Author Archives: Barry

Mobile game Sonic Runners to shut down on July 27th

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Sayonara, Sonic Runners. According to the Sonic Runners official site, the mobile experience from SEGA’s Sonic Team is coming to an end on July 27th, 2016. Released in late February last year, Sonic Runners made waves as being the first smart phone Sonic game to carry the Sonic Team label and seemingly be developed by members of Sonic Team themselves. Unfortunately, one year later it was revealed that SEGA Japan deemed the game a failure. While it was raking in over 30 million yen per month, it wasn’t enough to keep it afloat as SEGA has announced the game’s service will close on the aforementioned date of July 27th.

After this date, the game will no longer be playable at all as it relies on a mobile connection to the game’s servers to operate. There has been no word of an offline version being available. After the break, check out the full announcement.

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Original Sonic Adventure Sega Dreamcast website returns thanks to a true blue fan

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Remember the days of logging on to the Internet using your Sega Dreamcast? Even when games didn’t tout online multi-player, more often than not you’d encounter a webpage option which allowed you to visit the game’s website through the in-game menu. Of course, as time passed many of the Dreamcast webpages have since gone offline, into disrepair, or were bought up by some porn site. Thankfully, fan and friend of TSSMB member JmTsHaW purchased the sonic-adventure.com domain and has (mostly) restored the Sonic Adventure’s original site in all its 640 pixel wide glory! Features include the Updates Archives, Community links including Chao Gardens, Hints and Support information. Very cool to see this piece of SEGA internet history back up and running. Check it out for yourself here, bonus points if you use the Dreamcast.

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Valkyria: Azure Revolution to focus less on action and more on strategy due to demo feedback

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Valkyria: Azure Revolution, a spin-off from SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles franchise, saw a demo released in Japan alongside the retail release of Valkyria Chronicles Remastered for PS4 in early February. While Valkyria Chronicles Remastered was met with positive reactions, reactions to the demo of Valkyria: Azure Revolution were mixed to say the least. According to Siliconera, via Hachima, developer Media.Vision received three times the amount of player feedback than expected and plenty of it was harsh. Based on what they heard, the developer has since reworked the battle system, which was more action oriented in the demo, to be more RPG-like in the final game.

Added is a new action gauge for both sides of combat which will allow players to strategize. The new system will allow actions to be done once the gauge fills, and players will be able to stop time while using weapons and abilities – much like a traditional RPG. The game’s director, Takeshi Ozawa, believed that since this is a Valkyria title, a more strategic battle system was required. It’s great that Media.Vision is taking the feedback to heart, but it is kind of odd that it took them this long to realize that a Valkyria Chronicles game functions best when the combat has strategy involved. Makes me wonder if this early demo was a test to see if a action Valkyria game would fly with fans.

The next demo for the game should be available this summer.

[Via: Siliconera]

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Space Harrier model kits featuring hero “The Harrier” and enemy IDA announced

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2016 is the year of awesome retro SEGA model kits! Between the 1/12 scale Astro City arcade machine and the classic polygon model Virtua Fighter figures, we thought nothing could impress us more. But get ready for yet another cool SEGA model, as Space Harrier models of the hero “the Harrier” and the iconic floating rock head Ida enemy will be available this July. The figures will be 1/12 scale and will be sold separately, with pre-orders running through June 25th. “The Harrier” hero model kit can be pre-ordered for ¥10,584 ($95) and comes (get) ready to assemble. Harrier will also come with two bonuses: a mini version of the character that is to scale with the Ida model kit, and an alternate hair sculpt that matches the game’s arcade poster. The IDA enemy model kit can be pre-ordered for ¥9,720 ($87) and comes in four (get) ready to assemble pieces. Oddly, the top of the head comes off revealing a “GET READY!” graphic and allows you to put whatever you want inside (pencils, other figures, carrot sticks, whatever). You only get one IDA, so if you want to replicate the game you’ll have to buy multiples.

Both are very cool looking, though buying the two will set you back around $200 with shipping. Far more expensive than Wave’s $22 Astro City model kit and FREEing’s $32/each Virtua Fighter figures. Still… it’s not often that you get cool Space Harrier model kits! Are you planning on pre-ordering this? Sound off in the comments below!

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7th Dragon III Code: VFD in-game bonuses and DLC revealed

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7th Dragon III Code: VFD hits the Americas July 12th, and accompanying this Nintendo 3DS release is a slew of in-game bonus content and DLC. The Nagamimi doll, pictured above, is a free in-game bonus item that will be available at launch. The item promises unique voice interactions between it and the character you created. The game touts an impressive 40 voice actors to choose from for your in-game player, so there are sure to be a number of conversations to be had with this thing.

