Shining Force Online: a fan-made MMO enters beta testing this week

shining-force-pc-pathfinding
Shining Force Online will be a ‘free to play’ MMO based on the Sega classic series and is set to enter beta on the 28th of November. The game is set to be released for free via Arcade County and will feature a ‘alternative universe’ with a brand new storyline and familiar characters.

Sadly the game isn’t 100% free, as the developers included micro-transactions called ‘Shining Force Platinum User Upgrade’, charging about $23 dollars for ’25 tickets’.  Even though the developers assure players that their game will never be ‘pay to win’, it seems that its already leaning that way since being a platinum user gives you two skill points per day instead of one and ‘full experience earned from combat’. Many big name Shining Force supporters have gotten angry at Arcade County for wanting to profit off of a fan game, including ‘friskydeath’ who wrote on their forum and has reported the game to SEGA’s legal team.

So what are your thoughts? Does the person have to cover costs of servers? Is this the wrong way to go around it? Let us know if you’ll be playing the MMO on the 28th!

dY j

SEGA’s facebook teases Sonic Dash for Android

SonicDashAndroid

SEGA shared the following image that is obviously a Sonic Dash related image and if you look closely at Sonic he is shaped like the Android robot. What could this mean? Well, if it wasn’t apparent, Sonic Dash will soon be headed to your Android powered phone.

Yep, so now non-ios users will be able to experience the Sonic skinned Temple Run clone for themselves. How soon is soon?

 

The Making of 3D Space Harrier and New 3D SEGA Classic Series Interview With M2 and SEGA Developers

s01
Naoki Horii, President, M2 (left), Yosuke Okunari, Producer, SEGA CS3 (right)

Impress Watch sat down with Naoki Horii, President of M2, and Yosuke Okunari, producer at SEGA CS3, for an interview on how the 3D Space Harrier was developed in the making and games they’ve ported in the past years. M2 is very well known for porting numerous SEGA titles to consoles like Sakura Wars 1 & 2 for Dreamcast, the SEGA Vintage Collection, and many more. The interview is quite interesting and I recommend our to read this awesome interview here.

TwIUSdiam O Zy gvjy HnT

To Type or Not to Type: The Typing of the Dead OVERKILL Shakespeare DLC with Multiplayer Update now available for $2.99

IMG_75198282705393
SEGA has just recently released the promised DLC for The Typing of the Dead: OVERKILL on STEAM for only $2.99 which players can download here. The DLC features a new experience by killing mutants with the words of Shakespeare. Also included within the DLC update is the multiplayer feature with online co-op for Typing and Overkill mode. For more info and images, hit the jump.

Persona 5 announced for Playstation 3

After pissing off fans by announcing a bunch of Persona 4 spin-off games instead of Persona 5, Atlus finally announced that Persona 5 will be coming to Playstation 3 at the end of 2014. Like all of the other Persona games announced today, this release date is only for Japan. We don’t know when (or if) this game will be coming out in the US and Europe.

And yes, this is the last Persona game that was announced today.

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth announced for 3DS

Yup, it’s another Persona 3/4 spin-off game! Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth will be coming to 3DS on June 5th 2014 in Japan. This game will be similar in gameplay and style to the Etrian Odyssey games and is also being directed by Daisuke Kaneda, who previously worked on Etrian Odyssey 4.

Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold coming to PS3 in 2014

Previously only announced for arcades, Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold has officially been announced for PS3 today. While arcades will be getting the game on November 28th, the PS3 version will be released in the summer of 2014 in Japan.

Along with this announcement a new trailer showing new gameplay and cutscenes was also released, with a tease for a new character at the end. Due to the character being a spoiler for the endgame of Persona 4, you’ll have to see the trailer for yourself to see who he is. (Of course, this does mean you’ll probably see the spoiler in the comments section below)

Atlus’ latest teaser for their upcoming Persona announcement


Atlus has been teasing a big announcement this weekend, since a few months ago. Now we are getting closer to the reveal, so Atlus wants to keep fan’s attention with teasers.  This latest brief teaser was on their livestream on Nico Nico Douga, check it out above.

