Author Archives: Barry

7th Dragon III Code: VFD Nintendo 3DS launch edition to include art book

by

unnamed (2)

In a clear case of SEGA’s acquisition of Atlus rubbing off on SEGA of America comes news of yet another launch edition of an upcoming physical release. SEGA 3D Classics Collection has decals, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered has a steelbook case, and now 7th Dragon III Code: VFD has been confirmed to include a 28-page art book and collector’s box. SEGA promises that the art book will contain “a closer look at the design work that went in to creating the game’s esoteric character classes, ferocious dragons, vile monsters, and the environments that span three time periods”. The box will likely be no different from the Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX launch edition, which is a cardboard box featuring the game’s case art. Still, it looks nice on a shelf.

7th Dragon III: Code VFD will arrive this summer in retail stores and on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS in the Americas. The game will be available for $39.99/CA$54.99 and had been rated T by the ESRB. For more information please visit: http://7thdragon.sega.com

1 Comment

Sonic the Hedgehog 25th anniversary events detailed, and more!

by

sonicnews3

The Tomy booth at New York’s Toy Fair was seemingly plastered with signs detailing Sonic information, as evidenced by our past two news posts. We’ve received word on game release dates, learned that Sonic Boom the TV series will be receiving a second season, and learned about several upcoming events planned for Sonic’s 25th anniversary. Upcoming events include a Game Developers Conference Party hosted by SGN (who we assume are these guys), with celebrations planned for Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom, as well as 25 years of Sonic as well as art and music. Expect this event to be held in mid-March as GDC runs from March 14-18. Next up, Sonic will be at SXSW with a History of Sonic panel. Details of the panel can be found online, with the panel taking place on Saturday, March 19th from 3:30PM-4:45PM and will be hosted by Sonic social media manager Aaron Webber, SEGA director of product development Austin Keys, voice actors Mike Pollock and Roger Craig Smith, Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka, and Sonic co-creator Yuji Naka. Wait, and they are only giving these guys 45 minutes? Sounds like a great panel that could easily run another hour.

Continue Reading ➜

2 Comments

Sonic Boom season 2 confirmed, set to release on Cartoon Network in fall 2016

by

sonicnews2

New York Toy Fair has a ton of cool information regarding Sonic the Hedgehog’s 2016 plans, including release dates for games, event information, and news that Sonic Boom will have a second season. Tomy, which currently holds the Sonic toy license, had the above sign on display at their booth which reveals that a second season is in production and will be airing on Cartoon Network in fall 2016. The first season ran for 52 eleven minute episodes, and while there is no indication that season 2 will be the same length, it is likely.

Also revealed is that hulu will be streaming the first season in spring of 2016. This is great news for fans who want to catch up on the series, though it may also be bad news for those hoping for an American DVD release. While DVD volumes of the series has already started to release in the UK, there has been no news of a DVD release in America. The fact that hulu is streaming the series may mean that SEGA opted to stream rather than go the physical route. The plus side is that hulu will be, presumably, in HD whereas the DVDs are not.

Continue Reading ➜

6 Comments

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice 3DS and Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U release date information

by

sonicnews1

A slew of Sonic the Hedgehog hit last night via information posted at Tomy’s booth at the New York Toy Fair. Tomy currently holds the license for Sonic the Hedgehog toys, following Jazwares, and as such their booth had not only upcoming action figures, RC vehicles and plush dolls, but they also had informational signs posted throughout the booth. The delayed Nintendo 3DS title Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, originally planned for Fall 2015, has now been confirmed for a Fall 2016 release. This new date means the game has been pushed back a full year, and that it will now coincide with the release of Sonic Boom season 2. SEGA has already gone on public record saying that the delay is only good news, as it gives Sanzaru Games Inc. more time to refine and polish the title. Sanzaru’s first game in the spin-off franchise, Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal [read our review] also for 3DS, was notorious for having a rushed development. Though, it was a far better game in my opinion than Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, and the fact that SEGA is once again working with Sanzaru shows they still have faith in the developers.

Continue Reading ➜

2 Comments

SEGA Dreamcast Nintendo 3DS theme brings the nostalgia with the Phantasy Star Online lobby theme

by

Screen Shot 2016-02-19 at 11.29.01 AM

If you haven’t been following us on the social networks, earlier this week we shared that more SEGA themes are heading to the Nintendo 3DS for those in the west. Yesterday, Americans received a SEGA Dreamcast theme for $1.99 while today Europeans receive Dreamcast, Saturn and Hi-Tech (arcade) themes. Saturn and Hi-Tech had already released in America some time ago, so no surprises there, but what was surprising was that aside from the expected regional tweaks to the Dreamcast theme (blue swirl in Europe, different packaging designs on the top screen) there was also another change to the original Japanese Dreamcast 3DS theme. While the Japanese theme had some happy background music that I can’t quite place from the Dream Passport internet application, the western theme has the incredibly iconic Phantasy Star Online lobby music.

It may sound like I’m fanboying out over this, and I probably am, but man does the inclusion of that music make this theme a must own for any Dreamcast owner who has fond memories of 2am PSO play sessions. Not only did this music ensure that you have properly connected your console to the internet, but it was also the beginning of the adventure. Picture chat with your friends, pretend to be a Japanese girl, trade some guild cards, form a team, and hit the forest of Ragol for some rare blue Al Rappys. After the break, check out the theme in action and if you like it download it yourself. It’s well worth it.

Continue Reading ➜

10 Comments

Swingin’ Report Show #85: Interview with The Dreamcast Junkyard founder Tom Charnock

by

On this episode of the SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show we’re joined by Tom Charnock, founder of the The Dreamcast Junkyard and co-creator of The Dreamcast Junkyard: The Ultimate Collectors Guide. Tom talks to us about the creation of the information-packed collectors guide, the legal issues they faced, and what they are planning for future revisions of the book. Also covered are the indie Dreamcast games slated for 2016, which include Leona’s Tricky Adventures, SLaVE and Alice Dreams Tournament, Tom’s plans for a heavily modded and tricked out Dreamcast console, and the state of Dreamcast collecting.

If you want to hear more of Tom talking about SEGA’s final home console, make sure to check out The Dreamcast Junkyard Dreampod podcast, and of course pay a visit to The Dreamcast Junkyard for their many interesting articles.

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

2 Comments

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

by

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.

3 Comments

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

by

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.

6 Comments

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

by

unnamed

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.

Continue Reading ➜

7 Comments

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

by

tumblr_o250ye2XRl1rppy76o1_1280

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.

Continue Reading ➜

No Comments

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

by

tumblr_o2328opzv71rppy76o1_1280

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.

1 Comment

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

by

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!

3 Comments

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

by

CaZfD2_UkAAUJ8y

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!

Continue Reading ➜

7 Comments

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

by

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!

Continue Reading ➜

9 Comments

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

by

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]

1 Comment