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Our new video series “This Is Saturn” takes on an all-star SEGA cast in Fighters Megamix

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This is Saturn returns, with a look at Fighters Megamix, SEGA AM2’s crazy crossover fighter featuring characters from Virtua Fighter, Fighting Vipers, Sonic the Fighters, Rent-A-Hero, Virtua Cop, and even Daytona USA!

Being my first SEGA Saturn game, Fighters Megamix is a game that regardless of quality, means quite a bit to me. But does it manage to hit the heights of Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers themselves? Or is it a clumsy mash-up of two hits? The answer lies, in episode 2 of This is Saturn! Though really, it’s a SEGA AM2 game, so what do you think the game’s going to be?

As stated in the video, Gaming Hell played a huge role in the research for this video, and it’s a kick-arse site! You can also specifically find Gaming Hell’s Fighters Megamix page, including a full review and guide here. Give the site some love, because hell, it more than deserves it! A special thanks goes to Ant Cooke, owner of Gaming Hell, for clearing up several particular details as well, notably the After Burner cameo code.

This is Saturn is a video series created by British teenager Liam ‘TrackerTD’ Ashcroft, aiming to give an alternative and in-depth look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of SEGA Saturn gaming, all whilst maintaining a somewhat strong accent.

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Swingin’ Report Show #56: Interview with Sonic Boom Producer Stephen Frost

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Hot on the heels of the reveal of the new Western television series and video game Sonic Boom, SEGA of America producer Stephen Frost sat down with Swingin’ Report Show hosts Barry and George, as well as David of Sonic Retro, to discuss all things speedy and blue. In this hour long discussion we delve into the genesis of the project, learn more of the team at Big Red Button Entertainment, and get a few hints at what we can expect to see in both the game and show. If Stephen’s enthusiasm is any gauge for what we can expect, we’re in for a real treat later this year!

Learn more about the new branch in the Sonic franchise at the official Sonic Boom website.

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My Life with SEGA battles it out in Cyber Troopers: Virtual-On for the SEGA Saturn

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My Life with SEGA is back! A.J. is back! Mickey Mac is back! In our first episode since our team up in Rambo for SEGA’s Master System, it’s time to get our mech on in SEGA’s critically acclaimed arcade smash, Cyber Troopers Virtual-On for the SEGA Saturn! Released in 1995 to arcade’s by Sega AM3, Cyber Troopers Virtual-On is a versus fighting game featuring robots known as the “virtuaroids”, appropriately powered by Sega Saturns. Yes, sticking consoles on your protagonists was a thing even before The Typing of the Dead. The game was later ported to the Saturn, which is the version we’re putting to the test in this 2-Man Scramble. Who will come out on top? Watch and find out!

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Round Table: How we would like to see Sakura Taisen localized

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As Sakura Taisen week comes to an end, the SEGAbits writers and I look ahead to the future of the franchise. While we’re certain Japanese gamers want a sixth title, here in the West we’re still waiting for localized releases of the first four games. While there are no signs of Sakura Taisen 1-4 seeing a Western release anytime soon, that doesn’t stop us from speculating and sharing our own ideas for how SEGA could give gamers these SEGA classics. And who knows, with the recent developments of SEGA acquiring Atlus’s parent company Index and SEGA surprising us all with the localization of Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F, perhaps there is a future for the franchise in the West. Check out our thoughts after the break!

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Swingin’ Report Show #55: Localize It! with Segalization

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This week’s episode is a special one, as Barry and George reunite to talk with Draikin and InTheSky of the SEGAbits partner site Segalization – a fan campaign dedicated to promoting the localization of SEGA games. While Western SEGA fans have enjoyed a number of great releases over the past few years, there are several titles that fans have never been able to experience due to SEGA not localizing hits from Japan for Western audiences.

Draikin and InTheSky talk about the inception of the Segalization campaign, and share their thoughts on how SEGA could go about localizing titles including Valkyria Chronicles 3, Yakuza 5, Yakuza Ishin, and Puyo Puyo Tetris. We also reveal another new partner site, Panzer Dragoon fan site The Will of the Ancients, and deliver the usual off topic banter. Enjoy the show!

Want to support Segalization? Visit their website, follow them on Facebook and Twitter and sign their petition to bring Japanese SEGA titles to the West!

