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TV Review: Sonic Boom – “The Sidekick”/”Can an Evil Genius Crash on Your Couch for a Few Weeks?”

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Sonic Boom premiered just minutes ago on Cartoon Network! As each episode is 11 minutes long, each week two episodes will be released side by side to fill a half hour time slot. Past Sonic cartoons have premiered either with a very clear first episode (ABC’s Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic X, Sonic Underground), or with an episode that throws you right into the show with no clear feeling if it being the start of something (Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog). Sonic Boom’s first episode, “The Sidekick”, falls in between these classifications. The episode kicks off with the very same footage seen in the TV series trailer from months back as Sonic is in pursuit of Eggman, only to take on Burnbot and almost lose Tails to a plane crash. It’s a nice way to establish Sonic and Eggman’s rivalry and Sonic and Tails’ friendship.

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Classic SEGA Ads: The Saturn takes on the N64’s itty-bitty library

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If you asked me to make a list of what characteristics define the SEGA of the 90s, at the top of the list would undoubtably be “mocking the competition”. In an era where Nintendo was the family friendly choice, SEGA’s decision to be the rowdy cool kid in town who wasn’t afraid to shake things up and shit talk the competition got people’s attention. During the Genesis era, this sort of practice paid off. The Genesis made SEGA a household name in North America, and the company reigned supreme in the early 90s. However, due to unsuccessful launches of the 32X and Saturn, SEGA slipped in the market and in turn, attack ads like the one above lost much of its bite. Regardless, SEGA soldiered on with such ads, attacking the Playstation in claiming its single processor can’t handle a game like NiGHTS into Dreams and stating that the Saturn kicked Pretendo’s ass when it came to the respective console libraries.

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Opinion: What Modern Sonic can learn from Classic Sonic

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Like most long suffering Sonic the Hedgehog fans I have a love/hate relationship with the Sonic series. For every step forward Sonic takes, he takes two steps backwards or worse. I’m sure we call all agree, we’d like to see our beloved Sonic series shine again. Unfortunately we don’t all agree on how to achieve this goal. By creating various ‘generations of Sonic’ with a variety of differently play style,s SEGA have built a polarized, multifaceted fan base who all want something different from the series. From classic Sonic fans who like 2D side scrolling to Adventure fans who enjoy a varied play styles and a story driven experience and not forgetting the Rush fans that just want a good bit of fast.

Is any one group of the Sonic fan base more correct than the other? No, of course not- it takes all sorts. Though I do love the classics, I am no stranger to the modern Sonic games and I believe both have plenty to offer. I enjoy both Sonic Colours and Sonic Generations. I routinely return to Sonic Rush and it’s incredible OST. I spent an unhealthy portion of my teenage years in a stuffy dark bedroom playing the Sonic Adventure titles.

So is it possible to cater to the entire multifaceted Sonic fanbase? Probably not! But is it possible to create a Sonic game the majority of us can enjoy without it being a bloated hot mess? Maybe! Here are some of my suggestions.

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New trailer showcases Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault pre-order content

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SEGA and Relic Entertainment have released a new trailer for the upcoming Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault, due out on November 18th for PC. This new trailer details the Fox Company, a pre-order exclusive which adds a fourth company to the game. Check out the trailer above, and below is the accompanying press release:

NEW TRAILER SHOWCASES PRE-ORDER CONTENT FOR COMPANY OF HEROES 2: ARDENNES ASSAULT

For the very first time in the Company of Heroes franchise, players will be able to choose between three different Companies, all with their own unique abilities, to forge their path to glory. Customers who pre-order will gain access to a fourth company, “Fox” Company, led by Captain Monte Durante.

This video details some of the many exciting new options that Fox Company will bring to the game including, their devastating M83 Cluster Bombs, Pinpoint Accurate Artillery and their main weapon, the Fox Company Elite Infantry who will do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Pre-order Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault today to receive Fox Company free of charge and then look forward to the game’s release on November 18, 2014.

