SEGA Buy UK Development Giant, Sports Interactive

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SEGA Buy UK Development Giant, Sports Interactive - Creators of the hugely successful Football Manager series

LONDON (April 4, 2006) – SEGA Holdings Europe Ltd., today announced that the company has acquired the multi award-winning development studio, Sports Interactive. Founded in 1994 by Paul and Oliver Collyer and operating from offices in Islington, North London, the brothers are the talented creators behind the hugely successful Football Manager series - which with only two titles from the franchise released so far, has sold in excess of 1.5 million copies and became the second fastest selling PC game of all time in the UK.

The groundbreaking deal sees SEGA acquiring a company that has maintained the heritage and experience accumulated through many years of development, Sports Interactive have produced titles that have enjoyed an unparalleled history of commercial and critical success. SEGA will empower the team to continue on their existing development path whilst also expanding their resources for the future.

The world’s leading developer of Sports Management simulations joins recently acquired, The Creative Assembly to add to SEGA’s list of undisputable development talent. This new deal continues to highlight SEGA’s emphasis on western development and adds yet more weight to SEGA’s own long-term strategic vision. SEGA will continue to support Sports Interactive to develop NHL: Eastside Hockey Manager, Out of the Park Baseball and the Football Manager series, as well as exploring ambitious new ventures.

“Football Manager is an extremely successful brand for SEGA and one of the most significant titles for our European line-up,” commented Naoya Tsurumi – CEO: SEGA Europe Ltd. & SEGA of America, Inc. “This acquisition illustrates that we are achieving our objectives and have our strategic planning up and running. Although we still have a lot more to do, we feel that this is yet another huge step towards strengthening our standing within the European market.”

“We acquired Sports Interactive because SEGA has the utmost respect for the Collyer’s, Miles Jacobson and the Sports Interactive team for what they have achieved. The company is built up of highly talented individuals that have and continue to produce award-winning titles”, commented Mike Hayes, President & COO of SEGA Europe Ltd. “Our objective, as with The Creative Assembly, is to work with the team and build upon their successes as we strive to produce the highest quality games for our consumers”.

Miles Jacobson, Managing Director of Sports Interactive adds, “From our first meeting with SEGA, it felt like “home”- they really understand development and it’s an honour to get to work with the overwhelming pool of talent from both the development and publishing side. The partner was right for the next chapter in Sports Interactive’s history, with more releases from the studio this year than ever before. Myself, Ov, Paul and the SI team are all really excited about the future.”

The first titles to be released under the new partnership will be Football Manager 2006 for Xbox 360™ and Football Manager Handheld for the PSP™ portable entertainment system, both out for release on April 13th 2006.
 
ypu I heard about this earlier today.

It could be good and bad.

Good as it will give SI more resources therefore maybe a bette rgame

Bad becuase it means they lose complete control and therefore Sega can demand features etc which couldn end up with loads of gimmicks being addded.
 
From what the actual SI staff have said about SEGA it sounds like a good thing.

Don't forget that SEGA have been part of FM 2006 and that was by far the best game of the series.
 
They had no part in the actual game though Sean, all they did was stick it on a CD
 
Hmm i agree with Gregor. Aslong as they dont add gimics etc it should be a good thing. Just hope we dont get sill y things like fm quiz or that
 
I think if Sega judge the potenetial of FM based on the sales of the last 2 installments, they will be wise enough to let SI just get on with what they do best; making great football manager. Yea lets hope they give them more resources to make it even better, but they should steer well clear of the development side. If it aint broke, dont fix it!!!
 
Gregor said:
They had no part in the actual game though Sean, all they did was stick it on a CD

That's probably all that's going to happen still. Sports Interactive will just be a sub division of SEGA and will still work independently.
 
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