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New Sonic Boom character revealed – presenting Sticks the Badger

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For several months, concept art for Sonic Boom has been making the rounds on social networks, and one photo featured a character that looked very much like Sonic Rush Adventure‘s Marine. The importance of this unnamed character became apparent when what appeared to be leaked tradeshow signage featured this new character standing amongst the four main character. Today, SEGA has revealed that this new character is named Sticks the Badger. After the break, check out SEGA’s official announcement as well as a reveal video!

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SEGA in the Media: After Burner, Hulk Hogan, Aliens, and the Nostalgia Critic

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It may be hard to believe nowadays, but there was a time when After Burner was once a pretty big deal. It helped the Master System find success in Europe and Australia, it was advertised on television and it even received a cameo in one of the highest grossing films of the nineties, Terminator 2! We’re not going to talk about that though, because you’ve probably already seen it. Instead, we’re going to focus on another science fiction movie released the same year as T2 that practically nobody saw: Suburban Commando.  We’ll also mention a certain popular reviewer of nostalgia who took a look at it back in 2009, and later took a look at one of After Burner’s commercials in a separate video a few years later. The video above features both clips. Take a look, then join me for more after the break!

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SEGA Channel Retro: Fan-Made Showcase

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SEGA Channel Retro presents a showcase of fan-driven projects regarding classic SEGA favorites as well as a vintage PC shooter making it’s debut on the SEGA Genesis. Today Bartman3010 checks out Ecco the Dolphin PC retooled for modern platforms by a key member from Caverns of Hope, GASEGA68K’s port of Wolfenstein 3D to the Mega Drive as well as finishing up our sporadic playthrough of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 with Sonic 3 Complete made by members of Sonic Retro. If you are reading this, the feed should be live very shortly.

You can check out the archived stream in it’s entirety on Twitch here as well as view the videos on YouTube if you prefer. If you want to play any of these for yourself, the links will be listed below.

Uncut Stream [Twitch]

Ecco the Dolphin: Fixed and Enhanced Edition [YouTube] [Twitch] [Download Game]

Wolfenstein 3D on Mega Drive/Genesis [YouTube] [Twitch] [Download Game]

Sonic 3 Complete [YouTube] [Twitch] [Download Game]

Sonic 1 OmoChao Edition [YouTube] [Twitch] [Download Game]

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Index’s former CEO and President arrested for fraud

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Former Index CEO Masami Ochiai and his wife, former Index president Yoshimi Ochiai have been arrested. Index Holding used to own Atlus and after a string of financial and legal troubles last year they got bought out by SEGA-Sammy Holdings.

According to the statement, they are arresting them on the accusation of messing with financial records. To see a full list of charges, hit the jump.

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SEGA Europe releases the pilot episode of their new video series, SEGA Central

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SEGA Europe’s YouTube series SEGA Central, announced yesterday, has just released the pilot episode of the behind the scenes series. The first episode takes place at March’s EGX Rezzed event, and covers games that were on the show floor there including Alien: Isolation, Total War: Rome II, the Western Front Armies DLC released for Company of Heroes 2, and Football Manager 2014. Overall a decent first episode, though very much a Europe centric show. Here’s hoping future episodes take a look at SEGA games in other parts of the world and that they try and include a few exclusives. 30 seconds of Sonic Boom gameplay, for example, would have been epic.

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Watermelon Games to publish Elysian Shadows on Dreamcast

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If you guys haven’t heard, Watermelon Games will be publishing the physical copy of the 16-bit inspired RPG Elysian Shadows on Dreamcast.  In my opinion this is was a great move, since Pier Solar  got great reception due to its attention to detail when it comes to packaging.

When we interviewed Watermelon Video Games President Tulio Goncalves he told us that the goal of Pier Solar and the Great Architects was to feel like a SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis RPG. Elysian Shadows is different in the sense that its influenced by SNES titles at the time such as Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, and the ever popular Final Fantasy series.

It will be interesting to play both side by side on our Dreamcast when both titles are finally released. I love 16-bit RPGs and don’t discriminate, the more quality Dreamcast titles the better. Check out more information on the game here.

The game will also be releasing digitally on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Ouya.

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SEGA Tunes: After Burner’s Final Take-Off from Gunstar Super Heroes

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After Burner’s soundtrack ranks among the most iconic in the games industry. We’ve already featured two versions of After Burner’s main theme on a Tuesday Tunes a few years ago, so today we’ll be showcasing something a little more obscure: an unused track from Gunstar Super Heroes. Released for the Game Boy Advance in 2005, GSH was originally supposed to include numerous tracks referencing classic SEGA titles, including Altered Beast, Galaxy Force and of course After Burner. Unfortunately, all of these tracks were cut at the last moment, but some hackers managed to pull them out of the ROM and slap them onto the internet.

If the Gunstar Super Heroes rendition of Final Take-Off isn’t your cup of tea, I’ve also included the original version of the track from the SEGAAGES Album. Check it out after the break!

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SEGA Europe introduces SEGA Central, a web series that takes you behind the scenes at SEGA

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SEGA Europe will be launching a web series titled “SEGA Central” on YouTube to show off news and inside media. Not only news on their upcoming titles but DLC and retrospective of classic SEGA titles as well.

The series will also include exclusive behind the scenes of SEGA events, developer interviews, tours within the company, let play guides, speed run attempts and more!

The date of the pilot episode is unknown at this time, but we will be sure to give more info on the series when it surfaces.

