Play Company of Heroes 2 for free this weekend

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If you have wanted to try Company of Heroes 2 before you purchase it, you now can. SEGA is holding another ‘free to play’ weekend over at Steam. You will be able to play the full game, including the multiplayer during the weekend for absolutely nothing.

If you have steam, you can install it by clicking here

If the game hooks its addictive hooks into you, you will be able to purchase the game at 66% off. Only costing you $13.59. So what are you waiting for? Give the game a shot.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed now free on mobile devices

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SEGA has dropped Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed‘s mobile price down to $0.00 (£0.00 in Great Britain), making the game now a free-to-play title. “Sonic & All Star Racing Transformed is now FREE!”, says the game’s revised description, “If you previously bought the game you still have the VIP Pass for FREE.” The game itself is quite an impressive port of the game, easily beating out the 3DS version when it comes to resolution, framerate and bugs, which the 3DS suffered from. You can download the game today from the App Store or from Google Play. Also of note, both versions now support Everyplay, which allows players to record and share video clips of favorite gameplay moments.

Tom Keil, Regional Sales Manager for Sega Amusements, dies at 63

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Sad news for SEGA arcade fans today, as we learned via Vending Times that Tom Keil, a regional sales manager for Sega Amusements since 2002, has passed away after a battle with cancer. President and COO at Sega Amusements Paul Williams had this to say about Tom: “It is a sad time for us all with the passing of my friend and work colleague, Tom Keil. He was a man admired by many for his integrity, passion for life and sense of goodness. Everyone [who] knew him or met him was touched by the generosity of his nature and personality.”

US General Manager at Sega Amusements Peter Gustafson also shared his thoughts: “Tom put up a valiant and courageous fight against cancer for more than three years. Throughout his ordeal, he never allowed his condition stop or slow him down. His unwillingness to let his disease define him was an inspirational example of how to live fully regardless of the circumstances life hands you.”

Donations in Tom Keil’s honor can be made to The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke Duke University Medical Center (DUMC 3624, Durham, NC 27710) or The Caring House (2625 Pickett Rd., Durham, NC 27705).

Could SEGA and Google’s Street View be joining forces for a Sonic competition?

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The Sonic Stadium have uncovered an interesting mobile game entitled The Search for Sonic’s Sidekick. Proposed as a collaboration between SEGA and Google’s Street View, the game was discovered in slides from DDB Tribal ad agency artist Michael Nagy’s website. The game appears to be a word wide competition in which fans create an anthropomorphic avatar and race their character around Google Street Views of twelve cities. Players log their best times to a leaderboard and the fastest player would win the chance to see their character in the next Sonic game. The competition is said to visit a new city each month.

The official description is as follows:

We have created an online game using Google Street view where you compete to become Sonic’s sidekick. Your online avatar will be in the next game that is produced for Sonic. The competition will run for 11 months and move to a different city every month across the globe. The cities include Tokyo, Hong Kong, Berlin, Paris, London, Cape Town, Toronto, New York, San Francisco, Rio De Janeiro and Sydney.

It is unknown if this is a leak of an upcoming competition, perhaps in time for Sonic’s anniversary, or if it is simply a proposal by DDB Tribal that SEGA passed on. Once we learn more, we’ll be sure to share it!

Jet Set Radio inspired “Hover : Revolt Of Gamers” Kickstarter begins – stretch goal features Hideki Naganuma music

Back in January, a trailer was released for a game entitled Hover : Revolt Of Gamers, and while not SEGA developed or published, the game was clearly inspired by a certain cel shaded Dreamcast classic featuring magnetically driven in-line skates. Created by French indie developer Fusty Game, Hover : Revolt Of Gamers is an open world freerun/parkour game inspired by Jet Set Radio and Mirror’s Edge. Like many indie games these days, the developers have turned to Kickstarter in an effort to fund the game, and at only 1 day into the campaign they’ve already amassed 20k of the 38k goal. Impressive!

Set to appear on PC/Mac/Linux, XboxOne/PS4, as well as the Wii U if a stretch goal is met ($100,000), Hover intends to feature “a fun and cartoon style”, “immersive and dynamic sensations”, a “grandiose and technologic environment”, and (if a $60,000 stretch goal is met) original music tracks from Hideki Naganuma of Jet Set Radio fame!

