Difference between revisions of "Sega AM4"

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{{Company
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{{CompanyBob
 
| logo=
 
| logo=
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| width=
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| division=[[Sega Enterprises, Ltd.|Sega Enterprises]]
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| founded=1990
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| founded=1991
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| defunct=1998
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| defunct=1999
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| tseries=
 
 
| mergedwith=
 
| mergedwith=
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| mergedinto=[[Sega Mechatronics]] (1999)
 
 
| headquarters=Japan
 
| headquarters=Japan
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| nextdate=1999
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| next=[[Sega Mechatro]]
 
}}
 
}}
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{{sub-stub}}'''Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #4''', commonly known as '''Sega AM R&D #4''' or '''Sega AM4''', was a research and development division within [[Sega]]. The AM4 name was adopted in 1990 after the internal AM and CS teams were separated.
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'''Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #4'''(第四AM研究開発部), commonly known as '''AM R&D Dept. #4''' or '''AM4''', was a research and development division within [[Sega]]. The AM4 name was adopted in 1990 after the internal AM and CS teams were separated, and its attraction and medal game personnel broke off into the [[Sega AM5]] and [[Sega AM6]] units. It was previously known as R&D4.
  
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Unlike [[Sega AM1]], [[Sega AM2]] and [[Sega AM3]], Sega AM4 was responsible for the creation of arcade cabinets, and thus outside of an advisory role, had no influence in the development of video games. AM4 are thought to have produced the vast majority of Sega arcade machines of the 1990s.
+
Unlike [[Sega AM1]], [[Sega AM2]] and [[Sega AM3]], Sega AM4 was responsible for the creation of arcade cabinet hardware, and thus outside of an advisory role had no influence in the development of video game software. During the development process, the three main AM divisions would typically first provide a 50% complete build of their titles for AM4 personnel to examine and base a cabinet off of.{{fileref|SSM_JP_19960614_1996-09.pdf|page=144}}
  
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AM4 continued its role as [[Sega Mechatronics]] from 1999.
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Though AM4 most often created cabinets to house the three software-focused AM divisions' produce, it would make projects of its own and with others too; their [[UFO Catcher]] and [[Print Club]] lines in particular became large successes for Sega and popularised their machine types in Japan. The division also collaborated with its former AM5 and 6 colleagues again on some occasions.
 +
 
 +
Ultimately, AM4 created the vast majority of arcade machines sold by Sega in the 1990s. Its credits remain inconsistent however, with it sometimes being credited and other times not, receiving less recognition than the three main AM divisions as a result.{{fileref|SSM_JP_19960614_1996-09.pdf|page=144}}
 +
 
 +
AM4 merged with AM6 in 1999, and continued its role as [[Sega Mechatro]].
 +
 
 +
==Sections==
 +
*Planning Section (プランニングセクション){{magref|segamagjp|9|28}}
 +
 
 +
==Softography before AM4==
 +
{{multicol|
 +
*''[[R360]]'' (1990)
 +
 
 +
===World Derby BD===
 +
* ''[[World Derby]]'' (1989)
 +
 
 +
===UFO BD===
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* ''[[UFO Catcher]]'' (1985)
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* ''[[UFO Catcher DX]]'' (1987)
 +
 
 +
===Dedicated===
 +
*''[[New Speed Hockey]]'' (1988)
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*''[[Golden Wave]]'' (1989)
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*''[[Bull's Eye]]'' (1988)
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*''[[Sega Super Circuit]]'' (1989)
 +
 
 +
===Multi-purpose arcade cabinets ===
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*''[[Aero City]]'' (1988)
 +
|cols=2}}
  
 
==Softography==
 
==Softography==
 +
{{CompanyHistoryAll|Sega AM4}}
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
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===UFO Board===
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===Royal Ascot BD===
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*''[[New UFO Catcher]]'' (1991)
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* ''[[Royal Ascot]]'' (1992) (with [[Sega AM3]], [[Sega AM6]])
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*''[[UFO Catcher Mini]]'' (1991)
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*''[[UFO SegaSonic]]'' (1992)
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===Western Dream BD===
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*''[[UFO CircleLand]]'' (1992)
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* ''[[Western Dream]]'' (1992) (with [[Sega AM6]])
 +
 
 +
===[[X Board]]===
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* ''[[Caribbean Boule]]'' (1992) (with [[Sega AM3]], [[Sega AM6]])
 +
 
