New long Phantasy Star Online 2 Vita trailer is long

SEGA Japan has released a new trailer for Phantasy Star Online 2 for the Playstation Vita. The PC version has been released in Japan since early last year and now they are preparing to release the Vita version this February. Yes, the Vita version will also be free to download and play, which of course is awesome.

The best news? You will be able to play with PC players on the Vita and also use ‘character data transfer’.

Jdytrn NA

First look at Sonic Universe #52

We already know that Archie Comics was planning on doing a Sonic the Hedgehog x Mega Man crossover entitled “Worlds Collide”. This new first look at Sonic Universe #52 takes place five issues into the new exciting arc (which is set to be 12 issues long).

Patrick “SPAZ” Spaziante has cover duty. Check out the variants allowing you to choose eitther Team Sonic or Team Mega Man. I think you all know who I’m rooting for. Hit the jump for more information.

GameStop posts Aliens: Colonial Marines DLC season pass prices


Sadly SEGA has had a pretty bad history of DLC, sometimes promising that they will release content for a game then hush up after they release a few pieces of content. It seems they will try to fix this issue with Aliens: Colonial Marines by offering season passes priced at $29.99 (this price being 33% off if you buy the four packs they include individually). It is said that these packs will include new “campaign content, additional multiplayer maps, new modes, character customization and more.”

One more tidbit, the season passes are only being posted for the PC version of the game. I’m assuming they will also be released for their console brethren, but who knows. Remember SEGA dropping support for AVP on consoles? Could the console version of this game also be an inferior version? I guess we will find out when it is released.

Angry Joe’s Top 10 Reasons Aliens: CM Will Kick Ass!

Me and Nux are big fans of internet celebrity Angry Joe and his video reviews. I even got to meet him at E3 2 years ago. It looks like he’s just as excited for Aliens: Colonial Marines as we are. Here, he gives a top ten list of things he’s most excited for in this upcoming release. It feels a bit stretched with some of the reasons, but it shows his enthusiasm for the upcoming release. Check it out.

Updated: Code of Joker revealed to be a Japanese digital card arcade game

Move along, folks. Nothing to see here. SEGA of Japan’s mystery game, Code of Joker, has been revealed by Famitsu to be a digital card game for mobile phones arcades. Famitsu describes the game as a “digital trading card game” and notes that people who attend events at select locations tomorrow in Japan will receive digital gifts including a ” login bonus stamp at the start of the game”.  The game most likely will not see release outside of Japan given SEGA’s past mobile trading card arcade titles.

Update: Seems the game is not for mobile phones, but is rather for arcades. It is still, however, a card game. The mobile phone mixup came from the mention of players mobile phones, which is actually referring to an “Aime card“. Players use physical Aime cards to access their data on arcade machines, much like the old idea of using a VMU with arcade machines. Players can also access their Aime card data via their mobile phones.

Thanks to SEGAbits forum member Aki-at for the heads up!

Virtua Striker and Virtual-On re-releases to remain Japan exclusive

Back in November, SEGA released three awesome Model 2 fighting games to XBLA and PSN: Fighting Vipers, Virtua Fighter 2, and Sonic the Fighters. Two other Model 2 titles were also on the horizon: Cyber Troopers Virtual-On and Virtua Striker. However, as the Japan release date for these titles approaches (February 13th), SEGA West has said nothing of a release outside Japan. Hoping for an answer, fans reached out to the Virtual-On team who replied that SEGA has “no plan to re-release them in other area”. While this isn’t SEGA West shooting down any plans for a release, it does make it clear that internally there is no release planned.

It’s My Life with SEGA morphin’ time in Power Rangers Pt. II

The not-so-epic conclusion to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: 2-Man Scramble, where I – A.J. Rosa – force Mickey Mac to play the SEGA CD version of Power Rangers. Unlike Demolition Man and Batman Returns, this wasn’t simple expansion of the cartridge game; it’s an FMV quick-time battle romp that uses actual footage from the television series.

There’s no strategy to it like Wirehead. All you have to do is NOT FUCK UP! Well, this is My Life with SEGA, so the likely-hood of that is zero-to-none. Enjoy!

Like this video? Subscribe to the SEGAbits YouTube channel!

3D Space Harrier for 3DS receives an Australia rating

Yesterday, the Australian Classification Board issued a rating of “G” for the 3DS rerelease of Space Harrier. This pretty much confirms that the game will be releasing to Australia and eventually (hopefully) Europe and North America. Released last month in Japan, 3D Space Harrier looks to be an awesome rerelease of the game, with a ton of features including 3D visuals and a simulated arcade cabinet. When we learn more of the English release of the game, we’ll be sure to share it. In the meantime, celebrate by listening to this week’s Tuesday Tune.