So parkour on over to their Kickstarter page and pledge your support today!

Sonic Jump Fever now available to download from the Canadian App Store

Update: It has been noted that this is a soft launch for the game to the Canadian App Store, which would explain why those elsewhere are unable to find it in their region’s app store.

How’s this for a surprise release? A sequel to Sonic Jump, entitled Sonic Jump Fever, has appeared out of nowhere on the iOS App Store! The App Store description reads: “Prepare to feel the FEVER in an explosive race against the clock! Join Sonic and friends in high-speed bursts of vertical jumping mayhem. Play for free and rack up huge combos to blast past your friends’ high scores. Use boosters, upgrades, unique character abilities and Chao pets to maximize your score. Then kick your game into overdrive with Fever Mode and hit the top of the Leaderboard! With brand new levels and leaderboards every week, the challenge never ends!”

The game, which is free to download, features “an all-new Sonic Jump experience” with a Fever Mode that causes the player to “enter hyper-speed” to earn combos. The sequel also features weekly challenges, new levels, new upgrades, and the ability to recruit Chao to help you beat badniks, and search for hidden rings and abilities.

As mentioned, you can download the game today – give it a try and let us know what you think!

Presenting the My Life with SEGA: The Next Level/No Limits VCD Trailer!

In January we premiered the My Life with SEGA short film No Limits and announced a special Video CD release of the short film, and the previous My Life with SEGA short film The Next Level, featuring a retro SEGA CD Saturn plastic box design. In anticipation of the upcoming release, A.J. has put together a slick trailer featuring clips from the short films and reviews (Panzer Dragoon, Panzer Dragoon Zwei, Panzer Dragoon Saga, and Virtual-On) as well as VCD package shots.

Stay tuned to SEGAbits for details on how to get your hands on the release! In the meantime, why not binge watch Season 2 of My Life with SEGA?

Fantasy Zone Collection to be re-released for PS3 tomorrow in Japan. Get Ready!

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SEGA AGES 2500: Fantasy Zone Collection returns to the PlayStation 3 and is scheduled to be released in Japanese PSN store tomorrow on April 16th. The compilation features a new “remake” of Fantasy Zone II to look similar to it’s Sega System 16 counterpart plus ten other Fantasy Zone games.

SEGA also included expert replays to view and an option to save your own replays. Similar to other Sega Ages 2500 titles, there is a gallery mode with promotional materials & manuals including a sound test mode.

The game will cost 1,500 yen ($15 in US and 10 Euro in Europe). You can purchase the title with a Japanese PSN account and cash cards from the internet such as EBay or an online import store.

 

3D Outrun to have two new BGM, new car and more!

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In the second wave of 3D SEGA classics, Outrun will return on the Nintendo 3DS in stereoscopic 3D along with a virtual Deluxe Version. SEGA and M2 has also included brand new additions to 3D Outrun.

One of the newest additions for the game are two BGM pieces such as “Cruising Line” from Black Rock Shooter: The Game  by composer Manabu Namiki and “Camino ami Amor” from Jane-Evelyn Nisperos.

Another few additions is a new car colored in green, five goals, and four other customization parts. 3D Outrun will be released in Japan on April 23rd. Hit the jump for the images.

Segalization’s Q&A with UDON Entertainment Available for Viewing!

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It’s finally here! Our Q&A with UDON’s Matt Moylan is available for viewing at Segalization. Click here to check out the informative Q&A session on UDON’s work with a variety of SEGA properties.

I’d like to thank Segalization contributor SuperSonicEX for reaching out to UDON, Matt Moylan, Stacy King and the rest of UDON for being willing to participate, SEGAbits and its readers for their participation in this effort by submitting their own questions, and my fellow Segalization colleagues for their help in making the final article possible.

We hope you enjoy reading the Q&A!

