Samba de Amigo ver. 2000 English fan conversion now available

 

While you wait for the release of Samba de Amigo: Party Central for Nintendo Switch, here’s a new development for what is probably the next best Samba de Amigo game. 

Samba de Amigo ver. 2000, which originally released on Sega Dreamcast exclusively in Japan in the year 2000, has gotten a new English conversion by Dukeblooders. While the game originally didn’t have much Japanese text in it, and didn’t strictly require a mastery of Japanese to play anyway, Dukeblooders went the extra mile and converted as much of the game’s text as possible, mostly using audio or graphics from the Wii version of Samba de Amigo from 2007, which had most of ver. 2000’s features anyway. It may not seem like too much of a change, but it should help the game feel like a more complete English release that never was.

Currently, you can download the patch from Dukeblooders’s Github page. According to this page, patching your copy of the game requires the Universal Dreamcast Patcher software by Derek Pascarella, which you can get from his own Github page. Playing the patched game currently requires a Dreamcast ODE (Optical Drive Emulator) such as a MODE or a GDEMU, as it cannot run from a burnt CD-ROM at this time. It should run perfectly fine in a Dreamcast emulator, theoretically. 

If you’re able to try this out, let us know what you think in the comments below.

Sonic Frontiers free content update “Sights, Sounds, and Speed” set to release Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Last year, SEGA promised three waves of free Sonic Frontiers DLC content, and the first wave entitled “Sights, Sounds, and Speed” is set for release on Wednesday, March 22 at 5:00 p.m. PDT / 8:00 p.m. EDT across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch family of systems and Steam. The update will include the following:

  • New Challenge Modes – After completing the main story campaign, players can access new challenge modes – Cyber Space Challenge and Battle Rush – via the title screen. The Cyber Space Challenge is a time-attack mode where players will compete against the clock to complete multiple Cyber Space stages in a row. Additionally, Sonic Frontiers will offer Battle Rush, a timed-battle mode where you fight multiple enemies, Guardians and Titans in one go.

  • Photo Mode – To capture memories of their time on the Starfall Islands, players can open the pause menu to access Photo Mode, which will pause gameplay and bring up a camera that is freely moveable.

  • Jukebox – Players can listen to their favorite Sonic songs all throughout the Starfall Islands with the new Jukebox. With 53 song tracks available, players will have instant access to 13 songs, and can unlock the remaining 40 songs by collecting Sound Memories on each island.

Two additional waves of content are expected for later this year, promising new features, challenges, playable characters and more. Given wave two has content specific to Sonic’s anniversary, a late June release is possible though not yet confirmed by SEGA. After the break, check out a gallery of screens for the content update!

SEGA Talk #115: E.G.G. Elemental Gimmick Gear (1999)

On this EGGellent EGGpisode of the SEGGA Talk Podcast we will dive YOLK first into Elemental Gimmick Gear, a unique action RPG by a small unknown developer named Birthday. We will look at how a small egg model became a full blown Dreamcast cult classic!

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Support us on Patreon! Get early access, have your memories read on the show, select the games we talk about!

SEGA in the Media: Ellie plays Daytona USA in HBO Max’s The Last of Us

Its a video game inception post! In episode seven of HBO Max’s The Last of Us (which, believe it or not, is based on a video game), our lead character Ellie has a flashback episode remembering her time with an old friend where she was taken to an abandon mall which happens to feature a full set of working arcade machines. Aren’t they lucky? Ellie then bursts out that the arcades are “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen”.

The episode shows Ellie trying out her driving skills on Daytona USA before they continue to play Mortal Kombat II, while it isn’t a SEGA video game, it was pretty prolific game on the SEGA Genesis. They also have the original Tetris machine which has a history with SEGA, as the Japanese rights for Tetris Arcade used to belong to SEGA.

Any other arcade machines you guys noticed during this episode?

Review: Retro-Bit SEGA Genesis BIG6 Arcade Pad (Wired Console & 2.4 GHz Wireless versions)

Thanks to the folks at Retro-Bit, I was able to get my hands on their newest SEGA controller offerings: The BIG6 line of SEGA Genesis arcade pads. If you’ve followed retro gaming news you’d know that in the past ten years there has been great advancements in technology to improve the quality of life for fans of classic games. We’ve seen everything from flash cartridges to full on modern rebuilds of classic hardware, and on the controller end we’ve seen various companies and fan funded initiatives set out to improve button mapping, battery life, wireless efficiency or just create crazy controller hybrids. With the BIG6 line of controllers from Retro-Bit, the company has done all these things and in turn created a product I never knew I wanted and one I now cannot live without.

Sega in the Media: Pro wrestler knocked out with a Sega Dreamcast!?

 

Hey! First article I get to write in 2023! FINALLY!

Pro-wrestling fans who tuned into to Impact Wrestling’s recent No Surrender event on February 24th, 2023 were in for quite a shock when it came time for the match between Joe Hendry and Quinn “Moose” Ojinnaka. Joe pulled out all the stops in this climactic battle, using a variety of unlikely objects as weapons against the mighty Moose, including a remote controlled toy car, a computer keyboard, and a Sega… Dreamcast?

