Author Archives: Barry

Heroki is now available for Apple TV – owners of the mobile iOS app can download for free!

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SEGA and Picomy Games’ Heroki, which released to iOS last year and was among the App Store’s ‘Best of 2015’ collection, is now available for Apple TV. I guess this sort of makes it a home console game? Whatever you classify Apple TV as, it is Heroki on your home television! The game, which is classed as action-adventure and features a propellor-headed protagonist, is compatible with many Apple TV hand-held controllers as well as the default Siri remote. New elements include additional checkpoints, and improved controls and camera.

Those who already purchased Heroki need not worry, as the Apple TV download is free. If you haven’t picked it up yet, the game is a cool $4.99.

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SEGA News Bits: SEGA Considers Sonic Runners a failure – reaction and analysis

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SEGA’s mobile gaming division, SEGA Networks, recently released a report looking back on their success and failures and surprisingly Sonic Runners has been deemed a failure! The main reason is, of course, money. SEGA says over 30 million yen a month is simply not enough to be a success. In this SEGA News Bits, Barry and George discuss why the game likely did not catch on with consumers and suggest what SEGA could do to fix the game. Or, it may just be too little too late.

So click play and hear our thoughts, and if you want more Sonic Runners analysis make sure to watch our Most Disappointing SEGA Games of 2015 video. If you like what you saw don’t forget to like, share and subscribe. Thanks for the support. In the comments, share your thoughts on the game’s failure and what could be done to improve things.

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SEGA 3D Classics Collection to include cool SEGA decals for your Nintendo 3DS

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When SEGA of America announced the SEGA 3D Classics Collection for the Nintendo 3DS, we lamented that it didn’t include a cool pack-in like a poster. While it’s not a poster, today SEGA has announced that every physical launch edition of the game will include a sweet silver decal sticker sheet featuring classic SEGA logos and images to use to decorate your 3DS (or anything else). Knowing my collector’s mentality, I’ll never use the stickers and just stare longingly at them.

After the break, read SEGA’s full breakdown of the decals and don’t forget to pre-order SEGA 3D Classics Collection which releases in stores and digitally exclusively in the Americas for $29.99/CA$44.99 on April 26, 2016.

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Cancelled 1992 SegaSonic Bros. arcade puzzle game detailed – here’s how it played and a new screen!

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The SegaSonic Bros. saga continues with a new screen and a detailed description of how the cancelled 1992 arcade game played. First off, it is now abundantly clear that the game was not a prototype of 1993’s SegaSonic the Hedehog. Despite a similar name and title screen, and the appearance of two additional characters colored red and yellow, SegaSonic Bros. was actually a drop down puzzle game from Bubble Bobble creator Fukio Mitsuji – a far cry from SegaSonic the Hedgehog‘s isometric platforming controlled with a trackball. Amazingly, SegaSonic Bros. was revealed as far back as June 2014 when SEGA 3D Classics developer and SEGA legend Yosuke Okunari tweeted a zoomed in screen of the game in action in reply to a tweet from Kenjoh Kohji who had shared a link to a site describing SegaSonic Bros.. Unfortunately, the conversation went unnoticed by fans, likely because Okunari was replying, it was in Japanese, and the screen was not overtly Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Cancelled SegaSonic Bros. arcade game designed by Bubble Bobble creator – check out the new screen

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Yesterday we posted a presumed prototype of 1993’s SegaSonic the Hedgehog arcade entitled SegaSonic Bros.. Today, the Tumblr user It’s ShouTime, who came across the game, has shared a new screen and new details. The screen, seen above, was accompanied by the caption “Play with yourself or against your bro. Designed by the creator of Bubble Bobble, Fukio Mitsuji, this went to location test and failed.”

What is interesting about this latest development is that is moves SegaSonic Bros. away from being a prototype to SegaSonic the Hedgehog and makes it appear to be its own unique title that went as far as location tests and failed. Perhaps this is what EGM’s 1992 magazine rumor writer saw or heard about? Also interesting is that despite apparently being a separate game, there are still similarities between this and SegaSonic the Hedgehog, namely the title and the colors of the additional red and yellow characters. Could this title have at least influenced SegaSonic the Hedgehog?

