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Shenmue III is going Epic Store Exclusive on PC

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Shenmue III dropped a new trailer showing off a more completed version of the game, but most people online seemed to be focused on the fact that the trailer showed a Epic Store logo and not a Steam one. As someone that backed the project, I vividly remembered that it said that the PC version would be a Steam key. Will they do what Metro Exodus did and fulfill all Steam pre-orders? Who knows, Shenmue III kickstarter isn’t the best with communication. Here is all they said on it being exclusive:

“The PC Gaming Show just wrapped up with some big news for Shenmue III. The new trailer was unveiled and it was announced Shenmue III for PC will be an Epic Games Store exclusive!“

You would think they would have clarified if all the Kickstarter promised keys would be Epic Game Store keys. It seems the internet is having mixed opinions on this. One side defends the move saying PC gamers just have to download a new launcher, the other side either hates Epic Game Store moves like this or wants the key on Steam as promised for backing the project. As always the PlayStation 4 version will remain unaffected. What do you think?

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Phantasy Star Online 2 is coming to Xbox One and PC in the West

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If you gave up on Phantasy Star Online 2 coming out in the West, Microsoft has swooped in to put a smile on your face. Phantasy Star Online 2 will be coming out West, free-to-play, on the Xbox One console and PC. According to the trailer it is being powered by Microsoft’s cloud service Azure, which makes me assume this will be completely separate from the Japanese version.

There is still a lot to find out, including if this is going to be up to the latest update to the Japanese release and how they will handle strange tie-ins that the Japanese version has gotten. Regardless, we will all be able to team up and destroy creatures with a official English release.

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SEGA and Atlus Announce E3 2019 Line-Up and Show Floor Activities

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E3 is right around the corner next week and SEGA/Atlus has revealed their E3 2019 line up and are ramping up for a packed show filled with unforgettable games and activities to enjoy during the trade show from June 11-13 at Booth #4800 in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Here are the games that will be playable at the show floor.

  • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
  • SEGA Genesis Mini
  • Catherine: Full Body
  • Judgment
  • Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

As for activities, the SEGA/Atlus booth will feature a retro-themed corner with a GIANT, functioning SEGA Genesis controller as seen in SEGA FES, in door rock-climbing, free swag, and a dedicated Catherine: Full Body Experience! event. Fellow SEGAbits writer, Dakota, and I will bring you full coverage at E3 with our hands-on impressions next week. Read the full press release after the break.

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Data Discs announces Sonic the Hedgehog CD vinyl – available to pre-order now!

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Data Discs is retuning to the world of Sonic the Hedgehog soundtracks with an impressive 3XLP release of Sonic the Hedgehog CD. Available to pre-order now and shipping September 2019, the release will feature the original Japanese score composed by Naofumi Hataya and Masfumi Ogata, newly remastered. The release will present the soundtrack in the game’s time zones, meaning “present”, “good future”, “past” and “bad future” will all be lumped together. The release will be accompanied by three double-sided art prints, liner notes from Naofumi Hataya, and a bespoke etching design on Side F of the soundtrack. There will also be a download code for lossy and lossless digital versions of the soundtrack. The release will be in three editions: 180g Clear Vinyl w/ Blue & Green + Sonic Blue Etched Disc (Limited Edition), 180g Sonic Blue Vinyl + Etched Disc, and 180g Classic Black Vinyl + Etched Disc.

Per the official pre-order site: Pre-orders for the limited edition will remain open until Monday 17th June (closing at 12:00pm UK time). Anyone who orders before then will be guaranteed a copy. The expected shipping date is September 2019.

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Seeking Art Submissions: Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog charity fanzine seeks to help Robotnik designer Milton Knight

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For those who don’t know, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog character designer Milton Knight – who is famously known for creating the design of Robotnik for the series – had fallen on hard times in 2018 with an eviction from his longtime home, which itself was riddled with substandard living conditions. In 2019, things got worse as Milton was a victim of a hate crime and was assaulted. I personally have had a long history with Milton, purchasing some art from him ten years ago which led to a correspondence where we discussed his work on Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, my personal favorite Sonic cartoon, and his art.

In an attempt to raise funds for Milton in his time of need, a fan named Harper plans to release a charity fanzine (fan made magazine) of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog inspired art. Harper tells me that he is “attempting to unite the talented artists as a force of good to create an AOSTH-themed Zine” and that “proceeds from this zine will be donated to Milton Knight’s gofund me”. The submission details, also found after the break, can be seen here: https://aosthzine.tumblr.com

As a fan of Milton and Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, I urge other fans to spread the word of the fanzine. Best of luck to Harper and his efforts!

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SEGA stopping Border Break arcade support a decade after launch

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SEGA has just announced that they will officially close support for Border Break in arcades, the SEGA-AM2 game launched way back on September 9, 2009 on the RingEdge arcade board.

According to SEGA’s financial reports on the game, as of March 2012 it has grossed over $100 million dollars for SEGA, so its no surprised that it was still being updated till this day. The last ‘rename’ update the game got was Border Break X Zero back in 2017. Border Break will still live on considering that a PlayStation 4 free-to-play version of the game launched in Japan last year. What about us here in the West?

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SEGA AGES Virtua Racing and Wonder Boy: Monster Land set to release June 27 in the Americas and Europe

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SEGA has officially announced that the next Nintendo Switch SEGA AGES titles, Virtua Racing and Wonder Boy: Monster Land, are due to hit the Nintendo eShop on June 27. Virtua Racing promises improved framerate, greater draw distance, online matchmaking, leaderboards, a new replay mode and up to 8-player local multiplayer.

Wonder Boy: Monster Land will feature the ability to restart after a game over with the same gear, as well as three new challenge modes, online leaderboards, replay function and a “Money Hungry Mode”. The “Money Hungry Mode” replicates a bug from the original game that allows players to increase the value of hidden gold by shaking the joystick back and forth.

