Atlus set for another Persona announcement on May 2nd

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Right after the SEGA buyout was confirmed, Atlus went ahead and confirmed that they where working on four Persona titles. Seems that isn’t enough, since we will be getting another announcement come May 2nd.

Atlus will be having a live Persona-related stream on NicoNico on May 2nd, 11:30pm JST. What is this stream about? They will have guests, preview material for the upcoming Persona 3: Midsummer Knight’s Dream movie, and this teased announcement.

The last event was when Atlus announced those upcoming Persona games. What do they have in store this time? Another movie? More games? I guess we will find out soon.

SEGA All-Stars “Skies of Arcadia” Vyse statue now available to pre-order from First 4 Figures

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First 4 Figures, creators of the Sonic the Hedgehog and SEGA All-Stars lines of collector’s statues, are at it again as pre-orders for their beautiful Skies of Arcadia Vyse statue are now open! Sculpted to 1/6 scale, Vyse himself measures approximately 11″ tall. In total, from the base to the tip of the pirates flag, the statue measures 17″ tall. As expected from First 4 Figures, there are two versions. The standard edition is limited to 1,000 pieces and is priced at $199.99, the exclusive version is limited to 425 and is priced at $219.99 and features a switch-out right arm holding the Pirate’s Cutlass. Both statues are expected to release Q4 2014.

Insert Coin’s SEGA catalog to be updated with new items

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Insert Coin is a United Kingdom-based clothing company with apparel and accessories featuring various video game franchises. As it is, their catalog of Sega items is fairly expansive and covers a few SEGA franchises including Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Space Channel 5, and of course Sonic the Hedgehog. SEGAbits has covered some of their offerings previously, including one news post that features a Beat-inspired shirt and a Knuckles-inspired hoodie, and another news post that shows off Dreamcast and Mega Drive-inspired bags.

The company recently updated their blog to show off a new line of SEGA-themed items for this year. These include the above-pictured “Running Club” T-shirt which pays homage to the central title screen icon and release year of the first game. There’s also a “Science Club” T-shirt for future evil geniuses creative and inventive thinkers, and a dress with Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s Casino Night itself as the dress. Rounding out the collection is a Shenmue-inspired Hazuki jacket.

The company hopes to release these new products in Q3 of this year, and plans to release more details and images of the products in the near future.

What sort of SEGA-themed clothing or accessories would you be interested in?

Phantasy Star Online 2es coming to iOS in May


(Above is a Let’s Play, which was done through our Twitch channel. Follow us!)

Phantasy Star Online 2es is already out for Android in Japan, but it will soon hit Apple devices in May. The Android version has broke 100,000 downloads since it was released on April 7th. That is pretty impressive.

As of right now, SEGA West hasn’t made any more statements about Phantasy Star Online 2 or Phantasy Star Online 2es coming to the West. But if you are on Android and want to play PSO2es, there is already an English patch. To see the English patch in action, check out our hands-on video above.

SEGA CUP: Virtua Fighter Tournament begins today!

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The SEGA Cup 2014 for Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown is now live with tournament brackets and schedule released for the event.

The description is as follows:

SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced that it will once again host a Virtua Fighter™5 Final Showdown Tournament this year, continuing its partnership with Alex Valle and Level|Up. The 2014 “SEGA CUP” tournament will take place in Los Angeles at the Super Arcade on April 26, 2014. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 16 players. Once again, the version for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system will be used for the competition.

Last year’s tournament celebrated the legacy of the popular “fighting game fan’s fighter” for the first time and saw player Fuudo, who previously won the Virtua Fighter EVO 2012 and Street Fighter IV EVO 2011 tournaments, emerging as the winner.

Based on the latest arcade version of the celebrated Virtua Fighter 5 series, Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown launched in June 2012 for PlayStation®Network (PSN) and on the Xbox Live online entertainment network for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft.

The tournament will be streamed on Level|Up’s twitch channel. Who’s going to be the best Virtua Fighter player in the West Coast this year? Click here to see the schedule for the tournament.

Yuzo Koshiro will compose music for Persona Q

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Yuzo Koshiro has worked on music for a lot of games, but SEGA fans will always know him for his amazing work on the Streets of Rage series. In my opinion, this is what made Yuzo Koshiro a legend. Want more music from him? Don’t worry, it has been revealed that he will be composing tracks for the upcoming Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.

Also announced to be working on the game is Yuji Himukai who is being brought aboard to design some monsters along with Shin Nagasawa. All three (including Yuzo Koshiro) worked on Etrian Odyssey (and Persona Q is basically Etrian Odyssey with Personas…).

SEGA’s Shining cross-over fighting game reveals six playable characters

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SEGA is putting together a Shining cross-over fighting game and calling the game ‘
Blade Arcus from Shining‘. The 2D fighting game will run location tests in Japan from May 9th to May 11th in Akihabara. Blade Arcus will allow users to test six characters, which include two new characters just for this game.

  • Ryuga (new)
  • Pairon Wong (new)
  • Rage from Shining Blade
  • Sakuya from Shining Blade
  • Xiao-Mei from Shining Hearts
  • Altina from Shining Blade

Given that SEGA has taken this franchise everywhere from a hack’n’slash arcade game to various role-playing games, does an entry into the 2D fighting game market excite you? Would having classic Shining Force characters matter?

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax to get story based DLC and RPG style arena mode

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According to Japanese store, Rakuten, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax will have story-based DLC and also feature a role-playing type game elements. The story based DLC will be exclusive to those that purchase the game in Japan on August 28th. What’s in the DLC? That, as of right now, remains a mystery.

