Vanquish coming out before Halloween


Famitsu has given up the date for Vanquish, it will be hitting store shelves on October 21st on both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The only issue with the release date is that its Japan only.

Though, I thought I heard that the game was being released worldwide at the same time? I doubt it, but I’m sure we will probably get it in early 2011.

[Source: JustPushStart]

No Alpha Protocol sequel due to low sales


Even though Alpha Protocol wasn’t the best Western RPG, I thought it could have really improved for the sequel and deliver an amazing experience. SEGA’s Mike Hayes has decided that we won’t get a sequel due to the low sales of the first game. Which makes sense.

“Let’s speak very commercially; the game hasn’t sold what we’ve expected, therefore we won’t be doing a sequel. The concept was brilliant, though,You know this whole thing with Metacritic where you have to be in the high 70s to mid-80s minimum [to have any success] – well, with RPGs you have got to be in the late 80s. Whilst we had a good game, I don’t think we had a game that had enough to get us to that upper echelon and I think that was the issue. Whilst we had a good game, I don’t think we had a game that had enough to get us to that upper echelon and I think that was the issue.”  – Mike Hayes, President of SEGA West

I hope this does not stop SEGA from doing another Western RPG in the near future. Though, I have to admit that Obsidian dropped the ball on this one. How can a game be delayed for 2 years and it still play like it wasn’t complete, yet out of the blue they announce that they are doing a Fallout game and its coming out in a few months? Makes you think where their priorities where.

[Source: CVG]

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Get After Burner Climax for 50% off


You love After Burner Climax, but having shelled out the 800 Microsoft points to get the game? Well, you are in luck, Microsoft is having a discount on the title and will only cost 400 points.

This is a part of their ‘Deal of the Week’, so try to get it before it leaves. You can read our review, if you need an opinion.

[Source: Major Nelson Blog]

Sonic Free Riders only supports 2 players locally


Awhile back we posted the Xbox.com listing for Sonic Free Riders, where it said the game would be 4 players offline. Well, Microsoft has edited that listing and now put that the game will only support 2 players locally.  Also, number of players supported via online and co-op are yet to be determined. Last time they said it would support 4 players co-op and 12 players online.

Seems to me that someone at Microsoft jumped the gun or it was a place holder. Most likely a place holder.

[Source: Sonic Stadium]

Vanquish box art

This is the box art for Vanquish, according to Amazon. You can tell they have a heavy emphasis on bright colors. Not to mention, the  cover shows off that sense of danger and speed, also could be a mech robot game. That is, if I judged the game by the cover alone.

Thoughts?

Vanquish’s visuals where inspired by Casshern


I think everyone knows t that Mikami’s Vanquish title is aimed more at the Western audiences. But did you know their visuals where originally inspired by Casshern, a Japanese anime?

“I do think the visuals lean more towards a Western style, but the original inspiration was from Casshern, a Japanese animated show, and a lot of the game’s taste comes from that,”

I would have liked if they stuck more Japanese style, instead of thinking about what Westerners want. Also, Casshern is pretty awesome.

[Source: Siliconera]

Yuji Naka is happy with new Sonic games

The guys from Destructoid have recently posted a interview with Yuji Naka, asking him what he thinks of Sonic’s current games and if he got to play them..

“Yes, I’ve played them a bit. I’m happy to see that Sonic is still growing after my departure. All the people that worked under me are still continuing the legacy of Sonic, and I’m glad to see that as well.

Realize that next year Sonic will be 20 years old. I look at it this way: 20 years of age is old enough to go out on your own, not relying on your father anymore. In that way, it’s good to take a step back and see what Sonic does from now.”

It is sad to see Yuji Naka not having any interest in doing a 20th anniversary game and ‘moving on’ from the franchise. What do you guys think?

SEGA working on ‘hardcore’ Kinect games


Mike Hayes believes that we will be seeing hardcore titles for Kinect next year, saying its impossible to make a game for the hardcore in a year.

