Difference between revisions of "Sega AM2"
From Sega Retro
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'''Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #2''', ('''Sega AM R&D Dept. #2''', '''Sega AM2''') is a division within [[Sega of Japan]]. It was formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games. | '''Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #2''', ('''Sega AM R&D Dept. #2''', '''Sega AM2''') is a division within [[Sega of Japan]]. It was formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games. | ||
− | AM2 is arguably the most successful R&D division to have | + | AM2 is arguably the most successful R&D division to have existed within Sega during the 90's, to the point where its internal division name became a marketable brand in its own right. As such, while significant changes have occurred within its lifespan from a business perspective, this division of Sega has always referred to itself as "AM2", even if it has not been exclusively an amusement-only department since 1991. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the chief operating officer of AM2 was industry stalwart [[Yu Suzuki]]. |
− | + | 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== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Hiroshi Kataoka]] | ||
+ | [[Makoto Osaki]] | ||
+ | [[Daiichi Katagiri]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Former Members== | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Yu Suzuki]] | ||
+ | [[Toshihiro Nagoshi]] | ||
+ | [[Keiji Okayasu]] | ||
+ | [[Mifune Satoshi]] | ||
==Corporate history== | ==Corporate history== | ||
− | Sega AM2 is thought to have been a continuation of an older R&D studio | + | Sega AM2 is thought to have been a continuation of an older R&D studio , famed for arcade games featuring sprite-scaling graphics and moving cabinets with games such as ''[[Hang-On]]'', ''[[Space Harrier]]'', ''[[OutRun]]'' and ''[[After Burner]]''. It became a pioneer of early 3D polygonal 3D graphics with the 1992 release of ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', before creating ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'', beginning 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. |
AM2 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]]. It soon 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]]''. The AM2 palm tree would even become an unlockable character in in the AM2-developed ''[[Fighters Megamix]]''. | AM2 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]]. It soon 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]]''. The AM2 palm tree would even become an unlockable character in in the AM2-developed ''[[Fighters Megamix]]''. | ||
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Yu Suzuki left AM2 in 2003 to found [[DigitalRex]], also owned by Sega. This would become [[AM Plus]] before any games were released. | Yu Suzuki left AM2 in 2003 to found [[DigitalRex]], also owned by Sega. This would become [[AM Plus]] before any games were released. | ||
− | 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 AM2 name and logo continues to surface to this day. | + | 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". Due to the closure of [[AM3 (2004-2008|AM3]] in May 2008, some members moved to AM2. In May 2010, the arcade departments lost their "AM" name, becoming R&D2. During the March 2015 restructure, Sega' arcade division became Sega Interactive, thus becoming R&D2 of Sega Interactive rather than Sega proper. |
+ | |||
+ | The AM2 name and logo continues to surface to this day. | ||
==Softography (arcade)== | ==Softography (arcade)== | ||
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===[[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]]=== | ===[[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]]=== | ||
+ | *''[[Sword of Vermillion]]'' (1989) | ||
*''[[Rent A Hero]]'' (1991) | *''[[Rent A Hero]]'' (1991) | ||
*''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1994) | *''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1994) |
Revision as of 05:40, 20 March 2017
Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #2, (Sega AM R&D Dept. #2, Sega AM2) is a division within Sega of Japan. It was formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games.
AM2 is arguably the most successful R&D division to have existed within Sega during the 90's, to the point where its internal division name became a marketable brand in its own right. As such, while significant changes have occurred within its lifespan from a business perspective, this division of Sega has always referred to itself as "AM2", even if it has not been exclusively an amusement-only department since 1991. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the chief operating officer of AM2 was industry stalwart Yu Suzuki.
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.