Yeah. You telling me you would’ve have done the same if you were in his shoes?

The SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show LIVE: 13th Anniversary Special

SEGAbits and the Swingin’ Report Show podcast both turn 13 years old this month, making SEGAbits the oldest American SEGA fan site and the Swingin’ Report Show the longest running SEGA fan podcast! Celebrate with Swingin’ Report Show All-Stars Barry, George and Aki as we discuss Like A Dragon: Ishin! and Samba de Amigo: Party Central.

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SEGA Talk #114: World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck (1992)

On this episode we dive back into the illusionary world of Mickey Mouse, this time being teamed up with Donald Duck in the World of Illusion! We take a look at this multiplayer take on the Mickey Illusion gameplay, and… do you know SEGA? Watch and find out!

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Support us on Patreon! Get early access, have your memories read on the show, select the games we talk about!

Launch Trailer – Like a Dragon: Ishin! sends Yakuza to 1860s Japan

2023 is certainly shaping up to be the year of the Like A Dragon franchise, formerly the Yakuza franchise, with Like a Dragon: Ishin! releasing this week. SEGA has provided fans with a launch trailer, which you can watch above.

Former SEGA Senior Director of International Product Development and Localization Sam Mullen, who had worked on a bulk of the Yakuza/Like A Dragon franchise as it released to the West, shared his thoughts on the road to Ishin! on Twitter which are well worth a read. Since Twitter is not a very good place for archiving information, we’ve screencaptured Sam’s thoughts. After the break, information about the release platforms and Digital Deluxe Edition content.

Have you picked up Like a Dragon: Ishin!? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Rare English version of SegaSonic Cosmo Fighter ROM released publicly online

Everybody loves a good dump, especially when it comes to ROMs. Twitter user @iamamazing100 has announced that a rare English version of the 1993 arcade game SegaSonic Cosmo Fighter has been dumped and is now publicly available online. The game is not playable just yet, as it must be added to MAME, however @iamamazing100 has shared the audio files which showcase a very funny Superman style voice for Sonic the Hedgehog as well as Eggman’s voice, which oddly is more befitting for Sonic. It’s great to see that after 30 years we still are seeing new old Sonic content being uncovered!

Once the game is playable on MAME, we’ll be sure to news it! 

C-Smash VRS announced for PlayStation VR2 – demo available March 23, 2023

The teaser site for the mystery SEGA game has unlocked, and as expected it is a follow-up to the original NAOMI arcade and Dreamcast game Cosmic Smash. Titled C-Smash VRS, the game is a VR reimagining of the original game and is set to release on the PlayStation VR2. A demo will be made available on March 23, 2023 and at the moment it is unknown if the game will remain digital or if a physical release is in the works.

Sonic Origins Plus appears on Korean video game rating site – What could the rerelease include?

A rating for Sonic Origins Plus has appeared on The Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea website, potentially leaking the existence of an enhanced and expanded (and possibly physical) rerelease of last year’s Sonic Origins. Fans knew something has been in the works for the game, as various updates have been in the approval stages behind-the-scenes with nothing publicly released as of yet. Following the release of the digital-only retro compilation, SEGA sent out various surveys asking players to share their thoughts on the game and what sort of additions they’d like to see in a future update.

SEGA News Bits Live: Samba De Amigo & Sonic Cookbook

Amigo is BACK in a brand new game, and on this News Bits Live we break down who is behind Samba De Amigo’s return and take a look at past games in the franchise. PLUS, what is Sonic cooking?

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Samba De Amigo: Party Central announced for Nintendo Switch, Releasing June 2023

While news leaked earlier today on social media, Nintendo Direct has officially dropped the news that SEGA’s iconic rhythm action game series, Samba de Amigo, will be making a comeback on the Nintendo Switch titled Samba de Amigo: Party Central with Amigo sporting a new attire for the upcoming game.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central will include 40 musical hits from the world’s most popular genres including EDM, pop, Latin, and more along with a wide variety of mini-games and challenges to enjoy; a ton of unique costumes and accessories to unlock and wear; and new online features – including an 8-player World Party mode.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central will be released on the Nintendo Switch June 2023!

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Official Cookbook by Victoria Rosenthal and Ian Flynn set to release this October

It’s happening! After years of personally asking SEGA, a Sonic the Hedgehog cookbook is arriving this October! Sonic the Hedgehog: The Official Cookbook will be written by Victoria Rosenthal (Official Fallout, Destiny, Street Fighter, GoW, Pokémon & FFXIV Cookbook) and Ian Flynn (IDW Sonic series, Sonic Frontiers), and will be published by Insight Editions physically and digitally. You can pre-order the book right now on Amazon, with a release date of October 17, 2023.

Outside of an art book and history book, both of which have since happened, I’ve long wanted a cookbook inspired by the Sonic franchise. Having cooked through ToeJam & Earl, The Sopranos and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (in both plain and Life Day editions) I am ready to take my cooking to The Next Level with whatever the authors have cooked up. Preview pages, which you can see after the break, include placeholder text but hint at chili dogs, blue smoothies and Evil Cookies. Read the official description after the break, and do not forget to pre-order yourself a copy!