Author Archives: Barry

SEGA in the Media: FOX’s “Dads” takes the Dreamcast hostage

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FOX’s live action sitcom Dads, from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, is one of the fall season’s worst shows reviews-wise. Perhaps the production crew knew they had a stinker on their hands and threw a Dreamcast into the set dressing. Hey, if it worked for The Drew Carey Show, it could work for them. The series follows two guys named Warner and Eli who are successful video game developers who are forced to have their fathers move in with them, thus explaining the Dreamcast sitting on Seth Green’s desk. Why a modern game developer would have so many pieces of 90’s era hardware on his work desk is unknown. Perhaps they’re indie Dreamcast developers? In any case, save yourself the trouble watching the show and just enjoy the image above.

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Update from “Service Games: The Rise and Fall of SEGA ” author David Munoz

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We have an update from “Service Games: Rise and Fall of Sega ” author David Munoz, who we interviewed last month:

Hi everyone,

Good news: we have found our editor. I can’t go into specifics just yet, but all of you should be familiar with his work in one way or another. I have already seen some of the edited beginning and the increase in quality is night and day. Hopefully everyone agrees! This is your last chance to send in any edits before the text is finalized, so don’t delay if you know of things we may have missed.

We have a new timeline now. Hopefully way before this, but our plan is now to get everything to you guys before Christmas. This is obviously past our original date of this past August, but hopefully the extra additions and editing make up for it. As soon as we get the final text we will then send out the questionnaires. Print has the highest priority, followed by ebook. People who are waiting on a signed copy may not get their books before Christmas due to shipping times. If you are one of these people and you’d rather get it on time, please message or email me (servicegamessega at gmail.com) and we will refund you the difference and not sign them.

We are planning on launching the “hardback” only Kickstarter in January. This will give second-chance offers to everyone to get the color hardback editions, but will also help cover the added costs that all the delays accrued. We are planning on doing something special for backers of the original who want to back the new version, so stay tuned for that!

That’s it for news. Feel free to ask any questions and thanks for supporting this project… the end is in sight!

-David

After the break, check out a message from David, responding to comments posted on our interview with him.

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Help The Dreamcast Junkyard decide the top 200 Dreamcast games!

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SEGAbits partner site The Dreamcast Junkyard has set up a poll which includes every single Dreamcast game from all regions, including indie titles. The mission: to create a definitive top 200 list of the best Dreamcast games. If this sounds familiar, it’s because back in 2009, a top 100 list was created by The Dreamcast Junkyard using data collected from a similar poll. Given attitudes towards certain games have likely changed with time and rereleases, as well as the additions of new indie Dreamcast games to the console’s library, now it a good time as any to revisit and expand the list.

To contribute, simply head on over to the polling site and select every game that you would deem to be a worthy addition to a top 200 list. You can select as many as you’d like, and it is encouraged that you select a sizable amount. This is not a popularity contest for one specific title. It is a comparison of many (at the time of this writing, 100+) Dreamcast fan’s lists. Games that appear one more lists are the ones that are more likely to make it near the top. The poll runs until November 18th and the results will be revealed on November 27th, which is the Dreamcast’s 15 anniversary in Japan.

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SEGA’s Tokyo Game Show website opens, reveals game lineup

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SEGA of Japan has opened their 2013 Tokyo Game Show website, which reveals their game lineup for the show. Titles include Yakuza Ishin (PS3, PS4), Phantasy Star Online 2 (PC), Phantasy Star Nova (Vita), Hatsune Miku Project Mirai 2 (3DS), Hatsune Miku Project Diva-F 2nd (Vita, PS3), the recently revealed Puyo Puyo Tetris (PS3, Wii U, 3DS, Vita), Hero Bank (3DS) Song Set 575 (Vita), Lets make a Pro Soccer Club! (PS3, Vita), and Sonic Lost World (Wii U, 3DS). The site also offers a look at the SEGA booth, the show program, a list of swag being given out (probably my favorite page), and a shopping page where you’ll see a cute Sonic coffee mug and an awesome Mega Drive 25th anniversary shirt. Yet to be unlocked are movie and photo pages.

Tokyo Game Show begins September 19th, stay tuned to SEGAbits for more Tokyo Game Show news! After the break, check out some Puyo Puyo Tetris and Phantasy Star Nova screens from the SEGA TGS site.

