The release date is also revealed in this trailer. October 7th for iPhone App store. October 11th for WiiWare. October 12th for PlayStation Network. October 13th for XBLA.
[Update: Now with more YouTube and less GameSpot embedded player]
Things have been good for SEGA’s profits this last year. First, SEGA reported a profit on it’s third quarter statement back in February. Then, in August, SEGA reported 7 billion yen in profit for it’s first quarter of it’s 2010-2011 fiscal year. All of this great news has resulted in SEGA’s stock price hitting it’s highest price since 2007, where it’s stayed close to ever since.
The good times keep on coming. While video game giants like Nintendo continue to lower their own fiscal year forecast, SEGA has now raised it’s overall sales forecast for its entire fiscal year, ending March 31st 2011, from $400 billion yen ($4.7 billion) to $410 billion yen ($4.9 billion). The profit guidance forecast has gone up from 22 billion yen ($264 million), to 36.5 billion yen ($437 million). This rise in revenue and profits has been brought on by strong sales SEGA Sammy’s Pachinko/Pachislot division, which is now expected to sell 660,000 units, up from the originally anticipated sales of 620,000 units.
Valkyria Chronicles II is still getting stuff released for it in Japan, soon it will get its 8th book released. This one is called “Valkyria Chronicles: Royal Academy Gallian Artworks World” or along those lines.
The book is set to hit Japan on October 8th and be priced at 3,570 yen. The cover art is done by Raita Honjou.
[Source: Valkyria Portal]
As if we didn’t know already, SEGA has officially announced that Sonic Free Riders will release on November 4th (US) and November 10th (Europe) for the launch of the 360’s Kinect. SEGA has also launched the official English language website which includes a bit of new art, several locked sections and a unique navigation method in which you can use a web cam to navigate the site. I tried it at work and I looked like a fool, but it worked rather well.
[Source: SEGA’s Tweet]
Sakura Wars will be having its long awaited (according to their site) live comback. There will be 4 shows, spanning 3 days. The party starts on December 10th and ends on the 12th.
The show is going to be entitled: “Sakura Taisen: Pari Hanigumi Live 2010 – Sparking Stars – Pretty Flowers”. It is hard to get a translation out of google. I guess its good to know that Sakura Wars name is still being used, but what about a new game?
[Source: Sakura Wars blog]
Someone sent this in to the boys over at UK:R, a patent issued on February 10, 2009. That is like almost going to be two years ago. Why is SEGA making weird controllers that look like a offspring from the NiGHTS Saturn controller?
I wonder what it is for? You can go tot he patent site and check out over 30 photos with detailed descriptions. Most likely has to do with an arcade machine, but I will accept a new console.
So, some of you may have noticed that the screenshots for Super Monkey Ball’s 3DS entry don’t look so hot. They look bad even, which is odd considering the brief snippet of the game seen in the 3DS’s software line up video looked rather nice. In response to the criticism of the screenshots on the SEGA Forum, SEGA Rep Julian Mehlfeld, under his forum name “Clumsyorchid”, had this to say:
Not sure why the screens went out at that resolution to be honest, the game doesn’t really look like that as evidenced in the video:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/nc…ndo-3ds/705394
(skip to 1:45)
Shame is all assets go out without the 3D component – but the game looks good, no worries there.
So it seems the screenshots look the way they do due to being blown up way past their intended resolution. Mehlfeld intends to look into issue to ensure it doesn’t happen again in the future.
SEGA has revealed that they are planning to release six 3DS titles for their 2011 fiscal year (ending on March 2012). Out of the 6 titles, we know two of them, Super Monkey Ball and a Sonic title.
Since there are four titles that we know nothing about (not that we know much about the Sonic title, other than its a Sonic game), what do you think they will be?
Mike Hayes has stated they would like to do a House of the Dead and Aliens vs. Predator game on 3DS…
[Source: AndriaSang]
SEGA hits back in the charts in style, although the release is of the new Yakuza spinoff for the PSP is dwarfed thanks to the new Pokemon. Despite this, the new game records one of SEGA’s biggest first week’s this year, although how well did it do to previous Yakuza titles and the other spinoff in the series, Kenzan! Read on to find out more.
Here are a few new facts we know about the upcoming Super Monkey Ball 3DS (not final title). It is confirmed that the game is being developed by SEGA Studio Japan. The new game will have ‘brand new compelling gameplay choices’, sounds sexy. Nagoshi (or his super busy team at least) is even working on the title it seems.
Here is the negative, it says you will have a choice between the 3DS’ motion sensor or slide pad (The slide pad means the new analog pad).
There is also a few seconds of footage, in a new Nintendo trailer.
Hit jump for press release and more screens…
Valkyria Chronicles 2 is a well supported game! Not only did the DLC content just release. With 22 new missions for just $4.99 but all of the free unlock codes have been revealed!
Most of the codes are for ‘stickers’ which you attach to your tank. The stickers give your tank different effects and attributes. Many of which feature characters and logos from other Sega series such as Skies of Arcadia, Yakuza, Phantasy Star and Sonic. Something we are always happy to see.
Some other codes however unlock new playable characters!
Hit the jump to see all of the codes!
Nintendo has just released some 3DS information, including 2 new titles by Capcom (Resident Evil: The Mercenaries and Mega Man Legends 3) and with that announcement came a new ‘line up trailer’.
In the trailer is footage of the Super Monkey Ball game and it is looking … like a Super Monkey Ball game. I guess not much else to say. I hope all games turn out great because it will need a good line up to move at $300 dollars (Japanese price).
[Thanks: Pao via twitter]
We here in the west will get our first paid DLC for Valkyria Chronicles 2. What a DLC it is, 22 missions bundled up for an awesome $4.99. Seems that the Japanese store charges a dollar per mission, so the bundle is definitely worth it.
The DLC should be hitting the PSN store later in the afternoon. Keep your credit card handy, also if you haven’t picked up the game, you should! Review should be up later today or early tomorrow.
[Source: PSblog]
SEGA has unvailed the price and release date for it’s eagerly awaited title, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, the title will see Sonic battle his way through four badnik filled zones with three stages each (Inspired from previous Mega Drive Sonic titles) as he faces off once again with his nemesis Dr Robotnik. Fans of the series have no need to wait any longer though, as Sonic will be speeding to home consoles and iPhones this coming October. Please see the full release dates and prices for each platform below;
The game will be available for download on the iTunes App Store starting Oct. 7, the Wii Shop Channel on Oct. 11 (15th Oct in EMEA territories), the PlayStation Network on Oct. 12 in America (Oct 13th in EMEA territories), and Xbox Live Arcade on Oct. 13 across all territories.
Sonic 4 will be priced at 1500 Wii Points on WiiWare, 1200 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live Arcade, and $14.99 / £9.99 / €12.99 / AU$19.95 on the PlayStation Network.
[Source: IGN]
OK, so we here in the US we get a Sonic scalp if pre-order. The lucky sons of Britain get a Limited Edition version with action figures? Why, SEGA why?! Actually seems that the Limited Edition packaging will be coming out for Pal buyers, not just the UK.
Well, maybe I can send like 34 whiny letters to SEGA Europe’s community team, want to see them sort through that! The game comes out November, got your pre-orders in?
[Source: The Sonic Stadium]
