The SEGA Thread: This thread does what Nintendon't

[Hawq]

[Hawq]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Sega is reportedly set to buy Angry Birds studio Rovio for $1 billion

The deal could be done in a matter of days, it's claimed



Sega could be poised to acquire Rovio Entertainment, the Finnish developer behind the Angry Birds series of games.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, which cites people familiar with the situation, Sega Sammy Holdings is in talks to buy Rovio in a deal worth around $1 billion.

The report suggests that as long as the talks don't break down and aren't drawn out for any reason, the deal could be done in a matter of days.

Rovio had previously been the target of Playtika, an Israel-based mobile developer best known for its casual slot machine, poker and hidden object games.

Playtika announced in January that it had submitted a proposal to acquire Rovio for $810 million.

A few weeks later, Rovio announced that its Board of Directors had started a strategic review and was entering preliminary discussions with various parties, incouding Playtika.

However, Playtika announced last month that its discussions with Rovio had ended with no deal agreed, meaning it doesn't stand in the way of Sega's deal.

In recent months, Rovio has been struggling to find a comfortable business model that accommodates both its much-loved Angry Birds game and the rest of its portfolio.

In February, the studio announced that it was removing the Android version of Angry Birds and renaming the iOS version, claiming the popularity of the 2009 mega-hit was impacting the business of its other games.

Angry Birds community manager Shawn Buckelew explained on the game's Discord server that the popularity of Angry Birds, which costs $0.99 with no microtransactions, was "negatively impacting" its other games.

"If those other games do not improve and grow, then the outlook of the entire company changes," he claimed. "It's harder to create new games, or work on new projects. I'm sure that's not something you would want."

Source: VGC

How long until we get Angry Hedgehogs?

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Sega used a discount voucher.

[ian]

Oh Sega, glad you went from the brink of bankruptcy in 2001 to have enough fuck you money to piss away on this acquisition.

It'd be like Tesla investing in a manufacturer of carburettors tomorrow... Or Microsoft buying a manufacturer of 3.5" floppy disks...

Actually, those investments make more sense than this.

[Hawq]

[Hawq]

not that I imagine there'll be anything much new to most of us but naybe intersting

[ian]

Since I've been upgrading my DC lately, I thought I'd go all out and even put some batteries in a couple of my VMU's.

When I first powered the system on, I thought my VMU was broken because it didn't beep.
I've just gotten so used to the beep over the past 23 years that not hearing it was quite upsetting!

It's ok though, in the time its taken me to write this the VMU has flattened the batteries and next time I power up normal operation will be resumed.

[Hawq]

hope mines still in my draw downstairs

[Hawq]

[ian]

I've been playing Propeller Arena for the first time since the DCE days.

I remember when it got leaked and was easily accessible I went through like fucking 20 CD's to get it to burn. And in those days CD's were expensive, even the cheap ass ones were like 90 cents each!
And I started with the super premium $3 Sony ones.

But by the time I got it successfully burnt (on the cheapest CD I could get which was from Strathfield Car Radio, and branded as such) I had lost a lot of interest in playing it.

Coming back, it's great fun.
Even though the controls are basic compared to any other flying game ever made, and even with its awful soundtrack. It's just a great fucking game that I genuinely lament I was denied the opportunity to ever purchase...

[Hawq]

[pixel]

[pixel]

We had Sega Channel for a few years until it ended. It was a pretty great service, especially in 1994-96.

Playing Pulseman and Mega Man: Wiley Wars are two big memories for me. These were a big deal for 9-year-old me.

The service updated the game list each month and the selection was good until the last year or so. I remember that things got pretty stale and we got pretty bored with it.

[pixel]

[melancholy]

This was my #1 most wanted translation 20 years ago. But now I doubt I’ll even download it.

[Hawq]

[Hawq]

[Hawq]

[Stormwatch]

and even with its awful soundtrack

Heresy! Propeller Arena's soundtrack kicks ass. (Or at least the licensed half of it.)