Press release: 1995-07-19: Sega continues national Sega Saturn hardware distribution in market-by-market roll-out

From Sega Retro

Logo-txt.svg
This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below.
Language: English
Original source: The Free Library


REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 1995--Sega of America Wednesday announced it is broadening distribution of its Sega Saturn videogame system in 16 major markets throughout the United States -- including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles -- culminating in a complete national roll-out of its next-generation videogame system by Sept. 2.

Additionally, all current Sega Saturn software titles will be available for all of Sega's current retail outlets nationwide on Aug. 1.

Sega's new flagship product for the future, Sega Saturn, is the ultimate in-home entertainment system, designed specifically to provide a compelling, immersive game experience totally different than any other system.

"Since we launched in May, Sega Saturn has achieved virtual sell-out situations across the country, and consumer demand is well ahead of our capacity to produce hardware," said Mike Ribero, executive vice president of marketing, Sega of America.

"At E3 in May, we promised to ramp up the number of Sega Saturn retailers throughout the summer, with the goal of being in full, national distribution by Sept. 2. We are right on schedule, working around the clock to meet both consumer and retailer demand."

The regional roll-out program, which started in Minneapolis on July 7, and continued in Texas on July 14, extends Sega Saturn hardware availability to new retailers in 16 major markets.

In addition to Sega Saturn's launch retailers -- Toys R Us, Software Etc., Electronics Boutique and Babbages -- local and national outlets such as Sears, Wal-Mart, Target, Circuit City and Best Buy will receive quantities of Sega Saturn hardware and peripherals according to the following schedule:

-- Ohio, Michigan, Nashville (week of July 17)

-- Milwaukee, Chicago (week of July 22)

-- Philadelphia, New York City, Boston (week of July 29)

-- San Francisco, Oregon, Portland, Seattle (week of Aug. 5)

-- Cleveland, Richmond, Va. (week of Aug. 12)

-- Atlanta, Los Angeles (week of Aug. 19)

Sega is supporting the hardware roll-out with regional television and radio advertising in each market.

Sega also announced plans to make current Sega Saturn software -- including popular titles such as "Daytona U.S.A." and "Panzer Dragoon," and new titles such as "BUG!" -- available to all retailers nationwide on Aug. 1, citing production advantages of software over hardware.

"Because we are able to produce software much faster than the hardware, we wanted to give retailers the opportunity to build awareness about Sega Saturn among the consumers in their markets as soon as possible," added Ribero. "Both the software availability and the extended distribution opens more doors for consumers to sample and purchase Sega Saturn, and brings them into new realms of interactive entertainment."

For more information on Sega Saturn and the name of the nearest retailer, consumers can call 800/SEE-SATURN.

Sega of America is the arm of Tokyo-based Sega Enterprises Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega products in the Americas. Sega Enterprises is a nearly $4-billion company known as a leader in interactive digital entertainment media with operations on five continents.

Sega of America's Internet addresses are: http://www.segaoa.com (World Wide Web); GO SEGA (CompuServe Forum); [email protected] (e-mail); ftp.segaoa.com (ftp site).

CONTACT: Sega of America, Redwood City

Angela Edwards, 415/802-3908

or

Manning, Selvage & Lee, Universal City, Calif.

Kelly Smith, 818/509-1840
COPYRIGHT 1995 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1995, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.