PSO2 Live Event with new info on Episode III & Nova plus a live performance from Takenobu Mitsuyoshi


During a live event for Phantasy Star Online 2 in Japan, SEGA announced more information regarding features for the upcoming Episode III update and Phantasy Star Nova. One of the newest features happens to be called “Ultimate Quests” which will launch in winter and new Wopel field, Ascended Facility, will be included in a update this fall. Episode III is still slated for release on August 27th, 2014.

PSO2 vol.3 Soundtrack has been announced for December 14th release with a 4 CD set for 5000 yen with Mining Base Defense included. A collaboration crossover was also announced for Phantasy Star Nova featuring main characters from PSO2 as long as the player has the game data stored on their PlayStation Vita. Phantasy Star Nova will also be playable at this year’s Tokyo Game Show.

For more information on other upcoming updates for PSO2, be sure to click this link on the entire live stream recap and for the awesome live performance of Burning Hearts performed by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi, hit the jump for video footage!

Console trailer for Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax released and out for PS3 and Vita on Nov 13


The wait is now over as SEGA has announced that their new fighting title, Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax, is set for release on November 13th for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. The video showcases characters special moves  and impact skills including the newly additional characters with a new theme song,(I’ve)の新曲「belief」, sung by Kawada Mami.

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax is a 2D arcade fighting game published by SEGA which brings together selected characters from light novel series published under ASCII Media Works‘ Dengeki Bunko imprint. The project is a collaboration between SEGA and Dengeki Bunko as part of the 20th year anniversary of the light novel imprint.

The game also features various SEGA cameos with Akira Yuki and Pai Chan of the Virtua Fighter series as bosses and SEGA themed levels based on SEGA’s iconic franchises.

Be sure to tune in on SEGAbits for more Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax related news and events this fall.

Updated: Archie Comics set to release Sonic Boom comic series

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Update: It seems Archie’s subscription page was posted too soon, as the page is now down and IGN has posted an official exclusive (whoops!) unveiling of the new series. IGN reveals that the series will be written by Ian Flynn with art by Evan Stanley. Also, the premiere issue will have four variant covers that link up when you put them next to each other (seen after the break). SEGA and IGN promise that more will be revealed during next week’s San Diego Comic Con. In a short interview with Flynn and Stanley, the first story arc has been revealed to be 80 pages long and “sets the comical, whimsical tone for the series”. The duo also promised that the series will feature “some over-arching stuff going on from issue to issue that builds up to some REALLY awesome happenings a little later on down the line.”

Original article: Archie Comics  has just announced that it is developing a new comic book adaptation of the upcoming Sonic Boom TV series and video games. This adaptation will be its own stand alone series outside of the Archie continuity. Below is a description of the new Sonic comic series taken from Archie’s site.

Welcome to the 3D Zone! 3D Fantasy Zone II Double coming to the 3DS in Japan!


SEGA has announced that their 12th 3D project is coming to the Nintendo eShop next week and happens to be none other than 3D Fantasy Zone II Double! The 3D remake will feature two game modes combined.

One is titled “The Tears of Opa Opa” which is the original game and a new game mode called “Link Loop Land” which seems to be a score attack/ endless mode to determine how far the player can go. Along with Link Loop Land comes a unique game mechanic called the LINK gauge. The LINK gauge will increase when you WIN the coin and will continue to decrease over time.

The game is set for release on Nintendo eShop in Japan on July 16th. US and EU dates for the game has yet to be announced. In the mean time, there are a couple of 3D SEGA Classics to check out in the Nintendo eShop for a cheap price to try out now in US and EU territories.

SEGA Networks and gumi is bringing Chain Chronicle and other Japanese mobile titles to the West

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SEGA Networks and gumi had recently made an announcement today to form a partnership by bringing SEGA Networks’ Japanese game titles in North America, Europe, South Asia and other territories. Gamers can expect the first batch later this year starting with the launch of the popular Japanese RPG mobile game, Chain Chronicle.