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Watch SEGA and The Creative Assembly’s cinematic trailer for Total War: ATTILA

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Announced in September of this year, SEGA and The Creative Assembly’s Total War: ATTILA is set to invade PCs in 2015. SEGA sent along the following press release to accompany the new trailer:

NEW CINEMATIC TRAILER FOR TOTAL WAR: ATTILA HERALDS THE COMING OF THE APOCALYPSE

“And I saw, and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” – Revelation 6:2

As the world descends into the mists of the Dark Ages, civilization begins to crumble. Early Christians of Western Europe clamor to repent, stricken by looming omens of a divine apocalypse. In this climate of turmoil, the Eastern Roman Empire stands at a crossroads.

Secure behind the impenetrable walls of Constantinople, there are opportunities for fresh conquest. But with the warlike Visigoths to the North, the heathen Sassanids to the East, and their closest ally to the west stretched thin and tearing itself apart in its greed, is now truly the time to ride out and expand the Empire? And who will rightfully wear the crown?

Total War™: ATTILA is due for release in 2015. To follow The Four Horsemen and see how key themes of these cinematic trailers created using the ATTILA engine are brought to life in gameplay, subscribe to our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/thecreativeassembly

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Pier Solar out today on Wii U, coming to Xbox One on the 21st

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Pier Solar and the Great Architects HD comes out on the Wii U today, so if your reading this go on the e-shop and grab yourself a copy.

As for Xbox One owners, you guys can now expect to play the game on November 21st, which has been approved by the boys over at Watermelon Games. That would mean that the only versions we are waiting on are the Dreamcast and Playstation Vita (unless I missed a platform?).

The game is already out on Playstation 4, Playstation 3, Steam, Ouya and (as of today)  Wii U. What console are you planning to pick this up on?

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Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS) Demo now available on eShop

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Earlier last month a demo of Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal was confirmed. Off of the heels of today’s NintendoDirect, NintendoLife reminds us that the demo for Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal is now available to try out. A special 3DS theme based off of Sonic Boom will  apparently also be made available with the demo. According to this NeoGAF thread, the demo comes with eight uses and takes up 944 blocks of space.

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal for the 3DS and its companion title, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric for the Wii U, will release in North America on November 11th and in the United Kingdom and Europe on November 21st.

Credit for the image goes to the above-linked NintendoLife article.

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New indie SEGA Dreamcast AMEBA announced, features criminal investigation and drama

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The SEGA Dreamcast turned 15 years old this year, but that isn’t slowing it down when it comes to independent releases. An independent video game studio from Spain have just announced their upcoming detective adventure game called AMEBA. The game is set to be released on Windows, Linux, OSX, Ouya, and of course the SEGA Dreamcast.

AMEBA will be a visual novel game where you take the shoes a of a detective that is trying to solve a string of murders that might never have existed…

“How do you investigate a series of murders that may as well have never existed? Or, how can you be sure you haven’t lost it, when you’re the only cop in your city who thinks several un-connected deaths were not accidental or natural? These are the questions veteran inspector Hugo asks himself on an everyday basis.

I usually loathe visual novels. With the exception of just a few really good ones, they’re too ‘Japanese’ for my tastes, culturally speaking. So we’re taking the genre in a new direction: no anime-like art, as the teaser poster shows, obviously a more western take on storytelling and characterization, a serious story. Imagine Davind Fincher’s Seven meets Frank Miller’s Sin City comic books. Well, that’s what I’d like, but I’m not expecting to reach that kind of quality!” – Carlos from Retro Sumus (Developer of AMEBA)

The developer Retro Sumus promises more information and in-game screens before the end of the year.

Check out Retro Sumus on:

Official Site – Facebook – Twitter

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“Hi☆sCool! Seha Girls” anime Episode 5 has arrived, Impressions

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Guess what time it? That’s right, it’s Hi☆sCool! Seha Girls time, with a new episode now available on Crunchyroll!

This episode, as with episode 3, sees the girls outside of the game worlds and back in the academy itself. The episode kicks off with Saturn deciding she wants a pet, with Mega Drive chiming in to find her one. Unfortunately, Mega Drive’s selections are somewhat off the mark, as she tries to convince Saturn to get a Mammoth from Space Harrier, or the dog from Shadow Dancer. After Saturn suddenly changes her mind about the whole pet thing, the girls are then called for their next assignment, which is something a little different to the norm.

They’re tasked with creating a new Puyo Puyo title!

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My Life with SEGA revives a dead format and plays some Video CDs on his SEGA Saturn

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The celebration of the SEGA Saturn continues as A.J. Rosa takes a look back on the Video CD format, and the VCD movie card available for SEGA’s 32-bit powerhouse.

