Yuji Naka wants to see a Mario and Sonic crossover action game

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We know that Mario and Sonic have had a long line of crossover Olympic titles throughout recent years, but that isn’t what Yuji Naka, one of Sonic’s creators envisioned for the duo’s cross over.

Recently Yuji Naka spoke with the Japanese website Famitsu about the origins of Mario and Sonic game, which started talks as an action game during the GameCube era when SEGA first went 3rd party. As we know today, this lead nowhere and Mario and Sonic didn’t happen until SEGA acquired the license to make Olympic video games.

Here is Yuji Naka talking about Mario and Sonic co-starring on titles based around the Olympics and the origins of the project:

“Actually, I wanted Mario [and Sonic] to appear together, so one time I went to give Miyamoto-san a presentation on how I want to create an action game which is co-starred by Mario and Sonic. It was in the GameCube days, and I took around four planners with me. It is a pity that the discussion was ‘clearly it isn’t necessary for Mario and Sonic to co-star in an action [game]’ and it didn’t become a reality, but SEGA was able to get the license for the Olympics just at that time, so in order to make the best use of the license, companion characters appeared together. A little later Sonic appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, this too came into reality because I requested from Sakurai-san, ‘I want Sonic to appear [in Smash Bros.]’. The Olympics is a bit different from my wish, but I think it’s a good thing that children around the world are happy about them co-starring. But someday I want to realize an action [game] together with Mario. I think I’m going to give another presentation so that Takashi [Iizuka] finds the necessity [of a Mario & Sonic action game] (laughs).” – Yuji Naka

Yuji Naka wasn’t the only original Sonic the Hedgehog creator to chime in on the interview, original Sonic designer Naoto Ohshima said the following:

SEGA Retrospective: Streets of Rage – 25 Years of Beat ‘Em Up Greatness

Streets of Rage 25 yearsHow did SEGA’s Streets of Rage/Bare Knuckle become the big franchise that it came to be? Many people in the West know Streets of Rage as a defining video game franchise for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive – and they aren’t wrong – it was one of the greatest trilogies to grace the console. Today we will take a look at the early concepts, changes and history of the first title that came out 25 years ago. That is correct, the first Streets of Rage launched just months after Sonic the Hedgehog back in 1991, which was a huge year for SEGA’s 16-bit machine.

So let’s hit the streets and rage on.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X ‘Snow Miku 2010 to 2015’ DLC Shown Off

SEGA has unleashed a new trailer showcasing Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X‘s “Snow Miku 2010 to 2015 Pack” of downloadable goodies. This pack will include in-game modules for Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X ranging from 2010 – 2015 versions of the “Snow Miku” design. Each of the Snow Miku designs have been given attribute tied to one of the game’s five Clouds.

These are the attributes to Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X‘s skins:

    • Snow Miku 2010 – Classic
    • Snow Miku 2011 – Cute
    • Snow Miku 2012 – Cool
    • Snow Miku 2013 – Elegant
    • Snow Miku 2014 – Quirky
    • Snow Miku 2015 – Cute

This downloadable content will be FREE from its launch in Japan on August 25 until September 25! I assume we will have a similar thing here in the West, when Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X launches but it hasn’t been confirmed just yet. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X is due out on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in the west on August 30.

[Source: Gematsu]

Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Postmortem Stream at 7PM Central Today

UPDATED: Watch the archive of the stream above. Bartman3010 joins with Donnie from Sonic Paradox News and TSSZ, Chris and Aaron from Find the Computer Room and our own NeoHazard to talk about the 25th anniversary party, Sonic Mania and project 2017. Listen to our woes of corralling a bunch of nerds from the internet together, Bartman complimenting a Dick (Tracey,) and other happenings around the event and San Diego Comic Con in this Bold and Tasty stream.
Tune in today at 7PM central for talk on the 25th anniversary party, Sonic Mania, Project Sonic 2017, Totinos and more with Sonic Retro, SEGAbits and guests!

SEGA teases Valkyria: Azure Revolution 2.0 demo

Valkyria-Azure-Revolution-1-1280x720SEGA has announced that more information regarding the second Valkyria: Azure Revolution “Battle Demo Ver. 2.0” will be released towards late August, if their official blog is to be believed.

If you didn’t know, SEGA released the Valkyria: Azure Revolution Battle Demo Ver. 1.0 a few months back to some very heavy fan criticism. The developer Media.Vision and SEGA said that they would be taking the fan feedback seriously and implementing changes to the core game, now those changes will be displayed in the new upcoming Valkyria: Azure Revolution Battle Demo Ver. 2.0. According to the team, the new demo will be more ‘strategic’ in nature.

But that isn’t all the upcoming news, the blog promises that we will get other information about Valkyria: Azure Revolution before the end of August including confirmations about the game’s Japanese voice cast. Valkyria: Azure Revolution will also be shown at this year’s Tokyo Game Show in September.

