since the service was initiated in November 1994 includes:  

*    Tom Kalinske's online conference on CompuServe attracted three times the audience as Nintendo executives' conference

*    www.segaoa.com attracted more than 150,000 visitors in one week

*   Sega home page was recognized as "Cool Site of the Day" by Netscape Communications  on Dec. 4

*    More than 15,000 graphic images have been downloaded from the Sega Forum on CompuServe and an estimated 100,000 plus from Sega's home page on the Web

*    Over 200 CompuServe members downloaded Tom Kalinske's "SEGA!" scream
 
     "It is our goal to establish Sega's online services as the hub for people interested in interactive entertainment in general," said Kerry Bradford, associate director, new business development.  "In 1995, we will continue to host regular online conferences, expand graphics, text and audio file offerings and incorporate daily messages and graphics that our visitors send us.  We've got plans to hold contests, drawings and support launches of new products.  We believe if it can be done online, Sega will do it."
 
     Sega of America is the arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Sega Enterprises Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega products in the Americas.  Sega Enterprises Ltd. is a nearly $3.5 billion company known as a leader in interactive digital entertainment media, with operations on five continents.