History of Sega in Spain

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History of Sega in Spain
Official Sega distributor(s): Proein (1987-1989), Erbe (1989-1991), Virgin Mastertronic (1991), Sega Europe (1991-2001) , Big Ben Interactive (2001-2005), Atari Espana (2005-2010), Sega Europe (2010-2012) , Koch Media (2012-present)

In the 70s Spain was one of the countries where Sega imported its game machines.

Rumors say that the SC-3000 was distributed in Spain.

Proein released the Sega Master System in Spain in early 1987, after Germany and Italy, but before the UK and France. In October 1989 Erbe became distributors for all Sega consoles in Spain. Erbe distributed Sega products in conjunction with Virgin Mastertronic until 1991 when they started distributing rival Nintendo's Game Boy.

Virgin Mastertronic briefly distributed on their own, before their European Sega distribution business including Spain was bought out by Sega later in 1991, with the new company named Sega Europe. The Spanish division then became Sega Consumer Products S.A.

In 1996, TCI's technology group got the rights to distribute Sega Channel in Spain, but it is not known that the service was launched there.

Ecofilmes exported this same Master System model to Spain also (same Box with the original text in Portuguese, the Garantia Sega Portugal seal, but with the console's specifications printed in Spanish on the right side of the box), which was sold there by Toys"R"Us.

In 2001, after the break in Dreamcast production, Sega Europe suffered severe cuts in their production and publishing operations, closing all their European branches and including the one in Spain. To keep the distribution of their games in Europe (and therefore in Spain), Sega chose Big Ben Interactive as distributor of their last Dreamcast releases between late 2001 and early 2002, while several other companies like Sony, Microsoft, Acclaim, Infogrames, THQ and Empire (through their respective subsidiaries in Spain) published their games for other platforms, under the new third party policy. Since 2005, and with the reestablishment of Sega Europe as European publisher of Sega, the distribution of all their games in Spain was carried out by the Spanish branch of Atari. In 2010, Sega Europe returned, their Spanish division this time being known as Sega Spain.

Following restructuring in 2012 Sega Europe closed down its Spanish operations, handing over distribution to Koch Media.

External References

• Unboxing video, of Portuguese Master System III Compact console sold in Spain by Toys"R"Us (exported to Spain by Ecofilmes)