Valkyria: Azure Revolution will release on the PlayStation 4 in Japan this winter. There has been no western release announced.

[Source: Gematsu]

Platinum Games Teases Possible Vanquish PC Port

1290338-dtihgkIts coming up almost six years since Platinum Games released their console title Vanquish which received a positive score from critics but sadly didn’t result in a high seller for either SEGA or Platinum Games. Now Platinum Games co-founder Atsushi Inaba is teasing of a possible PC release. If you didn’t know, Vanquish was one of the games asked for by the folks behind the ‘SEGA PC Ports’ fan movement that garnered the attention of SEGA.

When asked during a interview Inaba said“If you stop recording, I can talk about that.” referring to the PC port ofVanquish. But then said it would depend on the publisher (SEGA).

“[W]e’re good friends with Valve and often go to their studio. We go there, hang out, talk about many different things, and we are very interested in Steam and would definitely like to release games on Windows. Right now, we’re at a place in which publishers ask us to make titles. So, if the publisher doesn’t want to release a PC version, then there won’t be a PC version. It really comes down to that.”

So while he is up for Platinum Games to port the game, he is pretty much saying that the ball is in SEGA’s court. SEGA on the other hand have been teasing more PC ports and even considered the PC port of Vanquish a high priority. After the success of the PC port of Valkyria Chronicles, which sold almost a million units, don’t be surprised if SEGA announces a port of Vanquish very soon. I just don’t expect Platinum Games to be the one to port it, mostly due to their busy schedule.

What do you think? Are you waiting for a PC port of Vanquish? What other SEGA games do you want to see on PC?

Disney Re-Releases Aladdin, The Lion King and The Jungle Book on GOG.com

Leave it to digital distribution to as a means to keep the older classics alive, although your mileage may vary if it may not quite be as you remember it. As is the case with today’s offering on GOG.com that sees the return of three Disney platformers from the 16-bit era.

As part of their joint effort with Disney to re-release games from past decades, GOG.com has re-released Aladdin, The Lion King and The Jungle Book on their digital service. Because GOG.com specializes in releasing PC titles in their original format without DRM, these titles are the DOS versions running in the DOSBOX emulator. Aladdin and Jungle Book are the significant highlights for SEGA fans as these ports are based on their respective Mega Drive and Genesis versions. The accuracy between versions may vary, but in the case of titles such as Aladdin, you still get to experience the highly animated characters and detailed backgrounds of the original game with the music recreated in MOD format.

As of this publication, they’re running an introductory sale where you can get each title for 10% off or all three together in a bundle. Lets hope we get to see more in the future along with Maui Mallard and maybe even Mickey Mania. Though for the true SEGA diehard, maybe we’ll see re-releases of titles such as Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Quackshot one day soon.

[Source: GOG.com]

Sonic Mania Easter Eggs and References

We’ll admit it, we’re having Sonic Mania withdrawal. After playing the game for ourselves at Sonic the Hedgehog’s 25th Anniversary Party, we can’t stop pouring over our footage of the game in action. As a result of this, we caught several cool Easter Eggs and references hidden within the game. Here are all the ones we spotted! Did we miss any? Sound off in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and never miss a thing!

Music Credit: jaxcheese youtube – Studiopolis Zone (Sonic Mania) – 16-bit Genesis-style cover

Yakuza 6 Will End Kazuma Kiryu’s Story Confirms Producer

Yakuza-6-1080-Wallpaper-3Our friends over at Yakuza Fan have gotten the latest Japanese Toshihiro Nagoshi interview with translated talking all about the upcoming Yakuza 6. If you missed the latest trailer for Yakuza 6, one of the biggest aspects shown or alludes to is that this will be the final chapter for our long time hero Kazuma Kiryu. The issue? This has been a running theme in almost every single past game and I find it hard to believe that they will end his story. Please  note that Nagoshi-san never promised to end the franchise, but end the story of Kazuma Kiryu which leads me to wonder what he has planned for any new titles.

According to Toshihiro Nagoshi, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will be the ending chapter for Kiryu:

“I’m not lying when I say that this is the final chapter in the legend of Kazuma Kiryu, however. Those are my true beliefs right at this moment. Usually – for example, right around this time as we’re making RGG6 (editor’s note: July 2016) – the staff generally have at least a bit of discussion amongst themselves about what we might do with RGG7. This time, though, there’s been nothing like that at all.”

Toshihiro Nagoshi also talks about getting famous Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano to have a role in Yakuza 6:

“I was actually friends with Takeshi from before this, to the level of drinking companions, but I had trouble taking the plunge and beginning business negotiations with, “Would you appear in our game?” I really wanted to ask him, though, of course. I didn’t think it would be easy to get my wish, and sort of felt like he would get mad at me (laughs). It took years before I could say anything.”

