Author Archives: Barry

SEGA and Picomy’s Heroki releases to the iOS App Store

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The long awaited Heroki, an iOS game developed by Dutch developer Picomy Games and published by SEGA, was re-revealed late last month and now it is released and available to purchase and play! Priced at $7.99 (that’s right, this isn’t free to play and there are no micro-transactions!), Heroki is a touchscreen controlled flight-based platformer starring the titular hero Heroki who is defending the sky village of Levantia from the evil villains Dr. N. Forchin and Vapor. The game promises 10+ hours of gameplay, dozens of enemies, mini-games, side-quests, 60fps and iCloud saving. After the break, read a full description of the game, and stay tuned to SEGAbits for the eventual review!

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Classic SEGA Ads: F-Zero GX for Nintendo Gamecube will make your heart race

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It has been a little over 14 years since SEGA went third party, and while at the time it was a shock to learn that the company would be releasing games on once rival consoles, now most fans have grown accustomed to third party SEGA. In fact, it has been so long since the announcement that now we have a whole new generation of fans who pinpoint a third party SEGA game as their introduction to the company! I’m not one to use the tired expression “I feel old”, but that realization almost makes me want to utter it (almost). Back in the early 2000s, when third party SEGA went into full swing, fans were seeing the likes of Crazy Taxi on PS2, Sonic Adventure on Gamecube, and Jet Set Radio‘s sequel JSRF on the Xbox. Shocking, sure, but nothing could give SEGA fans whiplash like the announcement that SEGA’s own Amusement Vision team were to develop a new game in a fully Nintendo owned classic franchise – enter F-Zero GX and F-Zero AX.

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SEGA 3D Classics upcoming 3D Gunstar Heroes special modes and features detailed

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SEGA 3D Classics for the Nintendo 3DS took a short break after the release of 3D Thunder Blade, but the series will return next month with 3D Streets of Rage 2, followed by 3D Gunstar Heroes in August and 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in September. While it’s fun playing classic SEGA games on the go, what makes SEGA 3D Classics so exciting (apart from the 3D) are the new modes added by developer M2! It has been revealed that 3D Gunstar Heroes will feature a Full Spec Mode, which allows players to arm themselves with any of the 14 weapons in the game, while Mega Life Mode doubles the amount of lives available for an easier experience.

Also supported are wireless multiplayer, which requires both players to own the game, and the option to play either the Japanese or American version of the game. A tube TV filter, seen in past Genesis/Mega Drive titles in the series, is also an option. We can’t wait for the next round of SEGA 3D Classics, what title are you most anticipating?

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Yu Suzuki reveals more Shenmue 3 secrets and details in Reddit AMA

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Last night Yu Suzuki held a Reddit AMA, revealing even more Shenmue 3 details for fans. While the event itself was initially confusing, failing to mention if the event was 9:30 AM or PM, what time zone it was in, and where on Reddit it could be found, eventually everything was sorted and the AMA took place at /r/IAMA. Suzuki answered several questions pertaining to the length of the game, how many chapters the entire Shenmue saga would cover, potential gameplay elements, and more. Most interestingly, he laid out the exact numbers he hopes the Kickstarter will hit to make the game not only a reality, but as close to his vision as possible:

I will say this: if we reach the $5 mil mark, one of the things I really want to do with Shenmue 3 will become a reality. At $10 million, it will truly have the features of an open world.

After the break, check out a full breakdown of what Suzuki revealed about Shenmue 3!

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Swingin’ Report Show #79: Shenmue 3 E3 Reveal & Kickstarter

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We’re still pinching ourselves, because we can’t believe this is real life. Yu Suzuki is finally set to make Shenmue 3, having just announced the long awaited game at E3 and launching a Kickstarter to fund the project this week. On this episode of the Swingin’ Report Show, George and Barry discuss their reactions to the news, share opinions on the Kickstarter, and tackle the misconceptions of Sony’s involvement. We also speculate what Suzuki has planned for the third game based on past interviews and recently revealed details.

