SEGA Talk #86: Alpha Protocol (2010)

SEGA Talk is back, for the last show of the year! This time we cover the SEGA x Obsidian espionage RPG Alpha Protocol! Clock your weapons, turn up the volume and let’s dive deep into this spy thrilling episode!

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Alpha Protocol removed from Steam by SEGA, rights to IP going to Obsidian?

[Edit: It seems that SEGA has updated and said that the reason Alpha Protocol was pulled from Steam was because in-game music license had expired.]

After a decade of SEGA doing nothing with the Alpha Protocol IP, it finally did something. They removed it from digital sales on Steam. Not the type of move I was hoping for and according to SEGA it was due to the ‘rights expiring’.

We don’t know much about what the IP rights for Alpha Protocol where, maybe SEGA had a contract that if they didn’t use the IP after a certain amount of years it reverts back to the developer? Did Microsoft (who now owns Obsidian Software) make a deal with SEGA for the IP? According to PC Gamer, they say that SEGA’s statement about the license expiring aren’t accurate and that SEGA still owns the IP. I thought the original Alpha Protocol was a buggy game, but it had potential to be a big franchise if they followed up the sequels with a more solid made product. Outside of rumors that Microsoft/Obsidian might have made a deal with SEGA for the IP rights, there is also a pattern that when ‘remakes’ of games come out, the publisher pulls the old version of the games from sale (Dark Souls Remake, Darksiders Warmastered).

I also don’t know how I feel about SEGA being so liberal with other publishers making games for their in-house IPs they own including Bayonetta 3, Streets of Rage 4, Panzer Dragoon remakes, Shenmue III, and so on. As much as I like seeing these franchises continue, its bittersweet that it isn’t under SEGA’s publishing arm/funding.

Binary Domain, Streets of Rage 2 and Condemned free on Steam

phase-2-unlockedA few days ago SEGA gave out Jet Set Radio, Hell Yeah! and Golden Axe for free as part of their Make War Not Love event. Now is time for phase 2, which means more free SEGA games for us! This time they are giving out the following:

  • Binary Domain 
  • Condemned: Criminal Origins
  • Streets of Rage 2

To get the games, visit this page, click “REDEEM PRIZE” enter your email address under the Previous Content banner. You’ll see the instructions “In order to redeem the prize bundle, please enter your email address below.” You will then receive an email asking to add you to a list for the free content. Please allow up to 24 hours for a unique Steam code containing this content to be sent to you.

We are even considering having a SEGAbits game day with Binary Domain, if people are interested in playing online (since its mostly dead now). Let us know what you think about that in the comments.

Xbox LIVE for 360 has huge SEGA sale going on!

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This week is as good a time as ever to save some cash on some great SEGA titles available at a super cheap price for the Xbox 360. SEGA’s got a huge sale on this week on Xbox LIVE for some of their biggest titles such as Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed, Virtua Fighter 5 FS, Hell Yeah and lots more. Plus, you can save as much as 75% off! Click below to see the super low prices on these great titles. (Geez, I’m starting to sound like an ad)

Green Man Gaming summer sale: Buy a discounted SEGA game and get Jet Set Radio HD for free

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Its summer and those PC sales aren’t slowing down. This time the sale is coming from Green Man Gaming which is discounting tons of SEGA games up to 80% off! Not only that, if you buy any SEGA game on this page, you get Jet Set Radio HD for free. Some of the on sale items to check out:

  • Castle of Illusions – $3.74
  • Binary Domain Collection – $3.99
  • Alpha Protocol – $3.74
  • Viking: Battle for Asgard – $3.74
  • Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed – $4.99

So check out the page and pick your poison, there are plenty of great PC games on sale. Most of these games redeem via Steam!

