Difference between revisions of "Sega AM2"

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{{Company
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{{cleanup}}
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| logo=Am2 palmtree.svg
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{{CompanyBob
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| mergedinto= [[Sega AM11]], [[Digital Rex]]
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| logo=AM2 logo 1993.png
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| mergedwith= [[Sega AM3 (2005-2008)|Sega AM3]] (2008)
 
 
| founded=1990
 
| founded=1990
 +
| defunct=1999-05-11
 
| headquarters=Japan
 
| headquarters=Japan
 +
| prevdate=1990
 +
| prev=[[Sega R&D 8]]
 +
| nextdate=1999-05-11
 +
| next=[[Sega Software R&D Dept. 2]]
 
}}
 
}}
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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''' (セガエイエムツー), '''Sega AM2-ken''' (セガAM2研)) was a division within [[Sega of Japan]]. It was a continuation of [[Sega R&D 8]], formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games.
  
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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]].
+
This initial iteration of Sega AM2, spearheaded by [[Yu Suzuki]], is credited with some of Sega's most notable products, including ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' and ''[[Daytona USA]]''.
  
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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.
+
==History==
 +
[[File:Sega Office Tokyo 2 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Sega's second office, where AM2 lived during the 1990s{{magref|edge|9|45}}.]]
 +
Sega restructured its internal R&D divisions around 1990/1991, and Sega AM2, the second "amusement machine" division emerged from [[Sega R&D 8]]. Clearly dividing the arcade and consumer (CS) teams meant that AM2 would be focused entirely on arcade games (R&D 8 having also produced two [[Sega Mega Drive]] titles; ''[[Sword of Vermilion]]'' and ''[[Rent A Hero]]''). The divide would not stick - by 1994 AM2 were involved with Mega Drive and [[Sega Saturn]] conversions of their popular titles, but the group was first and foremost an arcade division, and the teams behind these conversions typically consisted of newcomers or former console developers.
  
−
==Current Members==
+
The change to AM2 coincided with a change in the industry. [[Atari Games]] and [[Namco]] were edging ahead of Sega by producing 3D video games comprised of polygons, so Sega, with heavy influence from AM2, began work on the [[Model 1]] board - a "CG" arcade system capable of rendering thousands of polygons at high frame rates. It was during this period where AM2 abandoned the [[taikan game]] formula which had seen success for its predecessors during the 1980s, to focus on supporting this new, true 3D system.
−
{{multicol|
 
−
* [[Daichi Katagiri]]
 
−
* [[Hiroaki Shoji]]
 
−
* [[Hiroshi Kataoka]]
 
−
* [[Makoto Osaki]]
 
−
* [[Masayuki Masumi]]
 
−
* [[Noriyuki Shimoda]]
 
−
* [[Seiji Oaki]]
 
−
* [[Takehiko Mikami]]
 
−
* [[Tatsuya Sato]]
 
−
* [[Takuji Masuda]]
 
−
|cols}}
 
  
−
==Former Members==
+
1992's ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', demonstrating the Model 1 board, was the first game to be produced by AM2{{magref|edge|9|47}}. Following this, two teams were formed, one that would work on ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'', and another on ''[[Daytona USA]]''{{magref|edge|9|47}}, the latter for the improved [[Sega Model 2]] hardware. These three games, the latter two proudly showing AM2's new "palm tree" logo, elevated the company to new heights and made their producer, [[Yu Suzuki]] a video game celebrity.
−
{{multicol|
 
−
* [[Kenji Kanno]]
 
−
* [[Keiji Okayasu]]
 
−
* [[Koichi Nagata]]
 
−
* [[Mie Kumagai]]
 
−
* [[Satoshi Mifune]]
 
−
* [[Seiichi Ishii]]
 
−
* [[Takeshi Fujimura]]
 
−
* [[Takeshi Isone]]
 
−
* [[Toshihiro Nagoshi]]
 
−
* [[Yu Suzuki]]
 
−
|cols}}
 
  
−
==Corporate history==
+
Success for AM2 continued with ''[[Virtua Cop]]'', ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'', ''[[Virtua Striker]]'' (led by [[Satoshi Mifune]]) and ''[[Fighting Vipers]]'', with the [[Model 3]] games ''[[Scud Race]]'' (led by [[Toshihiro Nagoshi]]) and ''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' making Sega leaders in the arcade throughout the 1990s. AM2 also had an important role with the [[Sega Saturn]], producing the [[Sega Graphics Library]] in 1995 in conjunction with its Saturn conversion of ''Virtua Fighter 2''.
−
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.
 
