Author Archives: Barry

SEGA Retrospective: Grab some trash can chicken – it’s Streets of Rage Week

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This website was once a happy, peaceful place… until today, when an awesome SEGA franchise took over. This memorable series soon had control of our featured articles and even the Swingin’ Report Show. Welcome 16-bit brothers and sisters to Streets of Rage week at SEGAbits!

As we reach the halfway point of SEGA Genesis Month, we wanted to shine the spotlight on SEGA’s popular side-scrolling beat ’em up series of games. Streets of Rage (Bare Knuckle in Japan) was a franchise that spanned most of the lifespan of the the Genesis/Mega Drive, and like Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, and Golden Axe, the series came to be one of the console’s defining franchises. To celebrate these titles, we have a slew of features planned this week including an interview with Darren Wall, creator of the official book “SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works”, exclusive never before seen design documents from the development of the original game, a special podcast looking back on the franchise, part three of My Life with SEGA’s Streets of Rage retrospective (watch part 1 and part 2), and more!

So put on your favorite fingerless gloves, tie on a headband, and hit the streets with us as we fight our way through Streets of Rage Week! After the break, a SEGA Retro rundown of all the games the franchise has to offer, including rereleases and cancelled titles!

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Hardlight Studio developing Crazy Taxi: City Rush for iOS and Android devices

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Update: We’ve added footage of the game in action above, check it out!

SEGA’s Hardlight Studio in cooperation with Kenji Kanno, the man behind the original Crazy Taxi, are back to make more crazy money in Crazy Taxi: City Rush – coming later this year to iOS and Android devices. In an interview with Polygon, producer Stephen Ye described the upcoming free-to-play game as something for “casual players and die-hard Crazy Taxi fans in the mobile space”. A teaser trailer, found after the break, reveals that B.D. Joe has set up shop and is employing players to drive customizable cabs. The game will feature music from some licensed music from indie bands as well as offering players the ability to create their own playlists from their device’s music library.

During their hands on with the game, Polygon noted that the gas pedal is permanently floored and breaking for passengers is done via tapping the screen. Turning requires swiping or moving your finger in a specific direction. Despite the simplified controls, the game was described as being “as frantic as console versions, thanks to the need to dodge cars or quickly switch lanes”. Being a mobile title, daily challenges will be available, and if players connect to Facebook they will be able to pick up their friends as customers within the game. And, as Ye told Polygon, “the more Facebook friends you have, the more social missions you have in the game”. Players can even visit their friends garages to view their cars, and clean them to earn in-game currency.

Crazy Taxi: City Rush will release later this year worldwide, and will be released in Canada and Australia this month as part of a soft launch to prepare the game for a worldwide audience. After the break, more screens and a teaser trailer!

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Cancelled Dreamcast era Sonic Adventure Burger King Kid’s Club concept art appears on ebay

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An incredibly cool collection of Sonic art appeared on ebay in the form of concept art for a cancelled Burger King Kid’s Club line of Sonic Adventure toys. The listings feature ten toys, with six pieces of artwork each: a clean inked drawing, two marked up versions with notes from SEGA on color and callouts, a final inked piece, and then mock-ups of the final slip of paper you’d find packaged with the toy. The seller claims they came across the concept art in a warehouse find of several pieces of concept art for various products. This claim is backed up by several other pieces of art for various products in his ebay store. These are the only SEGA related ones, however.

As ebay listings don’t last forever, and because we can’t afford to buy all ten for $150 each ($1,500 total for 60 pieces of art), we’ve saved all the images from the listing in a gallery after the break. Had the set gone through to production, we would have seen ten toys: Rip Roaring Robotnik (spelled “Robotnic” on the art and corrected in the final version), Somersaultin’ Snowboardin’ Sonic, “Go Gamma Go!”, Knuckles Goes for a Spin, Twistin’ Twirlin’ Tails, Frog-Catchin’ Cat (oddly, Big’s name isn’t mentioned on the final version), Noisy Amy, Super Sonic Sled, Turbo-Prop Tails, and Walk ‘Em Sock ‘Em Knuckles.

After the break, a full gallery of the images from these auctions.

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Alien Isolation developer diary looks at the creation of the game’s alien

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SEGA has just released a developer diary for their upcoming game Alien Isolation, developed in-house by The Creative Assembly. As mentioned in countless interviews, the team’s goal is to make the alien scary again. This is a sentiment shared by many fans who have played recent Aliens titles, in which the AI was disappointing and the aliens themselves are plentiful. In Alien Isolation, players can expect a larger, less predictable, “life like” alien that is “intelligent, unpredictable, and extremely dangerous”. The aim is to make sure the player never feels safe, and every action the player makes just may influence the lone alien.

