New Sonic Strategy and My Comments

‘Sega doesn’t want to make any more bad Sonic games.’
-Mike Hayes

I like Mike Hayes, he’s a pretty level headed guy and knows all the right words to make my tum-tum all fuzzy.

Recently he has been saying some more happy words. When talking to IGN Mike Hayes spilled the beans on Sega’s new strategy with the Sonic brand.

Hit the jump to find out what he had to say and more importantly, what I had to say… About what he had to say.

Shining Force Central – Save our Series!

The long running Shining Force fansite known as Shining Force Central run by the biggest Shining Force fan there is ‘Moogie’ has sprung into action with a new campaign to convince Sega and/or Camelot to give us a new Shining FORCE game in the classic style for next years Shining Forces 20th anniversary.

Who better to introduce the idea then Moogie herself?

Hit the jump for what she had to say on the matter!

Sonic 4 – Lets make Episode 2 perfect

I’m not going too write a second, conventional review for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1. We already have a good review by Barry covering the iPad version of the game. His review touches upon most what you need to know about all versions of the game and I feel I’d just be echoing most of what he has already written.

Instead I want to make a list of all of the things that, after finishing Sonic 4 (and getting almost all of the achievements) I feel could be fixed or improved for Sonic 4 Episode 2.

So, hit the jump for my Sonic 4 Episode 2 improvment rundown!

Sonic levels that should be in Sonic Anniversary


Picking out your favorite Sonic levels is like picking out your favorite child, sometimes its easy because someone failed math and other times its difficult to do, because you hate them all equally.

We have decided to take a crack at compiling a list of Sonic levels we would like to see in Sonic Anniversary (If the details turn out to be true and they seem like they will). I will only go through the main console series, way too many Sonic games to go through spin offs and handhelds.

This is our opinion, if you have some stages not mentioned, give us a comment letting us know how wrong our opinions are.

SEGAbits Monthly September 2010 issue

This September was a big month for us here at SEGAbits. Not only did we get a new site look, it was also the Dreamcast’s 11th anniversary and Tokyo Game Show. We were the first site to bring you news regarding Phantasy Star Online 2 and got mentioned by sites such as Joystiq and 1up.

September also had us posting the most stories on the front page, most users on at once (322 says phpbb, shattering the 120 people record) and of course us joining facebook. You haven’t liked us yet? You should!

Next stop? Being the best SEGA site out there… someday…

SEGA Raises Fiscal Year Sales Forecast, Pachinko Sales the Cause

Things have been good for SEGA’s profits this last year. First, SEGA reported a profit on it’s third quarter statement back in February. Then, in August, SEGA reported 7 billion yen in profit for it’s first quarter of it’s 2010-2011 fiscal year. All of this great news has resulted in SEGA’s stock price hitting it’s highest price since 2007, where it’s stayed close to ever since.

The good times keep on coming. While video game giants like Nintendo continue to lower their own fiscal year forecast, SEGA has now raised it’s overall sales forecast for its entire fiscal year, ending March 31st 2011, from $400 billion yen ($4.7 billion) to $410 billion yen ($4.9 billion). The profit guidance forecast has gone up from 22 billion yen ($264 million), to 36.5 billion yen ($437 million).  This rise in revenue and profits has been brought on by strong sales SEGA Sammy’s Pachinko/Pachislot division, which is now expected to sell 660,000 units, up from the originally anticipated sales of 620,000 units.

The Dreamcasts Legacy and Sega’s Reputation a Decade on

As we are all celebrating the birthday of our beloved Dreamcast (R.I.P), I was browsing our great and wonderful forum and came across a pretty interesting take on the Dreamcast’s short but sweet life. The post, by our forum member R.O.J.M takes an interesting look at the lasting legacy the Dreamcast era has had on the minds of Sega fans and gamers today.

You may or may not agree with the post, but I think it is worth giving it a read none the less.

Check out R.O.J.M’s post as well as my take on the matter after the jump:

Senile Team interview with Roel Van Mastbergen

Senile Team started off in 2003 with the creation of the freeware game Beats of Rage, a popular tribute to Streets of Rage. In addition to being an excellent game itself, its  game engine has been used to recreate classic arcade games for Dreamcast such as Golden Axe and the Final Fight trilogy.

In 2009, the team made their commercial debut with Rush Rush Rally Racing. Today Roel Van Mastbergen sits down and talks with us about GamesCom and their upcoming game Age of the Beast.

[For the Interview we partnered with DC Emulation and Dreamcast-Scene]

How Dreamcast changed the video game world


On September 9th, 1999 SEGA let loose its white dream machine upon the United States. This new console was called the Dreamcast and was advertised as a highly advance console. It even carried the slogan “It’s thinking”.

It has been 11 years since the day it hit store shelves in North America and we now see how it effected the games industry.

The All Day Dreamcast Party Begins NOW! [party is over]

As this is a day that I’m sure will be filled with articles involving the Dreamcast, I’ll cut right to the chase: In celebration of 9/9, the Dreamcast’s 11th Birthday, both Gagaman of SEGA Memories fame and myself will be hosting back to back streaming Dreamcast parties! His is already in progress and will go right up to when my party begins, so check him out at the link below and then be sure to jump over to mine at 12am-11pm EST (US), 6pm-5am GMT (UK). Make sure to join in on the chat, because what is a party without that?

Dreamroom 2010 UK:

Watch live streaming video from gagaman at livestream.com

Dreamroom 2010 USA:
Watch live video from Dreamroom on Justin.tv

My Eleven Hour Dreamcast Party

Last year I held a Dreamcast birthday party which streamed live online. As the Dreamcast was turning ten, I held the party for ten hours. This year, I’m doing one better: one hour better! I’m excited to share “Dreamroom 2010: The Eleven Hour Dreamcast Party”! The official date and times are as follows:

September 9th, 2010
12am-11pm EST (US), 6pm-5am GMT (UK)

Last year was a blast, and I’m sure this year will be just as fun. For those who missed last year’s Dreamroom, essentially it will be ten hours of Dreamcast gaming streamed live online with live chat. The first half will be me going solo playing Dreamcast games. During the second half the IRL party kicks off with whoever I invited showing up for multiplayer games and the occasional visit to Seaman.

Games will be played from my library, and requests are welcomed! Expect to see some of the best, worst and delightfully oddest Dreamcast games. Of course a Dreamcast birthday party isn’t a birthday party without the guests, so I hope to see everyone (virtually) there!