Difference between revisions of "History of Sega in Slovakia"

From Sega Retro
m
 
(23 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
| flag=Flag SK.svg
 
| flag=Flag SK.svg
 
| title=
 
| title=
−
| distributors=
+
| distributors= Independent retail outlets (1988-1990), [[Nissho Iwai]] (1990-1995), [[DDC Agency]] (1996-1998), [[Game Line (Czechia)|Game Line]] (2000-2002), [[CD Projekt]] (2004-2016), [[Cenega]] (2016-present)
 
| ratingsboard=
 
| ratingsboard=
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{stub}}
 
{{stub}}
−
This article summarizes what we know about Sega in Slovakia.
 
  
−
The existence of [[Sega]] in Czechoslovakia is quite a mystery, and few facts are known at the moment. The first information about Sega's entry into this market comes from 1988, when independent retail outlets began the sale of [[Master System]].<ref>https://www.telecompaper.com/news/video-games-market-small--23097</ref> The information gathered shows that Czechoslovakia was probably the first country in Eastern Europe where Sega products were introduced. This fact is little known, so it can be expected that the Master System was not successful in the country, especially since the political changes in Czechoslovakia continued during this period.  
+
==Czechoslovakia==
 +
Consoles existed in Czechoslovakia during communism and an example is the Tesla XD 8001 produced by the Czechoslovak company Tesla<ref>http://www.litildivil.cz/sbirka/ruzne/tv_hra_tesla.htm</ref>.
  
−
In 1990, Sega established its first office in the country.<ref>https://www.telecompaper.com/news/video-games-market-small--23097</ref> It is not known what the representative office was called, where it was located, how many years it existed or when it ended. It is known for sure that it did exist. It is also known, that Master System consoles were distributed further and was distributed at several retailers, such as [[IBEA]], which imported and distributed to retailers and wholesalers in Slovakia, and at the [[Enisof]] company located in the Czech Republic. On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two countries.
+
Sega entered the market in 1988, when the government allowed an independent retail outlets to operate<ref>https://www.telecompaper.com/news/video-games-market-small--23097</ref>. The new stores would purchase [[Master System]] stocks of games from [[Virgin]] and later resold them in the country. The sales results were marginal and Sega itself had almost no connection to this actions because there were very few sales places of sales and the agents themselves were tiny businesses. Also, the chances of the promotion were practically none because no gaming magazine was interested in it.
  
−
After the break-up, Sega consoles appeared at local distributors including [[Mega Drive]], Master System II and [[Game Gear]]. In the following years, Slovakia saw the release of the Mega Drive II (in 1994), the [[Mega CD]] II (in 1994) and the [[Mega Drive 32X]] (in 1995).
+
In 1990, the business was reorganized with [[Nissho Iwai]] taking over the distribution<ref>https://www.telecompaper.com/news/video-games-market-small--23097</ref>. The system looked similar to the previous one, that is Nissho sells products to several retail chains throughout the country. At the time, Sega had competition in form of [https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-2c81b25b1029681c24dc655bdc2b2fc3-lq Rambo TV Game] ([[Atari 2600]] clones distributed from <1990), [[CDTV]] (distributed from 1992 by AB Comp) and [[Game Boy]]<ref>https://www.oldgames.sk/en/mag/bit-15/page/7/</ref>. The 1990 and 1991 like before did not bring any good results and sales remained small and unnoticed by gaming magazines until mid-1992.
  
−
During this time, many famiclone began to appear in Slovakia, such as [https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQhTkm2mtUA/WZ9Jb36eQXI/AAAAAAAAKbg/Ir-Ya_Sk2-0Uzux1BsMV5irZ3Nq8xK-fQCEwYBhgL/s1600/terminator%2B2%2Bcon%2Bcaja.jpg Terminator 2] modeled on Sega Mega Drive.
+
==Slovakia==
 +
In mid-1992, Nissho Iwai reorganized it's retailers network and began to work with sub-distributors like [[IBEA]]. That fact was announced on [[COFAX 92]] that took place in June 1992, where IBEA promoted first model of Master System<ref>''Sega Master System''- BiT 09/92 (09/1992) page 7</ref>.  
  
