SEGA / Namco / Capcom Project teaser site gets updated


We already know that SEGA was teaming up with Namco-Bandai and Capcom to develop a 3DS game. What will be in the game? We don’t know. They are very tight lipped at the moment. The teaser site they created has now been updated. Even though we haven’t posted about the teaser site, all it is right now is a flash site with petri dishes of each publisher. When you click on a petri dish you get to see 5 chromosomes for each publisher. Each has a unique color.

[SEGA’s chromosomes from the teaser site]

Could the unique color chromosomes be hinting at something? Maybe what ‘retro’ characters are going to be used? Capcom and Namco-Bandai have teamed up on the PS2 before and what they released was Namco x Capcom. A Tactical RPG hybrid game. That one didn’t fare too well in Japan with Famitsu giving it 28/40. What do you guys think?

Akira Yuki might not be the only Virtua Fighter to crossover to Dead or Alive 5


It was announced a few days ago that Dead or Alive 5 would be adding Virtua Fighter‘s Akira Yuki to their roster. According to the latest Famitsu interview with Team Ninja boss Yousuke Hayashi, he actually had to fight for SEGA to approve Akria as a guest character. So this means that the team went out of their way to make this happen. Team Ninja isn’t the only big developer that have wanted Virtua Fighter cross-over. Namco have also talked in interviews of their desires of doing a Virtua Fighter x Tekken title.

He says since they went through all this trouble of bringing Akira on board, that he won’t be the only character announced. Yousuke Hayashi doesn’t go into details if he even means the other planned crossover characters are SEGA related at all, but we all know that DOA has a tag-teamed style gameplay. Don’t be surprise if they announce a couple of other Virtua Fighter characters to join the roster.

Oh, for Virtua Fighter fans, Yousuke Hayashi says that Akira gameplay is mostly unchanged from VF5. At least you know some combos going into Dead or Alive 5.  But guess what? Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown is set to hit PSN and XBLA arcade. That title has all the Virtua Fighter characters. That one wins.

SEGA’s K-On! After School Live joins the list of PSP games remastered for PS3

[Above: Original PSP version of the game ]

If you have not heard of the PSP Remastered thing that Sony announced last year, they basically enhance the visuals and sound of PSP games and put them on PS3. One of the first games announced was Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and it looks like a nice upgrade.

So now SEGA is jumping on the train and announced their first title for the PSP remastered program. K-On! After School Live!! HD Ver. Yep, not a Valkyria Chronicles game, something that PS3 fans have been wanting for a long time.  Why give us that, you guys want some HD underage anime girls.

 
The game is set to be released in early summer. Will support stereoscopic 3D, multiplayer via Adhoc Party and game-sharing with the original PSP title.

Yakuza social game coming to Android and iPhone by the end of the month

 

SEGA announced that they where working on Yakuza Kizuna, a game for the popular GREE social gaming platform in Japan. Today SEGA Japan has released the first details and screens of the game.

The game will be a card battling game where you have to build your collection of character cards by battling and using synthesis. You will have to create alliances with other plays and work together to defeat bosses and other powerful opponents. Yakuza Kizuna takes place in good old Kamurocho.

The title will be released on March 26th, only on iPhone/iPod Touch and Android. Basic play is free. Even though its Japan only (so far) it looks fairly simple to play. SEGA should port this to America to promote Yakuza: Dead Souls!

Alexandria Bloodshow announced, sequel to Samurai Bloodshow

SEGA has announced a iPhone sequel to the popular Samurai Bloodshow. This new title is called Alexandria Bloodshow and is set 3,000 years in the past. In this title you will take command of Egyptian or Greek armies and battle around Aegean. The iOS app is due to be released this spring.

If you never played the older title, Samurai Bloodshow, it is now on sale for 99 cents. Lucky you.

Reconfirmed: SEGA is no longer publishing Marvel games

I woke up this morning seeing a bunch of sites reporting that SEGA was no longer publishing Marvel games, as if this was a new discovery. Sadly, SEGA had confirmed this in an interview with Alan Pritchard for Game Informer back in December of 2010. In that interview he said that SEGA was not going to be publishing Marvel games after Thor and Captain America.
Now lets go forward to 2012, this is making rounds as something new. It isn’t. Old news, new mouth. Earlier today HollywoodReporter posted an interview with Marvel’s TQ Jefferson. TQ Jefferson is vp games production for Marvel, when asked if SEGA was going to publish any further Marvel properties he responded with.

“There are no current plans for additional Marvel games to be published by Sega.”

Again, nothing new. But hey, now we got it confirmed by both SEGA and Marvel.

Rhythm Thief demo hitting Nintendo eShop on April 19th

If you can’t wait to try this unique and quirky title, well, thats too bad. A demo won’t be hitting the eShop until April 19th. This is too long of a wait for myself. But hey, at least we get a demo.

The game is schduled to come out in North America on March 31st, in Europe on April 5th.

