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Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 3: Final Stage features two unlockable bonus games from SEGA legends

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girlsgarden

Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 3: Final Stage is due out December 22nd in Japan, but leading up to the release we learned of some cool surprises via Famitsu. if your handheld contains save data from Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives, you’ll unlock Girl’s Garden, a 1984 SG-1000 game notable for being the first game Yuji Naka worked on. Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 2 save data, meanwhile, will unlock another 1984 SG-1000 game: Champion Boxing. SEGA super fans know that Champion Boxing is the first game coded by Yu Suzuki in his first year at SEGA.

Not a bad deal! Two bonus games from two SEGA legends early in their careers.

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New Atlus fantasy RPG to be announced on December 23rd

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Atlus-New-Project-Tease_12-19-16
Atlus teased that they have a brand new fantasy RPG to reveal, which they confirmed isn’t Persona or Megaten related. They revealed that the new Atlus fantasy RPG will be announced on December 23 at 20:00 JST (3AM PST) via their Niconico live stream.

This new upcoming Atlus fantasy RPG will come from a new production studio within the company called ‘Studio Zero’ which is led by Persona 5 director Katsura Hashino, who will serve as the game’s director and producer. The upcoming Weekly Famitsu issue will have a interview with Katsura Hashino and Atlus consumer software department supervisor Naoto Hiraoka. But seeing that Weekly Famitsu information always leaks early, expect more information later today.

Above is the first artwork shown for the game, illustrated by Persona 5 character designer Shigenori Soejima. You can check out Atlus’ teaser page for the project here. Hit the jump to read the message by Katsura Hashino in English.

[Via Gematsu]

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SEGA Retrospective: Die Hard Arcade (Dynamite Deka) 20th Anniversary

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diehard

As 2016 comes to a close, we wrap up our celebrations of SEGA anniversaries with a look back on a fan favorite 3D arcade beat ’em up. Catch up on past SEGA Retrospective articles, and stay tuned to 2017!

Are you a fan of action movies and always wanted to be the action hero in a video game? Die Hard Arcade, also known as Dynamite Deka in Japan, is where it’s at! To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this popular arcade and home console beat ’em up, let’s dive into the game’s history and development in a special SEGA Retrospective. While there isn’t a concrete date for Die Hard Arcade’s release, we thought the Christmas season was fitting. “Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho.”

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Ecco the Dolphin creator Ed Annunziata settles lawsuit with SEGA

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Ecco

Creator of the Ecco the Dolphin series Ed Annunziata has settled a recent lawsuit regarding to SEGA and the ownership of Ecco the Dolphin series. The series was originally developed by a company called Novatrade International (later Appaloosa Interactive), about a dolphin named Ecco who travels through time and space to save his friends from a race of evil aliens, using elements such as the controversial practices of John C. Lilly and Pink Floyd albums as inspiration.

After the bankruptcy of the company Appaloosa in 2006, the Ecco the Dolphin name would be obtained by SEGA for future usage. Because of Ed no longer having access to the series, he tried to create a spiritual successor in 2013 called The Big Blue on Kickstarter, which failed to reach it’s financial goals. After the failed Kickstarter, he shifted focus on getting back the Ecco the Dolphin name from SEGA.

A recent update claims that the lawsuit has been settled between Ed and SEGA. However despite this, neither party have commented on the matter. Whether or not this will effect the Ecco the Dolphin series in the future is unknown. Maybe there might be a revival in the future, and we’ll get to swim in the mysterious seas once again as everyone’s favorite time traveling dolphin? Only time will tell.

[Source: Venture Beat]

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Phantasy Star Online 2 to feature NieR: Automata DLC

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phantasystaronline2NierAutomataSeems that the Phantasy Star Online 2 promotions continue, this time with NieR: Automata themed DLC. Square Enix announced that DLC cross promotions will be happening on not only Phantasy Star Online 2 but also Hunter Frontier Z.

It seems that Phantasy Star Online 2 will be getting weapons and armor taken directly from the upcoming Square Enix title. Not much is known but Square Enix has suggested that they will share more information on what the items are in NieR: Automata after New Years. Since Phantasy Star Online 2 hasn’t made it west, we will be missing out on all these cool cross promotions that Japan gets to enjoy. I even whined about this, remember?