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Review: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (XBLA)

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Before Sonic the Hedgehog, there was Mickey Mouse. In November 1990, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse released almost simultaneously in America, Europe, and Japan to the SEGA Genesis and Mega Drive consoles. At the time, the game was visually stunning, described in one video preview as “beautiful”, “brilliant” and continuing the tradition of Disney animation. On top of that, the platforming was brimming with inventive platforming elements accompanied by catchy, whimsical music. The game was great at the time, and replaying it in 2013 it is easy to see why it is deemed a platforming classic.

As far back as April of this year there were rumors that a remake was on the way, thanks to digital box art that had leaked. The idea of a Castle of Illusion remake really was an unexpected surprise. Sure the original is fantastic, but few fans were demanding a remake and even fewer fans ever expected SEGA to team with Disney to make it happen. But here we are, the summer is coming to an end, and we have a re-imagining of the SEGA classic. Was a remake really necessary, and does it maintain the magic that made the original so great?

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Famitsu reveals Puyo Puyo Tetris for Playstation and Nintendo platforms

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Yes, that’s right puzzle fans. The “Mario & Sonic” of puzzle games is coming.

Famitsu reports that a Puyo Puyo Tetris game is due out in 2014 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U. This wouldn’t be the first time SEGA has been involved in a Tetris game. In 1989 SEGA developed and published Tetris for the SEGA System 16 and SEGA System E hardware. In 2000 the SEGA Dreamcast saw the release of The Next Tetris, a Tetris title that took advantage of the console’s modem for online gameplay.

Nothing more has been revealed of this unique collaboration, but as soon as we learn more we’ll be sure to share it!

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Happy 20th anniversary to Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog!

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Today marks the 20th anniversary of one of Sonic’s most inventive, craziest, and funniest cartoons: Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog! One of my strongest nostalgic connections to the Sonic franchise was this 1993 cartoon series. It was the only cartoon of my childhood which I remember watching from the very beginning. While I was a huge Ninja Turtles and The Real Ghostbusters fan, both cartoons were at their heights a few years before I began watching.

When The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (hereby known as AoStH) premiered, I remember exactly where I was. It was September 6th 1993 and I was eating breakfast in our kitchen, catching the first episode (in airing order, not production order) “Best Hedgehog”. The image after the break is a pretty accurate representation of what I saw. Yes, despite it being 1993 we still had an old black and white in our kitchen.

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Bayonetta, Rodin, and Jeanne to cameo in The Wonderful 101

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For the first time, to my knowledge, we’re covering The Wonderful 101 news by way of the reveal that Bayonetta characters Bayonetta, Rodin, and Jeanne have been announced to cameo in the Platinum Games developed and Nintendo published game. Hideki Kamiya, director of Bayonetta and The Wonderful 101, made the announcement at PAX today. What is interesting about this announcement is that this is the first time fully owned SEGA characters from Platinum Games have appeared in a game fully owned by Nintendo. So it’s sort of a SEGA, Nintendo, Platinum Games crossover. No further details have been revealed, thus explaining why I’ve been stretching this little bit of news out to a paragraph length.

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My Life with SEGA returns this October with an Alien-packed season 2 premiere

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The SEGAbits YouTube channel original series My Life with SEGA will return this October with a three part assault on the Aliens franchise! On October 2nd, AJ revisits the Alien Trilogy, a game he reviewed way back before the series moved to SEGAbits. October 16th sees the battle of Aliens vs. Predator, and then the infamous Aliens: Colonial Marines lands the day before Halloween. Check out the trailer above, and mark your calendars!

Like this video? Subscribe to the SEGAbits YouTube channel.

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SEGA’s PAX lineup reveals Heroki for iOS

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Could the SEGA Alliance program be continuing? SEGA Blog’s latest post has revealed their PAX Prime 2013 demo lineup, which includes a game that has not been mentioned by SEGA until now. The Seattle event will feature Sonic Lost World, Total War: ROME II, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F, and Heroki at booth #142/242. Heroki, by iOS developer Picomy Games, is described as a “platformer that is a story based action/adventure game but different from regular run and jump type of platformers, many people are already familiar with. The core of the game lies on the flying aspect, giving the player much more freedom then regular platformers. Sure, Heroki can also walk/run but he’s at his finest in the air where he can perform lots of different abilities providing a unique experience that is ideal for a touchscreen.”

