SegaIn an exclusive interview with InterGame’s David Snook, Sega has revealed some of its plans for a North American new redemption release and what visitors can expect to see at the SEGA Booth at this year’s IAAPA Expo in November 2019.

InterGame: As part of its contribution to a feature on licensed products for InterGame’s June issue, Sega marketing executive, Lester Travasso, spoke about how the company goes about its selection processes for the right IPs and brands.

“With some licenses, it’s immediately apparent that they will suit a video game,” said Travasso. “Transformers is an obvious one and when that happens, it makes the process that much easier. Alternatively, we will have an idea for a game and as it develops, it becomes clear that it would suit a certain license and we start researching what brands or IPs would be the right fit.

“A good example of the latter is Jelly Belly Ticket Beananza video redemption title that we previewed at IAAPA last year. It’s still in development today and we’re looking to bring it to the North American market by the end of this year.”

He continued: “As we were developing it, we came to a certain point where we realized that it would be greatly enhanced by a license, something that would give it a ‘wow’ factor. Jelly Belly as a brand has great recognition and awareness and with its colors and family appeal, it was an ideal fit. We’re flexible in terms of which way we go, however – if an idea is on the table and a license can push it further, then that’s what we’ll do.”

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Sega has been following this successful formula for a long time. OutRun (Ferrari) – 2008’s Ford Racing – Transformers. Travasso continues: “The original Human Alliance game was really well received and is still operating today, so it made sense to follow it up with Shadows Rising, which has been just as popular. It has really delivered for us. We’ve got some big launches planned for the IAAPA Expo this year, one of which will be a big licensed video game”

InterGame is planning an in-depth licensing feature article in its June issue.

What this could mean? You can bet that I and the Alpha/AEM Teams will be spending some time at the Sega Booth at IAAPA as we always do. We are looking forward to seeing and playing their new videmption game Jelly Belly Ticket Beananza (a tongue twister and catchy name) and picking out from the line-up some other games that we can test and report about in The Redemption & FEC Report. The Sega Booth is also a place where I get to run into and chat with many of the top game operators and FEC operators, as they too are there to study the new games. Oh, and yes, I do think that a great game with a well-known license can make a great-great game.  However, a lousy game with a great license is still a lousy game but concede that maybe the license can make it a lousy+ game.

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