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Rumor: Sonic the Hedgehog coming to LEGO Dimensions

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LEGO fan site Brick Inquierer is reporting a rumor which says that Sonic the Hedgehog will be heading to LEGO Dimensions. For those not hip to the latest kids trends, LEGO Dimensions is a multi-platform game which allows players to scan in physical LEGO toys created for the game from a diverse range of franchises (Back to the Future, Doctor Who, Portal, Ghostbusters and The Simpsons just to name a few). You can then play as those toys within the game. All-in-all it’s a neat, though very expensive, experience.

Brick Inquierer’s rumor actually references an earlier report on code words for the game’s series 2. Code words included “S” and “KR”, which fans speculated as being Sonic and Knight Rider. Now, LEGO insider and EuroBricks forum member CM4Sci commented on the EuroBricks forums with two posts. One simply states “Sonic’s coming!”, then another reply stating, “I also know for a fact Sonic is in if that confirms anything”. Brick Inquierer added “Within the LEGO community, CM4Sci’s word is about as good as it comes. So it’s time to get excited LEGO Dimensions fans!”, so it is safe to say that this is a source that has been correct in the past.

As for the SEGAbits opinion on this rumor? Sonic in LEGO Dimensions would make a lot of sense. For one thing, SEGA has been going crazy in the past few months with the license, releasing everything from Sonic branded mud face masks to high fashion accessories. Even in the past, there was a Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed themed Erector set. LEGO Dimensions is known for some pretty oddball inclusions, so the notion that Sonic would be in the game is not crazy. Also, the addition of Sonic would allow LEGO to make the figure without having to release a full line of LEGO Sonic toys. This would also allow SEGA and LEGO to test the market for a potential expanded series of LEGO Sonic toys. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as this is just a rumor. If we learn more, we’ll be sure to share.

[Source:Brick Inquierer]

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Swingin’ Report Show #86: Strike Harbinger Game Designer and SEGA Tournament Champion Chris Tang

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On this episode of the Swingin’ Report Show podcast, Barry sits down with game designer and gaming tournament champion Chris Tang at the Galloping Ghost Arcade’s SEGA Week. SEGA fans may know Chris best as the winner of SEGA’s Sonic & Knuckles Rock the Rock competition in 1994, and before that Chris was a finalist in 1990’s Nintendo World Championships. Since then, Chris has worked on games at Atari and Capcom, including Gauntlet IV, Primal Rage, Street Fighter III, Rival Schools and Power Stone. Now, Chris is hard at work on a new game inspired by classic SEGA titles like Space Harrier and Phantasy Star. The game, titled Strike Harbinger, combines the fast paced forward flying gameplay of Space Harrier with the RPG and combat elements of Phantasy Star while utilizing a unique control structure that evokes Virtual On.

Strike Harbinger – developed by Chris’s company HitSparks Games – was revealed Saturday, April 30th at Galloping Ghost Arcade where I had the pleasure to meet Chris and the game’s Senior Artist Kiyoshi Okuma, whose past work includes Gauntlet: Legends, World Series Baseball 2K2, The Sims 2 and Darkspore. I also had the honor to be the first member of the public to play the game, and following that experience I chatted with Chris about his life as a tournament gamer, his career, and his plans for Strike Harbinger. 

Want more information on Strike Harbinger? Stay tuned for an upcoming SEGA News Bits as well as a SEGA Week writeup!

[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

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Dawn of War III announced with teaser trailer – game to release in 2017

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Dawn of War III, a new entry in the highly acclaimed Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War series, has been officially announced today. Dawn of War is a sci-fi RTS set in the far future of the Warhammer universe and is not to be mistaken for the fantasy setting Total War: Warhammer which is in development at The Creative Assembly.

The trailer, which seems to be mostly CGI but possibly features some in-engine cut scenes for good measure, highlights some of the massive units and factions in Warhammer 40k’s universe of never ending war. The video is accompanied by the following description:

“Step into the nightmare of brutal galactic warfare with the Dawn of War III worldwide announce trailer!
Watch the battlefield come to life, and death, as you’ve never seen it before as Space Marines, Eldar and Ork slip ever deeper into the darkness of endless war.”

