New SEGA survey asking fans what franchises they want to see revived

skiesofarcadiaarchieSEGA of Japan has launched a new SEGA survey asking fans various questions including what past franchise are they fond of, what character in a particular franchise is important to them and what franchise they’d want to see SEGA revive. This new SEGA survey isn’t surprising seeing as the company promised back in 2015 to be going in a new ‘fan oriented’ direction. With projects like Sonic Mania, Daytona 3 Championship USA, and even bringing back Valkyria Chronicles (not exactly how i’d want but whatever) its easy to see that SEGA will be leaning more towards what fans really want from the company. SEGA Japan says they will announce what games and characters got the most votes on November 20th, 2016. We will of course post the results on the blog, so check back on Sunday.

This new SEGA survey is obviously for a Japanese audience, but regardless of that I think everyone should let their voices be heard, so I encourage all of you to click here and take the survey for yourselves. Please make sure you have a moment to sit and ponder because picking one SEGA game and character to pick is harder than you might think.

If you had to pick one SEGA franchise that was published before 2014 to resurrect, what game would you pick? Let us know in the comments below!

Lego Dimensions: Sonic the Hedgehog level pack gameplay footage hits the web

Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment producer Doug Heder was on the YouTube Gaming show to reveal some gameplay of the upcoming Lego Dimensions: Sonic the Hedgehog level pack. The show is hosted by Geoff Keighley, who seemed to launch a bunch of questions, most of which we already knew the answers to. We know this show is mean’t to be aimed at more ‘mainstream’ audience,so its nice to see what the level pack has to offer and it having a large exposure. When pressed about more character figures, Doug Heder said there are ‘a lot of unlockable characters’ in the game. Those named here include Knuckles, Tails, Shadow, and Big the Cat. Obviously this isn’t as great as having their own stand alone figure and stories, but who knows about the future.

The producer Doug Heder does say that they put a lot of love and effort into recreating the feel of the game,that Sonic the Hedgehog fans would appreciate it. I have to say they did a great job from what I’m seeing. The Lego Dimensions: Sonic the Hedgehog level pack releases on Novemeber 18th, 2016 and will retail for $29.99 USD. So let us know in the comments, are you excited to play the Lego Dimensions: Sonic the Hedgehog level pack?

Garou: Mark of the Wolves trophies revealed

MarkOfWolvesSNK announced back at this year’s EVO that there was going to be a port of Garou: Mark of the Wolves on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita later this year, but kept silent after due to them supporting King of Fighters XIV. But fret no more, the website PSN Profiles has posted the Garou: Mark of the Wolves trophies early. The Garou: Mark of the Wolves trophies all seem rather easily attainable, the hardest one seems to be a silver trophy that has the player win twenty multiplayer matches in a row (not including invite/ad hoc) which should be quite easy for people that have experience with the game’s mechanics.

Click here to see Garou: Mark of the Wolves trophies

While the Garou: Mark of the Wolves trophies have already been posted online, SNK has been quiet on the release date for the title. All we know is that it is coming out sometime before the end of 2016 for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. I won’t be shocked if they show off the game at PlayStation Experience which starts on December 3rd and goes on till the 4th. SNK has also teased a re-releases for Samurai Shodown and Fatal Fury for 2017. Is there an old SNK franchises you want to see ported over? Any other console or system not made by Sony you want to see these SNK franchises appear on? Let us know in the comments below!

[Via: SRK]

Get a first look at the Daytona 3 Championship USA arcade machine

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The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) 2016 conference kicks off this week, and while the conference starts today the floor show doesn’t open until tomorrow. In the meantime, attendees can see exhibitors setting up their booths which means we get sneak peeks at new arcade machines. Daytona 3 Championship USA is probably the biggest reveal at the event, so it only makes sense that we get a leak. Thanks to Arcade Belgium, we have a look at the 8-seater setup of the game. Unfortunately, the game wasn’t running and the photo isn’t the highest quality, so we can’t see the game in action and are unable to confirm if the AM2 logo appears on the machine. I did notice that in the lower left of the machine there are what appear to be sponsor logos, and one kinda-sorta looks like the AM2 logo, but there’s no way to tell from this photo. Also, it is worth noting that recent AM2 games did not feature the studio logo on the machine. Fans shouldn’t fret, however, as we had learned from a reliable source that much of the original Daytona USA team worked on the game.

More information, including a trailer, should be hitting soon!

