Author Archives: FlareHabanero

Xbox Live Arcade version of Guardian Heroes gets Xbox One backwards compatibility

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Guardian Heroes was a cult classic SEGA Saturn game by the development studio Treasure, an arcade style beat em’ up in a similar vein to Golden Axe or Streets of Rage, but with RPG elements such as the ability to level up and increases your stats. Later it would receive an Xbox Live Arcade update, fundamentally being the same as the SEGA Saturn original, but including optional enhanced graphics with a stylized pencil sketch look and tweaked gameplay changes using “remix” options, and new features such as online play and an endless survival gauntlet mode.

If you haven’t played the remastered version of Guardian Heroes but have an Xbox One, the game has been recently been announced to be Xbox One backwards today, along with the game Operation Flashpoint: Red River, as confirmed on the Larry Hyrb Twitter account. If you want a solid beat ’em up game on the Xbox One, Guardian Heroes might be up your ally.

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SEGA establishes SEGA GAMES CS in Taiwan, localizing select games in traditional Chinese

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SEGA Taiwan

SEGA establishes a new division in Taiwan called SEGA GAMES CS. The goal of the division is to push localizations in the Taiwan region in traditional Chinese. During a meeting, many titles have already been announced to be localized by the end of 2016 and the start of 2017, with some having a tentative release date sometime in 2017. Notably, it contains games that have not been announced for a western release as of this writing, for example Puyo Puyo Chronicles and Yakuza 6. This move to push for a Taiwan market with SEGA GAMES CS is likely a result of SEGA (specifically SEGA of Japan) prioritizing the Asian market, with SEGA Taiwan specifically existing since at least 2014.

Click below to see a list of every title.

[Source: GNN.Gamer]

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SEGA streaming Sonic games for Extra Life charity

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Extra Life

SEGA has recently announced in a stream that they will help the Extra Life charity with a 24 hour marathon Sonic games. Starting at 8am PDT November 5th, Aaron and Sergio will be playing through different Sonic games on the official Sonic twitch account, with the ultimate goal to reach $10,000 (originally $5,000) in charity, appropriately calling themselves Team Sonic. They claim the games being streamed will be good Sonic games, “not-as-good” Sonic games, and “everything in between”, though nothing specific has been announced.There may also be some shenanigans to help encourage people to donate.

Extra Life is a charity that has been running since 2008, using 24 hour gaming marathons in order to help the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since it’s inception, it has managed to collect over 22 million dollars in donations. If you want to donate to the cause, you can do it immediately by joining Team Sonic. Hopefully they reach those goals!

[Source: Sonic Twitch]

 

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Producers for Sony’s Sonic the Hedgehog Movie revealed, Deadpool director Tim Miller involved as executive producer

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Miller

The Sonic the Hedgehog Movie (Not to be confused with the 1996 Sonic the Hedgehog OVA) is still in production, and we’ve recently learned new information about the movie. Probably the most notable detail is that Tim Miller, director of the critically and commercially successful Deadpool movie, is involved with the Sonic the Hedgehog movie as an executive producer. Joining him is long time Blur Studio collaborator Jeff Fowler, and Neal H. Moritz of Fast and Furious fame as a producer.

Millar’s comments about his cohort Jeff:

“Jeff is an incredible director with strong story instincts. The world of Sonic presents the perfect opportunity for him to leverage his experience in animation to bring new dimension to this iconic character.”

On top of Blue Studio and Sony Picture Entertainment being involved, SEGA animation subsidiary Marza Animation Planet will help with production, with staff Takeshi Ito and Mie Onishi also joining as producers. For context, Marza Animation Planet being the animation studio behind the CGI cutscenes in varies SEGA titles such as the Hatsune Miku: Project Diva series and Sonic the Hedgehog, and helped with 3D artwork illustrations for some Nintendo titles such as Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon.

While there’s nothing on the production itself, it’s slated to be “a hybrid CG-animated/live-action family film”, still with a tentative 2018 release.

[Source: Hollywood Reporter]

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Yakuza 6 website details more activities, including cat cafe, spearfishing, and Clan Creator

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As previously reported, more activities in Yakuza 6 have been revealed, including feeding cats and spearfishing.  However the official Yakuza 6 website has updated with new screenshots and details about these new activities. Specifically it goes into more detail about comforting Haruka’s baby called Haruto, spearfishing for prophet, saving a cat cafe, casual drinking and eating with patrons, making an offering at a shrine, and most ambitiously is the ability to create your own clan.

Special thanks to Gematsu for translations.

Click below for more information and screenshots.