NieR: Automata hits Japanese retail on February 23, North America on March 7 and Europe on March 10,2017. While Phantasy Star Online 2 isn’t released in English speaking countries, you can always use a fan patch and play on the Japanese servers. What are your thoughts on this cross promotion?

[Source: Siliconera]

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SEGA Amusement CEO says Outrun 3 is ‘on our radar’

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SEGA Amusement has been making the rounds with old school SEGA fans ever since they announced Daytona 3 Championship USA earlier this year. It seems that SEGA Amusement will continue resurrecting old SEGA franchises, at least that’s what it sounds like. In a recent interview with T3, SEGA Amusement International CEO Paul Williams had this to say about a possible OutRun 3:

“Outrun 3 is not on plan at the moment. It is something that is on our radar but I cannot discuss more than that.”

It is interesting that he even spoke about the possibility of OutRun 3, considering how weird SEGA PR used to be in the past. It also seems, from what I gather from the quote that SEGA Amusement has a sort of short list of franchises they would like to bring back. Its not surprising that Daytona 3 Championship USA is one of the first titles considering how popular the original was. Paul Williams also talks about how they work with SEGA Japan developers and why its hard for them to bring SEGA Japanese games over to the states. Very interesting read.

What are your thoughts of the possiblity of OutRun 3? Let us know in the comments below!

[Via: Arcade Heroes]

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SEGAbits Round Table: Our Favorite SEGA & Atlus Games of 2016

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2016roundtable

Another year is about to close for SEGAbits. Many anniversaries for SEGA franchises happened this year, with SEGA themselves capitalizing on certain ones like Sonic the Hedgehog and Puyo Puyo. On top of this, naturally there were several announcements and game releases from both SEGA and Atlus. Some of which were what we expected, and then there was some that caught people off guard, like the return of the fan favorite Daytona USA. But are you curious as to what some of the writer’s own favorite titles are for 2016? Here at SEGAbits we decided to ask this question to the writers for a year-end round table!

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Persona 5 shows off free “Christmas Costume Set” DLC

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Persona-5-Christmas-Costume-DLC-AnnPersona 5 might have missed Christmas for English speaking consumers, but the game has been out in Japan since September. Its no surprise that Persona 5 would be getting a free “Christmas Costume Set” on December 21st. Atlus Japan also announced that this is a start of a ‘five-day campaign’ where all Persona 5 DLC will be 55% off.

The campaign will run from December 21st to the 25th. That means:

  • All 800 yen (about $7) costumes and BGM sets will be reduced to 360 yen ($3).
  • All Persona 4 special theme and avatar sets that cost 200 yen ($1.69) will now cost 90 yen (75c)
  • All 300 yen ($2.50) Persona sets are reduced to 135 yen ($1.15).

Who knows if Atlus USA will wait until Christmas 2017 to give us these free costume packs. Persona 5 hits North American and European shops on April 4th.

[Source: Gematsu]

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Gravity Rush 2 to feature Phantasy Star Online 2 themed DLC

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Gravity-Rush-2-Costume-PSO2_12-16-16Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia have announced that Gravity Rush 2 will feature Phantasy Star Online 2 costume collaboration DLC. Back around September, Phantasy Star Online 2 featured Gravity Rush 2 themed DLC and now it seems that Sony will be returning the favor to SEGA’s online RPG.

The Gravity Rush 2 x Phantasy Star Online 2 collaboration outfits will be free to download, so no extra purchase required. This is what the DLC includes:

  • “Crazy Kitten” Costume
  • “Rappy” Photo Item
  • “Phantasy Star Online 2 Container” Photo Item

This Phantasy Star Online 2 DLC has only been announced for Japanese release and since Phantasy Star Online 2 hasn’t been released in English countries who knows if it will make it overseas. Gravity Rush 2 hits PlayStation 4 in Europe on January 18, January 19 in Japan and January 20 in America/UK.

[Source: Gematsu]

 

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Yakuza 6 tops Japanese charts in shrinking market

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segainthecharts

What a double whammy week we have on our hands, not only is the latest and last entry in the Kazuma Kiryu legend, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, debuted but we also have the RPG spin on the Puyo Puyo franchise, Puyo Puyo Chronicle! But how did both compare in a busy Christmas period that saw over 30 different skus of mutilple games released? Read on to find out!

