SEGA News Bits: Ghost Blade impressions & Hucast Games controversy talk

Today on the SEGA News Bits we have not only one, but two videos for you to enjoy. Why two? Well, we ran too long and I decided it was best to cut the conversation into two separate videos. The above video is Barry’s initial impressions of Hucast Games’ Dreamcast Shoot ’em up Ghost Blade. The second video has us talking about the article that DCGX wrote about Hucast games (the publisher of Ghost Blade). Its a great article, check it out.

If you want to see our video on our Ghost Blade impressions, thats above and if you wanna see us whine about the Dreamcast indie scene you can watch that below. If you like what you see don’t forget to comment, like, share and subscribe to us on YouTube.

Opinion: Hucast and the Business of Dreamcast

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When speaking of the SEGA Dreamcast “nostalgia” is a word that is often mentioned, and it wouldn’t be an incorrect description of many gamers’ feelings towards the system. Countless articles and blog posts have been written about the prominence of the Dreamcast and how it died too soon. From that love of the little white box, an incredible scene of independent developers and publishers has continued the dream over the past decade with a steady stream of new games and multiplatform releases.

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Indie SEGA Dreamcast game Ghost Blade is now available for your undead console

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Its been a long time coming, but HUCAST Games’ latest release Ghost Blade is now available to purchase and play on your SEGA Dreamcast. Insert the obligatory “a Dreamcast game in 2015!?” here. Described as “an ace shoot ’em up for the Dreamcast with a focus on arcade action and an elaborate scoring system”, Ghost Blade promises three game modes with three player ships too choose from, five stages, a Caravan Mode, and support for the VGA Box, Arcade Stick, VMU and standard Dreamcast controller.

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Dreamcast indie game ‘Ghost Blade’ gets release date

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Indie Dreamcast developer and publisher Hucast games has finally announced the released date for their latest title Ghost Blade. The game will be officially out on September 27th and come in a variety of editions.

What the game features:

  • Beautiful, detailed High-res Graphics
  • 5 Stage with HUGE Boss Enemies
  • 3 Player ships with different gun types
  • Instant Respawn
  • Auto-bomb enabled novice mode for beginners
  • Arcade Gameplay and Addictive Scoring System
  • Incredible Soundtrack composed by Rafael Dyll
  • 2-player mode for addictive fun

Accessories supported:

  • VMU
  • RGB cable (480i)
  • VGA cable/box (480p)
  • Original Pad
  • Arcade stick

You can check out both the regular edition and limited editions (limited to 1,000 copies) of the game. Anyone looking forward to this one?

[Via Retro Collect]

Hucast Games announces Redux 2 for the Dreamcast

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We have a love and hate relationship with Hucast Games, while we admit we weren’t the biggest fans of their first entry due to technical issues, it felt even more slimy with they continued to re-release the game multiple titles and charging people for these new versions (see: Dux 1.5Redux: Dark Matters and the revision disc). Now the studio is ready to move on and finally release a full fledged sequel called Redux 2.

The game will come in three packaged variations:

The game is set to feature seven stages, new spacecrafts, a selection of new weapons, and 2-player co-op mode. While the game has not gotten a release date, Hucast Games is allowing users to pre-order their games now. Isn’t that generous of them?

Here are the different packages and first screenshots:

Hucast Games announces Redux: Dark Matters revision disc

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Hucast Games, developer of indie Dreamcast shmups DUX and Redux: Dark Matters is well known for releasing revision discs of their games. The original DUX, for example, saw an original release, a 1.5 revision, and a special release featuring an earlier version of the game. Redux: Dark Matters was an enhanced remake of DUX funded on Kickstarter, featuring new gameplay modes and enhanced graphics. Unfortunately, the original release of Redux: Dark Matters had its share of problems, namely a game freezing bug during one boss battle and fuzzy 240p graphics. Hucast is looking to remedy these issues with a version 1.1 revision disc, featuring “Super sharp TV screen picture via RGB/S-Video Cable (And VGA of course)” and a fix to the “Boss Freeze” bug. Unfortunately, the initial 240p graphics are not being bumped up to 480p, but rather the developer plans to do something else to feature “super sharp TV screen picture”.

The revision Disc will be available in March, and Hucast promises more news and instructions for how purchasers can get the disc soon.

Hucast announces DUX 1.5 Collector’s Edition for the SEGA Dreamcast

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If you thought the DUX releases were over, then you don’t know DUX! Following Hucast’s release of Redux: Dark Matters, which included DUX 1.5 in the limited edition version, as well as standalone standard and limited editions of DUX 1.5, and a version of DUX 1.5 in a CD case, Hucast has now announced a collector’s edition of DUX 1.5, set to release in April.

The release, limited to 300 copies, will include DUX 1.5, a DUX soundtrack CD, a DUX 1.5 soundtrack CD, a yet to be announced “New Game Disc” (perhaps a demo disc of The Ghost Blade?), and a 12 page Color Manual. Pre-orders start on March 17th, and Hucast advises fans to stay tuned to their store and their Facebook page.

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Hucast Games reveal new screens from the upcoming indie SEGA Dreamcast game ‘The Ghost Blade’

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Hucast Games, developer of the recently released Redux: Dark Matters, is at work on the upcoming indie Dreamcast game The Ghost Blade. Four new screens, as well as a photo taken of the game in action, were recently shared on the developer’s blog. Fans, including our own The Gagaman, complained of low resolution graphics in the recently released Redux, which might explain why Hucast shared a close up shot of The Ghost Blade showing off what Hucast promises is an all new engine that will take advantage of the Dreamcast’s RAM better leading to high-res graphics.

Expected to release in October 2014, the game is currently in an alpha state, and Hucast promises that they will be “adding more enemies to give the game a blasting Caravan shooting game thrill!”.

Check out the trailer for Hucast’s upcoming Dreamcast game The Ghost Blade

Coming soon to an undead console near you is Hucast’s top down shoot ’em up The Ghost Blade. As you can see in the teaser trailer above, the game is in an alpha state, but is already looking great. That game is set for “TBA 2013”, so expect it within the next 8 months. You can pre-order it now in a 3-disc Collector’s Edition, a 2-disc Limited Edition, and a single disc standard edition.

HUCAST Games now shipping DUX 1.5, their Dreamcast shoot’em-up

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Hey, just because SEGA has pulled support for the Dreamcast over a decade ago doesn’t mean there aren’t new things to play on the device. HUCAST games actually released DUX in 2009, so if you think you have heard of this title before you aren’t mistaken. This is the new 1.5 version of the title.
So what is new in DUX 1.5 compared to 1.0? Well they have a new soundtrack, rebalanced gameplay and even the option to respawn instantly after death (which is a big deal).

If you bought the original, the team is willing to upgrade you to the 1.5 version for free. How? They say take a picture of your copy of DUX 1.0 with a current newspaper. Who buys newspapers? If you want to take them up on their offer, hit them up on twitter.

You can buy the game here.