Sega AM5

Sega AM5

Founded: 1989^[1]

Defunct: 1999

Headquarters:

Japan

Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #5, commonly known as Sega AM R&D #5 or Sega AM5, was a research and development division within Sega. Specialising in the development of indoor theme park attractions and children's amusement machines,^[1] it existed for around a decade, ceasing development in 1999 after the other Sega AM and CS teams were reformed.

Members

Hiroshi Uemura

History

AM5 was reportedly created in 1989,^[1] and was split from the arcade hardware design department of Sega AM4. It initially focused on creating small childrens' arcade machines like the Waku Waku line of kiddie rides, whilst also undertaking more complex work on a small number of early large simulators such as the AS-1.^[1] Eventually, much of its work became devoted to the creation of the Mid-size and Large attractions that populated Sega's Amusement Theme Park venues and large-scale amusement centers in Japan during the 1990s, including (but not limited to) Joypolis.^[2]. Unlike AM4 which frequently collaborated with the software departments AM1, AM2 and AM3, AM5 appears to have designed and created most of its work by itself, often also going uncredited for it.

AM5 was most active from 1993 to 1998, when Sega's theme park operations were still being continually expanded and required showpiece attractions. Some of its work became available outside of Japan in SegaWorld London and Sega World Sydney, however due to financial pressures and managerial problems, the majority of these theme parks were either closed permanently or scaled back, with only the flagship Tokyo Joypolis receiving frequent updates thereafter. In 1999, AM5, like all the AM and CS teams at Sega, was renamed, and ceased to exist. Mirai R&D took its place, which returned the team to its roots by focusing more on arcade machines for small children.

Sega has continued to develop attractions for the remaining theme park venues they are affiliated with, however, it was only during the 1990s that a specific internal division was promoted for these tasks.

Sega AM5

From Sega Retro

Contents

Members

History

Softography

Model 1

Model 2

Model 3

Mid-size attraction

Large attraction

References