Difference between revisions of "Sega AM2"

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{{Company
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{{cleanup}}
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| logo=Am2 palmtree.svg
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{{CompanyBob
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| width=300px
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| logo=AM2 logo 1993.png
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| founded=1990-11-01
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| founded=1990
−
| defunct=
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| defunct=1999-05-11
−
| tseries=
 
−
| mergedwith=
 
−
| mergedinto=[[Sega]] (2004)
 
 
| headquarters=Japan
 
| headquarters=Japan
 +
| prevdate=1990
 +
| prev=[[Sega R&D 8]]
 +
| nextdate=1999-05-11
 +
| next=[[Sega Software R&D Dept. 2]]
 
}}
 
}}
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[[File:Am2.svg|thumb|right|300px|Sega AM2 logo, sans palm tree.]]
+
'''Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #2''', ('''Sega AM R&D Dept. #2''', '''Sega AM2''' (セガエイエムツー), '''Sega AM2-ken''' (セガAM2研)) was a division within [[Sega of Japan]]. It was a continuation of [[Sega R&D 8]], formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games.
−
{{stub}}'''Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department 2''' (popularly known as '''Sega-AM2''' or simply '''AM2''') is a research and development team for the video game company [[Sega]]. AM2 was previously headed up by famed designer [[Yu Suzuki]]. It is potentially the most known Sega AM team, following [[Sonic Team]]. Though still its own entity within Sega, the AM2 name has since fallen out of use.
 
  
−
Sega AM2 are credited for revolutionising gaming in the arcade industry numerous times. Under Yu Suzuki the team have produced the majority of popular and well known Sega franchises. Throughout the 1990s Sega AM2 were at the forefront to the arcade industry, with many of their games being equally successful on Sega's home consoles. AM2 inherited the back-catelogue of ''[[Hang-On]]'', ''[[Space Harrier]]'', ''[[OutRun]]'', ''[[After Burner]]'' and ''[[Super Hang-On]]'', while also making strides with ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'', ''[[Daytona USA]]'', ''[[Fighting Vipers]]'' and one of the most expensive-to-produce video games of all time, ''[[Shenmue]]'', among many others. A number of these have been massive successes for the team, and Sega as a whole.
+
This initial iteration of Sega AM2, spearheaded by [[Yu Suzuki]], is credited with some of Sega's most notable products, including ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' and ''[[Daytona USA]]''.
  
−
Sega AM2 was at times called '''AM2 of CRI''' during its short 2000-2001 merger with [[CRI]]—even concurrently referred to as CRI, although they were technically two different companies.
+
==History==
 +
[[File:Sega Office Tokyo 2 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Sega's second office, where AM2 lived during the 1990s{{magref|edge|9|45}}.]]
 +
Sega restructured its internal R&D divisions around 1990/1991, and Sega AM2, the second "amusement machine" division emerged from [[Sega R&D 8]]. Clearly dividing the arcade and consumer (CS) teams meant that AM2 would be focused entirely on arcade games (R&D 8 having also produced two [[Sega Mega Drive]] titles; ''[[Sword of Vermilion]]'' and ''[[Rent A Hero]]''). The divide would not stick - by 1994 AM2 were involved with Mega Drive and [[Sega Saturn]] conversions of their popular titles, but the group was first and foremost an arcade division, and the teams behind these conversions typically consisted of newcomers or former console developers.
  
−
==Softography==
+
The change to AM2 coincided with a change in the industry. [[Atari Games]] and [[Namco]] were edging ahead of Sega by producing 3D video games comprised of polygons, so Sega, with heavy influence from AM2, began work on the [[Model 1]] board - a "CG" arcade system capable of rendering thousands of polygons at high frame rates. It was during this period where AM2 abandoned the [[taikan game]] formula which had seen success for its predecessors during the 1980s, to focus on supporting this new, true 3D system.
−
''note: this list is vastly incomplete''
+
 
−
{{multicol|
+
1992's ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', demonstrating the Model 1 board, was the first game to be produced by AM2{{magref|edge|9|47}}. Following this, two teams were formed, one that would work on ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'', and another on ''[[Daytona USA]]''{{magref|edge|9|47}}, the latter for the improved [[Sega Model 2]] hardware. These three games, the latter two proudly showing AM2's new "palm tree" logo, elevated the company to new heights and made their producer, [[Yu Suzuki]] a video game celebrity.
−
===[[Sega System 16|System 16]]===
+
 
