Phantasy Star Online 2 getting closed English beta in South East Asia


We already knew that there was an English version of Phantasy Star Online 2 headed for South East Asia and now ASIASOFT (co-publishers) are teasing their ‘soon’ to start closed beta by releasing the above trailer and screenshots.Sadly, SEGA West hasn’t announced anything outside of their PAX announcement about Phantasy Star Online 2, seemingly disbanding the project. I guess for gamers like you and me, the wait for a English version of Phantasy Star Online 2 will be over…

Since this is for South East Asia, it will be a bit hard to get a key to the close beta, but don’t worry it won’t impossible. The following are community moderators at Asiasoft which will be giving out beta codes. Go ask them nicely:

We are working on getting some beta keys for the site and giving you guys more content as it gets closer to beta time. Who is excited? English site can be found here.

SEGA and IGN preview Sonic Lost World’s The Legend of Zelda Zone


 
SEGA and IGN have teamed up to show off Sonic Lost World‘s The Legend of Zelda Zone, a free DLC download for owners of the Wii U version set to release through the Wii U eShop on March 27, 2014 (that’s tomorrow!). The stage, which can be viewed in full with Aaron Webber commentary, is an open world Zelda world with Sonic dressed as Link fighting enemies and opening treasure boxes. Aaron describes the stage as much more open that past stages in the game, tying in with the Zelda series open world gameplay.

Head on over to IGN for more and remember to download the free DLC tomorrow!

After the break, check out the full playthrough!

SEGA in the Charts: MediaCreate charts for March 10 – 16 March 2014

Hero Bank

SEGA latest multimedia video game, Hero Bank for the Nintendo 3DS, debuted in the Japanese charts. Joining it last week was Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode 2 for the Playstation Vita, the retail version of the highly successful MMO with added perks. Both arrived at a time with a slew of new software reflected by the Japanese charts which holds 14 out of 20 new titles in the top 20. It was always going to be tough for both titles as they release at the same time as several big titles, so hit the break to find out how they fared.

SEGA Tunes: Dick Tracy’s Stage 1 Scene A for the SEGA Genesis

Like my previous Tuesday Tunes entry, which focused on the music of Ghostbusters, this week’s tune comes from another favorite SEGA Genesis game from my childhood: Dick Tracy. Like Ghostbusters, Dick Tracy has the unfortunate distinction of being one of those awful titles… for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The SEGA Genesis version is a completely different game developed in-house by SEGA, and bears several similarities to the popular Shinobi franchise, which leads me to believe that the game was developed by the same team. But enough about the gameplay, I’ll save that for my eventual review, let’s talk about the music.

Segalizaton taking questions for UDON Entertainment interview

VC3ArtbookCover

Update: Interview has been completed. Thanks for your contributions!

SEGA fan and Segalization contributor SuperSonicEX captured an amazing opportunity for a Q&A with UDON Entertainment! UDON Entertainment is responsible for, among other things: translation and publishing of the three Valkyria Chronicles art books, the History of Sonic the Hedgehog, and the Eyes of Bayonetta, alongside various Hatsune Miku and Vocaloid media.

We currently plan to send in our questions sometime this Wednesday, March 26th, but Segalization would like to give SEGA fans a chance to send in questions of their own for UDON to answer! For anyone interested in submitting a question, hit the jump to see the currently planned questions (so as to avoid overlap) and additional notes on how Segalization will handle any submitted questions.

Hatsune Miku Project DIVA F 2nd coming to western countries this fall

After the successful release of Hatsune Miku Project Diva F in the west last year, SEGA has announced that the sequel will be released here as well. Unlike it’s predecessor, Project Diva F 2nd will be getting a physical release for both PS3 and Vita at the same time in both the US and Europe.

The game will have 40 songs, including both new songs and classic songs that were playable in Project Diva games only released in Japan. The Edit Mode, which allows you to make your own videos and rhythm games with in-game assets and put them online for all to download, will also be back.

You can expect the game to be released this Fall in western territories. Japan will be getting the game in just a couple of days from now, on March 27th.

Alien: Isolation to be at EGX Rezzed

AI_SCREENSHOT_980x551_0001_1393945811

If any of you reading this happen to be going to EGX Rezzed, you’re in luck, as SEGA is bringing a playable demo of Alien: Isolation to the showfloor. Besides that, a presentation will be held at 3PM GMT on Saturday where the creative director Al Hope will be sharing what progress has been made on the game. A release date more specific than late 2014 will be announced there as well.

EGX Rezzed takes place from this Friday, March 28th to Sunday, March 30th. More info about the convention can be found on the official website.

Retro Review: Technocop

RRTechnocop

Oh man, I have waited too long to use that image.

A.J. Rosa is a man of many talents – and a man of many games. I mean, hey; if he lacked games, My Life With SEGA wouldn’t still be running to this day! A short while ago, some of you may remember A.J. held a competition in conjunction with this very site, in celebration of the 3rd Anniversary of SEGAbits. The winner would receive A.J.’s personal SEGA Genesis Model 2, and the copy of Technocop he reviewed for My Life With SEGA.

Lo and behold, I ended up winning said contest – and so despite being one of the few staff members of SEGAbits from the UK, I don’t have to watch Genesis Month pass by whilst I cradle my beloved Mega Drive – and hey, I’d promised A.J. I’d post up my impressions of Technocop, so now’s as good a time as any.

3D OutRun confirmed as the next SEGA 3D Classics title

001
 
Joining the second wave of SEGA 3D Classics releases for the Nintendo 3DS is 3D OutRun, as confirmed by the official SEGA Japan site. The first wave of releases, available now in the East and West, featured eight classic titles from the Mega Drive and arcade. Wave two, which could possibly contain another eight titles, currently is Japan only and also features 3D After Burner and 3D Fantasy Zone.

Little else is known about the release at the moment, but as soon as we learn more we’ll be sure to share it!

Round Table: The future of Streets of Rage and our favorite memories

Untitled-1
 
As Streets of Rage Week comes to an end, the SEGAbits writer’s round table has us reflecting on our fond memories of the franchise, and where we would like to see the franchise headed in the future. SEGA has always been hit or miss when it comes to reviving and remaking older franchises. For every SEGA 3DS 3D Classics remake, Castle of Illusion and Shinobi 3DS there are a slew of stinkers – Golden Axe: Beast Rider, Altered Beast (PS2), several of the Sega Ages 2500 releases. Point is, a remake or reboot of Streets of Rage could go either way. What direction would be like to see the franchise headed? Follow the flashing “GO!” and read on!

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Boss Video: Akira in action


SEGA’s new 2-D arcade fighter, Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax, has recently been released in Japan a few days ago and with new gameplay footages uploaded on the net and we are now able to see the final boss fight featuring Virtua Fighter’s Hakkyoku-ken fighter, Akira Yuki.

Here is a video of the final boss fight with an epic pre-fight cutscene against Durarara’s, punch your clothes off, Shizuo. For another video of the boss fight, hit the jump.

Tommy Tallarico to be special guest at Sonic Revolution

Tommy-T

Composer of many Sega Genesis games, contributor to Sonic and the Black Knight soundtrack and co-founder of Video Games LIVE!, Tommy Tallarico has just been announced as a special guest at Sonic Revolution on June 15. Tommy will be discussing his work and will be answering questions for the fans. Sonic Revolution posted the following on their Facebook status.

We’re proud to announce that composer Tommy Tallarico of Video Games Live fame will be a special guest at our event. Mr. Tallarico will be talking about his work with Sonic music (he was one of the contributors to Sonic and the Black Knight’s soundtrack) as well as video game music in general. The audience will be more than welcome to ask him questions!