For those who are unfamiliar with Chain Chronicle, Chain Chronicle is a popular Japanese mobile game that allows players to become a soldier who builds an army and fights to protect the imaginary land of “Yugdo” from the menacing Black Army. As the game advances, players begin to unravel each member’s story to create a long chain of chronicles where all are connected.

Both companies are collaborating in order to provide localized support for player preferences, languages and gameplay environments. Hit the jump to view the press release of the game and footage.

Dengeki Bunko FIGHTING CLIMAX set to be released for Playstation 3 and PS Vita this fall!

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The time has come as the French-Bread and Ecole-developed crossover fighting game, Dengeki Bunko FIGHTING CLIMAX, is set for a release this fall on Playstation 3 and PS Vita systems. A good opportunity to import the game as the Sony consoles are region-free.  

First released to arcades in Japan on March 18, it launched with eight playable characters, since adding four more playable and four more support characters. Details have yet to be announced, but the console version will have new contents. Hope to see at least few more SEGA characters and levels for the console release.

SEGAbits may have something planned for FIGHTING CLIMAX when it releases in Japan this fall so stay tuned for that!

 

Strike the Blood’s Yukina & Black Bullet’s Rentarō added to Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Cast

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Dengeki announced that two new playable characters will be featured in a update to SEGA and ASCII Media Works’ arcade fighting game, Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax, featuring Yukina Himeragi, a 14 year old middle-school Sword Shaman from Strike the Blood, and Rentarō from Black Bullet, a second year student in Magata High School and also a Promoter in Tendō Civil Security who lost his right leg, right arm and left eye in a fight with Gastrea to protect Kisara, and was saved by Sumire’s “New Human Creation Plan” which replaced his lost limbs with Varanium. He uses an XD and is a beginner in Tendō style martial arts.

Along with them will be two more support characters included which happens to be Kojō Akatsuki (Strike the Blood) and Enju Aihara (Black Bullet).

SEGA are still planning to release the game to consoles soon but nothing is announced on that at the moment. Hit the jump for screenshots featuring the two new fighters!

SEGAbits and TailsChannel presents Sonic’s 23rd Anniversary Comic Giveaway!

Hello Sonic fans, Kori-Maru of SEGAbits here to announce a collaboration with Tails Channel, the popular Sonic News Channel on Youtube! To celebrate Sonic’s 23rd Anniversary, we will be giving away six Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comics to one lucky fan. All you have to do is to follow these simple steps for a chance to win!

  • Follow @TailsChannel and @SEGABits on Twitter.
  • Write a Tweet about your favorite Archie Sonic Comic moment using the hashtag #sonic23on23. (If you don’t read the comics, just put your favorite Sonic moment in general.)

The contest ends on June 30th and from there we will pick the lucky winner!

Don’t forget to subscribe to our channels, Tails Channel and SEGAbits, for more exciting Sonic and SEGA related content! We also wish the fastest thing alive a happy 23rd Anniversary and many more to come.

Funimation acquires English dubbing rights to BAYONETTA: Bloody Fate

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FUNimation® Entertainment announced today that the company has acquired U.S. & Canadian rights to the full-length feature film BAYONETTA: Bloody Fate. BAYONETTA: Bloody Fate, which was produced by GONZO animation studio and internationally acclaimed director Fuminori Kizaki, was released in theaters on DVD & Blu-ray in Japan last year and faithfully retells the story of the first BAYONETTA game in full anime glory.

Director Fuminori Kizaki will also be making an appearance as a guest of honor at this year’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, July 3-6 where a “sneak peek” of the English dub of BAYONETTA: Bloody Fate will be shown for fans at the convention, along with a special Q&A with Director Kizaki following on Saturday, July 5th, at 8:15pm in Video 1.

FUNimation plans to release the animated movie on DVD and Blu-Ray sometime this year with a released date that has yet to be announced. BAYONETTA 2 is also set for a release this year in October, so be sure to check out our E3 impressions on the sequel sometime this week.

What happens if you mix Beastie Boys music with Sakura Wars?


Kori here to bring you an amazing mash up of the Sakura Wars iconic theme song “Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan!” (which roughly translates “Attack! Imperial Floral Assault Team!“) with Bestie Boys in the mix.