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My Life with SEGA reviews the AtGames Genesis Console

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For many SEGA fans, the Genesis was their first SEGA console. In North America, it was easily the most successful system released by the then 49-year old company. Sonic the Hedgehog made his debut on the 16-bit juggernaut, followed by a string of classics, such as Streets of Rage, ToeJam & Earl, Comix Zone and Vectorman…. just to name a few.

Now, 25 years later, the Genesis is now a cherished memory of our gaming history. Many of its games have ported to several current-generation gaming consoles, like the PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. In addition, there have been countless “cloned” Genesis consoles from RetroGen and AtGames. These are typically cheaply made, easy on the wallet, come with several built-in classic games and they’re fuckin’ EVERYWHERE! I’m not even kidding. I’ve found them book stores as well as Bed, Bath & Beyond. In fact, that’s where I purchased mine. Now, why would I buy one of these things? I have a CDX and a Model 1 Genesis. I certainly don’t NEED another Genesis. Why blow another $40 on something that undoubtedly wind up collecting dust in my closet? It’s simple, watch the video.

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Swingin’ Report Show #54: SEGA Retro Talk with GameSpot editor Peter Brown

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The SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show is back for 2014, and boy do we have a good show for you!

SEGAbits editor/writer Barry the Nomad and SEGAbits writer, Sonic Talk host, and Sonic Stadium writer Jason aka Shigs are joined by GameSpot editor Peter Brown for a retro themed round table discussion. Peter shares how he got into video game journalism and gives us his thoughts on the Xbox One’s Panzer Dragoon spiritual successor Crimson Dragon – which he officially reviewed for GameSpot. We also discuss the many SEGA consoles celebrating anniversaries this year and share some good ol’ SEGA memories. Listen today, and while you’re at it subscribe to us and rate us on iTunes!

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Round Table: How we would like to see Ristar brought into the modern era

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Ristar week has been a blast, but it ain’t over until we throw a round table! This week, our writers answer the question: “How would you like to see Ristar brought into the modern era?” Despite Ristar’s short lifespan in the 90’s, the character’s popularity has endured, as evidenced by our full week of Ristar coverage and Ristar’s inclusion as a cameo in Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing and his second cameo as the flagman for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. But cameos are not enough for SEGA’s star headed platformer, we think he deserves more.

Read on to see how we would like to see Ristar brought into the modern era!

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My Life with SEGA kills some time on the SEGA Genesis with “Time Killers”

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Introduction by A.J. Rosa: When Strata’s weapon-based fighter Time Killers hit arcades in 1992, my brother and I soon monopolized the cabinet. It was funny, violent, gory and ridiculously entertaining. Being SEGA boys, we were itchin’ to see this bloody whore ported to the Genesis, or even better, the SEGA CD. Hey, that was our new toy, and we thought it was AWESOME!

By the time it landed on our favorite 16-bit hero, 4 years had passed. SEGA Saturn, Sony’s PlayStation and the Nintendo 64 were already duking it out. On top of that, Time Killers had been surpassed by other fighters. Unlike its contemporaries, such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, it didn’t receive an annual sequel to keep the franchise alive.

So, was this port worth the wait? Lauren and I will share our feelings with you as we try to hack each other into pieces. Like this video? Subscribe to the SEGAbits YouTube channel!

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SEGA Memories: 2003’s strange case of Beta-7

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2003 was a strange time for SEGA fans. It was the first year following the Dreamcast’s discontinuation with no new games released, new SEGA titles began to release on rival consoles, and a shocking conspiracy unfolded behind the doors of SEGA of America and Visual Concepts. In March, 2003, SEGA and Visual Concepts began beta testing NFL 2k4 – which later was released as ESPN NFL Football. In an effort to fine tune the game, a couple dozen gamers were assembled at an office park in Winter Park, Florida with the promise of trying out an exciting new product. Each gamer present, now given the role of video game beta tester, were given code names: Beta-1, Beta-2, Beta-3, etc. Each beta tester was paired with another tester, and the pairs were tasked with testing various modes and features. One innovative feature which SEGA was keep to promote was the game’s “crash-cam”, a mode which allowed players to experience the game in a first person perspective complete with a simulated on-screen helmet. The privilege of testing this mode fell on the pair of Beta-7 and Beta-8, with Beta-7 being the first to try it out. At first, everything was normal for Beta-7. The new mode was described by him as “SICK” and “awesome”, everything was going great… until he blacked out.

