Ex-Sega Chief Lands In Microsoft

A couple of days ago Sega America President, Peter Moore resigned in uncertain circumstances. Most believed that his resignation was due to lower than expected profits for the fiscal year of 2002. However it has just been announced that he has landed a job with Microsoft. Pete's new job sees him as 'Corporate Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing' for Microsoft's Home and Entertainment division:

In this newly created position, Moore will oversee retail business in the Home and Entertainment Division, including the Xbox video game console, Xbox and PC games from Microsoft Game Studios, and home software and hardware products sold at retail, in Europe and Japan.
Moore brings to Microsoft more than 20 years of global management, marketing and sales experience. At SEGA, Moore played a critical role in repositioning the SEGA brand and product suite to achieve a leadership position in the industry. Before serving as president and chief operating officer, Moore was the senior vice president of marketing and was responsible for the successful launch of the SEGA Dreamcast™ video game console. Before joining SEGA, Moore was with Reebok International Ltd., where he held senior management positions including vice president of global sports and senior vice president of Reebok Footwear.

While Pete certainly faces an uphill struggle to make the Xbox popular in Japan he does have years of experience with Sega behind him and hopefully he can get Microsoft to make some specific Japanese titles which would appeal to them. Perhaps a port of Microsoft Train Simulator but with added Japanese trains and routes? A dating game featuring squids and Parappa The Rapper style graphics? Or perhaps not.

News source: Voodoo Extreme