Atlus will be fully revealing the title on Novemeber 24, that’s this Sunday. Are we going to post what the game is here on SEGAbits? You betcha! See you then, as for now, what do you think it is?

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse released today to iOS


 
The rollout of SEGA iOS titles continues with Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse! I don’t recall this title ever being announced for iOS, so this is quite the surprise. The game itself is fantastic, which you can read all about in our review. The game can be played on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch for $9.99 USD. What game can we expect next from SEGA? Well, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was promised a November release, so stay tuned for that one. Also, the Nintendo 3DS SEGA 3D Classics begin releasing next week with 3D Space Harrier and 3D Super Hang-On on Thanksgiving day.

Demon Tribe now available and free to download on iOS


 
Demon Tribe, produced by Masayoshi Kikuchi of Panzer Dragoon, Yakukza, and Jet Set Radio fame, is now available to download on iOS for free! That’s right, no need for us to convert prices or post a list of currencies for each country. The title is free to download now, and those who get into the game early gain access to exclusive KISS Demons and other launch rewards. As shared by the SEGA Blog, completing the following objectives unlocks exclusive demons designed to look like members of the band KISS:

Receive KISS ‘The Star Child’ Rare Demon (Paul Stanley) when you complete the tutorial!
Receive KISS ‘The Demon’ Rare Demon (Gene Simmons) when you share the exciting launch of Demon Tribe to your Facebook or Twitter profile from within the game!
Receive 1,000 CP (in-game currency) by raising your Organization Level to 20!
Receive Bonus Gems to summon more Demons just for logging in!

A weird, but welcomed, bonus indeed. SEGA describes the game as an intense real-time blend of MOBA, Card Collection and RPG gaming. Players are tasked with building a powerful team of fighters by capturing demons and fusing them into magic that transforms you and your tribe into the very demons you vanquish. For more info on the game, head on over to the SEGA Blog or simply download it now!

First 4 Figures Sonic Generations diorama up for pre-order, prices revealed

horizontal
 
First 4 Figures latest line of Sonic statues departs from the Modern or Classic designations for a theme dubbed The Sonic Diorama Collection. Promising to “celebrate iconic scenes from Sonic’s amazingly diverse history”, the first of these diorama statues features Modern and Classic Sonic rolling around at the speed of sound through City Escape in Sonic Generations. The statue is now up for pre-order, with an exclusive edition featuring illuminated sparks and ramp for $329.99, limited to 450 pieces. The standard edition lacks the lights and is $299.99, limited to 1,000 pieces. Both are estimated to release on the second quarter of 2014.

While the first of these dioramas is quite attractive, as with previous First 4 Figures Sonic statues, the price is ever going up as each new statue is revealed. The first Sonic statue, released in 2009, featured Sonic in his classic design on a Green Hill base for $129.99. The most recent Sonic statue, featuring Shadow, in the exclusive form was $229.99. By comparison, this new diorama is a $100 increase from the last statue, and a $200 increase from the first of the Sonic statues. What do you all think? Is $300+ worth it for this new statue? What Sonic diorama’s would you like to see in the future?

Charles Bellfield, former SEGA VP of strategic planning and corporate affairs, has passed away

charles_bellfield_1 copy
 
Sad news this morning as we have learned that Charles Bellfield, SEGA of America’s former VP of strategic planning and corporate affairs from 1998 to 2003, has passed away. Bellfield was best known as the spokesman for Sega of America during the launch of the Dreamcast. The news of his passing came from his brother Edward through Facebook, saying that Bellfield had passed away in San Francisco on Friday night. Bellfield held other positions in the gaming industry including executive roles at Edelman, Capcom, Codemasters, 3DV Systems, EmotionPlay, and Imagination Technologies’ Pure North America division.

Peter Moore, Bellfield’s SEGA boss during the Dreamcast era, described him as “good time Charlie. The life of every party, a true bon vivant. The quintessential Englishman abroad. You’ve left us way too soon Charlie, but you’ve also left us with a hundred stories to tell and a thousand smiles on all of our faces. The room was a better, more fun-filled place when you were in it.”

We here at SEGAbits send our condolences to Bellfield’s family and friends. He will be missed.