SEGA’s Puzzle & Glory mobile game gets soft launch in Canada

SEGA has just had a soft launch for Puzzle & Glory which is being developed by newly acquired Demiurge Studios (Marvel Puzzle Quest). The game should be available to Canadian users on both the Play Store and iTunes right now. Puzzle & Glory is a Match-3 RPG puzzle game that has been popularized by Puzzle & Dragons (wow, see the similar titles?).

The game has you going through dungeons as you explore, conquer quests and traverse the dangerous landscapes of Aetria. The game even has competitive PVP mode if you’re into that. If you want to try the game out and you’re on Apple devices you can always make a Canadian iTunes account to try it. As for Android users, we have to wait until the APK pops up on the internet.

[Via: The Forums]

SEGA unleashes trailer for Blade Arcus from Shining 2.0

Never heard of Blade Arcus from Shining? Its a Shining series spin-off that takes characters from Shining Hearts and Shining Blade and pits them against each other in a 2D fighting game, with a look that is very comparable to Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax. The game hit Japanese arcades on November 11th of last year and is now setting up for an updated release being called ‘2.0’. The update is set to hit game centers early this summer.

Version 2.0 will have the following additions:

Four new playable Shining Hearts  characters

New game systems

  • Rejection card
  • Reversal strike

Its also set to feature new stages, motion frame adjustments for all characters and other system improvements. The game has only been officially released in Japanese arcades, no plans are set for a console release at this time. What do you guys think of this spin-off? Would you guys give it a go if it was released in the West?

[Via: Gemastu]

Sonic Dash has reached over 100 million downloads

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Seems that SEGA and Hardlight’s Sonic Dash is still a success for the company, originally released in March 2013 the game has now reached over a 100 million downloads on both Android and iOS. The game is a free-to-play endless runner in the vain of Temple Run starting the Blue Blur himself.

SEGA even released a info image detailing all the games accomplishments since release. Including users having collected over 850 billion gold rings, 123 million hours played and a average of 14 million players playing the game daily since launch.

Check out this SEGA Master System/Game Gear modified hybrid console

Who hasn’t wanted to combine two consoles into one in their own Frankenstein type of experiment? I know I have. What about a Master System with SEGA’s handheld the Game Gear? That’s exactly what Sega Retro Gamers member Eric Bishop did, cramming a Game Gear into a Master System and have them both working. He posted the following video showing off his project, which he is still working on.

Below are a few photographs of his creation, what do you guys think?

Tembo the Badass Elephant trophies hit the net early

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It seems that the trophies for the Playstation 4 version of Tembo the Badass Elephant have been posted online via PSN Profiles website. The trophies will be rather easy to unlock in this title revolving around destroying ‘PHANTOM’ invaders, rescuing civilians and collecting Peanut Butter Jars.

I would assume that the Steam and Xbox One versions will have the same ‘trophies’ but only called achievements. Tembo the Badass Elephant is hitting Playstation 4, PC and Xbox One this fall world wide via digital distribution. Hit the jump to see the trophies.

What we missed: New Mario & Sonic, Total War: Warhammer first screens and SEGA’s mission statement video

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If you haven’t noticed, the site was offline for a few days and there was some SEGA News that we missed. At first I wanted to make a news post for every single item, but that would be sort of a waste. So now that we are back lets have a look at some of the news that we missed which includes the announcement of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the first ever screenshots for Total War: Warhammer and a look at SEGA Japan’s mission statement, painting a positive note for the future of the company.

Aliens: Colonial Marines lawsuit dismisses Gearbox Software

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The Alien: Colonial Marines lawsuit has been on going for two years now and it seems that SEGA will be the only one paying money out of their pocket when all is said and done, while Gearbox Software will walk away scot-free (minus courts and lawyers). SEGA previously agreed to pay $1.25 million back in August of last year, while Gearbox decided it would fight the charges stating it was a contractor and that SEGA had final approval. SEGA even made claims that marketing was also done by Gearbox in court filings which showed SEGA America’s displeasure with Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford.