The Cave decends into the Humble Mobile Bundle 5

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Got extra cash and want six Android games including the SEGA published ‘The Cave‘? What if I told you that your cash would help charity? Now its your time to help people out and pocket a few good mobile games while you are at it. Humble Mobile Bundle 5 has been announced and as of today it includes:

At least a dollar pledged:

  • Bag it
  • R-Type II
  • Aralon: Sword and Shadow

Beat the average (right now only $3.80):

  • The Cave
  • The Room Two
  • Carcassonne
  • More to be announced later

If you guys want to give money check it out right here. You can also check out our PC review of The Cave as well.

The REAL “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog” Tails voice actor speaks up!

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Back in December of 2013, fans of the early 90’s cartoon Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog were saddened to learn that actor Christopher Evan Welch, the man credited as voicing Miles “Tails” Prower, had passed away. However, soon after the news hit, several fans noted a discrepancy with the actor’s age and the obvious child-like voice of Tails. Christopher Evan Welch was 28 in 1993, there’s no way he could have pulled off such a voice. I decided to find out if Evan Welch was indeed the voice actor of Tails, and after a few e-mails with friends of the actor and a call to Evan Welch’s agent in New York, I came to the conclusion that Christopher Evan Welch did NOT voice Tails. But if he didn’t, then that meant another actor did, and it was possible that the REAL Christopher Welch was still out there.

Castle of Illusion HD free to Playstation Plus members starting tomorrow

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Castle of Illusion
is an HD ‘remake’ of the popular SEGA Genesis title Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse and if you haven’t picked this title up, you will soon be able to play it for free. US Playstation Plus subscribers will be able to download and play the game for free as long as they continue to pay for the service.

If you download the game before April 28th, you will also get a copy of the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version for free as well (which used to be a pre-order bonus). The game will be added to Sony’s ‘Instant Collection’, meaning it will be free to download for a long time.

SEGA to promote Hatsune Miku Project Diva F 2nd at MomoCon 2014 *UPDATE* Question submissions will end on May 10th!

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UPDATE: Questions submissions will end on May 10th, be sure to leave a comment!
SEGA of America will be attending at this year’s MomoCon, an Anime and Gaming Convention in Georgia, promoting their upcoming game, Hatsune Miku Project Diva F 2nd, which is scheduled to be released this fall for PlayStation 3 and PS Vita in North America and Europe. SEGA will also host a panel for the title. Other titles may also be in the cards at the convention, but none have yet to be announced as of now.

SEGAbits will be attending this year’s MomoCon covering the convention floors and SEGA’s Hatsune Miku panel. We will also have an exclusive interview with SOA’s Associate Brand Manager, Aaron Webber at the convention center about the game.

If anyone has any questions for him regarding the title, please leave a comment for us below or leave questions on our very own forums or Segalization’s.

SEGA’s Console-tan’s starring in a new anime project

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Anime News Network reports SEGA’s greenlighting of an anime series for the SEGA Hard Girls project. The posting includes the voice actresses for all of the characters, which piece of hardware they represent, a catchphrase and a small paragraph that briefly describes the hardware.

Many of you may already be familiar with SEGA’s console-tan’s or the SEGA Hard Girls project. For those unaware, it features anthropomorphized female depictions of various SEGA hardware. The featured hardware ranges consoles and memory devices but also includes lesser-known devices like the Tera Drive. The glossy art style may seem familiar – that’s because Vocaloid artist KEI worked on these characters. They’ve been in all sorts of media – from Samurai and Dragons as cards to a novel series in Dengeki Bunko Magazine.

Siliconera also composed a writeup that makes note of interesting pieces of trivia. The Mega Drive 2 is noted as being shorter than the Mega Drive, referring to the successor being less bulky than the original. Genesis, the name for the Mega Drive in America, is a separate character and is cowgirl-themed. Commentor s07195 notes that the catchphrases are also self-referential jokes: for example, the Dreamcast’s catchphrase is “We’re always connected!” which refers to the system’s online capabilities, and the Game Gear’s catchphrase is “I’m tired…” which refers to the Game Gear quickly eating up battery life.

Check out SEGA’s official website for the SEGA Hard Girls project here. The third clickable button on the index (with a darker blue star next to it) located on the left is the character section, which allows you to quickly browse through the different characters’ profiles.