SEGA releasing a Yakuza 6 demo soon

Yakuza-6_2016_10-27-16_029SEGA has recently announced via a live stream hosted by Famitsu that Yakuza 6 will be getting a playable demo in Japan before its release, which is December 8th. The Yakuza 6 demo allows players to experience the first chapter of the game.

SEGA has also confirmed that the Yakuza 6 demo will be level capped but save data will transfer over to the full game. This is a great way to get into the game early before you purchase Yakuza 6, considering that the first chapter in Yakuza games is always a bit slow. The demo will also allow you to visit all the play spots within the designated areas, which is fantastic because there are plenty of great looking play spots in this game. While the Yakuza 6 demo is only for Japanese audiences, its rather easy to make a Japanese PSN account. Are you guys going to give Yakuza 6 demo a chance?

Yakuza 6 hits Japanese store shelves on December 8th, 2016. While there hasn’t been a western release date for Yakuza 6, the franchise isn’t dead considering we are still getting Yakuza 0 in January 2017. If you want a English release of Yakuza 6, make sure you support the release of Yakuza 0!

[Source: Siliconera]

Sonic Boom season 2 to premiere on Boomerang, airing later on Cartoon Network, this November

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In a press release that dropped today, details of Sonic Boom season 2 were revealed. The second season will premiere on Boomerang Saturday, November 12th at 6 p.m. ET. For those who don’t have Boomerang and fear that the show has left Cartoon Network, fear not! The press release states that the Boomerang premieres will replay on Cartoon Network starting Nov. 19.

Sonic Boom season two will consist of fifty-two 11-minute episodes. The press release teases various plots including “cases of mistaken identity, androids from an outlandish land, real live urban legends, a haunted lair, familiar faces (Shadow and more characters from the Sonic game universe), plus epic conflicts with powerful, new foes”. Viewers can also expect “potent crystals, mercurial mecha, slick scuba gear, stylin’ space suits, sharp snow supplies, custom cars, total team spirit, and of course, constant clashes with the offensive Dr. Eggman and his compelling creations”.

After the break, check out the full press release! Are you looking forward to season two of Sonic Boom? Sound off in the comments below.

SEGA releases 40 minutes of Yakuza 6 gameplay

Want to see more Yakuza 6 gameplay featuring characters like Majima and Saejima? Hit play above and enjoy some new Yakuza 6 gameplay footage as the game prepares to release in Japan on December 8th. SEGA is really pushing this game forward, they even announced a full fledged TV show to promote the release.

In my opinion this Yakuza 6 gameplay footage makes me envious of having to wait and hopefully get a localization in the west. But at least we have Yakuza 0 to tide us over early until next year. Though you have to admit, it sucks being this far behind from the Japanese releases, but what you going to do? At least we are still getting them. What are your thoughts on the Yakuza 6 gameplay that SEGA released?

[via: Gemastu]

SEGA announces live action Yakuza TV show

original[Note: Image is not from the announced live action Yakuza TV show]

SEGA has announced a new live action drama Yakuza TV show, based obviously on SEGA’s series of games. This isn’t the first time that SEGA made a live action drama series, they did one for Yakuza: Black Panther that promoted the PSP game. While that happen with a spin off game, this if the first time the main series enjoyed a TV show release. The Yakuza main series did get live action prologue shorts directed by Takashi Miike , who would later go on to direct a full length film loosely based on the first game.

Sadly not much information for the Yakuza TV show has been announced, all we know is that SEGA is working on one and that they will show more at Sega Fes 2016. Sega Fes 2016 will run two days on November 19th and 20th, so expect more Yakuza TV show news soon.

[Source: NicheGamer]

New SEGA 3D Archives 3: Final Stage trailer shows off introduction, Alien Syndrome, and Columns in action

SEGA has released a new trailer for SEGA 3D Archives 3: Final Stage, the third collection in the “3D Archive” series. This trailer demonstrates every game in the collection, including Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Bare Knuckle 2, After Burner II, and more, most notably the first time Alien Syndrome and Columns are shown in action. It also reveals the introduction of the game, highlighting the different games in SEGA 3D Archives 3: Final Stage.

SEGA 3D Archives 3: Final Stage (by extension the special SEGA 3D Archives 1.2.3 Triple Pack) releases on December 22 for ‎¥4990.

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.