A new mode titled ‘Golden Arena Mode’ will include character progress system with elements that fans of RPG-type games will be familiar with. Players in the Golden Arena Mode will be able to fight and level up to earn extra experience points and learn new abilities throughout the stages. How many skills can you unlock? According to the site, over 150 different skills.

Hit the jump to see three new trailers that have been released for this game.

Play Company of Heroes 2 for free this weekend

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If you have wanted to try Company of Heroes 2 before you purchase it, you now can. SEGA is holding another ‘free to play’ weekend over at Steam. You will be able to play the full game, including the multiplayer during the weekend for absolutely nothing.

If you have steam, you can install it by clicking here

If the game hooks its addictive hooks into you, you will be able to purchase the game at 66% off. Only costing you $13.59. So what are you waiting for? Give the game a shot.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed now free on mobile devices

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SEGA has dropped Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed‘s mobile price down to $0.00 (£0.00 in Great Britain), making the game now a free-to-play title. “Sonic & All Star Racing Transformed is now FREE!”, says the game’s revised description, “If you previously bought the game you still have the VIP Pass for FREE.” The game itself is quite an impressive port of the game, easily beating out the 3DS version when it comes to resolution, framerate and bugs, which the 3DS suffered from. You can download the game today from the App Store or from Google Play. Also of note, both versions now support Everyplay, which allows players to record and share video clips of favorite gameplay moments.

Tom Keil, Regional Sales Manager for Sega Amusements, dies at 63

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Sad news for SEGA arcade fans today, as we learned via Vending Times that Tom Keil, a regional sales manager for Sega Amusements since 2002, has passed away after a battle with cancer. President and COO at Sega Amusements Paul Williams had this to say about Tom: “It is a sad time for us all with the passing of my friend and work colleague, Tom Keil. He was a man admired by many for his integrity, passion for life and sense of goodness. Everyone [who] knew him or met him was touched by the generosity of his nature and personality.”

US General Manager at Sega Amusements Peter Gustafson also shared his thoughts: “Tom put up a valiant and courageous fight against cancer for more than three years. Throughout his ordeal, he never allowed his condition stop or slow him down. His unwillingness to let his disease define him was an inspirational example of how to live fully regardless of the circumstances life hands you.”

Donations in Tom Keil’s honor can be made to The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke Duke University Medical Center (DUMC 3624, Durham, NC 27710) or The Caring House (2625 Pickett Rd., Durham, NC 27705).

Sonic Jump Fever now available to download from the Canadian App Store

Update: It has been noted that this is a soft launch for the game to the Canadian App Store, which would explain why those elsewhere are unable to find it in their region’s app store.

How’s this for a surprise release? A sequel to Sonic Jump, entitled Sonic Jump Fever, has appeared out of nowhere on the iOS App Store! The App Store description reads: “Prepare to feel the FEVER in an explosive race against the clock! Join Sonic and friends in high-speed bursts of vertical jumping mayhem. Play for free and rack up huge combos to blast past your friends’ high scores. Use boosters, upgrades, unique character abilities and Chao pets to maximize your score. Then kick your game into overdrive with Fever Mode and hit the top of the Leaderboard! With brand new levels and leaderboards every week, the challenge never ends!”

The game, which is free to download, features “an all-new Sonic Jump experience” with a Fever Mode that causes the player to “enter hyper-speed” to earn combos. The sequel also features weekly challenges, new levels, new upgrades, and the ability to recruit Chao to help you beat badniks, and search for hidden rings and abilities.

As mentioned, you can download the game today – give it a try and let us know what you think!

Fantasy Zone Collection to be re-released for PS3 tomorrow in Japan. Get Ready!

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SEGA AGES 2500: Fantasy Zone Collection returns to the PlayStation 3 and is scheduled to be released in Japanese PSN store tomorrow on April 16th. The compilation features a new “remake” of Fantasy Zone II to look similar to it’s Sega System 16 counterpart plus ten other Fantasy Zone games.

SEGA also included expert replays to view and an option to save your own replays. Similar to other Sega Ages 2500 titles, there is a gallery mode with promotional materials & manuals including a sound test mode.

The game will cost 1,500 yen ($15 in US and 10 Euro in Europe). You can purchase the title with a Japanese PSN account and cash cards from the internet such as EBay or an online import store.

 

3D Outrun to have two new BGM, new car and more!

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In the second wave of 3D SEGA classics, Outrun will return on the Nintendo 3DS in stereoscopic 3D along with a virtual Deluxe Version. SEGA and M2 has also included brand new additions to 3D Outrun.

One of the newest additions for the game are two BGM pieces such as “Cruising Line” from Black Rock Shooter: The Game  by composer Manabu Namiki and “Camino ami Amor” from Jane-Evelyn Nisperos.

Another few additions is a new car colored in green, five goals, and four other customization parts. 3D Outrun will be released in Japan on April 23rd. Hit the jump for the images.

The Cave decends into the Humble Mobile Bundle 5

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Got extra cash and want six Android games including the SEGA published ‘The Cave‘? What if I told you that your cash would help charity? Now its your time to help people out and pocket a few good mobile games while you are at it. Humble Mobile Bundle 5 has been announced and as of today it includes:

At least a dollar pledged:

  • Bag it
  • R-Type II
  • Aralon: Sword and Shadow

Beat the average (right now only $3.80):

  • The Cave
  • The Room Two
  • Carcassonne
  • More to be announced later

If you guys want to give money check it out right here. You can also check out our PC review of The Cave as well.