Studio 128 (1986-1988) Sega R&D8 (1988-1990) Sega AM R&D Dept. #2 (1990-1999) Sega Software R&D Dept #2 (AM2) (1999-2000) AM2 of CRI (2000-2001) SEGA-AM2 Co., Ltd. (2001-2004) AM R&D Dept. #2 (2004-2011) Sega R&D2 (2011-2015) Sega Interactive R&D2 (2015-2020)
Sega AM Research & Development No. 2,[a] previously known asSEGA-AM2 Co., Ltd.,[b] is avideo game development team within the Japanese multinational video game developerSega.Yu Suzuki, who had previously developed arcade games for Sega includingHang-On andOut Run, was the first manager of the department.
AM2's first game produced was 1992'sVirtua Racing, followed by the highly popularVirtua Fighter andDaytona USA. Through the remainder of the 1990s, they developed more arcade titles and focused on fighting and racing games. AM2 was placed under the management ofCSK Research Institute in 2000, and a year later became SEGA-AM2 Co., Ltd. Their development ofShenmue was over budget and cost millions of dollars, and despite positive reviews and good sales was unable to become profitable.
Suzuki was promoted and left AM2 in 2003; Hiroshi Kataoka became the head of AM2. A year later Sega was acquired bySammy Corporation and AM2 was merged back into Sega. Since, the team has continued work on arcade games such asBorder Break and theHatsune Miku: Project DIVA series, as well as smartphone games in Japan. Several games produced by Sega AM2 have influenced and innovated the video game industry from a technical and developmental perspective.
Yu Suzuki joinedSega in 1983 as aprogrammer.[1] At the time Suzuki joined Sega, there was only one development division at the company.[2] In his first year, he created a 2D boxing game calledChampion Boxing for Sega's first home game console, theSG-1000. According to Suzuki, the executive staff at Sega found the game so impressive that they released it in arcades as-is by simply installing an SG-1000 into an arcade cabinet. He was promoted to project leader while still in his first year at the company.[1] Suzuki's next project was the motorcycle racing gameHang-On. To accomplish his desire to make a 3D game despite technological limitations at the time,[3] he specified the design of Sega's newSuper Scalerarcade system board,[4] which utilized16-bit graphics and sprite-scaling.[5][6]Hang-On was very popular at launch and sold well for Sega.[4] Suzuki's success followed with additional titlesSpace Harrier,Out Run, andEnduro Racer.[4][7] He and his team relocated to "Studio 128", a more private location whereAfter Burner andPower Drift were developed.[8] He also worked on development ofG-LOC: Air Battle and theR360 arcade cabinet.[2] DeveloperToshihiro Nagoshi joined Sega in 1989 as a designer with Suzuki's team.[9]
Toshihiro Nagoshi joined Sega as a member of Yu Suzuki's team, and was a designer with AM2.
Some time after the release ofPower Drift, Sega began to separate the amusement division into the Amusement Machine Research and Development teams, or AM teams. Suzuki was made general manager of Research and Development No. 2, or Sega AM2.[8][2] According to Suzuki, Sega employed approximately 600 people in research and development, and that AM2 began as a group of around 100 people. He has also stated the reason for this separation was the advent of advanced computer graphics technology.[2] Around the time of AM2's formation, Suzuki's team moved back into the main office, then to an annex a short walk from the office. Even so, Suzuki worked with a desire of secrecy, so much so that Sega presidentHayao Nakayama was denied entry on one occasion.[8]
The first project developed by AM2 wasVirtua Racing. While development began with 10 people onVirtua Racing, it finished with 25 workers on the project for a year, and theModel 1arcade system board on which it runs took approximately three years. AM2 also ported the game for theSega Genesis.[2]Next Generation stated that AM2 "single-handedly chang[ed] the perception of polygons in a gaming environment" withVirtua Racing.[10]
After the release ofVirtua Racing, AM2 split into two teams; one began work onVirtua Fighter, while another started onDaytona USA.[2] According to Suzuki, he wanted to develop a game with multiple joint movements, such as asoccer orrugby game. Finding that the Model 1 was not powerful enough to handle this many motions, Suzuki resorted to a game with only two moving characters at a time. With the massive success ofStreet Fighter II in the industry at the time, he made the decision to make a 3D fighting game to compete.[11] In developing the game, Suzuki identified the need for the game to be realistic, yet fun to play.[12]Virtua Fighter became a huge success in Japan,[13] and itsSega Saturn port sold at a nearly one-to-one ratio with the console itself.[14]
Virtua Racing Twin Cabinet
ForDaytona USA, Nagoshi was director and chief designer, while Suzuki served as producer. The concept for the game was suggested by Tom Petit, head of Sega Enterprises USA, as a way to debut Sega's new Model 2 arcade system board. Sega mandated thatDaytona USA had to be better thanRidge Racer, a game made byNamco. To accurately depict Daytona International Speedway, the developers usedsatellite imagery and sent staff to photograph the track; Nagoshi walked a full lap to get a feel for the banking in the corners.[15]Daytona USA was released in Japan in August 1993, and worldwide in March 1994.[15][16] AM2 ported the game to Saturn in April 1995.[17][18] The Saturn port was a launch title in the West.[19][20]Daytona USA was highly popular in arcades, and the twin cabinet was one of three 1995 recipients of theAmerican Amusement Machine Association's Diamond Awards, which are based strictly on sales achievements.[21] In a 2002 report, Sega reported it to be one of the most successful arcade games of all time.[22]
