SEGA releases the first Sonic Runners teaser trailer, gameplay details and more

Sonic Runners is going to be Sonic Team’s big Sonic the Hedgehog mobile developed game and SEGA has finally released the first teaser trailer. You can watch it above. The trailer basically goes through the history of Sonic Team developed Sonic games and starts off with a counter, counting down the years to 2015…

Something to note: The trailer only shows off the retro series and Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (if you count that as part of the retro series). Could this game be more influenced by older retro style Sonic games instead of the recent games?

SEGA also launched a site for the game which revealed that the game will be released in 2015 in Japan for free with premium items available. The game will be available for iPhone 4S and above, iPad 2 or later running iOS 7.0 or above. If you are on Android, you will have to be running OS 2.3 or later (Which means almost any Android phone released can play it.)

The site features an image of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles running through Sonic Lost World‘s Windy Hill with Chao and the Mother Wisp from Sonic Colors DS floating above. Could the classic clips and Sonic 4 indicate that Sonic Team sees Sonic Runners as a successor to the originals, or hint toward a gameplay style? What’s with the Chao and Wisps?

UPDATE: An interview between Iizuka and Famitsu lists a end of February release for the game in Japan. From what we can understand from the interview, characters will run forward on their own and Eggman will make appearances during stages which there appears to be 50 of at first (if we are reading the translation correctly). Tails and Knuckles are also playable, but Sonic is the only character initially available. Famitsu also went hands-on with the game, mentioning a cutscene featuring Sonic, Tails, and Eggman. Jumping appears to vary based on where you tap on the screen, possibly indicating that you tap on enemies to homing attack. The Eggman boss battle appears to have Sonic throwing or knocking back Eggman’s projectiles to defeat him.

What are your thoughts?

Crazy Taxi: City Rush releasing this Thursday to iOS

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Want to play Crazy Taxi: City Rush on your iPhone and/or iPad? No problem, SEGA has announced that the game will be releasing globally tomorrow to the App Store. Soon fans can experience their new mobile, free-to-play revised take on the Crazy Taxi franchise.

Even though the new game borrows heavily from popular mobile games like Temple Run, don’t think that this entry has disregarded the Japanese team that created the originals. Kenji Kanno, creator of Crazy Taxi, has been overseeing development and lately been doing quite a bit of interviews on the web speaking about the game. The game is developed by Hardlight Studios who developed Sonic Dash, another title that was highly influenced by Temple Run (and Sonic Jump that takes notes from the popular mobile game Doodle Jump, though it should be noted that an earlier version of Sonic Jump released that pre-dates Doodle Jump).

This game is also supposed to be released on Android, but like always Android users must wait.

Vidya Retro Highlights: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Mobile and More

If you’ve missed our live stream shows, you’ll be happy to know that we archive (most) of our videos including our first look at Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed running on iOS as led by Guess Who. We’ve also got first looks of Sonic Dash and Crazy Taxi running on Android that showcase game features and commentary from the staff at Sonic Retro.

Be sure to follow our Vidya Retro on Twitch and YouTube for more first looks and other gameplay videos.

“GO DANCE” in the new year with a new Sega iOS game

Just in time to dance in the new year, Sega presents GO DANCE on iOS devices. Working a lot like the Just Dance series of games, GO DANCE uses your iOS devices camera to track your dance movements as you groove to artists like Flo Rida and Niki Minaj or if you have actual musical taste, there are some Sega tunes thrown in as well including four from Jet Set Radio. GO DANCE is a free game app (with microtransactions of course) and is available on iTunes now.

PAX ’13 – Heroki Demo Impressions

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At this year’s PAX 2013, SEGA is hitting it off with another indie developer under the SEGA Alliance brand. This time lending a hand to a developer from the Netherlands, Picomy Games, to release their action game Heroki to iDevices. I was joined in by two of the developers, Michael Balm and Bobby Bouman, as well as SEGA Alliance producer John Eternal as they showcased a build running on an iPad to help explain the game mechanics and provide some insight on the development on the game.

SEGA trademarks Flick of the Dead

SEGA has filed trademarks for Flick of the Dead. What could this possibly be? Well, first of all its going to be a House of the Dead spin-off, that much is for sure. If SEGA’s latest iOS title, Miku Flick, is any indication, its going to be a House of the Dead title on smartphones.

What do I want it to be? I wish it was a full console release game where you play zombie filled stages from various zombie movies from the past three or so decades. Come on, that’s cooler than a mobile game, right?

Sonic 4 Episode 1 on the iPad, As You Truly Imagined It

SEGA has released an iPad version of Sonic 4 Episode 1 just in time for the holidays! No longer will players have to upscale the original iOS version of the game. Now, the game appears in HD! What more, word has it that the level select now matches the one found on the console versions, the original iOS version only had the simple menu listing. Also, Sonic sports a new model (perhaps what we’ll see in Episode 2?). The revamped Lost Labyrinth and Casino Street act 2’s are not present, however. Instead, the game features the original pinball mini-game and the strange mine cart. I noted in my original iOS review of the game that the strange mine cart, while a boring level in itself, does sport fun tilt controls. You can buy the iPad version now for only $1.99!