The Picomy Games blog features screens, art, and gameplay footage of Heroki, however the blog itself hasn’t been updated since October 2012. Perhaps SEGA and Picomy have been working on the game together since the indie’s blog went silent? Check out some gameplay footage after the break!

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Keith Apicary’s latest song “Keith of Rage” takes inspiration from a certain SEGA beat ’em up

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SEGA superfan and recent SEGAbits interviewee Keith Apicary has returned to the music world with a new music video entitled “Keith of Rage” – inspired by SEGA’s classic beat ’em up Streets of Rage. While the whole song is awesome from start to finish, a few stand out lyrics include “My Segas so hot its turning red. I’m eating apples and bustin heads. I played so hard my fingers bled. In a few more levels Mr X is dead.” and “I’ve got the brain of a 12 year old kid. My friends grew up but I never did. Spent half of my life jamming on Bare Knuckle and as a result I look like your uncle.”

Make sure to give the video a thumbs up and check out Nathan Barnatt’s other videos!

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UPDATE: Sonic Lost World Deadly Six Bonus Edition officially revealed for Wii U

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Thanks to the SEGA Blog, we now have more details on the previously revealed NiGHTS into Dreams inspired Wii U Sonic Lost World DLC. As described by SEGA, “Sonic has been sucked into a world of nightmares created by Wizeman, and must defeat the Deadly Six, who are riding on gigantic Nightmaren monsters inspired from the game NiGHTS into Dreams….” The content includes an exclusive level that is accessed via a download code which is obtained when pre-ordering the game (or while supplies last). SEGA says the DLC will be instantly playable, and that upon completing the level a special Color Power (usually only obtainable from Miiverse) is rewarded. SEGA also notes that the Deadly Six Bonus Edition will be called the Deadly Six Edition in Europe. Given that SEGA did not link to any specific retailer, it is being assumed that like Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, this bonus edition will be available to all who pre-order and purchase within the release window. Later pressings of the game will likely drop the content.

After the break, check out the special cover art as well as a few new screens.
UPDATE: We’ve added more images to the gallery!

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New Sonic Lost World screens reveal Miiverse functions, game map, and more!

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In addition to the new trailer which reveals NiGHTS bosses appearing in Sonic Lost World, which you can see here, SEGA has also released a ton of new screens from Sonic Lost World showing off various stages including Frozen Factory, 2-player assist mode, 2-player racing, Miiverse functionality, as well as the game’s world map. Like Sonic Colors, it appears that Sonic will run from act to act on a little map, and like Sonic Unleashed the more you progress in the game the more Lost Hex comes together. Check out the screens after the break, and as always share your comments below or in our lovely dedicated forum topic.

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NiGHTS into Sonic Lost World?!? – SEGA reveals The Deadly Six Edition

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Well this is very much a “what the f***?!” piece of news! SEGA has released the Sonic Lost World Gamescom trailer with an added bit at the end showing off a special version of Sonic Lost World for Wii U dubbed The Deadly Six Edition which includes “deadlier game content” by way of The Deadly Six teaming up with NiGHTS bosses! Yes, you read that right. Sonic is going back to the world of NiGHTS and is taking on several bosses from the series. Give the video a watch and try to wrap your head around this crazy news! Currently the special edition of the game is only announced for the UK, but like Sonic & All-Stars Racing’s special edition a US version is likely to be revealed too.

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My Life with SEGA gets unboxed by SEGA CD Universe

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YouTube user Vampire Mike, owner of the SegaCDUniverse YouTube channel, has created an unboxing video of the recently released “SEGAbits Presents My Life with SEGA” DVD which was given away as part of our third anniversary contest. While Vampire Mike was not a contest winner, he was enough of a My Life with SEGA fan to receive a copy of the DVD from AJ, as well as a hilarious note and a special Video CD version of “SEGAbits Presents My Life with SEGA” for use on the SEGA Saturn. As AJ is on summer vacation, with new episodes returning in October, I thought I’d share this special unboxing video. Check it out, and check out SegaCDUniverse’s awesome channel!

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