Sega AM2
Yu Suzuki, who had previously developed arcade games for Sega including Hang-On and Out Run, was the first manager of the department.AM2 was placed under the management of CSK Research Institute in 2000, and a year later became SEGA-AM2 Co., Ltd. Their development of Shenmue was over budget and cost millions of dollars, and despite positive reviews and good sales was unable to become profitable.To accomplish his desire to make a 3D game despite technological limitations at the time,[3] he specified the design of Sega's new Super Scaler arcade system board,[4] which utilized 16-bit graphics and sprite-scaling.With the massive success of Street Fighter II in the industry at the time, he made the decision to make a 3D fighting game to compete.To accurately depict Daytona International Speedway, the developers used satellite imagery and sent staff to photograph the track; Nagoshi walked a full lap to get a feel for the banking in the corners.[19][20] Daytona USA was highly popular in arcades, and the twin cabinet was one of three 1995 recipients of the American Amusement Machine Association's Diamond Awards, which are based strictly on sales achievements.[25] Further titles developed in the end of 1990s included Virtua Cop 2, Fighting Vipers, Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge, and SpikeOut.[27] Also in 2000, Sega restructured its arcade and console development teams into nine semi-autonomous studios headed by the company's top designers.[33] Incorporating a simulated day/night cycle with variable weather, non-player characters with regular schedules, and the ability to pick up and examine detailed objects (also introducing the Quick-time event in its modern form[33][34]), Shenmue went over budget and was rumored to have cost Sega over $50 million.[5][36] According to Sega of America president Peter Moore, Shenmue sold "extremely well", but the game had no chance of making a profit due to the Dreamcast's limited installed base.[38][35]In addition to the mixed reception for Shenmue, 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", and Genki's port of Virtua Fighter 3 as inferior to the arcade version, "which was already a couple years old and never as popular as its predecessors.[43] In 2001, AM2 of CRI was renamed to SEGA-AM2 Co., Ltd.[44] After serving as a producer on Virtua Cop 3 and OutRun 2,[23] Suzuki left AM2 on October 1, 2003, in order to start a new studio with Sega, called Digitalrex.[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 as Space Harrier to Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution.[64] Other titles from AM2 to get long-term support in arcades are Quest of D,[65] Sega Network Taisen Mahjong MJ,[66] and Shining Force Cross.[23][24][26] Other titles developed by the studio include Scud Race,[80] Sonic the Fighters,[26] 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker,[81] F355 Challenge,[39] Outtrigger (video game),[82] and Soul Reverse.According to Aaron Souppouris of Engadget, 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 the Hatsune Miku series "admittedly excellent"."[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".
Trade nameDivisionVideo gamesYu SuzukiToshihiro NagoshiArcade gamesParentvideo game developmentHang-OnOut RunVirtua RacingVirtua FighterDaytona USACSK Research InstituteShenmueSammy CorporationBorder BreakSega development studiosprogrammerChampion BoxingSG-1000Super Scalerarcade system board16-bitSpace HarrierEnduro RacerAfter BurnerPower DriftHayao NakayamaModel 1Sega GenesisNext GenerationsoccerSega SaturnRidge Racersatellite imageryAmerican Amusement Machine AssociationVirtua Fighter seriesVirtua CopVirtua Fighter 2Virtua Cop 2Fighting VipersDaytona USA 2: Battle on the EdgeSpikeOutCSK CorporationAero Dancinghis own studioDreamcastkiller appChinese cinemaaction-adventure gameYokosukasimulatednon-player charactersQuick-time eventPeter MooreShenmue IIF355 ChallengeVirtua Fighter 3Virtua Fighter 4PlayStation 2Virtua Cop 3OutRun 2Virtua Fighter 4 EvolutionSega Sammy HoldingsVirtua Fighter 5Ghost SquadNintendo SwitchholographicKantai CollectionPlayStation 4Quest of DSega Network Taisen Mahjong MJShining Force CrossRyu Ga Gotoku StudioScud RaceSonic the FightersOuttrigger (video game)EngadgetSega Hang-On hardwareSega Space Harrier hardwareSega OutRun hardwareSega X BoardAfter Burner IISega Y BoardDynamite DüxSega System 16Turbo OutrunSword of VermilionSega Mega DriveGP RiderStrike FighterRent a HeroF1 Exhaust NoteSega System 32Arabian FightSega Model 1Soreike KokologyBurning RivalSega Model 2Desert TankVirtua Fighter RemixVirtua StrikerVirtua Fighter 2 CG Portrait SeriesVirtua Fighter KidsSega ST-VSega Model 3Fighters MegamixScud Race PlusVirtua Fighter 3tbFighting Vipers 2Daytona USA 2Daytona USA 2: Power EditionFerrari F355 ChallengeSega NAOMI MultiboardSega NAOMIBeach SpikersF355 Challenge 2 International Course EditionSega NAOMI 2GamecubeThe King of Route 66Virtua Fighter 4: EvolutionChoujikuu Yousai MacrossSega ChihiroSega Network Taisen Mahjong MJ2Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 16: Virtua Fighter 2