Four Sonic the Hedgehog titles being removed from Nintendo’s Japanese Virtual Console

Most of the retro Sonic titles are being removed from the Japanese Virtual Console service. There has ben no word if these games will also be removed from the American and European Virtual Console. Games removed from Virtual Console can’t be bought by any new users, though they can be redownloaded once bought.

The Sonic titles being removed:

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 1
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  • Sonic and Knuckles
  • Sonic the Hedgehog (MS)
Reason wasn’t given for the pull.

Sonic 2 logo made out of 24,651 beads


If you guys didn’t know, I have an addiction to Reddit. Yesterday, Reddit user synbios16 posted his Sonic 2 logo (picture above), he made it out of 24,651 little beads. Just for scale he put one bead on the right and the Sonic 2 cartridge on the left. I have to say, that would look good hanging on any wall.

Arts & Crafts: Make your own Sonic Generations Genesis box!

Back in late 2010 I put together a nifty Sonic the Hedgehog 4 mock Genesis box complete with cover art, a cartridge sticker and a fake instruction manual. The project was a mini labor of love for both retro Genesis box designs and my favorite SEGA franchise. Today, as Sonic Generations releases, I’m happy to present another Genesis box design, this time for Sonic Generations. I figured, as the series focuses on both modern and classic, it would be fitting to provide a classic version of the game case. As the actual Generations cases for 360 and PS3 tout 3D support, I thought I’d throw Master System fans a bone and added the “SegaScope 3-D” logo to the case.

Let’s get started! Click here for files and printing instructions!

Check out the awesome custom squid girl SEGA Genesis

So why is this called a squid girl Genesis? Well, in Japan there is a anime called “Invader! Squid Girl” that came from 2chan image boards. I guess its pretty popular with the natives over there, in the series they have a mock version of the Genesis (Mega Drive in Japan) called the Ika Drive. So a fan decided to repaint his working Mega Drive to match.

Got to be honest, I’m actually a fan of the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive classic (first console) in white. Those blue buttons also look great. What do you guys think?

[Source: Destructoid]

Holy crap, did they just hack my SEGA Genesis?


Seems that the SEGA being hacked story has made it to the mainstream news. Isn’t that great? It sure is, it would have been better if the mainstream news actually had stock photographs of SEGA past the SEGA Genesis.

Now I know why the Saturn and Dreamcast failed. Damn you mainstream news!

[Via: Reddit]

Classic SEGA Mega Drive dynamic theme is awesome


This theme above was released in the European PSN store update and it’s awesome! It seems that it’s only for PSN+ users, America might get it later. I personally will be rocking this one.

That is basically a SEGA fan’s bedroom in the early 90’s.

SEGA Sequel Saturdays: Comix Zone

This is my first time taking on the ‘SEGA Sequel Saturdays’ feature, I hope I do it justice. My pick is Comix Zone, it might have been a very hard and short game, but it still remains as one of my favorite SEGA Genesis titles of all time.

I think with PSN & XBLA games doing so well, it might be time for SEGA to do a proper sequel for this title. Move over Sonic 4, this is the Genesis game that deserved a sequel!

Playstation Plus members to get free SEGA Genesis titles

PSN has been lacking a ton of Genesis games that XBLA got. Seems that they will soon be coming out and if you are a Playstation Plus member, you won’t have to pay anything. Below is the release schedule, as you’ll notice, Plus members also get them early.

PlayStation Plus Releases (free)

  • Sonic the Hedgehog – Available March 1 – April 5
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – Available April 5 – May 3
  • Streets of Rage 2 – Available May 3 – May 31
  • Golden Axe 2 – Available May 31 – July 5
  • Comix Zone – Available July 5 – August 2
  • Altered Beast – Available August 2 – August 30

Regular PlayStation Store Release ($4.99 each)

  • Sonic the Hedgehog – March 29
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – April 19
  • Streets of Rage 2 – May 17
  • Golden Axe 2 – June 14
  • Comix Zone – July 19
  • Altered Beast – August 16

The only issue with Playstation Plus is that you don’t own the games, if you stop paying for the service you can’t use the games anymore. That is a negative, but since each game costs less than the monthly subscription (if you buy a year’s worth), it might be worth a look.