Keep an eye on the blog for more SegaSonic Bros information as it hits.

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SEGA News Bits: 7th Dragon III: Code VFD is coming to America

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Another SEGA of Japan game is making its way to the Americas, and this time its 7th Dragon III: Code VFD for the Nintendo 3DS. In this SEGA News Bits, George and Barry share their thoughts on this happy development and discuss both the upcoming game and the franchise. While the first 7th Dragon released back in 2009 to the Nintendo DS to Japan, 7th Dragon III: Code VFD is the franchise’s debut in the west. Is SEGA taking a gamble with the game, or is this a brave new world of SEGA of America releasing niche titles with little expectation of games attaining “pillar franchise” status? All this and more is discussed in the video above. Click play and check it out!

If you enjoyed the video make sure to like, share and subscribe to us on YouTube if you haven’t already. Thanks for the support!

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UPDATED: SegaSonic the Hedgehog arcade prototype supposedly uncovered – presenting SegaSonic Bros.

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Remember when the SegaSonic Popcorn Shop ROM was dumped and playable on MAME? Well that same person who did that is now teasing something else Sonic arcade related! Originally shared on Tumblr is what appears to be a working prototype of SegaSonic The Hedgehog the arcade game. The user tagged the Tumblr post with “#unreleased” and added the caption “…it’s the megaton…”. The megaton indeed. For those not in the know, SegaSonic the Hedgehog was a trackball controlled arcade game released exclusively to Japan and North America in 1993. Given the control scheme, the game has not released outside of arcades as Sonic Team has claimed it is too tricky to make the game playable with standard control pads. The game featured the debut of Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Squirrel, but as this supposed prototype dated 1992 reveals the game was initially known as SegaSonic Bros. and featured blue hedgehog Sonic and a yellow and orange version of our hero (or perhaps two new hedgehogs?). Let’s just hope this hedgehog trio don’t form a band and look for their long lost mother.

We hope to hear more details on this soon, so in the meantime consider this a rumor. Fingers crossed this game gets dumped as well.

Discuss multi-colored Sonics and more in the SEGAbits forums, and after the break check out a small update on this story!

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Nintendo 3DS RPG 7th Dragon III Code: VFD announced for summer 2016 Americas release

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The localizations keep on coming! SEGA has just announced that the Nintendo 3DS dungeon crawling RPG 7th Dragon III Code: VFD will be receiving a physical release in the Americas. The original game released in Japan on October 15, 2015, while the localized release is set for a summer 2016 release. Not too bad a gap!

The 7th Dragon franchise has been a Japan-exclusive series, releasing to handhelds like the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP. 7th Dragon III Code: VFD is the franchise’s third main series title and the franchise’s first appearance on the 3DS as well as the first title to receive a western release. If you’re afraid jumping into the third game in the series will leave you lost, don’t worry. SEGA knows that too, as their press release specifically mentions that the game is a “self-contained episode”. The game will retail for $39.99/CA$54.99 and, as mentioned, will be a physical release (feels so good to type that). No word on Europe yet.

Check out the trailer above, and more information about the game and screenshots after the break!

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Swingin’ Report Show #84: Interview with SEGA-16.com founder Ken Horowitz

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On this episode of the SEGAbits podcast, Barry and George are joined by Ken Horowitz, founder of SEGA-16.com and writer of the upcoming book Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games. Even if you don’t know his name, any SEGA fan with internet access has stumbled upon SEGA-16 to find a helpful review, interview or retrospective. Now, Ken is using his knowledge of SEGA as well as close to one hundred newly conducted interviews to create a book which looks back on the games developed by SEGA of America during the 80s and 90s.

[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

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Club Sega Shibuya location has closed

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Some sad news for SEGA fans at the start of the week. We learned that Club Sega Shibuya has closed its doors as of yesterday. News of the arcade’s closing became known with the posting of signs outside the arcade, politely advising customers of the impending closure. The location’s website also has a message, which also gives the January 31, 2016 closing date as well as a thank you to customers for their patronage. No word on why the arcade had closed, though it may simply have to do with the fact that it is a dwindling business in the country. There has also been speculation that the closure could have to do with the renovation of Shibuya Station, which Club Sega sits just outside of.