−
*''[[Dynamite Dux]]'' (1988)
+
Success for AM2 continued with ''[[Virtua Cop]]'', ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'', ''[[Virtua Striker]]'' (led by [[Satoshi Mifune]]) and ''[[Fighting Vipers]]'', with the [[Model 3]] games ''[[Scud Race]]'' (led by [[Toshihiro Nagoshi]]) and ''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' making Sega leaders in the arcade throughout the 1990s. AM2 also had an important role with the [[Sega Saturn]], producing the [[Sega Graphics Library]] in 1995 in conjunction with its Saturn conversion of ''Virtua Fighter 2''.
 +
 
 +
Among its home conversions, ''[[Fighters Megamix]]'', perhaps a celebration of the company's efforts to that point, was released for the console, combining the rosters of ''Virtua Fighter'' and ''Fighting Vipers'' (alongside a plethora of others, including a playable AM2 palm tree). It was towards the end of the decade, however, when Yu Suzuki AM2 embarked on its most ambitious project to date - the [[Dreamcast]] epic, ''[[Shenmue]]''.
 +
 
 +
As with other R&D divisions within Sega, Sega AM2 was briefly renamed [[Sega Software R&D Dept. #2]] in May 1999. Unlike its sister divisions, however, the department continued to trade as AM2 and was largely unaffected by the internal restructure.
 +
 
 +
====AM2 of CRI====
 +
{{MainArticle|AM2 of CRI}}
 +
[[CSK]] had been the parent company of Sega since 1984, running its own software development division, [[CSK Research Institute]] during the 1990s. [[Isao Okawa]] personally bought the division from CSK on 1st October, 1999{{fileref|CSK AnnualReport 2000.pdf|page=32}}, and in February 2000, it was merged with Sega AM2, creating the short-lived title, '''AM2 of CRI'''. [[CRI Middleware]] was then established to handle the sale of CRI's former products such as [[ADX]] and [[Sofdec]].
 +
 
 +
AM2 of CRI existed for much of 2000 and part of 2001, continuing to operate as it had before, but downplaying the use of "Sega" and the iconic palmtree logo over this period.
 +
 
 +
====As a stand-alone company====
 +
{{MainArticle|Sega-AM2 (company)}}
 +
While a few games were released by AM2 of CRI, the CRI name would be dropped later in August 2001, when, as with other development groups within Sega, AM2 was spun-off into an entirely separate (but wholly owned) subsidiary of Sega known as '''Sega-AM2 Co., Ltd.'''{{ref|http://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/8/1/70e819844b813fbf73f290e563297591.html}}{{magref|dori|2001-07|11}}. This is the only official iteration of the company to have a hypen between "Sega" and "AM2".
 +
 
 +
 
 +
CRI staff however stayed at Sega AM2, with [[Noriyuki Shimoda]] and [[Seiji Oaki]] eventually becoming prominent staff. However due to too much unfamiliar staff, Yu Suzuki found himself unwilling to continue manage AM2, and instead formed [[Digital Rex]] in 2003.
 +
 
 +
{{MainArticle|Sega AM2 (2004-2011)}}
 +
Sega's separate development companies were merged back into the main business in 2004, and this included AM2, trading once again as "AM R&D Dept. 2". The arcade industry became limited to Japan, and Sega's initiative for it's arcade studios to produce console titles filtered out. Therefore Sega AM2 became much more low key compared to the global impact it had in the past. Nonetheless ''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'', ''[[MJ]]'' and ''[[Border Break]]'' had new features that contribute to Sega's arcade business. This includes nationwide internet play in arcades, and also mobile applications connecting to the arcade games.
  
