History of Sega in China
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History of Sega in China |
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Official Sega distributor(s): Hiroshima Trading (198x-199x), WKK (199x-1994), Huaxing Electronic Technology (1995-1997), Stone Group (1997-199x), Zhongxun (199x-2000), Merix Interactive Entertainment (2001-200x), AtGames (2005-present), CE-Asia (2008-present) |
Hiroshima Trading sold Sega Master System model I in the 80s.[1]
WKK through his division WKK Industries China distributed Master System II but sales were minimal. Since October 1993, WKK began distribution of Sega Mega Drive model I.[2][3]
From 1994, Sega sued numerous Mega Drive clone producers in China like Shenchu Electronic.[4][5]In 1995 Chinese government took actions against piracy of Sega games.[6][7]
Huaxing Electronic Technology (华星电子科技有限公司) was responsible for the sale of Mega Drive 2 and Game Gear.[8]
In January 1995, Sega formed Sega Huahan Culture Entertainment to develop, produce and market games for Chinese video arcades.[9]
In August 1997, Sega got along with Stone Group (四通集团) to distribute Sega Saturn in China, to sell 40,000 units in the first year.[10] It isn't known if Sega achieved that.
In October of 1998 Sega and Tianli formed a strategic alliance. Tianli produced Mega Drive VCD Players and distributed them in the People's Republic of China.
Zhongxun (中讯) distributed Sega Dreamcast until June 2000 when consoles were banned.
On June 6, 2001, Sega announced that it would enter the Chinese market with Merix Interactive Entertainment. Distribution of the games was to begin on June 15, 2001. Planned to release more than 13 games this year alone and sell 1.5 million games by June 2002 and own 10% of the Chinese games market.[11][12][13]
In 2002, Sega began selling Pico in China.[14]
On August 3, 2004, Sega announced that it would enter the Chinese online gaming market. The IT service for Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst was to be provided by Zarva Digital Entertainment, for CTRace by Joyzone Networks, and for Shenmue Online by T2 Technology Holdings.[15]
AtGames has been distributing games since 2005.[16][17][18]
In 2008, Sega entered into an agreement with CE-Asia for the distribution of games in the Chinese market. Empire: Total War and Total War: Shogun 2 have been included in the top 10 most popular PC games in China.[19]
In 2013, Shanda Games released Chain Chronicles.[20]
In 2010s, Sega created Sega Asia which handle regional releases of games,[21] but not physical distribution.
References
- ↑ https://www.gcores.com/articles/99611
- ↑ https://techmonitor.ai/technology/sega_starts_test_marketing_new_machine
- ↑ https://www.telecompaper.com/news/sega-to-test-market-mega-drive-machines--8854
- ↑ https://techmonitor.ai/technology/chinese_sega_pirate_punished
- ↑ https://www.telecompaper.com/news/sega-wins-copyright-dispute-with-shenzhen-shenchu--35740
- ↑ https://www.telecompaper.com/news/govt-takes-action-against-piracy-of-sega-games--51523
- ↑ https://www.telecompaper.com/news/police-seize-pirated-audiovisual-products--49954
- ↑ https://www.gcores.com/articles/99611
- ↑ "Sega forms China venture" The Business Times, 5 January 1995
- ↑ https://www.telecompaper.com/news/sega-to-sell-saturn-games-console--114366
- ↑ https://www.highwaygames.com/arcade-news/sega-to-enter-chinese-game-software-market-in-june-351/
- ↑ https://edition.cnn.com/2001/BUSINESS/asia/06/07/tokyo.segainchina/
- ↑ http://tech.sina.com.cn/h/n/70171.shtml
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20140921201103/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-91099802.html
- ↑ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040803005406/en/SEGA-Enters-China-Market-for-Online-Game-Business
- ↑ https://www.change.org/p/sega-revoke-atgames-s-pc-games-distribution-right-in-greater-china Failed petition
- ↑ https://www.zhihu.com/appview/p/39495468
- ↑ http://bbs.a9vg.com/thread-5171571-1-1.html
- ↑ http://www.ceasia.cn/e-about.html
- ↑ https://www.techinasia.com/sega-hopes-to-take-chain-chronicles-across-asia-via-an-unexpected-partner
- ↑ https://www.siliconera.com/sega-established-singapore-branch-to-cover-southeast-asia/