Part I: What Nintendo Means to Sega

By now, all of the Sega news dealing with collaborating for other companies isn't exciting or sensational; it's now an accepted part of the industry. Even so, I still get giddy every time I hear someone utter the words Sega and Nintendo together in the same sentence - especially now that it's in good terms, and not petty arguing over if the SNES was better than the Genesis. Lately we've not only heard rumblings about Gameboy Advance games such as Sonic Advance and Chu-Chu Rocket, but there has also been a few whisperings about Gamecube development. Sure, Sega might have some interest in developing games for Sony and Microsoft as well, but they know that they have the most promise, both financially and artistically, with the house that Mario built.

It should be common knowledge know that Nintendo has controlled the handheld market with an ironclad grip since the Gameboy's conception over a decade ago. From Sega with the Gamegear to Bandai with the WonderSwan to SNK with its excellent Neo-Geo Color Pocket, competitors have stepped up to the mighty Gameboy only to find dismal failure, no matter how superior their technology. The popularity of the archaic Gameboy, as well as the newer Gameboy Color, can be attributed to its enormous library of quality games, as well as Nintendo's strong marketing skills. Sadly, serious competitors such as SNK fell to the wayside - not because they lacked superb software, but because they didn't have what it takes to compete in the North American and European market. Without anyone vying with Nintendo for all of the portable gamer's money, Nintendo has a sure success with the GBA - and Sega knows this. By releasing some handheld versions of their big hit titles, they know that they'll not only generate a nice bit of profit, but they'll also help build their name recognition as a third-party developer.

Nintendo knew nothing but success in the days of 8-bit gaming, and again in the golden age of 16-bit. It wasn't until the Nintendo 64 was released that they realized that they couldn't just achieve success because of their name. With Sony throwing their hand into the industry, Nintendo had a serious competitor - more threatening then Sega had ever been with the Genesis or Saturn. The Nintendo 64, while one of my favorite systems, has yet to achieve the popularity that previous Nintendo consoles have seen, and so gamers are tad bit skeptical of how Nintendo will handle their transition into the choppy, uncharted waters that is 128 bits. Luckily, it seems Nintendo has swallowed a bit of their pride, and they know they can only do well if they work hard for the trust (and money) of gamers worldwide. Gamers are afraid of a system that is juvenile, dependent on Nintendo created software, and expensive. These are all major complaints aimed at the Nintendo 64 - but Nintendo has learned their lesson, and it definitely shows with the Gamecube.

While the Cube might appear childish at first glance, its cute, compact design hides the insides of a gaming beast that means business. The specifications would likely fill half of this column, so it should be suffice to say that they are indeed impressive, and do not leave the Playstation 2 or Xbox with any outstanding advantages. Nintendo has been courting third-party developers for a year now, in hopes of giving the Gamecube a healthy library of quality games from all sorts of companies - not just the first and second party gems that the 64 saw. By using a proprietary storage medium, mini-DVD, Nintendo has protected itself against pirates, and created a way to sell games at a lower cost than cartridges allowed. This hasn't only impressed gamers everywhere, but it's also caught the attention of Sega. Just recently they've admitted to having Cube development kits since late last year - proving their desire to create software for Nintendo's new console. Also, and more interestingly, is the persistent rumor that Nintendo and Sega are teaming up to co-develop and RPG game. Last week, Sega of America's Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Charles Bellfield told the magazine GameWeek that, in regards to the rumors:

I'm trying to recall… Tetsu Kayama talked about a number of things last week and I would normally refer back to what he said, but... Let's put it this way: whatever he said, the answer is "yes."

It's also been known that when Nintendo boss Peter Main was asked the same thing, he gave a suspicious grin. While none of this is conclusive, it's certainly promising!

Perhaps the most important thing that Nintendo has to offer Sega is that like Sega, Nintendo's main focus is creating quality, innovative software. The two companies are on the forefront of cutting-edge when it comes to developing fun games that take the industry to a higher level. Sega knows that they can take a risk when it comes to making games for Nintendo systems. They can rest assured that their quirky, albeit groundbreaking, ideas will find a home on a system emblazoned with the Nintendo moniker.

n Nintendo, Sega has found a company that will help them sell millions of games, and will let them develop whichever games they seem fit. Obviously Nintendo is a part of Sega's strategy towards success, but it is definitely a symbiotic relationship.