Difference between revisions of "Bernie Stolar"

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[[Image:Bernie.jpg|frame|right|Bernard "Bernie" Stolar with Sega Dreamcast.]]
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'''Bernard "Bernie" Stolar''' worked in the video game industry for several important companies. His career started at Atari where he worked initially in the coin-op arcade division and eventually moved over to the home division being in charge of platforms like Atari Lynx. Before the US release of the PlayStation game console, [[Sony]] made Stolar the first president of SCEA and in charge of the PlayStation platform. Stolar ruled with an iron fist and forced some unpopular policies with regard to titles licensed including a "no-RPG" policy seeing as RPGs at the time were almost all 2D, didn't sell well in North America and in his opinion failed to show the power of the PlayStation in a positive light.
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{{PersonBob
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| image=Bernie.jpg
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| name=Bernard Stolar
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| birthplace=
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| dob=1946-10-09{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824011207/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2022/06/27/atari-sony-and-sega-legend-bernie-stolar-dies-aged-75/?sh=5a887e272129}}
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| dod=2022-06-22{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20220626062452/https://venturebeat.com/2022/06/25/gaming-legend-bernie-stolar-passes-away/}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20220626102010/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bernie-stolar-former-sega-of-america-president-and-scea-founder-has-died-aged-75/}}{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824011207/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2022/06/27/atari-sony-and-sega-legend-bernie-stolar-dies-aged-75/?sh=5a887e272129}}
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| employment={{Employment
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| company=[[Sega of America]]
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| end=1999
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}}
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{{Employment
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| company=[[Mattel Interactive]]
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| start=2000
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| notsega=yes
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}}
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| role=Executive, Spokesperson
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| education=
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}}{{stub}}'''Bernard "Bernie" Stolar''' was an American businessman and former [[Sega of America]] President, Chief Operating Officer, and corporate spokesperson.
  
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After the first holiday season in the US the PlayStation was a success selling well. Bernie was then offered the opportunity to leave Sony and take the helm at [[Sega]] of America managing the [[Sega Saturn]]. Stolar while not as strict with licensing policies at Sega as he was at Sony decided against bringing over many of the most popular Saturn titles citing limited appeal in North America and failure to show off the Saturn in as positive of a light as possible as reasoning. As the Saturn continued to struggle in North America, Stolar pressed for Sega to develop a new platform which would eventually become the [[Dreamcast]]. While Stolar left the company a month prior to the US release of the system, Stolar is infamously credited by many Sega fans, for helping kill the Saturn prematurely in favor of developing the Dreamcast.
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==History==
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His career in the game industry started in 1980, when he and his friend Brian Semler{{magref|cb|1980-11-15|38}}{{ref|https://archive.ph/z8QlP|https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-obituary-for-brian/59790093/}} (Brian Douglas Semler), son of [[Bert Siegel]]{{magref|cb|1975-08-16|45}}{{fileref|Power 1978.PNG}}{{fileref|Bert Siegel Letter to Charles Paul of Atari 1982-03-11.pdf|page=1}} Co-Founder of [[Segasa]] and stepbrother{{magref|cb|1974-10-19|91}}{{magref|cb|1981-01-24|48}} of [https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E03AQFYFC57rlvFyw/profile-displayphoto-shrink_200_200/0?e=1550707200&v=beta&t=gxKXwIq5CI3-KHRI5tzuFfN0HHxJzp62YmRRe7DpVEA Lawrence David Siegel]{{magref|cb|1980-08-30|50}} former President of [[Atari]] and [[Black Pearl Software]] and COO of [[THQ]], established{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20220626151751/https://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/bernie-stolar-jordan-freeman/}} ''Pacific Novelty Manufacturing, Inc.''{{ref|https://archive.ph/dCS6j|https://venturebeat.com/games/at-68-bernie-stolar-is-still-running-ambitious-game-startups/view-all/}}{{magref|cb|1982-07-03|108}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20220626102010/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bernie-stolar-former-sega-of-america-president-and-scea-founder-has-died-aged-75/}}, in [[wikipedia:Marina del Rey, California|Marina del Rey]], Los Angeles, a coin-op game company. He later went to Atari where he worked initially in the coin-op arcade division and eventually moved over to the home division being in charge of platforms like Atari Lynx. Before the US release of the [[PlayStation]] game console, [[Sony]] made Stolar the first president of SCEA and in charge of the PlayStation platform. Stolar ruled with an iron fist and forced some unpopular policies with regard to titles licensed including a "no-RPG" policy seeing as RPGs at the time were almost all 2D, didn't sell well in North America and in his opinion failed to show the power of the PlayStation in a positive light.
  
