OT: Sega signs Eastside Hockey Manager

[kingnebwsu]

This game doesn't interest me, but I know several people on the board are big hockey fans...so here's a link:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/eastsidehockeymanagerfe/news_6084812.html

-------------------

Sega signs Eastside Hockey Manager

Sega Europe announces that it has secured the worldwide publishing rights to Sports Interactive's upcoming ice hockey management game.

Sega Europe has today announced that it has secured the worldwide publishing rights to Eastside Hockey Manager: Franchise Edition for the PC. The game, which is currently in development at Sports Interactive, is the developer's first non-soccer management game, and is currently scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2004.

"Having looked long and hard at the numerous publishing options we were presented with, we chose Sega as we believe it is perfectly placed to help Eastside Hockey Manager: Franchise Edition secure the global recognition it deserves," said Miles Jacobson, managing director of Sports Interactive. "Riz and his team have done a truly outstanding job in making this game and it's now up to us to make sure that every ice hockey fan in the world knows that it is out there and waiting for them."

"Sports Interactive's proven heritage in football management games is unquestioned," added Matthew Woodley, European marketing director for Sega Europe. "Extending that experience to other sports is a natural progression for this exceptionally talented team, and we are delighted to be working with such a premier league developer. This signing also marks our continued drive to expand our games portfolio, particularly in the PC arena."

For more information on Eastside Hockey Manager: Franchise Edition, check out our previous coverage of the game.

By Justin Calvert, GameSpot [POSTED: 11/28/03 07:11 AM]

-------------------

[SirFozzie]

Riz already posted it Kingneb.. :)

[GoldenEagle]

Cant blame the guy for rporting it though.

[SirFozzie]

Nope. was just informing him..

It's much fun trying to get Riz to release it early for us, though, when he talks :)

[Karim]

Hopefully no more Eidos fiascos with Sega but my impression is that Sega has a bigger brand name in North America than Eidos. I don't know the types of pressures that will be placed on SI, but I'm wishing them all the success they can handle - (For purely selfish reasons since there hasn't been a career hockey sim of this magnitude since probably HSL2.)

[sabotai]

I hope Sega doesn't try to do anything that damages it. The reason CM is successful is because SIGames knows how to make an immersive, addictive game. Hopefully Sega won't mess with their formula.

And hopefully this means Sega will be able to pony up the licensing dollas for the NHL and the NHLPA.

[Tekneek]

Originally posted by sabotai
And hopefully this means Sega will be able to pony up the licensing dollas for the NHL and the NHLPA.

This is what I was thinking. Sega should have the juice to get the leagues to sign on, and get a good distribution of the game.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally posted by sabotai
I hope Sega doesn't try to do anything that damages it. The reason CM is successful is because SIGames knows how to make an immersive, addictive game. Hopefully Sega won't mess with their formula.

We retain ALL creative control of EHM:FE, thats something which we were very insistent upon.

[Chubby]

HOORAH!

EHM:FE is now the game I am most looking forward to that FOF 2004 is out. Hopefully Sega ponies up the $ for the licenses.

[sabotai]

Originally posted by Marc Vaughan
We retain ALL creative control of EHM:FE, thats something which we were very insistent upon.

Great to hear Marc. Glad someone saw that you have a great design and knew that it shouldn't be messed with. Any word on the possibility of obtaining licenses?

[SackAttack]

When a publisher obtains licenses, do they have to license each game that the publish within a particular sport, or can they obtain the license in general, and then apply it to the various games they might publish? For example, Sega published two or three baseball games in recent years, between World Series Baseball, Home Run King, and I think they were behind Baseball Advance as well. Did they need to license each game independently, or did first time pay for all?

[tucker342]

Originally posted by Marc Vaughan
We retain ALL creative control of EHM:FE, thats something which we were very insistent upon.

Great to hear!!!:)

I'll be watching for the release date with interest:)

[Karim]

When can we pre-order?

[illinifan999]

Does this mean that there is an outside, tiny, miniscul ;) chance that they'll release it in the US?

[Chubby]

I would assume they would, I always thought that the reason CM was only released in europe was cause futbol wasn't big here...

[Marc Vaughan]

We'll post more information regarding licences once the men in suits have them sorted out .... its not an area I get involved with personally (I just help make the games in the way I want and then nudge them if required by the lawyers).

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally posted by illinifan999
Does this mean that there is an outside, tiny, miniscul ;) chance that they'll release it in the US?

It'll definitely get an American release - after all thats one of its main markets ....

[ice4277]

Does this possibly extend to future soccer releases by SI as well?

[SirFozzie]

Great Marc. Glad to see SI gaining a US foothold. Hopefully this turns into such a major success that they bring you on as a full partner for SI's range of games

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally posted by ice4277
Does this possibly extend to future soccer releases by SI as well?
Not really something I get too involved in - but I'd very much like to see CM released in America.

[SirFozzie]

Interesting story about SI breaking into a new sport, and hopefully into a new market (that of icehockey with EHM: FE)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/gameswatch/story/0,12453,1095670,00.html

[Marc Vaughan]

We've got a fair bit of mainstream press coverage in England over EHM:FE which is quite cool :D

In the coming few months more coverage of the game itself will appear on our site (and game sites) and obviously once it reaches Gold Master a demo will appear in the same manner as we normally do for CM itself.

[WSUCougar]

bump

It's Q1 2004. Do you know where your EHM is?

Any late word on this?

[hukarez]

I hope Sega doesn't try to do anything that damages it. The reason CM is successful is because SIGames knows how to make an immersive, addictive game. Hopefully Sega won't mess with their formula.

And hopefully this means Sega will be able to pony up the licensing dollas for the NHL and the NHLPA.Their NHL games aren't licensed??

EDIT: I had thought that was in regards to Sega's NHL 2K4 series or the like...

[ice4277]

bump

It's Q1 2004. Do you know where your EHM is?

Any late word on this?
Yeah, I was just thinking about this earlier today. We need answers dammit!
;)

[Desnudo]

I hope they get the license. I'd hate to have to play with Fergy Ledorov of the Orange County Giant Chickens.

[sachmo71]

It's coming. Have patience.

[ice4277]

I hope they get the license. I'd hate to have to play with Fergy Ledorov of the Orange County Giant Chickens.
He's sucked ever since he left the Michigan Maroon Chicken Parts You Drink With Beers.

OK yours was better.

[WSUCougar]

It's coming. Have patience.
I just have been having a hard time finding any kind of a status report on where the game is at in terms of development. Didn't mean to imply I was impatient. :p

[mckerney]

I would assume they would, I always thought that the reason CM was only released in europe was cause futbol wasn't big here...

As opposed to how huge hockey is (http://www.startribune.com/stories/1330/4330146.html).

[Franklinnoble]

Who cares about the licensing? The NHL will probably cease to exist pretty soon anyway, seeing as how most of the league is bankrupt and they can't agree on a labor contract.

[ice4277]

Who cares about the licensing? The NHL will probably cease to exist pretty soon anyway, seeing as how most of the league is bankrupt and they can't agree on a labor contract.
not likely

[Karim]

Teams may fold or relocate or the league may contract but it will never fold. That's like saying MLB will fold because no one gives a shit about baseball in Montreal.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Who cares about the licensing? The NHL will probably cease to exist pretty soon anyway, seeing as how most of the league is bankrupt and they can't agree on a labor contract.

You are not serious. That is neither a question nor a suggestion. That is a statement.

You are not serious.