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Yakuza Kenzan could get a Kiwami remake teases producer

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Let’s start this article with a big old Tim Taylor grunt because we got Yakuza Kenzan back in the news. If you never heard of this Yakuza series spin-off, its a samurai themed Yakuza game that features characters from historical Japan’s Edo period and follows legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi (played by Kiryu of course).

In an event in Taipei, Yakuza producer Daisuke Sato was there to celebrate the release of Yakuza 5 PS4 port over in China, which now means the whole Yakuza main series has been released in the region (when are we getting those Yakuza PS4 ports?). At this event people got to ask questions about the future of the franchise.

The following questions were brought up about a possible future Kiwami style remakes. Via Siliconera:

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Crush 40 set to release a new “Ultimate Collection” album in July

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Johnny and Jun are doubling down this year with their own album: Driving Through Forever: The Ultimate Crush 40 Collection, listing all their best hits from the last 20 years. Unlike Maximum Overdrive, which lists multiple artists with Jun Senoue, this is all only Crush 40. There are multiple Internet listings, from Amazon UK to Tower Records JP, ranging for around $25-$30 depending on the seller. Four tracks are already confirmed with classics like: Open Your Heart, Live & Learn, Sonic Heroes, and Green Light Ride.

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Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka promises “The next big year for Sonic is 2021”

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Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka is making the news because he was asked at E3 when the next big year year for Sonic will be, considering that 2017 had us get not only Sonic Forces but Sonic Mania as well. He said:

“2017 was a big year for Sonic,” Iizuka says. “The next big year for Sonic is 2021. That’s the 30-year anniversary for Sonic. We are now preparing.”

When asked if 2021 will bring a game like Sonic Generations, that came out in 2011, Iizuka said “maybe”. What if he is throwing us a curve ball and is actually working on a Sonic Adventure remake? Or would you rather have Sonic Generations 2?

[via: Gamer Informer]

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Alpha Protocol removed from Steam by SEGA, rights to IP going to Obsidian?

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[Edit: It seems that SEGA has updated and said that the reason Alpha Protocol was pulled from Steam was because in-game music license had expired.]

After a decade of SEGA doing nothing with the Alpha Protocol IP, it finally did something. They removed it from digital sales on Steam. Not the type of move I was hoping for and according to SEGA it was due to the ‘rights expiring’.

We don’t know much about what the IP rights for Alpha Protocol where, maybe SEGA had a contract that if they didn’t use the IP after a certain amount of years it reverts back to the developer? Did Microsoft (who now owns Obsidian Software) make a deal with SEGA for the IP? According to PC Gamer, they say that SEGA’s statement about the license expiring aren’t accurate and that SEGA still owns the IP. I thought the original Alpha Protocol was a buggy game, but it had potential to be a big franchise if they followed up the sequels with a more solid made product. Outside of rumors that Microsoft/Obsidian might have made a deal with SEGA for the IP rights, there is also a pattern that when ‘remakes’ of games come out, the publisher pulls the old version of the games from sale (Dark Souls Remake, Darksiders Warmastered).

I also don’t know how I feel about SEGA being so liberal with other publishers making games for their in-house IPs they own including Bayonetta 3, Streets of Rage 4, Panzer Dragoon remakes, Shenmue III, and so on. As much as I like seeing these franchises continue, its bittersweet that it isn’t under SEGA’s publishing arm/funding.

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Project Sakura Wars first gameplay to debut in official live stream on June 26

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SEGA will be hosting a series of ‘Sakura Wars: Imperial Theater Propaganda Department Report’ live streams, with the first official broadcast kicking off on June 26 from 20:00 JST to 21:30 JST (4am-5:30am PST) on YouTube and Periscope.

The stream will reveal new information and show off the first gameplay stream.

The stream will feature:

– Yohei Azakami (Mission Propaganda Department leader / Seijuurou Kamiyama voice actor)
– Misuzu Araki (assistant MC)
– Tetsu Katano (Project Sakura Wars producer)

If you don’t have time to watch the stream, just come here after the whole event and we will have a breakdown on all the new information!

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Shenmue III will only complete 40% of Ryo’s story

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If you funded Shenmue III assuming that we would be getting a closure to a story that we (at least most of us older fans) have been following since early 2000s, but that doesn’t seem the case. We all know that Shenmue was always mean’t to be 11 chapters, but considering budgets and restrains, a lot of us assumed that Yu Suzuki had planned a more condense version of his story. I guess not:

During a interview with USgamer, Yu Suzuki revealed that Shenmue III will be about 40% of Ryo’s story:

“Whole story of this bottle, about here [sic],” Suzuki said via translator. I asked if he meant halfway. “40 percent,”

About the game’s length, Yu Suzuki had this to say in a Reddit AMA:

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Phil Spencer says Phantasy Star Online 2 ‘Will End up on all Platforms’

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This actually happen and was said a few days ago but I was too busy to write it up. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer said while talking to the boys over at Giant Bomb that Phantasy Star Online 2 will end up on multiple platforms including the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4? Please note that there is no Phantasy Star Online 2 that runs native within the Switch, the one released in Japan was actually streaming.

