SEGA News
Tons of Virtua Fighter News from VF20th NicoNico Live Stream
From last night’s stream, NicoNico Live featured the celebration of Virtua Fighter’s 20th Anniversary. The event was held in Tokyo Joypolis Park hosted by Sexy Saitou and Asapon. AM2’s Daichi Katagiri, VF’s game coordinater, made an appearance as well as other special guests such as Tekken series producer, Harada and former AM2 head, Yu Suzuki on pre-recorded video to share their thoughts and experience with the series. During the stream, SEGA announced a ton of awesome Virtua Fighter news to celebrate the series anniversary. What to know what they are, hit the jump young grass hoppers.
Alien Isolation screenshots leak, depicting a quieter take on the Aliens franchise
Eurogamer has shared some interesting screenshots from the upcoming unannounced Creative Assembly title Alien Isolation, which appeared online yesterday via Twitter. The images depict a quiet, creepy space installation and the motion tracker as seen in the films. Not much else can be gleaned from the screens, aside from a taste of the atmosphere the game will likely convey. SEGA has yet to comment on the images, despite job listings, trademarks, and these new screens making it very clear that a game is in development.
3D Ecco the Dolphin and Galaxy Force II hit the Nintendo eShop today, Sonic 2 out now for iOS and Android
Today is a big day for classic SEGA releases, as the 3DS will see the release of 3D Ecco the Dolphin and 3D Galaxy Force II and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has released to iOS and Android devices. Those who have experienced M2’s 3D Sonic the Hedgehog, 3D Altered Beast, 3D Space Harrier, and 3D Hang-On should expect the same level of quality and features in 3D Ecco the Dolphin and 3D Galaxy Force II. 3D Ecco the Dolphin features a much touted “Super Dolphin Mode” for those who found the original game too difficult.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for iOS and Android is every bit as solid as SEGA’s previous remastering of Sonic the Hedgehog by Sonic Retro forum members Taxman and Stealth. The biggest addition that has excited many fans is the inclusion of the long lost Hidden Palace Zone stage. There are also a few new surprises, but we won’t spoil them for you just yet.
Sonic 2 Coming to iOS and Android Tomorrow With Hidden Palace Zone Intact
After missing it’s November release date, Taxman and Stealth’s remastering of Sonic 2 is finally coming to iOS and Android tomorrow. The delay is made worthwhile though with the addition of perhaps the most well known of the scrapped levels found in the beta versions: the Hidden Palace Zone. If you’ve played the duo’s Sonic 1 iOS/Android remastering, you probably know that they like to add other new stuff to the game. So you can probably expect other new features in this release as well.
If you already own the former Sonic 2 iOS port, you’ll be able to download this new version as a free update. This is the first time the game is released on Android though, so your only option is to buy it new when it comes to that platform. You can find a couple more screenshots of the remastering below.
Japan’s next Nintendo 3DS SEGA classic is After Burner II
While the West is still enjoying SEGA’s weekly releases of 3D arcade and Genesis titles for Nintendo’s 3DS, with 3D Ecco the Dolphin and 3D Galaxy Force 2 releasing this week, Japanese gamers have the next wave of 3D classics to look forward to. Releasing December 18th to Japan is the arcade classic After Burner II, which features many of the same features that made 3D Space Harrier and 3D Hang-On so great. Players can expect 3D gameplay, reproduced arcade cabinet graphics and sound effects, stage select, the ability to save the game at any time, varying degrees of difficulty, a music test, and several control and screen settings. Check out the official 3D After Burner II site for more images and details, no announcement has been made for a Western release but once we hear something we’ll be sure to share it.
Sonic Lost World Wii U software update is a real game changer!
In a rare occurrence, Sonic Team and SEGA have released a software update for the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World that will not only fix some bugs, but will also significantly affect gameplay. The SEGA Blog made the announcement that the new patch will go live soon, and check out the changes and additions they’re making to the game:
Gameplay Updates:
• Collecting 100 rings will now grant the player an extra life.