5 Annoyingly Catchy SEGA Genesis Tunes

… or Mega Drive tunes, if you’re of that persuasion. Every blue blooded SEGA fan knows the distinct sound of Genesis/Mega Drive music. Having played dozens of Genesis games throughout the 90’s, a number of game tunes stuck with me. Many great, due to the sheer genius of their composition (Sonic 2’s Chemical Plant Zone and Streets of Rage 2 Stage 1-1 come to mind). But what of those game tunes that stick with you due to them just being plain old annoyingly catchy? Today I’m going to share 5 of those tunes. I actually find myself unknowingly whistling these on a daily basis. Proof of their annoying “catchocity” (a scientific measurement of catchiness).

Rumor: Classic SEGA Games Releasing Under XBLA “Classics Live” Banner This Summer?

File this one under rumor: The rumor began when fans of XBLA’s Game Room were speculating the future of the service. For those who don’t know what Game Room is, Game Room is a free application on XBLA that allows retro video game fans to buy 70’s and 80’s Atari, Konami, Activision and Intellivion games and set up the games in their own virtual arcade. I found the service to be a lot of fun, and full of promise, however SEGA had yet to get on board (despite a Genesis controller appearing in a menu icon) and Microsoft has yet to release new games since the last update in December. Game Room fans speculated that the service was dead, however recent discussion at the official XBOX 360 Game Room forums says otherwise. So where does SEGA come into this? What is the rumor? Get to the point, Barry!

SEGA Sequels: Vectorman 3

[You know you want to see him back]

Annnnnnd introducing…..SEGA Sequel Saturdays. The new feature where we discuss what we feel would be the perfect way to do sequels to some of our favorite SEGA games. This week, I tackle Vectorman, a pretty awesome SEGA Genesis run-and-gun platformer that was developed by BlueSky Software and published by SEGA. Though an attempt was made to revive the character back on the PS2 in 2003, the game was cancelled. All hope shouldn’t be lost, though. I still definitely think it’s possible to make a great next gen Vectorman game, and if you hit the jump, you’ll see how I’d go about reviving this Genesis icon for the current gen, and you can express your own ideas as well.

Pier Solar is a new RPG for the SEGA Genesis


Pier Solar started off life in 2004 in an internet forum, flash forward to now and its a full fledge game. In the game you play as Hoston, a young botanist who has to save his father from a illness. The game uses 64 meg cart, if you didn’t know, that is some intense power and is the biggest Genesis cart ever.

You can order the game via its official website.

The game has already gone into re-print due to overwhelming fan demand. It looks pretty good and I might order a copy for myself soon. As for screenshots, hit the jump.

Classic SEGA Magazine Corner: EGM May 1991

Continuing an article series started by SEGAbits writer MadeManG74, I present another classic SEGA magazine: Electronic Gaming Monthly Number 22, released May 1991. SEGA and Sonic fans of course recognize May ’91 as the month before Sonic the Hedgehog hit stores. American magazine EGM joined the hype wagon and gave Sonic his own cover and a two page preview spread. Check out the article that was, most likely, the first real preview many had seen of the now classic SEGA series!

Gunstar Heroes arrives on iPhones

One of my favorite Genesis games, Gunstar Heroes, is now on the iPhone (and iPod Touch as well, I assume). The game will run you $2.99. Wow, that is like a cup of coffee for one of the best Genesis games ever.

If that wasn’t enough, the game has bluetooth multiplayer. That is pretty awesome.

[Source: Siliconera]

Phantasy Star II coming to the iPhone!

One month ago SEGA brought iPhone and iPod Touch owners Shining Force. This Thursday the SEGA RPG love continues with the release of Phantasy Star II! For just $2.99 the classic game will be fully playable, running on the same emulator as previous games. However, unlike games that require precise controls and fail on SEGA’s Genesis emulator (I’m looking at you, Sonic 2), Phantasy Star II is promised to be a smooth experience as the game itself does not require fast timing or a fast frame rate.

Here’s hoping that we get more SEGA RPGs in the coming months!

[Source: TouchArcade and The Nomad Junkyard]