Sega Sports R&D was a group within Sega, a Japanese video game company. It was responsible for creating games. Before this, the group was called Smilebit, one of nine independent studios Sega started in 2000. Smilebit was previously named R&D6 or AM6, which was mainly based on Sega PC. Smilebit was known for making sports simulation games and the game Jet Set Radio. When Sega began making games for other platforms, Smilebit started creating games for the Xbox, including Jet Set Radio Future, Panzer Dragoon Orta, and GunValkyrie. Smilebit was led by Shun Arai as president and Takayuki Kawagoe as director. In 2003, Kawagoe became president of Smilebit.
During a company reorganization, Sega combined its nine studios into four main areas. The non-sports workers from Smilebit were moved to Amusement Vision. Smilebit then focused only on sports games, and the Virtua Striker series from Amusement Vision was credited to Smilebit. When Sega and Sammy merged to form Sega Sammy Holdings, all studios were brought back under Sega. Smilebit became Sega Sports R&D and created more sports simulation games, including the first game in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series. Later, these games were labeled as CS1 and CS2, and Sega Sports R&D no longer existed.
History
When Shun Arai joined Sega, he wanted to create online projects as Sega started new businesses like home banking. Arai was responsible for tools and support for the Sega Saturn. Because of this, Sega asked Arai to make an online game when Smilebit was created. The game was called Hundred Swords and was made for the Dreamcast. The name Smilebit was chosen to make users feel happy, and the word "bit" gives the name a more serious tone.
Smilebit had about 105 employees and six development teams. One-third of the staff came from Sega PC. Other workers joined from another Sega studio called Team Andromeda, which made the Panzer Dragoon games for the Saturn. Team Andromeda closed down after the third game, Panzer Dragoon Saga (1998).
Smilebit was known as the leading studio for sports games. It created successful sports simulators like Derby Tsuku, Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou!, and Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou!. It also made non-sports games. Jet Set Radio was created by former Panzer Dragoon Saga developers who wanted to make something completely different. A sequel, Jet Set Radio Future (JSRF), was made for the Xbox. The team received praise at events like E3, but they realized this did not always mean higher sales. Panzer Dragoon was revived with Panzer Dragoon Orta, which returned to being a regular rail shooter, unlike the previous game, Panzer Dragoon Saga. The team hoped that by the time Orta was released, the Xbox market would grow and sell better than earlier Xbox games like JSRF and Gunvalkyrie. However, sales in the United States were not as good as expected. Toshihiro Nagoshi, who later led some Smilebit members, said the studio had strong technical skills even though sales were not high.
Smilebit also worked on arcade games. Typing of the Dead was first shown to AM1, and Ollie King was originally made under Smilebit before being released by Amusement Vision.
In 2003, Sega reorganized its studios, and Smilebit merged with Amusement Vision. The new Smilebit focused only on sports games, including the Virtua Striker series. At the same time, Shun Arai left Smilebit to lead the Sega Creative Center. Takayuki Kawagoe took over as Smilebit’s leader.
In 2004, Sega and Sammy merged to form Sega Sammy Holdings, and all studios were combined back into Sega. Smilebit became Sega Sports R&D and continued making sports games, including the first Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Takayuki Kawagoe continued managing sports games but later oversaw all of Sega of Japan’s creative work as a senior executive. The Mario & Sonic games and sports simulators were labeled as CS1 and CS2, and a separate sports division no longer existed.