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Stolar is fondly remembered for his "Saturn is not our future." remark in the 1997 E3 not to mention his "There is no more Tekken." line during a TV interview (which followed after Namco confirmed supporting Sega's console starting with Soul Calibur). The Tekken line was also Stolar's stab against Sony and its next generation plans, although Namco confirmed later that the PlayStation2 will be getting Tekken games exclusively.  
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After the first holiday season in the US the PlayStation was a success selling well. Bernie was then offered the opportunity to leave Sony and take the helm at [[Sega of America]] managing the [[Sega Saturn]]. Stolar subsequently became Sega of America COO in March 1997{{intref|Press release: 1997-03-17: Sega Promotes Bernie Stolar To COO}} and president in March 1998{{intref|Press release: 1998-03-24: Sega Promotes Stolar To President}}.
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Stolar is famously remembered for his "Saturn is not our future" remark at [[E3 1997]], not to mention his "There is no more Tekken." line during a TV interview (which followed after Namco confirmed supporting Sega's console starting with Soul Calibur). The Tekken line was also Stolar's stab against Sony and its next generation plans, although Namco confirmed later that the PlayStation 2 will be getting Tekken games exclusively.
  
 
Aside from that, there were insider reports that he actually went against his Japanese superiors by pricing the Dreamcast with a launch price of $199 (which he unveiled in a speech in early 1999, to standing ovation). Reportedly, Sega Japan wanted to price the DC at $249 in order to be very profitable right from the start. Prior to the Dreamcast's American launch in 1999, Stolar was fired and received a $5,000,000.00 severance package from Sega.
 
Aside from that, there were insider reports that he actually went against his Japanese superiors by pricing the Dreamcast with a launch price of $199 (which he unveiled in a speech in early 1999, to standing ovation). Reportedly, Sega Japan wanted to price the DC at $249 in order to be very profitable right from the start. Prior to the Dreamcast's American launch in 1999, Stolar was fired and received a $5,000,000.00 severance package from Sega.
  
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==Production History==
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==Production history==
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* ''The Raiden Project'' (1995) — Special Thanks
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{{ProductionHistory|Bernie Stolar|Bernard Stolar}}
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* ''Jumping Flash!'' (1995) — Special Thanks
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* ''Aquanaut's Holiday'' (1995) — Special Thanks
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==Photographs==
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* ''Sega Worldwide Soccer 97'' (1996) — Special Thanks
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:''Main article: [[:Category:Photos of {{PAGENAME}}|Photos of {{PAGENAME}}]]
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* ''Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition'' (1996) — Special Thanks
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* [[Dark Savior]] (1996) — Special Thanks
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==External references==
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* ''Crash Bandicoot'' (1996) — Special Thanks
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*[https://www.arcade-museum.com/manuf_detail.php?manuf_id=1571&orig_game_id=10086 Pacific Novelty Manufacturing, Inc. softography at www.arcade-museum.com]
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* [[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]] (1997) — Special Thanks
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*[https://www.mobygames.com/game/arcade/thief__/credits Credits for 1981 arcade video game ''"Thief"'', Pacific Novelty Manufacturing, Inc. greatest success, at www.mobygames.com]
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* ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (1997) — Special Thanks
 
