The Bernie Stolar SEGA.

As we all know, Sony came into the industry with the PlayStation. Bernie Stolar was assigned the first President of SCEA(Sony Computer Entertainment of America). With this, he brought policies. No RPGs and no 2D. Stolar thought that Westerners didn't understand RPGs and that 2D graphics didn't show off the power that these new consoles had. So, Sony gave him the boot, and SEGA, unfortunetly, offered him a Presidency at SEGA of America. He still brought over his policies. No 2D, no RPGs. With this, Sony lauched Final Fantasy VII. This was a complete sucess, sold millions to this day, and they have lived off of this goldmine, but over at SEGA, there was a problem, not only that there were no TRUE Sonic games, but there wasn't a freaking RPG! If the Saturn had those two, it could have lived longer. Then came the announcement,

 "Saturn is not our future.", "There is no more Tekken."

Many Saturn owners, retail stores, and game developers, angry at SEGA. Thus, at E3 '97, they discontinued the Saturn. With a console (the Dreamcast) coming out in Japan just at the end of the year, while America, had to wait until '99, when the Dreamcast came out. With these terrible mistakes, Stolar was fired just before the launch of the Dreamcast, in America. 

Now, if you have more facts you know about the SEGA Bernie Stolar (or SCEA), put them on this forum, or, whatever you think of this guy, post it.

Have fun.

Oh man I was reading about that guy before and he ruined Sega for everybody. The Saturn was not my favourite console and I only played on the Playstation and N64 at that time. And yes there were no rpg games and worst of all no main SONIC game as well :( And the fact that it lasted for 3 years, but when the Dreamcast came out though it was a really good console but sadly it was too little too late for them when the PS2 came out and this ended Sega after that. If Sega didn't hire that fool we would still have the good old days when it was Sega vs Nintendo. But I'm not sure how it would effect Sony though.Warhawk_

No RPGs?

• Devil Summoner
  
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
• Grandia
• Lunar: Silver Star
• Lunar: Eternal Blue
• AZEL: Panzer Dragoon RPG
• Shining Force III: Scenario 1 - God Warrior of the Kingdom
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 2 - Target Child of God
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 3 - Bulzome Rising
• Wachenroder
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Albert Oddyssey Gaiden: Legend of Eldean
• Baoque
• Dark Savior
• Langrisser III
• Langrisser IV
• Langrisser V: The End of Legend
• The Story of Thor
• Shining Wisdom
• Shining: The Holy Ark
• Marie no Atelier
• Princess Crown
• Tengai Makyou: Daishi Mokushiroku
• Black/Matrix
• Terra Phantastica
• Riglord Saga
• Riglord Saga II
• Dragon Force
• Dragon Force II

I know that Bernie Stolar issue might seem bad but SEGA of America has always been the blight of the company. And they weren't better after him or even now that they've reached a new low by making cash-in movie licensed games.

The best time of SEGA of America was by much during the Mega Drive days with the STI. That is the only good thing SoA has ever done.

On the 2D issue he was kinda correct at least from a business perspective of the time. I mean now that 2D gaming has been displaced as the main form of gaming everybody praises anything in 2D. But at the time everybody was drooling over games like Tomb Raider and Bio Hazard and ignoring the old and tried 2D. 2D gaming went under on consoles for a reason.

The superior 2D capabilities of the Saturn  and most of it's 2D weren't really appreciated at the time. The General gaming public preferred 3D gaming by a great margin.

[QUOTE="Warhawk_"]Oh man I was reading about that guy before and he ruined Sega for everybody. The Saturn was not my favourite console and I only played on the Playstation and N64 at that time. And yes there were no rpg games and worst of all no main SONIC game as well :( And the fact that it lasted for 3 years, but when the Dreamcast came out though it was a really good console but sadly it was too little too late for them when the PS2 came out and this ended Sega after that. If Sega didn't hire that fool we would still have the good old days when it was Sega vs Nintendo. But I'm not sure how it would effect Sony though.Panzer_Zwei

No RPGs?

• Devil Summoner
  
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
• Grandia
• Lunar: Silver Star
• Lunar: Eternal Blue
• AZEL: Panzer Dragoon RPG
• Shining Force III: Scenario 1 - God Warrior of the Kingdom
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 2 - Target Child of God
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 3 - Bulzome Rising
• Wachenroder
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Albert Oddyssey Gaiden: Legend of Eldean
• Baoque
• Dark Savior
• Langrisser III
• Langrisser IV
• Langrisser V: The End of Legend
• The Story of Thor
• Shining Wisdom
• Shining: The Holy Ark
• Marie no Atelier
• Princess Crown
• Tengai Makyou: Daishi Mokushiroku
• Black/Matrix
• Terra Phantastica
• Riglord Saga
• Riglord Saga II
• Dragon Force
• Dragon Force II

And those are just the ones off the top of my head. Does that seems like no RPGs to you?

