Press release: 1997-09-30: Sega Invests In Visual Concepts For Exclusive Game Development Rights

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: Sega.com (archived)

SEGA INVESTS IN VISUAL CONCEPTS FOR EXCLUSIVE GAME DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- (September 30, 1997) --
Sega® of America today announced it purchased a significant minority share of Visual Concepts Entertainment, Inc., a leading video game developer. Visual Concepts will create Sega-branded titles exclusively for Sega's video game consoles and the PC starting in 1998. While the two companies will continue to operate as separate entities, Sega will occupy one of three seats on Visual Concepts' board of directors.

Visual Concepts is best known for creating the top-selling hockey game of 1997, "NHL Hockey '97TM," which was published by Electronic Arts. The company's track record of hit titles also includes "Madden NFL '94TM," "Madden '95TM," "Clay FighterTM," "Taz-ManiaTM," "Desert StrikeTM" and "EA Sports Presents MLBPA BaseballTM."

"Sega is building the best sports video game team in the business, combining the proven talents of Visual Concepts with our new in-house development team," said Bernard Stolar, chief operating officer, Sega of America. "Sega defined the sports gaming category on the Genesis platform. We're taking the right steps to carry that momentum forward on our consoles and the PC to guarantee that Sega will offer the leading sports line-up heading into the future."

Visual Concepts is currently finalizing "NBA Action '98TM" for Sega SaturnTM and for the PC (published by Sega Entertainment, Inc.). Both versions feature 3D polygon graphics with more than 300 different motion-captured player animations and an exclusive "step modifier" making the game true to the real on-court action. The games are scheduled to ship in late October.

Visual Concepts is a privately held software development firm based in San Rafael, Calif. The company was founded in 1988 and has developed games for the leading video game publishers in the business, including Electronic Arts, Konami, Interplay, Namco and Sunsoft, for all major 16- and 32-bit video game consoles.

"Working with Sega, one of the most talented game development organizations in the world, represents tremendous opportunities for us in both sports and original game development," said Greg Thomas, president, Visual Concepts. "We look forward to extending our game design knowledge with some of the best minds in the business and creating great games for Sega for many years to come."

Sega of America is the arm of Tokyo-based Sega Enterprises, Ltd., responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega video game systems and software in the Americas. Sega Enterprises Ltd. is a nearly $3.6 billion company recognized as the industry leader in interactive digital entertainment media and is the only company that offers interactive entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega of America's World Wide Web site is located at http://www.sega.com.