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When it comes to recounting the history of video games, it's pretty easy to fall into the trap of funnelling everything through the American experience, from the rise and fall of Atari, to the emergence and overwhelming dominance of the NES, and the 16-bit console wars of the early '90s. But, to do this, ignores the fact that, for many in the world, their own countries' history of gaming was often entirely different to what was happening elsewhere, boasting its own unique tales of winners and losers.
One of the most famous cases of this, for example, is in Brazil, where a company named Tectoy launched the Sega Master System in 1989 and miraculously turned the country into a nation of Sega lovers — so much so that the Master System is being sold to this day. This is a story that, admittedly, you may have come across before, especially if you happened to grow up in the country yourself or frequently watch Sega-specific YouTube channels that have likely touched on Tectoy in the past. But it's one we felt was worth looking into again, to hopefully provide a bit more clarity and context about the company's history and how Sega ended up dominating the market in Brazil.
We couldn't do this alone, of course, so we reached out to Stefano Arnhold, one of the earliest employees at Tectoy, to talk about his history with gaming in Brazil, the emergence of Tectoy in the late 1980s, and the incredible relationship the company ended up forming with Sega and its other overseas subsidiaries. And luckily, he was willing to offer us some of his time.
Arnhold, in case you're unfamiliar with him, has had a remarkable career in gaming. Originally joining Tectoy early on in the company's history, from the tech company Sharp, he helped launch the Master System and Sega Mega Drive in the country, before becoming CEO of Tectoy in 1994, following the death of the company's founder, Daniel Dazcal. This is a position that he ended up holding until 2019, which is when he decided to sell his stake in the business and move on to new ventures. You can read our conversation with Arnhold below, edited for clarity, flow, and length.
www.timeextension.com
One of the most famous cases of this, for example, is in Brazil, where a company named Tectoy launched the Sega Master System in 1989 and miraculously turned the country into a nation of Sega lovers — so much so that the Master System is being sold to this day. This is a story that, admittedly, you may have come across before, especially if you happened to grow up in the country yourself or frequently watch Sega-specific YouTube channels that have likely touched on Tectoy in the past. But it's one we felt was worth looking into again, to hopefully provide a bit more clarity and context about the company's history and how Sega ended up dominating the market in Brazil.
We couldn't do this alone, of course, so we reached out to Stefano Arnhold, one of the earliest employees at Tectoy, to talk about his history with gaming in Brazil, the emergence of Tectoy in the late 1980s, and the incredible relationship the company ended up forming with Sega and its other overseas subsidiaries. And luckily, he was willing to offer us some of his time.
Arnhold, in case you're unfamiliar with him, has had a remarkable career in gaming. Originally joining Tectoy early on in the company's history, from the tech company Sharp, he helped launch the Master System and Sega Mega Drive in the country, before becoming CEO of Tectoy in 1994, following the death of the company's founder, Daniel Dazcal. This is a position that he ended up holding until 2019, which is when he decided to sell his stake in the business and move on to new ventures. You can read our conversation with Arnhold below, edited for clarity, flow, and length.
Interview: "We Were Fighting Nintendo Clones Backed By Big Companies" - How A Small Toy Company Helped Sega Conquer Brazil
Former Tectoy CEO Stefano Arnhold on the Master System, Mega Net, and more
www.timeextension.com
