Author Archives: Barry

How will modern gamers react to Shenmue I & II?

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To our great delight, just last week Shenmue I & II were announced to be releasing to PS4, Xbox One and PC later this year.

Unlike most rereleases in the past few years, Shenmue I & II are not being remade from the ground up (as seen with Crash, Spyro and the PS2 Yakuza games). Instead, the games will be releasing as enhanced ports, thus retaining the graphical style of the Dreamcast originals. What more, the games will seemingly not be altered to cater to modern gaming sensibilities. Most notably, the ability to time skip (fast forward the clock to when a business opens) will not be implemented in Shenmue I while it will still be present in Shenmue II.

We wanted to ask you, the reader, this: How do you think the modern gaming audience will react to Shenmue I & II?

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Preview: IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #7

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While IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #3 hits shops today, the preview for IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #7 has just landed! While IDW does a decent job avoiding any spoilers in the description, if you’ve been reading the series you might want to avoid the latest preview. Having said that, we can tell you that the issue will have a special foil cover to celebrate half a year of IDW Sonic comics. Wow, issue #7 and we’re already celebrating milestones! I remember in the Archie days it wasn’t until issue 25 that we got a silver border and a Sonic CD adaptation.

After the break, check out the full preview!

Continue Reading ➜

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Yakuza 6 survey gauges interest in Fist of the North Star game Hokuto ga Gotoku – is localization likely?

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In case you forgot, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life released yesterday to the west. As is the new norm, SEGA tacked on a survey for those who purchased the game (accessible from the console’s home screen). The eleven page long survey asks the standard questions one might expect, however it also asks the following: “While no localization has been announced at this time, how interested are you in the Fist of the North Star game created by the developers of Yakuza?” with the possible replies being: “would not buy it,” “I probably wouldn’t buy it,” “I’d buy it under the right conditions,” “I’d probably buy it” and “Day One! I would pre-order it!”.

This isn’t the first time SEGA of America has asked fans about the Fist of the North Star game Hokuto ga Gotoku. In August of last year, SEGA asked if fans were interested in the newly announced Yakuza Studio titles including Hokuto ga Gotoku. Also on that list? Yakuza Kiwami 2, which has since been announced to be coming west on August 28, 2018.

So while we are not saying Hokuto ga Gotoku is coming west, all signs sure are pointing to yes. Fire up your PS4 and take the survey today!

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Treasure’s Dynamite Headdy joins the SEGA Forever lineup

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The SEGA Forever lineup expanded today, with the release of Treasure’s Mega Drive classic Dynamite Headdy. The game is free to play on iOS and Android now! Released in 1994, Dynamite Headdy is best known for its Mega Drive release (which is what you will find in the SEGA Forever version), however it was also released to the SEGA Game Gear and brought to the Master System in Brazil. A 32X port was planned but cancelled.

In other SEGA Forever news, Golden Axe and Altered Beast will be receiving local multiplayer updates today. This feature works on both free and paid versions.

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SEGA AGES officially releasing to North America and Europe

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SEGA of America PR has officially confirmed that SEGA AGES, the recently announced M2 project which will bring Master System, Genesis and SEGA arcade ports to Nintendo Switch, will indeed be releasing to Japan, North America, and Europe. The lineup will begin rolling out this summer with Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, Thunder Force IV, Gain Ground and Alex Kidd in Miracle World.

As is the norm with M2 projects, there will be a bevy of bonuses to make your purchase worth while.

After the break, check out a few screenshots and an official description of SEGA AGES.

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Football Manager Touch 2018 releases to Nintendo Switch

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On Friday, (sorry, we were neck deep in SEGA FES) SEGA announced that Football Manager Touch 2018 was available digitally for the Nintendo Switch in the eShop. For those unfamiliar with the franchise, the press release describes it best: “Football Manager is the most realistic, in-depth and immersive football management simulation in the world. Putting you in the hot seat of any club in more than 50 countries across the world, Football Manager allows you to take on the role of a real-life gaffer: you decide who plays and who sits on the bench, and you’re in total control of tactics, team talks, substitutions and pitch-side instructions.”

As the name implies, the game has already been released to smart devices. However, SEGA promises that the game has been fully optimized for the Switch with a customized control system that takes full advantage of the system’s various controller input options, including support for both the touchscreen and Joy-Con controllers. Also, the game offers a full single-player experience including the series’ 3D Match Engine – the first time that the 3D engine has been playable on a home console.

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SEGA FES 2018: Valkyria Chronicles 1 coming to Nintendo Switch, Valkyria Chronicles 4 for Switch delayed in Japan

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More news has come out of SEGA FES 2018, this time relating to the Valkyria Chronicles franchise. It was announced that the original Valkyria Chronicles, which has already released to the PC and PS4 as a remastered rerelease of the PS3 original, would be releasing to Nintendo Switch for ¥1,990. At the moment, the release is only confirmed for Japan this fall through the eShop. No word on a physical or western release.

SEGA also revealed that Valkyria Chronicles 4 has been delayed in Japan to fall 2018. The game was originally planned for the platform in the summer. As an apology to fans, SEGA is offering coupons to Japanese customers who are buying the fourth game that reduces the price of the remaster of the first game to ¥500. No word on if this will affect the western release, but given the west is getting Valkyria Chronicles 4 in the fall already, it is not likely.