−
===[[Sega Hang-On hardware|Hang-On Hardware]]===
+
Ports of arcade titles developed by AM2 continue to be well received, such as ''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' and ''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram]]'', however became less common in comparision to the past. It was once mentioned by AM2 staff there is a strange atmosphere that console staff could dissapear anytime.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20140328153138/http://blog.sega.jp/amcvt/}}
−
*''[[Hang-On]]'' (1985)
 
−
*''[[Space Harrier]]'' (1985)
 
−
*''[[Enduro Racer]]'' (1986)
 
−
*''[[Super Hang-On]]'' (1992)
 
  
−
===[[Sega OutRun hardware|OutRun Hardware]]===
+
In April 2009, a restructure took place within Sega's arcade software studios, with part of Sega AM3 staff ended up at AM2. Around this time, AM2 also branched out to mobile development, mainly with AM3 staff, with titles like ''[[Virtua Tennis Challenge]]'' and ''[[Derby Owners Club (2012)|Derby Owners Club]]''.
−
*''[[OutRun]]'' (1986)
 
−
*''[[Turbo OutRun]]'' (1989)
 
  
−
===[[Sega X Board|X Board]]===
+
{{MainArticle|Sega R&D2 (2011-2015)}}
−
*''[[After Burner]]'' (1987)
+
{{MainArticle|Sega Interactive R&D2}}
−
*''[[After Burner II]]'' (1987)
 
−
*''[[Thunder Blade]]'' (1987)
 
−
*''[[GP Rider]]'' (1990)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Y Board|Y Board]]===
+
==Softography==
−
*''[[Galaxy Force]]'' (1988)
+
{{CompanyHistoryAll|Sega AM2}}
−
*''[[Galaxy Force II]]'' (1988)
 
−
*''[[Power Drift]]'' (1988)
 
−
*''[[G-LOC: Air Battle]]'' (1990)
 
−
*''[[Strike Fighter]]'' (1991)
 
  
−
===[[Sega System 32|System 32]]===
 
−
*''[[Arabian Fight]]'' (1992)
 
−
*''[[Burning Rival]]'' (1992)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Model 1|Model 1]]===
+
===(old)===
−
*''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1992)
+
{{multicol|
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' (1993)
+
==== [[System 32]] ====
−
*''[[Wing War]]'' (1994)
+
*''[[Soreike Kokology 2]]'' (1993)
  
−
===[[Sega Model 2|Model 2]]===
+
==== [[Sega Model 2]] ====
−
*''[[Daytona USA]]'' (1994)
+
*''[[Virtua Striker]]'' (1995)
−
*''[[Virtua Cop]]'' (1994)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Fighting Vipers]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Sky Target]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Cop 2]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Sonic the Fighters]]'' (1996)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Model 3|Model 3]]===
+
==== [[Sega Model 3]] ====
−
*''[[Scud Race]]'' (1996)
 
 
*''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' (1996)
 
*''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' (1996)
−
*''[[Scud Race Plus]]'' (1997)
+
*''[[Scud Race]]'' (1996)  
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 3tb]]'' (1997)
 
 
*''[[Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge]]'' (1998)
 
*''[[Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge]]'' (1998)
 
*''[[Daytona USA 2: Power Edition]]'' (1998)
 
*''[[Daytona USA 2: Power Edition]]'' (1998)
−
*''[[Fighting Vipers 2]]'' (1998)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Titan Video]]===
+
==== [[NAOMI]] ====
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter Kids]]'' (1996)
+
*''[[MJ]]'' (2002)  
  
−
===[[Sega NAOMI|NAOMI]]===
+
==== [[Chihiro]] ====
−
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (1999)
+
*''[[MJ2]]'' (2003)
−
*''[[Ferrari F355 Challenge]]'' (1999)
 
−
*''[[Outtrigger]]'' (1999)
 
−
*''[[F355 Challenge 2: International Course Edition]]'' (2001)
 
−
====NAOMI Satellite Terminal====
 
−
*''[[MJ]]'' (2003) <!--  mahjongg, not Michael Jackson - uno10 -->
 
  
−
===[[Sega NAOMI 2|NAOMI 2]]===
+
==== [[Sega System SP]] ====
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'' (2001)
+
*''[[Rhythm Tengoku]]'' (2007)
−
*''[[Beach Spikers]]'' (2002)
 
