30 Fascinating Facts About Sega

Sega is a Japanese video game company that has played a significant role in the gaming industry since its establishment in 1960. Originally founded as Standard Games in Hawaii, the company later changed its name to Service Games and eventually Sega. Sega is known for its contributions to both the arcade and home console markets.

In the early years, Sega focused on producing arcade games and arcade hardware. Some of Sega’s most iconic arcade games include Space Harrier, Out Run, Virtua Fighter, and Sonic the Hedgehog. These games introduced innovative gameplay mechanics, stunning graphics, and immersive experiences that captivated players in arcades worldwide.

30 facts about Sega:

1. Sega was originally founded in 1960 as Standard Games in Hawaii by Martin Bromley, Irving Bromberg, and James Humpert.
2. The company’s name was changed to Service Games, reflecting its focus on providing coin-operated games to military bases and amusement parks.
3. Sega is an abbreviation of “Service Games,” derived from the company’s original name.
4. Sega’s first arcade game was Periscope, a submarine-themed shooter released in 1966.
5. In the 1980s, Sega entered the home console market with the release of the SG-1000 console, which competed against Nintendo’s Famicom (later known as the NES).
6. Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega’s iconic mascot, was created in 1991 as a response to Nintendo’s popular character, Mario.
7. Sonic the Hedgehog became Sega’s most successful franchise, spawning numerous games, TV shows, comics, and merchandise.
8. The Sega Genesis (known as the Mega Drive outside of North America) was released in 1988 and became Sega’s most successful home console.
9. Sega is credited with popularizing the concept of “blast processing,” a term used in advertising to highlight the Genesis’ faster processing speed.
10. The Sega Saturn, released in 1994, faced stiff competition from Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo’s Nintendo 64, leading to relatively lower sales.
11. The Sega Dreamcast, released in 1998, was ahead of its time, featuring online gaming capabilities and innovative features like the Visual Memory Unit (VMU).
12. Despite positive reception and critical acclaim, the Dreamcast struggled to compete with the PlayStation 2 and discontinued production in 2001, marking Sega’s exit from the console market.
13. Sega shifted its focus to software development and became a third-party game publisher, releasing games for various platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles.
14. Sega’s game franchises include Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, Virtua Fighter, Yakuza, and Total War.
15. The Sega Mega-CD (Sega CD) was an add-on accessory for the Sega Genesis that allowed CD-based games to be played.
16. Sega is known for its arcade hits, including Out Run, Space Harrier, Virtua Fighter, and Daytona USA.
17. Sega acquired British developer The Creative Assembly, known for the Total War series, in 2005.
18. Sega has collaborated with other companies for unique projects, such as the creation of the Sega Saturn’s NetLink modem with America Online (AOL) for online gaming.
19. Sega’s iconic slogan, “Welcome to the Next Level,” was prominently featured in its advertising campaigns during the 1990s.
20. Sega continues to release games across various platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices, and operates arcades in Japan.
21. Sega released the Sega Game Gear in 1990, a handheld gaming console that competed against Nintendo’s Game Boy. It featured a full-color backlit screen, making it a technologically advanced handheld for its time.
22. The Sega CDX, released in 1994, was a combination of the Sega Genesis and Sega CD in a single unit, allowing players to play both cartridge and CD-based games.
23. Sega introduced the Virtua Fighter series in 1993, which was one of the first fighting game franchises to use 3D polygonal graphics.
24. In 2000, Sega partnered with Microsoft to release the Dreamcast in North America with built-in support for Windows CE, enabling developers to easily port PC games to the console.
25. Sega released the Sega Saturn’s 3D controller, also known as the “Nights Into Dreams” controller, which featured an analog stick and additional buttons for enhanced gameplay.
26. Sonic the Hedgehog’s original character designer, Naoto Ohshima, drew inspiration from Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse when creating Sonic’s iconic design.
27. Sega’s arcade hit, Daytona USA, became one of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time and is considered a classic in the racing genre.
28. Sega produced the Sega Channel in 1994, which allowed subscribers to download and play games directly through their cable television connection.
29. Sega launched the Sega Nomad in 1995, a portable version of the Genesis that could play Genesis cartridges on the go.
30. In recent years, Sega has shifted its focus to digital distribution and re-released many classic Sega games through platforms like the Sega Forever collection on mobile devices and the Sega Ages series on Nintendo Switch.

50 highly regarded Sega games from various Sega consoles:

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
2. Phantasy Star Online (Sega Dreamcast)
3. Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
4. Shenmue (Sega Dreamcast)
5. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
6. Jet Set Radio (Sega Dreamcast)
7. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
8. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
9. Panzer Dragoon Saga (Sega Saturn)
10. Golden Axe (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
11. Virtua Fighter 2 (Sega Saturn)
12. Shining Force II (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
13. Skies of Arcadia (Sega Dreamcast)
14. Altered Beast (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
15. Sonic & Knuckles (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
16. NiGHTS into Dreams (Sega Saturn)
17. Phantasy Star II (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
18. Out Run (Arcade)
19. Ecco the Dolphin (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
20. Space Channel 5 (Sega Dreamcast)
21. Streets of Rage (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
22. Phantasy Star (Sega Master System)
23. Shinobi (Sega Master System)
24. Crazy Taxi (Sega Dreamcast)
25. Gunstar Heroes (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
26. Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown (Arcade)
27. Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap (Sega Master System)
28. Sonic CD (Sega CD)
29. Daytona USA (Arcade)
30. Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Sega Master System)
31. Yakuza 0 (PlayStation 4)
32. Guardian Heroes (Sega Saturn)
33. Columns (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
34. Virtua Tennis (Sega Dreamcast)
35. Comix Zone (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
36. Shinobi (Arcade)
37. Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II (Sega Dreamcast)
38. Valkyria Chronicles (PlayStation 3)
39. The House of the Dead 2 (Arcade)
40. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
41. ChuChu Rocket! (Sega Dreamcast)
42. Ristar (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
43. Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
44. Sega Rally Championship (Arcade)
45. Streets of Rage 3 (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
46. Ecco: The Tides of Time (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)
47. Virtual-On: Cyber Troopers (Sega Saturn)
48. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Various Platforms)
49. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PlayStation 2)
50. Alien: Isolation (Various Platforms)

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