Looks like Crush3D might be delayed a week

Did you know that Crush3D was supposed to drop yesterday? Usually SEGA ships games on the day of release and they don’t get to retailers till the day after. Usually today, but reports are flooding in that the game might have been delayed. Again, SEGA is basically sending this game out to get murdered since they haven’t really posted news about it at all. Great job on this one SEGA, could have at least taken 20 seconds out and posted something on twitter.

Not only that, Gamestop has the game listed for the budget price of $19.99, not the regular $39.99. If SEGA can promote it on their social services at least that it’s a budget title game, it might get some people to go out and buy it. But a success? We’ll see.

This is how Samurai & Dragons plays on Vita

Above is Japanese footage for the Playstation Vita title called Samurai & Dragons. Taking up development for the title is Masayoshi Kikuchi, one of the masterminds behind the Yakuza franchise. Game mixes Western and Japanese by allowing you to be a knight, samurai or many of the other playable classes.

The game mixes RTS and dungeon crawling. Basically to get resources a user goes into a dungeon crawling level then build up their empire via the RTS sections. Yeah, reminds me a lot of the free game they launched on the iPhone last year called Kingdom Conquest.  No news if the game is coming West.

Virtua Fighter’s Akira Yuki Playable in Dead or Alive 5

Akira Yuki of Virtua Fighter has been announced to be a guest character in Dead or Alive 5. Could this be an early sign of Virtua Fighter X DOA? Akira’s addition marks the first time that the Dead or Alive franchise has added a character from another fighting game to their roster. studio head of Team NINJA Yosuke Hayashi said, “Gamers will have an opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable battle with an esteemed competitor in Akira Yuki set in the Dead or Alive environment. This year will prove to be an amazing one for our loyal fighting fans as we are delivering a fantastic fighting game that can only been experienced in Dead or Alive 5.”

This SEGA fanboy says: Hayashi failed to note that an even more fantastic fighting game known as Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown is set for release this year.

Expect DOA5 to release this year to the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3. Once you buy VF5: Final Showdown, you are allowed to purchase DOA5.

Total War Series Goes Mobile

Real time strategy series Total War will enter the mobile world with Total War Battles. The game will be handled by Total War Digital, a new Creative Assembly team. Total War Battles lead designer Renaud Charpentier says that the game “isn’t the traditional Total War you might expect, we are working on a title that is specifically tailored to the play styles and control methods of mobile platforms. We want to deliver a game that plays to the strengths of handheld RTS mechanics, and perfectly adapts to a host of different platforms.” Platforms have yet to be announced, however iOS and Android are a given. The question is, will the title also see a release to the Vita and 3DS?

Jet Set Radio gets first gameplay trailer


The boys and girls over at Game Radar got an exclusive Jet Set Radio HD trailer, sadly the trailer isn’t running in high defenintion. Game Radar is showing giving this exclusive video the 2008 era YouTube quality love.

For what it seems, looks like the Jet Set Radio we all know and love. Doesn’t answer the questions we really want to know like if they are going to use the second joystick on controllers to move the camera or if they are going to be taking off tracks from the soundtrack.

Five Things You May Not Have Known About Jet Set Radio

While I may write about Sonic a lot, my favorite SEGA franchise is actually Jet Set Radio. Ever since playing the original game in 2000, my perception of games has never been the same. Jet Set Radio was more than just a fun game, it was an experience. It introduced me to a world that oozed with color, funky music and over the top characters and settings. Unlike Sonic, however, the Jet Set Radio franchise is insanely small. All fans really have to soak up are two great games, a fun handheld title and the upcoming port. Articles about the series are rare, and the amount of Jet Set Radio merchandise produced could easily fill a small shelf. As a tribute to my favorite SEGA game, I thought I’d increase the web article count by one with five things about Jet Set Radio that the regular SEGA fan may not know about. If, after reading this weekly five, you have learned nothing then consider yourself a Jet Set Radio super fan!

Sonic 4 Episode 2 American and European Website Gets Huge Update!

When I criticized the SEGA West Sonic 4 website, I didn’t think SEGA would answer my complaints! Okay, so it wasn’t actually my article that brought about the update, but it’s great to see SEGA bringing a bit more epicness and unity to the Sonic 4 site. When visiting the site you’ll find that the world map as seen in Episode 1 has expanded to the right to include Episode 2. Could this mean the maps connect when you have both games on your device? SEGA also gives a little backstory and attempts to connect the two episodes. Apparently Eggman was searching for something in Lost Labyrinth, and Mad Gear was built to do something for some purpose beyond just being an homage to Metropolis Zone. And yes, Sonic CD fans, the ominous planet floating above the Episode 2 screens IS Little Planet. Head on over to the site and click around!

Does Sega have a new game coming?…Hell Yeah!

Today, Sega announces “Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit” a new downloadable game from Arkedo Studios, the developers behind Big Bang Mini and Nervous Brickdown. The game looks to be a heavily (but comically) violent 2-D action game set in the depths of hell. Drag your mouse over to read more about this game and see an ultra violent trailer. “The rabbit is coming! You better start running!”