SEGA News

SEGA teases new mobile game Sonic Jump, coming soon

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The image and the headline are all we know for now, but based on the name and platform it looks like Sonic will soon be entering the run and jump genre. To be honest, I don’t know why SEGA hasn’t done this sooner. Sonic the Sketchhog and Nike had run and jump Sonic games, but both were free promos available to play for only a limited time. This time out, they might make some money on it. Either as a free game that relies on in-app purchases or an inexpensive one time purchase.

Edit: I just realized that Sonic Jump was in fact a mobile phone game released back in 2005, which played a bit like Doodle Jump (released in 2009). So this could either be a port or an updated version of the game. After the break, check out some original Sonic Jump gameplay.

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Danica Patrick’s All-Stars Racing Transformed vehicle revealed

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Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed guest characters Danica Patrick and Wreck-It Ralph have their vehicles on display in two new promo photos. Danica’s images are the most interesting, as up until now we have yet to see anything of her in-game self. Danica’s car might look familiar, as it is based off the design of a fictional car she designed with Hot Wheels for a toy car. Ralph remains unchanged from when we saw him last at the Sonic Boom event. After the break, check out Ralph’s image.

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Zaxxon Escape is out now for iOS and Google Play devices

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That was fast! Just this past Tuesday, Zaxxon Escape was announced for smartphone devices, and only two days later the game has released! This has to be a world record in game announcing and releasing. SEGA has put together a launch trailer showing off the gameplay, and released some screens. You can download  the game on iPad and iPhone here or download the game for Google Play devices here. I’ve just downloaded it and will share my thoughts on it in an eventual review.

After the break, screens!

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Ulala confirmed for All-Stars Racing Transformed, plus more screens and a new trailer!

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What a day it has been for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed reveals! First we learned about Sky Sanctuary being a track, then a batch of new screens release confirming the return of Ulala to the racer roster as well as what appears to be a The House of the Dead Curien Mansion track. Also, a new trailer entitled “Ways to Race” shows off the many game modes including world tour, multiplayer and missions, as well as our first look at what I assume is the Shinobi track. Great news for The House of the Dead fans: the franchise is also represented as a battle arena. Also, Sonic’s Starlight Carnival, Jet Set Radio and After Burner will have their own arenas.

After the break, screens featuring Ulala and the NiGHTS track!

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Sky Sanctuary track to appear in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

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The micro site for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed has updated, and with the update comes confirmation of a new track: Sky Sanctuary! Sky Sanctuary is, of course, the popular yet brief stage from Sonic & Knuckles in which the player raced towards the Death Egg through floating ruins. Given Transformed relying on flight, this choice makes perfect sense. The Sonic franchise now has four tracks appearing in the game: Death Egg, Seaside Hill, Starlight Carnival and Sky Sanctuary. No word on if we can expect more. Personally, I think four is a good number and the variety is excellent. If they had to add a fifth, I say give us a track from one of the Sonic Adventure games. Red Mountain, Ice Cap or Pyramid Cave would all be great picks. Now I just can’t wait to hear what Richard Jacques has up his sleeve for Sky Sanctuary stage music.

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SEGA expanding on Hostess dating in Yakuza 5

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I know that Yakuza franchise is known for beating the crap out of Japanese gangsters, but it is also known for its hostess mini-games. SEGA is bringing this back (don’t they always?) and expanding on it. In the past games conversations with the hostess where always in text. In Yakuza 5, they will have spoken lines with regional dialects and a new free action system should give players more realistic conversations as well.

If the hostess likes you, you can take her out on a date. This will actually allow you to walk around with her in town and take her places. The more you explore the cities, the more conversation starters you get. Dating will open up side stories for each character you play as, making it unique and expands on the game’s story. Check out more pictures by hitting the jump.

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SEGA shows off its new arcade title, Dream Raiders

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Above is an artist rendering of the arcade cabinet for SEGA’s new typhoon game, Dream Raiders. I know most of you where thinking this hopefully had something to do with NiGHTS into Dreams, but it doesn’t. Sorry.

The game is set to give players a ‘sense of speed’ by mimicking wind effects in real time as you play. This sort of thing is usually referred to as 4D, so this would be a 4D game. Though I doubt SEGA wants to use it to market it, seeing how most people find 3D to be a gimmick (which it mostly is). The game is running on RingWide arcade board. This is usually used for less graphically powered games. Hit the jump to see screenshots of the game! If you want to see video, SEGA is holding it hostage till they get 100 likes on the game’s Facebook page.

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SEGA releases several Hideki Naganuma soundtracks onto iTunes

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There is a God! While we’ve been expecting the Naganuma-centric version of the Jet Set Radio soundtrack to hit, not only did we get that, but Sega also included a JSRF soundtrack with all of Naganuma’s tunes and the soundtrack to Ollie King! Ollie $#@king King! Why are you still reading this?! Shrink this window, go to iTunes, buy the soundtracks, listen, then come back here and comment!

