SEGA pulling back on blockchain gaming saying play-to-earn games are boring

Cryptocurrency has taken a big hit in value, but when it was in its all time high, SEGA and other big publishers where quick to announce blockchain gaming projects across the board. SEGA was even one of the biggest supporters saying their next big ‘super game’ and successor to Phantasy Star Online 2 would feature NFTs. Now that the price and hype surrounding crypto has shifted into a bear market, it seems that SEGA is having second thoughts on the whole thing.

SEGA’s co-Chief Operating Officer Shuji Utsumi talked to Bloomberg News recently:

“The action in play-to-earn games is boring. What’s the point if games are no fun?”

As far as SEGA’s online multiplayer, high budget “Super Game” that is due to roll out in 2026, he had this to say:

“We’re looking into whether this technology is really going to take off in this industry, after all” 

New details on SEGA’s acquisition of Rovio, including plans for console and PC games

As we previously reported, SEGA’s parent company Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. (SSHD) entered into an agreement to acquire Rovio, and SEGA Europe has since made a voluntary recommended cash offer to the shareholders of Rovio to tender all their shares and the option holders of Rovio to tender all their options in Rovio to SEGA Sammy Holdings. Basically, SEGA will be acquiring Rovio.

Sonic and Puyo Puyo’s Special Menu Items at Osaka Mall

A Twitter post announced a collaboration with The Grand Game at Osaka’s Grand Front Complex in Japan with the Sonic the Hedgehog & Puyo Puyo franchises as part of their special menu for the location’s 10th anniversary event. From now until May 14th, attendees can visit the arcade and try out some themed foods like a Sonic latte & a Puyo pancake. Attendees can also take pictures at a photo op with cutouts of Sonic & Puyo characters and can play various games, such as a giant UFO crane machine & a Pac-Man themed golf course shaped from the level mazes.

First 4 Figures reveals Amy Rose statue

First 4 Figures has unveiled the Amy Rose resin statue on Twitter, which will be available for pre-order on November 8th to commemorate the release of Sonic Frontiers. The team used the Sonic Advance Yuji Uekawa design as a base for the statue, even coming equipped with her Piko-Piko Hammer. An exclusive and definitive edition will also come with an interchangeable hand that features a miniature Pink Amy Chao. More details will be revealed at later dates, and you can sign up for the email letter to get notifications or follow First4Figures on Twitter for when more info drops.

SEGA Talk #101: Ten Moments in Nintendo and SEGA History

On this special SEGA Talk episode we look back at not only SEGA & Nintendo shared moment, but also the origins of SEGA’s rival, they’re dip into arcades, the console wars, and even predict each company’s future.

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, tell us what games to cover, and have your SEGA memories read at the end and more!

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – RSS – Download]

If you want to give us feedback, suggest a topic for the next podcast or want to ask a question for us to answer on the next episode you can add  them as a comment below or send theme directly to our email. Make sure you use subject line ‘SEGA Talk’ and as always, thanks for listening!

Seaman is back, introducing Seaman ASMR


Over in Japan, Mt. Rainier coffee will provide customers a QR codes on their coffee cans to listen to the beautiful soothing sounds of Seaman ASMR tracks. According to the company, the point of the promotion is to use soothing ocean tracks to help people who suffered stress during COVID-19 pandemic. Seaman will have four ASMR tracks and occasionally say various things.

While at first it sounds like the company just used tracks from Seaman, the ASMR is actually being done by award-winning aquascaper Takayuki Fukada. The QR code will also allow the user to access AR images of Japanese cities, which will have Seaman appear. As far as the tone of Seaman in this promotional advertisement will be, is unknown. I would hope that Seaman doesn’t insult the people, considering its meant to be for people under stress.

While on the surface a Seaman ASMR promotion seems a bit odd, considering how long the franchise has been dormant, Seaman was actually the highest selling Dreamcast game in the region. I’d assume Mt. Rainier would want to cash in on fans that grew up with the game. I’m personally looking forward to when the Seaman ASMR tracks get posted online for my listening pleasure.

[Via: Siliconera]

Yu Suzuki says there are ‘no concrete plans’ for Shenmue 4 yet

Shenmue creator and SEGA legend Yu Suzuki recently attended a event to celebrate Shenmue in Yokosuka, right during the finale of the Shenmue the Animation. At this event there where several gaming outlets including IGN Japan and Famitsu, where he discussed the anime and talked about the future of the series.

