Topic: Sega Picks up Samurai Jack

[WindyMan]

Meet the real Last Samurai.

Source: Press Release

Quote
SEGA Partners with Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to Publish Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube

Amaze Entertainment Studio to Develop Console Game Based on Emmy-winning Cartoon Network Series

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2004--SEGA(R) of America, Inc. has announced that Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have awarded it the license to publish a console game based on the popular Cartoon Network series Samurai Jack. The videogame developed by Amaze Entertainment, named "Samurai Jack(TM): The Shadow of Aku," will be available on Microsoft Xbox(TM), PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, and Nintendo GameCube(TM) in March 2004.

Samurai Jack is the highly stylized, Emmy-winning action cartoon from Genndy Tartakovsky, the creator of Dexter's Laboratory and the director of the popular new animated epic micro series, Star Wars: Clone Wars. "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku" was developed for a broad audience by Amaze's Adrenium Games studio. It's a free roaming, easy to control action-adventure that's perfect for fans of the television series who are both casual players and hardcore gamers. Ensuring an authentic Samurai Jack experience, the team worked closely with the show's creator, artists, voice talent and composer. The game portrays all of Jack's signature moves and weaponry as the kinetic action sequences are combined with clever puzzles and engaging item quests.

"Amaze Entertainment has done an excellent job developing Cartoon Network's Samurai Jack into a viable videogame and SEGA of America is proud to establish a relationship with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to publish the title across all platforms," said Hide Irie, President and COO of SEGA of America. "We will continue to pursue strong strategic partnerships to create exciting and marketable software based on dynamic properties."

"Samurai Jack, an epic adventure from one of Cartoon Network's greatest storytellers, Genndy Tartakovsky, is a perfect inspiration for a high-action video game," said John Friend, senior vice president of Cartoon Network Enterprises. "We know that SEGA and Amaze Entertainment will bring a new level of excitement to the Samurai Jack property as we introduce interactive games across a number of platforms."

"This console game successfully captures the feel of Samurai Jack and offers compelling and diverse gameplay," said Philippe Erwin, vice president for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "Our collaboration with SEGA and Amaze has produced an exciting game that will provide fans with a new way to experience the unique world of Samurai Jack and also extend the reach of the Cartoon Network show."

"SEGA of America has an enviable history publishing great character-based video games and expanding the brand awareness of licensed properties in the consumer market," said Dan Elenbaas, CEO of Amaze Entertainment Inc. "A great game and brand like Samurai Jack deserves a strong publisher and SEGA has the strength and vision to make this a successful video game franchise."

Cartoon Network's Samurai Jack tells the story of a warrior banished to the future by an evil shape-shifting wizard. Samurai Jack must travel the world, encountering an amazing array of cultures and civilizations as he seeks the portal to send him back to his own time. A man of few words, Jack relies on his mental and physical training as a warrior to help him fend off the evil wizard's forces. The show is highlighted by its magnificent artistry, gripping action sequences and evocative score, giving Samurai Jack a cinematic feel.

Samurai Jack debuted in November 2001. More than 11.5 million viewers tuned in to watch one of multiple plays of the 90-minute premiere the first weekend it aired. Since then, Samurai Jack has established a strong fan base with its distinctive, hard-edged look and its tongue-in-cheek dialogue. An average of more than 2 million viewers tune in for each telecast. Of that audience, more than 13% are adults 18-34, making Samurai Jack one of Cartoon Network's top shows among young adults. 52 half-hour episodes of Samurai Jack have been created.

 

[Bill Aurion]

If it's by Sega, Kevin will buy it...

[Lokno]

It actually sounds like... it could possibly be... a good game. I'm interested to see how it turns out.

[Jonnyboy117]

Have you see the screens at GameSpot?  The graphics are awful.

[vudu]

kind of off topic, but are they still making new episodes of samurai jack?  i haven't seen any new episodes in a long time.  did he finally kill aku?

EDIT:  another question i just thought of, also pertaining to the tv show ... about how many episodes are there?  i've seen the episode numbers shown at the end of each episode all the way into the upper teens, but i don't know if there are later episodes that i've somehow missed.

[theRPGFreak]

Please be good...Please be good....

[Pod]

With the kind of stories Samurai Jack features, this game would have to be tremendously unlike the series, to have a chance of being any sort of popular.
Unless they're going for a somewhat hardcore half mature and well thought out game, that really appeals to the fans instead of the common 5-year-old kids, which is of course unheard of for a game based on a cartoon series. I mean, look the Power Puff games and Spongebob games of the last couple years.

[joshnickerson]

Quote
Originally posted by: kingvudu
kind of off topic, but are they still making new episodes of samurai jack?  i haven't seen any new episodes in a long time.  did he finally kill aku?

EDIT:  another question i just thought of, also pertaining to the tv show ... about how many episodes are there?  i've seen the episode numbers shown at the end of each episode all the way into the upper teens, but i don't know if there are later episodes that i've somehow missed.

There's been 48 so far, according to TV Tome.com, and supposedly 4 more to come. The last episode that aired came on in November of last year, and was entitled "Jack Vs. Aku", if that tells you anything.

[Knoxxville]

The GBA version was a pleasant suprise....it borrowed heavily from the tried and true Super Metroid/Castlevania:SotN formula.  If it's by the same developers, then it might stand a chance.

[mouse_clicker]

PLEASE dear god let this be a good game- Samurai Jack is one of my favorite cartoons ever, created by a man I have enormous respect for, Genndy Tartakovsky (who created Dexter's Lab, second only to Loony Tunes, in my opinion), and I don't want a high publicity videogame ruining this. Obviously I could just ignore the game, but it's hard to ignore the immense possibility it has. I'm already dissapointed from what Johnny has said about the graphics- Samurai Jack, in my opinion, has the best animation for a cartoon show I've ever seen (besides Futurama, of course), and it would be a shame to let any adaption of it be released with any less style and ambience.

[Knoxxville]

kingvudu, how is Beyond Good & Evil?

[Flames_of_chaos]

Im really surprised the developer didnt use windwaker like cell shading in the game since the cartoon is cell shaded similar to windwaker. Instead the graphics engine is crappy DBZ budikai like graphics gone bad.

[Nile Boogie]

Damn shame it's not Wind Wake-style that would be perfect. I always thought somehow Samurai Jack had influence on how Wind Waker turned out but maybe thats just me.  By the by, no Jack didn't finally kill Aku, Genndy "The Genius" Tartakovsky has been concentrating all his "forces" on The Clone Wars, which is really, really good.  After they finish all 30 episodes of Clone Wars, then there is a rumored Clone Wars Movie(not ep. 2) then it's back to good ol Jack., Watch out...

[Flames_of_chaos]

I always watch Geddy's works on Cartoon Network.  Ahh Cartoon Network and Comedy Centeral the 2 networks i cant live with out.

[KimcheeRamen]

I'll wait until I see the game in action - not just screenshots - before I make my judgement.  

If it's anything like the show Jack will have all kinds of sweet combo moves and stuff.  In the show Jack is a graceful, stylish fighter.  I think it would be so cool if they pulled that off well.  I want some fast frenetic action with lots of stuff blowing up everywhere...