Yeah, but Bernie didn't run the whole Saturns life. Therefore, those could have been released before his Precidency. Although, he did let Grandia slip through.

I know that Bernie Stolar issue might seem bad but SEGA of America has always been the blight of the company. And they weren't better after him or even now that they've reached a new low by making cash-in movie licensed games.

The best time of SEGA of America was by much during the Mega Drive days with the STI. That is the only good thing SoA has ever done.

On the 2D issue he was kinda correct at least from a business perspective of the time. I mean now that 2D gaming has been displaced as the main form of gaming everybody praises anything in 2D. But at the time everybody was drooling over games like Tomb Raider and Bio Hazard and ignoring the old and tried 2D. 2D gaming went under on consoles for a reason.

The superior 2D capabilities of the Saturn  and most of it's 2D weren't really appreciated at the time. The General gaming public preferred 3D gaming by a great margin.

Panzer_Zwei

Indeed, Sega was doing great until they tried to push those three add-ons. But yes, the funny thing is, Sega, in their lifetime always ended their products early, quick examples, Saturn, Nomad, Master System. On the Genesis, it seem a bit like they were trying to push the system too far, Sega CD, CD-X, and 32-X. The Saturn should have lived longer, Bernie Stolar practically hurt them dearly.

[QUOTE="Warhawk_"]Oh man I was reading about that guy before and he ruined Sega for everybody. The Saturn was not my favourite console and I only played on the Playstation and N64 at that time. And yes there were no rpg games and worst of all no main SONIC game as well :( And the fact that it lasted for 3 years, but when the Dreamcast came out though it was a really good console but sadly it was too little too late for them when the PS2 came out and this ended Sega after that. If Sega didn't hire that fool we would still have the good old days when it was Sega vs Nintendo. But I'm not sure how it would effect Sony though.Panzer_Zwei

No RPGs?

• Devil Summoner
  
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
• Grandia
• Lunar: Silver Star
• Lunar: Eternal Blue
• AZEL: Panzer Dragoon RPG
• Shining Force III: Scenario 1 - God Warrior of the Kingdom
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 2 - Target Child of God
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 3 - Bulzome Rising
• Wachenroder
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Albert Oddyssey Gaiden: Legend of Eldean
• Baoque
• Dark Savior
• Langrisser III
• Langrisser IV
• Langrisser V: The End of Legend
• The Story of Thor
• Shining Wisdom
• Shining: The Holy Ark
• Marie no Atelier
• Princess Crown
• Tengai Makyou: Daishi Mokushiroku
• Black/Matrix
• Terra Phantastica
• Riglord Saga
• Riglord Saga II
• Dragon Force
• Dragon Force II

And those are just the ones off the top of my head. Does that seems like no RPGs to you?

Now let's get rid of the Japan only ones:

Panzer Dragoon Saga
Shining Force III (Scenario I)
Magic Knight Rayearth
Albert Odyssey Gaiden
Dark Savior
Story of Thor
Shining Wisdom
Shining the Holy Ark
Maybe Tengai, I don't know
Dragon Force I & II

Throw in Guardian Heroes (for the lenient), and you still have a somewhat weak RPG library.

[QUOTE="Warhawk_"]Oh man I was reading about that guy before and he ruined Sega for everybody. The Saturn was not my favourite console and I only played on the Playstation and N64 at that time. And yes there were no rpg games and worst of all no main SONIC game as well :( And the fact that it lasted for 3 years, but when the Dreamcast came out though it was a really good console but sadly it was too little too late for them when the PS2 came out and this ended Sega after that. If Sega didn't hire that fool we would still have the good old days when it was Sega vs Nintendo. But I'm not sure how it would effect Sony though.Panzer_Zwei

No RPGs?

• Devil Summoner
  
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
• Grandia
• Lunar: Silver Star
• Lunar: Eternal Blue
• AZEL: Panzer Dragoon RPG
• Shining Force III: Scenario 1 - God Warrior of the Kingdom
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 2 - Target Child of God
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 3 - Bulzome Rising
• Wachenroder
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Albert Oddyssey Gaiden: Legend of Eldean
• Baoque
• Dark Savior
• Langrisser III
• Langrisser IV
• Langrisser V: The End of Legend
• The Story of Thor
• Shining Wisdom
• Shining: The Holy Ark
• Marie no Atelier
• Princess Crown
• Tengai Makyou: Daishi Mokushiroku
• Black/Matrix
• Terra Phantastica
• Riglord Saga
• Riglord Saga II
• Dragon Force
• Dragon Force II

[QUOTE="Panzer_Zwei"]

[QUOTE="Warhawk_"]Oh man I was reading about that guy before and he ruined Sega for everybody. The Saturn was not my favourite console and I only played on the Playstation and N64 at that time. And yes there were no rpg games and worst of all no main SONIC game as well :( And the fact that it lasted for 3 years, but when the Dreamcast came out though it was a really good console but sadly it was too little too late for them when the PS2 came out and this ended Sega after that. If Sega didn't hire that fool we would still have the good old days when it was Sega vs Nintendo. But I'm not sure how it would effect Sony though.Video_Game_King

No RPGs?

