GOAT Store provides an update and cover art for indie Dreamcast game “SLaVE”

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During September of last year, longtime indie Dreamcast game publisher GOAT Store announced a new game entitled SLaVE. Described as a colorful first person shooter built around an enhanced Doom engine called 3DGE, SLaVE was due out in April of 2015. Since then, news has been light, but seeing as it is April of 2015 we finally have an update! Read the full e-mail from GOAT Store News after the break.

Discotek Media to release complete series DVD of SEGA’s Sonic X anime

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Discotek Media, the company planning a Sega Hard Girls complete series DVD later this year, have just announced on their Facebook page that they will be releasing the complete series of the 2003 Sonic the Hedgehog anime Sonic X to DVD later this year. Details beyond that are scarce, but they did state in the comments “English dub right now, not sure on Japanese version yet”. In the past, Discotek has released separate sub and dub releases, so while a sub release is not confirmed, it’s not completely out. More details as we hear them!

Download the Dead or Alive 5 Last Round texture mod for the ultimate Shenmue fight

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Reddit user Esppiral
has posted the following texture modifications for the PC release of Dead or Alive 5 Last Round. Sadly modders haven’t figured out how to swap models (yet?), so the user went in and used a base model and changed the textures to make them look like Shenmue characters. He not only created Ryo (using Jacky as a base model) and Lan Di (using Akira as a base model) but also included the famous dojo.

Download the mods here:

If you bought the game on Steam (or any other service) and want to learn how to install texture mods, hit the jump.

Craft Lab creates a Sonic the Hedgehog statue using chicken bones

If you have never seen the YouTube show Craft Lab, the premise is that a Hollywood production designer named Greg Aronowitz (Jurassic Park: Lost World, Terminator 2) takes unconventional materials and makes works of art based on pop culture icons.

On this episode it was decided that they would create a Sonic the Hedgehog statue made with chicken bones. Its pretty interesting and came out pretty awesome, so check out the video above.

Sonic’s ad venture: SEGA and Capcom join new ad agency GameBridge

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Remember when Sonic appeared in a Progressive Auto Insurance commercial? Or when Sonic was pushing LifeSavers candies and cans of pasta in the 1990s? Well, expect to see more ads like this in the near future. Reported by MediaPost comes the news that SEGA as well as Capcom have joined up with a new agency that licenses video game characters for ad campaigns. The agency, named GameBridge, was founded by Billy Bell and the agency’s goal is, in his words, “to make it much easier and more efficient for both advertisers and game publishers to connect their respective characters and brands”. The name GameBridge refers to a ‘bridge’ for brands and gaming characters to connect for cross promotional opportunities.

GameBridge will act as SEGA’s agent for licensing partners, serving as the middle man for advertisers and agencies and IP holders of video game characters. For now, the New York based agency is acting as SEGA and Capcom’s agent, but in the future they could expand to represent other game companies and characters. Also announced is that GameBridge has partnered with video game music digital download service Sumthing Else, providing clients a music licensing service. Additional GameBridge partnerships will provide production services, including film and video production, post-production resources, and animation and effects.

While Sonic was specifically called out as a likely character SEGA would utilize in future marketing opportunities, GameBridge could utilize other characters from the company. How about Jet Set Radio‘s Beat selling cans of Krylon?

Sonic Runners to get Phantasy Star Online 2 companions later this month

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According to the latest Phantasy Star Online 2 press event, the team has revealed that they are crossing over to Sonic Runners via unlockable companions later this month. The update will allow you to unlock either aa Rappy , Mag or Quna. You can see the unlockable models in the picture above.

Of course since Sonic Runners is still in soft launch, both Sonic Runners and Phantasy Star Online 2 haven’t been released in America yet. While we know that Sonic Runners will eventually come to America, will they still include Phantasy Star Online 2 items, when it hasn’t been released here?

Classic SEGA Ads: Jet Grind Radio’s crazy BIG GO! commercial

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Jet Set Radio had a bit of an identity crisis when it reached the West. When the game was first revealed in Japan, few media outlets knew exactly what to make of the game. Was it rhythm game? Was it a Japanese take on Tony Hawk Pro Skater? From the teases we got, it appeared to be a bit of both. The first real concrete explanation of the game came from America’s Official Dreamcast Magazine, which featured an in-depth interview with Smilebit and a preview of the game. While ODCM did a fantastic job with explaining the game and selling many Dreamcast owners on it, myself included, SEGA of America did a less than fantastic job of letting the general public know what the game was all about.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate gets free DLC update with Sonic themed gear

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate‘s free Apirl DLC update is out now and part of the update is Sonic the Hedgehog gear for your Palicoes (cat like creatures that can go on missions with you). It seems to unlock the gear you will have to overcome a series of new missions (included for free in the update) that are sometimes very punishing. Last month’s DLC had The Legend of Zelda items and the missions to unlock the items where very hard, so let’s hope that Capcom isn’t going to make us suffer for Sonic the Hedgehog goodness.The update comes with:

  • 14 New quests
  • 2 New weapons
  • 3 Complete armor sets
  • 4 Palico weapons
  • 7 Palico armor sets
  • 1 Bonus Palico: Blue Pal
  • 4 Guild Card backgrounds
  • 2 Guild Card pose
  • 13 Guild Card titles
  • 1 Poogie outfit: Vagaboar

You can check out more information on Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and its DLC over at Capcom-Unity. So, how many of you guys are playing Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and how are you liking it?