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My Life with SEGA: No Limits – online now, coming to SEGA Saturn Video CD later this year!

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The “wait” is over. No Limits is the thrilling sequel to last year’s The Next Level, starring A.J. Rosa, Mickey Mac, Shawn Morgan and Alex Gonzales, with Jessie Wyrick.

Shawn has decided to unleash Lucifer-Alpha on an unsuspecting SEGA West, which will be launched from his newly acquired star cruiser, the U.S.S. Uranus. Little does he realize that A.J. and Mickey Mac aim to kick his sorry ass into oblivion. Loaded with action, comedy, foul language and tasteless humor, this exciting short is proof that there are no limits.

After the break, check out the special Video CD release featuring a retro SEGA CD Saturn plastic box design that we have planned for No Limits, The Next Level, and My Life with SEGA’s reviews of Panzer Dragoon, Panzer Dragoon Zwei, Panzer Dragoon Saga, and Virtual-On.

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My Life with SEGA battles it out in Marvel Super Heroes for the SEGA Saturn

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Marvel Super Heroes was Capcom’s follow-up to their equally successful X-Men: Children of the Atom fighting game.

Like its predecessor, Marvel Super Heroes shares much in common with Capcom’s prolific Street Fighter series with over-the-top anime-style action, combo system and so on. While the arcade game was first released in 1995, console gamers wouldn’t receive a home port until late 1997 on Sony PlayStation and, of course, SEGA Saturn.

The Saturn version is fantastic. The animation is like an explosion of color that’s very faithful to the arcade original, with an energetic soundtrack and kick-ass sound effects. Now that Lauren’s joined the League of Extraordinary Dorks, I feel it’s high-time I make her suffer for NHL ’94.

FUN FACT: The American version is the one and only game outside of Japan that supports the RAM cartridge. To learn more about this delightful peripheral, check out the episode of My Life with SEGA dedicated to it!

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SEGA Tunes: Ristar’s Planet Freon – Ring Rink

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As we near Christmas day, I knew a festive Tuesday Tunes was in order. The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is filled with great wintery tunes, but I felt Sonic has been covered far too much on Tuesday Tunes (and for a good reason, Sonic music is awesome!). Christmas NiGHTS would be perfect, but it’s too obvious. Shenmue‘s Christmas tunes would be perfect, but we’ve aleady covered them. And that’s when it hit me, Sonic Team’s Ristar has an excellent winter tune. The game’s fifth stage, Planet Freon, is a planet made entirely of ice and snow. But you won’t find Imperial Walkers and Wampas on this ice planet, instead you’ll find downhill skiing and a bizarre alien enemy chucking snowballs. The music for the first portion of the stage begins almost as if you’re about to hear Jingle Bells, but what follows is a catchy tune with solid drum beats and a peppy tune perfectly suitable for a winter wonderland. So as the sun goes down on this Christmas eve, why not revisit this SEGA Genesis classic? It’s the best present you can give yourself.

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SEGA Cinema Holiday Special: Sonic Christmas Blast

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Welcome to the third SEGA Cinema! In celebration of the holiday season, Barry the Nomad and Sonic Retro staff members David the Lurker and Bartman settle in around the fireplace, sip eggmanog, and enjoy two episodes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. The first is the holiday special “Sonic Christmas Blast”, which released three years after the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog aired. The special was planned to be titled “An X-Tremely Sonic Christmas” to tie in with Sonic X-treme. But when X-treme was scrapped, the title was changed to tie in with Sonic 3D Blast.

The second bonus episode is entitled “Sno Problem”, a wintery themed adventure that sees Sonic and Tails taking on Robotnik who has unleashed his Ultra Freeze-O-Matic on mobius. His grand scheme? Watch and find out!

We’ve also added a few surprises, so sit back and enjoy! Like this video? Subscribe to the SEGAbits YouTube channel!

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Arcade Review: After Burner Climax

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As a SEGA fan, my loyalty has been tested to the breaking point at times. Let’s face it, SEGA has had to make some tough decisions and has made some terrible games over the years, especially over the last fifteen. In 2007 SEGA had lost much of my loyalty after turning out a rash of bad games including the infamously awful Sonic the Hedgehog. Then one day, I walked into a local arcade, played After Burner Climax for the first time and all was well.

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