The games will retail for $7.99 each. Will you be picking up one or both? Which one are you most excited for? Sound off in the comments below!

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SEGA News Bits: Final 12 SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini Games Revealed

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The SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini surprised us with not 10 final games revealed, but a dozen games! That makes a total of 42 games on the plug and play console. On this SEGA News Bits, George and Barry run through the full lineup, share their thoughts on the new reveals and discuss some interesting accessories.

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Final 12 Mega Drive/Genesis Mini Lineup Revealed Including Darius MD and Tetris, Accessories

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It’s the last 10– no wait… 12! Yes, the last 12 games set for the SEGA Genesis Mini and the SEGA Mega Drive Mini in all territories. SEGA has recently showcased on their most recent livestream the remaining games in the collection along with some other tidbits on accessories you can purchase for your miniature system including a carrying case as well as the ability to “dress up” your system in the tower of power with an attachable (non-functioning) SEGA CD and 32X units along with miniature cartridges of Sonic 1 and Sonic & Knuckles (Actual games not included) to your system. The last two games, Darius MD and Tetris appear as special bonus games. Darius’s inclusion is notable in that this conversion was never before produced and the mini system features official support from the Tetris Company to include the ultra rare Mega Drive conversion of SEGA’s Arcade Tetris.

[Source: SEGA of America Twitter, SEGA Mega Drive Mini Livestream]

Click below to reveal the last remaining titles in the line up as well as pictures of the accessories shown during the livestream.

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Shenmue III delayed to November 19, 2019

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Today, Shenmue III Kickstarter backers received a simple update informing them that the game would be delayed from August 27, 2019 to November 19, 2019. The message also said: “Whilst almost ready, the game simply needs a little more refinement before being truly finished. We feel that the extra time we have will help us deliver the true Shenmue experience players around the world deserve!”

A delay felt almost inevitable, given how little press has gone out for a game that was to be due out in less than three months. At least it isn’t a significant delay, just a little under three months tacked on to the release date. I will admit, I think the content of the updates and lack of any real behind the scenes information has been really disappointing. I don’t doubt that the game is being worked on and will release within 2019, but the amount of information shared with backers and the interaction between the development team and supporters has been really underwhelming. Hopefully as November nears, we learn and see a lot more of the game and see the supposed trial version.

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Unreleased beta for SEGA Saturn game Star Wars: Rebel Strike uncovered!

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Thanks to a post on the Obscure Gamers forum, we have our first look at an unreleased Star Wars game from SEGA for the SEGA Saturn! It has long been known that SEGA had planned a port of their Star Wars Trilogy Arcade game for the Saturn (a game I actually played through just yesterday at the Galloping Ghost Arcade). But in addition to this, SEGA had planned another game exclusive to the console. Titled Star Wars: Rebel Strike, gaming magazines at the time guessed that the game would be an amalgamation of all three Star Wars films, though that sounds very much like what Star Wars Trilogy Arcade already was. My guess is journalists confused the two projects for one, as the recently released beta footage for Rebel Strike shows a very different game.

The footage shows a speeder bike with lock-on targeting, and while free roaming it does very much resemble SEGA’s on-rails shooter Panzer Dragoon. Personally, I think it looks like Luxoflux’s Star Wars: Demolition. It is unknown who exactly developed this, and if it was truly internally developed by SEGA, but based on the test menu mentioning the name “Scott” I’m going to guess it was developed in the west. We’ll be sure to share more information as it is uncovered! It’s very cool to see another Star Wars game uncovered, especially for the SEGA Saturn which lacked any Star Wars games in its library.

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Sonic Mania will be free for PlayStation Plus users this June

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Did you buy Sonic Mania on every platform besides the PlayStation 4? You are in luck if you are a PlayStation Plus user since Sonic Mania, the base game, will be free to play this June. Looks like SEGA is hoping users spend some bucks on the ‘Plus’ DLC. Kinda strange that Sonic Mania Plus wasn’t given away on PlayStation Plus, that would have made a nice headline. I guess two positives do equal a negative.

How many of you guys haven’t played Sonic Mania yet? I doubt there are very many of you.

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SEGA Talk #19: Sonic Adventure (1998)

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SEGA Talk returns to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise with Sonic’s first 3D platformer: Sonic Adventure! George and Barry discuss the Dreamcast classic from development to release, sharing little known factoids and their own memories of the game.

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SEGA’s Fish Life Preserved at Musée Bolo in Switzerland, Publically Released

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The Dreamcast based virtual aquarium, Fish Life, has been given new life thanks to Musée Bolo, the Switzerland based video game museum. Thanks to approval from SEGA of Europe, they have also allowed for the release of the disc images that would run on on the specialized hardware. To help show off the hardware in a broader sense, the museum has also crafted a webpage full of valuable resources that cover this uncommon part of SEGA’s Amusement history.

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PtoPOnline Reveals Climax’s Prototype Footage of Unreleased Crazy Taxi Game

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If you haven’t been following the YouTube channel PtoPOnline run by Andrew Borman, you’re missing out on a channel that shows games that were cancelled, in-development or purely conceptual. As is the case for a video recently uploaded showcasing Climax’s development of a Crazy Taxi game, Crazy Taxi Twenty Four – Seven. The purpose of the video isn’t fully known nor how far the deal between Climax and SEGA proceeded, however the video was likely a demonstration to be shown to SEGA that outlines the general workflow of the game’s development had they decided to proceed with the project. Climax, now known as Climax Studios who are into VR development these days, are more famous for titles such as Sudeki on the original Xbox as well as the developer behind Silent Hill titles such as Silent Hill: Origins and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories.

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