Deleted: SEGA Threatens Bitmap Books, Mega Drive/Genesis Visual Compendium Pulled
Last Updated on January 15, 2023
Bitmap Books has made a name for itself, selling wonderfully crafted books documenting the history of video games. Their Visual Compendium series, in particular, offers a stunning range of titles covering everything from the Commodore 64 to the SNES/Super Famicom.
Details about Bitmap Books’ upcoming entry into this series, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: a visual compendium, have been sketchy as of late, and the reason has just come to light. Sega has demanded the listing be removed or face legal action.
I find this a little strange as Bitmap Books have already made a book called Sega Master System: a visual compendium, but it seems that hands are tied in this situation.
Sam Dyer of Bitmap Books has released a heartfelt statement about the project’s closure. In the report, Dyer says he has regrets as he should have canned the whole thing early on. Dyer believed that the book’s focus on third-party games and the fact that it’s unofficial would be enough to escape Sega’s legal ire.
Sadly, that’s not the case this time. Dyer concludes his statement by saying, “If we can find a way to release the PDF for free, we will.”
It’s sad and frustrating when corporate muscle shuts down projects like this, but it’s important to remember that Sega has the right to protect its IP. Moves like this are, unfortunately, rather common when it comes to fan-made or unofficial products.
Anthony is a freelance writer and has worked in the industry for four years. He’s furiously competitive and is always looking for the next big multiplayer hit. Anthony is a passionate PS1 collector and firmly believes in playing his retro games rather than letting them collect dust on a shelf. He also loves speedrunning and always looks forward to the next GDQ and ESA events.
