2 SR3

There is no doubt that the videogame industry would not be what it is
today without Sega. No other company has had more "firsts" in the
industry than Sega. From its creation over 50 years ago, Sega has
continuously pioneered and innovated to bring gaming into new levels.
Hence, my new portmanteau: Segavation: a combination of the words
Sega and innovation for they mean the same thing in the gaming
industry.

The phenomenon that is Segavation is the sole reason for my love of
videogames. Even though I, like many others, was introduced into the
gaming world through Nintendo, I have realized what gaming is all
about and can confidently say that Sega is just that---what gaming is all
about. Not to undermine Nintendo, for they were important to the
development of the industry as well (though I condemn their monopoly
of the 8-bit era), and not to over-glorify Sega, for, as far as business
decisions go, they have screwed up more times than a carpenter
constructing a ceiling (yes, I know it's a horrible metaphor); but no
other company can match what Sega has done for gaming.

Just take a look at some of these firsts that Sega has created:

-The first laser disc game: Sega Astron Belt

-The first 3D videogame: SubRoc-3D

-The first company into the 16, 32, and 128-bit markets.

-The first company to release a color handheld: Game Gear

-The first company to offer console Internet access

and network play: Saturn Netlink

-The first company to offer online console gaming in both

narrowband and broadband

-The first company to offer online real-time chat: Alien Front Online

There are of course, many other accomplishments that I have failed to
mention (this column would probably never end if I mentioned
everything Sega has done). My point, however, is that Sega has led the
industry into the future at every possible stage. Just think of what
Sega has brought us: the Sega Channel, which provided videogames to
Genesis owners through cable TV, or what Sega has done with its
introduction of online gaming (and no, X-Band does not count as online
gaming), and the very underrated Dreamcast Visual Memory Unit
(VMU), which allowed home games to extend in the portable world as
well as allow for complete secrecy in sports game play calling (NFL
2K).

Above all their pioneering, Sega is a company that is willing to take
risks. They take these risks solely to satisfy the hardcore gamer;
certainly not for gain in the business world. In fact, it is primarily
because of this aspect that Sega has failed (only in an economic
sense) in the hardware business. I mean honestly, who else would bring
over games like the voice-recognition pet simulator Seaman, or
expensive peripherals such as the maracas of Samba de Amigo or the
twin-sticks of Virtual On? Answer: No one. Certainly not Sony (they are
too busy rehashing garbage titles like Twisted Metal 18). And that is
why Sega equals revolution. They are an innovative company,
concerned more about gamers than investors; and that is what gaming
is all about.