History of Sega in the Netherlands
From Sega Retro
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| History of Sega in the Netherlands |
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| Official Sega distributor(s): Homesoft (1986-1989), RCA/Columbia Pictures Video (1989-1993), Sega Europe (1993-1996), AtollSoft (1996-2006), Sega Benelux (2006-2012), Level03 Distribution (2012-present) |
In the 70s Netherlands was one of the countries where Sega imported its game machines.
From the end of 1986 until 1989, Homesoft distributed the Sega Master System. The company created SegaClub.
RCA/Columbia Pictures Video were Sega's distributor until August 1993, when they were bought out by Sega Europe. During this time they released a magazine called Sega Masters Club News, available in both French and Dutch. As early Sega Master System games included French, but not Dutch in the instructions Atoll included separate Dutch language instruction inserts for many games. Later European releases would include Dutch as standard. There was also a bilingual Sega Hotline available.
In 1996 Sega Europe, having not turned a profit since 1993 decided to close down it's operations in the Benelux, along with Austria and Denmark. AtollSoft took over distribution for the Benelux markets, distributing the Sega Saturn, and later the Sega Dreamcast.
In 1996, TCI's technology group got the rights to distribute Sega Channel in the Benelux Union. In the Netherlands, the service was provided by Eneco.
Dreamcast Internet was available from December 2000.
In 2006 Sega returned to the Benelux region, with Sega Benelux opening up an office in Amsterdam.
Following restructuring in 2012 Sega Europe once again closed down it's Benelux operations, handing over distribution to Level03 Distribution.
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