iOS

Hardlight studio working on second iOS Sonic title: Sonic Dash

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sonicdash

Via the Sonic Stadium comes news that SEGA’s Hardlight studio, the team behind Sonic Jump, is now at work on another Sonic title named Sonic Dash. The news came by way of job advertisements posted by the studio on LinkedIn. Sonic Dash is listed as a recent title, with Sonic Jump also being listed. The title has since been removed, but Sonic Stadium screen capped it to prove that they’re not talking nonsense. The job posting, pre-edit, read as follows:

Hardlight is SEGA’s third UK based studio and is focused exclusively on creating high quality, innovative game experiences for mobile and handheld platforms.

The Studio comprises small, agile teams working on new IP & well-known SEGA IP. Project durations are 5-10 months, building on the success of their first projects on iOS – Sonic Jump & Sonic Dash – Hardlight is now working on some new & exciting projects.

The team follows an ethos of staying compact, agile and focused – combining talent from a variety of game genres and backgrounds, and welcomes applications from candidates of all levels of experience.

More than likely, Sonic Dash will be a sidescrolling endless runner, not unlike the free app released around Sonic’s 20th anniversary entitled Sonic the Sketchhog or the more recent Sonic and Nike game Sonic X Vapor. The job listing appears to be for projects following Sonic Dash, which implies that the game is already finished and is awaiting release. Given that the game’s name came right from Hardlight and SEGA, we’re treating it as news but will slap a “rumor” tag on it just in case.

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After Burner Climax available now on iOS for $2.99

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After announcing the title just three days ago, After Burner Climax for iOS has today appeared on the App Store for $2.99. The game is described as follows:

After Burner Climax is fast and frantic arcade-style action, putting you in the cockpit of the world’s fastest fighter plane. Dodge planes, rockets and bullets while trying to target multiple on-screen enemy aircraft. Built for all skill levels, everyone will be able to take to the air and blaze through a branching storyline of over 20 stages. Unlock achievements along the way to activate exclusive power ups using your experience and expertise.

Features include the ability to choose from three fighter planes: the F-14D Super Tomcat by Northrop Grumman, the F-15E Strike Eagle or F/A-18E Super Hornet by Boeing. Each fighter plane has four paint schemes to choose from. In addition to the 20+ stages, the game features Arcade Mode, Score Attack Mode and Climax Mode. iOS features include Airplay support, HDMI support, Retina Display on iPhone 4/4S/5 and iPad 3rd and 4th Gen, and iPad Mini support. After the break, check out a gallery of images of the game running on both iPhone and iPad.

Update: SEGA’s message to Android users: “Android version is coming out too, just around the corner!”

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After Burner Climax to release to iOS!

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SEGA dropped a bomb today, revealing that After Burner Climax will be receiving an iOS port. The game, which will be playable on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch platforms, looks to be completely rebuilt to support touchscreen play. Graphics appear to be scaled down, but presumably the smaller screen and super fast speeds will make the scaling down not so noticeable. In case you can’t tell, I’m trying to pad this article out to make it a paragraph, because SEGA has shared little else other than a screen, the platforms and a promise that more info is to come. Given the announcements of past SEGA iOS titles, we could very well see the game releasing within a week.

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Owlchemy Labs: Jack Lumber “hasn’t been financially successful”

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In August of 2012, SEGA announced a new publishing initiative dubbed “SEGA Alliance”. SEGA Alliance’s aim was to “focus on publishing mobile games made by independent developers” and to “provide participating developers with comprehensive marketing and production support as well as creative consultation”. The first of these SEGA Alliance titles was Owlchemy Labs Jack Lumber, an iOS title in the vein of Fruit Ninja that, in my opinion, went well beyond the Fruit Ninja formula and was quite an excellent game. Unfortunately, according to Owlchemy Labs founder Alex Schwartz in an interview with Indie Static, “working with publishers has been a big experiment and so far it hasn’t been financially successful for Owlchemy.” Schwartz detailed just how much of the SEGA Alliance offerings Owlchemy Labs took advantage of, as well as talked about how much freedom indie publishers have in a SEGA Alliance deal.

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Sonic Jump receives big update, including Silver, Rouge, bosses and more

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SEGA has updated the iOS game Sonic Jump today, adding two new characters: Silver and Rouge, more boss battles, new level objects and gimmicks, new wallpapers, graphical updates and more. Upon starting up the game, players will notice additional screens including an easy to access pop up panel that gives gameplay records including completion percentages and ring totals, as well as a panel that shows total zone progress. Within stages, graphical flourishes have been added including animation on once static objects and new elements such as Green Hill Zone flowers. Later stages feature diagonal springs and swing gimmicks. Each zone has double the boss battles, with the sixth stage of each zone being replaced by a new Eggman fight featuring new layouts. Additional characters, Silver and Rouge, bring with them more levels with 30 looking to be the new maximum level to attain.

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Spiral Knights developer releases Spellwood to Android and iOS

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From the SEGA Blog comes news that Three Rings, the developer behind the awesome Spiral Knights,  has released Spellwood to Android and iOS devices. Spellwood is a Scrabble-style word puzzle game which offers up single player and two player modes. What makes the game unique, when compared to most other mobile titles in the genre, is that it has characters and a story mode with RPG elements as well as the aforementioned single player mode. In the single player mode, you play a fuzzy little word wizard who takes on over 90 adversaries with different levels and styles of play. Two player mode has you taking on friends as you would in any other mobile puzzle game. The game is priced at $1.99 and is now available on iOS for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and Google Play for Android smartphones and tablets.

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Jet Set Radio tags iOS and Android today!