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* [[Quake]] (1997) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''NBA Action 98'' (1997) — Special Thanks
 
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* [[Manx TT Superbike]] (1997) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World'' (1997) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sega PC Smash Pack|Sega Smash Pack]] (PC Version)'' (1998) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Panzer Dragoon Saga]]'' (1998) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998) — Executive Management
 
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* ''NFL 2K'' (1999) — Special Thanks
 
  
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{{SegaUSExecs}}
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==References==
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<references/>
  
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[[Category:Sega Executives|Stolar, Bernie]]
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{{SoAPresidents}}

Latest revision as of 01:32, 24 March 2024

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Bernie.jpg
Bernard Stolar
Date of birth: 1946-10-09[1]
Date of death: 2022-06-22[2][3][1] (age 75)
Employment history:
Sega of America (?? – 1999)
Mattel Interactive (2000 – )
Role(s): Executive, Spokesperson

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

Bernard "Bernie" Stolar was an American businessman and former Sega of America President, Chief Operating Officer, and corporate spokesperson.

History

His career in the game industry started in 1980, when he and his friend Brian Semler[4][5] (Brian Douglas Semler), son of Bert Siegel[6][7][8] Co-Founder of Segasa and stepbrother[9][10] of Lawrence David Siegel[11] former President of Atari and Black Pearl Software and COO of THQ, established[12] Pacific Novelty Manufacturing, Inc.[13][14][3], in Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, a coin-op game company. He later went to Atari where he worked initially in the coin-op arcade division and eventually moved over to the home division being in charge of platforms like Atari Lynx. Before the US release of the PlayStation game console, Sony made Stolar the first president of SCEA and in charge of the PlayStation platform. Stolar ruled with an iron fist and forced some unpopular policies with regard to titles licensed including a "no-RPG" policy seeing as RPGs at the time were almost all 2D, didn't sell well in North America and in his opinion failed to show the power of the PlayStation in a positive light.

After the first holiday season in the US the PlayStation was a success selling well. Bernie was then offered the opportunity to leave Sony and take the helm at Sega of America managing the Sega Saturn. Stolar subsequently became Sega of America COO in March 1997[15] and president in March 1998[16].

Stolar is famously remembered for his "Saturn is not our future" remark at E3 1997, not to mention his "There is no more Tekken." line during a TV interview (which followed after Namco confirmed supporting Sega's console starting with Soul Calibur). The Tekken line was also Stolar's stab against Sony and its next generation plans, although Namco confirmed later that the PlayStation 2 will be getting Tekken games exclusively.

Aside from that, there were insider reports that he actually went against his Japanese superiors by pricing the Dreamcast with a launch price of $199 (which he unveiled in a speech in early 1999, to standing ovation). Reportedly, Sega Japan wanted to price the DC at $249 in order to be very profitable right from the start. Prior to the Dreamcast's American launch in 1999, Stolar was fired and received a $5,000,000.00 severance package from Sega.