−
*''[[The King of Route 66]]'' (2002)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution]]'' (2002)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 4: Final Tuned]]'' (2004)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Chihiro|Chihiro]]===
+
==== [[RingEdge]] ====
−
*''[[Virtua Cop 3]]'' (2003)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Arcade]]'' (2010)  
−
*''[[Ghost Squad]]'' (2004)
+
*''[[Sega Card-Gen MLB 2013]]'' (2013)
−
====Chihiro Satellite Terminal====
 
−
* ''[[MJ2]]'' (2003)
 
−
* ''[[MJ3]]'' (2005)
 
−
* ''[[MJ3 Evo]]'' (2007)
 
−
* ''[[Quest for D: The Battle Kingdom]]'' (2007)
 
−
* ''[[Quest Of D]]'' (2004)
 
−
* ''[[Quest Of D Ver.2.0]]'' (2005)
 
−
* ''[[Quest of D: The Battle Kingdom]]'' (2007)
 
−
* ''[[Sega Golf Club Network Pro Tour]]'' (2004)
 
−
* ''[[Sega Golf Club Version 2006: Next Tours]]'' (2006)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Lindbergh|Lindbergh]]===
+
====[[PlayStation 2]]====
−
*''[[After Burner Climax]]'' (2006)
+
*''[[Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 16: Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (2004)
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' (2006)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5 R]]'' (2008)
 
−
*''[[Sega Race TV]]'' (2009)
 
−
*''[[R-Tuned: Ultimate Street Racing]]'' (2009)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown]]'' (2010)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]]===
+
====[[Xbox 360]]====
−
*''[[Space Harrier II]]'' (1988)
+
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]] (2013)
−
*''[[Sword of Vermilion]]'' (1989)
+
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram]]'' (2009)
−
*''[[Rent A Hero]]'' (1991)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1994)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Game Gear|Game Gear]]===
+
====[[PlayStation 3]]====
−
*''[[G-LOC: Air Battle]]'' (1990)
+
*''[[Miyazato San Kyoudai Naizou: Sega Golfclub]]'' (2006) (with [[Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 2|GE2]])
 +
*''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On]]  (2013)
  
−
===[[Sega 32X]]===
+
====[[Nintendo 3DS]]====
−
*''[[Virtua Racing Deluxe]]'' (1994)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX]]'' (2015)
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' (1995)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Saturn|Saturn]]===
+
====[[PlayStation Vita]]====
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' (1994)
+
*''[[Virtua Tennis 4]]'' (2011)
−
*''[[Daytona USA]]'' (1995)
+
*''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F]]'' (2013) (with [[Sega CS3 (2008-current)|Sega CS3]])
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter Remix]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Fighting Vipers]]'' (1996)
 
−
*''[[Fighters Megamix]]'' (1996)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter Kids]]'' (1996)
 
−
====Other====
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.1 Sarah Bryant]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.2 Jacky Bryant]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.3 Akira Yuki]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.4 Pai Chan]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.5 Wolf Hawkfield]]'' (1995)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.6 Lau Chan]]'' (1996)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.7 Shun Di]]'' (1996)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.8 Lion Rafale]]'' (1996)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.9 Kage Maru]]'' (1996)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series Vol.10 Jeffry McWild]]'' (1996)
 
−
*''[[Digital Dance Mix Vol.1 Namie Amuro]]'' (1997)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Dreamcast|Dreamcast]]===
+
====PC====
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 3tb]]'' (1998) (also with [[Genki]])
+
*''[[MJ]]'' (2013)
−
*''[[What's Shenmue]]'' (1999)
 
−
*''[[Shenmue]]'' (1999)
 
−
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (2000) (also with [[CRI]])
 
−
*''[[Ferrari F355 Challenge]]'' (2000) (also with [[CRI]])
 
−
*''[[Shenmue II]]'' (2001)
 
−
*''[[Fighting Vipers 2]]'' (2001)
 
−
*''[[Outtrigger]]'' (2001)
 
−
*''[[Propeller Arena]]'' (2001; unreleased)
 
  
−
===[[PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]]===
+
* ''[[Fortisia SEGAxLINE]]'' (2016)
−
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (2001)
+
|cols=3}}
−
*''[[Ferrari F355 Challenge]]'' (2002) (also with [[Tose]])
 
−
*''[[Virtua Cop: Elite Edition]]'' (2002) (also with RIZ Inc.)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'' (2002)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution]]'' (2003)
 