Over the course of the remainder of the 1990s, Suzuki's primary concern in arcades were theVirtua Fighter series and working as a producer for other titles.[23] Subsequently, AM2 releasedVirtua Cop andVirtua Fighter 2 for the Model 2.[24] Produced in twelve months,Virtua Fighter 2 was an even greater success in Japan than its predecessor.[10] In a 1996 interview, Suzuki stated in an interview his philosophy to be not an imitator, but a pioneer in the arcade industry. He also described the palm tree logo of AM2 as representing reliance and peace of mind.[25] Further titles developed in the end of 1990s includedVirtua Cop 2,Fighting Vipers,Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge, andSpikeOut.Daytona USA 2 andSpikeOut made use of the Model 3 system board.[26]
In April 2000,CSK Research Institute (CRI) took management over AM2. CRI was a subsidiary ofCSK Corporation, which was Sega's parent company at the time, and had previously publishedAero Dancing. The new division became known as "AM2 of CRI", and Suzuki remained in charge.[27] Also in 2000, Sega restructured its arcade and console development teams into nine semi-autonomous studios headed by the company's top designers.[5][28] Sega's design houses were encouraged to experiment and benefited from a relatively lax approval process.[29] During the development ofShenmue, Nagoshi requested and was grantedhis own studio, leaving AM2.[30]
AM2 developed what Sega hoped would be theDreamcast'skiller app inShenmue, a "revenge epic in the tradition ofChinese cinema."[5][31] Theaction-adventure game involved the quest of protagonist Ryo Hazuki to avenge his father's murder,[32] but its main selling point was its rendition of the Japanese city ofYokosuka, which included a level of detail considered unprecedented for a video game.[33] Incorporating asimulated day/night cycle with variable weather,non-player characters with regular schedules, and the ability to pick up and examine detailed objects (also introducing theQuick-time event in its modern form[33][34]),Shenmue went over budget and was rumored to have cost Sega over $50 million.[32][33][35] Originally planned as the first installment in an 11-part saga,Shenmue was eventually downsized to a trilogy.[5][36] According to Sega of America presidentPeter Moore,Shenmue sold "extremely well", but the game had no chance of making a profit due to the Dreamcast's limited installed base.[37] The high amountShenmue went over budget was also a factor in the game's lack of profitability.[23] Its sequel,Shenmue II, "was completed for a much more reasonable sum".[38][35]
In addition to the mixed reception forShenmue, IGN's Travis Fahs stated that "the [Dreamcast] era wasn't as kind to [AM2] as earlier years"—citing (among others)F355 Challenge as an "acclaimed" arcade game that "didn't do much at home", andGenki's port ofVirtua Fighter 3 as inferior to the arcade version, "which was already a couple years old and never as popular as its predecessors."[38][39][40] TheVirtua Fighter series would experience a "tremendous comeback" with the universally acclaimedVirtua Fighter 4—which saw a console release exclusively onPlayStation 2.[38][41] In Japanese arcades,Virtua Fighter 4 proved to be highly influential with its VF.NET system, paving the way for arcade games with network features.[42] The quest mode ofVirtua Fighter 4: Evolution on PlayStation 2, used AI mined from players in Japan playing through VF.NET.[43]
In 2001, AM2 of CRI was renamed to SEGA-AM2 Co., Ltd.[44] After serving as a producer onVirtua Cop 3 andOutRun 2,[23] Suzuki left AM2 on October 1, 2003, in order to start a new studio with Sega, called Digitalrex.[45][46] He was promoted to non-executive board director.[45] Hiroshi Kataoka was placed in charge of AM2.[45][47] Kataoka, who had led research and development at AM2 for a year, had worked on numerous projects for Sega and Yu Suzuki's division as old asSpace Harrier toVirtua Fighter 4 Evolution.[48] Makoto Osaki became AM2's head of development, reporting to Kataoka.[49] At the same time as the changes, a number of Sega's studios were merged. However, AM2 did not merge with any other studio.[45][50]
During mid-2004,Sammy Corporation bought a controlling share in Sega and created the new companySega Sammy Holdings, an entertainment conglomerate. Since then, Sega and Sammy became subsidiaries of the aforementioned holding company, with both companies operating independently, while the executive departments merged.[51] Prior to the acquisition by Sammy, Sega began the process of re-integrating its subsidiaries into the main company,[52] which was completed by October 2004.[53] Sega would also restructure the development studios again, consolidating the divisions further into the Global Entertainment, Amusement Software, and New Entertainment R&D divisions.[54]
