The Rest of the Dreamcast Collection Finally Announced for PSN and XBLA!

Took them long enough, but SEGA has finally set a release date for the XBLA and PSN versions of Space Channel 5 Part 2 and SEGA Bass Fishing. Via the SEGA Blog, we now know that both titles will be released digitally on October 4th for PSN and October 5th for XBLA. Both titles, as well as Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi, have been available since February via the XBOX 360 disc release of The Dreamcast Collection. I reviewed it way back in March, rating it a B-. SEGA Bass Fishing is a fun and faithful port, but without the fishing controller it isn’t a “must play” game. Space Channel 5 Part 2, however, is an A+ release in my opinion. It’s a perfect port, widescreen support is very well implemented, and the game is a fantastic sequel brimming with catchy tunes and funky dancing. If you pick up one Dreamcast Collection game, make it Space Channel 5 Part 2.

By the way, wouldn’t the week of September 9th have made for a better release date?

[Source: SEGA Blog]

Puyo Puyo 20th Anniversary Trailer

Sega’s popular (in Japan) puzzle series Puyo Puyo marks it’s 20th anniversary this year and Sega is putting out a new Puyo Puyo game for PSP, 3DS, DS and Wii this year (again, in Japan). Western Sega fans may know this game more when it was Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine. Don’t expect to see any of these Puyo Puyo games reach the states as the market for them here doesn’t exist.

[Source: GoNintendo]

Footage of Binary Domain at TGS 2011

SEGA’s up and coming third person shooter has promised to feature large scale boss battles and the above video is a demonstration of one. Showcasing the giant spider mecha that has been seen in previous trailers but never shown in gameplay videos, check out this impressive big boss battle as the player has to take out the machines legs using rocket launches whilst dodging the mecha’s gun turrent and missile attacks. But that’s not all, click after the break to see two more videos showcasing other areas in the game.

[Thanks to Pao for the tip!]

Shining Force Cross Raid trailer for Ver B

Still exclusive to SEGA’s Japanese arcades, this current trailer for Shining Force Cross Raid continues to show the improvements AM2 is hoping to bring in the way of new bosses that range from a giant black dragon to a large clunky robot. They also hint at a new area and costume items the players will be able to collect to further customise their characters. The trailer shows plenty of battling and platforming that the Shining Force Cross titles have come to be known for.

SEGA titles appear in CESA awards for TGS 2011

SEGA managed to help themselves to two awards at the conclusion of the Tokyo Game Show. Both Binary Domain and Phantasy Star Online 2 were 2 of the 11 that picked up Future awards at CESA’s annual awards. The award is handed out based on popularity and is perhaps a good indication for what to expect from sales for both SEGA’s futuristic shooter and large scale online adventure game.

[Thanks Suzuki Yu for the tip!]

Treasure planning to make Guardian Heroes 2

Speaking exclusively to Eurogamer, Treasure have revealed they are planning on making a sequel to the classic SEGA Saturn title. Originally they had hoped to create the sequel from the get go however SEGA wanted the revitilize the IP before they started working on the sequel. Speaking Eurogamer, Treasure’s Hiroto Matsuura said;

“Originally, the project started as Guardian Heroes 2, the team that had been working on Sin & Punishment [last year’s Wii sequel], after that project they wanted to start a new game.”

“The project started as Guardian Heroes 2, but the publisher – that’s SEGA – said in order to create a sequel, they wanted us to revitalize the IP. So instead of starting on the sequel we made a remake.”

Hiroto Matsuura was however, open to give as an insight into what to expect if Guardian Heroes did get a sequel;

“The original core game mechanics is a 2D, layer-based game,” he said, “and that’s what we like about it. We may create characters and backgrounds in 3D, but the core mechanics will be the same.”

For those wishing to support the notion behind a sequel to Guardian Heroes, keep note that the release date for the XBLA port will be out in October.

[Source: Eurogamer]

Daisuke Sato: “If SEGA localizes, there would be new controls”

Daisuke Sato, director for Yakuza 3 and SEGA’s up and coming Binary Domain, was asked how Yakuza: Of the End compares to Binary Domain and other Western shooters, he said;

“For the western version of Yakuza: Of the End — if that’s going to happen, then we will tweak the controls, to be closer to other western shooting franchises.”

