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Ken Balough spins the signpost, departs SEGA zone

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After five years with the company, SEGA’s Digital Brand Manager Ken Balough is moving on to join the team at Sony Playstation. The announcement was made in a statement at the SEGA forums:

After 5 absolutely amazing years, and a lot of great memories and games, it is with a heavy heart that I am announcing Friday March 22nd will be my final day at SEGA.

I can’t tell you all what an incredible experience this has been. Ever since I was a kid playing the SEGA Master System, I wanted to work at SEGA. I grew up on our games playing Wonder Boy, Sonic, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and so many more. When the chance to work on the Sonic franchise appeared – I never thought twice – it was a dream come true!

I am incredibly proud of how well the Sonic Franchise has grown; and it is poised to continue to grow into some amazing directions.

The Sonic fans are the best I’ve experienced – passionate, intelligent, with an unrivaled love of the franchise. I have been privileged to get to know you, and hear your thoughts, and talk to you personally when given the opportunity. There are so many of you I want to thank. You guys are really one of a kind. Continue to encourage everyone at SEGA to make better games – it’s really fuel for us when we see, or hear you guys excited.

As many of you know, I am very passionate about the Latin America side business, and I have been given a phenomenal opportunity to join the team at Sony PlayStation and do just that. I am very excited, and while I am VERY sad to be leaving my dear friends at SEGA, am looking forward to be working with a 1st party in an emerging market.

Thank you all again for… well…. Everything! And maybe I’ll stop by and make a visit in a future Sonic event

Your ever-grateful Sonic 4 Brand Manager
Ken Balough

We wish Ken all the best in his new venture, and hope that his time with SEGA was as he truly imagined it. Okay, kidding aside, we here at SEGAbits want to thank Ken for his service to SEGA and for all the good times. From joining us for a Sonic 4 Episode 2 after party, to helping us with all things Sonic 4 and more. Ken, this one is for you.

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3D Super Hang-On for 3DS set to release next week in Japan

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File this one under “where is the Western release, SEGA?”. Following the release of 3D Space Harrier, SEGA of Japan has revealed the next title in their line of 3DS rereleases: 3D Super Hang-On. Set to release next week on March 27th for 600 yen,  3D Super Hang-On will feature true 3D graphics, gyro sensor controls, a widescreen mode, a virtual arcade machine mode, the ability to save at any time,  and more!  Players can also change the difficulty, time limit, handling, and screen size.

The SEGA of Japan page appears to hint at two more 3D releases, as four slots are shown and only two are filled with 3D Space Harrier and 3D Super Hang-On. If I had to guess, I’d say 3D OutRun and 3D After Burner are on the way. No word yet on a Western release, but hopefully we hear something soon. Perhaps SEGA West are waiting for all four to release, and then we’ll get a SEGA 3D Classics boxed release? After the break, a slew of 3D Super Hang-On images.

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Total War fan dies from cancer, gets immortalized in Rome 2

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Last year a 24-year-old Total War fan named James was the first to play Creative Assembly’s Total War: Rome 2. He was given interviews, tours and even had his suggestions for the title. James is now being immortalized in the upcoming Rome 2, turning into a Roman solider in the full game when it comes out later this year.

Sadly after the visit James lost his battle with liver cancer and died. James’ trip to Creative Assembly was organized by the charity organization known as Willow as part of its Special Day initiative. It is basically a sort of ‘make a wish’ in the US where people with terminally illness get a day to do what they always wanted.  You can check out more of James’ story over at Eurogamer’s article. Good read. 

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Phantasy Star will celebrate 25 years with a symphony

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SEGA will be celebrating Phantasy Star‘s 25th anniversary on March 30th, they will be holding a one night symphonic tribute to the franchise and promises big special guest and music pieces from most major Phantasy Star titles. The event will be hosted by voice actress Atsuko Enomoto and legendary SEGA developer Yuji Naka. The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra will be doing the music and will be conducted by Masamichi Amano. In a play on words, SEGA will call the event ‘Sympathy‘.

One of the big special guess is our boy Takenobu Mitsuyoshi who will do the vocals for ‘Go Infinity‘.

SEGA will be advertising and sell a lot of exclusive music item codes at the event that will unlock in Phantasy Star Online 2. Sounds like a fun time. No news on streams or if it will be released after.