If you guys want to read the full interview head over to Yakuza Fan who have translated the full interview. Its a fantastic read and recommended for fans that are looking forward to Yakuza 6. I will also suggest you all support the upcoming Western release of Yakuza 0 on January 24, 2017 that way we also get a localization of Yakuza 6. Do you believe that this is the last chapter in Kazuma Kiryu’s story or is Toshihiro Nagoshi pulling a fib to sell copies?

English Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X demo coming August 9

Been waiting to get your hands on the English Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X demo for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita? You’re in luck because the wait is almost over. The English Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X demo is set to hit PSN starting on August 9.

While you wait for the English Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X demo, you can gander at the latest released trailer above that shows off the ‘Concert Editor’ mode. SEGA has also confirmed a upcoming free update called ‘Live Edit’ that will make the mode compatible with PlayStation VR. Of course that is for the PlayStation 4 version only.

How many readers are excited for the upcoming Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X game?

Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls English Trailer Released

Did you know that Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls is a thing? I know, weird right? If you didn’t know Sega Hard Girls is a anime TV show that references lots of SEGA history including games and consoles (the characters are named after SEGA consoles). Which is sorta the same conscept behind Superdimension Neptune games thus we have Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls!

 Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls is set to hit the PlayStation Vita this fall and being published by Idea Factory International and being developed by Compile Heart.

[Source: Gematsu]

SEGA Network’s new teaser site shows world map and countdown

SEGARepairSEGA Network’s new teaser site is titled ‘Repair’, with a world map and a clock that counts backwards. At first, when Siliconera posted it the map only pin pointed on Florida but now it moved its point to somewhere in Europe. I want to say Italy or one of the small surrounding countries. Another clue is what happens when you click the red location dots, if you click on Florida it says 1492 AD which was the year of the European Discovery and Settlement of the State. But if you highlight the European red dot you get the year 0027 BC which would mark the end of the Roman Republic.

So what do I think it is? I think its going to a be SEGA Network’s new mobile game that will have to do with world history. Maybe something like Civilization series but on mobile.  At least if the years on the teaser page are anything to go by. SEGA Network’s new teaser site is set to stop its countdown clock on August 8, 2016.

What do you think it is?

Seaman creator returning to the gaming industry

lancado-primeiro-no-dreamcast-seaman-mostra-um-perturbador-homem-peixe-que-conversa-com-o-jogador-por-meio-do-microfone-do-videogame-1344280599341_956x500.0Yoot Saito the Seaman creator who also developed games like SimTower and Odama will now be returning to creating more video games. He announced this while speaking at the fourth annual BitSummit festival in Japan where he said he needed to get out of R&D and back into making video games for money.

“That’s the motivation. Computer games make money.” – Yoot Saito (Seaman Creator)

Seaman creator’s last released title was 2012’s luggage friendly 3DS title Aero Porter and then Earthbook which was a iOS app that no one cared about according to Saito, which ended up losing money. He didn’t go into specifics as to what he wanted to do for his next game but he didn’t rule out a spiritual successor but said the average player isn’t ready for a brand-new genre. I have to agree with Yoot Saito, while I would love a new wacky crazy genre created by him, I don’t think the average gamer would care, sadly.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a spiritual successor to Seaman, even if its just a mobile phone app. As long as the microtransactions to don’t take away from the game’s unique fun factor. Who knows, it could be the next wacky app to make it big. What are your thoughts on Yoot Saito returning to game development?

[Source: Destructoid]

Sonic 25th Party Post Mortem Stream This Friday at 7PM Central

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UPDATED: The postmortem podcast will air at 7PM central instead of 5PM central to make time for more awesome guests to arrive!

The  Sonic Mania hype may be coasting at this point, but we’re just getting started with the celebration of “The World Famous Blue Hedgehog” by hosting a live podcast on SEGA Channel Retro on YouTube this Friday at 5PM central. Sonic Retro and SEGAbits were live and in person at the event and we’ll talk about the event, Sonic Mania, Project Sonic 2017, Totinos, LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog and more!

Etrian Odyssey V gets 15 minutes of gameplay released

The Japanese site 4Gamer.Net has posted a 15-minute gameplay video of the upcoming Etrian Odyssey V ahead of its Japanese release, which is August 4th. The video shows off new characters, creation system and features each of the ten classes that will be selectable when the game hits shelves. If you have a Japanese 3DS you can now access the Etrian Odyssey V demo!

Sadly SEGA or Atlus haven’t told us when Etrian Odyssey V will be heading outside of Japan. I guess you have to stay tuned to our site and we’ll let you know as soon as its announced. For now enjoy the Etrian Odyssey V gameplay video and envy the people in Japan.