Anarchy Reigns demo hits Japan May 31st

Famitsu has reported that a demo of Anarchy Reigns will be hitting Japan on May 31st. The demo will feature a small sample of the single-player campaign and two online modes. It also states that Bayonetta will have some new moves that weren’t included in her game and that she will have different costumes and colors. What it doesn’t say is what system the demo will land on, but I’m guessing PS3 as 360 is not exactly a big enough system in Japan to promote your game on.

SEGA Tunes: PSO Episode 3 C.A.R.D. Revolution’s “Let the Winds Blow”

Every now and then, I surf around for SEGA music. Not for Tuesday Tunes, though, but for my own enjoyment. I mostly do it when I’m looking for a certain kind of music. More specifically, the music posted above. Something orchestral, something theatrical, and something emotional. Something I can either fall asleep to, or to inspire me as I write something.

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this track on iTunes, while I was surfing around the digital store for things to listen to while I awaited the flight that would take me to San Francisco and allow me to play Sonic & All-Stars Racing. For a game I barely hear about anymore, the opening track is surprisingly strong and well-constructed, giving off the atmosphere of a game I’d like to experience. I’ve heard Phantasy Star Episode 3 isn’t as good as its predecessors, since it focused on a card based battle system rather than real time fighting, but maybe I’ll give it a try anyway sometime.

Samba De Amigo and Rhythm Thief developer would love to create a Nintendo All Star Musical


Shun Nakamura earned his SEGA respect back in the day when he created Samba De Amigo that apppeared in Arcades, SEGA Dreamcast and later ported over to the Nintendo Wii. He is now working on his new IP known as Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure on the 3DS. In the interview he was asked if he could work on a Nintendo franchise what would it be?

” I would rather pick out no titles! Honestly, I would like to enjoy Nintendo titles just as a user rather than developer, because most of them are too great and seem so hard to develop. If I had to, I’d ideally create something like Nintendo All Star Musical, a rhythm game like Rhythm Thief using Nintendo characters and background music. Mario rhythmically follows the stage while Koopa Troopa’s location is based on the rhythm, and that makes a track, for example. Nintendo, I’m looking forward to your offer!” – Shun Nakamura

Sadly the interview conducted by Computer and Videogames is very Nintendo related, disappointing me since I have like 30 questions I would love to ask Shun Nakamura about Samba de Amigo.

SEGA Japan files trademarks for Veil of Dark and The Shooting Coaster

SEGA Japan have filed two new trademarks that could be anything. The names they trademarked? Veil of Dark and The Shooting Coaster. To me Veil of Dark sounds like a horror themed game and The Shooting Coaster a simple arcade game. Who knows, they could both be arcade games we will never play.

Still sort of exciting knowing that SEGA is still working on new IPs, despite a bad year for them.

SEGA publishing new game by Double Fine Productions

SEGA’s Twitter has recently posted a mystery image on Flickr, seen here, of a forest setting with a chunk missing from the image and a question mark. Clearly they are teasing a new game, but what game could it be? Well, we shared the initial image on our Facebook page, and a kind reader by the name of Marius Theßeling speculated that the art matched the style of Ron Gilbert’s unannounced upcoming game from Double Fine Productions. And sure enough, it matches up! We simply grabbed the image from SEGA’s flicker, and dropped in all the character art from Gilbert’s blog onto the image. Just like a puzzle, an image came together and you can see the completed image above. So it’s official: SEGA is teaming with Double Fine to publish a game! Sorry if we ruined the surprise, SEGA. But all the pieces were there.

Meatbun offers up three cool new SEGA inspired shirts

Meatbun have some crazy talent designing their gaming related tees, and I get the feeling they may have a bit of a Sega fan streak in them judging by how 3 out 4 of their latest designs are Sega inspired. Many are quite surprising mash ups too! First up, Passing Breeze. This looks like it could have come directly out of a mid to late 80s Japanese indie fan magazine, right down to the manga like toning. A gorgeous illustration that nails the vibe of the classic Outrun.

Check out SEGA Memories for the other two designs!

Sonic Talk Episode #8: ReDIMPStion

Welcome to a new episode of Sonic Talk with a subtitle everyone (but me) hates! This week, we talk about the possibility of an Episode 3, F4F’s new Modern Sonic statue, the speed that the summer of Sonic tickets sold, Sonic Universe #40 and why Ian Flynn’s Eggman is the BEST Eggman out here.

