Sonic Adventure 2 HD DLC confirmed along with some Big news

Some Big SA2HD news out of PAX. Sonic Stadium reports that SA2 will become SA2 Battle through DLC much in the same way Sonic Adventure became DX. This will either delight or enrage fans as this means that battle mode comes at a separate cost but you get the updated graphics in the regular version.

In other news, Big the Cat will return to the game as an Easter Egg of sorts. You may remember Big being in the background of certain levels and cutscenes in the original Dreamcast version but was taken out of the Gamecube “Battle” port. Well, now he’s put back in so keep an eye out for the fat cat.

Sega releases Heritage Collection trailer. Also, developer interviews.

TSega has revealed a Sega Heritage trailer featuring the 3 main digital Sega classics coming later this year. Jet Set Radio (September), NiGHTS (October) and Sonic Adventure 2 (also October) it was also revealed that each game will have “bonus developer interviews” Those who have played the Genesis collections on PSP or PS3 can expect something similar to those.

Stay tuned to Segabits for more news on these games coming later today.

Aliens: Colonial Marines multiplayer to have female characters afterall

Looks like the fans have gotten their wish.

In a decision that prompted much in the way of backlash, Gearbox had originally said that female characters would not be playable in the multiplayer for Aliens: Colonial Marines. This was despite the strong female presence that has always existed in the Alien films, and it was a choice that had many fans upset.

It looks like they can now rest assured, as Gearbox has now definitively stated that, yes, female characters will be playable afterall.

“We realized some people were starting to feel bad,” Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford said during a panel at PAX. “We exist to entertain people.”

He then revealed Jennifer Running, a female marine who will be playable in co-op.

“I want everybody to be clear that there are playable females in both the multiplayer and the campaign,” he went on to say.

Aliens: Colonial Marines releases, female characters and all, in February of next year.

Sonic Talk Episode 11 “Skype sucks”

[Download]

The internet is a very confusing thing to me sometimes. It carries a ton of data at insane speeds over phone lines and even wireless. The same kind of phone lines that we’ve been using for decades to have conversations. SO WHY CAN’T WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT DON’T DROP OFF?!! It’s really insane. It was so bad, I gave up a few times and this episode was originally in six pieces until I wrangled everything together. If you didn’t care for Episode 10’s 3-Hour podcast, you’ll be happy to know that this one comes in just barely over an hour.

Also, sorry for the poor audio quality of the intro. I was trying to do something funny and failed. (Also, I need to keep my fan away from the mic.) Read on for this week’s topics.

XBOX Avatars and Vita Features revealed for All-Stars Racing Transformed

More details have emerged for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, this time concerning the Playstation 3, Vita and XBOX 360 versions. Sony’s new Vita product page for the game reveals that the handheld version will support motion steering and will allow players to fire weapons and activate All-Star moves via the touchscreen. The Playstation 3 product page confirms that the game will not support 3D. As for the 360 version, the product page confirms that Avatars will return as a part of the roster and that the game will support DLC. DLC support is also confirmed on the Vita and PS3 pages. All three versions will support up to eight players online. Also of note to 360 owners, Steve Lycett has told fans that Banjo-Kazooie will not be returning. After the break, lovely screens from the 360 version!

Aliens: Colonial Marines’ escape mode announced today

SEGA America has announced “Escape mode” which will be a new competitive multiplayer mode for Gearbox Software’s Aliens: Colonial Marines. The new mode will take a team of four Marines and pit them against a four person Xenomorph team. The goal for the Marines is to work together to escape the map, there will be a time limit so your actions are crucial. As the opposing team, the Xenomorph, your job is to destroy marines.

The new mode will be playable at this year’s PAX 2012 event. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Samurai & Dragons & SEGA All-Stars, oh my!