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Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax trailer reveals a Dreamcast console-tan

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A new trailer for Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax has hit the internet, and it features a Dreamcast console-tan! What is a “console-tan”? A moe anthropomorphism of a piece of gaming hardware, in this case a Dreamcast. If you don’t know what a “moe” is, I’ll let you Google search that on your own. Given Akira and Pai from Virtua Fighter appear in the game as bosses, it is likely that the Dreamcast gal is a boss as well.

After the break, check out a full body shot of Dreamcast console-tan!

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Swingin’ Report Show #57: Interview with WaterMelon Video Games President Tulio Gonçalves

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SEGA Genesis month is in full swing, and Barry and George bring you our first podcast of the month which proudly features our special guest Tulio Gonçalves, president of WaterMelon Video Games! You may recognize WaterMelon as the developer of the phenomenal Genesis/Mega Drive RPG Pier Solar, released in 2010. Coming later this year is an enhanced and expanded HD release of Pier Solar, set for several platforms including Android, Linux, Mac, Ouya, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One, Wii U, and SEGA Dreamcast!

Tulio discusses WaterMelon’s early years, the creation of Pier Solar for the Genesis/Mega Drive, the upcoming Dreamcast version, and what we can expect in the future from the company. It’s a great discussion, so check it out! Also, we reveal the four winners of the SEGA and Tommo Mobile iPhone case giveaway.

Make sure to help WaterMelon to bring the game to PC by voting “YES” on their Steam Greenlight page!

[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

See the winning photos from the SEGA Tommo Mobile iPhone case contest after the break!

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Hucast announces DUX 1.5 Collector’s Edition for the SEGA Dreamcast

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If you thought the DUX releases were over, then you don’t know DUX! Following Hucast’s release of Redux: Dark Matters, which included DUX 1.5 in the limited edition version, as well as standalone standard and limited editions of DUX 1.5, and a version of DUX 1.5 in a CD case, Hucast has now announced a collector’s edition of DUX 1.5, set to release in April.

The release, limited to 300 copies, will include DUX 1.5, a DUX soundtrack CD, a DUX 1.5 soundtrack CD, a yet to be announced “New Game Disc” (perhaps a demo disc of The Ghost Blade?), and a 12 page Color Manual. Pre-orders start on March 17th, and Hucast advises fans to stay tuned to their store and their Facebook page.

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New Pier Solar HD trailer arrives – the adventure is coming soon!

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A new teaser trailer for the upcoming Pier Solar HD was recently released by Watermelon Games. The game, which is an HD remake of the 2010 SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive indie RPG, is expected to hit Wii U, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Sega Dreamcast, Ouya, PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) and Android next month. The game is looking gorgeous, with a new widescreen presentation and updated art. Stay tuned to the trailer until the very end to see the Dreamcast logo among the supported platforms, there’s something special about seeing a SEGA console listed among Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft again.

The game is slated to release next month. In the meantime, stay tuned to the upcoming SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show podcast in which our special guest is Watermelon Games president Tulio Adriano Cardoso Gonçalves! Have any questions for Tulio? Leave them in the comments section below.

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Hucast Games reveal new screens from the upcoming indie SEGA Dreamcast game ‘The Ghost Blade’

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Hucast Games, developer of the recently released Redux: Dark Matters, is at work on the upcoming indie Dreamcast game The Ghost Blade. Four new screens, as well as a photo taken of the game in action, were recently shared on the developer’s blog. Fans, including our own The Gagaman, complained of low resolution graphics in the recently released Redux, which might explain why Hucast shared a close up shot of The Ghost Blade showing off what Hucast promises is an all new engine that will take advantage of the Dreamcast’s RAM better leading to high-res graphics.

Expected to release in October 2014, the game is currently in an alpha state, and Hucast promises that they will be “adding more enemies to give the game a blasting Caravan shooting game thrill!”.

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SEGA releases new Alien Isolation screenshots featuring guts and 1979 inspired electronics

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SEGA’s press site has released a batch of new screenshots for the upcoming Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 game Alien Isolation, developed by The Creative Assembly. Like previously released screens, we see a quiet and creepy setting in which you play as Ellen Ripley’s daughter Amanda trapped in isolation on a space station with the titular alien. Some cool elements on display are the electronics Amanda uses which double as the game’s HUD, clearly inspired by the 1979 film. After the break check out a full gallery of the latest screens! Alien Isolation is expected to release in the 4th quarter of 2014.

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SEGA Tunes: Ghostbusters Main Theme and Ending Theme for the SEGA Genesis

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Ghostbusters for the SEGA Genesis is a game that holds a very special place in my heart. During Christmas 1991 I received my Model 1 SEGA Genesis with Sonic the Hedgehog bundled in, and from that point forward I was a SEGA fan. Owning a Genesis also meant that a whole world of games opened up to me, and since the console was a little over two years old, I spent much of 1992 buying up games I had missed out on. Buying games in the early ’90’s was tough. Nowadays we have instant access to the internet, so it’s easy to spot a game on the shelf, Google search reviews, and make the decision to purchase. Back in ’92 all I had to go by was the box art and the few screenshots provided on the back. Being a huge fan of both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Ghostbusters, it only made sense for me to seek out the Genesis titles those franchises provided, and boy did I strike gold.