  
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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]]''.
+
Among its home conversions, ''[[Fighters Megamix]]'', perhaps a celebration of the company's efforts to that point, was released for the console, combining the rosters of ''Virtua Fighter'' and ''Fighting Vipers'' (alongside a plethora of others, including a playable AM2 palm tree). It was towards the end of the decade, however, when Yu Suzuki AM2 embarked on its most ambitious project to date - the [[Dreamcast]] epic, ''[[Shenmue]]''.
  
−
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.  
  
−
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.
+
====AM2 of CRI====
 +
{{MainArticle|AM2 of CRI}}
 +
[[CSK]] had been the parent company of Sega since 1984, running its own software development division, [[CSK Research Institute]] during the 1990s. [[Isao Okawa]] personally bought the division from CSK on 1st October, 1999{{fileref|CSK AnnualReport 2000.pdf|page=32}}, and in February 2000, it was merged with Sega AM2, creating the short-lived title, '''AM2 of CRI'''. [[CRI Middleware]] was then established to handle the sale of CRI's former products such as [[ADX]] and [[Sofdec]].
  
−
[[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{{ref|http://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/8/1/70e819844b813fbf73f290e563297591.html}}{{fileref|Dorimaga_JP_20010824_2001-07.pdf|page=11}}. Confusingly, CRI Middleware Co. Ltd. was then established to handle the sale of CRI's former products such as [[ADX]] and [[Sofdec]].
+
AM2 of CRI existed for much of 2000 and part of 2001, continuing to operate as it had before, but downplaying the use of "Sega" and the iconic palmtree logo over this period.
  
−
Yu Suzuki left AM2 in 2003 to found [[DigitalRex]], also owned by Sega. This would become [[AM Plus]] before any games were released.
+
====As a stand-alone company====
 +
{{MainArticle|Sega-AM2 (company)}}
 +
While a few games were released by AM2 of CRI, the CRI name would be dropped later in August 2001, when, as with other development groups within Sega, AM2 was spun-off into an entirely separate (but wholly owned) subsidiary of Sega known as '''Sega-AM2 Co., Ltd.'''{{ref|http://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/8/1/70e819844b813fbf73f290e563297591.html}}{{magref|dori|2001-07|11}}. This is the only official iteration of the company to have a hypen between "Sega" and "AM2".
  
−
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 [[Sega 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.
+
CRI staff however stayed at Sega AM2, with [[Noriyuki Shimoda]] and [[Seiji Oaki]] eventually becoming prominent staff. However due to too much unfamiliar staff, Yu Suzuki found himself unwilling to continue manage AM2, and instead formed [[Digital Rex]] in 2003.
  
−
==Softography (arcade)==
+
{{MainArticle|Sega AM2 (2004-2011)}}
−
{{multicol|
+
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 arcade industry became limited to Japan, and Sega's initiative for it's arcade studios to produce console titles filtered out. Therefore Sega AM2 became much more low key compared to the global impact it had in the past. Nonetheless ''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'', ''[[MJ]]'' and ''[[Border Break]]'' had new features that contribute to Sega's arcade business. This includes nationwide internet play in arcades, and also mobile applications connecting to the arcade games.
−
=== [[Sega Space Harrier]] ===
 
−
*''[[Space Harrier]]'' (1985)
 
−
*''[[Hang-On]]'' (1985)
 
−
*''[[Super Hang-On]]'' (1987)
 
  
−
=== [[Sega OutRun]] ===
+
Ports of arcade titles developed by AM2 continue to be well received, such as ''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' and ''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram]]'', however became less common in comparision to the past. It was once mentioned by AM2 staff there is a strange atmosphere that console staff could dissapear anytime.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20140328153138/http://blog.sega.jp/amcvt/}}
−
*''[[OutRun]]'' (1986)
 
−
*''[[Turbo OutRun]]'' (1989)
 
  
−
=== [[X Board]] ===
+
In April 2009, a restructure took place within Sega's arcade software studios, with part of Sega AM3 staff ended up at AM2. Around this time, AM2 also branched out to mobile development, mainly with AM3 staff, with titles like ''[[Virtua Tennis Challenge]]'' and ''[[Derby Owners Club (2012)|Derby Owners Club]]''.
−
*''[[After Burner]]'' (1987)
 
−
**''[[After Burner II]]'' (1987)
 
−
*''[[GP Rider]]'' (1990)
 