In May 12th, US District Judge James Donato actually denied the original motion for class certification of the suite and also denied dismissing Gearbox Software from the case. But just yesterday it seems that the plaintiff’s attorney agreed to dismiss Gearbox with prejudice (meaning they can’t file another suit against them concerning Aliens: Colonial Marines) and in return Gearbox won’t be seeking legal fees. Of course there have been no explanation why the plaintiffs all of a sudden dropped the charges against Gearbox Software, after 2 years of fighting in court.

This also means that they will have a renewed settlement discussions with SEGA, these will go on until June 3rd. What are your thoughts on Gearbox Software being dismissed and SEGA still being charged with the suit?

[Via: NeoGAF]

SEGA teases its new spiritual successor to Chain Chronicles, Chaos Dragon

SEGA Networks has just teased a new mobile game going under the name of ‘Chaos Dragon‘, this game seems to be using mechanics that seem straight out of Chain Chronicles. I guess this game is aimed for people that have already explored the world of that game and want a new story with a fresh set of new characters.

This teaser does tease the new art style and characters that you will meet on your journey. Of course this game has only been confirmed for a Japanese release. We shall see if SEGA will publish it in the West, seeing as Chain Chronicles was actually published by Gumi.

The game will also have a anime, which also got a trailer. You can click here to view it and will also get a board game. SEGA is aiming at making this a major new IP.

Check out Relic Entertainment’s Humble Weekly Bundle

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It seems that Humble Bundle has teamed up with SEGA once again, this time to do a Relic Entertainment specific Humble Weekly Bundle. If you have been living under a rock and didn’t know that SEGA purchased Relic Entertainment after THQ went under, thus acquiring all their past games in their game catalog, now you know!

Here are the tiers

Pay at least $1:

  • Company of Heroes 2 – The Western Front Armies: Oberkommmando West
  • Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
  • Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
  • Company of Heroes: Complete Edition
  • Company of Heroes 2 Soundtrack
  • Bonus Digital Extras

Beat the average:

  • Company of Heroes 2
  • Company of Heroes 2  The Western Front Armies: US Forces
  • Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution
  • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 

Pay $15 or more:

  • Company of Heroes 2 – Ardennes Assault 

Pay $30 or more:

  • A Relic T-Shirt

I would suggest to at least ‘beat the average’ if you are looking for the best ‘gaming for your buck’. Company of Heroes 2 still retails for around $40 dollars (when not on sale) and not to mention Space Marine is a great 3rd person shooter with a lengthy single player campaign. Also remember its all to support charity, so its for a worthy cause.

Rumor: Takashi Iizuka says Sonic Team not developing rumored ‘Sonic Mach 2’ game

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Oh boy, it seems the rumors posted about a new Sonic game in development being titled ‘Sonic Mach 2‘ are coming true. The Sonic Mach 2 rumors started when Orbot’s German voice actor listed the unannounced project on his online portfolio. Since the Sonic fanbase its an excited bunch, instead of waiting for its eventual reveal, Sonic Stadium forum members started messaging Takashi Iizuka on his personal Facebook account. Here is the conversation he had with one user:

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Thanks for spilling some of the beans Mr. Iizuka, I’m sure your going to get a stern talking to (unless he is trolling users of course). So let’s say the game does exist but isn’t being developed by Sonic Team. What does that mean? Probably means its not the next big Sonic the Hedgehog game. It might even be a new game developed by SEGA’s newly acquired mobile developer Demiurge Studios or even another mobile title by Hardlight. But is it a little too early for another Sonic mobile game, seeing as Sonic Runners hasn’t even been released world wide?

What do you guys think? Tell us in the comments, you think Iizuka is trolling?

SEGA-Sammy casino gaming video takes bragging to a new level

Ever wonder what type of videos a investor gets from big Japanese companies? Me too and it will most likely be exactly like the video above. Oddly enough its even translated and fully voiced in English. The video isn’t humble at all talking about the greatness of SEGA-Sammy from owning ‘top leading’ animation studios like Marza and TMS Entertainment to SEGA’s ability to ‘drive Japan’s gaming scene forward with their superior game development capabilities‘.

