Will Sega ever tap their classic series in a big way?

[MrNash]

So, I regularly get to thinking about how many really great series that Sega has made over the last 20-30 years, and then I think about how many of these series have been moth balled, and then I get to thinking how great it would be if some of these IPs were brought back.

Stuff like Streets of Rage, Wonder Boy, Alex Kidd, Outrun, Space Harrier, Fantasy Zone, Panzer Dragoon, and countless others. Sure Sega has dumped a bunch of their classics on various download services, and been doing the occasional HD re-release, but what do you think the chances are of the company actually revisiting any of these series for an actual dyed in the wool new game for them. Also, do you think that there's enough wide spread interest for any of Sega's older series to warrant new games based on those IPs being made?

I think maybe depending on the series. Stuff like Streets of Rage probably still has enough pull to get a lot of people interested in a new game. Something like Fantasy Zone may be a tougher sell, but it could work as a cheap downloadable on one of the handhelds, or mobile phones. My only fear is how these series would be re-imagined if they were to be re-vitalized. It would likely be totally different people working on these new games compared to the originals, so I'm not sure of the mindset that would be applied to new games based on these IPs versus the originals.

Anywho, discuss!

[AppleQueso]

I remember someone pointing out once that unlike Nintendo, Sega doesn't seem particularly fond of celebrating their past.

[o.pwuaioc]

Panzer Dragoon Orta was released on the Xbox and Outrun continually gets new games in the series.

[BoringSupreez]

I remember someone pointing out once that unlike Nintendo, Sega doesn't seem particularly fond of celebrating their past.

Probably because the past holds a lot more painful memories for Sega than it does for Nintendo.

[Godot102]

Well Sega isn't doing TOO bad a job at reviving their old games. I mean we ARE getting an improved port of Jet grind radio. I would be totally down for a new Burning rangers or at least a remake.

[AznKhmerBoi]

I think Sega is as strong as Nintendo in terms of having great franchises, but for some reason they dont try hard enough or even bother to make them any better.

Usually their updated game franchise are mediocre at most, while nintendo games always go beyond expectation.

Maybe this could be due to SEGA not having all that much resources for developement?

[Flake]

Continuity. Nintendo's staff still contains a ton of the guys who came up with their key franchises or were there at the beginning.

Sega had a lot of turn over in the late 90's / early 2000's. Huge parts of the company were chopped up and sold, absorbed, laid off. Key artists and designers left. Sega does not explore its past as much because Sega, largely, does not remember it.

[KDub]

If we got a new Wonder Boy like the new Kirby 2D games I'd probably....

Do the Willy Wonka gag where I run home as fast as I can after I get a copy singing some silly song.

Sega needs to get on that.

[latenitevacancy]

no.

golden axe beast rider is what happens when they try to. or that ps2 altered beast game. occasionally they release a playable sonic game that everyone gets pissed about because they're never going to make a sonic game as good as 1-3+k were again. they just keep rereleasing the best genesis games every time theres a new gen of consoles. i think sega's best ideas are there fresh ones, rehashing the past doesnt work for them. unless, you know, its just a rerelease of genesis game.

[latenitevacancy]

like, in a few years, if demand is high enough they might make a new streets of rage title. but it'll be in 3d, have nothing recognizable from the original games except a character here and an homage there, it's going to be a full retail game, full of bugs and everyones going to hate it. cause that was pretty much that golden axe game in a nutshell.