Brick People for iOS out, limited time on sale


If you are looking for a block stacking puzzle game where you lead brick people to tasty snacks, this game is for you. If you want monsters trying to stop you, guess what? This game is for you. The game supports achievements, leaderboards and even bluetooth enabled multiplayer.

Not only that, SEGA has special promo pricing, giving you a deal on the game on day one:

iPhone/iPod Touch

  • $0.99 USD
  • $0.99 AUD
  • £0.69
  • €0.79

iPad

  • $1.99 USD
  • $1.99 AUD
  • £1.49
  • €1.59
So if you have an iOS device and like puzzle games, check the game out. You can’t lose much if it sucks, I mean, look at that price they are selling it for. This is an arcade port, that is a ton of quarters you just saved yourself. 
[Source: SEGA.blog]

Samurai Blood Show sneaking onto the Apple App store tomorrow


SEGA has been silent about the iOS release of Samurai Blood Show, but it seems that it will be coming out tomorrow, September 1st and its a tower defense game with a mix of card action.

The full title will cost you $4.99 $1.99, but the ‘lite’ version will give players the ability to play 4 stages from the campaign. SEGA says the full release will have over 100 levels that span 2o different battlefields.

The game also features ranking mode and multiplayer if you want to play with friends.

[Source: SEGAShiro]

SEGA announces Brick People for iOS

The Brick People arcade game is being ported to iOS devices! . That means iPhones, iPad and iPod Touch.

  • Tactile Gameplay: Build towers and bridges for the Brick People by pulling bricks from the stack and dropping them into place, using the iOS’ multi-touch interface
  • Build with a Buddy: Compete head-to-head via Wi-Fi to out-build your friends, or compete on a single device in the iPad version
  • See How You Stack Up: Build your Brick People reputation by going for high scores on the Game Center leaderboards, and tweet your tallest towers

The game is set to be released this Autumn. So get your iDevices ready! Now if only they would announce this for Android!

[Source: SEGA.Blog]

Sonic CD Teaser Trailer

Well here’s an interesting trailer! They introduce the trailer with a Sonic 4 sprite running into a Past sign and turning back into the Sonic CD sprite! Is it just a gimmick or some kind of hint towards the direction of Sonic 4 Episode 2? Hard to say!

It has been confirmed that Sonic CD will use the Japanese/Euro version of the sound track, which is a good thing! Apparently this isn’t an emulated port but it actually runs on a fan made engine called ‘The Retro Engine’ developed by someone going by the name ‘The Taxman’. That doesn’t mean much to me but by the reaction of the Sonic fans it’s a good thing and so long as Backbone isn’t involved that’s a plus judging by their previous port work for Sega.

Sonic CD will be available for XBLA, PSN, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad™, Windows PC Digital Download, Android and Windows Phone and will be available for download in late 2011.

I also read something about looping sound tracks and ‘Sonic 2 spindash or CD style.’ Which I’m sure means something to someone…

SASASR for iOS (iPhone, iPad) Available Tonight. Only $1.99!

Just in time for Sonic’s 20th birthday, TSSZ reports that Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will be, well, racing to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch tonight. The game is a higher-resolution version of the DS port. The best news is it will be available for the low, low price of only $1.99 U.S. (1.19 Europe) until June 25. At that point it goes up to $4.99. I got the chance to play this at E3 and it’s a well done port that even looks great on an iPad.

SEGA teases Sonic 20th Anniversary iphone app


SEGA had an event on the 18th in Japan for Sonic Generations. All the big guys from Sonic Team where there to answer fan questions, the public got to play City Escape level on the PS3 and Green Hill Zone (modern) on the 3DS. Then this little app above was teased.

SEGA is calling the app “Sonic 20th Anniversary” app. Featured in the pictures is ‘Soinic the sketch hog’. The app will give you the latest news on how SEGA is celebrating the blue blur’s 20th anniversary and exclusives like wallpapers.

The app is set to debut on the Japanese Apple Store, for free, on June 23rd. Will we be getting a American app? Who knows.

[Source: AndriaSang]

Takashi Iizuka confirms Sonic 4: Episode 2

The guys over at Siliconera had a chance to ask Iizuka if Sonic Team is planning a follow up to Sonic 4: Episode 1, in which he responded:

“We named Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, so there will be an episode 2. Since this year is the 20th anniversary of Sonic we wanted to focus on Sonic Generations. We don’t have a release date or anything.But, we can tell you it will be in the near future.”” – Takashi Iizuka

Near future? Iizuka and his love for time traveling plots. In all seriousness, it seems that Sonic Generations is getting the physics for cassic Sonic right. Would be interested if the physics being used in Generations will be used in Episode 2.