Sega World
International chain of Sega amusement arcades and entertainment centers.
Sega World (Japanese: セガワールド, Hepburn: Segawārudo), sometimes written as SegaWorld, was a global chain of amusement arcades and entertainment centers launched by Sega. While Sega had been running venues since the late 1960s in Japan, the Sega World brand became one of its most prominent and successful ventures during the 1990s and 2000s. At the chain's height in the 1990s, at least 101 Sega World locations operated worldwide. The success of these arcades allowed Sega to branch out into Joypolis indoor theme parks and other entertainment center chains. However, most Sega World locations closed in the 2000s, largely due to a global downturn in the arcade industry that made many sites unprofitable, a prolonged recession in Japan, and cost-cutting measures during Sega's corporate restructuring. In recent years, the Sega World name has faded from use, with most remaining venues adopting generic "Sega" branding. These sites are now run by Genda Inc., which acquired 85.1% of Sega Entertainment's shares in 2020. In January 2022, Genda bought the remaining shares and announced it would rebrand all Sega arcades under the name GiGO, reviving an earlier Sega brand. Two notable uses of the Sega World name were the SegaWorld London and Sega World Sydney indoor theme parks, both opened in the late 1990s. Each operated for only three years before closing. Most Sega World locations were standard amusement arcades featuring Sega's own coin-operated machines, along with games from other companies. They were often housed in purpose-built suburban buildings, but also appeared in shopping malls, bowling alleys, department stores, and theme parks. Many were designed to attract families, though their connection to Sega also drew interest from video game enthusiasts. Venue sizes varied, but—aside from a few now-closed exceptions—they did not include the large-scale attractions and rides found in Joypolis parks. Because of their link to Sega, some locations served as testing grounds for new games and machines. A number of sites also offered extra amenities like food courts and retail shops. In the 1990s especially, many arcades featured elaborate décor and designs based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog character, used as a recognizable mascot to appeal to families.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Amusement
- Area Served
- Japan (formerly the United Kingdom, Australia, Taiwan, South Korea and China)
- Owner
- Genda GiGO Entertainment
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Sega Worlds are most typically standard amusement arcades featuring Sega's own coin-operated arcade machines, alongside others. Though frequently housed in purpose-built suburban buildings, they have also been developed in other settings, including shopping malls, bowling alleys, department stores, and theme parks. Many have been specifically designed to appeal to families, although the association with their parent company has meant continued interest from video game enthusiasts. Venues can vary in size, but, with a number of now-defunct exceptions, do not house the large-scale attractions and rides that are more commonly found in Joypolis indoor theme parks. Because of their association with Sega, some are used as location testing grounds for new games and machines developed by the company. Several locations are also known to have contained extra amenities, such as onsite food and shopping outlets. Particularly in the 1990s, many of the arcades featured elaborate décor and designs based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog character, primarily used as a recognisable mascot for family appeal.
Reader's Guide
Off the back of the initial success of the venues, Sega were able to expand into developing the Joypolis indoor theme parks and several other amusement and entertainment center chains. However, a large majority of these were closed in the 2000s, primarily due to a worldwide decline in the amusement arcade industry rendering some centers unprofitable, an ongoing recession in Japan, and cost-cutting measures at Sega in the midst of their restructuring. Recent years have seen the name fall out of favour, with most of the remaining venues now using generic "Sega" branding. Alongside these, they currently continue to be operated under the Sega name by Genda Inc., after their 85.1% majority acquisition of Sega Entertainment's shares in 2020. In January 2022, Genda acquired the remaining shares and announced that it would rebrand all of Sega's venues under the name GiGO (reviving one of Sega's previous brands). One of the most significant uses of the name was for the SegaWorld London and Sega World Sydney indoor theme park venues in the late 1990s; these were both short-lived and closed after three years of operations.
Did You Know?
- The earliest known venue to use the Sega World name was Sega World Ito Yokado Obihiro, which opened on 25 February 1989.
- Sega World Tomioka, opened in 1995, was abandoned after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 and remained with unremoved arcade machines intact until dismantling began in November 2020.
- Sega World Apollo, originally known as Apollo Vegas upon opening in July 1972, is thought to be Sega's longest-running arcade venue.
- SegaWorld London, opened on 7 September 1996, was Sega's first indoor theme park outside of Japan and occupied 10200m² on seven floors of the London Trocadero complex.
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Elsewhere in Sonic the Hedgehog
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