One of the interesting points he touched on was the fact that Shenmue 3 was created to please long time fans from the start since they’re the ones crowdfunding it. Yu Suzuki says he received positive feedback from those old time fans but felt that newcomers “felt like they had been left behind”. This made it a bad entry point for newcomers.

Ryo Vs Lan Di Stare Down! | Shenmue the Animation EP 12 Review/Discussion

We are almost coming to an end in our Shenmue The Animation After Show, on this episode our heroes journey into the Yellow Head Building, while the anime actually expands on both Joy and Wong’s character arcs and leaves us off with an epic stare down between Ryo and Lan Di!

If you enjoy our Shenmue The Animation After Show review segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

Ryo Closes In On The Yellow Head Building! | Shenmue the Animation The After Show EP 11

We are approaching the last few episodes of Shenmue the Animation and on the 11th episode our boy Ryo finds out about Xiuying Hong’s brother, he enters a tournament and continues to get closer to The Yellow Head Building were a Lan Di is! We also look at changes from the game to the anime, including new storyline introduced for Joy!

If you enjoy our Shenmue The Animation After Show review segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is

Four Wude Completed, Yuan Introduced | Shenmue the Anime EP 9 Review/Discussion

On this episode of Shenmue the Animation After Show we discuss Episode 9: Distinct. On this episode our young hero finishes his quest to discover the Four Wude, we are finally introduced to controversial Shenmue thug Yuan, and more!

If you enjoy our Shenmue The Animation After Show review segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is

First4Figures reveals Sonic 30th Anniversary statue

First4Figures dropped a new teaser trailer for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 30th anniversary resin statue. With more information releasing on April 5th, the trailer shows a quick glimpse of the statue: with Sonic doing the iconic run through the goal ring and a 30th anniversary pop-art logo (reminiscent of all the previous press pictures seen). Pre-orders will be avaiable after the stream, with a giveaway contest being promoted to win a figure. Be sure to tune into the F4F Youtube page on April 5 for more information!

SEGA showcases nine arcade games for Amusement Expo

SEGA Amusements has put together a short video showcasing what arcade games the company has for 2022. Some of the games we’ve seen talked about before like Mission Impossible Arcade DLX, but the video also showcases smaller titles like Capto Crane and Polar Slide.

The video features:

  • VR Agent
  • Mission Impossible Arcade DLX
  • Jet Blaster
  • Men in Black
  • Jumanji
  • Polar Slide
  • Power Roll
  • Capto Crane
  • Pushing Points

I know that lately people have assumed SEGA has pulled out of the arcade markets because they sold their arcade management business, but that isn’t true. SEGA is, as of right now, still creating arcade games but just doesn’t own most of its Japanese venues anymore.

Japanese Man Arrested for Allegedly Sending SEGA Death Threats Over Losing In Online Games

Today’s lesson we learn is that some people play games to relax, while other people play to blow off steam. On the other hand, 54-year-old Toyokawa, Japan resident got so heated, he decided to go and e-mail SEGA death threats. The man was arrested on March 16th.

It seems that the man sent SEGA over 12 threatening emails that ranged from setting “the company on fire”, “kill employees” and even as far as “kill the family and children of employees.” Big yikes. According to Watanabe himself, he was upset because he had “lost in an online game and was frustrated”.

What game was he playing? Who knows, as its not detailed but considering he sent the emails from his mobile phone I would assume an online mobile game published by SEGA.

[Via: Kotaku, Source: Yomiuri]

Journey for the Four Wude Continues! | Shenmue the Animation EP 7 Review/Discussion

Ryo continues his journey into finding the Four Wude, we talk about some of the new returning characters and our thoughts on this very ‘video gamey’ episode!

If you enjoy our Shenmue The Animation After Show review segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is

New SEGA UFO A La Carte 3 revealed – Check it out in action

The official SEGA Youtube channel revealed the first follow-up to the UFO A La Carte arcade machine series since 2009. A video was released showcasing the UFO A La Carte 3, the newest UFO machine developed by SEGA and the first under the GiGO license. The new catcher has bubbled pull strings to pull down using a fork-like gripper, with prizes on the end or next to it. How it works is you try to line up the gripper with the string to center it and it pulls the prize string down. You might have to get it a few times in order to win the prizes, which include plushes, keychains, figures and more. The video shows a small tutorial on how to use and is very familiar with other UFO machines with the two button layout. No information for distribution or a release date has come up but you can check out the video above.