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Sketch group BEASTS gives their humorous spin on the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog

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Having just recently written about the history of Sonic’s many redesigns, it’s fitting that sketch comedy group BEASTS reached out to us to share a video they made on the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog. BEASTS member James McNicholas shared the following information with us:

Let’s face it: video games are weird. Those from the 80s and 90s are arguably weirdest of all — try explaining the logic behind Pac Man to someone whose never encountered it.

Few games make less sense than Sonic The Hedgehog, with its blue rodents, gold rings and magic emeralds. Fortunately, sketch group BEASTS have stumbled upon this footage of SEGA’s planning meeting for the original Sonic. Hope you like it!

BEASTS are comprised of Ciaran Dowd, James McNicholas and Owen Roberts. They’ve been going for two years, and have two sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival under our belts. You can find nice things that other journalists have said about them here (they don’t put the nasty ones up). They’re also over on Twitter @BEASTScomedy.

As regards the sketch itself, you’ll notice two of the characters are named Yuji and Naoto – an allusion to messrs Naka and Oshima. “Mr. Needlemouse”, as you’re probably aware, was the name given to the prototype for the Sonic character on Naoto Oshima’s early concept art.

Thanks to BEASTS for reaching out to us and sharing their work!

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Sega Genesis/Mega Drive shooter Steel Empire slated to release on the Japanese 3DS eShop this month

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Via Polygon comes news that the SEGA Genesis shooter Steel Empire, also known as Empire of Steel in Europe and Koutetsu Teikoku (鋼鉄帝国) in Japan, is set for a Nintendo 3DS release later this month. Members from the original development team, HOT-B, reformed to create Starfish which will be publishing the 3DS remake. Mebuis is in charge of remaking the game. Steel Empire is expected to release at the end of the month as a 2,940 yen eShop download.

Yoshinori Satake, former Hot-B lead game designer, is currently working on a sequel to the original game, entitled Burning Steel.

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The Year of the SEGA Console – Genesis month begins NOW!

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In mid-January we made the announcement that all year long we’d be celebrating five famous (and infamous) pieces of SEGA hardware hitting milestone anniversaries in what we dubbed 2014: The Year of the SEGA Console. While the 32X, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Pico are slated for month long celebrations later this year, all of March will be focused on SEGA’s 16-bit underdog the SEGA Genesis.

As an American who grew up in the late 80’s and early 90’s, the Genesis is a console that is near and dear to my heart. The Genesis was my introduction to the world of SEGA games, as well as the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. I know I’m not alone, as that period from 1989 to the mid ’90’s is filled with nostalgic memories for many SEGA fans of the era. As time went on, I became more savvy of SEGA’s impact on other territories, leading to the realization that the Genesis was actually the Mega Drive to everywhere else but America. Still, to me it was the Genesis, not the Mega Drive, that shaped my SEGA fandom and played a major part of defining my childhood.

To honor the Genesis, we plan to feature exciting content both here at SEGAbits and at the SEGAbits YouTube Channel. Expect to see another SEGAbits Franchise Week – this time dedicated to a certain bare knuckle brawler – as well as retro reviews, interviews, round tables, special edition podcasts, and a few surprises. So plug in your controller of choice, clean off those cartridges, and power on for SEGA GENESIS MONTH!

Learn more about the SEGA Genesis at our SEGA Retro wiki

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The SEGA Five: How SEGA redesigned Sonic the Hedgehog

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Following the reveal of Sonic Boom, SEGA and Sonic fan communities exploded with discussion regarding the redesigns of the characters. Things like muscles, sports tape, scarves, tool belts, and blue arms became the subject of heated debates. Before the assurance from SEGA staff that the new game and TV show were a branch of the franchise and not a reboot, fans were both delighted and angered at the idea of Sonic undergoing another redesign after getting to know Modern Sonic for the past 7 years. Of course, fans of the franchise are not new to redesigns of SEGA’s mascot, so they can’t be blamed for assuming that Sonic was undergoing another permanent major change. While Sonic Boom Sonic and Modern Sonic “will continue to move forward in parallel” to each other, as stated by Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka, the new Westernized design of Sonic is here to stay – at least for the near future.

As we move forward into the Sonic Boom era, we thought it would be fitting to look back at five major moments in Sonic’s history of redesigns, from buttface to green eyes and beyond. “Buttface” is enough incentive to read on, right?

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