−
In 1996, [[DDC Agency]] became a distributor of Sega and [[Atari]] in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. However, there was a problem because the companies did not have any seller in Slovakia. Throughout 1996, it was not possible to find a company that would be able to distribute products in Slovakia. This resulted in a significant decrease in the importance of the Sega brand in the market and gave a greater chance to competition, including Sony. After some time, [[Sega Saturn]] was released to Slovakia, but then the market was already dominated by [[PlayStation]], which caused Sega to withdraw from the country.  
+
After the break-up, Sega consoles were still supply by [[Nissho Iwai]] to local sub-distributors. In the first year, Slovakia got [[Mega Drive]]<ref>''Computer Center'' - Riki 1 (09/1994) page 23</ref>, Master System II<ref>''Computer Center'' - Riki 1 (09/1994) page 23</ref> and [[Game Gear]]<ref>''Computer Center'' - Riki 1 (09/1994) page 23</ref>. In mid-1993, [[ITO CS|ITO Slovakia]], subsidiary of Czech ITO CS became one of the Sega's authorized distributors and distributed games with Czech manuals. In the following years, Slovakia saw the release of the Mega Drive II (in 1994)<ref>''Computer Center'' - Riki 1 (09/1994) page 23</ref>, the [[Mega CD]] II (in 1994) and the [[Mega Drive 32X]] (in 1995).
  
−
[[Dreamcast]] was distributed in Slovakia from March 2000 but in a rather limited number.<ref>http://gamesweb.sk/753/recenzie/dreamcast.html</ref>
+
During this time, many famiclone began to appear in Slovakia, such as [https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQhTkm2mtUA/WZ9Jb36eQXI/AAAAAAAAKbg/Ir-Ya_Sk2-0Uzux1BsMV5irZ3Nq8xK-fQCEwYBhgL/s1600/terminator%2B2%2Bcon%2Bcaja.jpg Terminator 2] which box design resemble [[Sega Mega Drive]] 2. Bootleg versions of Sega games and consoles like for example [[Super Alpha II‎‎]] were also distributed. Besides Famicom and Mega Drive clones, Sega had competition in form of [[Super Nintendo]], [[Game Boy]] and [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (distributed from 1993 by Triangle Group International<ref>ABC 6/38 "Nintendo NES - zabava pro celou rodinu!"</ref><ref>ABC 4/38 "Vyber si z nabidky her pro Super Nintendo"</ref>), [[3DO]] (distributed from 1994 by Vision<ref>https://www.oldgames.sk/mag/score-11/page/9/</ref>) and [[Amiga CD32]] (distributed from 1994), [[Atari Jaguar]] (distributed from 1994 by JRC<ref>https://www.oldgames.sk/en/mag/excalibur-25/page/6/</ref>) and [[Atari Lynx]] (distributed from 1995 by JRC<ref>https://www.oldgames.sk/mag/level-3/page/44/</ref>).
 +
 
 +
Nissho Iwai lost it's contract with Sega in mid-1995 (likely between August-October 1995), which meant end of existing supply chain. In mid-1996, [[DDC Agency]] got autorization to distribute Sega and [[Atari Games]] in the Czech Republic with Slovakia and started delivering all previously released consoles, new [[Sega Saturn]] and translated game manuals into Czech language. Unfortunately, at the very beginning the company had no dealers in Slovakia<ref>''DDC Agency s.r.o'' - Sega News 1 page 35</ref> and the first ones appeared something around late 1996/early 1997. The market was took over by [[PlayStation]] (distributed from December 1996 by Sony Slovakia<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/19980703064424/http://www.playstation-europe.com/playstation/pr/launch.htm</ref>), which caused Sega to withdraw from the country.
 +
 
 +
[[Sega Dreamcast]] was distributed in Slovakia from March 2000<ref>http://gamesweb.sk/753/recenzie/dreamcast.html</ref> by [[Game Line (Czechia)|Game Line]]<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20010803003442/http://www.gameline.cz/obchod/velkoobchod.htm</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20010415054730fw_/http://www.gameline.cz/gravis/Gravis.htm</ref>. Due to Sega's intention to focus on the most key markets (UK, Spain, France, Germany), console was sold here only in selected retailers without affordable price and proper advertisement.
 +
 
 +
In 2001, the Slovak Trade Inspection Office recognized Sega Mega Drive 2 as a product threatening the user's life and health. This consoles were imported by Hong Tran Thiová, Vina Centrum, Poprad and the owner was from Vietnam.<ref>https://www.sme.sk/c/39291/zakazali-hru-sega-mega-drive-2.html</ref><ref>https://poistovne.sk/19278-sk/soi-zistila-na-vnutornom-trhu-srdalsi-nebezpecny-vyrobok.php</ref>
  
