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Yakuza Zero’s TGS trailer reveals plot, looks action packed

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The previous teaser for the game didn’t show much outside that this game was going to be ‘brutal’, this new trailer gives up all the nice details about what to expect in the full game.

The game will have you play as Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. It seems that fan favorite Goro Majima’s story is going to have to do with a past relationship and a tie-in into him losing his eye (yes, the story about his lost eye was first told as a flashback in Yakuza 4).

Now if only we could get a English version to play…

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What today’s Japanese RPGs can learn from SEGA’s Skies of Arcadia

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If there’s one type of game that has struggled to find its footing in the modern era, it’s been the Japanese RPG. Looking at a console generation that has seen a major RPG from the creator of Final Fantasy struggle to achieve a Western release, and one where the once-mighty RPG giant Square-Enix has become more known for Tomb Raider than for their RPG output, it’s without a doubt been an interesting ride for the genre.

In recent years it’s been the games that have deviated most from the typical format, such as the Persona series and Dark Souls, that have garnered the most mainstream appeal outside of your usual Final Fantasy releases. As the seventh console generation wound to a close, however, we’ve also seen the smallest signs of a shift back. With more traditional Japanese RPGs like the 3DS’ Bravely Default being warmly received worldwide, it’s shown that developers can look to the past to find inspiration for the future.

And if they look back at Skies of Arcadia, there’s plenty they can learn from the Dreamcast’s biggest traditional RPG.

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Phantasy Star Nova Tokyo Game Show 2014 Trailer

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Tokyo Game Show media is quickly pouring out. SEGA recently uploaded their TGS 2014 promotional trailer for Phantasy Star Nova. It features cinematic elements and quick character highlights, while also offering quick looks into gameplay features like combat, weapons, and the Gigantes boss enemies. The trailer also momentarily highlights the game’s character creation, and makes a point to draw attention to the ad-hoc multiplayer mode. It’s a summary trailer for those wondering what Phantasy Star Nova is all about.

Be sure to check it out! In other news, Phantasy Star Nova will feature cameo costumes and weapons from 2010 RPG Resonance of Fate, developed by tri-Ace and published by Sega. Phantasy Star Nova is a similar situation as it is being developed by tri-Ace, though SEGA staff members are actively involved in this game’s development.

Phantasy Star Nova is scheduled for release in Japan on November 11. Localization is planned in traditional Mandarin Chinese, and there are a handful of territories besides China with speakers of this dialect including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. However, no localization is planned for other regions; hopefully this state of affairs is reversed, as waiting fans will be missing out.

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Sonic the Hedgehog to crossover into Monster Hunter 4G

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Have you ever played Monster Hunter game and thought that there just wasn’t enough Sonic the Hedgehog items in the game? Don’t worry, SEGA and Capcom have you covered with this crossover. You can get more information on Capcom’s Monster Hunter 4G site, this is being listed as ‘DLC’.

This will be a bonus costume and weapon for your Felyne companion in the game, so it isn’t some sort of major crossover. Yep, that sword is from Sonic and the Black Knight. Seems that SEGA still wants to let us know the game exist.

Monster Hunter 4G is the enhanced edition of Monster Hunter 4 and will be released in Japan this fall on the Nintendo 3DS. The game will be released in the West early 2015 as Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.

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Alien: Isolation’s Survivor Mode will ship with one map, rest are paid DLC

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SEGA has just released the Survivor Mode trailer for Alien: Isolation. SEGA’s survivor mode will have you complete objectives while on a timer and have other conditions like being hunted. The items you grab while doing survivor mode factor into your score, which will be displayed on the leaderboards. I assume less items used, the higher the score.

The only issue now is that, “Isolation will ship with a Survivor Mode demo featuring one playable map.” Yes, you heard that, one map. But don’t worry if you want more, SEGA has said they will be releasing the rest of the maps as paid DLC. Five packs are planned, the first one being released on October 28th and will contain three maps, a new character and new variety of enemy types.

The game comes out October 7th, and three weeks later it will already have paid DLC? This penny pinching DLC is what is hurting the industry and its shameful that SEGA went this route with Alien: Isolation after everyone felt ripped off by Aliens: Colonial Marines.

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My Life with SEGA crosses streams with Ghostbusters for the SEGA Genesis

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My Life with SEGA ain’t afraid of no ghosts as AJ crosses streams with Ghostbusters on SEGA Genesis! 30 years ago, Ivan Reitman delivered one of the best films of 1984, starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson. It was brimming with laughs, action, and some of the best visual effects of the day.

24 years ago, Compile and SEGA delivered a side-scrolling platformer for the fresh-faced 16-bit Genesis. Is it just as enjoyable as the film it’s based on, or is it just a great big….Twinkie?

Like this video? Subscribe to the SEGAbits YouTube channel. After the break, watch the My Life with SEGA Ghostbusters Master System review!

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SEGA to localize Yakuza Zero for the Chinese market

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It seems that SEGA of Japan is really trying to cash in on the newly opened Chinese console market, a few months ago SEGA announced that they would be localizing Phantasy Star Nova and Shining Resonance in traditional Chinese. Now they have announced the same treatment for Yakuza Zero.

