Sega axing staff and games in US and UK due to poor fiscal forecast

Sega is undergoing major restructuring within its US and European operations after informing investors of a 47.7% decrease in expected net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31.

According to documents posted by Sega Sammy today, the longtime game company expects to post lower-than-expected net sales for the last fiscal year, which ran April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012. Specifically, the company predicts it will fail to meet its previous estimation of 38 billion yen ($460 million) by a large margin, and instead end the year at $20 billion yen ($240 million). As a result, its board of directors has decided to pursue “streamlining” actions within its western operations; actions that will take even more coin out of Sega's pocket.

“We will streamline organization in the US and Europe home video game software,” reads the statement. “This will create a smaller company positioned for sustained profitability.”

In addition to slimming staff, Sega announced it will be canceling the development of a number of games, while focusing on proven franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog, Aliens, Total War, and Football Manager. It did not say which of its upcoming titles were on the chopping block, but we expect we'll know which games to pay our respects to in the coming months.

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Prototype 2 tank trailer brings the heat

Prototype 2 will grant James Heller the ability to scale buildings, uppercut helicopters, sprout tentacles on demand, and go toe-to-toe with monsters the size of a small city block. Surely, the good Sergeant doesn't need a tank to swing the odds in his favor, but then again even superhuman murderers need to take a rest now and then. Watch what happens when Heller trades bio-bombs for heavily artillery in Activision and Radical Entertainment's new gameplay trailer:
http://www.gamesradar.com/prototype-2-tank-trailer-brings-heat/
Activision's marketing campaign for Prototype 2 is reminiscent of THQ's strategy for Saints Row: The Third, in that Radical Entertainment's open-world antics get crazier and more absurd with each passing video (for further proof, read: Prototype 2 trailer reveals 11 ways to kill like a champ). At this pace, we'll be watching trailers of Heller surfing jet fighters and harassing mutants with giant, purple dildos by next week (see: Saints Row: The Third boasts 2 million beaten to death with giant purple sex toy). Actually, that does sound pretty awesome.
Prototype 2 is on schedule to roll in for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC on April 24 in North America, and April 27 in the UK.

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