It is best to keep in mind that this is not confirmation if Yakuza of the End will be coming out in Western markets but rather the changes that would be made to the title if it made it here especially as the control for the title is radically different to the establish norms of third person shooters in the West.

[Source: Joystiq]

Super Monkey Ball Vita allows you to create a level by taking a photo


SEGA said that the newly announce Super Monkey Ball Vita would be using the PSP’s camera, but never said how. The latest TGS trailer gives us a glimpse on one thing you can use the camera for, creating levels. If you watch the trailer towards the end, they take a picture of a banana and the game makes a course out of it.

As for what you can do with the levels, if there will be online sharing like LittleBigPlanet and if you can have more specific tools is not known. But its a pretty cool feature, hopefully its not half baked ideas like Monkey Fight and Racing on Super Monkey Ball 3D.

[Thanks: Shadi]

Binary Domain’s TGS Stage Show Was Awesome, Watch It Here



Video streaming by Ustream
Yes, Binary Domain had us questioning how good the game would be. Well, that was until we saw their TGS Stage Show for the title, spanning a little over 20 minutes. The gameplay looks awesome and the Japanese voice acting talent has people from the Yakuza franchise returning. As you know, the voice acting in the Yakuza games is fantastic.

But hey, don’t take my word for it. Watch the video above.

[Thanks: Suzuki Yu]

New TGS trailer for Anarchy Reigns

Check out the latest trailer for Platinum Games’ upcoming Anarchy Reigns. This one’s more story-driven, though I think SEGA should really consider releasing a demo one day soon.

Game releases early next year.

SEGA Stock Closes at Three Year High

Since last year, SEGA’s stock has been on a tear, hitting a new 52 week high seemingly every month. Only the tsunami and subsequent earth quake that rocked Japan was able to slow it down. Well, now it seems that SEGA stock has fully recovered from March’s disaster, as the company reaches a milestone it nearly reached earlier in the year: a $5.99 share price. SEGA is no longer a penny stock, a designation they’ve had since their stock price began to crumble in 2007.

In the past, these surges have been caused by a positive quarterly forecast for SEGA’s earnings. SEGA’s stock price in 2010 was primarily driven by the company constantly beating it’s own expectations several quarters in a row. This summer surge however, happened in spite of SEGA posting a quarterly loss due to weak game sales. In fact, there is no one major financial event that has happened that could possibly lead to this surge. This would seem to indicate that investor confidence with SEGA has continued to soar even despite some recent financial problems.

SEGA’s next quarter report should be coming out within the next month. We’ll be sure to bring it to you!

Source: Morningstar

Sonic Generations level trailer features Sky Sanctuary

Following on from SEGA’s latest screenshots, the publisher has released a new trailer that focuses on stages found in the classic Sonic games and unvails Sky Sanctuary for the very first time. Also featured in the trailer is Green Hill Zone and Chemical Plant Zone showing both classic and modern segments of each stage. Accompaning the trailer is a remix of Sky Sanctuary and the trailer ends with Sonic’s metal double, Metal Sonic. Sonic Generations is set to be released 1st November in North America and 4th Novemember in Europe.

Sonic Generations screens featuring bosses

With the release of Sonic Generations only a month and few weeks away, it seems some more early screens have been released onto the Xbox marketplace featuring two particular boss fights and a stage that has been revealed for the first time to the public, thankfully we have the screens for your viewing pleasure, for those without an Xbox 360. For those not wanting to spoil themselves, avoid the break, otherwise for everyone else jump in to enjoy some fresh Sonic Generations screens.

Total War: Shogun 2 – Rise of the Samurai Trailer

Total War: Shogun 2 will be getting its first major expansion soon, titled ‘Rise of the Samurai’.

“In the “Rise of the Samurai” campaign, players take on a brand new and independent campaign for Total War: SHOGUN 2 set in 12th century Japan. Set 400 years before the dramatic civil war depicted in Total War: SHOGUN 2, the “Rise of The Samurai” campaign is based on the Gempei War, a conflict between six legendary clans of the Taira, Minamoto and Fujiwara families. It culminated in the first Shogunate, and the rise of the Samurai as the ruling class.”