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Release date and pricing for new Puyo Puyo CharaGumin announced

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SEGA has announced new information regarding to the third wave of Puyo Puyo CharaGumin figurines, succeeding after the first wave (Arle Nadja, Amitie, Andou Ringo, Carbuncle) and second wave (Draco Centaur, Sig, Satan, Onion Pixy). As previously reported, these figures are based on the recurring characters Witch, Suketoudara (with a bonus blue Puyo), Schezo Wegey, and Raffine. However, final colored models, pricing, and release dates have been revealed for these figures.

Witch will be priced at ¥‎5,200 ($50), Schezo at ¥‎5,500 ($53), Raffine at ¥4,300 ($41), and Suketoudara w/ blue Puyo at ¥2,500 ($24). However extra may be spent on crafting materials due to these figures requiring construction, and doesn’t account for any possible taxes or shipping fees. All four figures will be shown on November 19th 2016 at the Volks HobbyFest, and become available for purchase on the official VOLKS CharaGumin website.

[Source: SEGA Japan]

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Yakuza 6 PS4 special editions announced for Japan

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A special “Yakuza 6 Starter Limited Pack” and “Playstation 4 Yakuza 6 Edition” have been announced for the PS4. The Starter Limited Pack comes with a 500GB Jet Black PS4, a copy of the game Yakuza 6, and a special menu theme, costing ‎¥35,980 ($345) total. The Playstation 4 Yakuza 6 Edition pack meanwhile comes in either a 500GB or 1TB Jet Black model, and contains a copy of Yakuza 6, a special themed top cover, a special menu theme, and unique designed packaging, either costing ¥33,480 ($321) for a 500GB model or ¥38,480 ($369) for a 1TB model.

Both packages will be released for the launch of Yakuza 6 on December 8th in Japan. It can be pre-ordered on the Japanese Sony store here.

[Source: Gametalk (JPN)/ Gematsu (ENG)]

Click below for images of the console and themed skins.

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SEGAbits at New York Comic Con 2016 impressions

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comicconimpressions

New York Comic Con is an annual event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, hosting varies booths and panels for comics, movies, television shows, anime, and video games. SEGAbits writers Kori-Maru and FlareHabanero visited the New York Comic Con to hunt down SEGA-related products, cosplays, and artists, but at the same time looking at the event in general. SEGA nor Atlus themselves were present at the event, but that didn’t stop them from hunting down SEGA for all it’s worth. Notably, artists who worked on the Sonic Archie comic series were present at the event, along with miscellaneous merchandising like Figma and CharaGumin.

If you want to hear impressions from both FlareHabanero and Kori-Maru, please click below.

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SEGA releases videos for all 18 multiplayer modes in Puyo Puyo Chronicles

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Battle Skill

Puyo Puyo Chronicles has a lot of multiplayer modes, almost up to 20 modes in fact. The game compiles up to 18 multiplayer modes that features returning modes from past games such as Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary, Puyo Puyo!! 20th Anniversary, and a mode from Puyo Puyo Tetris, along with the new Skill Battle mode loosely based on the game’s Quest mode. The large amount of modes means that regardless of who you are, you’re bound to find a favorite, and generally making the game flexible in terms of options.

To see all 18 videos and descriptions describing each mode, please click below.

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Famitsu details SEGA 3D Archives 3: Final Stage and Puyo Puyo Chronicles

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famitsu

The latest issue of Famitsu has dropped information on the recently revealed Alien Syndrome and Columns in SEGA 3D Archives 3: Final Stage, and more information on Puyo Puyo Chronicles.

Alien Syndrome will be based on the original arcade version, while Columns is based on the arcade perfect SEGA Genesis port. In addition, it reveals the final boxart of the game with Ken Sugimori’s signature artwork of Alien Syndrome‘s Mary. It also shows miscellaneous screenshots for both games along with the previously revealed Thunder Force III.

Puyo Puyo Chronicles reveals some new information. It confirms the characters Rider, Maguro, and Dongurigaeru will make an appearance, along with official artwork of Sig. It also goes into more detail about a snowland, confirms every multiplayer mode, and shows a glimpse at the RPG and multiplayer menus.

[Source: Nintendo Everything]

Click below to see the Famitsu scans.