The original video was found on NicoNicoDouga and uploaded on YouTube. The mix is pretty amazing with the fusion of the Bestie Boys singing and Chisa Yokoyama as Sakura Shinguji as the lead singer.

If you have any thoughts on this amazing mash up video, be sure leave us a comment below

Convention Report: SEGAbits visits MomoCon 2014 – Hatsune Miku, Sonic the Hedgehog, & SEGA’s history

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Hello SEGAbits readers and followers! Kori-Maru here back from Atlanta, Georgia to bring you SEGA coverage from MomoCon, one of the fastest growing all ages conventions in Georgia where anime and gaming collide. This also marks the very first time SEGA attended MomoCon to promote Hatsune Miku Project Diva F 2nd. Just to be prepared for the convention, I decided to cosplay as Akira Yuki from the Virtua Fighter series in his VF2 attire. Be sure to hit the jump for videos from the SEGA panels, pictures, and a video interview with Aaron Webber and Sam Mullen as we discuss about SEGA and Hatsune Miku Project Diva F 2nd.

Sonic Boom Toys available for pre-order on Toy Wiz Website

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With Sonic Boom coming this fall on Cartoon Network, Sonic Boom merchandise seem to be available for pre-order. The Sonic Boom Launcher features our dashing hero, Sonic the Hedgehog, inside a blue wheel that can be triggered with a push of a button sending Sonic dashing in the air along with Dr. Eggman of course.

Another playset features Sonic in a blue wheel with Dr. Eggman’s Burn Bot as seen in the preview trailer of the show on the site. Both toy sets are manufactured by Tomy and are available for pre-order on Toy Wiz’s website for only $27.99 and $16.99. Release date for both products are set for August 2014.

Does this remind you of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 toys from McDonalds by any chance? If so, tell us your thoughts on the comments below.

SEGA Europe introduces SEGA Central, a web series that takes you behind the scenes at SEGA


SEGA Europe will be launching a web series titled “SEGA Central” on YouTube to show off news and inside media. Not only news on their upcoming titles but DLC and retrospective of classic SEGA titles as well.

The series will also include exclusive behind the scenes of SEGA events, developer interviews, tours within the company, let play guides, speed run attempts and more!

The date of the pilot episode is unknown at this time, but we will be sure to give more info on the series when it surfaces.

Dynamite Deka gets light novel treatment titled “Dynamite Deka: Burning 2020”


You all may remember Die Hard Arcade released in the arcade in 1996, which was originally titled Dynamite Deka in Japan and it’s sequel Dynamite Cop, developed by Golden Axe and Altered Beast creator, Makoto Uchida.

Announced a couple of weeks ago, Dynamite Deka will be returning in light novel form starring the main character Bruno Dillenger aka “Mr. Dynamite” retired from taking numerous cases and is on vacation in Tokyo, Japan as tourist in the year 2020 to later face a new threat. Tatsuro Iwamoto, a freelance illustrator who has worked on Capcom’s Ace Attorney series as art director, will be in charge of the illustration of the novel.

He has aged quite a bit since his last appearance but he still carries his signature items such as the broom and pepper to take down his enemies with. The book is now available in Japan for 760 yen plus tax and to purchase on Sakuranomori Books website here.

For more information on the story summary and pictures. Be sure to hit the jump without making an explosion!

Degenki Bunko Fighting Climax adds two new characters in the fray – Miyuki Shiba and Taiga Aisaka!

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Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax is set for an update in arcades, adding two additional characters to the cast.

The characters that will be featured as playable characters are The Irregular at Magic High School’s “Snow Queen” Miyuki Shiba and Aisaka Taiga, the “Palm Top Tiger,” from Toradora! Tatsuya Shiba and Ryuuji Takasu from their respective series will also join as assist characters. The date for the arcade update is unknown at this time.

For me, I think it’s great to have updates with characters and stages in arcade games. Fingers crossed for more SEGA characters to become playable characters.

For images and screenshots of the additional characters, be sure to hit the jump.