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Via the SEGA Blog comes news that Jet Set Radio has officially released to iOS and Android devices. Priced at a competitive $4.99 (4,49€/£2.99/AU $5.49), and weighing in at 523 MB on iOS, the game is essentially 1:1 with the XBLA, PSN and Vita versions. Mobile exclusive extras include touchscreen gestures when tagging and the ability to snap photos with your device and tag within the game. After the break, check out a gameplay video of the game in action on an iPad!

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Sonic Jump for iOS gets update – new stage, Amy Rose, global challenge & more!

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The iOS jumper game Sonic Jump, a remake of a 2005 mobile title of the same name, has received a rather big update today. The update, entitled the “High Flier Update”, adds Blue Sky Zone, Amy Rose as a playable character, a Global Challenge, new music, unlockable wallpapers and more. Blue Sky Zone features 12 acts, as well as an Arcade mode, new achievements, hazards and enemies. Amy Rose is initially locked, but can be bought with rings which are earned within the game’s acts. As for the Global Challenge, Sonic Jump players from around the world are tasked with working together to reach the moon which in turn will unlock a new character.

If you own the game, the update is free. If you don’t own the game, head on over to the iOS store and pick it up for $1.99!

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SEGA announces release dates for Jet Set Radio Vita and Mobile

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While the HD version of Jet Set Radio has been out since September, fans were left wondering when the Vita and mobile versions would be announced. SEGA’s blog has the answers! Jet Set Radio is heading to iOS, Android Devices and Playstation Vita. Vita players get the game on the 20th of November, and iOS and Android fans can buy the game on the 29th of November. In North America, the game will be a PlayStation Plus Vita Instant Game Collection launch title. PS Plus members can enjoy Jet Set Radio for free from November 20th through December 31st. After the break, screens of the Vita and mobile versions!

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Review: Sonic Jump (iOS)

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While Sonic Jump is the first Sonic game designed with iOS and smartphone devices in mind, it’s not the first Sonic Jump game. Sonic Jump originally came out in 2006 on older cell phones of that period. This predates Doodle Jump which many claim this game is a knockoff of by almost three years. That’s right Sonic Jump didn’t rip off Doodle Jump. If anything, it’s the other way around.

But the most important question remains “is this game any good”? While I will say this is a much more improved and involved game than Doodle Jump, it’s not without its faults. Read on for the full review.

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Sonic Jump gameplay video appears, Hardlight Studio named as developer

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It looks like SEGA’s Hardlight Studio, the folks behind the Viking PC port, were also busy developing Sonic Jump. In this 15 minute Sonic Jump gameplay video, Hardlight’s logo appears before the game begins, confirming that the developer has shifted focus from Vita games to iOS. While their “unique action adventure” title is still M.I.A., Sonic Jump looks to be a fun smartphone update to the 2005 mobile phone game Sonic Jump. So before you call this a Doodle Jump ripoff, remember than SEGA did it four years before Lima Sky did.

The game features both a story and arcade mode, with the story being as simple as the Genesis originals. Eggman has captured your animal friends, and the player can choose Sonic, Tails or Knuckles as the hero who leaps skyward after Eggman. Series staples including letter grades, red rings, badniks, springs, rings, spikes and power-ups appear. Fans who have searched through the game’s assets have also found character images of Amy, Cream, Rouge, Shadow, Blaze and Silver. No word on if these characters are also playable. The game releases tomorrow, and we hope to have a review up within the week.

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Sonic Jump available this Thursday for iOS devices

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Sega has announced on Sonic’s Facebook page, the first screenshot and launch date of Sonic’s first iOS game “Sonic Jump”. The game will be available this Thursday, Oct 18th for $1.99 US, £1.49 Europe. No other details are out at this time, but it seems obvious now that this game will be a new version of the old Sonic Jump from mobile devices.

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Crazy Taxi iOS confirmed to have original soundtrack, to release today

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As predicted, Crazy Taxi is hitting the App Store this week! In fact, you might even be able to download it today. Crazy Taxi for iOS, which was announced Monday, has begun to roll out to App Stores around the globe with New Zealand getting it first and the US and Europe to follow later tonight/early tomorrow. The New Zealand product page lists all the features as well as reveals the price. The game will cost £2.99 / $4.99 and is sized at 125 MB.  The game is universal, however it does require iOS 4.3 or later. After the break, check out all the game’s features including confirmation of the original soundtrack!

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Crazy Taxi coming October 2012 to iOS… with The Offspring?

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SEGA has posted a short but sweet trailer announcing Crazy Taxi for iOS devices. When does it release? This month! What day? No idea, yet. What will the game contain? From the looks of things, the original game and if the teaser’s music is a hint, part of or the full original soundtrack. Crazy Taxi released to PSN and XBLA back in November 2010, but sadly the game was missing its heart: the rocking soundtrack featuring music from The Offspring and Bad Religion. Even if that sort of music isn’t your thing, you can’t deny that it is a very important part of the game. Crazy Taxi on iOS, with some of or all of the original music, could be a homerun for SEGA. When we learn more, we’ll share it. Hell, given Zaxxon Escape released to the App Store the same week it was announced, we very well could see Crazy Taxi as soon as this friday!

 

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Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed coming to iOS in 2013

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Given the success of the first title on iOS, it was only a matter of time until SEGA and Sumo Digital revealed that an iOS version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is in the works. According to Gareth Williams, design director at Sumo Digital, the game is “absolutely” hitting the App Store but not until “after Christmas”. What isn’t decided, however, is how they’ll sell it. At the moment, it’s either sell it for a few dollars and include in-app purchases or give it away for free and allow players to buy characters. Whatever payment method they pick, the first game sold over two million so the sequel is sure to be a success.

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