Check out Shenmue 3 on Kickstarter at kickstarter.com/projects/ysnet/shenmue-3

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

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SEGA Tunes: Hideki Naganuma brings The Concept of Love to Ollie King

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While SEGA’s arcade skateboarding title Ollie King is often given Smilebit credit, as mentioned in our kick-off retrospective, the title is still very much an Amusement Vision game. Still, given the Smilebit talent involved in Ollie King‘s creation, I can easily see why people make the mistake. Hell, I thought the game was a Smilebit arcade game until I played it for the first and only time at a GameWorks in Schaumburg, Illinois back in 2005 and saw that “AV” logo. While Ollie King‘s art style and graphics are very much in the same style as Smilebit’s JSRF, and what really pushes the Smilebit feel over the edge is the incredible soundtrack from SEGA music veteran Hideki Naganuma. Not only does the game feature original tracks including pulse-pounders like “Boarder 70”, “Let It Go”, and “Too Fast”, slower celebrative tracks like “Funk to the Top”, as well as the lovingly wacky “Brother Goes Away”, the game also features two remixes of original tracks from Jet Set Radio Future!

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Sega feat. Hatsune Miku Project: VR Tech Demo announced

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SEGA has revealed a new title for Sony’s Project Morpheus VR headset for PlayStation 4 which will transport players to the world of Hatsune Miku! Titled Sega feat. Hatsune Miku Project: VR Tech Demo (doesn’t quite roll off the tongue), the simple demo features Miku singing songs from artist Mitchie M. while dancing (what else did you expect Miku to do?). We don’t know much more about the demo beyond that, so any gameplay or interaction is possible but unconfirmed. Also, it has not been stated if this will lead to a full retail release once Project Morpheus releases next year. Still, this should be an exciting experience for fans who truly want to have some fun with Miku!

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Nintendo pre-E3 Digital Event: Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games trailer

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Nintendo’s Digital Event at E3 2015 has wrapped, and on the SGEA side of things we have a new trailer for the upcoming Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games title. The new trailer showcases summer sports that will be included in both Wii U and 3DS titles, though those hoping for any real surprises or hints at a story mode or party mode will be disappointed. Hopefully we learn more about the game soon, personally I’d like to see a beefed up London Party Mode (obviously set in Rio) and I think SEGA really needs to include some Samba de Amigo characters given the game’s setting.

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Classic SEGA Ads: Super Monkey Ball 2 is like a party but better than a party!

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When SEGA made the announcement that they were going third party, a lot of fans felt the pain of not seeing SEGA games on SEGA hardware anymore. But that pain didn’t last long, as over the next few years SEGA would release a slew of modern day classics to the Sony Playstation, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo Gamecube. Each console had their own unique games, and each could claim a certain SEGA IP. While Xbox and Playstation owners had the more adult Virtua Fighter and Panzer Dragoon games, the kid friendly Gamecube had the Super Monkey Ball series. I’ll admit, as a PS2 and Xbox owner at the time, I wrote the Super Monkey Ball games off as kiddie nonsense. Boy was that a mistake.

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SEGAbits & Sonic Retro present Boom Talkalaka #4: Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice Emergency Broadcast

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SEGAbits and Sonic Retro team up to bring you a podcast focused on SEGA’s new Sonic Boom franchise! Hosted by Barry the Nomad of SEGAbits.com and David the Lurker of SonicRetro.org, Boom Talkalaka features discussion of the many aspects of Sonic Boom – from comics and episodes of the cartoon, to the video games and toys.

In this emergency broadcast, Barry and David discuss SEGA’s surprising reveal of Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice for Nintendo 3DS. That’s right, the games aren’t over yet! Oh… but the comics are, as we also discuss the sad cancellation of Archie’s Sonic Boom comics which will occur with issue 11. We also discuss the premiere of the TV series in Europe and *SPOILER ALERT* discuss a shocking revelation that alters the very fabric of Sonic Boom’s reality!

