SEGA Talk #106: Wacky Races (2000)

…And now here they are! The most powerful duo of daffy podcasters to ever whirl their wheels in the Wacky Races! Competing for the title of world’s wackiest racer! The cars are approaching the starting line. First, is the Giga Mega Drive Turbo driven by Gorgeous George. Next is Barry the Nomad in the AV RCA Hookup Pickup Truck. And they’re off… to a standing start. And why not, they’ve been chained to a post, by Dick Dastardly, who shifts into the wrong gear. And away they go… on the way-out Wacky Races!

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SEGA releases part 2 of Sonic Frontiers Prologue: CONVERGENCE digital comic

Sonic Frontiers is just days away, and in the lead up to the game’s release SEGA has given fans a two part digital comic starring Sonic, Tails, Amy and Eggman showing the events that lead to the game’s opening moments. The official Sonic Twitter account has shared part one and today dropped part two, with a animated short starring Knuckles soon to follow.

Click on over to the Sonic Twitter account and give them a read!

SEGA News Bits Live: Astro City Mini V (Limited Run Games) Review

On this SEGA News Bits Live, we mix things up a bit for a live unboxing and review of the Astro City Mini V from Limited Run Games!

Check out the Astro City Mini V for yourself here! You can also find the original Astro City Mini, a bundle of both and the Astro City Mini V with style kit included.

If you want to support this type of content, you can check out our Patreon!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

Data Discs announces Sonic Frontiers 2LP & 4LP soundtracks

Following up from yesterday’s news of Fantasy Zone, SEGA and Data Discs are back with another vinyl release! This time, the focus shifts to modern games as the upcoming Sonic Frontiers will see not one but TWO releases! First up, the 2XLP edition sees a “Sonic Blue” colored vinyl with a 12 page booklet featuring liner notes from Tomoya Ohtani, a lithographic art print of the Japanese cover art all packed in a single pocket sleeve. This edition, seen above, will retail for 32.99 GBP or about $37 USD and will ship around mid December. Learn more about this release here. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!

Limited Run Games announces Astro City Mini V Western release – Super Zaxxon bonus game added

Limited Run Games has announced a Western release of the Astro City Mini V. The V, as kids call it, is the second in SEGA’s line of Astro City Mini plug and play consoles which sports a vertically orientated screen and focuses on shoot ’em up games. What makes this release unique is that for the first time, bonus content will be available for the West! Super Zaxxon has been added to the lineup. Super Zaxxon was an update to the original Zaxxon, which as the SEGA Retro wiki explains “offers slightly faster gameplay, a different set of graphics, different stage layouts and a few more enemies”.

The Astro City Mini V goes up for pre-order on October 25th, priced at $159.99. The style kit, which is compatible with both Astro City Mini models, includes a coin bank base and little toy chair and will be available as well in a $199.99 bundle or separately for $39.99. Limited Run Games is also putting the original Astro City Mini back in stock, priced at $129.99.

SEGA Retrospective: SEGA of America and SEGA Europe in the modern age – a battle for relevancy

SEGA has its roots in the Western world and that influence is still ever so present today. It all started in Hawaii, went to Japan, then was bought by Gulf + Western, but then settled on Japanese ownership in 1984. But all those years of influence from Western staff and ownership never completely went away even after being staunchly Japanese for most of its life. Selling arcade machines, making your own consoles and even dabbling in in-door theme parks requires tons of investment that won’t be recouped in Japan, so it’s good to have international roots. 

Data Discs announces Fantasy Zone vinyl soundtrack, releasing this Saturday

Data Discs is back with an all new SEGA vinyl, this time featuring the soundtrack to the arcade classic Fantasy Zone! The release, set to go live on Saturday at data-discs.com, features the full 1986 soundtrack from Hiroshi “Hiro” Kawaguchi of OutRun and Space Harrier fame. The release will be available in two editions and include new liner notes from the composer as well as a lithographic art print.

Click on over to the Data Discs website to learn more!

SEGA Unveils Sonic Frontiers Prologue: CONVERGENCE Cover

Today, SEGA revealed the cover for an upcoming digital comic, Sonic Frontiers Prologue: CONVERGENCE. As a prologue to Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Frontiers Prologue: CONVERGENCE is a two part digital comic prologue and dives into the events taking place for Sonic, Tails, Amy and Dr. Eggman right before they begin their journey to the Starfall Islands in search of the Chaos Emeralds.