The SEGA Five: Last generation SEGA IPs that I want to see return next generation

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Last generation might not have been the best time for SEGA fans, the start of 2006 was pretty rocky with SEGA totally ruining the image of Sonic the Hedgehog and releasing a slew of blunders through out the generation. That doesn’t mean that beneath the piles of garbage there wasn’t some great IPs, right? This list will consist of five last generation SEGA IPs (this means that they debuted, brand new on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and/or Wii) that I want to return on next generation consoles (be it Wii U, Xbox One or Playstation 4).

SEGA Steam sale has Alpha Protocol for $2

SEGA is having a massive Steam sale right now, having titles like Alpha Protocol, Total War franchise and Aliens vs Predator.

How much is SEGA charging?

  • Alpha Protocol – 90% off$2.00 (reg. $19.99)
  • Aliens vs. Predator – 75% off$4.99 (reg. $19.99)
  • SEGA Genesis Collection – 75% off$7.45 (reg. $29.96)
  • Dreamcast Collection – 75% off – $7.45 (reg. 29.96)
  • Total War: Shogun 2 – 50% off$24.99 (reg. $49.99)
  • Total War Mega Pack (14 items) – 66% off $17.00 (reg. $49.99)
  • SEGA Collector Pack (All SEGA Steam games) – 86% off$79.99 (reg. $224.64)
Some good deals to be had. If you guys recall my review of Alpha Protocol, I thought the game was alright. It has its moments and those moments are worth experiencing, especially at two bucks. 
[Source: Steam Page]

 

Steam Sale: Alpha Protocol for $7.50!

Steam is known for having insane sales, so its no surprise they are starting up one of those “I have to get this game, its so cheap” sales. How can you pass up a full RPG for $7.50?

If you haven’t read our PS3 review, we did say it had some issues, but to be honest, it is well worth it at this insane price. If you have a capable PC, give it a go. Be warn, it has a slow start.

STEAM PAGE

Gamefly Sale – Alpha Protocol $17.99

Gamefly is having another used sale, this one lasting 3 days with free shipping. Yes, that means that all games will ship to your door for nothing. Not to mention that their games usually come in excellent condition.

Xbox 360 | Playstation 3

The sale ends on September 17th, so order now if you want a copy. Other games in the sale include God of War III, Darksiders and more for under 18 dollars.

You can read our Alpha Protocol review right here.

Gamefly used sale has cheap SEGA games

If you want some recently released SEGA games and have been waiting. Get them now, for cheap. I ordered from Gamefly and the cases, manuals and disc look flawless.

PS3

360

Wii

The rest of the list is here. Happy shopping.

No Alpha Protocol sequel due to low sales


Even though Alpha Protocol wasn’t the best Western RPG, I thought it could have really improved for the sequel and deliver an amazing experience. SEGA’s Mike Hayes has decided that we won’t get a sequel due to the low sales of the first game. Which makes sense.

“Let’s speak very commercially; the game hasn’t sold what we’ve expected, therefore we won’t be doing a sequel. The concept was brilliant, though,You know this whole thing with Metacritic where you have to be in the high 70s to mid-80s minimum [to have any success] – well, with RPGs you have got to be in the late 80s. Whilst we had a good game, I don’t think we had a game that had enough to get us to that upper echelon and I think that was the issue. Whilst we had a good game, I don’t think we had a game that had enough to get us to that upper echelon and I think that was the issue.”  – Mike Hayes, President of SEGA West

I hope this does not stop SEGA from doing another Western RPG in the near future. Though, I have to admit that Obsidian dropped the ball on this one. How can a game be delayed for 2 years and it still play like it wasn’t complete, yet out of the blue they announce that they are doing a Fallout game and its coming out in a few months? Makes you think where their priorities where.

[Source: CVG]

Alpha Protocol to sneak into Playstation Home


Alpha Protocol is set to make its Playstation Home appearance soon, as soon as this Thursday. You will be able to look like the smug face Michael Thornton while you sexually harass female avatars and secretly hope they are really women.

After that you can stick to the main plaza and dance around like a fool. Isn’t that what Home is all about?

[Source: Playstation Blog]