 
In 2004, the [[CD Projekt]] company became a distributor of Sega in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.<ref>https://games.tiscali.cz/byznys/cd-projekt-exkluzivnim-distributorem-her-od-sega-24752</ref>The company slowly became a representative of Sega in other countries of the Visegrad Group. In 2016, [[Cenega]] become representative of Sega.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160607060703/http://www.sega.com:80/support/</ref>
 
In 2004, the [[CD Projekt]] company became a distributor of Sega in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.<ref>https://games.tiscali.cz/byznys/cd-projekt-exkluzivnim-distributorem-her-od-sega-24752</ref>The company slowly became a representative of Sega in other countries of the Visegrad Group. In 2016, [[Cenega]] become representative of Sega.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160607060703/http://www.sega.com:80/support/</ref>
−
 
−
==Trivia==
 
−
In 2001, the Slovak Trade Inspection Office recognized Sega Mega Drive 2 as a product threatening the user's life and health. This consoles were imorted by Hong Tran Thiová, Vina Centrum, Poprad.<ref>https://www.sme.sk/c/39291/zakazali-hru-sega-mega-drive-2.html</ref><ref>https://poistovne.sk/19278-sk/soi-zistila-na-vnutornom-trhu-srdalsi-nebezpecny-vyrobok.php</ref>
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
*https://bratislava.sme.sk/c/189989/prve-tri-miesta-pocitacovej-rodine.html
 
*https://bratislava.sme.sk/c/189989/prve-tri-miesta-pocitacovej-rodine.html
 +
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010302164645/http://dreamcast.miesto.sk/ Slovak site about Dreamcast]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 11:03, 14 September 2024

Notavailable.svg
Slovakia 
History of Sega in Slovakia
Official Sega distributor(s): Independent retail outlets (1988-1990), Nissho Iwai (1990-1995), DDC Agency (1996-1998), Game Line (2000-2002), CD Projekt (2004-2016), Cenega (2016-present)

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.


Czechoslovakia

Consoles existed in Czechoslovakia during communism and an example is the Tesla XD 8001 produced by the Czechoslovak company Tesla[1].

Sega entered the market in 1988, when the government allowed an independent retail outlets to operate[2]. The new stores would purchase Master System stocks of games from Virgin and later resold them in the country. The sales results were marginal and Sega itself had almost no connection to this actions because there were very few sales places of sales and the agents themselves were tiny businesses. Also, the chances of the promotion were practically none because no gaming magazine was interested in it.

In 1990, the business was reorganized with Nissho Iwai taking over the distribution[3]. The system looked similar to the previous one, that is Nissho sells products to several retail chains throughout the country. At the time, Sega had competition in form of Rambo TV Game (Atari 2600 clones distributed from <1990), CDTV (distributed from 1992 by AB Comp) and Game Boy[4]. The 1990 and 1991 like before did not bring any good results and sales remained small and unnoticed by gaming magazines until mid-1992.

Slovakia

In mid-1992, Nissho Iwai reorganized it's retailers network and began to work with sub-distributors like IBEA. That fact was announced on COFAX 92 that took place in June 1992, where IBEA promoted first model of Master System[5].

After the break-up, Sega consoles were still supply by Nissho Iwai to local sub-distributors. In the first year, Slovakia got Mega Drive[6], Master System II[7] and Game Gear[8]. In mid-1993, ITO Slovakia, subsidiary of Czech ITO CS became one of the Sega's authorized distributors and distributed games with Czech manuals. In the following years, Slovakia saw the release of the Mega Drive II (in 1994)[9], the Mega CD II (in 1994) and the Mega Drive 32X (in 1995).

During this time, many famiclone began to appear in Slovakia, such as Terminator 2 which box design resemble Sega Mega Drive 2. Bootleg versions of Sega games and consoles like for example Super Alpha II‎‎ were also distributed. Besides Famicom and Mega Drive clones, Sega had competition in form of Super Nintendo, Game Boy and Nintendo Entertainment System (distributed from 1993 by Triangle Group International[10][11]), 3DO (distributed from 1994 by Vision[12]) and Amiga CD32 (distributed from 1994), Atari Jaguar (distributed from 1994 by JRC[13]) and Atari Lynx (distributed from 1995 by JRC[14]).

Nissho Iwai lost it's contract with Sega in mid-1995 (likely between August-October 1995), which meant end of existing supply chain. In mid-1996, DDC Agency got autorization to distribute Sega and Atari Games in the Czech Republic with Slovakia and started delivering all previously released consoles, new Sega Saturn and translated game manuals into Czech language. Unfortunately, at the very beginning the company had no dealers in Slovakia[15] and the first ones appeared something around late 1996/early 1997. The market was took over by PlayStation (distributed from December 1996 by Sony Slovakia[16]), which caused Sega to withdraw from the country.