Part 1 of the comic prologue will launch next Tuesday. Sonic Frontiers will launch starting at $59.99 on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems and Steam on November 8.

Source: Sonic Official Twitter

Sonic Frontiers “Combat & Upgrades” trailer gives an in-depth look at the game’s battle system

Sonic Frontiers is less than a month away, so now is the best time for SEGA to make their closing arguments to fans for why the game is worthy of a pre-order. In the latest trailer for the game, the combat and upgrades system is explored in a bit more depth as fans can see how the skill tree unlocks new abilities for in-game combat. There are some fun easter eggs to be found, including moves that appear plucked from Sonic’s history of media including an attack seen in the unreleased Sonic X-Treme and moves straight out of the live action movies.

Sonic Frontiers will launch starting at $59.99 on PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch family of systems and PC on November 8. To pre-order Sonic Frontiers, visit: https://frontiers.sonicthehedgehog.com.

SEGA delays HUMANKIND console release “until further notice”

Citing “unique challenges”, SEGA Europe has announced that the PlayStation 4/5 and Xbox One/Series console releases of HUMANKIND has been delayed until further notice. Developed by Paris based Amplitude Studios, which is owned by SEGA, HUMANKIND released to PC in 2021 and is a turn-based strategy 4X game. The game was set for consoles in November 2022 but now that is no longer the case.

I’ll admit, here at SEGAbits we struggle to cover the SEGA Europe PC strategy games. Maybe it is because they feel so far removed from what we come to expect from SEGA? Still, a console release was something we were anticipating and it is a shame the game saw a setback. SEGA will share a new release date when they can.

SEGA and Capcom announce Monster Hunter x Sonic Frontiers DLC

As the release of Sonic Frontiers approaches, SEGA has been revealing bonus content fans can enjoy on and after the game’s release. We’ve already seen the return of Soap shoes, and now we have our first collaboration DLC! Anybody who owns Sonic Frontiers will receive free DLC on November 14th which features content from Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise. Sonic can dress as Rathalos and Felyne Rathalos and a meat grilling mini-game will be added which will help Sonic power up. To celebrate the collaboration, SEGA and Capcom’s respective art teams drew up some fun artwork featuring the two franchises.

This DLC is exciting, as it gives us an idea of just how far SEGA can go with the game’s DLC. Sonic being able to wear a full costume opens up so many doors for future content and the addition of a mini game shows us that SEGA is open to expanding gameplay with future DLC.

But the question remains, what is Sonic cooking?

Review: MobyFox SEGA Genesis Smartwatch Band and Digital Faces

Let’s take a look at the latest SEGA smartwatch band from MobyFox which also includes a sizable library of digital faces. In the unboxing and review video above we showcase the 3D designs that mimic the look of the original hardware as well as some of the cool little touches MobyFox added. Like what you see? You can pick up a smartwatch band for yourself on their shop starting today!

After the break, you can also watch our unboxing and review of the MobyFox line of Sonic the Hedgehog smartwatch bands.

SEGA News Bits Live: Shenmue Anime Cancelled & Sonic’s Soap Shoes Return

Shenmue the anime has been cancelled after a successful first season, Sonic’s Soap shoes are back and Barry has beef with Sonic clothing collabs. All this and more on SEGA News Bits Live!

If you want to support this type of content, you can check out our Patreon!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

SEGA makes newsletters cool again with Sonic Frontiers Soap shoes DLC offering

E-mail newsletters used to be all the rage. Heck, here at SEGAbits we had one for a time. But as time goes on, people’s methods of taking in updates on brands and franchises they love shift and more and more social media becomes the place for such information. NOT ANYMORE. Thanks to SEGA, the company who innovated online home console gaming, 360 degree arcade gaming and 3D fighting games comes the latest innovation: free DLC with a newsletter sign up!

That’s right, if you click on over to the Sonic Frontiers website and scroll to the bottom you will see Sonic in his iconic Soap shoes from Sonic Adventure 2. Why is he wearing these relics of the early 2000s? Because he wants to wear them again in his new game, but he needs your help! If you sign up for e-mail updates from SEGA, you will receive free DLC on the platform of your choice. Pro tip: sign up using multiple e-mail addresses so you can snag DLC for all the major platforms. It’s cool to see Sonic back in his guady grinding shoes, and it opens the door for more throwback shoes in the upcoming game. Fans are already asking for his movie shoes and his Riders shoes. What shoes would you like Sonic to wear in Frontiers? Sound off in the comments below!