I’m glad that SEGA is taking advantage of China lifting the ban on consoles back in 2013. Even though console games had a 14 year ban, PC games did not and that industry was worth 6 billion dollars in China. I can see why SEGA is gambling on releasing their games for Chinese players.

But as a American gamer all I’m asking is where is my English releases of Japanese SEGA games…

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Yakuza Zero’s Game Center to have playable versions of AM2 arcade classics

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Famitsu has confirmed a few titles that will be in Yakuza Zero‘s Game Center. The titles confirmed so far include:

  • Out Run
  • Fantasy Zone
  • Space Harrier 
  • Hang-On

If you didn’t catch the early information on this title, it is a pre-quel taking place in 1988, so it is fitting that they would include SEGA arcade classics like this. You know who also did this over a decade ago? A little game called Shenmue, you might have heard of it?

Honestly, this is what I wanted to hear when I found out that Yakuza Zero was taking place in the 80’s, classic AM2 arcade hits.

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AmiAmi now taking pre-orders on their official SEGA Dreamcast hoodie

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Popular Japanese online figure shop AmiAmi are now taking pre-orders for their official Dreamcast hoodies, pictured above. The Dreamcast hoodie sadly only comes in white as of now. They do ship outside of Japan, if you wanted to purchase one, but will have to eat the shipping cost.

The Dreamcast hoodie isn’t set to ship till sometime in November. How much will this hoodie cost you? $58 dollars plus shipping. Yes, not cheap.

UPDATE: The hoodie is being designed by Cospa while AmiAmi is distributing the hoodie.

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The SEGA Five: Best Unknown SEGA Dreamcast Games (revisited)

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Back in 2011, I wrote a Weekly Five about the five best “unknown” Dreamcast games. The goal was to highlight some of the Dreamcast’s best titles that no one really talks about. Among the handful of comments it received was a complaint that I didn’t go “obscure” enough, even though that wasn’t really the point (though I will admit my topic is and continues to be pretty vague). Since then, I’ve done some real digging into some of the deepest parts of the Dreamcast library and I feel ready to come up with an all new selection of titles.

I hope some of these titles are new to you! There’s no better way to celebrate 15 years of the SEGA Dreamcast than with a new game.

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SEGA announces its TGS line-up, teases new Hatsune Miku project

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SEGA has finally revealed their line-up publicly for next week Tokyo Game Show this will include SEGA published games, Atlus and even titles by other publishers that will be shown at their booth. Some of them are big western publishers without enough Japanese presence like Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. and others are just small Japanese companies without means like Silver Star Japan and Compile Heart.

SEGA is set to hold a number of stage events including one on Septermber 18th when the company will announce a new Hatsune Miku game, Atlus will get their own stage show on September 20th and Yakuza 0 will get a variety of stage shows planned throughout TGS.

Hit the jump to see the full TGS schedule.

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Football Manager documentary hitting UK cinemas next month

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FilmNova is doing a documentary titled Alternative Reality: The Football Manager Documentary, which will be a feature-length film that goes into the game’s popularity and impact on the culture of football it has within the profession. I think as Americans we don’t really grasp how popular Football Manager is overseas, just a quick look at their Steam stats shows why its one of the top 5 played games on Steam .

Sadly the documentary is only going to be shown for one night at Vue cinemas across the UK on October 7th. It said if you want your local Vue to show the film, to follow them and bother them on social media. After October 7th the documentary will be made available word wide for download and streaming.

“The documentary isn’t our story – it’s the story of the people who escape to the alternative reality of being a football manager, and the effect this has had on their lives. It’s also the story of how a computer game made by football fans has become a part of the world it set out to replicate. But it’s not just for people who play – it’s also for people who’ve ever wondered why others spend so much time escaping into this world.” – Miles Jacobson (Sports Interactive chief)

It has also been confirmed that after the Vue screening there will be another short film revealing new features in Football Manager 2015. Hit the jump for a list of Vue’s showing the documentary on the 7th of October.

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Swingin’ Report Show #70: SEGA Dreamcast 15th Anniversary Special with The Dreamcast Junkyard

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This week on the SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show podcast, Barry and George celebrate 15 years of the SEGA Dreamcast with Tomleecee and Aaron aka The Gagaman of The Dreamcast Junkyard.

Being from the UK, Tom and Aaron bring the unique perspective of what the SEGA Dreamcast launch was like in Europe. Topics include UK marketing, the delayed launch, games exclusive to the region, the official and unofficial magazines, the collecting scene, and Tom and Aaron’s thoughts on the US release. We also have a discussion on SEGA’s decision to change the red swirl to blue, and which region had the best box art.

You can follow Tomleecee and The Gagaman on Twitter, and make sure to visit The Dreamcast Junkyard, RetroCollect, and Lucky Hit!

[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

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Limited edition Persona Q 3DS XL coming exclusively to GameStop

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Seems that being an American isn’t all bad, at least if you want to get your hands on this limited edition GameStop exclusive Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth themed 3DS XL. It will retail for $199.99, hardware only.

Persona Q hits retail on November 25th. Sadly this ‘3DS XL’ isn’t one of the new hardware revision that Nintendo announced, this is the old model and America won’t be seeing the new model till sometime 2015. Its a shame because it makes this purchase less tempting.

What are your thoughts?

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