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Sega and Nintendo
Developing a RPG together?

Nintendo and Sega developing a R.P.G.
(This is not a joke)


A long time ago, the idea of a videogame developed by Nintendo and Sega together seemed  insane and impossible. Today, however, as things have changed, the crazy idea it once was is no more. 

We all know the new policy Sega is going to follow. We all know Sega has already started development of games on other consoles.

We all know Sega has officially confirmed plans for Gameboy Advance and Gamecube. 

What we didn?t know, for sure, was if the rumors of Sega and Nintendo working together in a game were true. Hyrule: The Land of Zelda has played with this idea before by making some jokes regarding that. However, until now, everything has been that, just a rumor.



Recently in a GameWeek interview Sega of America's Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Charles Bellfield, confirmed the existence of the rumored RPG. Here is that key part of the interview:



GameWeek: Let me get right to it: was there any truth to the reports Nintendo was looking to buy?
Charles Bellfield: (long pause) Yeah. So were Microsoft, so were Sony. 

GW: Can you expand on that?
CB: Sure. The truth is, if we didn't think we would be successful with our new strategy, something might have happened. In 2000, we were the sixth largest publisher in North America. That was with a 2-3 million Dreamcast install base. 
Imagine the potential for us when we get to PSX, GameCube, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance. There's only one way for us to go and that's up. That's the reality of it. 

GW: Theoretically, Sega could be a difference maker in the upcoming console wars, depending on what franchises are delivered to each particular platform. 
Any thoughts?
CB: Let me turn the tables a bit. What do you know about GameCube? 

GW: You probably know a lot more than we do; Nintendo is the most quiet company we've ever dealt with. It's scary.
CB: Four words: don't write off Nintendo. A lot of companies have, but Nintendo's got a five billion dollar war chest and a lot of great, original franchises. 

GW: Yes, they have the one key ingredient that Sega has: content. They really are self-sufficient.
CB: Agreed. 

GW: Charles, can you confirm or deny the existence of this so-called "top-secret RPG" being worked on by Sega and Nintendo?
CB: (long pause) 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." 

GW: You know, Peter Main had the same suspicious grin when I asked him this question two and a half months ago...
CB: Did he really? Yes. (another long pause) We've got a great content line ahead. (smiles) 


Charles Bellfield comments are more than surprising. According to this, Sega may focus most of their efforts on supporting Gamecube. What is more, Sega could be working closely with Nintendo in the making of a RPG. 


We're not sure what Nintendo and Sega are up to, but this is just short of an official confirmation that there is a Sega/Nintendo RPG underway. 

Please keep in mind that these declarations could be misinterpreted, however it seems clear that Sega plans have Nintendo at the top of their list.

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Sega-Nintendo RPG: 
RPG perfection?


Nintendo and Sega. The two greatest game developers in the history of gaming, and the two best Role Playing game makers the market has ever had. 


What would happen if the two top RPG makers joined their efforts to make the ultimate RPG experience? 
Nintendo and Sega during the latest years have been pushing the boundaries of RPG experience in a way no other game developer has ever done. Let?s take a look at their latest achievements to see what the present has to offer and what the future holds for us. 



Focus on Nintendo 

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Nintendo was the first game developer to introduce a truly 3D RPG experience with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The award winning game showed the world that modern RPG?s are not made of Full motion Videos but of truly 3D immersive worlds. Gamers no longer had to deal with over-the-top views to see the action; this time they could be on-the-field to see everything froma real perspective inside an authentic virtual world that could be touched and seen from every angle. 

Other revolutionary features implemented in Ocarina of Time was the called Z-targeting, which consisted on a targeting lock-on system in order to keep permanent sight of an enemy or object even on extreme fast-paced battles. This technique is nowadays starting to be copied by other companies.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time pushed the boundaries of RPG?s three years ago, by presenting authentic 3D virtual worlds. An achievement some other companies are yet to accomplish!

The Legend of Zelda: Majora?s Mask

With The Legend of Zelda: Majora?s Mask, Nintendo continued with this incredibly popular series and showed again how to innovate from one game to the other. The sequel to the equally amazing Ocarina of Time featured huge 3D virtual worlds filled with enemies and twisted characters. The use of time was also impressive; characters and events changed all the time, making of this a unique game. It was one of the few games that presented a time limit and an unfortunate ending if the hero failed to accomplish the task. 

The Legend of Zelda: Majora?s Mask showed how to innovate  from its predecesor. Other RPG developers are still making the same mistakes once and again and do not really innovate in game mechanics. 

Focus on Sega


Sega has rocked the world of RPG fans, at least of those fortunate gamers that could taste the flavour of next-generation RPG experience on Dreamcast. 


Skies of Arcadia

Sega introduced a 100% 3D straight RPG experience never seen before with Skies of Arcadia. Following a style simmilar to that of Square?s Final Fantasy, Skies of Arcadia improved on them exponentially by presenting wonderful limitless highly detailed virtual worlds that became the dream of authentic RPG fans. 
The ability to walk everywhere and even sail to everywhere on huge and beautiful  flying ships showed what a real RPG is made of. 

Skies of Arcadia simply puts games like 
Final Fantasy to rest. 

Phantasy Star Online

The latest Sega RPG show that "You are not the only hero". Thanks to the currently exclusive Online connectivity of the Sega Dreamcast, Phantasy Star Online puts gamers together into a single futuristic experience, in order to discover what went wrong on their colony on planet Ragol, the only hope for their civilization. 
For the first time in console gaming, players can experience the feeling of sharing an adventure with other real people. The experience is so amazing that in short time you will feel part of a gigantic virtual community with a common mission. No other game has ever stepped on these boundaries. While other more "powerful" systems are out there claiming they can push a lot more million polygons per second, Phantasy Star Online can push million online players a day... and that, fellow RPG fans, that is just unmatched. 

Play to believe. Phantasy Star Online is greater than the game itself. It?s about real people helping each other. 

With all this history and experience in RPG making, the two leading developers could easily create the most unbelievable Role Playing game experience of the future. While other RPG companies are still to jump to something as common as 3D, Sega and Nintendo have already done all that and much more. The future is brighter than you think, and this is not a Fantasy...