SEGA News Bits: SEGA 60th Anniversary Mini Games Reviewed

On this SEGA News Bits, we share our thoughts on the newly released mini games as a part of SEGA’s 60th anniversary. How do the games play, which is our favorite and what is all this drama around the Golden Axe game?

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SEGA Talk Podcast #55: Ghostbusters (1990)

On this SEGA Talk, Barry schools George on his favorite non-Sonic Genesis platformer: Ghostbusters! Developed by SEGA and Compile, the game is a unique non-linear action adventure game. Learn about the all-star development team, the game’s unique place in canon and the discovery of demo tracks from the game’s soundtrack.

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

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – Play Music – RSS – Download]

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!

SEGA News Bits: SEGA Releases Free Golden Axe & Yakuza Mini Games

SEGA West announced their plans for the company’s 60th anniversary, and the biggest news was the release of four mini games: Armor of Heroes, Streets of Kamurocho, Golden Axed and Endless Zone! Listen to our thoughts on these new (and old) titles as well as how this all ties in with an unreleased 2013 game.

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SEGA West Celebrates 60 Years With Limited Mini Games and 60 Days of Content

While SEGA of Japan kicked off the SEGA 60th anniversary celebrations earlier this year, SEGA West has officially started celebrations today with a 60 day long GO SEGA event and a dedicated website, SEGA60th.com. During the next 60 days, there will be let’s plays, competitions, employee interviews and content covering the company’s history. Additionally, a large Steam sale has begun, with themed weeks planned.

Most exciting are the reveal of four exclusive mini games. Available on Steam for a limited tile, the games include: Relic Entertainment’s Armor of Heroes, a multiplayer tank battle game featuring assets from the Company of Heroes games. Amplitude Studios’ Endless Zone, a mashup of the developer’s Endless franchise and SEGA’s Fantasy Zone franchise. Streets of Kamurocho, a Streets of Rage and Yakuza mash-up from SEGA. And finally… Golden Axed, the never thought to ever be released working prototype of SEGA Studios Australia’s SEGA Reborn project! The last one we are especially excited to play, as it is a cancelled project we covered quite a bit on this site in the past.

After the break, the full press release and a gallery of mini game screenshots!

Former SEGA Sound Designer Kazuhiko Nagai Shares Ghostbusters and Rambo III Music Demo Tracks

It seems like video game industry creatives stuck at home have been spent some of that time unearthing and sharing hidden treasures from past development projects. First we had Craig Stitt sharing cool STI game concepts, and now we have former SEGA sound designer Kazuhiko Nagai sharing music demo tracks from the late 80s!

Posted to his YouTube channel, demo tracks from the Genesis/Mega Drive release of Ghostbusters, the Genesis/Mega Drive release of Rambo III and a track from the Genesis/Mega Drive game Mystic Defender have appeared in recent weeks. The tracks are labeled as rough sketches and “maybe rejected”, with Nagai providing his best guess at times for what the intention of the track was. As of writing, a new video was just uploaded (after the break) with fingers crossed for many more over the coming days.

SEGA Game Gear Micro Hardware Review – Bite-Sized Nostalgia

In June 2020, SEGA revealed the Game Gear Micro. Prior to the full announcement, fans speculated on if this would be the successor to the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini, how big the actual device was, how many games would be on the handheld and if it would receive a western release. Once the details were confirmed, internet reaction – specifically from westerners – was largely negative. With dimensions of 80×43 mm (about the size of a Dreamcast VMU) and four colors featuring four unique games each, the Micro truly was living up to its name. Micro in size, micro in game lineup, and micro in not living up to expectations set by the Genesis/Mega Drive Mini.

Now, five months later, I have the full lineup in hand (literally, I can hold all four in one hand!) and can make my own determination on the Game Gear Micro. Is it worthy of an import?

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]

SEGA Talk Podcast #54: Sonic Advance (2001)

On this episode of SEGA Talk, George and Barry fire up the Game Boy Advance and discuss Sonic’s first 2D platforming adventure on a Nintendo handheld! What is Dimps? How does a speedy hammer wielding Amy Rose control? How does the game hold up almost 20 years later? Listen and learn!