Upcoming Sonic merch – History of Sonic Collector’s Edition and SEGA teams with Sambro to create board games and puzzles

SEGA’s longtime mascot has some cool new pieces of merchandise for 2013. First up is a Collector’s Edition of Pix’n Love’s The History of Sonic book. The History of Sonic has had a long and interesting history (well, interesting to Sonic nerds). The book began as a Collector’s Edition exclusive to France and in the French language. Soon, fans found that even if they didn’t speak a lick of French they could still order the book. Then, Pix’n Love announced an English version was to be made for the UK with international shipping available. Fans cancelled their French orders, awaited an English release and… nothing happened. That is, until Canadian publisher Udon picked up the book, refined the English translation and released it just this past December.

Just a month after the book’s release in North America, Pix’n Love’s English site has announced a Collector’s Edition of the book, which features an alternate cover, and each is individually numbered out of a total of 1,000. Aside from that, it looks to be the same book as the standard Udon edition. The price is £29.99 plus shipping, and the book is available to order now. Keep in mind, however, that the Amazon price is only $31 and the Collector’s Edition is over $47 plus tax. After the break, a bit of board game news.

SEGA Tunes: Space Harrier

Even when I first played it on Shenmue in 2001, Space Harrier was an incredibly unique game. Trippy, animated and hard as fuck, Space Harrier was one of my favorite past times in Shenmue…aside from forklift racing, of course. What really made the game experience, and what helped keep me coming back to spend my hard earned money that I should really have been saving up for Hong Kong, was the kick ass sound track.

The Space Harrier theme remains an all-time classic in SEGA’s library, and one that I hope continues to be revisited in future SEGA games. You can expect us to revisit the track plenty of times via official and fan remixes!

SEGA Corporation to Air 24-Hour Internet TV Broadcast In Feb

SEGA Corporation will be airing a 24-Hour Internet TV Broadcast on February 2nd from 6PM JST to the 3rd at 6PM JST the next day. The broadcast will feature SEGA titles including Hatsune Miku: Project Diva FPhantasy Star Online 2, Yakuza 5 and the licensed-for-Japan title Rusty Hearts. The Internet broadcast seems to be also focused on the 20th Anniversary of the Puyo Puyo series and a time slot made specifically for Sonic Team. There are no word on this portion of the broadcast, but may include details based on the rumors of the upcoming Sonic game. You can view the schedule of the broadcast here and the live stream video by clicking this link.

The Cave launch trailer arrives

Just in case you haven’t yet seen it, SEGA and Double Fine put out a trailer a couple days ago in support of The Cave’s recent launch. Anyone pick this game up yet? Comment below.

The Cave is an adventure game from the mind of Ron Gilbert (Monkey Island) and is now available on PSN, Wii U eShop, XBLA, and Steam for $14.99 (or 1200 MSP).

First commercial for Aliens: Colonial Marines already making the rounds

2013 has just begun but SEGA of America seems to be diving right in. Though Gearbox’s highly anticipated Aliens title doesn’t see release until this February, TV spots are already making the rounds; probably the first commercial I’ve actually caught on TV for a SEGA release since….heck, MadWorld?

Here’s hoping the strong marketing push continues up through the game’s release, as it’s an incredible commercial and has me already eager to preorder.

A brief look behind the scenes of Bayonetta 2

New teaser footage of Bayonetta 2 was showcased in the latest Nintendo Direct, the first we’ve seen of the title since its surprise announcement this past Fall. For those not familiar with Nintendo’s fan addresses, these are 20-30 minute videos Nintendo releases to communicate directly with their fans and to showcase their upcoming lineup.

The new footage shown is a mostly behind-the-scenes affair, though we also get small glimpses of concept art, locations, and enemies, as well as a taste of how Platinum Games intends to up the ante this time around.

Bayonetta 2, Platinum Games’ first ever sequel (unless you count Anarchy Reigns, which you shouldn’t) is an IP evidently still owned by SEGA, though with Nintendo now publishing. It has not yet been given a release date. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata promises two Iwata Asks features with Platinum Games in the near future; one to discuss Bayonetta 2, the other to talk about their awesome-looking new IP, The Wonderful 101.

SEGA of Japan teases new game entitled “Code of Joker”

A teaser website for a new SEGA game has popped up at the address coj.sega.jp. Only a title, Code of Joker, and a date of February 1st are given. Given the card based title, the game could be a new card based arcade game. In mid-February, SEGA will have the biggest booth at the Japan Amusement Expo, so this could very well be an arcade game that will debut at the show. Another possibility is that it is a console, handheld, or mobile title. But given the timing, and name, arcade is the strongest possibility.

Special thanks to SEGAbits forum member Aki-at for the news tip!