It was so cool to have [Sega] on our stage and work with them. And yes, it’ll end up on all platforms. That’s not the point. To me, the point was to be able to have Sega back on our stage. It’s been a while.

Phil Spencer knows how to sweet talk us SEGA fans, its been awhile since SEGA has taken a big E3 stage especially with Microsoft. When was the last time they had a big presence? During the early Xbox 360 days? You can check out the Giant Bomb Phil Spencer interview above.

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SEGAbits at E3 2019: Mario & Sonic at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Hands-On Preview

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Dakota and Patrick: The 90’s all-star rivalry is back in this year’s version of the Olympic Games, based off the Tokyo 2020 one. The demo had 5 sports: Skateboarding, Surfing, 100 M hurdles, Karate, and Archery. I also would like to note that every game played had motion controls, though some I opted to use buttons only and vice versa. Each one as certainly a fun time, although I personally had a lot more fun than others. Be sure to hit the jump for more information about the game.

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SEGAbits at E3 2019: Judgment Hands-On Preview

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Out of every game at the SEGA booth, Judgment seems to be one of their biggest titles to come out this summer. Taking notes from the Yakuza series, Judgment takes it to another whole new level. Take a look at our hands on experience with the title as Dakota and I solve cases by fighting thugs, yakuza and playing wacky minigames. Be sure to hit the jump to read our hands on experience with Judgment.

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SEGAbits at E3 2019: Catherine Full Body Hands-On Preview

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E3 is going a little more risqué this year with Atlus’s new title: Catherine Full Body. It seems that Vincent’s love triangle isn’t enough, so this new game introduces new elements, new story and cutscenes, and even a new female to woo. With a lot on his plate, Vincent is going back to his nightmares, only this time there are some new tricks up its’ sleeve. To find out more on my hands-on experience with the game, be sure to click the jump.

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Watch 15 minutes of Shenmue III gameplay footage from IGN Japan

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IGN Japan has released two videos showcasing Shenmue III mini-games, training and fighting. The video above features the previously revealed mini-game system of exchanging money for gameplay tokens, and games include lucky hit, turtle racing, a dice game called roll it on top and capsule toys. Despite the runtime of the video, it appears to play twice. After the break, check out practicing and sparring in which Ryo tries out some moves and fights a monk.

The footage very much feels like Shenmue, with sharper visuals of course. Funny how they retained the awkward conversations. What are your thoughts on the new footage? Let us know in the comments below!

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Panzer Dragoon remake coming to Nintendo Switch

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Nintendo’s E3 Direct gave Panzer Dragoon fans a first look at the upcoming remakes, something we covered back in December 2018. The first two games are being remade by Forever Entertainment, and while all platforms have not been revealed, we now know the game will be coming to Nintendo Switch this winter. More information as we hear it, and after the break you can read the original press release!

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Shenmmue III getting Collector’s Edition from Limited Run Games

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First with the news that the PC version is going exclusive to Epic Game Store, now we have another collectors edition announced, which was part of early Kickstarter pledges. But now we have another, actually very cool looking Collector’s Edition being done by Limited Run games that comes with:

  • The Game (pictured above is PC)
  • Phoenix/Dragon Mirror
  • Five clothing Patches from within the game
  • Sickers from art from the game
  • Light box style lamp

The game will only get 4,000 units on PlayStation 4 and 1,000 units made for PC! Deep Silver has confirmed that all physical copies will have Epic Game Store codes. The Collector’s Edition is also only being sold within North America. AYou can ‘unravel the mystery this November’. What are your thoughts? Are you mad that you backed the game early considering it seems a lot of things are changing?

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Corpse Killer getting physical PS4 release by Limited Run Games

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Corpse Killer, a early live action full motion video game for the SEGA CD, SEGA Saturn, SEGA 32X, and 3DO is coming back on PlayStation 4. The game was announced via Limited Run Games live show, which means its getting a physical version. The game is being brought to us by the same people that have done the past Digital Picture re-releases, Screaming Villains,

The game hasn’t gotten a solid release date outside of Q3 2019, but can we expect a October release? What are your thoughts?

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