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Yakuza 0 fighting styles trailer released

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Sega released a new trailer featuring all of the Yakuza 0 fighting styles today. Yakuza 0 has you playing as both Kazuma Kiryu as well as Goro Majima. Between the two of them, there are six fighting styles featured here. Kiryu’s Brawler Style, Beast Style, and Rush Style; and Majima’s Thug Style, Slugger Style, and Breaker Style.

This is roughly a minute and a half of more material for you to get psyched up for the game’s release in about a month’s time. January 24th can’t come soon enough!

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SEGA News Bits: Valkyria Revolution coming west reaction

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SEGA has just announced that it will be bringing Valkyria: Azure Revolution to America and changing the name to simply Valkyria Revolution. Not only that, Valkyria Revolution will also be coming to Xbox One! So on this episode of the SEGA News Bits we sit and talk about Valkyria Revolution coming west, whine about PC not getting a port, if the added Xbox One version is worth the effort, and of course discuss the game being poorly received in Japan. Squad 7, move out!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments, please make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube. Thanks for the support.

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Yakuza 0 Vita App not being localized for English release

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When Yakuza 0 released in Japan it had a Yakuza 0 Vita app released for free that would let players play Super Monkey Ball, fight for money, and all this would sync with the console version of Yakuza 0. So the Yakuza 0 Vita app would basically let you progress in making money, but on the go. It was a nice little extra surprise for Vita owners, but western Yakuza fans won’t be able to enjoy the on the go mayhem as SEGA has confirmed that the Yakuza 0 Vita app won’t make it west.

What we will be missing out on:

  • Super Monkey Ball Special
  • Columns 
  • Sega Mahjong MJ Single
  • Special Attack Aircraft Carrier Beluga

SEGA & Atlus PR Manager John Hardin has confirmed via Twitter that the Yakuza 0 Vita app would not be getting a western release. Do you think its a big deal to not include these types of little extras, even if it doesn’t ruin the overall package? Sound off in the comments below.

[Source: YakuzaFan]

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Valkyria Revolution releasing to North America and Europe in spring 2017 for Playstation 4, Xbox One and PS Vita

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Valkyria Revolution

Another announcement has been made for a game localization, this time for the game Valkyria Revolution (Known as Valkyria Azure Revolution in Japan). This game is considered a gaiden/spin-off title that takes place in an alternate time and universe from past Valkyria titles, and instead of being a tactical RPG like predecessors it is more of an action RPG with some strategy elements. However some elements are still retained from past titles. Valkyria Revolution focuses on the characters Amleth, a member of The Circle of Five (aka The Grand Criminals), and Ophelia, the princess of Jutland. Because of the expanding Rus Empire and The Circle of Five, the Jutland kingdom gets roped into a war that strives for independence and freedom from colonial rule.

Valkyria Revolution is slated for a Playstation 4, Xbox One and PS Vita release in spring of 2017 in both North America and Europe. The PS4 and XB1 versions will be physical and digital, while the PS Vita version will be digital-only. Deep Silver will be handling publishing in Europe.

After the break, read a full press release and check out some screens as well as cover art!

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Shenmue III PC pre-orders open on December 15, new footage soon

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Shenmue3While most of us hardcore Shenmue III fans already put up our money when Yu Suzuki launched his Kickstarter, it seems there are quite a few people demanding for the studio to put up pre-orders for the game. Yu Suzuki stated in the latest Famitsu magazine that Shenmue III PC pre-orders will open up in a few days.

“Development is entering the final stage headed towards full-scale production. Early in the new year, I think we’ll be able to show you things such as new videos.

“We will continue progressing with development so that our backers and those who experience the world of Shenmue for the first time can do so with pleasure.

“Also, at noon on December 15, we will start pre-order sales for the PC version of Shenmue III, which received a lot of requests.Those interested in Shenmue III, please check the official website.”

It is interesting considering that the studio hasn’t really put out much Shenmue III in-game footage. What they have shown has never been finalized. It seems that the work on Shenmue III is barely starting, if they are barely entering full-scale production, do you think the studio should be putting up pre-orders without actual in-game screenshots? Let us know in the comments below.

[Via: Gematsu]

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