Author Archives: Barry

Akira Nagai, Former Managing Director at SEGA, Has Passed Away

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We’re sad to report that Akira Nagai, Managing Director at SEGA from 1965 to 2004, has passed away. Nagai was one of the longest serving managing directors and representatives at the company, initially starting out in jukebox distribution in 1963 at Nihon Goraku Bussan and continuing in amusement machine sales in the 1980s. During the 1990s, Nagai managed SEGA’s Amusement Theme Park concept which went on to establish several Joypolis venues in Japan in addition to others. Fans might best remember his likeness from a cameo as a Yakuza boss in the first Shenmue game.

Akira Nagai passed on November 15, 2022 at age 79. If you would like a deep dive on his career, please read his full article on SEGA Retro.

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The SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show: Sonic & SEGA Fan Jam REMIX

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The Sonic & SEGA Fan Jam Remix convention has concluded, but our coverage hasn’t! Following our recap on SEGA News Bits Live here is another bit of the convention, the full audio I recorded of the Shenmue & Arcade All-Stars panel which featured a reunion of the Shenmue voice actors Corey Marshall, Eric Kelso and Lisle Wilkerson. Enjoy this historic moment in Shenmue history!

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SEGA Talk #107: Segagaga (2001)

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Strap in and get ready to save SEGA as we venture into the year 2025 and cover the Dreamcast Japanese exclusive Segagaga! We discuss the cameos, parodies and more!

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If you want to give us feedback, suggest a topic for the next podcast or want to ask a question for us to answer on the next episode you can add  them as a comment below or send theme directly to our email. Make sure you use subject line ‘SEGA Talk’ and as always, thanks for listening!

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Sonic & SEGA Fan Jam Remix: Shenmue & Arcade All-Stars Voice Actors Panel

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The biggest moment at this past weekend’s Sonic & SEGA Fan Jam Remix was the Shenmue & Arcade All-Stars Voice Actors Panel featuring the reunion of Corey Marshall, Lisle Wilkerson and Eric Kelso of Shenmue fame.

This is the first time all three have been together since recording audio for Shenmue II over 20 years ago. I was on hand as moderator, which was probably a SEGA fan “career” highlight for me.

Give the full panel a watch and enjoy!

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SEGA News Bits Live: Sonic & SEGA Fan Jam Remix Recap

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Another Sonic & SEGA Fan Jam event is a wrap, and for the first time a Barry or George attended! Which one was it? Click play to find out! On this News Bits Live, check out exclusive photos and videos from the event, details on the must see panels and some merch pickups.

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If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

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Scrape Your Kocos, Catch Some Sage – Sonic Frontiers is now available!

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Unless you have been living under a rock, you should know by now that Sonic Frontiers is now available on all major platforms! That includes the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. With the game’s launch came a launch trailer that has to be seen to be believed. Think they go with a song like “Vandelize” or “I’m Here”? Think again!

How is the game? You can watch our video review for yourself!

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Scrape Your Knees, Kick Some Balls – Football Manager 2023 is out now!

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In what is a big week for SEGA, Football Manager 2023 has released to PC and Mac on Steam, Epic and Microsoft Store. The game is the latest installment in the long running franchise which, funnily enough, actually appeared in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed for PC as the titular Football Manager appeared as a guest character. Check out the launch trailer above, and after the break read through the press release!

Continue Reading ➜

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Sonic Frontiers Prologue shows us how Knuckles arrives on the Starfall Islands

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We’re one week away from Sonic Frontiers, and SEGA has dropped a five minute animated short showing fans how Knuckles got from Angel Island to the Starfall Islands. Written by Ian Flynn and Directed by Tyson Hesse, the short brings together elements of the classic era, Sonic Adventure and the upcoming Sonic Frontiers. Social media is already abuzz with the various elements coming together and the characterization and voice work for Knuckles, done by Dave B. Mitchell who joined the cast with Team Sonic Racing.

Sonic Frontiers will launch starting at $59.99 on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems and PC on November 8. To pre-order Sonic Frontiers today, please visit: https://frontiers.sonicthehedgehog.com.