It will be interesting to find out if this new installment is similar to the original Dawn of War, with its more traditional RTS play style, or Dawn of War II which is more similar to Relic’s other highly acclaimed RTS series Company of Heroes.

Dawn of War III will release some time in 2017.

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Project X Zone removed from North America & Europe Nintendo eShop

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For reasons unknown, the digital version of Project X Zone has been removed from the Nintendo eShop. Starting around 2012 games produced for the system typically sport a retail and digital version, with a few exceptions that are retail exclusive or vise versa. Typically the digital version would need to be loaded into an SD card, but the main benefit of choosing digital is slightly faster loading times, the convenience of not switching 3DS game cards, and the option to re-download the game at any given time.

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Shinobi movie in the works

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Remember a year and a half ago when it was announced that film and TV adaptations of classic SEGA franchises were being considered? Aside from brief rumors, there hasn’t been much definitive word on that. But now we’re seeing some fruit from that tree fall down, as it turns out one of the franchises originally reported is now in talks of being a film. That franchise of course being the legendary ninja-action game, Shinobi. The film is apparently to be produced by Marc Platt, who had a hand in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and Drive of all things. He and cohort Adam Siegel, who worked on both aformentioned movies, will be working with SEGA’s Stories International to bring…whatever they want, I guess.

If the movie isn’t two hours of Joe Musashi fighting dodgy clones of Godzilla, Batman, and Rambo, all on horse-back, I’m not seeing it.

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Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X pre-order bonus revealed and new trailer released

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SEGA of America has released a new trailer for the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X, which is set to release on August 30th to PS4 and PS Vita in both physical and digital formats. Along with the trailer comes pricing info, which the game retailing at $49.99/CA$64.99 for the PlayStation 4 version and $39.99/CA$54.99 for the PlayStation Vita version. But wait, there’s more! SEGA has also announced that pre-orders and launch day copies will include a special Hatsune Miku pouch, decorated with the game’s aura symbols. Seems like pre-order bonus items are the norm now with SEGA of America, as Miku fans may recall that Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX kicked off this new trend for SEGA by including AR cards and a branded lanyard.

For now this is Americas only, as no European release has been announced as of yet. After the break, check out the full press release.

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SEGA News Bits: Atlus and SEGA Europe Localization Discussion

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Life as a SEGA and Atlus fan in Europe has been tough. Between SEGA Europe not releasing titles like SEGA 3D Classics Collection, 7th Dragon III: Code VFD and Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X and Atlus severing ties with NIS America, the promise of new games appears hopeless. In this SEGA News Bits, George and Barry put themselves in the European state of mind and discuss the latest on SEGA Europe’s localization woes and what the Atlus and NIS America break-up could mean for the future of the Persona and Etrian Odyssey franchises.

If you enjoy the SEGA News Bits video formats make sure to like, share and subscribe to our YouTube for more.

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Sonic and Puyo Puyo 25th anniversary museum exhibit will happen in Japan

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It’s been announced that a special museum exhibit for the 25th anniversary celebrations of Sonic the Hedgehog and Puyo Puyo will be hosted at the Huis Ten Bosch Game Museum between May 3rd to May 7th. This exhibit will have two floors dedicated to both franchises, with a selection of games highlighting their history. Meanwhile, a giant screen will display the games Sonic Generations and Puyo Puyo Tetris outside the venue. Merchandise from both franchises will also be available at the venue.

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SEGA News Bits: Mega Drive Classics on Steam to support hacked ROMs

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Just over a week ago, SEGA Mega Drive Classics on Steam was announced to have a free update that adds additional features to games you may already own. Features include a new hub from which you can access all your games from a virtual bedroom complete with a TV and a games shelf. While that is neat and all, what really caught our attention was the mention of modified and hacked ROMs being supported. If the game is in the collection, you are free to mess with the code and share your creations with the Steam world. Pretty crazy, right? Join George and Barry as they discuss this strange turn in SEGA being cool with us messing with their games. Check the updated SEGA Mega Drive Classics out today and tell us what you think of it in the comments below!

If you enjoy the SEGA News Bits video formats make sure to like, share and subscribe to our YouTube for more.