 +
===Bingo Party BD/M1===
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* ''[[Bingo Party]]'' (1993) (with [[Sega AM6]])
 +
 
 +
===Castle Coaster BD===
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* ''[[Castle Coaster]]'' (1995) (with [[Sega AM6]])
 +
 
 +
===G-MAIN/M1===
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* ''[[Bingo Planet]]'' (1997)
 +
 
 +
===C-GAL/[[Sega Titan Video]]===
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* ''[[Fantasy Zone (ST-V game)]]'' (1997)
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 +
===UFO BD===
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* ''[[Dream Town]]'' (1993)
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* ''[[School Kids]]'' (1993)
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 +
===Dream Catcher BD===
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* ''[[Dream Catcher]]'' (1993)
  
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===EX Board===
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===UFO BD EX===
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*''[[Dream Palace]]'' (1992)
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* ''[[Prize Sensor]]'' (1998)
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*''[[UFO Catcher Excellent]]'' (1994)
 
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*''[[Dream Catcher Excellent]]'' (1994)
 
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*''[[UFO Catcher 21]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[UFO À La Carte‏‎]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[UFO Catcher 800]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[Baby UFO]]'' (1998)
 
  
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===[[Model 1]]===
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===EX BD===
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*''[[Virtua Racing]]'' (1992)
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* ''[[UFO Catcher 21]]'' (1996)
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*''[[Virtua Formula]]'' (1993)
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* ''[[UFO A La Carte]]'' (1996)
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* ''[[UFO Catcher 800]]'' (1998)
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* ''[[Baby UFO]]'' (1998)  
  
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===UFO Board EX===
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===[[Sega System C]]===
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*''[[Dream Kitchen]]'' (1994)
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* ''[[Waku Waku Marine]]'' (1992)
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*''[[Prize Sensor]]'' (1998)
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* ''[[SegaSonic Popcorn Shop]]'' (1993) (with [[AM1]])
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* ''[[Print Club Vol.2: Winter Version]]'' (1995) (with [[Atlus]])
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* ''[[Print Club Vol.4: Summer Version]]'' (1996) (with [[Atlus]])
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* ''[[Print Club Vol.5: Autumn Version]]'' (1996) (with [[Atlus]])
  
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===Misc.===
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===[[Sega System 16B]]===
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*''[[Aqua Paradise]]'' (1994)
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* ''[[Heavyweight Champ (System 16)|Heavyweight Champ]]'' (1987) (with [[Sega AM1]])
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*''[[UFO Pusher]]'' (1995)
 
  
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===[[Model 2]]===
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===[[Y Board]]===
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*''[[Virtua Cop]]'' (1994)
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* ''[[Galaxy Force II]]'' (1988) (with [[AM1]])
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*''[[Indy 500]]'' (1995)
 
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*''[[Manx TT Super Bike]]'' (1995)
 
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*''[[WaveRunner]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Sega Ski Super G]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Motor Raid]]'' (1997)
 
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*''[[Top Skater]]'' (1997)
 
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*''[[The House of the Dead]]'' (1997)
 
  
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===[[Model 3]]===
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===[[Sega Titan Video]]===
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*''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'' (1996-08)
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*''[[Critter Crusher]]'' (1995) (with [[Sega AM1]])
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*''[[The Lost World: Jurassic Park (arcade)|The Lost World: Jurassic Park]]'' (1997)
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*''[[Aroma Club]]'' (1997)
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*''[[Le Mans 24]]'' (1997-09)
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*''[[Movie Club]]'' (1997)
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*''[[Virtua Fighter 3tb]]'' (1997)
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*''[[Waku Waku Shinkansen]]'' (1997) (with [[Sega AM1]])
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*''[[L.A. Machineguns]]'' (1998)
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*''[[Waku Waku Shoubousya]]'' (1997)
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*''[[Wanpaku Safari]]'' (1998)
  
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===[[NAOMI]]===
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===[[Sega H1 Board]]===
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*''[[The House of the Dead 2]]'' (1998)
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*''[[Aqua Stage]]'' (1995)
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}}
 