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After Burner Week Article Compilation

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We at SEGAbits love us some After Burner, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that we’ve written about the franchise a few times before. Before we kick off our week of features, we’d like to point you towards the previous After Burner features we’ve written. Also, be sure to check out the video above to see AJ Rosa’s quick take on After Burner Complete for the 32x!

Reviews:

After Burner Climax Arcade Review

After Burner Climax Console Review

Tuesday Tunes:

Project DIVA blazes through the blue skies singing the After Burner theme

After Burner Theme, the Bayonetta Remix

 

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SEGA Retrospective: Get Ready For After Burner Week, Fire!

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SEGA made a name for itself in the eighties thanks in no small part to the incredible talents of Yu Suzuki and his team at AM2. Though the company saw numerous successes throughout the decade ranging from Zaxxon to Fantasy Zone to Altered Beast, it was AM2’s innovative tetralogy of super scaler powered games that would make SEGA a big name in the arcades. From 1985 to 1987 SEGA released a crescendo of innovative mega-hits, including Hang-On, Space Harrier and OutRun, culminating with the release of After Burner.

Much like the rest of its brethren, After Burner was a resounding success, spawning numerous updates and spiritual successors. This week, we’ll be giving you a taste of what After Burner has to offer. First, we’d like to present an overview of the franchise for the uninitiated.

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Check out the overly exciting trailer for Sega-Sammy Creation, a casino machine manufacturing division

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Sega-Sammy Creation Inc. is a new group within Sega-Sammy devoted to the development, manufacturing, and selling of casino machines as well as the consigned development and offering of advice on game machines. The groups fist release, SICBO BONUS JACKPOT, is an elaborate casino game featuring digital screens and dice suspended by blowing air in tubes given the name D.F.S. (Dice Floatation System). Sega-Sammy Creation’s target appears to be Chinese speaking countries, as their games and website are translated to the language. Sega-Sammy Creation and SICBO BONUS JACKPOT received an overly dramatic announcement video, seen above, which feels like something straight out of Segagaga.

I’ll admit, as a SEGA fan the trailer got me a bit excited despite the fact that the whole thing is just promoting a casino game. Shots of modern SEGA arcade and console games coupled with the narrator proclaiming: “The two leading companies from Japan have come together and combined DNA! The ultimate gaming manufacturer that transcends gaming boundaries and revolutionizes entertainment”, what’s not to love?

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Swingin’ Report Show #62: Console Wars with Tom Kalinske – SEGA of America’s President (’90-’96)

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This is it! Our third Console Wars focused episode of the Swingin’ Report Show in which we speak with the man himself, SEGA of America’s former President Tom Kalinske! Tom has an amazing history with the toy and game industry. Before his years with SEGA, Tom served as President and CEO of Mattel, reviving the Barbie brand and creating the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe line. During his time at SEGA, Tom reinvigorated the SEGA Genesis brand, helped in the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, and led the launch of many famous pieces of SEGA hardware including the Game Gear, Pico, 32X, Nomad, and Saturn.

Tom Kalinske’s career is chronicled in the book “Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation” by Blake J. Harris, and if you haven’t purchased a copy yet, do so today. If you’ve read the book, are reading the book, are awaiting delivery of the book, or are simply a fan of SEGA during the 90’s, our latest show is a must listen!

Also, make sure to check out our other Console Wars interviews including our discussion of SEGA’s marketing efforts with SEGA’s former Director of Marketing Al Nilsen and our interview with the author of Console Wars, Blake J. Harris.

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

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Marza Animation Planet’s “Harlock: Space Pirate” movie headed to Netflix August 1st

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IGN has revealed that “Harlock: Space Pirate”, an animated film from the SEGA owned Marza Animation Planet, will be releasing exclusively to Netflix in all territories beginning August 1st. The movie is a sci-fi action adventure based on the character from Leiji Matsumo’s Space Pirate Captain Harlock manga series. Marza Animation Planet is probably best known to SEGA fans as the group that animated the Sonic the Hedgehog “Night of the Werehog” short film, as well as animating cutscenes for SEGA games including Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA 2nd, Sonic Colors, and Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg.

We’ll keep you posted on any promotional materials that may release between then and now, and once the film releases I think a SEGA Cinema is in order!

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Sonic Boom heading to New York, no Summer of Sonic this year

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Start spreading the news! Sonic Boom will be heading to New York on October 4th. Along with this news from Sega comes the sad news that Summer of Sonic will be on hiatus for this year. This is very sad news for Sonic fans in the U.K. who’ve come in droves year after year to the event. One bit of good news is that Summer of Sonic has inspired other, smaller Sonic conventions to appear such as Weston Super Sonic (returning on January 17 2015) and Sonic Revolution in Buena Park (on June 15 2014). Read on for a statement from both Summer of Sonic and Sega.

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Amazon Digital Games Mayhem: SEGA bundles available including a Sonic the Hedgehog bundle

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Amazon is having another PC gaming sale, usually when Amazon does these they focus on bundles that include multiple games for a cheap price. This time around they have two SEGA related bundles. Let’s look at them.

Don’t Die Pack: $9.49

  • Aliens vs. Predator
  • Binary Domain
  • Condemned: Criminal Origins
  • The Typing of the Dead: Overkill
  • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

Next is the Sonic Everywhere pack that includes up to 17 Sonic the Hedgehog games/DLC.

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