Sega Starts ALL.Net Online Coin-Op Network In U.S.

Officials from Sega Amusements USA and Sega Entertainment USA have announced that the first game for the company’s new online platform ALL.Net, which is in the process of launching in North America, will be Extreme Hunting 2: Tournament Edition. The new ALL.Net platform is designed to allow players to compete in massively multiplayer online tournaments in exterior locations such as bars, arcades and family entertainment centers such as the company’s GameWorks chain. The technology was originally launched in Japan in 2004 by Sega and Sammy, among other parties, and planned for games such as Virtua Fighter 4 Final Evolution, Quest of D, and Virtua Striker 4 in that country. With Virtua Fighter 5 showcasing even more complex ALL.Net functionality, Sega's North American arcade and entertainment divisions have officially brought the technology to the U.S. GameWorks is currently hosting a Deer and Shotgun Tournament from August 2nd to 27th to showcase the ALL.Net platform in six locations across the U.S.: Seattle, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis, and Schaumburg, Ill. Competitors have a chance to win in their local city and the three highest scores overall will be recognized as the national winners. By the autumn Sega plans to offer the ALL.Net online kit for all existing and future sales of coin-op Extreme Hunting 2: Tournament Edition. The game, a former Sammy hunting franchise, will link consumers into a common community allowing for national tournaments and online rankings. Further titles for the ALL.Net platform have yet to been announced. For further background on plans, Gamasutra recently interviewed the Sega Entertainment-owned GameWorks vice-president of sales and marketing Clint Manny on his company's plans for the U.S. market.