Gamestop’s PowerUp Rewards lets you spend your points on SEGA Genesis games

Hey, do you wish that GameStop still sold retro video games like SEGA Genesis carts? Well, if you are a PowerUp Rewards member you can now spend your points on SEGA Genesis games. Right now they only have Shining In the Darkness and Mortal Kombat. Yes, not the greatest selection, but it’s a good start!

I wasn’t going to post this due to the fact that GameStop sold out of their SEGA Genesis games. But, since they are in such high demand they will most likely get more. If you wondered how the PowerUp Rewards point system works, check out this great blog post on it.

First4Figures reveals their modern Sonic statue

Via their Facebook page, First4Figures have revealed the first in their modern line of Sonic statues: Sonic the Hedgehog. Like the photo says, pre-orders start May 15th, 2012 and there will be a very limited number of statues available. I have to say, when I heard of a modern line I was iffy, but this statue looks great! While I won’t be getting it, the F4F statues are too rich for my blood, I do love looking at photos of them. What do you think, dear readers? Would you let this hedgehog into your home?

Rumor: SEGA’s Hardlight studio shifting from Vita to iOS

In January we reported on a new SEGA studio called Hardlight, whose goal was to develop “high quality and innovative experiences for both current and future platforms”. Hardlight’s first game was, and may still be, a “unique action adventure” for the Playstation Vita. However, since SEGA’s recent changes, some SEGA fans questioned what was to become of Hardlight’s project. After the break, speculation as to what the status of the game is and why it might be heading to iOS.

Check out this awesome GameWorks Virtua Cop statue that never became a reality

This exclusive, never before seen, concept sketch comes courtesy of a GameWorks social media employee who recently joined up with the Sonic Stadium forums. Seems a GameWorks topic brought the forum to his attention. As a special treat, the “GameWorks Social Media guy” shared a very special bit of concept art that he describes as “mock-up art of a Virtua Cop statue from way back when GameWorks was only a glimmer in SEGA & DreamWorks’ eye”. This statue never made it to the construction stage, but it is a very cool piece of SEGA, and Virtua Cop, history. You can check out the full sized image here. After the break, his thoughts on SEGA’s split with GameWorks.

Monster World IV and two more now on American Virtual Console (there’s still a Virtual Console!?)

Edit: Updated headline, joke still works.

The long awaited Monster World IV, as well as Super Hang-On and Wonder Boy in Monster Land, are now available to download on the American WiiWare Virtual Console. Each game is 900 Wii Store points, or around $9. If you have a PS3 or XBOX 360, it might be best to wait for the upcoming compilations which will feature sharper visuals, a slicker interface and more games for your buck. Still, great to see Monster World IV finally getting a release. We were talking about it as far back as this time last year.

Redux: Dark Matter – A new game being developed for Dreamcast

Do you like new games? Do you like your Dreamcast? Then it’s most likely that you want a new game for your old Dreamcast. How about Redux: Dark Matter? It’s a arcade space side scrolling shooter? It’s true that the Dreamcast indie scene has released mostly these types of games, but they are pretty fun.

Sadly if you want Redux: Dark Matters to come to Dreamcast you will have to put in some cash. The developer started a kickstarter page for the project which will allow you to grab a limited edition (limited to 1,000) of Redux: Dark Waters and Dux 1.5. Think of it as a bonus for believing in the project. Above is a video showing the game in alpha stages. Game is being developed by René Hellwig from NG:DEV.TEAM (GunLord, Fast Striker, Last Hope and DUX) and KTX Software (The Haunted: Hells Reach, Gem’X iOS).

SEGA is skipping Gamescom 2012

SEGA has confirmed that they will have no booth at this year’s Gamescom event in Germany. Gamescom is basically Europe’s E3, and even though the event has gained incredible popularity, SEGA says that their 2012 releases won’t benefit from being at the August event.

“Sega has made the decision not to attend Gamescom this year  Gamescom 2011 was a very successful show for us and continues to be the most important European event in the calendar.Unfortunately the release timing of our 2012 AAA titles and new projects don’t work with the mid- August scheduling of the show. The decision will not mean that Sega will never attend Gamescom in the future, this was simply a commercial decision made for 2012.”

Seems that SEGA Europe has been hit the hardest. Now they don’t have a community team, their CEO is leaving (Also America’s CEO) and no presence at a big event like this? What do you guys think?

Flick of the Dead released to the Japanese iOS app store

Flick of the Dead, which was trademarked in early April, has released today in Japan to their iOS store. The game is, as many guessed, a Typing of the Dead for iOS devices. This iteration is said to have added over 25,000 words, a boss rush and a drill mode. Unfortunately, the game is exclusive to Japan at the moment, however given that Miku Flick released to English app stores, it is possible we’ll see this getting a wider release at some point. The game is currently free to download, so if you can download it, do so. After the break, screens!  “I don’t want to tap!”

Anarchy Reigns gets a Japanese game mode trailer

Here is the latest Japanese trailer for Anarchy Reigns. Sadly the trailer is in Japanese, if only SEGA West acted like this game existed then we’d get English trailers. Oh, can we start the Anaracy Reigns is not coming West rumors now?

Are we ever going to get tired of writing “Hell Yeah!” headlines? Hell no!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uP6QpUWs_I

A new gameplay trailer has arrived for SEGA and Arkedo Studio’s Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit. The trailer reveals a bit of the game’s plot, which I won’t spoil. You’ll have to see it in the trailer. It is – ahem – quite odd. The art style is definitely influenced by Rayman Origins and Splosion Man, complete with wacky over the top environments and lots of meat flying about. Gameplay looks very fun, it’s like if General Grievous of Star Wars went on a rampage on his wheel bike. The game is set for a summer release to XBLA, PSN and Steam.

Thanks to SEGAbits forum member max_cady for the heads up!

PSO2 Producer Satoshi Sakai briefs fans on upcoming features, reveals previous beta stats

 PSO2 Producer Satoshi Sakai sat down with fans recently to discuss the upcoming open BETA for Phantasy Star Online 2, as well as the final game, which is expected to launch in Japan this summer. They also revealed the stats of the last closed beta, and revealed that another closed BETA may be in order before they can continue with the open BETA. The stats for the closed BETA are as follows:

  • 147,000 CBT Client Downloads
  • 131,000 people participated in the Beta.
  • Average of 63,000 people login a day.
  • 23,500 simultaneous connections.

The Creative Assembly’s up and coming Alien game listed for future consoles

It seems that the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 is not the only console that the Creative Assembly’s Alien game is coming to. According to a recent job listing in which the developer is looking for a multiplayer/gameplay programmer to help create “a AAA multi-platform title on current and future generation consoles set in the Alien universe” This implication of future consoles could mean the successor to the Xbox 360/Playstation 3 or as implied elsewhere, perhaps closer to being made available on the Wii U. SEGA’s other Aliens title, Aliens: Colonial Marines, is also being produced for the Nintendo Wii U so to have a version of the Creative Assembly’s Alien title would not be out of the ordinary.

SEGA employee’s LinkedIn account reveals unannounced downloadable game

Matthew is an Associate Producer at SEGA of America and like many people in the industry the man has a LinkedIn account. You know, to chit chat with other Associate Producers at other companies and stuff like this. OK, maybe it’s time for me to admit that I don’t know what LinkedIn is used for. But who cares, he posted that he is working on an unannounced game for Xbox Live Arcade, PSN, PC, and the Wii-U.

So now we are thinking, what can this upcoming game be? Only Matthew Hickman would know. I’m sure if you make an account and bother him enough he will tell you. No, I’m kidding, don’t do that. But if you do want to do it, here is a link to his account.