• Devil Summoner
  
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
• Grandia
• Lunar: Silver Star
• Lunar: Eternal Blue
• AZEL: Panzer Dragoon RPG
• Shining Force III: Scenario 1 - God Warrior of the Kingdom
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 2 - Target Child of God
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 3 - Bulzome Rising
• Wachenroder
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Albert Oddyssey Gaiden: Legend of Eldean
• Baoque
• Dark Savior
• Langrisser III
• Langrisser IV
• Langrisser V: The End of Legend
• The Story of Thor
• Shining Wisdom
• Shining: The Holy Ark
• Marie no Atelier
• Princess Crown
• Tengai Makyou: Daishi Mokushiroku
• Black/Matrix
• Terra Phantastica
• Riglord Saga
• Riglord Saga II
• Dragon Force
• Dragon Force II

And those are just the ones off the top of my head. Does that seems like no RPGs to you?

Now let's get rid of the Japan only ones:

Panzer Dragoon Saga
Shining Force III (Scenario I)
Magic Knight Rayearth
Albert Odyssey Gaiden
Dark Savior
Story of Thor
Shining Wisdom
Shining the Holy Ark
Maybe Tengai, I don't know
Dragon Force I & II

Throw in Guardian Heroes (for the lenient), and you still have a somewhat weak RPG library.

By your logic the system wouldn't have no Arcade games because they weren't released overseas even though they comprise the biggest part of the system's library.

Now lets not get rid of them. That they weren't released overseas doesn't mean they don't exist. The system had plenty of RPGs.

By your logic the system wouldn't have no Arcade games because they weren't released overseas even though they comprise the biggest part of the system's library.

Panzer_Zwei

I'm only discounting them because they wouldn't have been readily available to the average consumer. Hell, they aren't even readily available today. I'm gonna say that we should only count the games that could be found at the time by walking into a FuncoLand or GameStop and looking at the counter/shelf. No online hassle or anything like that.

Yes, guys, this thread was made to say that SEGA of America didn't have many RPGs or 2D games thanks to President of Sega of America, Bernie Stolar.AquaD4060

As for third party RPG it was up to their respective companies to publish them overseas not SEGA of America.

The Saturn only sold a bit above the 10 million mark, and probably 8+ million were from Japan only. There's no conspiracy here, it was common sense from publishers. 

they were more than with the Mega Drive or Dreamcast in spite the Bernie Stolar theory,

Panzer_Zwei

I think that has more to do with the growth the industry was experiencing and less with a higher focus on RPGs (or whatever the hell you were implying :P).

[QUOTE="Panzer_Zwei"]

they were more than with the Mega Drive or Dreamcast in spite the Bernie Stolar theory,

Video_Game_King

I think that has more to do with the growth the industry was experiencing and less with a higher focus on RPGs (or whatever the hell you were implying :P).

The Saturn had the most shooting games, how many of them were released overseas? Darius Gaiden? The Saturn had nothing outside of Japan, it doesn't have to dow with the industry growth or anything. The system was only successful in Japan and that's where it got most of it's games, plain and simple.

[QUOTE="Warhawk_"]Oh man I was reading about that guy before and he ruined Sega for everybody. The Saturn was not my favourite console and I only played on the Playstation and N64 at that time. And yes there were no rpg games and worst of all no main SONIC game as well :( And the fact that it lasted for 3 years, but when the Dreamcast came out though it was a really good console but sadly it was too little too late for them when the PS2 came out and this ended Sega after that. If Sega didn't hire that fool we would still have the good old days when it was Sega vs Nintendo. But I'm not sure how it would effect Sony though.Panzer_Zwei

No RPGs?

• Devil Summoner
  
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
• Grandia
• Lunar: Silver Star
• Lunar: Eternal Blue
• AZEL: Panzer Dragoon RPG
• Shining Force III: Scenario 1 - God Warrior of the Kingdom
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 2 - Target Child of God
  
• Shining Force III: Scenario 3 - Bulzome Rising
• Wachenroder
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Albert Oddyssey Gaiden: Legend of Eldean
• Baoque
• Dark Savior
• Langrisser III
• Langrisser IV
• Langrisser V: The End of Legend
• The Story of Thor
• Shining Wisdom
• Shining: The Holy Ark
• Marie no Atelier
• Princess Crown
• Tengai Makyou: Daishi Mokushiroku
• Black/Matrix
• Terra Phantastica
• Riglord Saga
• Riglord Saga II
• Dragon Force
• Dragon Force II