Contents
- 1 Current Members
- 2 Former Members
- 3 Corporate history
- 4 Softography (arcade)
- 4.1 Sega Space Harrier
- 4.2 Sega OutRun
- 4.3 X Board
- 4.4 Y Board
- 4.5 System 32
- 4.6 Sega Model 1
- 4.7 Sega Model 2
- 4.8 Sega Model 2A CRX
- 4.9 Sega Model 2B CRX
- 4.10 Sega Model 3 Step 1.0
- 4.11 Sega Model 3 Step 1.5
- 4.12 Sega Model 3 Step 2.1
- 4.13 Sega Titan Video
- 4.14 NAOMI
- 4.15 NAOMI 2
- 4.16 Chihiro
- 4.17 Lindbergh
- 4.18 RingEdge
- 4.19 RingWide
- 4.20 Nu
- 5 Softography (consumer)
- 6 Gallery
- 7 External links
- 8 References
Current Members
Hiroshi Kataoka Makoto Osaki Daiichi Katagiri
Former Members
Yu Suzuki Toshihiro Nagoshi Keiji Okayasu Mifune Satoshi
Corporate history
Sega AM2 is thought to have been a continuation of an older R&D studio , famed for arcade games featuring sprite-scaling graphics and moving cabinets with games such as Hang-On, Space Harrier, OutRun and After Burner. It became a pioneer of early 3D polygonal 3D graphics with the 1992 release of Virtua Racing, before creating Virtua Fighter, beginning 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.
AM2 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. It soon 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. The AM2 palm tree would even become an unlockable character in in the AM2-developed Fighters Megamix.
In 1998, AM2-developer Toshihiro Nagoshi formed his own arcade department within Sega known as Sega AM11, where he worked on SpikeOut.
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.
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]. Confusingly, CRI Middleware Co. Ltd. was then established to handle the sale of CRI's former products such as ADX and Sofdec.
Yu Suzuki left AM2 in 2003 to found DigitalRex, also owned by Sega. This would become AM Plus before any games were released.
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". Due to the closure of AM3 in May 2008, some members moved to AM2. In May 2010, the arcade departments lost their "AM" name, becoming R&D2. During the March 2015 restructure, Sega' arcade division became Sega Interactive, thus becoming R&D2 of Sega Interactive rather than Sega proper.
The AM2 name and logo continues to surface to this day.
Softography (arcade)
Sega Space Harrier
- Space Harrier (1985)
- Hang-On (1985)
- Super Hang-On (1987)
Sega OutRun
- OutRun (1986)
- Turbo OutRun (1989)
X Board
- After Burner (1987)
- After Burner II (1987)
- GP Rider (1990)
Y Board
- Power Drift (1988)
- G-LOC: Air Battle (1990)
- Strike Fighter (1991)
System 32
- Arabian Fight (1993)
- F1 Exhaust Note (1991)
- F1 Super Lap (1993)
- Soreike Kokology (1991)
- Soreike Kokology 2 (1993)
Sega Model 1
- Virtua Fighter (1993)
- Virtua Racing (1992)
Sega Model 2
- Daytona USA (1993)
- Desert Tank (1994)
- Virtua Cop (1994)
- Sonic the Fighters (1996)
Sega Model 2A CRX
- Virtua Fighter 2 (1994)
- Virtua Cop 2 (1995)
Sega Model 2B CRX
- Virtua Striker (1995)
- Fighting Vipers (1995)
Sega Model 3 Step 1.0
- Fighting Vipers 2 (1998)
- Virtua Fighter 3 (1996)
- Virtua Fighter 3tb (1997)
Sega Model 3 Step 1.5
- Scud Race (1996)
- Scud Race Plus (1997)
- Virtua Striker 2 (1997)
- Virtua Striker 2 Version '98 (1998)
- Virtua Striker 2 Version '99 (1999)
Sega Model 3 Step 2.1
Sega Titan Video
- Virtua Fighter Kids (1996)
NAOMI
- 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (1999)
- F355 Challenge (1999)
- MJ (2002)
- Outtrigger (1999)
NAOMI 2
- Beach Spikers (2001)
- The King of Route 66 (2002)
- Virtua Fighter 4 (2001)
- Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution (2002)
- Virtua Fighter 4 Final Tuned (2004)
Chihiro
- Ghost Squad (2004)
- Quest of D (2004)
- Quest of D Ver.2 (2004)
- Quest of D Ver.3 (2004)
- Quest of D: The Battle Kingdom (2004)
- 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)
Lindbergh
- After Burner Climax (2006)
- Derby Owners Club 2009: Ride for the Live (2008)
- Ghost Squad Evolution (2007)
- OutRun 2 SP SDX (2007)
- R-Tuned: Ultimate Street Racing (2008)
- Virtua Fighter 5 (2006)
- Virtua Fighter 5 R (2008)
- Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown (2010)
