Write for Us!

Want to contribute to Sega-16? Here’s how!

Mission Statement

Sega-16 endeavors to document the entire history of Segas hardware (Master System, Game Gear, Genesis, Sega CD, 32X, Saturn, and Dreamcast), as well as its entire arcade catalog. We are a historical archive, not a media outlet, and we pride ourselves on providing accurate and factual information of all aspects of Sega’s history during the 16-bit era and beyond. Anything and everything pertaining to this period (1965-2001) is valid and worth discussing, as well as all modern news and products released (such as Beggar Prince, Pier Solar, Oh Mummy, and the numerous plug-‘n-play devices). We strive to leave no stone unturned.

Join Us!

Staff Submissions: We’re always on the lookout for new talent, and those who are eager to write about their favorite console (the Genesis, of course!) are welcome to try out for a staff writer position. All staff members are required to write a minimum of one (1) review and one (1) feature a month, as well as contribute to each month’s Reader Roundtable feature, but the sky’s the limit on how much you can tackle. We might even get a few scoops and interviews here and there for staff to call its own, so why not give it a try? Submit all writing samples (in your email body, not attached) to us and join the team!

Please only submit staff requests if you are serious about the commitment. Joining only to disappear a few months later is not the way to start a writing career or endear yourself to anyone, so think hard before you make the decision. Don’t worry, we’ll be here when you’re ready!

Contributors: Sega-16 also accepts reviews and features from anyone willing to contribute. That’s how we hope to grow and provide the most comprehensive Sega content available; however, since quality is our main priority, certain criteria must be met before any submissions can be posted. Those seeking to submit reviews should follow the grade scale detailed in our Review Manifest. All guidelines are subject to revision at any time.

Once you have submitted material, your submission will be confirmed via email or forum PM or post (for forum members). Your article will then be proofread. We reserve the right to make editorial changes in any feature or review accepted for publication to enhance clarity, concision, or style. The author will be consulted only if the editing has been substantial. Once approved for publication, the article enters the queue to be published in the order in which it was received. Please, do not post your submission in the forum! Email it to us instead. You will always get credit for your work, so feel free to submit often. Send all submissions to us and we’ll get right back to you.

GENERAL:

  • All submissions must be included in the body of your email: Please do not attach files. This ensures that we can easily and quickly read your work. The faster this is done, the faster it will be posted. Any works not submitted in this form will not be considered.
  • Only original work will be accepted: Plagiarism will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Every effort will be made to ensure that all posted material is original or posted with the expressed permission of the original author. Any material that is discovered to be plagiarized will be taken down immediately and the original author will be contacted. Forum members discovered to be plagiarists will be immediately ISP banned, no exceptions.
  • Please try to include screen shots and box art: We will handle the layout, but including your own original screen shots (taken with either Kega Fusion or Gens emulators) and high resolution box art will greatly speed up the time it takes to get your article ready. Simply attach them to your review/feature (which should be in the body of the email). Depending on the length of your article, between 7-10 screen shots will be enough. Please refer to any of our articles to get a better idea of how many screen shots you need to include. We reserve the right to select the best possible screen shots for all articles to be published.
  • Spell checkers are your friend: While we will proofread all submissions, the less we have to do, the faster your review gets published. Use your spell checker to cut down on errors. Write your material, take a break, then check it again. This makes our lives easier and expedites the process of getting your review ready.
  • Avoid foul language and tastelessness: We’re an enthusiast site but we do have a certain level of esteem to maintain. Material that does not comply with this will either have obscenities edited out or will simply not be posted at all.
  • Revise! Revise! Revise!: Don’t submit your first draft! After you’ve finished your initial piece, leave it alone for a while. Go watch some TV, read a book, or… *gasp*… go outside! Come back later and check it. You’re bound to find errors, change sentences, add or take away, etc. Only submit it after you’re satisfied with the final product.
  • All submissions will be proofread: Reviews and features will be checked for spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. We will, however, only correct errors and make changes to sentence structure (fix ambiguity, repetition of words, etc). We will not alter or change your ideas in any way. Your ideas and opinions will be both respected and maintained. Again, we reserve the right to make editorial changes to improve clarity, concision or style.
  • Only write about Sega hardware (arcade games, Master System, Game Gear, Genesis, Sega CD, 32X, Saturn & Dreamcast games): You’re welcome to write about any and all games for features and articles, as well as review any that haven’t already been done. You can’t review later Sega releases for other systems.
  • Remember to include your full name and email address: This is vital, as we will not put up any reviews or articles that cannot be credited to their authors. We will need your email so that we can contact you about your submission. Forum user names and nick names can be accepted, but real names are preferred. Though an enthusiast site, Sega-16 strives to maintain a professional image, and anyone wanting to be taken seriously as a writer should use their real names, as it is most ideal for research referencing purposes. While we appreciate the desire for anonymity, contributors need to understand that using a forum nickname or pseudonym only hurts any credibility they might seek as authors. If you’re willing to have your work posted on a site where thousands of people are going to read it, then please use your name.