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

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – Play Music – RSS – Download]

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!

Panzer Dragoon: Remake Out Now on PlayStation 4 and PC

Forever Entertainment’s Panzer Dragoon: Remake is now available on the PlayStation 4! Released in 2019 to the Nintendo Switch, the game is now seeing a wider release on PS4 and PC (Steam currently has it for 10% off). Currently, the game is digital only on those platforms and is priced at $24.99. Fingers crossed we see a release from Limited Run Games.

A new, remade version of the Panzer Dragoon game – true to the original, with improved graphics and controls, that suit modern gaming standards!
On a far, lone planet, you encounter two dragons awaken from the ancient times. Armed with a deadly gun from the past, and the guidance of your armored blue dragon, you must fulfill your destiny and keep the Prototype Dragon from reaching the Tower or die trying.

Key Features
– Pilot through seven unbelievably realistic levels ranging from tropical blue ocean cities to intricate subterranean ruins.
– Fight the Prototype Dragon who appears together with evil giant dragonflies, frightening man-sized wasps, giant sandworms, and lethal flying battleships.
– Attack approaching from all sides enemies quickly and without mercy, with improved 360-degree controls and lock-on targeting.

TGS 2020: Astro City Mini Hands-On Details and Pink Second Player Variants Revealed

More news about the upcoming Astro City Mini plug and play was revealed at SEGA’s Tokyo Game Show digital events. A variant with pink buttons, based off the player two controls of an Astro City cabinet, was revealed. Additionally, there will be Astro City Mini controllers and arcade sticks with the pink variant, as well as an accessory to place over the marquee making it appear to be a New Astro City arcade machine (New Astro City was a 1994 revision to the 1993 Astro City with exposed speakers jutting out from above the monitor).

SEGA News Bits: Yakuza Movie Announced

The SEGA Cinematic Universe expands with the announcement of a Yakuza movie! Produced by 1212 Entertainment and Wild Sheep Content, this new live action project looks to bring the Yakuza games to the big screen. Who is behind it all and what can we expect? Find out by clicking that play button!

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SEGA News Bits: New Virtua Fighter Game Revealed – Virtua Fighter X Esports Project

We react to and share our thoughts on the news that SEGA is working on a “Virtua Fighter x esports Project”. Is this the new game we’ve long been wanting? Or are we getting a watered down port of an old title? Click play and hear our thoughts!

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SEGA Developing Movie Based on Yakuza Franchise with Production Company 1212 Entertainment

As reported today by Variety, SEGA is developing a live-action adaptation of the Yakuza series of games with 1212 Entertainment (“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”) and Wild Sheep Content. Erik Barmack (“Quicksand,” “Sacred Games” and “The Rain”), Roberto Grande and Joshua Long will produce and they are currently searching for script writers.

1212 told Variety: “Yakuza offers us a new playground in which to set compelling stories with complex characters in a unique environment that audiences have rarely seen before. The saga of Kazuma Kiryu has a built-in cinematic appeal – a mix of kinetic action with bursts of comedy, multiple converging storylines, and a gripping journey towards redemption.” Barmack of Wild Sheep Content added, “With our background in telling global stories, we are excited to bring this huge project to global platforms.”

Yakuza fans should remember that this is not the first time the franchise saw a film. In 2007 “Like A Dragon” released to Japanese cinemas, loosly adapting the first game. The film saw an international release on DVD.

Real-Time Strategy Classic “Herzog Zwei” Joins the SEGA AGES Lineup on Nintendo Switch

The SEGA AGES lineup has expanded on Nintendo Switch with the release of the real-time strategy classic Herzog Zwei. Released in 1989 to the Japanese Mega Drive, the game saw a release in the west the following year. Per SEGA, “In Herzog Zwei, each of the eight featured maps will require strategy and planning to beat your opponent as you issue commands and take over Outposts to best your foe. You will protect your base and accumulate units to expand and achieve ultimate victory. Command a special mech unit to leverage and order around combat units, and most importantly, make sure to keep a keen eye on resources like “Energy” so you can be combat-ready at all times!”