Hideki Kamiya discribes favorite scene in Bayonetta


PSM3 magazine had a feature titled ‘100 moments of 2010’, where they had a chit chat with Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiya. The boys over at CVG got some quotes that didn’t make the magazine, like what his favorite moment of Bayonetta was.

“When people ask me what my favourite scene is, all I can say is ‘all of them’… Well, if I had to pick one, I would say it is the scene where Joy first appears in the game, with Bayonetta and her impostor getting into a pose battle.

That was my way of expressing the feminine notion that, to one woman, all other women are enemies. Even women walking by each other will check out what the other is wearing, and might smoulder a bit with antagonism. Women are scary.” – Hideki Kamiya, Director of Bayonetta

Also the YouTube video above is the scene he is talking about. CVG for some reason titled this article “X-rated Bayonetta scene is creator’s favourite”. Thanks for the misleading title, that scene is as X-Rated as those Britney Spears videos that play on MTV during the day for 7th grade girls.

[Source: CVG]

Valkyria Chronicles anime DVD listed on UK retailer website


If you didn’t know, SEGA did an anime based on the characters from the first game of their Valkyria Chronicles franchise. So far the anime stayed in Japan, but it seems it might be coming out in the west, at least in the UK.

HMV listed the DVD on their webpage, with a cover that doesn’t look like the Japanese ones.  All the info isn’t there, I guess we will have to see. Hopefully it has a decent dub.

[Source: HMV Page]
[Thanks: Shadzter]

2011 – An industry’s hopes


MVCUK have quizzed a number of top industry people based in the UK regarding what they are most looking forward too in 2011, on that list is everyone’s favourite western Sega CEO in god knows how long Mike Hayes and Sports Interactive head honcho Miles Jacobson. Let’s see what they are looking forward to in 2011.

Miles Jacobson – Studio Director, Sports Interactive
“Having been lucky to try out a beta version, I’m most looking forward to the new Virtua Tennis release, with a Move and a 3D TV. I’m really looking forward to March’s Nordoff Robbins Football Extravaganza dinner which is sponsored by Tesco – it’s always a great night and raised over £350k last year.

Mike Hayes – CEO, Sega Europe and Sega America
“I want 2011 to be a great year for a little blue hedgehog – as Sonic is 20 years old in June.”

If Miles is looking forward to Virtua Tennis 4, which is being developed in-house at Sega Japan for the first time since PowerSmash 3 (Arcade) then I think that’s a good sign!

As for Mike Hayes; well shit man, so do we… So do we!

You can read the others HERE.

Takashi Iizuka tells us his Sonic 4 secrets

CVG is running a article where they ask game producers for their secrets on how they create the types of games they do. Well, one of these producers asked a question was our favorite Takashi Iizuka, he shares his secrets on creating a 2D platformer like Sonic 4.

“I think there are various kinds of 2D platformer and each one of them focuses on different game elements. In the case of Sonic games, I put a premium on the game tempo of the stage.

Total War 2: Shogun specs revealed, time to buy new hardware


SEGA’s Total War franchise is highly successful, will you need to buy new hardware for the next title? Most PC gamers won’t, but I will probably need to get at least a new graphics card. I’m a noob and use ‘on board’ graphics still. Don’t laugh!

Minimum Specs (Required for playing Total War: Shogun 2):

  • 2 GHz Intel Dual Core processor / 2.6 GHz Intel Single Core processor , or AMD equivalent (with SSE2)
  • 1GB RAM (XP), 2GB RAM (Vista / Windows7)
  • 256 MB DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card (shader model 3)
  • 1024×768 minimum screen resolution
  • 20GB free hard disk space

Recommended Specs (Recommended for optimum game play of Total War: Shogun 2):

  • 2nd Generation Intel® Core™i5 processor (or greater), or AMD equivalent
  • 2GB RAM (XP), 4GB RAM (Vista / Windows7)
  • AMD Radeon HD 5000 and 6000 series graphics cards or equivalent DirectX 11 compatible graphics card
  • 1280×1024 minimum screen resolution
  • 20GB free hard disk space

The game is hitting stores & Steam on March 15th. If you like head slicing Samurai and shadow lurking ninjas, this game is for you.

[Source: SEGAPR]

Yakuza of the End has forklifts, start Shenmue nostalgia

Seems that the Yakuza development team is showing some Shenmue love by giving players the ability to drive a forklift in the zombie filled city in their upcoming Playstation 3 exclusive.

The forklift was listed in the latest Famitsu magazine, which listed a bunch of other vehicles a player could use. This included tanks, armored cars and bulldozers. So maybe a forklift is the least badass of the vehicles announced.

It has also been confirmed that crazy Goro Majima will be able to use a flame thrower, chainsaw and rail gun. Each character will have their own unique weapons.

[Source: Siliconera]

Official Nintendo Magazine teases sidekick character for Sonic 4: Ep 2

UK’s Official Nintendo Magazine has put up a preview for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2. The preview was posted over in the Sonic Stadium forums, no scans as of right now. They did say that one of’ Sonic’s old side kicks will come back, most likely being Tails. But they also said this:

“Other than that, we’d expect more of the same from Episode II. More loops, more speed, more proper old-school Sonic physics and more awesome fake Mega Drive music complete with rubbish drum samples. Just the way we like it.”

Hard for me to take a magazine seriously that thought the first game had ‘proper old-school Sonic physics’. It didn’t. Unless they meant this new one had ‘more proper’ old-school physics, but I doubt that. Word for word preview after the jump.