REVIEWS:

  • Only review games that haven’t already been posted on the site: As we are a small website, and there are literally hundreds of games to review, there is no need to do one that is already posted. If you should feel the need to cover a game that has already been reviewed, you can take advantage of our Double Take feature series, which discusses the experience of a particular game but does not cover the typical graphics, sound, gameplay topics or assign a review score.
  • Reviews should be at least 700 words in length: The main focus of Sega-16 is to provide the most in-depth and comprehensive Genesis reviews on the Internet. Short, two-paragraph reviews will not cut it. Take your time and talk about everything a game has to offer or all that it does wrong. Make people want to read your work; try to hook them in and keep them interested. We don’t however, want to bore them, so try to keep it at no more than 1,000 words. 700-1000 words is a decent length with which to say everything you need to about any game, good or bad.
  • Avoid padding: Being concise and to the point is the best way to go. Avoid fillers and self-promotion, as well as outright bashing. Justify any negative comments about the game you’re reviewing and try to embellish its good points. No fanboyism, please.
  • Cover all of the game’s points: Gameplay, graphics, sound & music; remember to mention all of it. At-a-glance reviews say nothing to people looking for insight about a particular title but they say much about how long the reviewer actually played the game. We don’t use segmented reviews, such as those found on GameFaqs, and ours are instead full narratives that try to cover all the bases without sounding like a checklist. Yes, you want to cover all the important criteria, but you don’t want to sound like you’re running down a grocery list when you do so.
  • Score your game according our Review Manifest: Before submitting any reviews, please take some time to refer to our Review Manifest for the scale on how to accurately score a game. Remember to score on a scale of 1-10, no decimals please. Moreover, please give your scores some thought, as they are what most people tend to look at first. Step back and think for a second; does the game really deserve a 1? A 10? Only the very bottom of the barrel should be scored so low, and only games that are truly spectacular should receive a ten. All too often, reviewers tend to dish out a near-perfect score when the game is definitely less than perfect. We’ve had too many submissions scored with a ten that are questionable, to say the least, so we’re quite strict in this regard now.

FEATURES:

  • Clear all topics with us before submitting any material: Just about any topic is fair game, as long as it’s relevant to the site’s purpose. Just be sure to check with us before you begin writing, so we can be sure that the feature will be original and fun to read. Try to avoid tired and common topics. Be original and have fun!. We have an entire section of the forums dedicated to pitching ideas, so you can get some feedback on an idea before starting an article. We’re a friendly lot, and our posters are very knowledgeable, so take advantage of a great resource and post your thoughts!
  • Articles should between 700 and 1000 words in length: This is more of a guideline than a requirement. A problem with a lot of articles today is that even though they have excellent topics, they are simply too short! No matter how interesting your topic may be, a 300-word feature is hardly enough to truly tell the full story. Relax, gather your thoughts, and get busy! Remember, you are the one who has something to say. If you aren’t inspired to write it, no one will be inspired to read it.
  • Multi-part articles should be handed in complete: If you’re going to do a series of articles, such as documenting hardware modifications or chapters of Sega fan fiction for Stories from the Book of Genesis, please complete each part and hand them in as a single entry. This may sound like a lot of work, but it prevents article series from disappearing after the first installment. We don’t want to leave our readers wondering what happened to the rest of the story, so it’s important to offer a complete article group. Single entries for multi-part article series are no longer accepted, so think it through before you start writing.
  • Make sure your information is accurate: Be certain that developers, release dates, and other relevant information is correct before you submit. For example, Metacritic is a great place to get vital information about a game. It is your responsibility to verify your sources and submit truthful and accurate work. Should your article chronicle a game or series’ history, give a person’s biography, or discuss historical data in general; it is important to list your sources. Too many articles go off on a rant without giving an iota of proof. Sega-16 wishes to avoid this, and we pride ourselves on the accuracy of our articles and features. Please refer to posted articles for information regarding the proper format.

Abiding by these guidelines will go a long way towards getting your material posted. It doesn’t guarantee it though. All submissions are subject to final approval. The editor’s decisions are final.

All games & characters © Sega and their respective companies. No materials from this site may be copied, reproduced, modified, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any form or for any means without prior written permission. Use of reviews or features on any other web site, as a part of any public display, or for distribution without advance written permission is strictly prohibited and a violation of copyright.

Revised 10:02:18