After all that, we go into a 1 & 1/2 hour discussion all about Sonic 4 Episode 2. All of us have played it and we give our thoughts on both the game and the Sonic series in general.

[Download]

Aliens: Conlonal Marines gets delayed into 2013, over half a decade since the game was announced

Today, SEGA has revealed a final release date for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions of their upcoming Aliens game. The game will be available February 13th, 2013, more than six years after it was first announced on December 11th, 2006, alongside the canceled WRPG Aliens game from Oblivion. By the time gamers will finally be able to play the game, an entire console generation would have nearly come and gone.

Will the wait be worth it? Who knows, but above is a trailer to help you pass the time. The Wii U version of this game still doesn’t have a confirmed release date.

Hit the jump for the press release

Saturn launch makes Cracked’s list of worst marketing failures in video game history

Cracked.com posted an article titled “The 5 Worst Marketing Failures in the History of Video Games” and happen to use a Virtua Fighter image to promote the article. Since I’m a SEGA fan I decided it was worth a read. The SEGA Saturn comes in at number 5, with Jamie Kennedy’s E3 presentation coming in at number 4. Yeah, I guess fucking up a whole console generation is not as bad as having Jamie Kennedy talk for an hour super high at your E3 press conference.

I think SEGA got off easy, I’m sure they could have written a million ways SEGA has screwed up royally with their marketing or lack of marketing. Note: I like Clockwork Knights and Daytona USA so fuck the author of the article.

Round Table: Our thoughts on Sonic 4: Episode II

If you can believe it, it’s actually been over a year and a half since the first episode of the polarizing Sonic the Hedgehog 4 series of games hit digital download services. But after what felt like an eternity, the adventure can finally be continued. And what did the good ol’ SEGAbits staff think of the long-in-development Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II and the reception it has received so far? Read on to find out, and don’t forget to comment and leave your own thoughts on the game below!

Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford talks Aliens: Colonial Marines


If you’re interested in SEGA’s upcoming Aliens title then you’ll enjoy Gamespot’s lengthy new preview.

Randy Pitchford of Gearbox discusses what separates Colonial Marines from other AAA shooters and licensed games, the studio’s love for the Aliens world, Left 4 Dead’s influences, the character growth you can expect, and what it will be like playing it on the Wii U (which he affirms will be the best-looking console version).

You can watch the preview over at Gamespot.

Aliens: Colonial Marines is a very pretty and incredibly ambitious project that hopefully does well for SEGA when it releases later this year.

SEGA teams with Nike to present a run and jump Sonic mini-game

From the Sonic Stadium comes this cool bit of Sonic news. Nike Football and SEGA have teamed up to promote football shoes (soccer shoes to Americans), and to do this they’ve created a rather ingenious interactive video that unlocks a Sonic mini-game. The game features a modified Green Hill Zone with Splash Hill music in which Sonic runs forward, with the space bar acting as the only way to control him. Sonic can jump and double jump (what is this, Sonic Colors?) as well as execute a killer soccer attack not unlike his recent move in which he can blast a box forwards to kill a string of enemies as seen in Colors and Generations. After the break, learn how to access the game.

XBLA and PSN Vintage Collection titles finally priced and dated

From the SEGA Blog comes news that is a surprise to nobody: The third wave of Vintage Collection titles are hitting XBLA and PSN next week. What we did not know were the dates and prices, thankfully SEGA has that covered. On May 22nd, PSN will receive the following titles for $4.99 each: Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Arcade), Wonder Boy in Monster World (Mega Drive), Monster World IV (Genesis/Mega Drive), Super Hang-On (Arcade), Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis/Mega Drive), Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Master System).

On May 23rd, XBLA will receive the following compilations: Monster World Collection (800 MSP) includes Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Arcade), Wonder Boy in Monster World (Genesis/Mega Drive) and Monster World IV (Genesis/Mega Drive). Alex Kidd & Co. Collection (800 MSP) includes Super Hang-On (Arcade), The Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis/Mega Drive) and Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Master System). But thats not all! After the break, more games, dates and prices.

SEGA teases big Yakuza reveal for May 24th

Looks like big things are a-comin’ for Yakuza fans. First noticed by Andriasang, the official Ryu Ga Gotoku website has been updated with a simple little animation, one which recalls past Yakuza installments while, at the end, teasing something new for May 24th.

With the Tokyo Game Show not being held until late September, it will be interesting to see whether this is going to be a major reveal or just a tease, or, come to think of it, whether this will indeed be Yakuza 5 or the announcement of another spinoff.

Stay tuned.