Despite many requests from Android fans, SEGA has said they wouldn’t be bringing Sonic 4: Episode 1 to their phones. But out of the blue, Sonic 4: Episode 1 gets announced for Windows Phone 7.
Nothing much has been announced for the title. I wonder if Xbox 360 owners that bought the 360 version will get a discount on the mobile one?
[Source: SEGA]
What? First Shenmue, Sakura Wars, Yakuza, and now Phantasy Star? That is right, Phantasy Star will be joining Shenmue City on the Mobagetown mobile social gaming platform under the name Phantasy Star Eternal Hunters.
If you didn’t know, we actually reported on the trademark for the name, now we finally find out what they are doing with it. In Eternal Hunters you will have to collect data from a ship’s crashing site on some uncharted planet.
The big feature that SEGA is talking about in this game is the use of GPS information from your cell phone that will create unique monsters depending on your location and where you play. So if you are in different areas in Japan, you will have a different experience. Pre-registration for the game has already started, the service is expected to launch ‘this winter’. The game will of course be free to play.
[Source: AndriaSang]
Yakuza Mobile will hit the GREE mobile services this month, they are already taking up pre-registration if you want in on the action. The game lets you team up with friends while you take back the streets of Kamurocho from invading enemies. The game will have a automatic fighting system, mostly like Mafia Wars from what it sounds like.
The story will be orginal and take place between Yakuza 2 and 3. Masayoshi Yokoyama, who is in charge of the series’ scenarios will be working on the project. If you unlock weapons and items in Yakuza Mobile, it will be possible to transfer them to Yakuza of the End (that is coming out this upcoming March). Check out the screens below.
[Source: AndriaSang]
SEGA has been teasing a Yakuza announcement since Monday. What is all the racket about? It seems that SEGA will have a Yakuza Mobile (Ryu ga Gotoku Mobile) that ties in with their games. Not many details have been posted in terms of gameplay, but it is revealed that you will be able to trade weapons for the mobile game to Yakuza of the End on the PS3.
Talking about Yakuza of the End, SEGA has also announced the Japanese release date for the game. It will be hitting store shelves on March 17th, a year and two days after they released Yakuza 4 over there.
[Source: 1up]
Our forum upsidedown fuji has been playing Shenmue City since it launched yesterday. Yes, the lucky, sexy bastard lives in Japan and can take advantage of Japan virtues like living in the same island as Yu Suzuki and playing his games. While the rest of us hit F5 on the YS NET website waiting for Western announcements.
Enough of my bitter attitude, if you want to read his thoughts on the social game, click here. Don’t be scared of signing up for an account, we don’t bite. Who knows, could save your life.
That is right, Shenmue City is now up to play. The only issue is that the mobile version is the only one available. Meaning if you (like myself) are waiting for the PC version, you will have to wait. That version is still in development, no release date given.
But all is not lost, you can download wallpapers (like the one above) to celebrate the launch. Sure, not as cool as getting Shenmue 3. But bear with us! I hope this means we will get some gameplay footage online.
[Via: AndriaSang]
[Flowers? Do you guys sale anything useful?]
Shenmue City website has been updated with a flash thing, that has scrolling city shops. If you put your mouse over the shop, you get a picture of the owner, see Nozomi up above.
It also seems the game will exclusive shops or at least shop owners. Tell me what new stuff you guys find. Also confirmed via twitter is that the game is in the last stages of development. All I can say is, needs more Tom’s Hot Dogs.
[Thanks: Supa]
Here are some screenshots for the upcoming Shenmue City, that we have been posting like crazy rabbits about the past couple of days. As you can see, it isn’t a MMO, but a social game like those you find on facebook that all your friends update about every 2 hours.
Regardless, I like some of the ‘ideas’ behind it, but is sure as hell isn’t Shenmue 3 (Yu Suzuki, you always say it best). The game seems very text heavy, sucks for us on here that don’t know Japanese to save our lives. Hit the jump to see more screens.
The guys over at Sunsoft have scheduled a ‘proper unveiling’ for Shenmue City, the upcoming social game. The press conference will be at the UDX Theater in Akihabara, where people will be introduced tot he game. The event will be attended by Yu Suzuki, founder of YS.Net and main person behind the Shenmue series. Also invited to the event was Hiroshi Fujioka, who played Segata Sanshiro and for the Japanese version of Shenmue voiced Iwao Hazuki (Ryo’s father).
The higher ups at SEGA, Sunsoft and DeNA (the company that manages Mobagetown platform) will be at the event. Sadly its only for press, so some random fan can’t walk in and scream they want Shenmue 3 for a proper console.
The press conference will be on Monday, you can catch the live stream here from 15:30 to 17:15. Enjoy!
[Source: AndriaSang]
Of course everyone on here is waiting to get more information on Shenmue City, especially gameplay footage. Well, sadly we don’t have that just yet, but we did get a little update on what you will be able to do when the social game goes live to play.
Yes, details aren’t 100% yet, so we are all still waiting for the gameplay footage. Come on Sunsoft & YS NET, give us what we want.
[Source: AndriaSang]
YS NET’s website is now live, check it out here. Most of the site is centered around Yu Suzuki, who is obviously the main draw and person behind the new studio. They even have a history page.
The best part? There is a message from Yu himself. Its refreshing hearing from him, after he has been silent for so many years.
SEGA VP of sales and marketing at SEGA US, Alan Pritchard recently had an interview with the people over at MCVUK to talk about SEGA’s focus into the digital landscape. Warning that SEGA will be careful on what they output into the market, so it won’t be a repeat of what happen to the mobile market.
Do you guys remember Gain Ground? Its that one game that SEGA keeps on putting in those Genesis/Mega Drive compilations and you ask yourself why they do it. Well, now they are making a new entry to the franchise, mobile only and in Japan. Guess the title? Gain Ground Again.
The game comes out today (or yesterday, don’t know the date in Japan). Gain Ground Again lets you team up with other users, much like the older counter part. We have screens of the game below, not too impressive graphically.
[Thanks: STORM!]
SEGA promised to release an app called “SEGA Ultimate Genesis Collection” which would let you download and play other SEGA Genesis games. It was suppose to be out February. What happen?
SEGA has canceled the app, stating SEGA is changing its iPhone and iPod Touch strategy. Hopefully this means more quality control, because the last Genesis games they released ran like crap. How about a Space Channel 5 port? That should work well.
[Source: PocketGamer]