Sega revs up new Racing Studio

[Goonboy_Panzer]

Sega europe plans to create a new studio dedicated in creating/porting/updating Sega’s arcade racing games.

News from MCV

11 February 2005 By Johnny Minkley
Following Europe boss Mike Hayes? recent comments regarding initial plans for a UK development resource (MCV 28/01), MCV can reveal that the publisher is setting up a ?Racing Studio? in central England, to create next generation titles based on some of Sega?s most successful IP.
?The racing genre is a consistent high performer within the video games market and Sega has some of the most prestigious and exciting racing IP,? SoE head of Senior PD consultant Guy Wilday (pictured) told MCV.

?There was an opportunity for us to capitalise on the potential by working with the very best people in the industry to move these franchises onto next-gen technology.?

Hayes recently revealed that SoE was also planning a budget label once existing IP reverted back to the company from third-parties, but Wilday was keen to stress Racing Studio?s sole focus would be on new titles for upcoming systems.

?Due to the current state within the console cycle, the major focus for this studio will be next generation titles,? he explained. ?The studio will concentrate on innovative new iterations of existing franchises and on the development of new game IP, not ports of existing franchises.?

SoE has already proved itself with a stunning port of OutRun 2 on Xbox, handled by Sheffield-based outfit Sumo Digital, and a job ad for the new studio reveals that successful candidates can expect to work on such legendary titles as Sega Rally and Crazy Taxi.

The publisher is now in the process of selecting premises and building a core team, hoping to attract some of the most talented in the sector. ?No studio head is currently in place as yet, but we are actively looking,? said Wilday.

?Locating the studio in the centre of the country is the ideal positioning to attract the best development talent from booth studios in the south and north of England.?

And there may be more to come from the resurgent Sega of Europe, which recently revealed the synergising of US and European efforts to power up Sega?s status in the West.

?To be competitive with the top publishing companies, we are of course looking to expand our in-house development resources further to become a major global player.?

Well I don’t think we need another CRAZY TAXI but we do need to see DAYTONA 2 or maybe even SCUD RACE.

[Pedro_The_Hutt]

Virtua Racer baby! XD Or a Sega Rally, I’m still miffed about the DC port of the second one. XD “Tilting in corners? What’s that?”

[Felix]

A new Crazy Taxi for the next generation would be awesome!

As well as another Ferrari game.

[Pedro_The_Hutt]

If there will be a new Crazy Taxi I’d like one with the original drivers. B.D. Joe’s da man! XD

[Robert_Frazer]

Although I’m not particularly fond of rock music, I must say that one of the most memorable aspects of Crazy Taxi was Offspring’s music - “Way Down the Line” and “All I Want” were so gloriously and flawlessly in keeping with the game’s mood! Bring that band back into a Crazy Taxi game and it’s impossible to go wrong with it.

[Goonboy_Panzer]

I was hoping that you could get to play your own music in OUTRUN 2. Now with this new studio up and running,they will twek any further arcade ports of racers to fit in the deeper play mechanics of video game racers on the current consoles.

[Felix]

I was hoping that you could get to play your own music in OUTRUN 2. Now with this new studio up and running,they will twek any further arcade ports of racers to fit in the deeper play mechanics of video game racers on the current consoles.

I was very dissapointed in the lack of custom soundtracks of Outrun 2. Every racing game should let you play your own music.

To me there was no more exhilarating moment than holding first place by only a car length on the last lap of Laguna Seca in TOCA Pro Race Driver 2 as the ending quarter of Pearl Jam - Black was blasting through the speakers.

[Ehndow]

I couldn’t care less.The racing game that thrills me is still to come.The only racing game I really like was Sega Rally and I think it was one of the few games I could play back then.