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Alien Syndrome and Columns added to SEGA 3D Archives 3: Final Stage

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Columns and Alien Syndrome

The final two bonus titles for SEGA 3D Archives 3: Final Stage have been revealed, which is the arcade game Alien Syndrome and Columns. Alien Syndrome being an arcade game released in 1987 with an overhead prospective similar to Gauntlet, where as Ricky or Mary you’re tasked with finding a certain amount of the hostages in a level while killing aliens with varies types of weapons. Once you get enough, you can reach the exit and fight the boss. Columns is a dropping block sort of puzzle game in the same vein as Tetris, the twist being you can only rotate vertically, with the task of simply trying to get a high enough score.

While these choices may sound random at first, they were mentioned before. This interview with M2 staff members talked about how Columns was once considered for SEGA 3D Archives 2 (Aka SEGA 3D Classics Collection) before settling on Puyo Puyo Tsu instead, and also mentions they wanted to do Alien Syndrome thinking stereoscopic 3D would be effective.

So what are your opinions with these final titles for the collection? Excited or disappointed?

[Source: Gematsu]

 

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Puyo Puyo Chronicles Anniversary Box details revealed

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Puyo Puyo Chronicles as previously reported will have a special Anniversary Box that contains several bonuses on top of the base game. This special Anniversay Box as the name implies is part of celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the franchise, including varies CDs that contain songs and drama stories, and a special Puyo Puyo 25th Anniversary 3DS theme.

Click below to look into what’s inside the box.

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SEGA of Japan releases character trailers for Sonic Boom Fire & Ice

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Sonic Boom Fire & Ice is not exactly a game people are enthusiastic about, essentially being overshadowed by the stigma of the Sonic Boom sub-series starting with the infamous Sonic Boom Rise of Lyric and being ignored in favor of the fan love letter Sonic Mania. However (ironically) SEGA of Japan is still trying to promote Sonic Boon Fire & Ice (There called Sonic Toon Fire & Ice) for it’s October 27th, 2016 release date by releasing trailers that highlights the characters Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Sticks.

Each trailer shows off the capabilities of each character via gameplay, highlighting specific techniques each character utilizes and examples of how they can be used. Said trailers also highlights the Fire and Ice gimmick and how each character utilizes them. Examples including Sonic being able to boost vertically both upwards and downwards, Amy using her hammer to create a shockwave that can lower pillers, Knuckles digging creating explosions if he creates a circle in a similar vein to the Paraloop mechanic in NiGHTS into Dreams, Tails’ ability to shoot enemies with a laser, and Stick’s boomerang.

While the Japanese have to wait for another month for Sonic Boom Fire & Ice, for those that live outside of Japan they have the luxury of playing the game this month, September 27th for the USA and September 30th for Europe.

Click below to see the trailers for Tails, Amy, Knuckles, and Sticks

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World of Tanks Blitz and Valkyria Chronicles collaboration live

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Valkyria Chronicles got a surprise collaboration with the Wargaming title World of Tanks Blitz, which as the name implies is a mobile version of the MMO World of Tanks involving 20th-century war vehicles like varies types of tanks. The collaboration brings with it two new tanks, the Edelweiss—a fast and maneuverable medium tank with a good gun and stabilization from Valkyria Chronicles, and The Nameless—a heavy tank with excellent front armor and powerful armament based on the Nameless Tank from Valkyria Chronicles 3.

The event for these Valkyria Chronicles inspired tanks originally began on September 15th, 2016 (Thursday) at 18:00 UTC+8 (10:00 UTC) and is slated to end on September 30th, 2016 (Friday) at 17:00 UTC+8 (09:00 UTC). Players can buy both Edelweiss and The Nameless for the price of $44.99, or getting the two tanks separately for $24.99.

[Source: World of Tanks Blitz Website]

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Wonder Boy Returns, a remake of Wonder Boy coming to Steam

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The Wonder Boy/Monster World series has been getting an abnormal amount of love recently. On top of the new installment Monster Boy and The Cursed Kingdom and the remake of the SEGA Master System game Wonder Boy III: The Dragons Curse (which we wrote an article about), a new remake of the first Wonder Boy by Cyberfront Korea has been announced and set for a fall release on Steam called Wonder Boy Returns.

Long before the franchise became the copyright hell it’s known as today, the first Wonder Boy was a modest arcade game, with the goal to simply reach the end and chuck axes when necessary while collecting fruit to prevent your stamina from running out, with the simply premise of the titular Wonder Boy saving his girl Tina. Now enjoy the same experiences of the first Wonder Boy title with… erm… “modernized” visuals and music that really stresses the conventions of modern day PC gaming. But the interesting part though is that unlike the other revivals and remakes, this one actually does have a SEGA copyright with the game. Truly associating themselves with the highest quality games possible was their priority with this one.

[Source: Gaming on PC]

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