Also revealed are seven DLC quests that will help players along with XP and money boosts, unlockable characters or post-game boss rush challenges. After the break, check out the full DLC breakdown as well as prices.

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The SEGA Manager family grows with Motorsport Manager, releasing to PC, Mac and Linux in 2016

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Yesterday we reported that SEGA and Playsport Games had an announcement incoming, and now we have all the details. Motorsport Manager, which was a hit on mobile devices, is seeing a new game in the franchise releasing to PC, Mac and Linux internationally in September 2016. While the game is only being published by SEGA, it appears that they are marketing it as another one of their Manager titles, as the tradition of faceless male mascots continues with Motorsport Manager. The game is described as a highly detailed, best-in-class racing management game in which players hire the drivers, build the cars and embed themselves in the dynamic world of motor racing.

Cnet had a hands on with the game and shared their impressions, which you can check out here. The game also has a Steam page, which you can check out here. Once we have more details, including pricing and an exact release date, we’ll be sure to share.

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SEGA and Motorsport Manager teasing reveal for tomorrow

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Back in October it was announced that SEGA Europe and Motorsport Manager developer Playsport Games formed a publishing partnership. For those not in the know, including myself up until 15 minutes from writing this, Motorsport Manager is a number one paid-for game on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store and features realistic motor-racing management with the ability to create your own racing team, hire drivers, sign engineers, develop your car and invest in technology. The game has received high praise from several mobile game sites, so clearly SEGA was drawn to the company after seeing the quality of their product.

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Gotta binge fast! Sonic Boom season one releasing to Hulu in late May in the United States

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We’ve known for a while now, thanks to information posted at Tomy’s New York Toy Fair booth, that Sonic Boom the TV series was heading to Hulu and now we have official confirmation! Variety reports that Hulu will be the exclusive subscription video on demand service to host the series in the United States. All 52 episodes of the first season will be available in both English and Spanish, and the episodes will hit in late May. Sonic Boom will still be available on Cartoon Network video on demand and select episodes will be available on the CN.com website.

No news on a DVD or blu-ray release for the series in the US, however the UK has been receiving the series in DVD volumes with one released currently and a second due out at the end of the month. While a DVD release would be great, especially a complete series, Hulu is a great way to catch up on the first season in anticipation of season two.

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Check out the latest Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U trailer

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The Mario & Sonic series has become kind of same ‘ol same ol’. When the original Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games released in 2007, it was pretty jaw dropping to see the two franchises sharing the screen. But as time went on, and the two teamed up five more times along with Sonic’s two Smash Bros. appearances, the notion of a Mario & Sonic game has become kind of… stale. It doesn’t help that Nintendo primarily handles the publishing and marketing of the series, so as far as advertising the series is hardly given much attention. And if you’re a lowly non-commercial SEGA fan site, such as ourselves, it is difficult to get Mario senpai to notice you when it comes to exclusives, interviews or review copies.

I say all this, while sharing the latest trailer, for two reasons: I can no longer fake being excited for the latest Mario & Sonic trailers and because despite the apathy I’ve built up over the years, the Wii U footage of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games actually looks pretty great. Graphics are bright and colorful with excellent framerate and the competitions appear to be motion control gimmick heavy than past titles. Mario & Sonic may no longer be able to wow people with the crossover aspect, unless of course SEGA and Nintendo bring in other franchises which would be awesome, but at least this upcoming game looks solid.

In the comments below, tell us what you think of the Mario & Sonic series. Does Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games look promising, or more of the same?

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SEGA Central reveals SEGA 3D Classics Collection coming to Europe, gives update on Shenmue 1&2 HD

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In the latest episode of the Europe-focused SEGA Central video series, SEGA Europe community manager Dan Sheridan answers some viewer mail. To the request for more Japanese games receiving American localization to release in Europe, Dan confirms that one game is indeed coming. Dan’s exact words were: “We have also heard that fans are looking forward to the release of SEGA 3D Classics Collection in Europe, and subject to approval submissions, we’ll have news to share soon. One thing that I can tell you, is that it is coming.”

On the topic of Shenmue and Shenmue 2 receiving HD releases (or “hay-ch dee” as they say), Dan replied: “Of course we would love to release these tomorrow. Of course it’s not as simple as just porting the games to the current platforms, as we would need to ensure that any HD remaster lives up to the quality of the original titles, and with games as immersive as Shenmue 1 and 2 there are further complications from licensed products that were included in the original games. That said, we’d love to do it, and are currently investigating how to make it a reality.”

