Sonic Dash Extreme arcade machine trailer released

Sega Amusements has released a trailer showing off Sonic Dash Extreme to potential vendors.

Yes, the recent trend of game creators making arcade machines out of their hit mobile games keeps rolling on. This arcade cabinet conversion of Sonic Dash allows vendors to set it up for either ticket redemption or just for fun.

Sonic Dash Extreme features a 55″ HD screen, leaderboards, and a giant-sized d-pad controller. You’ll find Sonic joined by Eggman, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, Cream, Rouge, Silver & Blaze.

If you were a fan of the mobile game, then perhaps this is something to keep an eye out for. Sonic Dash Extreme has been available in America since some point in 2015. Maybe this marketing push will see more vendors picking up the machine?

Next Retro Gamer magazine to feature Streets of Rage 2, Sonic 25th issue now available

retro gamer issues 158 159

UK retro gaming enthusiast magazine Retro Gamer is on a roll with Sega coverage!

In their most recent issue (#158), their cover story was Sonic’s 25th anniversary. They included an interview with Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka, where they discussed Sonic’s past, present and future. The Sonic coverage was pretty extensive, with it making up a good portion of the issue. SEGAbits and Sonic Retro contributor Nick Thorpe penned the piece.

Interested fans can still find copies of this issue on some newsstands or order it online.

In the next issue of Retro Gamer (#159), the cover story will be Streets of Rage 2. They promise to show “how Sega beat Capcom’s Final Fight to create the Mega Drive’s greatest scrolling fighter.” Well, that certainly sounds promising. The same issue will also have a feature on the Sega Master System.

You can look for it when it arrives or order it here.

It’s not every day you see Sega games gracing the cover of a magazine anymore, at least in English. You might as well take the chance when you get the opportunity.

SEGA shows off Tokyo Game Show 2016 stage schedule

Sega-TGS-2016-Stage-ScheduleSEGA is now showing of their Tokyo Game Show 2016 stage schedule. The games they are listed to be showing off at Tokyo Game Show 2016 includes Yakuza 6, Valkyria: Azure Revolution, Puyo Puyo Chronicle, and more. The schedule also includes games by WB and EA which SEGA is helping bring over.

Hit the jump and see the long list of SEGA Tokyo Game Show 2016 schedule, with set times and where to stream them.

[Source: Gematsu]

Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls limited edition announced

Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls limited editionIdea Factory has revealed the Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls limited edition for the American market. Pre-orders will open for the PS Vita game on September 15th, with it hitting North America on October 18th and Europe on October 21st.

$65 will get you:

  • Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls for the PlayStation®Vita system
  • Superdimension “PS Vita” Skin for both the Fat (1000) and Slim (2000) PS Vita
  • 17.7” x 17.7” Iffy’s Chunni-Pillowcase
  • 28-page Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls Official Art Book
  • 28-track Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls Official Soundtrack
  • Reversible Cover Sleeve
  • Collector’s Box with Slipcover

Hit the jump to see a gallery of all of the contents individually.

Yakuza 6 adds Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown and Puyo Puyo to play spots

2978944-screen+shot+2015-12-14+at+11.47.46+amYakuza series is known for having a variety of play spots, mini-games throughout the map to enjoy and Yakuza 6 is no exceptions. While Yakuza 5 had a full playable arcade port of Virtua Fighter 2, it seems that Yakuza 6 will have Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown which is freaking amazing. I think I’m getting a little a ahead of myself with excitement so let’s talk about all the new Yakuza 6 play spots that have been revealed by Famitsu:

SEGA Genesis Aladdin’s Chicago C.E.S demo rom released

AladdinCESdemoBack in 1993 SEGA showed off the SEGA Genesis version of Aladdin during the C.E.S show in Chicago, this was a early prototype showing off what players can expect when Aladdin hit store shelves during the 1993 holiday season.According to Hidden Palace wiki, differences between Aladdin’s Chicago C.E.S demo compared to the retail versions are:

  • A lot of levels have enemies either missing from the final or incomplete pencil tests.
  • The level music for Level 2 “The Desert” is a completely different tune that was cut from the final. It’s based on a track from Jungle Book.
  • Aladdin’s lives icon looks different.
  • The “Inside the Lamp” level is completely different from the final. Instead of going all the way to the right of the level, the player instead has to reach the very top by riding on Genie bowling balls and jumping on springs. A lot of graphics appear that are not in the final iteration of the level.
  • The final level uses a different background.

