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| 1999: | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | |||||
| 1998: | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
| 1997: | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
News From May 1997:
Megascam Update - 5/13/97 - 7:18:34 PM
WD Picks up Sega Ages - 5/9/97 - 3:27:53 PM
Fighter's Megamix Early - 5/1/97 - 3:07:53 PM
| Bandai Calls Off Merger! | Top |
A day after some board members at Bandai expressed some doubts of the merger, they have decided to call it off! Here's the full PR:
From Kyodo
Major game machine maker Sega Enterprises Ltd. and the nation's leading toy maker Bandai Co. said Tuesday they will call off their plan to merge Oct. 1 to create a global multimedia entertainment conglomerate. The move came on the heels of stiff opposition to the plan within Bandai, now at the height of its power with its runaway best-selling "Tamagotchi" electronic toy, Bandai President Makoto Yamashina told a hastily arranged news conference.
"Regrettably, we reached the conclusion that we will not be able to carry out the plan. I am responsible for having failed to unite the company over the matter," he said.
"I was not 100% sure. But I was 99% sure we would make it," Sega President Hayao Nakayama told a separate press conference. "We have dealt with this matter in a sincere manner. It looks like the Bandai side could not agree on the issue itself," he added.
Satomu Shirokawa, a Bandai managing director, told reporters the cancellation is primarily due to the difference in corporate culture and the unlikelihood that the merger would have a synergistic effect.
Despite the cancellation of the plan, Sega and Bandai agreed to weigh the possibility of forming a partnership in the entertainment business, Yamashina and Nakayama said. Specifically, the two companies will consider jointly opening amusement facilities and entertainment shops, developing multimedia products and working together in manufacturing and distribution, they said.
| Megascam Update | Top |
This was originally reported over the weekend, and I thought I would include it in the dEX update, but I never got a chance to send out the update.
Fighter's Megamix was supposed to make an early appearance at Blockbuster stores nationwide. This didn't happen on the day it was supposed to. Furthermore, store managers didn't know anything about the promotion. However, Sega has stated that due to a shipping error, FMM did not ship to BlockBuster stores as planned. Reps say that the game should be in BB stores by now, I have not checked with my local BB stores though....as it's too late, the game will be out Wednesday, many stores already have their copies in. Too bad Sega.
| WD Picks up Sega Ages | Top |
Several months ago, Sega of Japan released several classic Sega games in a series dubbed Sega Ages. Since then, the collection has been released on a multi game CD in Europe, but a US release had not been announced. Yesterday, Working Designs announced that they have aquired the rights to release Space Harrier, After Burner II and Out Run. The three games will be released on one CD for a MSRP of $39.
| Fighter's Megamix Early | Top |
Sega of America Wednesday announced the early arrival of its greatest fighting game of all time, ''Fighters Megamix'' for the Sega Saturn, at Blockbuster Entertainment stores nationwide. An exclusive for Blockbuster customers, ''Fighters Megamix'' will be available for rent Friday, May 2, 11 days before the game ships to retail stores May 13.
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