  
−
=== [[Y Board]] ===
+
{{MainArticle|Sega R&D2 (2011-2015)}}
−
*''[[Power Drift]]'' (1988)
+
{{MainArticle|Sega Interactive R&D2}}
−
*''[[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]] ===
+
==Softography==
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' (1993)
+
{{CompanyHistoryAll|Sega AM2}}
−
*''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1992)
 
  
−
=== [[Sega Model 2]] ===
 
−
*''[[Daytona USA]]'' (1993)
 
−
*''[[Desert Tank]]'' (1994)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Cop]]'' (1994)
 
−
*''[[Sonic the Fighters]]'' (1996)
 
  
−
=== [[Sega Model 2A CRX]] ===
+
===(old)===
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (1994)
+
{{multicol|
−
*''[[Virtua Cop 2]]'' (1995)
+
==== [[System 32]] ====
 +
*''[[Soreike Kokology 2]]'' (1993)
  
−
=== [[Sega Model 2B CRX]] ===
+
==== [[Sega Model 2]] ====
 
*''[[Virtua Striker]]'' (1995)
 
*''[[Virtua Striker]]'' (1995)
−
*''[[Fighting Vipers]]'' (1995)
 
  
−
=== [[Sega Model 3 Step 1.0]] ===
+
==== [[Sega Model 3]] ====
−
*''[[Fighting Vipers 2]]'' (1998)
+
*''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' (1996)
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' (1996)  
 
−
**''[[Virtua Fighter 3tb]]'' (1997)
 
−
 
 
−
=== [[Sega Model 3 Step 1.5]] ===
 
 
*''[[Scud Race]]'' (1996)  
 
*''[[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]] ===
 
 
*''[[Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge]]'' (1998)
 
*''[[Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge]]'' (1998)
−
**''[[Daytona USA 2: Power Edition]]'' (1998)
+
*''[[Daytona USA 2: Power Edition]]'' (1998)
−
 
 
−
=== [[Sega Titan Video]] ===
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter Kids]]'' (1996)
 
  
−
=== [[NAOMI]] ===
+
==== [[NAOMI]] ====
−
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (1999)
 
−
*''[[F355 Challenge]]'' (1999)
 
−
**''[[F355 Challenge 2: International Course Edition]]'' (2001)
 
 
*''[[MJ]]'' (2002)  
 
*''[[MJ]]'' (2002)  
−
*''[[Outtrigger]]'' (1999)
 
−
 
−
===[[Sega NAOMI 2|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]]'' (2005)
 
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** ''[[Quest of D Ver.3]]'' (2006)
 
−
** ''[[Quest of D: The Battle Kingdom]]'' (2007)
 
−
*''[[Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub|Sega Golf Club]]'' (2004)
 
−
**''[[Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub|Sega Golf Club Ver. 2006]]'' (2006)
 
−
*''[[MJ2]]'' (2003)
 
−
**''[[MJ3]]'' (2004)
 
−
*''[[OutRun 2]]'' (2003)
 
−
**''[[OutRun 2 SP]]'' (2004)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Cop 3]]'' (2003)
 
−
 
−
===[[Sega Lindbergh|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)
 
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**''[[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)
 
−
*''[[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)
 
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**''[[Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith]]'' (2014)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Tennis 4]]'' (2012)
 
−
 
−
=== [[RingWide]] ===
 
−
 
−
*''[[Sega Racing Classic]]'' (2009)
 
−
 
−
=== [[Nu]] ===
 
−
 
−
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade Future Tone]]'' (2013)
 
−
*''[[KanColle Arcade]]'' (2016)
 
−
*''[[Soul Reverse]]'' (2017)
 
−
 
−
=== Other ===
 
  
−
*''[[R360]]'' (1990)
+
==== [[Chihiro]] ====
−
*''[[Virtua Formula]]'' (1993) (with [[Sega AM5]])
+
*''[[MJ2]]'' (2003)
  
−
|cols=2}}
+
==== [[Sega System SP]] ====
 +
*''[[Rhythm Tengoku]]'' (2007)
  
−
==Softography (consumer)==
+
==== [[RingEdge]] ====
 +
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade]]'' (2010)
 +
*''[[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2013]]'' (2013)
  
−
{{multicol|
+
====[[PlayStation 2]]====
−
===[[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]]===
 
−
*''[[Sword of Vermillion]]'' (1989)
 
−
*''[[Rent A Hero]]'' (1991)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1994) (with [[Sega CS]])
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Sega Saturn|Saturn]]===
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' (1994)
 
