SEGA News

Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live coming West on October 14

August 17, 2016 by George

[Behold, the future of dating and gaming]

I don’t wanna say that I called it, but I called it! I wrote an article about how SEGA was submitting ratings in countries outside of Japan for Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live, saying I wouldn’t be surprised if its a PlayStation VR launch title in the West. Guess what? Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live is a launch title for the PlayStation VR.

Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live has been confirmed for both America and Europe which is coming via the PlayStation Store (digital only it seems). If you are lucky enough to be attending Gamescom this week, SEGA has a playable demo at the PlayStation Booth so you can enjoy Hatsune Miku in her VR glory.

This is the future boys, no more need for girlfriends.

[Via: Nichegamer]

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice Japanese Pre-Order Items Are Very Tempting

August 17, 2016 by George

It seems that SEGA of Japan will be having some really tempting Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary themed pre-order items for the upcoming Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice (called Sonic Toon in Japan) on the Nintendo 3DS. The Japanese site ebten.jp (You can buy the set on Play Asia outside of Japan) has two versions Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, one being just a pre-order for the game and a Sonic 25th Anniversary set which comes with the following:

Flat acrylic cut outs of Sonic the Hedgehog doing random poses and even has one of him sleeping. There are 7 patterns in total and it comes with a stand to display the cut outs (one at a time of course). Perfect to put around your desk. Note: while it looks like classic Sonic, he still has green eyes.
Sonic 25th Anniversary Mug which is a blue wrap around design featuring a white outline of Sonic’s head. On the other side of the mug we have a small cute, chubby classic Sonic.
Sonic 25th Anniversary 3D Crystal which looks pretty awesome (video of how it looks below). It is a crystal cube with 3D stereoscopic laser engraving of classic Sonic doing his famous finger wage pose and the Sonic 25th Anniversary logo in the back. The crystal changes color depending on the angle as well! The item is 50 × 80 × 50mm in size.
Sonic 25th Anniversary Nintendo 3DS theme. This digital theme will cycle through eras of Sonic’s 25 years as you select things in the Nintendo 3DS main menu. So far this digital Nintendo 3DS theme has only been shown for the Japanese release. You can see that in motion after the jump.

So how much is this all going to cost you? The Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice 25th Anniversary pre-order set costs 9,504 yen not including shipping (about $95 USD) and comes with all the items pictured here along with a copy of Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice. The set won’t ship until the games Japanese release date of October 27th, 2016. Of course since the Nintendo 3DS is region locked, that a Japanese copy of Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice would be useless but look at the sweet 3D crystal! Want to see more of that Sonic 25th Anniversary 3D crystal in action? Hit that jump.

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Yakuza 6 will introduce nine new characters

August 16, 2016 by George

The Yakuza series has always been known for its wide array of colorful characters, Yakuza 6 will be no exception. SEGA finally let the cat out of the bag on nine new characters that will appear in Yakuza 6, via the Weekly Famitsu magazine. One of the characters that was shown off is even being played by Ishimoto Doronzu (Happy Landing) which is another Japanese movie actor to add to the growing list already on cast.

Hit the jump to get details on all nine new characters that will appear in Yakuza 6. The characters will make their video debut on SEGA’s Sega-Nama live stream next Thuesday, August 23rd. You can watch it on Niconico or AbemaTV Fresh.

Puyo Puyo Chronicle announced for Nintendo 3DS – just in time for the franchise’s 25th anniversary!

August 16, 2016 by Barry

The latest issue of Japan’s Famitsu magazine has revealed a new installment in the Puyo Puyo franchise, due out later this year. Titled Puyo Puyo Chronicle, the game is described as a puzzle RPG timed to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary. The story involves the franchise’s heroes Arle and Carbuncle entering an alternate world, in which they must work with a girl name Arie to return to their own world. Graphics will be in 3D and players will be able to explore freely – so apparently no sprites or pre-set paths. Outside of the RPG mode, the game will also feature traditional Puyo Puyo play, featuring seventeen different rules found in past games.

The game will also feature a mode called “Boss Fight With Everyone” in which players team up with a party of four via local connectivity to battle a boss. The game also promises over sixty sub-quests. In terms of packaging, a special Anniversary Box has been announced, which will contain a soundtrack, a vocal track, a drama CD and a 25th anniversary theme for your 3DS. The game is set to release in Japan on December 8th of this year. Sadly, no word of an American release, and given SEGA’s Western track record with the franchise it is unlikely. Then again, 7th Dragon III: Code: VFD happened, so never say never.

