SEGA up for MadWorld series if you are

By Robert Purchese Published 7 April, 2009

"We absolutely want a franchise."

SEGA America mouthpiece Sean Ratcliffe has said MadWorld could become a franchise in a heartbeat if the audience demands it.

"The first set of data for MadWorld is very encouraging," Ratcliffe told VentureBeat.

"If it resonates with the audience, yes, we absolutely want to make that into a franchise.

"I think it's unique, and there are many aspects of that game which are sort of pushing boundaries," he added. "And it's just great fun."

SEGA has found considerable success on Wii, owed largely Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

"We're in a fortunate position because SEGA does incredibly well with a lot of its games on the Wii platform," added Ratcliffe. "We were confident about that platform right from the start. A number of publishers were less so.

"SEGA has definitely taken the view that the Wii platform and the audience for the Wii fits firmly in the heartland of SEGA's consumer base."

MadWorld arrived here in March amid tabloid outcry that such a violent game should be allowed on such a family-friendly console. Absolute claptrap, of course, but sadly MadWorld failed to live up to its own notoriety in charts or reviews.

Nevertheless, SEGA and Platinum Games are to be applauded for taking the risk. Head over to our MadWorld review to find out why.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (25) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Santino #1 3 years ago

    i'd definitely be up for a sequel, hope it happens.

  • johnboy_johsnon #2 3 years ago

    Maybe port it over to other systems to get interest to grow. I'd pick it up on the 360 or PS3.

  • speedjack #3 3 years ago

    Loved it - would definitely get a sequel.

    Can't see a port working though as its one of the few Wii games which actually made sense with motion controls... and where they actually worked !

  • Plewt #4 3 years ago

    Actually it would work just as well with a regular pad considering it doesn't use the only good thing the Wiimote has; the IR pointing.

  • tomacwhite #5 3 years ago

    Maybe give us a 60hz option this time. You cunts.

  • Plewt #6 3 years ago

    If they by "If it resonates with the audience..." mean if Madworld sells well then no we're not likely to see a sequel.

    Their own fault though, the premise was good but had they gone for something like a 10 hour action game instead of a 3 hour beat 'em up (repeat 'em up is maybe a better definition) it would've sold much much better.
    Edited by 3 at 07/04/09 @ 15:01

  • robg #7 3 years ago

    Can we absolutely stop absolutely always absolutely using the same word?

  • MattyD #8 3 years ago

    I'd rather see an original game by the same developers than another sequel. It's a fun game but not so earth-shatteringly awesome that it needs a retread.

  • schnide #9 3 years ago

    "We're in a fortunate position because SEGA did well with a game, which isn't happening much these days. Oh and most of our success lately has been on the Wii," added Ratcliffe.

    "SEGA has definitely taken the view that the Wii platform and the audience for the Wii fits firmly in the heartland of SEGA's consumer base, because a lot of Wii owners are families who don't have a clue what's shit and what isn't.

    "Oh and by the way, we've got Sonic tied up down in the basement, Pulp Fiction style if you've got a spare tenner, and fancy a go."

  • PearOfAnguish #10 3 years ago

    Games company in 'would like to make loads of money from endless sequels' shocker.

    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 16:30

  • youhavenomail #11 3 years ago

    I want a game from Sega where I can pull off all those moves on Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends.

  • Plewt #12 3 years ago

    I want a game from Sega where I can pull off all those limbs on Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends.

    fixed

  • byron_hinson #13 3 years ago

    Am I wrong in thinking it hasn't actually sold well so far anyway so unlikely to have a series of games? Already reduced in most places by over £15

  • ProtoformX #14 3 years ago

    Damn! That must have been just after I bought it for full RRP! I really like MadWorld, but I don't think the premise has enough depth to warrant a sequel. Some of these games are good because they're just random one-offs that gives you something different for a change.

    Edit: Just saw on the ShopTo box that RRP is £39.99, so I didn't quite pay that - got mine for £29.99.
    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 17:47

  • septimus #15 3 years ago

    Franchise on a real console please.

  • mrpsb #16 3 years ago

    I want a game from Sega where I can pull off Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends.

    Now it's fixed.

  • secombe #17 3 years ago

    And House of the Dead Overkill is another sega game worthy of a sequel.

    Absolutely, best 'lightgun' game for years, so much love and thought gone into it. Would love a sequel, easily my second best game of the year (behind GTA: CW) so far.

  • Kyle #18 3 years ago

    You took the words right out of my mouth, CountFapula.

  • twh104 #19 3 years ago

    MadWorld isn't 480p??

  • spekkeh #20 3 years ago

    I bet all three people who bought it would like a sequel.

  • smelly #21 3 years ago

    >MadWorld isn't 480p??

    No. But then 99.9999% of people wouldnt have been able to tell if they werent told on the internet first.

    In fact even the bloke at ign who told everyone about it being 480i admitted he hadnt noticed until he took some screenshots


    Its like when someone pointed out that halo 3 wasnt running in "pure" hidef. or that bioshock wasnt running in "proper" widescreen. People couldnt tell for themselves until someone on the internet told them.. and then the whole internet forums explode about it being crap or "evil", yadda yadda. (see also securom)

    Which is further proof that the opinion of people on internet forums matters very little to anything.
    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 22:38

  • conners #22 3 years ago

    "we absolutely want a franchise"

    Oh please, please, have some self respect and just go fuck yourselves.

    For a fan of publisher with so many A-Class titles, it really annoys me that SEGA should beg like this.

    And let's be clear that this begging for MadWorld is in the back of such mixed reviews.

    SEGA - Back winners and we will alwys stand by you. It has been and will always be.

    And if you dont like what I've said, just look at the Madworld purchasing figures - they are really not very good reading.

    And YES Agent G, I would motherfuckingly, absolutely, love a House of the Motherfucking Dead Franchise -you cock- fucking mother-fuckering piece of Zombie loving shit-alry
    Edited by 6 at 08/04/09 @ 00:27

  • rudedudejude #23 3 years ago

    Excellent! It is a little short, look forward to more developments on this font.

  • kinky_mong #24 3 years ago

    So if I'm to take some of the comments in this section at face value I am to believe that just because a game hasn't sold well it is rubbish and therefore doesn't deserve a sequel?

    Enjoy Carnival Games 43 everyone!

  • Meho #25 3 years ago

    I love MadWorld, but I do agree it doesn't seem to warrant a sequel. Fun little game that thrives on graphical excess and is slightly simplistic in the gameplay department. Loveable but hardly the best thing these people ever made. If we're talking sequels, I'd love to see a new Viewtiful Joe or God Hand game made by Platinum, but Capcom probably sees it differently. If MadWorld is to have a sequel, I'd like to see the basic gameplay deepened...

    But, yes, I agree, HotD: Overkill is sublime, if they do not build on this game, they are officially insane.