SEGA to focus on Sonic, FM and Total War

SEGA will focus on its "three pillars" as it looks to grow: Sonic the Hedgehog, Football Manager and Total War, the publisher's new European boss has revealed.

It's promised gamers that it will work hard to make the three franchises as big as possible as it aims to cement its position as a "successful, medium-sized publisher".

SEGA launched a raft of new intellectual property in recent months, including the disappointing Alpha Protocol. PlatinumGames' Vanquish is due out later this month.

In the future, however, it'll give most love to established franchises.

"Let me be clear again. In Europe, SEGA has three pillars in Sonic, Football Manager and Total War. We are going to be working very hard to make these franchises bigger," Jurgen Post told MCV.

"We know we have Sonic and Football Manager this year, a new Total War next year, and a new Sonic and Virtua Tennis next year. These are the kind of titles that will allow us to focus on being healthy and profitable."

Three Sonic games are due out between now and the end of the year: downloadable game Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, Wii and DS game Sonic Colours and Kinect title Sonic Free Riders.

Sports Interactive's Football Manager 2011 is due out 5th November. Creative Assembly's Shogun 2: Total War will release next year.

Post said SEGA's growth since the Japanese company's exit from the console manufacturing business in 2001 had seen it evolve.

"There has been a big jump forward, thanks very much to Mario and Sonic," he said.

"Now we have that franchise, other Sonic plans, plus some big IPs like Football Manager, Virtua Tennis, Total War and more.

"The biggest change since I first started at SEGA is that it has gone from a very small publisher to a successful, medium-sized publisher. The challenge now is about sustaining our position and doing the right things going forward."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-and-total-war