−
*''[[Daytona USA]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[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)
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Sega Dreamcast|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|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]])
 
 
*''[[Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 16: Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (2004)
 
*''[[Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 16: Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (2004)
−
*''[[Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 19: Fighting Vipers]]'' (2005)
 
  
−
===[[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]===
+
====[[Xbox 360]]====
−
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (2002)
 
−
*''[[Beach Spikers]]'' (2002)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Quest]]'' (2004) (also with [[Tose]])
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Xbox|Xbox]]===
 
−
*''[[Shenmue II]]'' (2003)
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Xbox 360|Xbox 360]]===
 
−
*''[[After Burner Climax]]'' (2010)
 
−
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On: Force]]'' (2010)
 
 
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]]  (2013)
 
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]]  (2013)
 
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[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]]===
+
====[[PlayStation 3]]====
−
*''[[After Burner Climax]]'' (2010)
+
*''[[Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub]]'' (2006) (with [[Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 2|GE2]])
 
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]]  (2013)
 
*''[[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)
 
−
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F]]'' (2013) (with [[Sega CS3 (2008-current)|Sega CS3]])
 
  
−
===[[Nintendo 3DS]]===
+
====[[Nintendo 3DS]]====
−
*''[[Hatsune Miku and Future Stars Project mirai]]'' (2012)
 
−
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2]]'' (2013)
 
 
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX]]'' (2015)
 
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX]]'' (2015)
  
−
===[[PlayStation 4]]===
+
====[[PlayStation Vita]]====
−
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade Future Tone]]'' (2016)
+
*''[[Virtua Tennis 4]]'' (2011)
−
 
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F]]'' (2013) (with [[Sega CS3 (2008-current)|Sega CS3]])
−
===PC===
 
  
 +
====PC====
 
*''[[MJ]]'' (2013)
 
*''[[MJ]]'' (2013)
  
−
===iOS===
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* ''[[Fortisia SEGAxLINE]]'' (2016)
−
 
+
|cols=3}}
−
*''[[Virtua Tennis Challenge]]'' (2012)
 
−
*''[[MJ]]'' (2013)
 
−
*''[[Soul Reverse Zero]]'' (2017)
 
  
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===Android===
+
==List of staff==
 +
{{StaffList|Sega AM2}}
  
−
*''[[Virtua Tennis Challenge]]'' (2013)
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==Magazine articles==
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*''[[MJ]]'' (2012)
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
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*''[[Soul Reverse Zero]]'' (2017)
 
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|cols=3}}
 
  
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==Gallery==
+
==Artwork==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Am2.svg|Logo, sans palm tree
 
Am2.svg|Logo, sans palm tree
 +
AM2 logo 1993.png|Logo (1993)
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  

Revision as of 14:04, 15 February 2024

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https://segaretro.org/images/0/05/AM2_logo_1993.png

AM2 logo 1993.png
Sega AM2
Founded: 1990
Defunct: 1999-05-11
Headquarters:
Japan
1990
1999-05-11

Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #2, (Sega AM R&D Dept. #2, Sega AM2 (セガエイエムツー), Sega AM2-ken (セガAM2研)) was a division within Sega of Japan. It was a continuation of Sega R&D 8, formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games.

This initial iteration of Sega AM2, spearheaded by Yu Suzuki, is credited with some of Sega's most notable products, including Virtua Racing, Virtua Fighter and Daytona USA.

History

Sega's second office, where AM2 lived during the 1990s[1].

Sega restructured its internal R&D divisions around 1990/1991, and Sega AM2, the second "amusement machine" division emerged from Sega R&D 8. Clearly dividing the arcade and consumer (CS) teams meant that AM2 would be focused entirely on arcade games (R&D 8 having also produced two Sega Mega Drive titles; Sword of Vermilion and Rent A Hero). The divide would not stick - by 1994 AM2 were involved with Mega Drive and Sega Saturn conversions of their popular titles, but the group was first and foremost an arcade division, and the teams behind these conversions typically consisted of newcomers or former console developers.

The change to AM2 coincided with a change in the industry. Atari Games and Namco were edging ahead of Sega by producing 3D video games comprised of polygons, so Sega, with heavy influence from AM2, began work on the Model 1 board - a "CG" arcade system capable of rendering thousands of polygons at high frame rates. It was during this period where AM2 abandoned the taikan game formula which had seen success for its predecessors during the 1980s, to focus on supporting this new, true 3D system.