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Sonic Central information app headed to iOS and Android devices this summer

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In all the commotion over the announcement of Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, a piece of information slipped by many fans as it was tacked on to the end of the game’s press release. Heading to iOS and Android devices this summer is a Sonic the Hedgehog information app called “Sonic Central” which will act as a hub for franchise information including art, wallpapers, character bios, clips from animated shows including Sonic Boom, concept art, and games. The app will also include a function called Sonic Pix which will allow users to include Sonic and friends in photos (think Dreamcast Dreameye but not all pixelated).

The name Sonic Central may be familiar to some fans, as it was initially the official North American Sonic the Hedgehog page operated by SEGA in the mid to late 2000s. Sonic City, meanwhile, was the European site. The North American site wound down in 2008. No word if SEGA will revive the Sonic Central site for the upcoming app. As mentioned, the app will arrive this summer, and once we have more info we will be sure to share!

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Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice releasing Holiday 2015 to Nintendo 3DS

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SEGA made quite a shocking announcement today, the Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic Boom franchise has not left the world of video games in the dust as a new Nintendo 3DS game titled Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice is set to release to Nintendo 3DS this holiday season! Developed by Sanzaru Games, creators of Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, Fire and Ice looks to be a direct sequel to the original 3DS game. Fans will be happy to hear that Amy has joined the playable roster and Eggman is back as the lead villain (so long, Lyric!) alongside a new baddie named D-Fekt.

Honestly, after hearing news that Archie’s Sonic Boom comic books would end with issue 11, and the fact that the Wii U game was a failure for the company, fans assumed that Sonic Boom was relegated to being a TV show and toy line. I personally thought Sanzaru’s first game was alright, but I think with a longer development window they could make a much better title the second time around.

After the break, check out SEGA’s press release, artwork, and screens.

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SEGAbits & Sonic Retro to host Too Many Games 2015 “The Sonic X-treme Files” panel on Saturday, June 27th in Oaks, PA

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We’re excited to announce that SEGAbits and Sonic Retro will be returning to Too Many Games to host a panel on Saturday, June 27th at 4:50pm in Oaks, PA! Last year we uncovered the secrets of Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘s Hidden Palace Zone, and this year we return to the topic of Sonic mysteries with “The Sonic X-treme Files”. The panel is to feature Sonic Retro admin and writer David the Lurker and SEGAbits admin and writer Barry the Nomad as they embark on a chronological behind-the-scenes look back at the never released SEGA Saturn game Sonic X-treme!

Also appearing at the panel is creator of the YouTube series “Hit Reset” Adam aka Gunstar with the premiere of his latest Hit Reset episode which shines the spotlight on Wild Woody for the SEGA CD. The video is to feature special guests including Wild Woody composer Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and Woody voice actor Joe Kerska!

We’ll also be giving away some rare SEGA prizes at the end to ensure that you don’t walk out at the halfway point!

Register today at TooManyGames.com and we hope to see you there!

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Developer Retrospective: Rolling with the arcade kings of SEGA’s Amusement Vision

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YOTSD-AVAs we hit the halfway point of the Year of the SEGA Developers, we turn our attention to a favorite of ours: Amusement Vision. Okay, so being a SEGA fan site, every SEGA developer is our favorite. But just look at Amusement Vision’s portfolio: imaginative new games like Monkey Ball and Ollie King , follow-ups to classic franchises including Space Harrier’s Planet Harriers, Daytona USA 2001, and Spikeout and Virtua Striker sequels. Amusement Vision also holds the distinction of being the first SEGA developer to take on a Nintendo franchise with the much loved F-Zero GX and F-Zero AX.

As is customary for a developer month kick-off article, join us as we look back on how Amusement Vision came to be, their library of games, and where the staff are now!

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