Sega & Konami: Domestic Disharmony

[Bratwurst]

So what was it between these two companies that made Konami not so keen on supporting Sega's hardware? Could just be me, but the releases on the NES (Famicom) and SNES seemed to overwhelm what was put out on the Genesis. Multiple Castlevanias against the Genesis Bloodlines, one single Contra, etc.

And then during the 32-bit phase Konami's even more forthcoming with their preference as they virtually ignore the Saturn. Granted, the Playstation was hot but it was right from the start that Sega got the shaft in regards to games and peripherals (guns, joysticks).

[ManekiNeko]

My suspicion is that Konami was focused on their home country of Japan, and decided that since the Mega Drive was selling so poorly there, that Sega wasn't going to last very long as a console manufacturer. They only released Genesis games in America because they felt they HAD to do it to reach a wider audience there. That's why far too many Genesis games by Konami looked and felt like afterthoughts in comparison to their Super NES counterparts. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters is an excellent example... the game that was magnificent on the Super Nintendo just barely cut the mustard on the Sega Genesis.

JR

[Ed Oscuro]

I wouldn't be able to say, either, but you have to remember that at one time Konami was busy making games for the Famicom/NES, Super Famicom/SNES, GameBoy, MSX2, PC-9801 and Sharp x68000 - and also creating handheld LCD systems and arcade games. That seems a bit stretched thin to me. This may have nothing to do with it, of course, but they had dropped the MSX and PC-9801 by the time they were making Mega Drive titles.

Who knows...maybe something nefarious was going on.

[Push Upstairs]

That's why far too many Genesis games by Konami looked and felt like afterthoughts in comparison to their Super NES counterparts. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters is an excellent example... the game that was magnificent on the Super Nintendo just barely cut the mustard on the Sega Genesis.


Even "The Hyperstone Heist" seems like a rush job compared to "Turtles in Time".

I always assumed that the reason the Konami games were few and later was that they had some agreement with Nintendo and that by late 92-93 they were then able to make games on the Genesis.


I realy find it hard to believe that Konami would ignore the Saturn in Japan.

[Half Japanese]

I must say that I enjoyed the heck out of Contra: Hard Corps (possibly my favorite of the Contras) and Castlevania: Bloodlines.

[Ed Oscuro]

by late 92-93 they were then able to make games on the Genesis.
Which games were these? I only know of Konami Genesis games copyrighted around 1994...

[Push Upstairs]

I believe "Tiny Toons" on Genesis came out in 1993

But my memory on when i bought that is very fuzzy

[thegreatescape]

I believe "Tiny Toons" on Genesis came out in 1993

Depends. Busters hidden treasure was '93, but ACME allstars was '94. Rocket Knight adventures came out in 93 though, as did Lethal Enforcers.

Barring the TMNT games, the konami MD/Gen games were good IMO. Perhaps a personal issue with someone high up at konami ? (wasnt there one between the namco and nintendo at one point?).

And most of konami's popular series' started out on the nes, so perhaps they assumed that people with super nintendo's would be familiar with sequals to popular NES games- e.g Castlevania, TMNT, Contra, etc.

Hmmm.. i seem to be out of straws to grasp at :)

[Ed Oscuro]

And most of konami's popular series' started out on the nes, so perhaps they assumed that people with super nintendo's would be familiar with sequals to popular NES games- e.g Castlevania, TMNT, Contra, etc.
Well, they started out in their home console forms on the Famicom/NES. Big difference! Contra, Nemesis/Gradius, Akumajo Dracula/Castlevania and others like Twinbee all started out as arcade games; Konami put them where they thought they'd sell best.

Konami certainly didn't misstep in deciding that they were better off with Nintendo's platform early on, and their decision to wait for Nintendo to come around to the 16-bit era didn't seem to hurt their sales - a sort of historical counterpart to EA's claim they'll support the PS2 until 2007.

[Bratwurst]

I had assumed that market viability had something to do with it, but as thegreatescape touched upon, I seek the dirt! If something bitter was exchanged between corporate heads I'd love to hear about it.

Because it's not just the money making factor that had me thinking. Symphony of the Night's Saturn port was supposedly given to an entirely different dev team that was considered a few notches down in competency than the primary PSX team. I don't remember seeing Konami release their Justifier gun for the Saturn (as opposed to the PSX release). Things like that.. It's like a mirrored situation to the underlying message Capcom gave when they threw in extras for Mega Man 8 on the Sega console.

[Predatorxs]

I was never aware of any problem between Sega and Konami? and a fare amount of Konami Games where released on the MD / Gen?.... oohh well!

And!

Really off topic Bratwurst how come your fruit? looks better than everybody elses and how come certain people have blue and gold keys instead of fruit?!

I never really bothered with it until today.. So if there's any Mod's or people in the No, tell me whats up wit certain ppl's fruit?! LOL

I know it changes the more posts you make but, but there are a few ppl who have a normal full fruit list but they may have posted over 5000 O_O and there are ppl that have posted say 2000 and there fruit looks better...?

......and no i don't suffer fruit Envy!! :roll: (all of a sudden my plums feel smaller :hmm: )

..XS

[Bratwurst]

Really off topic Bratwurst how come your fruit? looks better than everybody elses and how come certain people have blue and gold keys instead of fruit?!

Meat is the fruit of the animal kingdom!

[Predatorxs]

Really off topic Bratwurst how come your fruit? looks better than everybody elses and how come certain people have blue and gold keys instead of fruit?!

Meat is the fruit of the animal kingdom!

LOL ----- C'mon fella whats going on wit all the fruit, an enquiring mind wishes to know!!... ;)

..XS

[PapaStu]

Fuhgedabouit... Really, seriously forget about it. If your around long enuf to grow ur cherries into other things, then congrats for you. But there are people that do not like to hear banter about such things here on DP.

Back on topic,

Maybe they couldnt bring the games over from SNES or something, because Nintendo wasnt all hot on getting titles after a "port", and or they just signed exclusive deals for those titles, much like they do today.

[-hellvin-]

At least they gave sega snatcher.

I dunno, I guess konami just made better use of nintendo's hardware.

[Push Upstairs]

At least they gave sega snatcher.

Nintendo would have never released that on SNES. If they actually did release the game it would have been edited all to hell.