• In the event of a Game Over, we have doubled the amount of lives the player will begin with when continuing. (From 5 to 10)
• The Indigo Asteroid, Crimson Eagle, Orange Rocket, and Black Bomb Color Powers can now be controlled using the analog stick and buttons.
• Fixed a rare graphical issue that would sometimes appear during the pinball section of the Frozen Factory casino area.Additional Updates:
• When completing the NiGHTMARE DLC, users will be notified that they can re-play it after scoring 100,000 points.
• Items will now appear on the world map.
Those that read my review of the game may remember I noted that the wisps felt forced, as though Sonic Team was making use of the GamePad because they had to, not because it improved the gameplay. However, Controlling many of the wisps with the analog stick and buttons may just fix this issue I had with the game, or at the very least make the wisps easier to control. Another biggie is the 100 rings earns a life addition, a gameplay rule that has been in effect since the series began and was found by many to be an odd omission. Once the update goes live, we’ll update the review accordingly.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Yogscast PC DLC releases today
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed has added another guest racer to the roster by way of the Yogscast. What is the Yogscast? The Steam page for the DLC describes Yogscast as “the UK’s most watched YouTube channel”. The DLC, which is priced at $4.99/€3.99, came about though a partnership with SEGA to raise money for the YouTube channel’s annual charity drive. The racer is Yogscast’s very own Simon Lane, aka Honeydew. 100% of all SEGA and Yogscast proceeds are being donated to the SpecialEffect charity.
You can purchase the DLC and learn more about the content on the dedicated Steam page. After the break, check out a gallery of the guest racer.
[Updated] Christopher Evan Welch did not voice Tails in “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog”
Update: a friend of the family replied to my inquiry stating “I believe this is a miscredit”, and I was directed to his agents who could potentially give me a solid answer. At the moment, it looks like Christopher Evan Welch did not voice Tails.
UPDATE 2: I have reached out to Christopher Evan Welch’s talent agency Paradigm in New York and the credit of Tails attributed to Christopher Evan Welch is “not accurate”. Thank you to Courtney of Paradigm for her help.
UPDATE 3: Another confirmation, this time from Christopher Evan Welch himself. A friend of his contacted me and told me “I asked Chris about it a couple of years ago and he said it was a mistake.” Also the voice of Coconuts, Ian James Corlett, informed us that the recording for the show took place in British Columbia, meaning Christopher Welch was likely a young boy from that area much like his 1996 replacement.
UPDATE 4: Ian James Corlett tweeted some more information to us, stating that the voice of Tails was from Seattle, which is quite a coincidence as that is the city where Christopher Evan Welch was working. While Christopher (not Evan) Welch was close to Vancouver, it’s possible he recorded his lines in Los Angeles. Jaleel White recorded in Los Angeles, and given the chemistry needed between Sonic and Tails, it is possible Christopher Welch recorded in LA.
This means that the voice actor for Tails, Christopher Welch, is a different person entirely and may still be out there.
Since the news broke that the voice actor for Tails in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog had passed away, 90’s era Sonic fans such as myself were heartbroken to learn that we lost another actor from the iconic show. However, as I spoke with Sonic fans in various forums and instant message conversations, several red flags went up regarding Christopher Evan Welch’s participation in the cartoon series. For starters, there was the age. Christopher Evan Welch was 48 at the time of his passing, which means he was 28 in 1993. Several sources back this age up, including friends and family on Chris’s Facebook memorial page, comments on Variety.com’s story, and a photo on The Seattle Times which shows Christopher Evan Welch in 1993. He was definitely not an 11 year old in 1993.
Update: Christopher Evan Welch was not the voice actor for Tails in “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog”
Variety has reported that actor Christopher Evan Welch, the voice of Miles “Tails” Prower in The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series, has passed away at the age of 48*. Welch voiced Tails in all 65 episodes of the series alongside Jaleel White’s Sonic and Long John Baldry’s Robotnik (Baldry passed away in 2005).
