Wait! Don’t update Sonic 4 Episode 1 iOS yet!

Those with iOS devices like the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch know all about the tempting little update notification that appears on the App Store icon. That little red number stating the number of apps with new updates is often a treat. Perhaps some bugs have been fixed, or new stages have been added to your favorite games. Well in the case of Sonic 4 Episode 1, the latest update deletes the players progress! So before you read on, make sure you’re not about to press that “UPDATE” button for the game, at least if you’re playing on iPod Touch and iPhone. The update itself seems to fix some bugs and improve stability, though I haven’t noticed any difference outside of a Sonic 4 Episode 2 ad that popped up the first time I opened the app. I haven’t seen the ad since, so it may be a one time thing. I did lose my progress, but I knew full well I might and updated anyway for the sake of this article. SEGA has yet to comment on the update, but hopefully an update to the update brings back the save file or a revised update appears that saves those who have yet to download the update. More updates on the update when we’re… updated.

Taiko Drum Master to be a playable arcade unit in Yakuza 5

SEGA loves adding real world brand collaborations in the Yakuza series. This time around SEGA is collaborating with Namco Bandai to have their game Taiko Drum Master appear as a playable arcade unit in Yakuza 5.

The arcade unit will allow you to select from a handful of songs, including Mappy Ondo, Nijiiro Yumeiro and Shinsekai Yori. This was announced on this week’s Famitsu as a part of looking back at ten years of Taiko Drum Master. The issue also included a picture of our tan hero Toshihiro Nagoshi playing a Taiko arcade unit. So rare.

Check out Hatsune Miku Project Diva F’s opening CGI video

Above is the CG video that will greet you when you turn out your copy of Hatsune Miku Project Diva F on your Playstation Vita. That is, if you are going to import the title since and since no Hatsune Miku game has been released out of Japan (not counting Miku Flick) I wouldn’t hold my breath.

SEGA says to Disney: “Make my Eggman grow!”

Rich Moore, director of many classic The Simpsons episodes and director of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, shared a funny SEGA anecdote while being interviewed by IGN:

“We did have kind of a check-in process, where we would show them the footage and say, ‘What do you think? Is it good?’ At one point, [Nintendo] said, ‘Bowser’s much bigger than that. He’s way bigger than Zangief.’ We were like, ‘Okay, we’ll make him bigger. How’s that?’ They’d say, ‘Yes, that’s good — but he wouldn’t drink his coffee like that. He wouldn’t make that mouth.’ [Laughs] Of course, then people from Sega said, ‘Well, Doctor Robotnik is bigger.’ [Laughs] They wanted their characters bigger and bigger. We were going to end up with these giants in a room, with Ralph as this little guy… But I think that stuff really helped. I looked back on our original animation before the Nintendo notes, and it was like, ‘You know, he does look more like Bowser now.'”

You can read the full interview over at IGN, though this is the only SEGA mention.

Sonic 4 Episode II True Blue Initiative video goes live

When Sonic 4 Episode I released, the SEGA Blog did something quite controversial: they rewarded those who bought more than one version of the game. The nerve! It’s one thing to offer the game on multiple platforms, but it’s quite another thing to reward those who decide to spend their own money on more than one version of the game. The community team is at it again. For Sonic 4 Episode II the offer was: buy two or more versions of the game and get a mention in a video. Buy four or more versions of the game and get a mention and a Sonic 4 Episode II poster signed by those from SEGA of America who worked on the game. Seeing as we here at SEGAbits are true blue, and we like to hear the community team say our name, we sent in our digital receipts and got a mention at 56 seconds into the video. Kellie thanks the site and the entire SEGAbits crew. Thanks Kellie! SEGAbits forum member Kori, who maintains the Website of the Dead, gets a mention in the poster tier. Did your name get a mention? Sound off below.

Aliens: Colonial Marines – Xenos vs. Marines trailer

From Machinima comes a new Aliens: Colonial Marines trailer. It includes the Gearbox staff showing off the Xenomorphs along with the Marines weapons. Between these early looks and the ads I’ve been seeing all around GameStop, Sega is really giving this game a huge marketing push. Especially since it doesn’t arrive until February 2013.

Creative Assembly’s Rome II will be ‘Total War’s Saving Private Ryan’


Creative Assembly has been making some of the best strategy games on PC for years, but they want to do more with Rome II. They want to add Spielberg level of drama. It has been confirmed that Total War: Rome II will be the biggest and most detailed Total War game yet. So anything extra is awesome. Studio says it really took inspiration from the film Saving Private Ryan and wants to make the players care about the characters on screen.

Project DIVA f – Trailer

To be honest I’ve spent a long time now somewhat ignoring the Project Diva series, as it’s never had a release in the West coupled with my only passing interest in rhythm games it has remained on the peripheries of my gaming radar. However I have to say I felt a bit of a tingle while watching this latest trailer for Project DIVA f for the PS Vita.

Somewhere between the Phantasy Star Online 2 cameo and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it glimpse of what looks like a modified Dreamcast controller this trailer managed to capture my attention. If Sega was to ever take a risk with bringing Project DIVA West it should be with a game like this. Perhaps a digital release? What do you think?

SEGA posts a Sonic Boom 2012 recap video

Oh memories, it feels like Sonic Boom 2012 just happened. Wait, it did? Jesus, time is going slow. If you went to the event, congratulations, you can now relive it through YouTube daily. If you didn’t, you can watch the video above and make yourself believe you were there.

Hideki Kamiya says he’d make a sequel to Viewtiful Joe before Bayonetta

It’s no secret that there’s a been a strong demand amongst the SEGA fanbase for a sequel to Bayonetta, the popular beat-em-up from Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya. With years having passed since Bayonetta graced consoles and with Platinum Games and SEGA seeming to have parted ways, a sequel (at least, from Kamiya and his team) has seemed less and less likely as time has gone on.

That said, the subject did come up in a recent Famitsu interview, though Kamiya’s answer may not be the one fans were hoping to hear. When asked whether he’d rather develop a sequel to Bayonetta or Viewtiful Joe if given the chance, it turns out he favors the latter.

As a person who really enjoyed Viewtiful Joe and found Bayonetta to be rather annoying, this is actually positive news for me, though I’d imagine many SEGA fans won’t see it that way. Fans shouldn’t give up hope entirely, however, as Kamiya goes on to mention that he and one of Bayonetta’s producers have occasionally discussed the idea of doing a sequel or spinoff; usually, he says, while drinking beer.

Take from that what you will.

Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed Bonus Edition Announced

Looks like the mystery of the third bonus character may have been solved and it’s a Sega character this time! Today, Sega has announced Sonic and All-Stars Racing Bonus Edition. This special edition contains an exclusive Outrun Bay track as well as Metal Sonic with a levitating vehicle. In addition are some exclusive emoticon stickers. This bonus edition is only available as a pre-order exclusive (although I’m sure the bonus items will be available for sale as DLC later). There will also be a seperate limited edition available for Europe, but no details as of yet. Read on for for Sega’s official announcement.