Sega Europe triumphs as Sonic Heroes takes top spot
Belief in hedgehog IP shows through
Sega Europe has seen its first major release take the number one spot in the UK charts, overcoming industry apathy, journalistic prejudice and a perceived consumer blackout.
Following a commendably astute PR campaign, the multiformat roll-out has entered at the top, great news for Sega Europe, who had come under considerable pressure following the disappointing sales of Team 17’s excellent Worms 3D.
Many within the games industry had written off the middleware Sonic Heroes from nearly every perspective. Retail buyers held the blatantly incorrect opinion that the IP had tired and the press had collectively decided that as the game was created in the North American offshoot of Sonic Team, it couldn’t possibly contain the essential Yuji Naka Magic that has seen the Blue One become one of the most recognised videogame brands on the planet.
Sega Europe has been tentatively eyeing Sonic Heroes as something of it’s personal Sword of Damocles for months, as pressure from the Japanese head office mounted. This is the first time the fledgling satellite has had to cope with the (arguably) ego-driven expectations of Sega Japan, and we imagine that tomorrow, the news of the game’s success will be delivered with certain undertones of pride and relief.
Sonic Heroes finally knocks Need for Speed into second place, after weeks of the unusually bland game’s dominance betraying the relatively savvy British public’s astute buying sense, reinstating one of the best gaming franchises on the planet to its rightful place at the top of the retail sales chart.
Following a commendably astute PR campaign, the multiformat roll-out has entered at the top, great news for Sega Europe, who had come under considerable pressure following the disappointing sales of Team 17’s excellent Worms 3D.
Many within the games industry had written off the middleware Sonic Heroes from nearly every perspective. Retail buyers held the blatantly incorrect opinion that the IP had tired and the press had collectively decided that as the game was created in the North American offshoot of Sonic Team, it couldn’t possibly contain the essential Yuji Naka Magic that has seen the Blue One become one of the most recognised videogame brands on the planet.
Sega Europe has been tentatively eyeing Sonic Heroes as something of it’s personal Sword of Damocles for months, as pressure from the Japanese head office mounted. This is the first time the fledgling satellite has had to cope with the (arguably) ego-driven expectations of Sega Japan, and we imagine that tomorrow, the news of the game’s success will be delivered with certain undertones of pride and relief.
Sonic Heroes finally knocks Need for Speed into second place, after weeks of the unusually bland game’s dominance betraying the relatively savvy British public’s astute buying sense, reinstating one of the best gaming franchises on the planet to its rightful place at the top of the retail sales chart.
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