Now how about console ports of the second and third games SEGA? 🙂

[Source: RPG Site]

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SEGA FES 2018: New SEGA Ages for Nintendo Switch games and extra features announced

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We learned of SEGA AGES, the new M2 retro SEGA game porting project for Nintendo Switch, on Friday night from the opening presentation at SEGA FES. As the event went on, more details were revealed during the SEGA AGES panel. Twitter user @gosokkyu shared updates from the panel, which revealed new details. Sonic the Hedgehog will include the rare Mega-Play arcade version (an example of how the game differs is that the Mega-Play replaces all the extra life monitors). Thunder Force IV will include Styx Mode (the Thunder Force III ship from the Saturn port) and online leaderboards. Phantasy Star will have all the features from the PS2 SEGA AGES Collection version, including options like walk speed, difficulty settings, FM/PSG toggle and more.

Two more games were revealed: Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Gain Ground! Gain Ground will be the arcade version. You can visit the official SEGA AGES website and the collection will debut this summer for Nintendo Switch.

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SEGA News Bits: Shenmue 1 & 2 HD Announcement Reaction

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SEGA Fes 2018 answered the prayers of many SEGA fans by revealing that at long last Shenmue and Shenmue II would be receiving HD ports to PS4, Xbox One and PC. On this SEGA News Bits, we take a look at the road to Shenmue HD, what new features the games will have and more!

If you want to support this type of content, you can check out our Patreon! Supporting us allows you to gain access to an exclusive video series: SEGA News Bits Extra!

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SEGA News Bits: SEGA Mega Drive Mini & SEGA AGES for Nintendo Switch Reaction

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SEGA Fes 2018 had four big reveals, and on this SEGA News Bits we take a look at the first two of them. First up is SEGA AGES, M2’s answer to a 3D Classics lineup for the Nintendo Switch. Next we look at the AtGames Mega Drive Mini, a new plug and play from AtGames which is SEGA’s answer to the SNES Classic.

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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SEGA News Bits: IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #2 Discussion

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Another week in April means another issue of IDW Sonic the Hedgehog! On this SEGA News Bits George grills Barry on the second issue which features the return of Amy Rose. How is her characterization? How is this issue’s artist? Who is behind all the rogue badniks? We discuss these points and more!

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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Stories of the Dragon: The Legend of Kazuma Kiryu live action series releases to promote Yakuza 6

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This is a surprise! SEGA of America has released a trio of live action short films to promote the upcoming Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. Initially I thought these were created for the Japanese release and were localized, but they appear to be brand new (the english speaking actors tipped me off, which to be honest is kind of jarring given the games are subtitled). The short films were created in collaboration with Liquid Advertising and director Christopher Ewing and were shot in Tokyo, Japan. The shorts focus on three people whose lives were changed by Kazuma Kiryu.

Each short is based on in-game substories, including “The Bouncer” and “Prodigal Son” from Yakuza Kiwami, and “Another Haruka” from Yakuza 5. Check all three out after the break! Don’t forget, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life releases April 17!

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IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #1 sells out

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IDW and SEGA have announced that the first issue of the new Sonic the Hedgehog comics series has sold out! Joe Hughes, editor of Sonic the Hedgehog, stated “We know fans have been waiting a long time for this launch, and we couldn’t be happier with their response to the first issue. This first issue was the start of a four-week event that kicked off the beginning of a new era for Sonic comics. The new series will feature new adventures with characters new and old and I cannot wait for fans to see what’s in store.”

Second printings have already begun, with more issue #1’s expected to hit shops on May 2, 2018. You can see the cover for the second printing above. Congrats to the IDW Sonic team! Don’t forget, issue 2 released yesterday and issues 3 and 4 release in the following two weeks and then the series switches to monthly.

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SEGA Games COO Kenji Matsubara wants to bring the AtGames SEGA Genesis Flashback to Japan

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SEGA is not returning to the hardware market. I repeat, SEGA is not returning to the hardware market.

In a Yahoo! Japan news article, SEGA Games COO Kenji Matsubara said that SEGA is planning to import and sell the AtGames SEGA Genesis Flashback in Japan. SEGA Genesis Flashback is licensed by SEGA and outsourced to Taiwan based AtGames to produce. The SEGA Genesis Flashback was released last year and was criticized for inferior audio and video quality. The reasoning for importing the SEGA Genesis Flashback was due to increased demand in Japan for machines like the NES and SNES Classic.

Did I mention SEGA is not returning to the hardware market? Importing the SEGA Genesis Flashback and rebranding it is a quick, easy and cheap way for SEGA of Japan to bring the Mega Drive to Japan again. SEGA are not developing a new machine, they are not rereleasing any other classic consoles, and it is not SEGA’s current mission to return to the console market. SEGA is not returning to the hardware market.

Thumbs up to SEGA Driven for properly reporting on this story, and shame on any sites that misrepresent the original story.

[Source: Yahoo! Japan]

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SEGA unboxes the Yakuza 6: The Song of Life After Hours Premium Edition

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Yakuza 6: The Song of Life releases in just a few weeks, on April 17th to be exact, for the PlayStation 4. The game will release with three options: a Standard Edition, an Essence of Art Edition, and (in my opinion) the must have After Hours Premium Edition. To promote this very special release, SEGA has created an unboxing hosted by Marketing Associate Lauren and Associate PR Manager Jonathon. Get a sneak peek at the hardcover art book, two bar glasses, 2 ice stones, 2 coasters, and the collectible outer box.

Which edition are you picking up? If you’re getting the After Hours Premium Edition, what are you planning to drink?

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