In addition, you’ll get a brief glimpse at his VCD collection, as well as the Dreammovie VCD player for SEGA Dreamcast. If you’ve been wanting a “crash course” on the Video CD format and how it all works with our beloved Saturn, look no further.

Like this video? Subscribe to the SEGAbits YouTube channel.

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SEGA-Sammy’s Q1 2015 financial report detailed and explained

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SEGA-Sammy recently announced it’s first half results for the fiscal year and it came with mixed results. Some divisions have beaten expectations so far but the gloomy outlook for the rest of the year has effected the final net income expected by the group. During this period SEGA only released one major title but another up and coming title looks set to outdo their expectations, hit the link to find out what SEGA Sammy have been doing well and what the future holds for the group.

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SEGA announces Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown Version B

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It seems that the last major update for Virtua Fighter 5, known as Final Showdown wasn’t so final after all. SEGA has just announced a new update to their 2006 award winning fighting game, Virtua Fighter 5.

Not much is known about what this new update will bring to the game. But one detail we do have is that it isn’t going to support SEGA’s ALL.Net network. That means no more software updates, online multiplayer, no national leaderboards or the ability to save data on the cloud. It sounds like this is finally the ‘final’ update for Virtua Fighter 5, which turns a decade old come 2016.

The new update is set to hit Japanese arcades in March of 2015. Here is hope we get a update for the console versions, right?

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SEGA Tunes: Virtua Fighter 2’s Sarah and her Black Moon Cat

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Virtua Fighter 2 was the most popular game for the SEGA Saturn for many reasons, the most popular of those being the graphics and gameplay. But for me, I could never get over the excellent soundtrack. Virtua Fighter 2 featured one of the most impressive soundtracks that came out of the SEGA Saturn era. This week we look at Sarah’s theme ‘Black Moon Cat‘ and its various remixes including the Virtua Fighter Kids remix and more!

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SEGA reveals Sonic Boom merchandise plans, including toys and food promotions

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SEGA’s blog has spilled the refried beans of what sort of products and marketing tie-ins fans can expect from the Sonic Boom franchise, and their plans sound quite expansive:

Sonic Boom’s overall broad licensing program will be one of the biggest license initiatives SEGA has undertaken in recent years. SEGA has lined up best-in-class retailers, including Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, JCPenney, Kohl’s and Barnes & Noble, to feature an array of offerings from partners such as Archie Comics, Bioworld, Fifth Sun, Bakery Crafts, Isaac Morris, and Bulls I Toy for brand new Sonic Boom toys, comics, apparel, and novelty. Also joining are Accessory Innovations, Franco, Rubies, Howard Keys, teNeues, and World Tech Toys – covering back-to-school, bedding, costumes, housewares, calendars, and remote control vehicles for North America and Mexico in 2015.

In addition to the toys from Tomy, SEGA has planned a promotion with ICEE featuring branded cups and a Sonic Boom branded version of the classic ICEE Blue Raspberry flavor. In partnership with Del Taco restaurants, SEGA plans “to create a multiplatform campaign with in-restaurant, social media, and radio promotional components in top national markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and Miami.” While not mentioned in SEGA’s blog post, it looks like DelTaco will be giving away toys called Clash Cubes with 48 in total to collect. That’s a lot of tacos!

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SEGA’s 3D Classics for the Nintendo 3DS return to the West in 2015! [Updated]

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Via Nintendo Insider comes the awesome news that SEGA’s line of 3D Classics for the Nintendo 3DS are not dead in the West! Set to return in early 2015, fans of SEGA’s classics can expect 3D After Burner II, 3D Fantasy Zone, 3D OutRun, 3D Fantasy Zone II and 3D Thunder Blade to release monthly to Nintendo’s eShop. Each game will be priced at £4.49/€4.99/$5.99.

3D After Burner II will lead the pack, and those who played M2’s previous 3D Classics titles should know that we can expect it and the other titles to kick some serious ass. What is not known at this time is if we can also expect the Master System rereleases of OutRun 3D and Space Harrier 3D to release to the West. Currently these ports are exclusive to the SEGA 3D Classics retail release due later this year in Japan.

Update: Official press release after the break!

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