“My guess is when we’re at E3 next year, more of the features of Kinect will be in use by developers. I think you’ll find more clever and sophisticated applications then. It is a reasonably complicated piece of kit, therefore it’s going to take us longer to use all of those aspects in a game. We’re not going to be able to develop something [for the hardcore] in under a year, which is frankly what we’ve had.” –  Mike Hayes

SEGA said they are not going to copy Wii games  when it comes to making new Kinect games. The team making this ‘hardcore’ Kinect title? Members from SEGA Racing studio that still work at SEGA. When can we expect the title? Late 2011, early 2012. That is a long wait…

[Source: CVG]

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Alpha Protocol getting patched


Chris Avellone from Obsidian Entertainment has confirmed that they are working on a patch for Alpha Protocol. They stated the reason that they have not released it yet was because of SEGA.

“We wanted to release something fairly quickly based upon some feedback we were getting. I think [SEGA] wanted to take a different approach by gathering more information over a longer period of time and provide a patch then. That’s what we’re figuring out right now.”

So what about DLC? This seems like the type of game that would benefit from such a thing, just like Bioware games. Don’t hold your breath.

“I don’t know if [SEGA is] talking about that at all yet. I can say that we’re not working on any DLC right now. We’d love to, but we’re not.”

With the game dropping to $39.99 already, maybe its the prefect time to get the game?

[Source: GameBanshee]

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SEGA aware we hate mine carts in Sonic games

So, we all seen the leaks that made rounds about the internet. You know, the Sonic 4 leaks? Well, SEGA is not happy with that (obviously) and said that it was early concepts.

“Yeah it’s a shame such an early concept was viewed upon when the reality is that the game we have today is very different from that. My job as brand manager is to communicate with the consumer, letting them know how we react to this feedback. We took it very seriously that our build had been stolen and took measures with first party to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, but more than anything we want to lay to rest fan concerns that the game isn’t polished or doesn’t have what it needs and I think a big part of that message was extending the development and making sure that fans feel like they’ve been hard because they have been.” – Ken Baloughs, Sonic 4 brand manager

I’m pretty sure that the leaks actually helped the game in the end of the day. Lets be honest, you think they would have told us about the mine cart level? SEGA was very secretive about the game, they would have most likely just released the game as was, mine carts and all. But after all the fans saw it, they complained. Now we have extended development times. Good? Bad?

[Source: Destructoid]

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New Sonic Free Riders information


I have failed to update you with 80 articles about this excellent looking title for Microsoft’s Kinect add-on that is coming later this fall. So I will do a recap of new information.

  • Game developed by O-Two.
  • 12 players via Xbox Live, 4 players locally.
  • Online modes confirmed: Co-op & versus.
  • Game will support DLC.
  • Title is Kinect only.

Very interesting and its good to see that Sonic Team isn’t doing this game, mostly because I’m hoping for a big Sonic the Hedgehog 20th anniversary game next year. Never thought you’d hear me ask for more Sonic? Me neither.

[Source: Sonic Stadium & Xbox.com]

Zero Punctuation reviews Alpha Protocol


Here is a really fast talking review of Alpha Protocol, actually does not bash the game too hard. Even compares it to Deus Ex, which most reviewers have done and pointed out why that game is better. Regardless, still worth a watch.

[Thanks: Crackdude]

SEGA hopes to re-release around 20 DC titles by next summer


SEGA has stated they are planning on bringing 18 to 24 DC titles to PSN and XBLA by next summer. Shenmue re-release seems pretty likely now.This is according to Mike Hayes, who of course is the president of SEGA West.

“We hope to have somewhere between 18 to 24. Around that.” – Mike Hayes

So what about SEGA Saturn? Mike Hayes says that right now, they have no plans on bringing SEGA Saturn games to HD consoles. Come on, give us some Panzer Dragoon and Shining Force III!

[Source: CVG]

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