SEGA introduces Mega Drive Mini 2, featuring Mega CD games – releasing October 27 in Japan

In a stream which was previously teased to reveal a mysterious new project, SEGA unveiled the Mega Drive Mini 2! Like the Mega Drive Mini and Astro City Mini, the Mega Drive Mini 2 is a plug and play console and will include even more Mega Drive games as well as Mega CD titles. The console is a joint project produced by SEGA and M2. According to @gosokkyu on Twitter, the Mega Drive Mini 2 will include over 50 games, including games for the aforementioned Mega CD, as well as sequels, arcade ports, unreleased titles and a mystery new game. It has also been confirmed that players can select between the sound of the Mega Drive or Mega Drive 2 for every Mega Drive game (see the in-game menu options in the gallery below).

The Mega Drive Mini 2 will replicate the look of the Mega Drive 2, the second model of the Mega Drive, and SEGA also plans to sell a Mega Drive Tower Mini 2 kit which will attach a Mega CD 2 complete with mini Sonic CD disc as well as a mini Virtua Racing Mega Drive cartridge. There will even be mini adaptors for the Model 1 Mega Drive Mini so that you can attach the Model 2 Mega CD to your original Mini or attach the 32X from the first Tower Mini kit to the new Mega Drive 2. A DX version is also planned for SEGA’s Ebten store which will include more discs and cartridges as well as a frame to display them. The console’s in-game menu music will be a new six minute composition from Yuzo Koshiro. The console is set for an October 27th release in Japan, and no Western release has been confirmed.

After the break, learn the first ten titles and check out more images of the in-game menu and the machine itself!

SEGA News Bits LIVE: Classic Sonic EXPOSED

This week, we talk about revelations of Classic Sonic revealed in the recent content added to Apple Arcade’s Sonic Racing, SEGA’s arcade plans in Japan and unbox the new Mega Drive Tower Mini Zero!

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SEGA Talks About What’s Next After the Game Gear Micro

With the Game Gear Micro now releasing in Japan, SEGA’s Yosuke Okunari talked about what’s next in a recent issue of Famitsu Magazine. Thanks to Siliconera, we have some translated tidbits from the article:

“For the next Mini, we are considering everything that has been imagined by everyone.”
“Of course, it doesn’t mean we can realize all of them. We are also thinking about projects that nobody has imagined.”
“The projects are moved by a substantial amount of money, so we’re working first on the one that, realistically speaking, has the highest possibility.”
“The Game Gear Micro is only sold domestically in Japan. When we do the next one, I feel like the project scope will be much bigger as we gaze upon the world. So we won’t be able to release it at this time the next year or two years after the Mega Drive Mini. We can’t make it that quickly. (laughs)”
“I think for the next one, we may go with a concept close to the Mega Drive Mini. If I have to say some names, it could be an SG-1000 Mini or a Dreamcast Mini…”

It’s interesting that the Astro City Mini is not mentioned, and that SEGA are considering everything from their earliest console to their last console. What would you like to see next from SEGA? Sound off in the comments below!

[Source: Siliconera]
[Image Credit: KIDULT SHARINGS]

The History of Sega Japan R&D Part 5: The Road to 2020 is Complete

It was 2015 when I posted the four part retrospective of Sega of Japan’s game development. 2015 was the year where they announced a new initiative and went as far as to make their previous corporate divisions their own separate companies. Such as Sega Games, Sega Interactive for arcades and so on (which they are already undoing again in April). Sega Game’s new president, Haruki Satomi, promised that he would right the wrongs of the past, gain back the trust of consumers and also shareholders with their “Road to 2020” initiative. Of course this encompasses the evolution of their Japanese in-house studios, which are arguably the core of Sega.

SEGA News Bits: SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini Impressions

SEGA News Bits is back, and we’re discussing the SEGA Genesis and Mega Drive Mini consoles! We discuss how the console went from AtGames to M2, the various first and third party accessories and SEGA’s promotion of the console.

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Opinion: SEGA fans will look back on September 2019 very fondly

Sometimes you just have to take a moment to appreciate those special moments in fandom. For me, as a longtime SEGA fan, they come infrequently but when they hit they REALLY hit. Standout moments for me include getting my SEGA Genesis bundled with Sonic the Hedgehog during Christmas 1991, buying my Dreamcast with my own money in November 1999, visiting SEGA of America’s (now old) offices in July 2013, interviewing Tom Kalinske and Al Nilsen in 2014 and attending Sonic’s 25th anniversary party in San Diego where I met many members of the fan community for the first time in person. I now can easily say that September 2019 is joining those special SEGA moments.

SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini Review – Mini Console, Mega Heart


Well it’s the 30th anniversary of the SEGA Genesis (aka the Mega Drive). The SEGA Genesis for decades now has been fondly looked back due to it’s strong kit and solid lineup of games, which is reflected in it being SEGA’s best selling console of all time. While it did eventually stutter late into it’s life, ironically from SEGA themselves trying to expand on the console with peripherals like the SEGA CD and SEGA 32X, those that remember the system back in the day remember SEGA’s aggressive push to outsmart their main competition Nintendo. This resulted in quite a number of notable titles being developed over the years, both from SEGA themselves with their arcade ports and original titles, to other third parties contributing to the system like Compile, Electronic Arts, Capcom, Konami, and Namco.

Now 30 years later due to the “mini console” fad, SEGA is now pumping out a huge love letter in a tiny package, simply called the SEGA Genesis Mini. Will this small machine bring out that nostalgic heart tug, or is it more like an embarrassing memory from ages ago?

SEGA to show off unannounced AAA project at Gamescom 2019

SEGA has been teasing their Gamescom 2019 line-up which will include stuff we already know including the SEGA Mega Drive Mini (this is a German even) and Catherine: Full Body. One of the things that did surprise us was that they are planning on showing off an announced project at the event as well, which SEGA is billing as a AAA project for unspecified platforms.

So what could this AAA project be? My guess will be the already teased Creative Assembly team-based shooter that was teased all the way back in 2015. Why this instead of something like ‘the next Sonic’ game? Easy, Creative Assembly is one of SEGA’s biggest teams and they are a British developer. Makes sense to show off their upcoming game at Europe’s version of E3. We will find out what it is later this month since Gamescom will be running from August 20-24th.

Update: According to The Creative Assembly’s worker Grace, this isn’t a game from their studio. Could this be CA just playing cute? What do you think?

[Source: SEGA Press]

 

SEGA Mega Drive Mini delayed until October in Europe

SEGA Europe has announced that due to “unavoidable logistical challenges”, the SEGA Mega Drive Mini would miss the worldwide release date of September 19th and would now release on October 4th. SEGA Europe also said “We are committed to a successful launch for consumers in all territories, and this step will ensure we can meet demand and fulfill all the individual pre-orders and retail orders in Europe and the Middle East at the same time. Customers in those regions are still able to preorder from participating retailers and those who have already preordered will only have to wait an extra two weeks for their little box full of retro magic.”

Some are speculating Brexit has something to do with it, which will undoubtably have an impact on SEGA Europe in many other ways. What are your thoughts on the two week delay?

SEGA News Bits: Final 12 SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini Games Revealed

The SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini surprised us with not 10 final games revealed, but a dozen games! That makes a total of 42 games on the plug and play console. On this SEGA News Bits, George and Barry run through the full lineup, share their thoughts on the new reveals and discuss some interesting accessories.

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SEGA News Bits: SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini Announces 10 New Titles Including Mega Man: The Wily Wars

SEGA has announced ten new titles for the upcoming SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, which means we now know 30 of the 40 total titles that will come in the upcoming plug and play console. On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we look at the past titles, the ten new titles and a look at some regional exclusives!

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More titles announced for the Mega Drive Mini and SEGA Genesis Mini, including World of Illusion, Earthworm Jim, Super Fantasy Zone, and more!

SEGA has announced more titles coming to the SEGA Genesis Mini and the Mega Drive Mini. A total of 10 more games have been announced separately between the North America/Europe lineup and the Japanese lineup; 6 shared between the two lineups, 3 exclusive to the western consoles, 4 exclusives for the Japanese console, and the previously announced Sonic the Hedgehog 2 being confirmed to appear on the western consoles. Arguably the most notable titles to note here are the Disney titles Castle of Illusion and World of Illusion, as it confirms some licensed titles will also appear in the SEGA Genesis Mini selection.

[Source: SEGA of America website, Famitsu]

Click below for a full list of confirmed titles.

SEGA News Bits: SEGA Kicks AtGames Off The Mega Drive / Genesis Mini

It was just announced the other day that the SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive Mini will be delayed into 2019 as SEGA shifts the development in-house instead of using AtGames. On this episode we discuss the news, what it we think of the revelations and discuss what games should be on the SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive when it finally comes out. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini delayed to 2019, development shifts to in-house

Announced this past April at SEGA FES, the Mega Drive Mini (Genesis Mini) was on track for a late 2018 release. The plug and play was SEGA’s answer to the NES and SNES Classics from Nintendo. However, since the announcement the company AtGames let slip that they were making the console for SEGA. The reveal was largely met with negativity, due to AtGames past attempts at Mega Drive/Genesis plug and plays which typically had less than ideal audio and video.

SEGA News Bits: SEGA Mega Drive Mini & SEGA AGES for Nintendo Switch Reaction

SEGA Fes 2018 had four big reveals, and on this SEGA News Bits we take a look at the first two of them. First up is SEGA AGES, M2’s answer to a 3D Classics lineup for the Nintendo Switch. Next we look at the AtGames Mega Drive Mini, a new plug and play from AtGames which is SEGA’s answer to the SNES Classic.

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