Production history


Photographs

Main article: Photos of Bernie Stolar

External references

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2022/06/27/atari-sony-and-sega-legend-bernie-stolar-dies-aged-75/?sh=5a887e272129 (Wayback Machine: 2022-08-24 01:12)
  2. ↑ https://venturebeat.com/2022/06/25/gaming-legend-bernie-stolar-passes-away/ (Wayback Machine: 2022-06-26 06:24)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bernie-stolar-former-sega-of-america-president-and-scea-founder-has-died-aged-75/ (Wayback Machine: 2022-06-26 10:20)
  4. ↑ Cash Box, "November 15, 1980" (US; 1980-11-15), page 38
  5. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-obituary-for-brian/59790093/ (archive.today)
  6. ↑ Cash Box, "August 16, 1975" (US; 1975-08-16), page 45
  7. ↑ File:Power 1978.PNG
  8. ↑ File:Bert Siegel Letter to Charles Paul of Atari 1982-03-11.pdf, page 1
  9. ↑ Cash Box, "October 19, 1974" (US; 1974-10-19), page 91
  10. ↑ Cash Box, "January 24, 1981" (US; 1981-01-24), page 48
  11. ↑ Cash Box, "August 30, 1980" (US; 1980-08-30), page 50
  12. ↑ https://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/bernie-stolar-jordan-freeman/ (Wayback Machine: 2022-06-26 15:17)
  13. ↑ https://venturebeat.com/games/at-68-bernie-stolar-is-still-running-ambitious-game-startups/view-all/ (archive.today)
  14. ↑ Cash Box, "July 3, 1982" (US; 1982-07-03), page 108
  15. ↑ Press release: 1997-03-17: Sega Promotes Bernie Stolar To COO
  16. ↑ Press release: 1998-03-24: Sega Promotes Stolar To President
  17. ↑ File:Saturnbomberman sat us manual.pdf, page 42
  18. ↑ File:Darksavior sat us manual.pdf, page 18
  19. ↑ File:SonicsSchoolhouse PC US manual.pdf, page 16
  20. ↑ File:Nfl97 sat us manual.pdf, page 19
  21. ↑ File:Daytonausacce sat us manual.pdf, page 26
  22. ↑ File:Fightersmegamix sat us manual.pdf, page 42
  23. ↑ Die Hard Arcade (Saturn) US manual, page 18
  24. ↑ File:SegaRally PC US Manual.pdf, page 21
  25. ↑ File:S&KC US manual.pdf, page 14
  26. ↑ File:Manxtt sat us manual.pdf, page 22
  27. ↑ File:Skytarget sat us manual.pdf, page 26
  28. ↑ File:Amok sat us manual.pdf, page 23
  29. ↑ File:Wsb98 sat us manual.pdf, page 31
  30. ↑ File:Lastbronx sat us manual.pdf, page 26
  31. ↑ File:Scorcher sat us manual.pdf, page 27
  32. ↑ File:The Lost World Jurassic Park GG US Manual.pdf, page 13
  33. ↑ File:NFL 98 MD credits.pdf
  34. ↑ File:Steepslopesliders sat us manual.pdf, page 21
  35. ↑ File:Lost World Saturn credits.pdf
  36. ↑ File:Lostworld sat us manual.pdf, page 22
  37. ↑ File:Nbaaction98 sat us manual.pdf, page 28
  38. ↑ File:Nhlallstar98 sat us manual.pdf, page 19
  39. ↑ File:Stcc sat us manual.pdf, page 39
  40. ↑ File:Quake sat us manual.pdf, page 18
  41. ↑ File:Sonic R Saturn credits.pdf
  42. ↑ File:LastBronx PC US Manual.pdf, page 34
  43. ↑ File:STCC PC US Manual.pdf, page 37
  44. ↑ File:Sws98 sat us manual.pdf, page 37
  45. ↑ File:Thotd sat us manual.pdf, page 26
  46. ↑ File:SegaSmashPack PC US DigitalManual.pdf, page 3
  47. ↑ File:NFL2K DC US Manual.pdf, page 22


Presidents of Sega Enterprises USA
Gene Lipkin (1985-1986) | Ned DeWitt | Tom Petit (1988-1994) | Alan Stone (1994-1996) | Howell Ivy (1996-2004) |

Co-president: David Rosen (1985-1996)

Presidents of Sega of America
Bruce Lowry (1986-1989) | | Michael Katz (1989-1990) | Tom Kalinske (1990-1996) | Bernie Stolar (1998-1999) | Peter Moore (1999-2003) | Hideaki Irie (2003-2005) | Simon Jeffery (2005-2009) | Mike Hayes (2009-2012) | John Cheng (2012-2018) | Ian Curran (2018)

Co-president: David Rosen (1986-1996)

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