1992's Virtua Racing, demonstrating the Model 1 board, was the first game to be produced by AM2[2]. Following this, two teams were formed, one that would work on Virtua Fighter, and another on Daytona USA[2], the latter for the improved Sega Model 2 hardware. These three games, the latter two proudly showing AM2's new "palm tree" logo, elevated the company to new heights and made their producer, Yu Suzuki a video game celebrity.

Success for AM2 continued with Virtua Cop, Virtua Fighter 2, Virtua Striker (led by Satoshi Mifune) and Fighting Vipers, with the Model 3 games Scud Race (led by Toshihiro Nagoshi) and Virtua Fighter 3 making Sega leaders in the arcade throughout the 1990s. AM2 also had an important role with the Sega Saturn, producing the Sega Graphics Library in 1995 in conjunction with its Saturn conversion of Virtua Fighter 2.

Among its home conversions, Fighters Megamix, perhaps a celebration of the company's efforts to that point, was released for the console, combining the rosters of Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers (alongside a plethora of others, including a playable AM2 palm tree). It was towards the end of the decade, however, when Yu Suzuki AM2 embarked on its most ambitious project to date - the Dreamcast epic, Shenmue.

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.

AM2 of CRI

Main article: AM2 of CRI.

CSK had been the parent company of Sega since 1984, running its own software development division, CSK Research Institute during the 1990s. Isao Okawa personally bought the division from CSK on 1st October, 1999[3], and in February 2000, it was merged with Sega AM2, creating the short-lived title, AM2 of CRI. CRI Middleware was then established to handle the sale of CRI's former products such as ADX and Sofdec.

AM2 of CRI existed for much of 2000 and part of 2001, continuing to operate as it had before, but downplaying the use of "Sega" and the iconic palmtree logo over this period.

As a stand-alone company

Main article: Sega-AM2 (company).

While a few games were released by AM2 of CRI, the CRI name would be dropped later in August 2001, when, as with other development groups within Sega, AM2 was spun-off into an entirely separate (but wholly owned) subsidiary of Sega known as Sega-AM2 Co., Ltd.[4][5]. This is the only official iteration of the company to have a hypen between "Sega" and "AM2".


CRI staff however stayed at Sega AM2, with Noriyuki Shimoda and Seiji Oaki eventually becoming prominent staff. However due to too much unfamiliar staff, Yu Suzuki found himself unwilling to continue manage AM2, and instead formed Digital Rex in 2003.

Main article: Sega AM2 (2004-2011).

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 arcade industry became limited to Japan, and Sega's initiative for it's arcade studios to produce console titles filtered out. Therefore Sega AM2 became much more low key compared to the global impact it had in the past. Nonetheless Virtua Fighter 4, MJ and Border Break had new features that contribute to Sega's arcade business. This includes nationwide internet play in arcades, and also mobile applications connecting to the arcade games.

Ports of arcade titles developed by AM2 continue to be well received, such as Virtua Fighter 5 and Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram, however became less common in comparision to the past. It was once mentioned by AM2 staff there is a strange atmosphere that console staff could dissapear anytime.[6]

In April 2009, a restructure took place within Sega's arcade software studios, with part of Sega AM3 staff ended up at AM2. Around this time, AM2 also branched out to mobile development, mainly with AM3 staff, with titles like Virtua Tennis Challenge and Derby Owners Club.

Main article: Sega R&D2 (2011-2015).
Main article: Sega Interactive R&D2.

Softography

System 32

Model 1

Model 2

Sega Titan Video

Model 3

Mega Drive

Saturn

Windows PC


(old)

System 32

Sega Model 2

Sega Model 3

NAOMI

Chihiro

Sega System SP

RingEdge

PlayStation 2

Xbox 360

PlayStation 3

Nintendo 3DS

PlayStation Vita

PC

List of staff

Magazine articles

Main article: Sega AM2/Magazine articles.

Artwork

  • Logo, sans palm tree

  • Logo (1993)

External links

References

  1. ↑ Edge, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-28), page 45
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Edge, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-28), page 47
  3. ↑ File:CSK AnnualReport 2000.pdf, page 32
  4. ↑ http://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/8/1/70e819844b813fbf73f290e563297591.html
  5. ↑ Dorimaga, "2001-07 (2001-08-24)" (JP; 2001-08-10), page 11
  6. ↑ http://blog.sega.jp/amcvt/ (Wayback Machine: 2014-03-28 15:31)


Timeline of Sega of Japan research and development divisions








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