[Source: Siliconera]

Monster Boy’s Gamescom Trailer Looks Wonderful

August 15, 2016 by George

We are very excited over here to get our hands on Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom later this year. If you haven’t heard, Monster Boy is a successor to the Wonder Boy series of games. Its crazy that we will be getting a spiritual successor and a remake of Wonder Boy III within the same time frame. I think we can consider ourselves a lucky bunch since the last official Wonder Boy game came out all the way back in 1994.

We actually got to talk to Monster Boy developer Fabien Demeulenaere on our Swingin’ Report Show Podcast where he talked about the process of getting the game off the ground, how he started working with Wonder Boy creator Ryuichi Nishizawa and how the Wonder Boy copyrights work with this title.

Check out the trailer and if its tickling your nostalgia funny bone make sure to pick it up when it launches later this year on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. More information from the developer FDG Entertainment after the jump.

SEGA Renews Virtua Fighter Trademark

August 13, 2016 by George

I saw this floating around Twitter a few days ago, but has now been covered by VFDC and Shoryuken so why not cover it? SEGA has renewed the Virtua Fighter trademark according to trademarkia on July 4th. What does renewing the Virtua Fighter trademark possibly mean for the future of the franchise? Possibly nothing, seeing as SEGA does this all the time. Back in 2012 we did a story about SEGA renewing the Skies of Arcadia trademark and now we know that didn’t mount to much.

Of course SEGA renewed the Virtua Fighter trademark to protect its IP, not to mention they still do stuff with the franchise from time to time. For example Virtua fighter characters have had cameos in games like Smash Bros, Dead or Alive 5 ,Project x Zone 1/2 and even Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax. As we covered before, it has been a decade since the release of Virtua Fighter 5 and if the franchise needs anything its a new entry. Bring on Virtua Fighter 6, SEGA!

I personally think SEGA can test the market by re-releasing Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown definitive edition on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Maybe try some experiments like Tecmo Koei did with Dead or Alive which had a free-to-play version and a full package release. But anyway, what are your thoughts on SEGA renewing the Virtua Fighter trademark? What do you want to see for the future of the franchise?

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SEGA 3D Classics Collection European release date revealed

August 12, 2016 by Barry

On a special SEGA Central Live, the SEGA Europe community team released the long (too long, in our opinion) awaited release date of the boxed and digital European release of SEGA 3D Classics Collection for the Nintendo 3DS. That date… will be revealed on an upcoming live stream next week! Just kidding, the game will release to Europe on November 4th, 2016.

It was also confirmed that the game is coming to Australia, though no additional information was given.

SEGA Central Doing Live Show on August 12th

August 11, 2016 by George

SEGA Europe’s SEGA Central show will be doing a live broadcast on August 12, 2016 at 8:30 AM PST. The show promises to finally reveal the release date for SEGA 3D Classics Collection in Europe, plus talk about the latest going on with SEGA and Dan (SEGA Central host) will answer people’s questions that have been sent in.

While it doesn’t seem like SEGA Central will have something mind blowing, like a new game announcement, it is still nice that SEGA Europe are doing these types of shows. So make sure to tune in and support the show.

Yakuza 6’s prologue focuses on Kazuma Kiyru and Haruka Sawamura

August 10, 2016 by George

SEGA has released Yakuza 6‘s prologue story to the public. It seems that Yakuza 6 will focus on Kazuma Kiyru and Haruka Sawamura relationship as it will have to do with Kazuma Kiryu investigating an accident that has occurred. If you haven’t played and beat Yakuza 5, I warn you not to read the prologue of Yakuza 6 since it explains what happens at the end of the last game.

Interesting enough Yakuza 6 has been teased as the last chapter in Kazuma Kiryu’s story line and also that it will have to do with ‘family bond versus those you consider family’. Want to read the prologue? Head to Gematsu or hit the jump!

SEGA Announces New Mobile RPG World Chain

August 8, 2016 by George

Remember that mobile teaser SEGA Networks put together, that we covered? Well, the game has finally been announced as World Chain which will be a time traveling ‘chain scenario RPG’ for mobile platforms. World Chain is being developed by the staff at SEGA that did Chain Chronicle and is expected to launch in Japan this fall.

The developer has listed World Chain‘s genre as ‘school life X history IF’ which will probably be something like a Japanese high school anime with historical what if scenarios. World Chain‘s story has you playing the protagonist that has just woken up in the an academy where history has been warped and some people have disappeared. In his hands he finds a ‘Chain Driver’ smartphone, which is a device that lets you travel time and ‘rewrite’ history. The game will have you answer questions like where did everyone go and who is rewriting history.