Sega Dreamcast was distributed in Slovakia from March 2000[17] by Game Line[18][19]. Due to Sega's intention to focus on the most key markets (UK, Spain, France, Germany), console was sold here only in selected retailers without affordable price and proper advertisement.

In 2001, the Slovak Trade Inspection Office recognized Sega Mega Drive 2 as a product threatening the user's life and health. This consoles were imported by Hong Tran Thiová, Vina Centrum, Poprad and the owner was from Vietnam.[20][21]

In 2004, the CD Projekt company became a distributor of Sega in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.[22]The company slowly became a representative of Sega in other countries of the Visegrad Group. In 2016, Cenega become representative of Sega.[23]

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.litildivil.cz/sbirka/ruzne/tv_hra_tesla.htm
  2. ↑ https://www.telecompaper.com/news/video-games-market-small--23097
  3. ↑ https://www.telecompaper.com/news/video-games-market-small--23097
  4. ↑ https://www.oldgames.sk/en/mag/bit-15/page/7/
  5. ↑ Sega Master System- BiT 09/92 (09/1992) page 7
  6. ↑ Computer Center - Riki 1 (09/1994) page 23
  7. ↑ Computer Center - Riki 1 (09/1994) page 23
  8. ↑ Computer Center - Riki 1 (09/1994) page 23
  9. ↑ Computer Center - Riki 1 (09/1994) page 23
  10. ↑ ABC 6/38 "Nintendo NES - zabava pro celou rodinu!"
  11. ↑ ABC 4/38 "Vyber si z nabidky her pro Super Nintendo"
  12. ↑ https://www.oldgames.sk/mag/score-11/page/9/
  13. ↑ https://www.oldgames.sk/en/mag/excalibur-25/page/6/
  14. ↑ https://www.oldgames.sk/mag/level-3/page/44/
  15. ↑ DDC Agency s.r.o - Sega News 1 page 35
  16. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/19980703064424/http://www.playstation-europe.com/playstation/pr/launch.htm
  17. ↑ http://gamesweb.sk/753/recenzie/dreamcast.html
  18. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20010803003442/http://www.gameline.cz/obchod/velkoobchod.htm
  19. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20010415054730fw_/http://www.gameline.cz/gravis/Gravis.htm
  20. ↑ https://www.sme.sk/c/39291/zakazali-hru-sega-mega-drive-2.html
  21. ↑ https://poistovne.sk/19278-sk/soi-zistila-na-vnutornom-trhu-srdalsi-nebezpecny-vyrobok.php
  22. ↑ https://games.tiscali.cz/byznys/cd-projekt-exkluzivnim-distributorem-her-od-sega-24752
  23. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160607060703/http://www.sega.com:80/support/
History of Sega by Country
Asia
Afghanistan | Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Bhutan | Brunei | Cambodia | China | Georgia | Hong Kong | India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | Israel | Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Lebanon | Malaysia | Maldives | Mongolia | Myanmar | Nepal | North Korea | Oman | Pakistan | Philippines | Qatar | Russia | Saudi Arabia | Singapore | South Korea | Sri Lanka | Syria | Taiwan | Tajikistan | Thailand | East Timor | Turkey | Turkmenistan | United Arab Emirates | Uzbekistan | Vietnam | Yemen
North America
Antigua and Barbuda | Bahamas | Barbados | Belize | Canada | Costa Rica | Cuba | Dominica | Dominican Republic | El Salvador | Grenada | Guatemala | Haiti | Honduras | Jamaica | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Puerto Rico | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Trinidad and Tobago | USA
South America
Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Guyana | Paraguay | Peru | Suriname | Uruguay | Venezuela
Europe
Albania | Andorra | Austria | Belarus | Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Cyprus | Czechia | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Gibraltar | Greece | Greenland | Hungary | Iceland | Ireland | Italy | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta | Moldova | Monaco | Montenegro | Netherlands | North Macedonia | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Romania | San Marino | Serbia | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Ukraine | United Kingdom
Australasia
Australia | Fiji | Guam | Micronesia | New Zealand | Papua New Guinea
Africa
Algeria | Botswana | Djibouti | Egypt | Eswatini | Ghana | Kenya | Lesotho | Libya | Mauritania | Morocco | Mozambique | Namibia | Nigeria | Sierra Leone | Somalia | Sub-Saharan Africa | South Africa | Tunisia | Uganda | Zambia | Zimbabwe
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=History_of_Sega_in_Slovakia&oldid=1006855"