 Sega also experienced success with arcade games . In 1992 and 1993 , the company 's new Sega Model 1 arcade system board showcased Sega AM2 's Virtua Racing and Virtua Fighter ( the first 3D fighting game ) , which played a crucial role in popularizing 3D polygonal graphics . In particular , Virtua Fighter garnered praise for its simple three @-@ button control scheme , with the game 's strategy coming from the intuitively observed differences between characters that felt and acted differently rather than the more ornate combos of two @-@ dimensional competitors . Despite its crude visuals — with characters composed of fewer than 1 @,@ 200 polygons — Virtua Fighter 's fluid animation and relatively realistic depiction of distinct fighting styles gave its combatants a lifelike presence considered impossible to replicate with sprites . The Model 1 was an expensive system board , and bringing home releases of its games to the Genesis required more than its hardware could handle . Several alternatives helped to bring Sega 's newest arcade games to the console , such as the Sega Virtua Processor chip used for Virtua Racing , and eventually the Sega 32X add @-@ on . 