  
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<!-- old article
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===Dedicated===
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{{sub-stub}}'''Sega AM4''' was a video game research and development division within [[Sega]], the sixth of eight to co-exist between 1990 and 1998. Much of its staff originally worked for [[Sega AM2]] and the team was headed by [[Toshihiro Nagoshi]].
+
*''[[Speed Basketball]]'' (1992)
 +
*''[[Speed Soccer]]'' (1992)
 +
*''[[Saurus Wars]]'' (1992)
 +
*''[[Bingo Carnival]]'' (1993)
 +
*''[[Exciting Speed Hockey]]'' (1993)
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*''[[Speed Attack]]'' (1993)
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*''[[Ghost Hunters]]'' (1994) (with [[AM5]])
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*''[[Aqua Paradise]]'' (1995)
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*''[[Stamp Club]]'' (1996)
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*''[[Hockey Stadium]]'' (1997)
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*''[[PaoPao Catcher]]'' (1998)
  
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Aside from general assistance work and porting, Sega AM4 also worked on the relatively obscure ''[[:Category:Spikeout|Spikeout]]'' series. Following a reshuffle in 1998, Sega AM4 became [[Amusement Vision]], where they would make hit franchises such as ''Super Monkey Ball'' and ''Yazuka''.
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===Multi-purpose arcade cabinets ===
 +
*''[[Astro City]]'' (1993)
 +
*''[[Super Megalo 2]]'' (1994)
 +
*''[[Megalo 410]]'' (1996)
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*''[[Blast City]]'' (1996)
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*''[[New Versus City]]'' (1996)
 +
|cols=2}}
  
−
==Softography==
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==List of staff==
−
===[[Sega Model 2]]===
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{{StaffList|Sega AM4}}
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*''[[The House of the Dead]]'' (some development cooperation) (1997)
 
  
−
===[[Sega Model 3]]===
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==Magazine articles==
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*''[[Spikeout: Digital Battle Online]]'' (1998) (as Team Spikeout)
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
−
*''[[Spikeout: Final Edition]]'' (1999) (as Team Spikeout)
 
  
−
-->
+
==References==
 +
<references />
  
 
{{clear}}
 
{{clear}}
−
{{SegaDevs}}
+
{{SoJ}}

Latest revision as of 09:32, 3 February 2024

Notavailable.svg
Sega AM4
Division of Sega Enterprises
Founded: 1991
Defunct: 1999
Headquarters:
Japan
1999

Amusement Machine Research and Development Department #4(第四AM研究開発部), commonly known as AM R&D Dept. #4 or AM4, was a research and development division within Sega. The AM4 name was adopted in 1990 after the internal AM and CS teams were separated, and its attraction and medal game personnel broke off into the Sega AM5 and Sega AM6 units. It was previously known as R&D4.

Unlike Sega AM1, Sega AM2 and Sega AM3, Sega AM4 was responsible for the creation of arcade cabinet hardware, and thus outside of an advisory role had no influence in the development of video game software. During the development process, the three main AM divisions would typically first provide a 50% complete build of their titles for AM4 personnel to examine and base a cabinet off of.[1]

Though AM4 most often created cabinets to house the three software-focused AM divisions' produce, it would make projects of its own and with others too; their UFO Catcher and Print Club lines in particular became large successes for Sega and popularised their machine types in Japan. The division also collaborated with its former AM5 and 6 colleagues again on some occasions.

Ultimately, AM4 created the vast majority of arcade machines sold by Sega in the 1990s. Its credits remain inconsistent however, with it sometimes being credited and other times not, receiving less recognition than the three main AM divisions as a result.[1]

AM4 merged with AM6 in 1999, and continued its role as Sega Mechatro.

Sections

  • Planning Section (プランニングセクション)[2]

Softography before AM4

World Derby BD

UFO BD

Dedicated

Multi-purpose arcade cabinets

Softography

System 32

System C2

Model 1

Model 2

Sega Titan Video

Model 3

NAOMI

Large attraction



Royal Ascot BD

Western Dream BD

X Board

Bingo Party BD/M1

Castle Coaster BD

G-MAIN/M1

C-GAL/Sega Titan Video

UFO BD

Dream Catcher BD

UFO BD EX

EX BD

Sega System C

Sega System 16B

Y Board

Sega Titan Video

Sega H1 Board

Dedicated

Multi-purpose arcade cabinets

List of staff

Magazine articles

Main article: Sega AM4/Magazine articles.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:SSM_JP_19960614_1996-09.pdf, page 144
  2. ↑ Sega Magazine, "1997-07 (1997-09)" (JP; 1997-08-13), page 28


Timeline of Sega of Japan research and development divisions








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