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Cancelled Akira Genesis game brought to the limelight

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It’s not every day new info about old games comes out. It’s even rarer for new info about old, cancelled games to come out of the woodwork. In the dust of archived footage of CES, Space World, and E3s of twenty years ago, major undocumented secrets sometimes spring out. And now there’s been a very, very interesting find: a preview of a cancelled Genesis adaptation of the 1988 anime film, Akira. Hit the jump for details and analysis, as well as the video showing the prototype.

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Persona 5 getting special broadcast on May 5th

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P5_fami_h2h3_160411Persona 5 fans have been waiting for more information regarding the latest entry that is due out this summer in Japan. I guess Atlus knows there are fans around the world waiting for information regarding Persona 5, so they have announced a Niconico special broadcast for May 5th at 21:30 Japanese time (5:30 am PT/8:30 am ET).

Atlus will call their Persona 5 broadcast the ‘Take Tokyo Tower’ and will go live when the counter on their site hits zero.

Persona 5 hits PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 this Summer in Japan.

[Via: Gematsu]

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Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle includes SEGA’s Rhythm Thief

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RhythmThiefCoinHumbleRhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure was a pretty excellent rhythm game by SEGA on the Nintendo 3DS, it is just too bad it didn’t sell up to expectations. Some consider the game to be one of the rare 3DS games to get physically and if you have always wanted to play the game on the cheap, Humble Bundle will give you a chance along with more Wii U & 3DS games.

Here are the tiers for their Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle:

Pay $1 or more to get

  • Retro City Rampage: DX (3DS)
  • Affordable Space Adventures (Wii U)
  • Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (Wii U & 3DS)

Beat the average (right now its $9.57) to get

  • Freedom Planet (Wii U)
  • Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure (3DS)
  • Citizens of Earth (Wii U & 3DS)
  • Retro City Rampage: DX HOME theme (3DS)
  • More games coming soon…

Pay $13 dollars or more and also get 

  • Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Ed ( 3DS)
  • Darksiders II (Wii U)

Just like past Humble Bundles, if you get the top tier you get everything below it. Now is Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Treasure worth $10 dollars? Yes! Now put in games like Freedom Planet and Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, makes this a steal. Check the Humble Bundle for yourself.

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Americas release date revealed for Atlus published THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV

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Earlier this month we shared that Atlus would be publishing SNK Playmore’s THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV in the Americas. While we had a trailer, screens, and a fancy press release, what we did not have was a release date outside the “later in 2016” window. Now, the Atlus website lists August 23, 2016 as the game’s release date. So in another four months fans of the series will have the game in their hands, assuming you live in the Americas.

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Galloping Ghost Arcade’s SEGA Week tournament games revealed

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SEGA Week at Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, IL (just outside Chicago) kicks off today! While we have a lot of fun stuff planned for this Saturday the 30th, dubbed SEGAbits Saturday (which you can read more about here), all week long you can take part in tournaments for ten SEGA arcade games. Simply show up to the arcade, ask the front desk for more information, and start playing. But what will you be playing? That was a mystery… until today.

While we knew there would be some new games added to the arcade as part of the tournament, the big surprise was that all games in the tournament are new to the arcade! Players will battle for the high scores in: The rare SEGA AM2 action game Arabian Fight, the Tetris-like puzzler Bloxeed, the classic puzzle game Columns, Fantasy Zone starring everyone’s favorite Opa Opa, the 2D fighter Golden Axe the Duel, Zaxxon‘s sequel/revision Super Zaxxon and the Westone developed Wonder Boy, the beat ’em up Fist of the North Star, and biggest of all (literally) the sit down deluxe Galaxy Force II! So come on over to Galloping Ghost Arcade all week long for dozens of classic SEGA arcade games and more.

Note: Astro Blaster has been pulled due to technical issues, but will be replaced with another game soon.

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NIS America and Atlus no longer working together to release games in Europe

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MCV is reporting that publisher NIS America will no longer be distributing Japanese Atlus titles to Europe. The reason given is that since SEGA acquired Atlus, it has become harder for NIS America and Atlus to work together. All this comes from NIS America’s managing director Takuro Yamashita who cited the increasing difficulties. As such, Atlus titles will not be published in Europe by NIS America and vice versa for America. Past collaborations between the two companies include distributing games in the Persona series and Etrian Odyssey. Once we learn more we’ll be sure to share it. In the meantime, head over to MCV to read more comments from NIS America.

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