Sega Hard Girls Novel: A manga inspired by SEGA Hardware

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[Left to right: Dreamcast, Sega Saturn, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Gear, and Master System]

Dengeki Bunko has announced that they will be collaborating with SEGA for a couple of projects to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The first project is ‘Sega Hard Girls Story’, a SEGA-themed novel serial that will be published in Dengeki Bunko Magazine. The novel is set to re-imagine SEGA game systems as goddesses, who go all over modern Japan doing goddess business.

SEGA has another Hatsune Miku game up their sleeves

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Hatsune Miku is on fire over there in Japan, with her latest cameos and now a new teaser site for a new game. All we know is that the game is set to be revealed in 3 days via Famitsu, which usually leaks information earlier than publishers intend to.

So with SEGA West expressing interest in bringing over Project Diva F, maybe its wiser to wait it out and release this new one. But what console or handheld will it be on? Vita again? Playstation 4? I guess we will find out.

Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode 2 footage to be shown April 9th

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We posted last month that SEGA announced the first expansion pack to Phantasy Star Online 2, titled Code Episode 2. Satoshi Sakai stated that they will show footage during their live Nico Nico broadcast on April 9th (which happens to be my birthday, thank you Sakai!).

He also talked about a new update that is hitting the Playstation Vita later this month. This update will allow players to customize the controls in the game and chat adjustments.

So what about us Phantasy Star fans in the west? Well, SEGA’s last update was that it was delayed and didn’t give a release date…

SEGA announces Phantasy Star Online 2: Code Episode 2

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During the Sympathy Concert to celebrate the Phantasy Star’s 25th anniversary SEGA and Sonic Team announced their first expansion pack for Phantasy Star Online 2. The expansion is being called Code Episode 2. Below is some of the keywords we know so far from the trailer that was shown at the event.

  • Oracle’s Collapse
  • Arks Road/Lord?
  • Photoners
  • “Who is the real enemy?”
  • The Third Darkers
  • The Beginning and End of the Arks
  • New Race, New Planet, New Classes.
  • New Weapon Categories.
  • Coming this Summer!

So it seems that it is confirmed that it will have new playable races, new planets and new character classes. More of everything you want, this Summer… While we wait in America for them to port the non-expansion packed version. Get on it SEGA West, stop delaying it.

Yakuza Fan launches his ‘Bring Yakuza 5 West’ Facebook campaign

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Yakuza Fan website has decided to take a lesson from the book of the blue S and launch a Facebook sharing/like campaign to see if there is enough interest in a Yakuza 5 western release.

Over a week ago SEGA launched their own campaign for Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F, stating if the image got enough shares/likes that they would bring the game over from Japan. That game is great and all, but we want Yakuza 5 and if you do too you should probably share/like the picture to help.

Go here, share and like the picture on your Facebook.

3D Super Hang-On for 3DS set to release next week in Japan

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File this one under “where is the Western release, SEGA?”. Following the release of 3D Space Harrier, SEGA of Japan has revealed the next title in their line of 3DS rereleases: 3D Super Hang-On. Set to release next week on March 27th for 600 yen,  3D Super Hang-On will feature true 3D graphics, gyro sensor controls, a widescreen mode, a virtual arcade machine mode, the ability to save at any time,  and more!  Players can also change the difficulty, time limit, handling, and screen size.

The SEGA of Japan page appears to hint at two more 3D releases, as four slots are shown and only two are filled with 3D Space Harrier and 3D Super Hang-On. If I had to guess, I’d say 3D OutRun and 3D After Burner are on the way. No word yet on a Western release, but hopefully we hear something soon. Perhaps SEGA West are waiting for all four to release, and then we’ll get a SEGA 3D Classics boxed release? After the break, a slew of 3D Super Hang-On images.

Edge Online wants a western release for Yakuza 5

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Guess what? We agree with them. They did a pretty sweet article titled ‘Yakuza 5 and why it needs a western release.

 “Nagoshi’s housewarming is in full swing in Japan, and it’s high time the rest of the world gatecrashed the party.”

Usually I would love for the game to get a box release, but seeing as One Piece and a few other games have profited by digital only releases, I wouldn’t mind that as long as I get to play it in English. What about you?

Shining Ark’s casual difficulty mode and password bread recipes


Shining Ark, the latest Shining game in the franchise came out in Japan today for the Sony PSP. As you would expect, lots of information has started to come out, like the fact that the game will have difficulty settings like ‘Standard’ and ‘Casual’. This has been a new trend in RPGs, hoping to catch audiences that thought JRPG’s where too hard, who now can enjoy the game on casual. The game allows you to pick your difficulty at the start, choosing either won’t affect item drops or storyline. Best part is that you can scale the difficulty back whenever you want from the start menu.

SEGA’s Code of Joker gameplay footage recorded at JAEPO 2013


There was a lot of excitement about Code of Joker when little was known. Many users wanted it to be a new console game that would come out in the west. In the end it turned out to be a digital card arcade game that will probably only come out in Japan. Doesn’t mean we can’t see what it plays like. SEGA showed off the game at JAEPO 2013, here is someone playing it at the event.

I know that SEGA has done other digital card arcade games and they have done well, I just don’t know why they always have to change the IP every few years. Maybe Japanese people are attracted to new IPs?

SEGA joins the DOTA clone train, picks up Chaos Heroes Online


Ever since the free-to-play DOTA clone, Leagues of Legends ranked up millions and millions of players many publishers have tried to replicate its success. Seems that SEGA is now one of the publishers picking up the Japanese DOTA clone Chaos Heroes Online.

SEGA is picking up the title to localize in Japan, this was developed by Korean developer Neoact. The game is set to start service this spring and will be free-to-play.

SEGA partners with Enterbrain to create SEGA Note PCs

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You wanted SEGA hardware? Here’s your SEGA hardware! SEGA has teamed up with Japanese PC retailer Enterbrain to create the SEGA Note PCs. Features of the entry-level include an Intel Pentium 2020M chip with a 500GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM, the next model up features an Intel Core i3-3120M processor, 500GB hard drive and 8GB of RAM, and replaces the lower model’s DVD drive with a Blu-ray reader. The third version has an Core i7-3630QM chip with 8GB of RAM and a 120GB SSD, and the top-end model matches those specs and replaces the Blu-ray reader with a writer. All models feature a Full HD 15.6″ display, and a choice of four lid finishes – a basic SEGA blue, Mega Drive, Saturn and Dreamcast. The top-tier model comes with all four lid types, which can be easily swapped out. Prices range from ¥99,750 to ¥194,250. Currently, these are Japan only. Pre-orders are currently being taken for the hardware, and it appears that if a certain number is not reached, the PCs will not be produced. Imagine: a SEGA PC loaded with all the SEGA PC game releases. That is a SEGA game on SEGA hardware! Close enough, right?

Thanks to SEGAbits forum member ROJM for the tip. After the break, check out a gallery of the various awesome lids!

Shining Ark gets Shining Wind character cameo

If you live in Japan, you might want to know that if you pre-order the next Shining RPG, Shining Ark, SEGA will be giving you a crossover character from Shining Wind for free. You will get Rouna Murasame, she won’t have story elements but will be playable during battle.

Sucks that we won’t see this game in the west. Shining Ark comes out February 28th on the PSP.