Shining Hearts coming out this winter

The game is hitting Japanese store shelves on December 2nd for ¥6,279 ($74).

If you pre-order it you get a pirate fan disc that will include a soundtrack with song samples, voice collection, PC and PSP wallpapers, and a high resolution video of the game’s opening cinematic. Sorry, no Disney movie starring Johnny Depp.

This is the part in the article where I write “This is a fake Shining game, this is a fake Shining game.”

[Source: AndriaSang via: SegaShiro]

SEGA teases Yakuza announcement


If you are going to tease something on the launch of the Dreamcast, it best be Dreamcast related. SEGA has updated their site and said there is follow up information on September 9th. Hopefully its a title for the game or maybe that its really Shenmue 3. That would work.

Whatever it is, we will get back to you on the 9th with some Dreamcast articles and Yakuza news.

[Source: AndriaSang]

Phantasy Portable 2: Infinity scans and info

Just like I predicted before, Phantasy Star Portable 2: Infinity is going to be an updated version of Phantasy Star Portable 2. The new game will have a extended story that will introduce a new character named Nagisa. She is part of the new race called Dyunmans, the game’s fifth selectable race.

Every race is going to be getting new outfits in the upcoming expansion. SEGA is also introducing the character reincarnation system, it will let players reset their character’s level and build up other stats. The game will also feature ‘Infinity Mode’, a harder difficultly settling.

Infinity will also have a visual lobby, cell phone style text input system, screenshot utility, and a tag mode mission code sharing thing. It says that there will be about 1.5x more content than Phantasy Star Portable 2. Damn, just bring this west and cancel PSP2!

More scans after the jump!

Yakuza PSP lets you collect cats and Idol cards


Early in Black Panther: New Yakuza Chapter (prologue) a man will ask you to find him 101 cats. So when you play the game, you will be able to hear cats, if you investigate and find them. You can bring them back to their owner and get a cash reward. Feels good not punching someone in the face for money!

As for Idol cards, when you are walking around Kamurocho you will be approached by Idol managers who want to promote their upcoming Idols. They will give you promo cards, each Idol has 6 cards. Each Idol is a real girl, who are also trying to become an Idol in real life. Sounds a bit sexy.

[Source: Andriasang]

Sonic Colors introduces multiplayer mode?


Amazon.com has posted some in-game screenshots of the upcoming Sonic Colors on their product page. All well and good, but what is up with the picture above?

Some say it could be co-op mode, others think its time trial. I think it might be a 2 player racing mode, in the vain of Sonic 2’s multiplayer mode. Should have just switched red Sonic to Tails. But then people would complain its not ‘Sonic only’.

[Thanks: Dr. SEGA Monkey ]

Is Yakuza coming to an end?

This was in the newest issue of Famitsu, teasing ‘The End’ to the Yakuza franchise? Maybe its just teasing what the upcoming title will revolve around. Maybe it will have destructible environments?

It could be anything, I just hope that SEGA does not pull a Hideo Kojima with this series and start teasing the same promises with every title (wasn’t his last MGS title like 3 titles ago?).

We shall see at TGS next month. How exciting.

[Thanks: Suzuki Yu]

Vanquish Pre-Order DLC Trailer

Slide into action with Vanquish from Platinum Games, pre-order the pack from specific retailers to get pre-order downloadable content in the form of the Tri-Weapon Pack!

Pre-order Available At Amazon – UK.

Valkyria Chronicles II story trailer

1935 was the year of Gallia in Valkyria Chronicles. Valkyria Chronicles II brings Gallia into yet another battle. This time it is a battle against the Gassenarl family in the year 1937. Students from the Lanseal Royal Military Academy have to step up and protect their homeland in battle because the forces of Gallia are already stretched thin from other battles.

The trailer also displays a release date of August 31st, 2010.

Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity incoming

While us Americans are still waiting for Phantasy Star Portable 2, Japan already getting the budget version. Someone got their budget copy early and posted this image online.

It says that your save data from Phantasy Star Portable 2 will work with the upcoming Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity. No information outside of that. It seems that SEGA will take the Capcom route with the Monster Hunter PSP games. Good luck.

[Thanks: STORM!]

Japanese Sonic Colors pre-order item

Sonic Colors will be released in Japan on November 18th for both DS and Wii. There has also been a pre-order items for Japan announced and its a tie in item with the kids arcade card game Rekishi Taisen Gettenka.

That is right, a awesome looking holographic card is what you get if you pre-order the game. The card has Utsuke Nobunaga and Sonic. If you use the card in the game, it will summon Sonic to use. Pretty neat.

[Source: GoNintendo]

Phantasy Star II coming to the iPhone!

One month ago SEGA brought iPhone and iPod Touch owners Shining Force. This Thursday the SEGA RPG love continues with the release of Phantasy Star II! For just $2.99 the classic game will be fully playable, running on the same emulator as previous games. However, unlike games that require precise controls and fail on SEGA’s Genesis emulator (I’m looking at you, Sonic 2), Phantasy Star II is promised to be a smooth experience as the game itself does not require fast timing or a fast frame rate.

Here’s hoping that we get more SEGA RPGs in the coming months!

[Source: TouchArcade and The Nomad Junkyard]

Rumor: SEGA working on Valkyria Chronicles 3?


Even though its not a ‘omg its real’ find, someone at NeoGAF did a whois search for Valkyria3.jp and it turns out its  owned by SEGA. SEGA buys names all the time, but sometimes we find out about upcoming games by what domains they buy.

Take for example Sonic Colours (or colors) was found due to a domain. So I guess it does happen, but that is why its always filed as a rumor. I hope if its true, its on PS3.

Shogun 2 In-game footage

Here is an in-game presentation of the newest Total War game, Shogun 2:Total War. The video isn’t the best quality but you can understand the jist of it.

In the video the presenter speaks about their new engine as well as the effects it can do. He also mentions the staggering number of units on screen, a possible 56 thousand! Finally engaging in a large scale land battle.

This is very impressive tech even at this pre-alpha stage.

Dreamcast still thinking at Gamescom 2010

Its already 2010 and the Dreamcast just won’t quit, thanks to the guys over at redspotgames. This is their booth at Gamescom, they have a Dreamcast set up with some of their published games on it to play, sitting next to it is a 360 and Wii.

Redspotgames is working on bringing titles to other platforms, but does not mean they will stop supporting the Dreamcast. They have plans and sadly it is too early to know what those plans are, can’t wait.

[Source: Redspotgames]