The Aladdin’s Chicago C.E.S demo was dumped thanks to the user Billscat-socks, who has also dumped a ton of different prototypes. Its thanks to users like him that the retro scene gets all these interesting prototypes and we get to see changes made in prior versions. You can download Aladdin’s Chago C.E.S demo below.

Download Aladdin’s C.E.S Demo Here

SEGA announces Space Channel 5 VR: Ukiuki Viewing Show

Space Channel 5 VR: Ukuuki Viewing Show announced
Sega has announced a special virtual reality experience featuring Ulala will be available at Tokyo Game Show 2016. Space Channel 5 VR: Ukuuki Viewing Show will allows players to participate as one of Ulala’s program viewers.

The VR experience will be running on the HTC VIVE at TGS. Will players be able to mimic Ulala’s commands with the VIVE controllers? Will this evolve into more than one simple encounter? Will you get over the likely possibility that Space Michael will not be included in future Space Channel 5 releases?

No additional details about a public release, future expansion of the demo, or compatible hardware have been announced.

A small teaser website is available here for now.

Japanese SEGA Mega Drive ‘Star Cruiser’ gets fan translation

The Japanese exclusive Mega Drive space gameStar Cruiser has now been translated to English thanks to dedication from fans in the retro scene. The guys over at RetroCollect.com describe Star Cruiser as a hybrid between Star Fox, Elite and Phantasy Star. While we are talking about the Mega Drive version, Star Cruiser has been ported to the NEC PC-88, NEC PC-98, Sharp X1 and the Sharp X68000. Star Cruiser was suppose to be released in North America way back in 1994 and was going to be published by Namco, but game’s localization was cancelled for unknown reasons.

This game features four solar systems and over thirty planets for the players to get through, players are tasked with the goal of traversing the galaxy to get rid of a evil militaristic nation. By looking at the video you will notice that most of the game’s action is played through space dog fights featuring some really meh Super FX polygon visuals and the story elements are done through anime style cutscenes.

The Star Cruiser translation is in the form of a .IPS patch, so you will need to have a Japanese Star Cruiser ROM as well to apply the patch with LunarIPS. According to the person working on the patch, there are still plans to fix a few things but you can try it right now, since it seems playable.

DOWNLOAD HERE

[Source: RetroCollect]

Cospa’s SEGA merchandise up for pre-order before Tokyo Game Show 2016

COSPASEGAMerch1Cospa is a Japanese licensed merchandising company, just recently they updated their site with all the merchandise they will be premiering at this year’s Tokyo Game Show 2016. The line-up included other licenses like SNK, IDOLM@STER and of course our true blue SEGA. The company announced that the SEGA Merchandise was focusing on the SEGA Mega Drive (SEGA Genesis in America), Sonic the Hedgehog and oddly enough NiGHTS into Dreams..

So lets break down all the SEGA merchandise from Japan that will be shown off by Cospa at this year’s Tokyo Game Show and that you can pre-order RIGHT NOW (yes, we included import friendly shop links):

SEGA releases extended Puyo Puyo Chronicles trailer

SEGA has shown off a new extended trailer for Puyo Puyo Chronicles showing off more footage of the upcoming Nintendo 3DS Action Puzzle RPG title that is set to release before the end of the year in Japan. Let me just say that Puyo Puyo Chronicles is looking like the best game in the series and just in time for the franchise’s 25th Anniversary.

While Puyo Puyo Chronicles is set to hit Japan on December 8 of this year, SEGA West hasn’t announced plans on bringing the title over. If you wanna help sway their opinion, go on social media and use the tag #PuyoChroniclesForTheWest, also don’t be scared of letting SEGA know directly.

SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE getting 3D Turbo Outrun

TurboOutrunThe best things about these SEGA 3D Archives/SEGA 3D Classics Collections is that they always announce a few new digital titles to make fans want to purchase the physical copy of the game. If you didn’t know, SEGA announced SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE with five returning SEGA 3D Classics titles, but also teased a fan poll on what Japanese fans wanted in the collection. While they didn’t show what came in at number one, it is now been revealed to be Turbo Outrun!

Not only that, Turbo Outrun will also be a timed exclusive game for the physical release of SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE which is set to have 9 total titles in the collection. That means that there are still three more titles to announce before SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE releases on December 22, 2016 for 4,990 yen (about $48 USD), SEGA is also planning a SEGA 3D Archives triple pack for 8,990 yen (about $86 USD). Of course SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE hasn’t been confirmed for a western release but I hear Turbo Outrun wants to make America great again.

