SEGA announces the creation of a new CG Studio

Software publisher SEGA has announced the creation of a new dedicated CG studio, which will open its doors in April 2006.

As the new generation of console hardware draws closer, the need for high-end visual effects and FMV has prompted the firm to establish a brand new studio dedicated to the creation and development of visual effects and animation.

The publisher has suggested that in addition to intro sequences and movies, in-game visuals may also be developed in the new studio. Furthermore, the company is intent on the studio branching out into non-gaming business avenues such as attraction rides, TV animation, and additional assistance for the various divisions within SEGA.

A spokesman for SEGA commented: "With the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 expanding the possibilities of how well we can express art on screen, CG will become an even greater element of the gaming experience."

The extension of CG visuals into full cinematic animations has been tried before, as Square (prior to its merger with Enix Corporation) released the CG movie Final Fantasy: Spirits Within. Whilst heralded as a technological breakthrough at the time, film revenue was vastly outweighed by the production costs, ultimately resulting in the closure of Square's animation division.

Last year Nintendo announced its intention to diversify into CG animation and the first example of its work is due in cinemas in 2006. SEGA will initially focus on console gaming and hopes to attract work from other games developers to bolster studio production and, ultimately, company profits.