Welch’s other TV credits include AMC’s Rubicon, The Sopranos, The Practice, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU and The Good Wife. Welch also appeared in several movies including Spielberg’s War of the Worlds and Lincoln, Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master and Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
All of us at SEGAbits, especially those of us who grew up on Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, send our thoughts and prayers to Welch’s family. He will be missed.
I wanted to add that the Seattle Times has a fantastic tribute to Welch’s stage acting career, featuring a great photo from 1993 which was around the same time he had worked on Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
* Despite many entertainment outlets stating that Welch was likely 48, this doesn’t jive with his child-like voice in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. At 48 now, Welch would be 28 in 1993. But given puberty has been the presumed cause for Welch not appearing in Sonic Christmas Blast in 1996, he would have been closer to 11 which matches with a 1983 birthdate floating around. And yet, the Seattle Times shows a photo from 1993 featuring a man much older than 11. So either Welch was much older and could do a great child voice, and did not appear in the Christmas special for other reasons, or something else is not matching up.
Yogscast DLC teased for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Recently, Sumo Digital producer Steve Lycett has been teasing a new controversial character to be added to the roster of the PC version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. Nothing has been formally announced as of yet, but according to a recent stream from the Yogscast – one of UK’s top Youtube channels – it was revealed that they’re pushing for a new Humble Bundle that is currently not active, which reportedly has Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed and a new racer as part of the deal. In addition, their livestream revealed not only the bundle, but that there is charity DLC on the way for the PC version of the game. They didn’t reveal what it is, but given Lycett’s comments, and what they mentioned and showed on the stream, the new racer could be Yogscast’s very own Simon.
Keep in mind it is entirely for charity and not a deal of a Lets Play “celebrity” taking away a spot of a potential SEGA character. Lycett also mentioned that there is more stuff on the way that would be bigger. But for now, this is whats set for December 6th.
More 3D SEGA classics in production for 3DS
Video game developer M2 has just confirmed via Twitter that they are working on a second series of 3D SEGA classics for the 3DS. M2 went on to confirm that there is a good chance these games will head west if they sell well enough in Japan. M2’s first series of 3D titles is currently being released weekly on Nintendo’s US and European eShops, with 3D Space Harrier and Super Hang-On already available on the service for $6 each.
What kind of games would you like to see?
Virtua Fighter 20th Anniversary Website Launches
With this year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Virtua Fighter series, SEGA launches a new website with the first blog which roughly translates “20 years have passed since the release of Virtua Fighter. Thank you very much to our fans.” “This special site will be sequentially updated to celebrate this milestone, looking back at every step of the path to present day.”
In Famitsu’s article on the 20th Anniversary of Virtua Fighter, the site will update with the development of the games and tournament history.
SEGA Talks Atlus acquisition, Free to use Dormant SEGA IPs
In a recent Famitsu interview, SEGA Sammy’s Chief Operating Officer, Naoya Tsurumi, talks a little bit more about the future of Atlus brands and its relationship with SEGA Corporation.
There are some interesting tidbits in the Famitsu interview as Tsurumi-san explains that Atlus will continue developing their brands, making them bigger and for SEGA to sell them. The interview also mentions a line of SEGA IPs such Sakura Wars, Jet Set Radio, and Space Channel 5 as Tsurumi explains that the company has just started but definitely will give it more thought.
You can read the entire interview here. What are your thoughts about Atlus using dormant SEGA franchises?
SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog in the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
SEGA returned to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2013 with their signature Sonic float. Back in 1993 Sonic was the parade’s first video game character to make the transition to parade balloon, even beating his rival Mario who by our knowledge has yet to even appear as a balloon in the parade. Unfortunately 1993 was a windy day and several balloons, including Sonic, popped as they ran into street lamps and buildings. Thankfully, 2013’s parade had no such occurrences despite returning windy conditions.
From all of us at SEGAbits, have a very happy Thanksgiving!