- MJ4 (2008)
RingEdge
- Border Break (2009)
- Border Break Airburst (2010)
- Border Break Union (2012)
- Border Break Scramble (2014)
- Border Break X (2016)
- MJ5 (2011)
- MJ5 Evolution (2011)
- MJ5R Evolution (2013)
- MJ Arcade (2017)
- Project DIVA Arcade (2010)
- Sega Card-Gen MLB 2009 (2009)
- Sega Card-Gen MLB 2010 (2010)
- Sega Card-Gen MLB 2011 (2011)
- Sega Card-Gen MLB 2012 (2012)
- Sega Card-Gen MLB 2013 (2013)
- Shining Force Cross (2009)
- Shining Force Cross Raid (2010)
- Shining Force Cross Elysion (2012)
- Shining Force Cross Exlesia (2013)
- Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith (2014
- Virtua Tennis 4 (2012)
RingWide
- Sega Racing Classic (2009)
Nu
- Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade Future Tone (2013)
- Kantai Collection Arcade (2016)
- Soul Reverse (2017)
Softography (consumer)
Mega Drive
- Sword of Vermillion (1989)
- Rent A Hero (1991)
- Virtua Racing (1994)
Saturn
- Digital Dance Mix Vol.1 Namie Amuro'(1997)
- Fighters Megamix (1996)
- Fighting Vipers (1996)
- Virtua Cop (1995)
- Virtua Cop 2 (1996)
- Virtua Fighter Kids (1996)
- Virtua Fighter 2 (1995)
- Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.1 Sarah Bryant (1995)
- Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.10 Jeffry McWild (1996)
- Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.2 Jacky Bryant (1995)
- Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.3 Akira Yuki (1995)
- Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.4 Pai Chan (1995)
- Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.5 Wolf Hawkfield (1995)
- Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.6 Lau Chan (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)
Dreamcast
- 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (2000) (also with CRI)
- Ferrari F355 Challenge (2000) (also with CRI)
- Fighting Vipers 2 (2001)
- Outtrigger (2001)
- Propeller Arena (2001; unreleased)
- Shenmue II (2001)
- Shenmue (1999)
- Virtua Fighter 3tb (1998) (also with Genki)
PlayStation 2
- 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (2001)
- Ferrari F355 Challenge (2002) (also with Tose)
- Virtua Cop: Elite Edition (2002) (also with RIZ Inc.)
- Virtua Fighter 4 (2002)
- Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (2003)
- The King of Route 66 (2003) (also with Tose)
- Virtua Quest (2004) (also with Tose)
GameCube
- 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (2002)
- Beach Spikers (2002)
- Virtua Quest (2004) (also with Tose)
Xbox
- Shenmue II (2003)
Xbox 360
- After Burner Climax (2010)
- Cyber Troopers Virtual-On: Force (2010)
- Cyber Troopers Virtual-On (2013)
- Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram (2009)
- Daytona USA (2011)
- Fighting Vipers (2012)
- Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub (2006)
- Sonic the Fighters (2012)
- Virtua Fighter 2 (2012)
- Virtua Fighter 5 (2007)
- Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown (2012)
- Virtua Tennis 4 (2011)
- Virtua Striker (2013)
Wii
- Ghost Squad (2007)
- Gunblade NY & LA Machineguns (2010)
PlayStation 3
- After Burner Climax (2010)
- Cyber Troopers Virtual-On (2013)
- Daytona USA (2011)
- Fighting Vipers (2012)
- Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Dreamy Theater (2010)
- Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Dreamy Theater 2nd (2011)
- Sonic the Fighters (2012)
- Virtua Fighter 2 (2012)
- Virtua Fighter 5 (2006)
- Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown (2012)
- Virtua Tennis 4 (2011)
Nintendo 3DS
- Hatsune Miku and Future Stars Project mirai (2012)
- Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2 (2013)
- Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX (2015)
PlayStation 4
PC
- MJ (2013)
iOS
- MJ (2012)
- Soul Reverse Zero (2017)
Android
- MJ (2012)
- Soul Reverse Zero (2017)
Gallery
External links
- Official website
- Official website (Archived on 10 April 2001)
- Official website (Archived on 30 June 2004)
- IGN info page for Sega-AM2
References
Timeline of Sega of Japan research and development divisions |
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