SONIC WEEKLY: A Very Normal Episode, pt. 2
The latest Sonic news, Bo’s Rings of Saturn, and a Mailbag check — plus ’90s references galore — feature in this week’s episode.
Featured
Under the microscope: Beavis and Butt-head
In this edition, we’re examining Beavis and Butt-head, the 1994 adaptation of the MTV series for Genesis by Radical Entertainment.
Data miners have looked through this game and found various unused elements – text, animations, music. They’ve compared the visuals in prerelease screenshots to the final game. They’ve noted the title’s unusual use of the Genesis sound hardware. But I think they missed something – a hidden cheat code.
Details are below…
SEGA Talk #191: Yakuza 4 (2010)
What’s better than one legend in Kamurocho? How about FOUR?! Today on SEGA Talk, we’re cracking open Yakuza 4—4 protagonists, 4 fighting styles, and 4 times the drama! Don’t 4-get to settle in, because we’re diving right in!
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SONIC WEEKLY: Fortnite x Sonic the Hedgehog w/ ASHLYN ANSTEE
Artist, author, and animator Ashlyn Anstee returns to the program for a conversation about the Sonic x Fortnite crossover.
SEGAbits Presents Arcade Adventure 5: Arcade meetup at Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, IL on October 3, 2026
MEETUP HOURS: 1pm to 5pm
Pre-event meetup from 12pm to 1pm at Imperial Oak Brewing
Hop into your fastest vehicle and hit the track, because all roads lead to SEGAbits Presents Arcade Adventure 5! Meet up with fellow SEGA fans at Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, Illinois on October 3rd, 2026 to play hundreds of arcade games in the world’s largest arcade!
Under the microscope: The Magic School Bus
My perception in the 90s was that the Sega Genesis was supposed to be your older brother’s console. It didn’t matter whether you had an older brother, or were an older brother; Sega’s marketing always implied that Genesis was just slightly cooler than you were.
Sega did try to appeal to younger siblings, however. The company’s Sega Club imprint published several titles for little kids, some of which purported to be at least slightly educational.
Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus: Space Exploration Game was one of these Sega Club games. It’s a collection of mini-games focused on space, and is inspired by the 1990 book The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System.
Why examine a 30 year old edutainment game? It caught my eye because (a) I had the original The Magic School Bus space book when I was a kid, and my parents would never read it to me because it was too long; and (b) it was developed by Novotrade, and I’ve found interesting things in a few Novotrade games in recent years.
Below are details on how this game’s password system works, and notes on how to use a previously-unpublished cheat code to bypass it altogether.
Under the Microscope: Stimpy’s Invention
Some game cartridges from the 16-bit era shipped with backup chips. These allowed players save their progress. But they were expensive relative to a software-only alternative, session passwords.
In addition to being cheaper, session passwords could be shared. Players eagerly subscribed to game magazines that printed them. And in the 90s, having a notebook full of Sega Genesis codes was a good way to increase your status on the playground.
SONIC WEEKLY: Sonic in Fortnite?!?
It’s a very special episode this week, as Team Sonic Weekly discuss the news and various Sonic-related issues.
Hands-On Preview: Sonic the Hedgehog Pinball by Jersey Jack Pinball
Can you believe that despite being a video game icon for 35 years, the Sonic the Hedgehog series has never had a full size pinball machine? SEGA actually came close. In 1994, SEGA purchased Data East Pinball Inc. and established SEGA Pinball, which was subsequently sold in 1999 to become Stern Pinball. However, even with SEGA being in the pinball industry at the peak of Sonic’s popularity, they never once thought to release a Sonic pinball machine. Fast forward to 2026, the year of Sonic’s 35th anniversary, and thanks to Chicagoland-based Jersey Jack Pinball it has finally happened! Sonic has a pinball machine.
SEGA Talk #190: Kid Chameleon (1992)
Smash your head into a Prize Block because on this episode of SEGA Talk we’re transforming into Kid Chameleon! How did this ambitious platformer come to be? Which teen heartthrob did they base the hero on? And what legacy – if any – did this game leave behind? Find out on this transformative episode of SEGA Talk!
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SEGA Talk #189: Judgment (2018)
Put on your detective badge, step into the neon-lit streets of Kamurocho, and get ready to trade your heat actions for courtroom objections as we dive into the boldest spin-off Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has ever produced: Judgment. This isn’t just “Yakuza with a lawyer.” This is a game that traded Kazuma Kiryu for Takuya Kimura, swapped organized crime for legal suspense, and asked whether the Dragon Engine could tell a whole new kind of story. Find out on this episode of SEGA TALK!
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SEGA Announces Gamescom 2026 Line-Up
SEGA is heading to Gamescom 2026 in a big way, giving attendees the chance to go hands-on with some of its biggest upcoming releases. From August 26–30, fans visiting Hall 7 at Cologne’s Koelnmesse can experience an immersive SEGA booth packed with playable demos, themed photo opportunities, on-stage challenges, and exclusive merchandise giveaways. Five upcoming titles will be featured, each with its own dedicated booth area designed to showcase the game in a unique and memorable way.
SEGA Talk #188: Virtua Fighter 2 (1994)
On this SEGA Talk we return to the world of Virtua Fighter with a look back at the second game in the series! What did Virtua Fighter 2 do to improve on the winning formula of the first game? How did it expand on the characters and lore of the Virtua Fighter world? What is the best modern way to play the game? Knuckle up and find out on SEGA Talk!
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SEGA Talk #187: Sonic CD (1993)
Put on your red sneakers, grab a chili dog, and get ready to travel through time as we dive into one of the most ambitious, innovative, and misunderstood entries in the Sonic franchise: Sonic CD for the Sega CD. This isn’t just “Sonic with CDs.” This is the game that introduced Metal Sonic, gave us Amy Rose, dared to ask “what if Sonic could change the future?” find out on this episode of SEGA TALK!
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Support us on Patreon! Get early access, have your memories read on the show, select the games we talk about!
The SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show LIVE: 25 Years of Sonic Adventure 2
As Sonic is about to turn 35, the Swingin’ Report Show LIVE turns the clock back to Sonic’s 10th anniversary which saw the release of Sonic Adventure 2! Joining in to share their memories are Sonic Retro head honcho/Sonic Weekly host David the Lurker, as well as friend of the show and video game music composer Steve aka ap0c!