Outrun Online Arcade will not be released on the PlayStation Network in North America, Sega has confirmed to CVG.
Instead the colourful update will opt for Xbox Live Arcade exclusivity in the US, while the Europe will receive both PSN and XBLA versions as planned.
When quizzed on the reason behind the North American exclusivity, Sega UK declined to comment.
The new Outrun is in development at Sheffield-based Sumo Digital (who does every Sega XBLA game in the world, by the looks of it) and, along with new high-res visuals, will allow for six mental racers to go sideways in online bouts.
It's not all bad news for our PS3-owning US cousins though, because as we all know accessing the European PlayStation Store is as easy as fiddling with a few profile options.
Going back to the game itself here, is there any difference between this and Outrun 2006? I had that on the PS2 and whilst it was very good, I don't think I'd play it just for the online element.
Quite frankly this is just the kind of bull that has ruined this generation for me. If they were paid to deny a select group of people access to a game that would sell hundreds of thousands within the US then it stinks end of and I don't even blame M$ because they can spend their cash on whatever but Sega should really just be ashamed. I would love to get confirmation on this issue, somebody post an update if possible.
Exclusivity deals have occured since back in the 8-bit days but really started happening by a certain company called "Sony" when the original Playstation needed a grip on the market place - Many Saturn versions were cancelled or stopped (Tombraider 2 springs to mind).
The fact that MS have used it this generation to some success can be tracked back to Sony's tactics for the PS1.
To block a PSN title does seem strange, but a similar deal for Final Fantasy XIII has the xbox 360 version coming out in all teritories except Japan.
I think early 2009 is the only time frame we have been given so far. I would hope in the next few months but I wouldn't be surprised to see it towards the end of April either.
I'm really looking forward to this, so the sooner the better for me.
Exclusivity deals have occured since back in the 8-bit days but really started happening by a certain company called "Sony" when the original Playstation needed a grip on the market place - Many Saturn versions were cancelled or stopped (Tombraider 2 springs to mind).
The fact that MS have used it this generation to some success can be tracked back to Sony's tactics for the PS1.
To block a PSN title does seem strange, but a similar deal for Final Fantasy XIII has the xbox 360 version coming out in all teritories except Japan.
bwahahaha. i agree,i remember those saturn days well, with each month seeing screens of a game coming soon only to have it strangely disappear..
having now moved onto the xbox bandwagon i have to admit i find it highly amusing to see sony being beaten at their own game. the final fantasy announcement at E3 was classic, it was almost as if microsoft were removing the knife from segas back and stabbing it right into sonys. excellent!
i hope MS continue to splash the cash and deny sony games, its hilarious. sure its not fun for ppl with the ps3 but i dont care, im a bitter git. i should know it happened to me during the saturn and dreamcast eras.
If they were paid to deny a select group of people access to a game that would sell hundreds of thousands within the US then it stinks end of and I don't even blame M$ because they can spend their cash on whatever but Sega should really just be ashamed.
I agree. Though I'd much rather this than games just get pulled because the publishers don't believe there's a market for them... Which is exactly what happened with the Gamecube.
this makes absolutley no difference to ps3 owners as you can download stuff from all the stores so denying one store access is pointless, if an american really wants to buy this they'll just create a dummy euro account. it does stink to high heaven though
Seeing as how Sony and the PlayStation knocked Sega out of the hardware business it must be tempting for Sega just to tell Sony to "Go f**kc Themselves" at every given chance.
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