Kanji shows how a real man dances in Persona 4: Dancing All Night

In case you were wondering which Persona 4 character is the best at dancing, I think Kanji makes it pretty clear that he is in this new Persona 4: Dancing All Night trailer. His dancing style is pretty much what you can expect that of a guy who frequently screams “Get bent!” to be like, which is what makes it so great. Just be sure to get the full experience of watching Kanji dance by replaying every song he dances to over and over again until you’ve gotten a perfect score on the hardest difficulty once the game comes out. Or at least, that’s what I’m going to do.

The trailer also features Persona 4 Arena‘s opening theme “Best Friends” and of course more plot stuff and unlockable costumes. This is the sixth character trailer for Persona 4: Dancing All Night, with previous trailers focusing on Chie, Yosuke, Kanami, Yu, and Rise. And like all of the other trailers, this new trailer was translated by bobrossfreak.

Super Fighter Team announces its reprinting all their Genesis/Mega Drive games

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Super Fighter Team is a developer and publisher which is mostly known for getting commercial distribution rights to pre-existing titles, working with the original team by fixing bugs and translating so they can release the games world wide on their original platform. That would include SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive which they released three titles for. Their debut game was Beggar Prince in 2006, which we posted last year was getting pre-orders for a new reprint to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.

While Beggar Prince reprints where confirmed last year, this year Super Fighter Team also confirmed that they will be reprinting Legend of Wukong and Star Odyssey (aka Blue Almanac).

But if RPGs aren’t your thing, Super Fighter Team has just posted two new games to pre-order on their site. The first one is a puzzle game called Cascade and the other one is a vertical shooter named Magic Girl: Featuring Ling Ling the Little Witch. It seems that if there is one console that refuses the die its the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, seemly getting more support as time goes by thanks to publishers like Super Fighter Team and Watermelon Games.

What are you thoughts? Picking up any of the games listed here?

[Via: NintendoLife]

Developer Retrospective: The wonderfully unique games of SEGA’s Smilebit

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SEGA’s development team Smilebit existed in the public eye for only four short years, yet in that time they managed to create one of the company’s most unique franchises, revived a classic Saturn franchise, contributed to a long running series of popular Japanese sports titles, and managed to create a few new franchises that have gone on to become true hidden gems. It’s fitting that we follow Team Andromeda Month with Smilebit, as Smilebit was actually the bringing together of the SEGA AM6’s Team Aquila, Team Andromeda, and G9 Team (though some staff ended up moving to United Game Artists). This mix of talent lead to Smilebit being primarily tasked with the Let’s Make series of sports titles, franchises that were largely confined to Japan. Utilizing former Team Andromeda staff, the team spearheaded the latest (and thus far last) Panzer Dragoon game. But what really made Smilebit unique were their new franchises including the Jet Set Radio games, Gunvalkyrie, and Hundred Swords.

All month long we’ll be celebrating Smilebit’s eclectic mix of games, celebrating the classics, the lesser known titles, and the ones that never left Japan. Ready to look back? Let’s go!

Atlus publishing Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains in the west

The Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem trailer wasn’t the only thing Atlus revealed on Nintendo Direct last night. It was also revealed that they’ll be publishing Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains in both North America and Europe. The game will be released exclusively on the 3DS eShop in May.

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of Atlus’ localization. The Australian Classification Board leaked that it’d be released in Australia back in October last year. To coincide with this announcement, Nintendo released the first two episodes of the Attack on Titan anime on the eShop.

Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem trailer shows that the game does indeed still exist

Back in January 2013, Nintendo announced that they were working together with Atlus to make a Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem cross-over game for Wii U. Since then they hadn’t shown anything of this project, but today Nintendo finally shared the first trailer featuring a first look at the game’s cutscenes and gameplay on Nintendo Direct.

The game, which is now titled Geiei Bungoku #FE in Japan, will be released this winter. It’ll be released in the US and Europe as well, though they didn’t say what the game’s English title will be nor when we can expect the game to launch in those territories. It was also confirmed that the game is being developed by Atlus. And while the game will feature various Fire Emblem characters, it seems like the characters on the Shin Megami Tensei side will be original.

Introducing… This is Playstation, a show all about the best 32-Bit system!

Hey dudes! Are you ready for the most radical gaming show this side of 1996? It’s THIS IS PLAYSTATION!

Yes, an all-new show dedicated to the sleekest, most powerful 32-Bit system on the planet; the Sony Playstation! To give this thing quite the test drive, we’re booting up some “RIIIIIIDGE, RACEEEEEEER”! It’s gonna be a gnarly time, with plenty of driving, drifting, and 90’s techno jams! So gear up dudes and dudettes!

This is Playstation is a video series created by AWESOME teenager Liam ‘Radicool’ Ashcroft, aiming to “swood” look at Sony Playstation gaming, all whilst doing some TIGHT skateboard tricks offscreen!

…Now, bow to your new Sony Overlords. This is a hostile takeover. 

My Most Memorable Panzer Dragoon Moments

 

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Image credits: Will of the Ancients

As one of my favorite video game franchises, Panzer Dragoon contains many memorable experiences for me. From my first time flying through the sunken ruins in the original to my final battle in Saga, this series will always hold a unique place in my collection of gaming experiences.

With Team Andromeda Month winding down, I wanted to share some of these experiences. In the interest of keeping things interesting, since most Panzer games tend to end on a high note, I won’t be talking much about final stages or boss battles. I will also be spreading them across all of the games in the franchise in order to avoid favoring any one game too much over the others, as they are all worth talking about. Keep in mind this is a personal list, so feel free to chime in with your own top five moments in the comments!