[Source: Siliconera]

SEGA shows off Tokyo Game Show 2016 confirmed lineup

TGS2016LineUpFans of SEGA of Japan games should be looking forward to Tokyo Game Show 2016, sadly if you are looking for new games you will have to wait till the event starts on September 15, 2016. But SEGA has confirmed what games (plot spoiler: there aren’t many) are going to be at the event and what type of content to expect from those games. You can check out SEGA’s Tokyo Game Show 2016 website they just put up.

  • Puyo Puyo Chronicle (Nintendo 3DS) – Will get playable demo, new trailer, stage event, and merchandise
  • Valkyria: Azure Revolution (PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita) – Playable demo, new trailer, stage show, and merchandise
  • Yakuza 6 (PlayStation 4) – Playable demo, new trailer, theater show, stage show, and merchandise

It is quite obvious that SEGA is putting the most effort into promoting Yakuza 6, which is the highest budget game being created by SEGA Japan, but what is weird is that they haven’t confirmed what they are doing for Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live, Sonic Mania or Sonic Project 2017. Is SEGA not going to show these titles? Not to mention the confirmed titles are all games coming out in the next few months, wonder if SEGA Japan will show off any titles for later in 2017…

Again this is just a list for now as Atlus has only shown off Persona 5 as a confirmed title. Persona 5 will get a playable demo, new trailer, studio broadcast, stage show, and merchandise. Tokyo Game Show 2016 runs from September 15 through September 18, 2016, we will have full coverage of the event. Stay tune!

[Via: Siliconera]

SEGA says Shenmue 1 & 2 HD remakes have their full attention

Shenmue_HD_remasters_Sega_comment[1]SEGA Europe’s boss Jurgen Post has recently talked about the possibilities of doing Shenmue 1 & 2 HD remakes and ressured the fanbase that they have been looking into renewing licensing to do the remakes correctly.

This is what SEGA Europe said about the Shenmue 1 & 2 HD remakes:

“There is definitely a desire [to go back to our classic games], Even online, people are constantly talking about products they would like to see come back, and Shenmue 1 and 2  are probably in the top two places. We are looking into it. It is an old IP, it is a beloved IP – and not just by consumers, but also within Sega, we have people saying that if we could do Shenmue 1 and 2 all over again, we’d definitely go for it. The issue is that it is a big game. It is a project from many years ago. If we are to do it, we’d want to do a fantastic conversion to the current platforms, and there are a lot of licences in the game, which were cleared many years ago, so we will need to renegotiate those contracts. We are looking into it. We haven’t given it a green light, but it has our full attention.” – Jurgen Post, President and COO of SEGA Europe

This whole licensing issues from old games have plagued SEGA in the past when they ported over Crazy Taxi on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, omitting the iconic soundtrack due to SEGA not wanting to pay the licenses for the old tracks. This lead fans to getting upset and ever since then SEGA has made an effort to gather all the licenses when remaking or porting games. The last big examples include Castle of Illusions (which, now expiring license is making them pull it from shops) and Jet Set Radio.

What are your thoughts? Does Shenmue 1 & 2 HD remakes seem like a reality now? Jurgen Post has been teasing the return of classic franchises for awhile now, do you really think SEGA Europe actually have something up their sleeves?

[Source: MCVUK]

7th Dragon III Code: VFD and Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse to hit Europe this Winter

7th_Dragon_III_Code_VFD_Screenshot_09If you remember back in July SEGA announced a European publishing partnership with Deep Silver, which has now confirmed that Europeans will be getting their JRPG fix this winter since both Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse and 7th Dragon III Code: VFD games will be released in the region before the end of the year. Both titles are obviously exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS. Sadly Deep Silver didn’t reveal the exact date, only that they will be released in Europe before the end of 2016.

If you are thinking of picking up 7th Dragon III Code: VFD, you should check out our review on the game. Long story short, if you like JRPGs then its something to keep on your radar. While 7th Dragon III Code: VFD has already been out in America since July 12, 2016, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse won’t release over here until the September 20; so at least one title isn’t much of a wait, all things considering. We will keep you updated on any more information regarding European releases of SEGA and Atlus games, so stay tuned in.

[Source: Nintendo Life]