The controllers for Border Break
AM2 continued to develop games after the merger.Virtua Fighter 5 was released in 2007.[55] An upgrade,Virtua Fighter 5 R, was released the following year.[56] The last release of theVirtua Fighter franchise was the console port ofVirtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, the final iteration of the game.[57]Ghost Squad, in the style ofVirtua Cop, received an arcade and a Wii release in 2008.[58][59] AM2 has developed games for theHatsune Miku: Project DIVA series, as well as a number of free-to-play smartphone games in Japan,[60] such asSoul Reverse Zero.[61] Some titles have been developed for consoles as well, such asHatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega 39’s forNintendo Switch.[62] AM2 became involved with theHatsune Miku license with items forVirtua Fighter 5 R and the racing gameR-Tuned: Ultimate Street Racing. When the PSP gameHatsune Miku: Project DIVA was in development, it was decided that AM2 would develop an arcade version as well as develop theholographic imagery forHatsune Miku's live concerts. The visuals for these projects were based on theVirtua Fighter 5 engine. Makoto Osaki called this period the most stressful for him sinceShenmue.[63]
A major success for AM2 has been theBorder Break franchise. The game was partly developed because the development team felt envious of theVirtua Fighter 5 team and wanted to develop a competitive game as well. The arcade release in 2009 was continuously updated, with releasesBorder Break Union in 2012,Border Break Scramble in 2015, andBorder Break X in 2017—with aPlayStation 4 version released in 2018. In 2019,Border Break celebrated its 10th Anniversary.[64] Other titles from AM2 to get long-term support in arcades areQuest of D,[65]Sega Network Taisen Mahjong MJ,[66]andShining Force Cross.[67] Hiroshi Kataoka likened the basic enjoyability of these network-based arcade games to those of an MMO, but collectible cards and a community differentiated these from the usually solitary MMO experience on PC.[68] According to Sega Amusement International CEO Paul Williams, these type of core games are only possible in Japan due to Sega owning their own chains and being able to kickstart an online infrastructure.[69] The latest effort,Soul Reverse, was born out of the desire to create a fantasy version ofBorder Break.[70] It lasted a year, launching in 2018 with its network features shutting down in 2019.[71] The game was not well received by the Japanese arcade player base. It took four years to produce.[72] Currently running arcade games with AM2 staff working on them areKanColle Arcade,[73]Fate/Grand Order Arcade[74][75] as well as an updated version ofVirtua Fighter 5,Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown, co-developed withRyu Ga Gotoku Studio.[76]
As of 2014, Hiroshi Kataoka was still in charge of AM2.[77] Currently he is an executive for Sega supervising arcade engineers and the technology backend of games developed at the engineering division.[78][79]
AM2 has several arcade and video game series they develop, includingDaytona USA,Virtua Fighter,OutRun,Virtua Cop,Virtua Striker,Fighting Vipers, andShenmue.[23][24][26] Other titles developed by the studio includeScud Race,[80]Sonic the Fighters,[26]18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker,[81]F355 Challenge,[39]Outtrigger (video game),[82] andSoul Reverse.[83] AM2 has also developed smartphone games in Japan.[60] Of AM2's games, theVirtua Fighter series is "the highest grossing game in Japan arcades."[55] TheHatsune Miku: Project Diva series has sold over 6 million units as of 2018.[84] As of March 2012, the gameBorder Break has grossed JP¥8.1 billion from arcade machine sales, equivalent to more than US$100 million.[85]
Journalists have praised AM2 as having a "legendary" status in game development, in particular under Yu Suzuki. According to Aaron Souppouris ofEngadget, AM2 in the past developed games that defined their genres, and called the department Sega's "most-storied division". While lamenting the changes in development focus in recent years, Souppouris called theHatsune Miku series "admittedly excellent".[60] In 1995,Edge called Suzuki "the legendary head of AM2, Sega's core coin-op operation".[2] Also in 1995,Next Generation stated that AM2's unusual repeated success came from its ability to release high-quality games on a regular basis.[10]IGN's Travis Fahs stated that "[f]or as long as SEGA has had internal studios, AM2 has been the favorite son of the arcade division... Without AM2, SEGA would not have been able to dominate the arcades the way that they did."[38] Video game researcher Ken Horowitz has stated that AM2 became the most well-known of Sega's in-house development teams and that the studio produced "ground-breaking classics".[8]
^"Sega Hopes to Run Rings Around the Competition with Early Release of the Saturn".Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 72. Sendai Publishing. July 1995. p. 30.
^Montfort, Nick; Consalvo, Mia. "The Dreamcast, Console of the Avant-Garde".Loading... The Journal of the Canadian Game Studies Association.6 (9):82–99.
^Dransfield, Ian (June 10, 2008)."Wii Review: Ghost Squad".Kikizo. Superglobal.Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. RetrievedMarch 31, 2020.
