The amount of articles I could write about how Capcom should be bought immediately will reach infinite status, guaranteed. This is prime property, prime good ol’ money-making potential. Sony should buy them. Nintendo should buy them. If Disney has a way around the legal system, they should buy them. If Microsoft had a shot, they should buy them. The point is Capcom is the cinematic version of LucasArts, a company run by all the wrong people, but has all the right stuff to turn it back around.
I have already mentioned how Nintendo would be the absolutely perfect fit for Capcom’s new home. But let’s change the stakes just a little. There is a company out there with enough money to buy the stock necessary for said takeover. It is a Japanese company with plenty of American experience, and as of now has the finances necessary to get this job done. Lastly, if anyone is willing to make a big splash in the gaming industry, it would be these guys.
What about Sega?
Can you imagine if Sega forked over the money, became the primary owner, and single-handedly altered the landscape of the industry? Can you imagine Sega being allowed to pick and choose who they want to make games for, which Capcom franchises belong to which systems? Sega can hold the Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Street Fighter franchise practically hostage. While other companies in the third-party realm are indeed bigger, most of them are from the Western Hemisphere and are unable to create that strategy.
Now let’s look at Sega’s other option: competing in the console wars once again.
This one is far more a long shot because of all the risks involved and because the wound of Dreamcast still feels fresh (You don’t think so? 15 years ago Sega was third in the console wars. 10 years ago they became a third-party. Pretty sure it still stings). But if Sega were to expand their profits, developing a successful console is the way to go. PS4 is selling at a record pace. The Xbox One actually has one of the best first-year runs in gaming history, and it’s in third. Lastly Nintendo despite a pure lack of software and third-party support is etching in second place while inching towards 84% market share in the handheld market.
The money is indeed there if you are just competing, this isn’t the 90s anymore. The only reason Sony is reporting losses is because of their other fields being very unsuccessful, especially the television division. But the eighth generation is proving to be the most profitable, as the game lineups from all three systems have remained ho-hum, but are still selling like hotcakes. So why not see a Super Dreamcast in the future? Sega has proven to be innovative with its hardware capabilities, and all they really need to do to make an impact is improve the software (Not sure Sonic has gone back to Sonic and Knuckles quality just yet).
The hardware idea is much more a pipe dream because I am sure Sega will be more than satisfied remaining low and just developing games for everyone else. But the stock value and the quality value of the Sega name will increase dramatically if they can claim the sinking Capcom. Sega’s brand name has been rather fleeting since 1999, and that run needs to end very soon especially when you see companies like Rockstar and Activision put up heavy numbers.
If none of the Big 3 is interested, then Sega should definitely take the gamble, pay the millions, and create the takeover. Its lineup of available franchises will practically quadruple, and it will create possibilities in the software division, the hardware division, and even in the arcade division (where Sega reigned heavily once upon a time). This is a pure win-win situation for Sega, no doubt about it.
Seriously though, gaming companies, one of you needs to stop fooling around and just buy Capcom. Make the world a better place.