Samurai & Dragons, the Japanese version of Kingdom Conquest released to the Playstation Vita, just got SEGA-fied. Well, that is to say it will soon be SEGA-fied and by “SEGA-fied” we mean they’re adding a slew of SEGA cameos. A Deluxe Package is set to release on November 29, and it will include rare Bayonetta, Sonic, Kazuma, and Akira cards plus in-game money. Also later this year, Samurai & Dragons will get cards from the popular SEGA card arcade game Sangokushi Taisen and a Hatsune Miku card that can be bought with in-game currency. Perhaps most exciting is that SEGA hired Hatsune Miku illustrator KEI to turn their consoles into characters. Players will be able to play the game with girl versions of the SG-1000, SC-3000, SG-1000II, Sega Mark II, Master System, Mega Drive, Game Gear, Mega CD, Mega Drive MK II, Mega CD 2, Saturn, 32X, and the Dreamcast.

After the break, a full list of SEGA character cameos as well as more images of the incoming cards and console cuties.

Sonic Talk Episode 10 “Better Late than Never”

[Download]

FINALLY!! Yours truly learned how to edit audio and has a double dose of Sonic Talk for you this week!

Sorry about the lateness of this episode. We recorded this just days before We left for the San Diego Comic Con and it took us forever to get it out. This episode has a lot of GX and Nuckles87 getting on each others nerves in a fun way while I’m lucky to get a word in. One thing I’ll say, this week’s episode has more music than ever before.

My Life With SEGA hits the streets in The Crow: City of Angels

Ah yes, that age old question: does an awful movie yield an awful video game? Find out in this week’s My Life With SEGA episode, as AJ suffers though (blast! I already gave it away) the SEGA Saturn game The Crow: City of Angels.

“Abashed the Devil stood and felt how awful….well, AWFULNESS is!”

Yeah, I know that’s not the line, but it’s so much more appropriate. Why, you ask? How can the one and only game based on the craptacular sequel to one of the greatest comic-to-film adaptations be anything less than incredible?

Watch it and know my pain.

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Jet Set Radio’s Gum joins the roster of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Via Nintendo Power scans comes confirmation of another SEGA character joining the racer roster in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed: Gum of Jet Set Radio. This latest reveal isn’t as exciting as, say, Vyse or Ryo in the first game. Gum has appeared in a past title in the series, SEGA Superstars Tennis, and her game already has representation by way of Beat. Having said all that, I am personally overjoyed to see Gum added to the game. “What!?” you may say, “Blasphemy! She’s taking a slot from an obscure 16-bit game or some Japanese title that nobody really knows about!”. But hear me out. For starters, the game is severely lacking in female characters, and Gum perfectly fills that role of cool gals from SEGA’s past. Secondly, if Sonic gets seven characters, and NiGHTS gets two, why can’t Jet Set Radio have a second racer? Gum herself is a very unique design, which is something you can’t say about Reala or Shadow when comparing them to other characters represented in their respective IPs. Now, I understand if this riles people up because they will now fear MeeMee of Super Monkey Ball joining the roster. But I say wait it out, we still have more than eleven reveals left. Also, Gum is awesome. Disagree? Sound off in the comments below!

Check out the Nintendo power scans here and here.

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The SEGA Five: Revisiting Green Hill Act 1

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In the Sonic universe there is nothing more iconic than the zone that started it all: Green Hill. Any and every SEGA and Sonic fan should know the look and layout of this zone, specifically the first act and even more specifically the first few moments experienced by players. I’m talking about the line of rings, followed by the platform with an item box above and a Motobug below, a Buzz Bomber enters from the right of the screen, passing a palm tree with a spring hidden inside. For many fans, this was their introduction to Sonic as a character and as a franchise. Sonic Team knew the importance of the first zone, as (according to the Sonic Jam strategy guide) it took the team six months to perfect the look and design of Green Hill. In the years that followed, the opening layout of Green Hill reappeared a number of times. In this week’s SEGA Five, I’ll look back on those times, noting the strengths, weaknesses and possible reasons for referencing the classic layout.

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