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Wow Entertainment, Inc.

Moby ID: 2154

AKA +
  • Sega AM1 R&D Division - Company name until 2000 (from 1991 to 2000)
  • Sega R&D1 - Original company name (from 1984 to 1991)

Overview edit · view history

Wow Entertainment was a SEGA-owned development studio based in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. The studio's roots stretch back to 1987 and the so-called "Team Shinobi" responsible for such arcade classics as Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Alien Storm, and of course, Shinobi. It was formally established as the Sega AM1 R&D Division in 1990, headed by Rikiya Nakagawa.

The AM divisions focused on arcade titles, and AM1 produced numerous hits including Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder, Star Wars Arcade, Die Hard Arcade, and The House of the Dead. Along with each of Sega's other development divisions, AM1 was spun off as an independent studio on April 21, 2000, taking the name Wow Entertainment.

The studio was merged with another Sega subsidiary, Overworks, in October 2003, changing their name to SEGA WOW. Rikiya Nakagawa left the studio soon after, and it was ultimately merged back into Sega in a corporate restructuring the following year.

Credited on 68 Games from 1988 to 2022

Displaying most recent · View all

The House of the Dead: Remake (2022 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One...)
House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn (2018 on Arcade)
Resident Evil 6 (2016 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
Chunithm (2015 on Arcade)
Transformers: Human Alliance (2013 on Arcade)
Operation G.H.O.S.T. (2011 on Arcade)
Loving Deads: House of the Dead EX (2008 on Arcade)
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (2008 on Wii)
Rambo (2008 on Arcade)
Sega Ages 2500: Vol.30 - Galaxy Force II: Special Extended Edition (2007 on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2)
2 Spicy (2007 on Arcade)
Sega Ages 2500: Vol.26 - Dynamite Deka (2006 on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3)
Sega GT Online (2003 on Xbox)
Super Real Tennis (2003 on J2ME)
The House of the Dead III (2002 on Windows, Xbox, PlayStation 3...)
SEGA Bass Fishing Duel (2002 on PlayStation 2)
Sega GT 2002 (2002 on Xbox)
Home Run King (2002 on GameCube)
Columns Crown (2001 on Game Boy Advance)
Candy Stripe: Minarai Tenshi (Medical Box) (2001 on Dreamcast)

[ view all ]

History +

July 1, 2004

All business operations are transferred to SEGA Corporation.

October 2003

The company is merged with Overworks into SEGA Wow Inc.

Trivia +

The company website was formerly located at www.wow-ent.co.jp

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