Club Sega can still be found in Akihaba, Nagoya-Fushimi and Nishiguchi. For a full list of operating SEGA amusement centers, check out this link.

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Accessorize yourself with new classic SEGA console products from Numskull, and save 10% with our promo

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There has been a serious uptick in quality of SEGA products over the past year, and UK company Numskull is one of the offical SEGA licensees to thank for this. In the past month they have released a variety of cool everyday and formal accessories that pay tribute to classic SEGA hardware. Products include keychains, wallets, and cufflinks that feature SEGA Mega Drive, Genesis and Master System designs. They also have notebooks that are in the shape of the Mega Drive, Game Gear, Saturn and Dreamcast. Numskull were nice enough to send us some samples, which we will detail in a soon to come video.

The quality is top notch, and I especially love how the products are both true to the original hardware and stylish enough not to make you look like a little kid. I mean, only a real sophisticated man wears Mega Drive/Genesis controller cufflinks. I took some time actually using these to see how durable they are day to day, and am happy to report that they stand up well to everyday use.

If you live in the UK, you can check out their line of products at the Numskull online shop. As an added bonus, using the promo code SEGABITS10 at checkout will knock 10% off all non-sale items.

If you live in the US, you can find the Genesis controller cufflinks on Amazon.

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SEGA News Bits: Valkyria Chronicles on PS4 coming West reaction and discussion

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The physical releases of localized Japanese SEGA titles keep on coming! In this SEGA News Bits, George and Barry react to the news of Valkyria Chronicles Remastered coming to the Americas and Europe and discuss how this could affect the future of the series. Valkyria Chronicles Remastered is due out Spring 2016, priced at priced at $29.99/CA$44.99 in special launch edition case for the Americas. The game is also releasing to Europe both physically and digitally, with physical release details to come.

If you enjoyed the video make sure to like, share and subscribe to us on YouTube if you haven’t already. Thanks for the support!

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Huffington Post article details Michael Jackson’s involvement with Sonic the Hedgehog 3

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The Huffington Post has just published a fantastic article on the level of involvement Michael Jackson had in making music for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. I’ll leave the new reveals for the article, but I will say that after the first half – which is mainly going over stuff most SEGA and Sonic fans who have followed the story already know – there is a lot of new information in the second half. I definitely suggest you check the article out and then click back here and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Oh, and one thing, the article states that hardcore Sonic fans refer to themselves as “Blues”. I have never ever heard of this term and I am half wondering if somebody they interviewed were pulling the writer’s leg. What do you fellow Blues think?

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Fastest Food Alive: A look back at the 1994 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion

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As we near 25 years of Sonic the Hedgehog, I wanted to kick off a video series looking back at an aspect of the franchise that has always been a favorite of mine – food promotions! From McDonald’s to Topps to Carl’s Jr and beyond, SEGA has teamed their flagship franchise with some of the greatest, and at times weirdest, food companies. In this first installment, I take a look back at the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 McDonald’s Happy Meal promotion which ran worldwide in 1994 and 1995. Everything from the commercials to the in-store displays is covered, and I even clear up some misconceptions about that whole Tails recall situation and figure out just what that yellow Tails ball was. Special thanks to The Gagaman for additional information.

If you enjoyed the video make sure to like, share and subscribe to us on YouTube if you haven’t already. Thanks for the support!

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Valkyria Chronicles Remastered releasing to the Playstation 4 in Americas & Europe in Spring 2016

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SEGA continues to kick ass in the West in 2016, as just this morning it was announced that Valkyria Chronicles Remastered will be releasing to the Playstation 4 in the Americas and Europe in Spring 2016. Even more exciting, the game will indeed be receiving a physical release (as well as digital) priced at $29.99/CA$44.99 in special launch edition case.

After the break, read the full press release!

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