…DO IT NOW!!

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Sonic to appear in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for at least two more years

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According to the LinkedIn account of a former SEGA employee, a giant Sonic can be expected to float through New York for another two years in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. As a part of his accomplishments at SEGA, former Senior Director Of Marketing Darren Williams writes:

Since 2009 my team delivered 5 new company benchmarks for product reservations and retail sell in as well as eye catching mass market promotions such as securing three year videogame category exclusive rights at the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Given that Sonic debuted in the parade last year, this means we’ll be seeing him for at least another two years. Perhaps even more if SEGA manages to renew or extend the contract. Another possibility is that SEGA could debut a different balloon, given that Darren didn’t specifically state “Sonic”, but rather exclusive rights in the videogame category. However, given Sonic’s popularity, I can’t see them replacing him with another character. In any case, kudos to Darren for securing that three year deal!

Thanks to Shadzter of SSMB for sharing the news.

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Sonic Adventure 2 and NiGHTS hit PSN today, XBLA on October 5th, PC in “coming months”

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SEGA has released a launch trailer to celebrate the release of two more SEGA Heritage collection releases: Sonic Adventure 2 and NiGHTS Into Dreams. Both titles hit PSN today, and XBLA gets them on October 5th. Also available at launch will be Battle Mode DLC for Sonic Adventure 2, while NiGHTS will have Christmas NiGHTS content included at no extra cost. Those who buy a copy on PSN will receive a free exclusive NiGHTS or Sonic Adventure 2 theme for their PS3. As for the PC versions, SEGA says to stay tuned for more info and that they should arrive in the coming months.

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SEGA announces Zaxxon Escape for iOS and Google Play devices!

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Suddenly a new Ecco doesn’t seem so crazy now that SEGA has announced a sequel to an arcade and Master System classic. Zaxxon Escape, coming soon to iPhone, iPad, and Google Play devices, will be the fifth title in SEGA’s shooter series. The first Zaxxon originated in the arcade, but soon was ported to nearly every gaming console and home computer in the early 80’s. Zaxxon was revolutionary for its time, as it was the first game to feature isometric projection (pixel art that gave the illusion of 3D gameplay). Zaxxon was also one of the first games to display shadows, to show the relation of the ship to the surface of the levels, and was the first arcade game to be advertised on television. An arcade sequel, Super Zaxxon, was released as well as a third title aptly named Zaxxon 3-D, which took advantage of the Master System’s 3D glasses. A fourth, and until now, final sequel was released to the 32X by the name of Zaxxon’s Motherbase 2000. If you want to learn more about that game, check out the My Life With SEGA review.

So with all that history in mind, Zaxxon Escape is quite a big deal. So far, SEGA has only announced the game, released the above video, and a few screens which can be seen after the break. So until more information is given, I say celebrate the return of a SEGA classic. Does it hurt that the title is, at the moment, a smartphone game? Hell no! Having played a number of great space shooters on my iPad, including Space Invaders Infinity Gene and Shogun, I feel that with the right developers behind it, this could be a great game.

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Sonic the Hedgehog Monopoly available now!

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What does Sonic, The Simpsons, the Chicago Bulls, Heinz tomato ketchup and John Wayne all have in common? They all have their own Monopoly games. While we’ve known of Sonic Monopoly for quite a while, it wasn’t until just this weekend that the game has become available to purchase online, and in the coming weeks the game will start to arrive on store shelves. The game can be found on a number of toy and game sites, as well as Amazon, for $39.99. I’ve bought myself one and expect to receive it tomorrow, so stay tuned to SEGAbits for an unboxing and review of the game.

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Check out some soundtrack samples from Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed

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Today, Destructoid got a new preview and some soundtrack samples for Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed. The game’s soundtrack, which includes Outrun up above, was remixed by Richard Jacques in his brand new studio. Man! An entire soundtrack of Sega remixes by Richard Jacques?!! Sega! Bring that to iTunes ASAP! In the meantime check out the rest of Destructoid’s preview for more info.

Two more tracks in the comments section.

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All Stars Racing Wii U frame rate issues fixed, says Sumo Digital

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If anything, the Wii U version is now the closest to the target frame rate, well discounting the PC version that is.

Those are the words from Sumo Digital’s Steve Lycett, who took to the SEGA forums to quell doubts about the reportedly sluggish framerate in the Wii U version of SEGA’s hotly anticipated racer.

With Sumo Digital’s assurance that this potentially crippling issue has been fixed, is anyone planning on picking up the Wii U version?

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Play-Asia lists the US version of Valkyria Chronicles 3

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Seems that the boys at Play-Asia made an error, the site has a page for the US version of Valkyria Chronicles 3 on the PSP. The issue? The game has not been announced for Western release. So in the end, we have to determine that most likely, Play-Asia’s web team made a mistake… Or maybe SEGA has a few surprises for Valkyria Chronicles fans?

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