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Video Review: Aliens: Colonial Marines

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Welcome to our review of Aliens: Colonial Marines. See that YouTube video embedded above? It is our very first SEGAbits Video Review! We’re trying to sort out a way to get these video reviews put up for all upcoming games. Seeing as how this is our first one, there is always room to improve. So positive criticism is definitely welcomed. Let us know what you think in the comments section. After the break, an old school written review.

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Aliens: Colonial Marines charts at number six for February in the US

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We usually don’t post much NPD numbers here because SEGA really never charts. Well, I guess the Aliens license does make quite a bit of cash. In the UK it hit number one the week it released and in America it came in sixth for its release month. Only to be beat by heavy hitters like Dead Space 3, Crysis 3 and Metal Gear Rising.

Want to see the full top ten chart? Hit the jump.

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Games Workshop looking for more publishers and developers to make Warhammer based games

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We have reported many times on SEGA picking up the IP license to Warhammer, but today Games Workshop announced that Slitherine, a video game publisher, is creating a real-time strategy game based on the Warhammer 40k universe.

So who else is making Warhammer titles?

  • Siltherine – We talked about above, they are creating a RTS game based in the Warhammer 40k universe. 
  • Zattikka – Announced last week that they will be creating social games based on the Warhammer IP.
  • Full Control – They acquired the Space Hulk license.
  • EA – They have created Warhammer: Age of Reckoning and are developing  Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes.
  • Rodeo Games – Creating a game called Warhammer Quest.
  • No Mad Games – Picked up the license to develop games based on Talisman.
  • SEGA – SEGA, which own the studio Relic, responsible for some of the most popular Warhammer 40k games. Also rumored is that Creative Assembly is making a game based on the Warhammer license.

Apparently Games Workshop is open to new ideas and said they will be going to trade shows to meet potential developers for games. With quite the list of developers already having Warhammer games in the works, even our blue and true SEGA, and the licensee looking for more games means that he market is going to be filled with Warhammer based games. Is this good? All I hope is that the games are great. The Warhammer universe is expansive and if they can cover different parts in different style games, they got my money.

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Aliens: Colonial Marines (360/PS3) on sale for $39.99 at Toys R Us

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Segabits will soon have our own review up for Aliens: Colonial Marines, though if you have been awaiting our opinion, I don’t think it’s spoiling much to say that the game doesn’t exactly come with a recommendation.

That said, if you still had an interest in trying out SEGA and Gearbox’s controversial shooter for yourselves but were hesitant to pay $59.99, now might be your chance. Toys R Us has both the PS3 and 360 versions on sale for $39.99 through Saturday the 16th, though apparently only in store; not online.

The game was released this past February to (putting it mildly) a very mixed response. $39.99 should hopefully prove to be a more reasonable price for what’s offered should you opt to pick up the title.

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My Life with SEGA visits Funny World and deflates Balloon Boy

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In this “classic” episode of My Life with SEGA, I experience my first ever unlicensed video game for the SEGA Genesis.

No, it’s not a Bible game. Instead, it’s a two-for-one deal aimed at preschoolers, called Funny World & Balloon Boy. Yeah, this is obviously a quality title that can rival Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Phantasy Star IV in sheer brilliance…. right?

Like this video? Subscribe to the SEGAbits YouTube channel!

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SEGA planning another live stream event… with special guests featuring Takenobu Mitsuyoshi, Ms. Arisa Noto and Hiroshi Fujioka (Segata Sanshiro)

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Toriaa! SEGA fans of yesteryear can rejoice as SEGA Corporation is having a two part live stream event featuring Takenobu Mitsuyoshi and his SEGA Sound Unit band,  Ms. Arisa Noto (“Hello, Little Monsters”) as a guest vocal along with a special guest who was famous as a certain judo karate expert who we all know and love who beats up people for not playing the SEGA Saturn in Japan and sacrificing his life to protect us from a evil gaming company, Hiroshi Fujioka aka Segata Sanshiro. Judging from the Google translation, the event will focus on the aspects of Segata Sanshiro and new music played by the SEGA Sound Unit Band. The event will be held at TV Tokyo Center and stream live on March 16, 2013 19:30 (Sat. JPT). Read more of the this story to read the summary of the event, pictures and links to the live stream.

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