This video is mostly to promote a new business within’ SEGA-Sammy called ‘SEGA-Sammy Creation’ which will be making casino machines. The president and CEO of the company oddly enough is Hisao Oguchi who has been at SEGA for over 30 years who is known for leading the highly successful SEGA-AM3 arcade team that created Crazy Taxi and Virtua Tennis series.

The video makes me question if the company understands that their IPs aren’t as strong as they used to be, since the video seems overly positive. But at least the company is recognizing console games as a division within the company.

I’ll just leave this here: 

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Yoshi’s Woolly World has unlockable Sonic the Hedgehog skin pattern

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Nintendo has showed the latest Yoshi’s Wooly World trailer, this one focusing on older Amiibo figure support. Each figure will unlock a pattern that you can dress up your Yoshi with, including a Sonic the Hedgehog pattern if you use your Sonic the Hedgehog Amiibo. The trailer sadly doesn’t show the what the Sonic the Hedgehog pattern will look like, but it does show Mario, Donkey Kong and Link; giving you an idea of what to expect when the game launches later this year.

It is pretty interesting that Nintendo is will support past Amiibos in new titles, considering they announced their own line of Yoshi’s Woolly World Amiibo figures. I wonder what other Amiibo support future Nintendo titles will get. Who knows, maybe even SEGA developed games will support Amiibo functionality.

New SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive game Papi Cammando gets official demo

A new and upcoming SEGA Gensis/Mega Drive game known as Papi Commando has not gotten a official demo release by the independent developers behind the project. The game takes ques from classics like SEGA’s Alien Syndrome and Lucas Art’s Zombies Ate My Neighbors by delivering a run and gun game with a unlikely protagonist.

The game promises to have 2 player mode, up to 11 zones, with varied units including soldiers and zombies. So if you want to see what the independent SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive indie scene is up to, give the demo a try below.

You can download the bin file of the demo here. Have fun shooting.

[Source: The Forums]

Streets of Rage and Shenmue soundtracks are getting a vinyl release [update]

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I got to say I love records, I have quite the collection and I’m so excited that SEGA has teamed up with a new record label called ‘Data Discs’ to release both the Streets of Rage and Shenmue soundtracks.

Data Discs is calling itself the first record label dedicated to releasing video game soundtracks and its fitting that its first two releases would be two of the most iconic soundtracks of their time. The Streets of Rage soundtrack will be fully remastered with the help of Yuzo Koshiro . Both releases will be pressed on 180 gram vinyl and include a lithographic print with each title.

If you want to pre-order yourself a copy (like I do), you’ll have to wait until May 30th when Data Discs opens its website. The records won’t ship until September and there will be extras for early pre-orders.

[update]

Found out that each release will come in three different colored vinyls, one of the colors will be exclusive to Data Disc website!

Streets of Rage: 

  • 180g translucent red vinyl with black splatter (exclusive to the Data Discs website)
  • 180g translucent red vinyl
  • 180g black virgin vinyl

The Streets of Rage soundtrack will come with traditional OBI strip and 2x lithographs featuring artwork from both the western and Japanese release. Early bird orders will come with five playing cards featuring original character art, and packed with hand-stamped envelope.

Shenmue: 

  • 180g translucent blue vinyl with ‘colour in colour’ effect (exclusive to the Data Discs website)
  • 180g translucent blue vinyl
  • 180g black virgin vinyl

The Shenmue soundtrack will feature one lithograph, spot varnished cover and a OBI strip. You can hear samples of the Shenmue remaster on Data Disc’s soundcloud. I’ve been told they will be priced at £20 (roughly $30 USD), but can’t 100% confirm that.

[Via: Polygon]

Sonic Boom’s troubled Wii U development explained

Unseen64’s Liam goes in-depth, talks to Big Red Button to get their side of the story and tries  to explain how a product like Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric could have turned out the way it turned out. Liam does a good job at looking as far back as the first trailer, which showed better graphics and animation which of course was not running on Wii U hardware.

Not to mention the game was first started as a multiplatform title, considering they where using Cryengine 3 which is hard to work with on Wii U. Its a great video that you guys should check out, especially if you want some understanding on what happen during the development of the title.