# Sega Studios San Francisco

> video game developer in San Francisco, California (1999-2010)

**Wikidata**: [Q1328536](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1328536)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Studios_San_Francisco)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sega-studios-san-francisco

## Summary
Sega Studios San Francisco was an American video game developer located in San Francisco, California. Established in 1999, the studio operated as a subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings and is recognized for developing titles such as Iron Man. The company is also known by several aliases, including Secret Level and Sonic Team USA.

## Key Facts
- **Also Known As:** Secret Level, SEGA Studios USA, Sonic Team USA, Nivel secreto, 世嘉三藩市工作室
- **Type:** Video game developer
- **Industry:** Video game industry
- **Founded:** 1999
- **Dissolved:** 2006
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, California, United States
- **Parent Organization:** Sega Sammy Holdings
- **Employee Count:** Approximately 150
- **Notable Product:** Iron Man
- **Official Website:** http://www.secretlevel.com/

## FAQs
### Q: When was Sega Studios San Francisco active?
A: Sega Studios San Francisco was founded in 1999 and dissolved in 2006.

### Q: What was Sega Studios San Francisco known for?
A: The studio was a video game developer and a subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings, known for developing the game Iron Man.

### Q: Where was Sega Studios San Francisco located?
A: The company was headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States.

### Q: What other names was Sega Studios San Francisco known by?
A: It was also known as Secret Level, SEGA Studios USA, Sonic Team USA, and Nivel secreto.

## Why It Matters
Sega Studios San Francisco represents Sega's strategic expansion into the Western video game market during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Operating under the ownership of Sega Sammy Holdings, the studio contributed to the diversification of Sega's development portfolio. With a workforce of around 150 employees, the studio had the capacity to undertake significant projects, such as the development of the Iron Man video game. Its existence highlights the broader trend of Japanese gaming companies establishing or acquiring Western studios to better cater to global audiences and leverage local development talent. The studio's dissolution in 2006 marks a specific point in Sega's corporate restructuring and shifting development strategy.

## Notable For
- Operating as a subsidiary of the major gaming conglomerate Sega Sammy Holdings.
- Developing the video game adaptation of Iron Man.
- Being known by multiple aliases, including Secret Level and Sonic Team USA, reflecting its integration and rebranding within the Sega structure.
- Employing a significant staff of 150 people at its San Francisco headquarters.

## Body
### Corporate Identity and Structure
Sega Studios San Francisco was a video game developer based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1999 and operated until its dissolution in 2006. The studio was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings, placing it within the corporate structure of one of the video game industry's major conglomerates.

### Operations and Projects
The studio was active in the video game industry with a reported workforce of 150 employees. Its primary function was software development, specifically specializing in the creation of video games for personal use. One of the notable projects attributed to the studio is the video game Iron Man.

### Branding and Aliases
Throughout its operational history, the studio was known by several different names. These aliases include Secret Level, SEGA Studios USA, Sonic Team USA, Nivel secreto, and its Chinese name, 世嘉三藩市工作室. The variation in names suggests different phases of branding or integration within the parent company's wider divisional structure. Its official website was listed as http://www.secretlevel.com/.

## References

1. LastDodo
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. VideoGameGeek