−
*''[[The King of Route 66]]'' (2003) (also with [[Tose]])
 
−
*''[[Virtua Quest]]'' (2003) (also with [[Tose]])
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]===
 
−
*''[[18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker]]'' (2002)
 
−
*''[[Beach Spikers]]'' (2002)
 
−
*''[[Virtua Quest]]'' (2004) (also with [[Tose]])
 
  
−
===[[Xbox|Xbox]]===
+
==List of staff==
−
*''[[Shenmue II]]'' (2003)
+
{{StaffList|Sega AM2}}
  
−
===[[Xbox 360|Xbox 360]]===
+
==Magazine articles==
−
*''[[After Burner Climax]]'' (2010)
+
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
  
−
===[[PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]]===
+
==Artwork==
−
*''[[After Burner Climax]]'' (2010)
+
<gallery>
−
 
+
Am2.svg|Logo, sans palm tree
−
===[[Nintendo 3DS]]===
+
AM2 logo 1993.png|Logo (1993)
−
*''[[Hatsune Miku and Future Stars Project mirai]]'' (2012)
+
</gallery>
−
|cols=3}}
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
* [http://www.sega-am2.jp/ Official website]
 
* [http://www.sega-am2.jp/ Official website]
 +
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20010401052513/http://www.sega-rd2.com/ Official website (Archived on 10 April 2001)]
 +
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20040630040721/http://www.sega-am2.co.jp/ Official website (Archived on 30 June 2004)]
 
* [http://games.ign.com/objects/026/026004.html IGN info page for Sega-AM2]
 
* [http://games.ign.com/objects/026/026004.html IGN info page for Sega-AM2]
 +
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
 +
 
{{clear}}
 
{{clear}}
−
{{SegaDevs}}
+
{{SoJ}}
−
[[Category:Development Companies]]
 

Revision as of 15:04, 15 February 2024

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https://segaretro.org/images/0/05/AM2_logo_1993.png

AM2 logo 1993.png
Sega AM2
Founded: 1990
Defunct: 1999-05-11
Headquarters:
Japan
1990
1999-05-11

Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #2, (Sega AM R&D Dept. #2, Sega AM2 (セガエイエムツー), Sega AM2-ken (セガAM2研)) was a division within Sega of Japan. It was a continuation of Sega R&D 8, formed in 1990 primarily to create arcade (or "amusement") games.

This initial iteration of Sega AM2, spearheaded by Yu Suzuki, is credited with some of Sega's most notable products, including Virtua Racing, Virtua Fighter and Daytona USA.

History

Sega's second office, where AM2 lived during the 1990s[1].

Sega restructured its internal R&D divisions around 1990/1991, and Sega AM2, the second "amusement machine" division emerged from Sega R&D 8. Clearly dividing the arcade and consumer (CS) teams meant that AM2 would be focused entirely on arcade games (R&D 8 having also produced two Sega Mega Drive titles; Sword of Vermilion and Rent A Hero). The divide would not stick - by 1994 AM2 were involved with Mega Drive and Sega Saturn conversions of their popular titles, but the group was first and foremost an arcade division, and the teams behind these conversions typically consisted of newcomers or former console developers.

The change to AM2 coincided with a change in the industry. Atari Games and Namco were edging ahead of Sega by producing 3D video games comprised of polygons, so Sega, with heavy influence from AM2, began work on the Model 1 board - a "CG" arcade system capable of rendering thousands of polygons at high frame rates. It was during this period where AM2 abandoned the taikan game formula which had seen success for its predecessors during the 1980s, to focus on supporting this new, true 3D system.

1992's Virtua Racing, demonstrating the Model 1 board, was the first game to be produced by AM2[2]. Following this, two teams were formed, one that would work on Virtua Fighter, and another on Daytona USA[2], the latter for the improved Sega Model 2 hardware. These three games, the latter two proudly showing AM2's new "palm tree" logo, elevated the company to new heights and made their producer, Yu Suzuki a video game celebrity.