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SEGA Talk #106: Wacky Races (2000)

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…And now here they are! The most powerful duo of daffy podcasters to ever whirl their wheels in the Wacky Races! Competing for the title of world’s wackiest racer! The cars are approaching the starting line. First, is the Giga Mega Drive Turbo driven by Gorgeous George. Next is Barry the Nomad in the AV RCA Hookup Pickup Truck. And they’re off… to a standing start. And why not, they’ve been chained to a post, by Dick Dastardly, who shifts into the wrong gear. And away they go… on the way-out Wacky Races!

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, tell us what games to cover, and have your SEGA memories read at the end and more!

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If you want to give us feedback, suggest a topic for the next podcast or want to ask a question for us to answer on the next episode you can add  them as a comment below or send theme directly to our email. Make sure you use subject line ‘SEGA Talk’ and as always, thanks for listening!

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“In Memory of Rieko Kodama” – Remembering the Legendary SEGA Designer, Director and Producer

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Yesterday the news broke that legendary SEGA Designer, Director and Producer Rieko Kodama had passed away. The first signs of her passing came, surprisingly yet in hindsight quite fittingly, from a SEGA game. The Mega Drive Mini 2 had just released, and within the credits was “In memory of Rieko Kodama”. There had been no announcement of Kodama’s passing, so fans were both shocked and confused, hoping it was some translation error. However, the news was confirmed by SEGA Creative Producer Yosuke Okunari who had most recently worked alongside Kodama on the SEGA AGES Nintendo Switch series of rereleases. Kodama had passed away on May 9, 2022, however out of respect for her family’s wishes for privacy the news was not made public until now.

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SEGA releases part 2 of Sonic Frontiers Prologue: CONVERGENCE digital comic

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Sonic Frontiers is just days away, and in the lead up to the game’s release SEGA has given fans a two part digital comic starring Sonic, Tails, Amy and Eggman showing the events that lead to the game’s opening moments. The official Sonic Twitter account has shared part one and today dropped part two, with a animated short starring Knuckles soon to follow.

Click on over to the Sonic Twitter account and give them a read!

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SEGA News Bits Live: Astro City Mini V (Limited Run Games) Review

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On this SEGA News Bits Live, we mix things up a bit for a live unboxing and review of the Astro City Mini V from Limited Run Games!

Check out the Astro City Mini V for yourself here! You can also find the original Astro City Mini, a bundle of both and the Astro City Mini V with style kit included.

If you want to support this type of content, you can check out our Patreon!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

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Data Discs announces Sonic Frontiers 2LP & 4LP soundtracks

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Following up from yesterday’s news of Fantasy Zone, SEGA and Data Discs are back with another vinyl release! This time, the focus shifts to modern games as the upcoming Sonic Frontiers will see not one but TWO releases! First up, the 2XLP edition sees a “Sonic Blue” colored vinyl with a 12 page booklet featuring liner notes from Tomoya Ohtani, a lithographic art print of the Japanese cover art all packed in a single pocket sleeve. This edition, seen above, will retail for 32.99 GBP or about $37 USD and will ship around mid December. Learn more about this release here. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!

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Limited Run Games announces Astro City Mini V Western release – Super Zaxxon bonus game added

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Limited Run Games has announced a Western release of the Astro City Mini V. The V, as kids call it, is the second in SEGA’s line of Astro City Mini plug and play consoles which sports a vertically orientated screen and focuses on shoot ’em up games. What makes this release unique is that for the first time, bonus content will be available for the West! Super Zaxxon has been added to the lineup. Super Zaxxon was an update to the original Zaxxon, which as the SEGA Retro wiki explains “offers slightly faster gameplay, a different set of graphics, different stage layouts and a few more enemies”.

The Astro City Mini V goes up for pre-order on October 25th, priced at $159.99. The style kit, which is compatible with both Astro City Mini models, includes a coin bank base and little toy chair and will be available as well in a $199.99 bundle or separately for $39.99. Limited Run Games is also putting the original Astro City Mini back in stock, priced at $129.99.

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