SEGA’s Newest Studio is Hardlight

Thanks to a job listing, we now know the name of SEGA’s newest studio: Hardlight. The job posting for a programmer revealed a number of details. The studio is UK based, in Solihull, and will focus on developing “high quality and innovative experiences for both current and future platforms”. The first of these games is described as a “unique action adventure” for the Playstation Vita. Also revealed, Hardlight would be working closely with Sega R&D to “stay at the cutting edge of developments in technology, middleware and game experiences”.

It’s great to see SEGA growing and we wish Hardlight a bright future!

A New Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitz Trailer

A new trailer for the upcoming Vita game, “Super Monkey Ball: Bananna Splitz” has arrived courtesy of Sega. The CG traier uses old music from previous Monkey Ball games and doesn’t really give you a clear idea of what the game is about. But best I can tell, there appears to be a a day/night cycle and tilt control.

We’ll know more when Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz releases this summer.

SEGA makes Kazuma in Virtua Tennis 4 on Vita


SEGA showed off some of Virtua Tennis 4’s create a character mode. Sure, we already played the mode on the console releases so we should know how it works. But SEGA is showing off new things you will be able to do when the portable title comes out. They showed off by make Yakuza’s Kazuma Kiryu and Black Panther’s Tatsuya Ukyo. You can see them both above.

Shown above, the Vita’s camera will be able to scan a human or picture’s face to re-create in the game. So you could take sexy looking Kazuma, put his face in the game. Pretty neat right? You can also take pictures with your 3D character you created, so you can create yourself and then take a photo side by side thanks to Vita’s argumentative reality camera. Hit the jump to see all the photos.

Super Monkey Ball Vita gets new trailer and gameplay video


The above video is a gameplay demonstration held by Playstation Japan. The video shows off Vita only modes and gameplay. Pretty neat I guess.

 

Even though the game has already been announced for America and Europe, today is the official reveal for the Japanese market. In Japan the game is going to be called Super Monkey Ball Tokumori Asovita.” Check out the debut Japanese trailer after the break.

First Black Panther 2 screens and artwork hits the web

SEGA and Nagoshi held their press event today, confirming everything that Famitsu spoiled was true. That means that SEGA now has a studio just for Yakuza games called Ryu ga Gotoku Studio (Like a Dragon Studio).

The new team has all the main players from the Yakuza franchise. This includes Toshihiro Nagoshi, Masayoshi Kikuchi, Daisuke Sato, Yojiro Ogawa, and Masayoshi Yokoyama.

The new Black Panther game is a direct sequel to the first game, you will play as the same young lead. Not only that, you will have 3 new characters to play as, much like Yakuza 4’s set up. The game is also looking impressive for a PSP title.

Famitsu leaks Black Panther sequel and Yakuza 5 early


[Artwork for the first PSP game, Black Panther]

Nagoshi teased that he had some big announcements coming up in the end of the month, but thanks to Famisu we already know what they are. SEGA is going to have a pretty nice TGS line-up.

First of all Nagoshi has his own studio to make Yakuza titles called “Ryu ga Gotoku Studio.” Ryu Ga Gotoku is the name of the Yakuza series in Japan, it means Like a Dragon.

The first game that the Yakuza team will work on is Black Panther 2, a sequel to the handheld Yakuza spin-off. It will be called in Japan “Kurohyou 2 Ryu ga Gotoku.” This title will be playable at TGS and is set to be released in Japan in Spring 2012. Also its for the PSP. Odd, wonder if this has to do with the ‘rumored’ Yakuza title for Vita.

In the end the magazine says that they are also working on Yakuza 5. I guess we might get more details about this come the press conference.

We will post scans when we get them.

[Source: AndriaSang]

Rumour – PS:Vita Games List Leaked, Four Sega Games Listed!

Sega has already announced that they will have two games ready for the launch of the Playstation Vita, Virtua Tennis and an unannounced title which is widely believed to be Sonic Generations. Today possible new details have emerged in the forum of a list detailing games in development for the PS Vita from various 3rd party publishers has leaked and guess what? Yep, Sega won’t disappoint!

Hit the jump to find out what they are!

Dragon’s Crown orginally started life as Dreamcast game


The upcoming Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita game by Vanillaware started life as a Dreamcast game. Famitsu had a 4 page interview with director George Kamitani.

The project started about 13 years ago after the team released their SEGA Saturn title “Princess Crown” (Published and developed under the Atlus banner). This game was supposed to be its successor on the Dreamcast. George Kamitani says games like Golden Axe and King of Dragon have influenced this game greatly, and has confirmed 4 player co-op.

Feels good seeing people finish up Dreamcast projects, even if they’re not on Dreamcast. How about we get a polished up version of some of these great canceled DC games?

[Source: AndriaSang]