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SEGA Astro City arcade machine model from Wave now available for pre-order

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Japanese toy and model import site Amiami has just listed Wave’s upcoming SEGA Astro City arcade machine model for pre-order. You might remember Wave produced the excellent Hang-On arcade machine model late last year. This new 1/12 scale model features the iconic Astro City (a refined version of the Aero City) multi-purpose arcade cabinet from 1993, complete with stool, game marquees and corresponding game visuals for the screen. Head on over to Amiami to place your pre-order, as the kit releases very soon – July 2016.

After the break, check out a gallery of images of the tiny Astro City cabinet!

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SEGA News Bits: Shinobi movie adaptation reaction

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Way back in December 2014 it was announced that SEGA was planning to move many of their classic franchises into the realms of movies and television. Stories International, a joint venture between SEGA and Hakuhodo DY Group launched in 2011, would manage and maintain these brands and work with external studios and creatives to make SEGA franchise based movies a reality. Now, we have news that Shinobi is the first of these SEGA franchises heading to the big screen with Marc Platt (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Drive, Josie and the Pussycats) and cohort Adam Siegel producing. In this SEGA News Bits, George and Barry break down the story, take a look at Platt and Siegel’s background in the motion picture industry, and speculate how a Shinobi movie might play out.

If you enjoy the SEGA News Bits video formats make sure to like, share and subscribe to our YouTube for more.

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Save up to 85% on PC games and give to a good cause in the Humble Bundle Build Your Own SEGA Bundle sale

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SEGA and Humble Bundle have joined forces yet again to save you money on great SEGA games and give to charity in the process! Dubbed the “Build Your Own SEGA Bundle”, thirteen SEGA PC games ranging from RTS to first person horror to racing to sports are on sale for 75% off. If you buy three games, they all get discounted 80% while four games gets an 83% discount and five increases the discount to a cool 85%. The sale ends in 22 hours as I am writing this, so better jump on it while you still can! Games on sale include: Total War: Attila, Alien: Isolation, Company of Heroes 2, Warhammer 40k: Space Marine, Company of Heroes, Total War: Rome II – Emperor Edition, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault, The Typing of the Dead: Overkill Collection, Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War II Retribution, Total War: Shogun, Valkyria Chronicles, and Eastside Hockey Manager.

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SEGA News Bits: Strike Harbinger First Impressions and Exclusive Gameplay Footage

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Get ready, as our Strike Harbinger coverage continues! In this SEGA News Bits, Barry talks George through what it was like playing an early arcade build of Strike Harbinger during its debut at Galloping Ghost Arcade‘s SEGA Week. Created by the game development and design studio HitSparks Games, which is co-owned by Lead Game Designer Chris Tang and Senior Artist Kiyoshi Okuma, Strike Harbinger takes inspiration from classic SEGA titles including Space Harrier and Phantasy Star. The game is not due out until 2017, but this early first look at the game shows a lot of promise! Featuring unique controls and RPG-style elements, there is a lot more to Strike Harbinger than you’d think. So click play above and hear what Barry thought of the game and see some lovely 1080p 60fps gameplay footage courtesy of the developers.

More SEGA Week coverage is to come, including even more Strike Harbinger details and footage, so stay tuned! If you enjoy the SEGA News Bits video formats make sure to like, share and subscribe to our YouTube for more.

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Kickstarter launches for Xenocider, a 3D shooter for Dreamcast, PC, Mac, Linux & 3DS

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The Kickstarter campaign for Xenocider, a new indie SEGA Dreamcast game, has launched. The game is unique as it is one of the first fully 3D indie Dreamcast games, and the gameplay itself takes inspiration from classic SEGA arcade games including Space Harrier and Nintendo’s Sin & Punishment. The game’s development team Retro Sumus describes themselves as “a small, independent game development team who got together to revisit genres and concepts we felt were underused, or not explored in depth back in their time.”

The small team is a mix of individuals who are both new and old to the indie Dreamcast development scene, including Lead Programmer Daniel Lancha who reprogrammed Pier Solar for modern platforms and developed Hucast’s Ghost Blade. Also involved is Carlos Oliveros who heads up the team’s Communications and who in the past handled Pier Solar‘s Spanish translation. So it should be no surprise that Tulio Goncalves, former president and founder of Watermelon games and creator of Pier Solar, is on the team serving as the Producer. All-in-all, it looks like Xenocider has a solid team with Dreamcast development experience, but if that still doesn’t sway you they have put together a real working demo of the game for the Dreamcast that you can play right now! Just click on over to their campaign page for Windows, Mac, Linux and Dreamcast download links.

Dreamcast isn’t the only planned platform, as the game will also be playable on PC, Mac, Linux and Nintendo 3DS. The team hopes to raise $92,000 to realize their vision. After the break, a full list of what the team plans for the game to make it extra special. Check out the campaign today, and if you like what you see give them your support!

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