Unused never before seen Virtua Fighter characters discovered

We thought Siba was the only unused fighter in the original Virtua Fighter arcade game (he later appeared in Fighters Megamix), but now it looks like there were more fighters left out of the tournament based on newly discovered in-game files. A hacker named Jed Hudson has made a recent discovery of more unused Virtua Fighter characters within the game’s data.

The first unused character is Siba, going by the name of “Majido”. Next up, an earlier version of Akira Yuki. Then we have Jeff, a commando-like fighter similar to Prototype Jack from the Tekken franchise.

For a more in-depth look on the characters, check out the video above and after the break check out some screenshots.

SEGA Amusements reveals Daytona 3 Championship USA logo, teases more to come

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The official SEGA Amusements Facebook and Twitter pages, which you really should follow, have just posted the official logo for the recently revealed arcade exclusive Daytona 3 Championship USA. While we’re still iffy on the name (doesn’t Daytona USA 3 Championship sound better?) the logo looks great and, based on the layout, it does sort of read as Daytona USA 3 Championship. Anyway, minor nitpicks aside, it is great to see more official assets and SEGA Amusements promises one week to go before the official reveal at IAAPA 2016. Here’s hoping more teases release before then. Of course a trailer would be what we’re all hoping for. More info as we hear it!

After the break, check out how the new logo compares to past games in the franchise. Thank you Daytona International Speedway for never updating your logo.

Sonic Hacking Contest 2016 Goes Live

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The 2016 Sonic Hacking Contest site is live, with 54 different hacks and mods to download and play! It is a yearly contest where members of Sonic Retro and Sonic Stuff Research Group show off their mods and ROM hacks. No account is required to play or download any of the hacks. Voting on entries requires a Sonic Retro or Sonic Stuff Research Group account to vote on the community trophies. You can also check the schedule for near-round the clock streams from folks like SomeCallMeJohnny, MegaGWolf, RedHotSonic and many more!

Downloading hacks are open until Sunday the 13th. Some mods you’ll encounter include ROM hacks of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic Pocket Adventure as well as mods for PC versions of the original Sonic Adventure DX release, Sonic Generations and Sonic Lost World. Check them out today!

Pix’n Love Editions announces L’histoire de Shenmue book

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Pix’n Love Editions have officially announced L’histoire de Shenmue. The book, which is entirely in French, covers the history of Shenmue and Shenmue 2, features an interview with Yu Suzuki and 50 illustrated pages. The full book will be 250 pages in length and will be released in a standard edition as well as a special Phoenix & Dragon Edition. The special edition features a jade colored slipcover featuring both iconic mirrors. Each special edition version of the book will come with a certificate of authenticity and will be individually numbered. Both are available to pre-order today, with the special edition costing about 35 euros while the standard book will cost about 25 euros. Both versions are set to release December 20th, 2016.

As mentioned, the book is entirely in French. However, Pix’n Love does have a UK store and have released select books to the US in the past. L’histoire de Sonic, for example, later saw an English translation. No word yet on L’histoire de Shenmue receiving the same treatment, but if it does we will let you all know!

SEGA’s maimai Pink Plus arcade gets English location testing at Dave & Buster’s

CwdQwOzUcAAZ2akIt seems that SEGA’s maimai Pink Plus music rhythm arcade game has been localized and is now available to try out in Dave & Buster’s Irvine location. Maimai Pink Plus  previously had a English version released when the title hit the Taiwan and Hong Kong market, seems that now SEGA Amusement will be bringing it to American locations. According to the arcade technician, the cabinet is set up as a location test that will last 2-4 weeks. SEGA All Net isn’t supported for the location test, at least.

Check out photographs taken below, SEGA fans will notice that the game has a pretty nice selection of SEGA tunes including Sonic Adventure 2‘s Live and Learn, as well as Phantasy Star Portable 2‘s Living Universe. So check out the screens and see what tracks from your favorite SEGA games you find. The cabinet is said to support 40-50 songs! Also if the maimai Pink Plus arcade cabinet reminded you of a front loading washing machine in the photos, that’s intentional since SEGA teamed up with Sharp showing maimai themed washing machines. I think its a good move, since I haven’t seen too many arcades with this design.

Its pretty cool to see SEGA Amusements start beefing up their arcade lineup with maimai Pink Plus, Daytona 3 Championship USA, and Target Bravo: Operation Ghost. What is your thought at SEGA Amusement making the news lately with new localization and titles?

[Source: Bemanistyle]