[Via: TSSZnews]

Virtual-On Force confirmed region free, also in English


Hardcore SEGA fans with a 360 rejoice, you can import the Virtual-On Force if you really want to, since it has just been confirmed that it is region free, not only that it comes in English.

Play-Asia has the import friendly games, even a cheaper Asia version if you don’t want to shell out a ton of money for the Japanese edition. SEGA West has not announced a release over here and I doubt we will get one.

[Source: Siliconera]

SEGA Studios Australia working on multiplatform sports title

[Pictured: SEGA Studios Australia’s Kim Sellentin]

GameSauce recently had a behind the scenes look at SEGA’s Kim Sellentin’s job over at SEGA Studios Australia, where she produces titles. I always thought the only studio SEGA had in Australia was Creative Assembly branch that did Stormrise. Regardless, in the new article it confirmed that the team is doing a multiplatform sports title.

This means it will be on consoles, unless they mean ‘Mac & PC’ as multiplatform. We will have to see what sport they take on, just hope it isn’t something like Kinect Sports or something.

[Source: GameSauce]

Pier Solar is a new RPG for the SEGA Genesis


Pier Solar started off life in 2004 in an internet forum, flash forward to now and its a full fledge game. In the game you play as Hoston, a young botanist who has to save his father from a illness. The game uses 64 meg cart, if you didn’t know, that is some intense power and is the biggest Genesis cart ever.

You can order the game via its official website.

The game has already gone into re-print due to overwhelming fan demand. It looks pretty good and I might order a copy for myself soon. As for screenshots, hit the jump.

Sports Interactives Miles Jacobson appointed OBE

Sega owned and UK based developers Sports Interactive has something to be very proud of today. SI Director Mikes Jacobson has been appointed an OBE for services to the computer games industry in the New Year Honours list.

The OBE also known as ‘Order of the British Empire’ is a long running award given to recognize people who have done great things for their country. The ‘Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’ is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of which an OBE is one of the five awards you can achieve.

SI co-founder Oliver Collyer paid tribute to Jacobson on the Football Manager Forums.

Hit the jump to read on.

InsideOut DCJY: Fast Striker



Video courtesy of The Dreamcast Junkyard

Earlier this week, the staff were discussing what possible Dreamcast news we could share this weekend. With the inclusion of retro writers we’ve tried to bring you new Dreamcast news every weekend, though our last 2 DC posts have really been about price drops and free games. For those who wanted more than just discounted offers should know it has been a very tough year for Sega’s Dream Machine, especially compared to previous years. Last year we had 3 original DC releases (IRiDES, DUX, & R4) and this year NG:Dev.Team were kind enough to port their latest Neo-Geo title. Without it this would’ve been the system’s first year without a new game, so let’s all be thankful to them.

This week our initial plan was to showcase an interesting peripheral from Dream Past (word play :P) that many of our readers may have missed out on. We’ll be showcasing that mystery peripheral next week, as this week  we have something better: GagaMan of DCJY (and SGNW affiliate) takes us InsideOut: Fast Striker.

Video after the jump

Sega to celebrate 20 years of Sonic and Puyo Pop in 2011!

Ladies and Gentlemen… Na, who am I kidding, Gentlemen and Gentlemen! The time is almost upon us!

In a matter of hours it will be 2011, and with 2011 comes not one anniversary of great importance amongst Sega fans everywhere but two! Yes, both Sonic the Hedgehog and Puyo Pop turn 20 this year! To celebrate, on the stroke of midnight, (Japanese time)  Sega has already began the hype.

Sega have released a press statement suggesting that they have a number of projects lined up for both the Sonic the Hedgehog and Puyo Pop franchises in 2011. They weren’t specific on what these ‘projects’ entail but I suspect they will hold events as well as release celebratory games.

You can visit the Sonic anniversary site HERE.

If the next Sonic game is as good if not better then Sonic Colours and we get another great Puyo Pop game, Yakuza 4 and Yakuza of the End, Valkryia Chronicles 3, Bayonetta 2, Shogun 2, Creative Assembly’s new action game and of course Phantasy Star Online 2… Well shit, 2011 is going to be a sweet year for us Sega fans!

So happy new year from Segabits, have a good one and I’ll see you next year folks! I’m off to get wasted!

Game that shocked SEGA & Platinum Games producers in 2010

4Gamer talked to Japanese developers, asked them all the following questions:

  1. What game released in 2010 moved you or shocked you the most?
  2. What piece of entertainment (game or non-game) most impressed you in 2010?
  3. Give a message to fans

Two of the producers from SEGA & two people from Platinum Games happen to be on the list of Japanese developers to answer the questions. Hit the jump to find out their responses.

Resonance of Fate getting promotional comic


You thought that the Resonance of Fate game was the last you’d hear of the franchise? Doesn’t seem this way, the game is still having releases, at least a ‘comic’ version of it. Famitsu will have the comic called ‘End of Eternity: The Secret Hours”. End of Eternity is the Japanese name of the game.

The comic is set to have a orginal story, will feature Leanne, Zephyr and Vashyron investigating a mysterious and private military firm. This will set up promotion for the ‘budget’ version of the game, which is set to release in Japan this January.

As for a sequel, it is unknown at this point, but when the game was first announced, SEGA wanted to make it into a franchise. But then again, they said the same thing about Shenmue…

[Source: Siliconera]