Anyone in the game that goes back in time to rewrite history are known as ‘Rewriters’, which allows you to share strong bonds with people in history and borrow their powers whenever you need them. The game promises up to 140 heroes each with their own story line.

So far World Chain has only been announced for release in Japan and is coming this Fall for Android and iOS.

[Source: Siliconera]

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Looks Like Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live Will Come West

August 7, 2016 by George

It seems like a huge possibility that Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live, the debut Project Diva game for the PlayStation VR, will be coming West. Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live has not only been rated by the Australian ratings board but also the German ratings board. If the game is coming out in two English speaking countries its likely that it will come to the rest of them. Don’t be surprised when SEGA announces Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live as a PlayStation VR launch title shortly after Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X comes out on August 30th.

In Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live players use the virtual reality headset to experience being an audience member at a Hatsune Miku concert, allowing the user to have a interactive stage experience not possible in real life. Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live will be a PlayStation VR launch title in Japan.

[Source: Siliconera]

Yuji Naka wants to see a Mario and Sonic crossover action game

August 6, 2016 by George

We know that Mario and Sonic have had a long line of crossover Olympic titles throughout recent years, but that isn’t what Yuji Naka, one of Sonic’s creators envisioned for the duo’s cross over.

Recently Yuji Naka spoke with the Japanese website Famitsu about the origins of Mario and Sonic game, which started talks as an action game during the GameCube era when SEGA first went 3rd party. As we know today, this lead nowhere and Mario and Sonic didn’t happen until SEGA acquired the license to make Olympic video games.

Here is Yuji Naka talking about Mario and Sonic co-starring on titles based around the Olympics and the origins of the project:

“Actually, I wanted Mario [and Sonic] to appear together, so one time I went to give Miyamoto-san a presentation on how I want to create an action game which is co-starred by Mario and Sonic. It was in the GameCube days, and I took around four planners with me. It is a pity that the discussion was ‘clearly it isn’t necessary for Mario and Sonic to co-star in an action [game]’ and it didn’t become a reality, but SEGA was able to get the license for the Olympics just at that time, so in order to make the best use of the license, companion characters appeared together. A little later Sonic appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, this too came into reality because I requested from Sakurai-san, ‘I want Sonic to appear [in Smash Bros.]’. The Olympics is a bit different from my wish, but I think it’s a good thing that children around the world are happy about them co-starring. But someday I want to realize an action [game] together with Mario. I think I’m going to give another presentation so that Takashi [Iizuka] finds the necessity [of a Mario & Sonic action game] (laughs).” – Yuji Naka

Yuji Naka wasn’t the only original Sonic the Hedgehog creator to chime in on the interview, original Sonic designer Naoto Ohshima said the following:

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Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X ‘Snow Miku 2010 to 2015’ DLC Shown Off

August 5, 2016 by George

SEGA has unleashed a new trailer showcasing Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X‘s “Snow Miku 2010 to 2015 Pack” of downloadable goodies. This pack will include in-game modules for Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X ranging from 2010 – 2015 versions of the “Snow Miku” design. Each of the Snow Miku designs have been given attribute tied to one of the game’s five Clouds.

These are the attributes to Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X‘s skins:

Snow Miku 2010 – Classic
Snow Miku 2011 – Cute
Snow Miku 2012 – Cool
Snow Miku 2013 – Elegant
Snow Miku 2014 – Quirky
Snow Miku 2015 – Cute

This downloadable content will be FREE from its launch in Japan on August 25 until September 25! I assume we will have a similar thing here in the West, when Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X launches but it hasn’t been confirmed just yet. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X is due out on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in the west on August 30.

[Source: Gematsu]

SEGA teases Valkyria: Azure Revolution 2.0 demo

August 5, 2016 by George

SEGA has announced that more information regarding the second Valkyria: Azure Revolution “Battle Demo Ver. 2.0” will be released towards late August, if their official blog is to be believed.

If you didn’t know, SEGA released the Valkyria: Azure Revolution Battle Demo Ver. 1.0 a few months back to some very heavy fan criticism. The developer Media.Vision and SEGA said that they would be taking the fan feedback seriously and implementing changes to the core game, now those changes will be displayed in the new upcoming Valkyria: Azure Revolution Battle Demo Ver. 2.0. According to the team, the new demo will be more ‘strategic’ in nature.

But that isn’t all the upcoming news, the blog promises that we will get other information about Valkyria: Azure Revolution before the end of August including confirmations about the game’s Japanese voice cast. Valkyria: Azure Revolution will also be shown at this year’s Tokyo Game Show in September.

Valkyria: Azure Revolution will release on the PlayStation 4 in Japan this winter. There has been no western release announced.

[Source: Gematsu]