Success for AM2 continued with Virtua Cop, Virtua Fighter 2, Virtua Striker (led by Satoshi Mifune) and Fighting Vipers, with the Model 3 games Scud Race (led by Toshihiro Nagoshi) and Virtua Fighter 3 making Sega leaders in the arcade throughout the 1990s. AM2 also had an important role with the Sega Saturn, producing the Sega Graphics Library in 1995 in conjunction with its Saturn conversion of Virtua Fighter 2.

Among its home conversions, Fighters Megamix, perhaps a celebration of the company's efforts to that point, was released for the console, combining the rosters of Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers (alongside a plethora of others, including a playable AM2 palm tree). It was towards the end of the decade, however, when Yu Suzuki AM2 embarked on its most ambitious project to date - the Dreamcast epic, Shenmue.

As with other R&D divisions within Sega, Sega AM2 was briefly renamed Sega Software R&D Dept. #2 in May 1999. Unlike its sister divisions, however, the department continued to trade as AM2 and was largely unaffected by the internal restructure.

AM2 of CRI

Main article: AM2 of CRI.

CSK had been the parent company of Sega since 1984, running its own software development division, CSK Research Institute during the 1990s. Isao Okawa personally bought the division from CSK on 1st October, 1999[3], and in February 2000, it was merged with Sega AM2, creating the short-lived title, AM2 of CRI. CRI Middleware was then established to handle the sale of CRI's former products such as ADX and Sofdec.

AM2 of CRI existed for much of 2000 and part of 2001, continuing to operate as it had before, but downplaying the use of "Sega" and the iconic palmtree logo over this period.

As a stand-alone company

Main article: Sega-AM2 (company).

While a few games were released by AM2 of CRI, the CRI name would be dropped later in August 2001, when, as with other development groups within Sega, AM2 was spun-off into an entirely separate (but wholly owned) subsidiary of Sega known as Sega-AM2 Co., Ltd.[4][5]. This is the only official iteration of the company to have a hypen between "Sega" and "AM2".


CRI staff however stayed at Sega AM2, with Noriyuki Shimoda and Seiji Oaki eventually becoming prominent staff. However due to too much unfamiliar staff, Yu Suzuki found himself unwilling to continue manage AM2, and instead formed Digital Rex in 2003.

Main article: Sega AM2 (2004-2011).

Sega's separate development companies were merged back into the main business in 2004, and this included AM2, trading once again as "AM R&D Dept. 2". The arcade industry became limited to Japan, and Sega's initiative for it's arcade studios to produce console titles filtered out. Therefore Sega AM2 became much more low key compared to the global impact it had in the past. Nonetheless Virtua Fighter 4, MJ and Border Break had new features that contribute to Sega's arcade business. This includes nationwide internet play in arcades, and also mobile applications connecting to the arcade games.

Ports of arcade titles developed by AM2 continue to be well received, such as Virtua Fighter 5 and Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram, however became less common in comparision to the past. It was once mentioned by AM2 staff there is a strange atmosphere that console staff could dissapear anytime.[6]

In April 2009, a restructure took place within Sega's arcade software studios, with part of Sega AM3 staff ended up at AM2. Around this time, AM2 also branched out to mobile development, mainly with AM3 staff, with titles like Virtua Tennis Challenge and Derby Owners Club.

Main article: Sega R&D2 (2011-2015).
Main article: Sega Interactive R&D2.

Softography

System 32

Model 1

Model 2

Sega Titan Video

Model 3

Mega Drive

Saturn

Windows PC


(old)

System 32

Sega Model 2

Sega Model 3

NAOMI

Chihiro

Sega System SP

RingEdge

PlayStation 2

Xbox 360

PlayStation 3

Nintendo 3DS

PlayStation Vita

PC

List of staff

Magazine articles

Main article: Sega AM2/Magazine articles.

Artwork

  • Logo, sans palm tree

  • Logo (1993)

External links

References

  1. ↑ Edge, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-28), page 45
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Edge, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-28), page 47
  3. ↑ File:CSK AnnualReport 2000.pdf, page 32
  4. ↑ http://dengekionline.com/data/news/2001/8/1/70e819844b813fbf73f290e563297591.html
  5. ↑ Dorimaga, "2001-07 (2001-08-24)" (JP; 2001-08-10), page 11
  6. ↑ http://blog.sega.jp/amcvt/ (Wayback Machine: 2014-03-28 15:31)


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