Check out the Sonic 4: Episode II billboard in San Francisco


Above photo is taken by frostman007

Look at it, its beautiful. Most non-SEGA fans will whine and ask whats so special about a video game billboard. It’s a SEGA billboard, when was the last time you seen this? Me? Probably forever since I don’t live in a big city. Good to see a sizable advertising budget for a digital title.

This is where you insert something negative, like how Sonic games get a nice advertising budget but games like Binary Domain, Rhythm Thief or Anarchy Reigns get ignored.

Daytona USA track and Hornet Car as Ridge Racer DLC for Vita.

In other late-night Sega news, it looks like Namco is working with Sega to Add Daytona USA is DLC for the currently available Ridge Racer on Vita. There’s not much news I could find outside of this youtube video, but it includes at least one track similar to the original and the Hornet car in all it’s low-polygon glory! No word yet on if this Japanese DLC will hit stateside.

Anarchy Reigns Japanese PSN and LIVE demo now available. In full English!!

Get your Japanese PSN and X-Box LIVE account going because the Anarchy Reigns AKA Max Anarchy demo is now out! As you can tell in this youtube first impressions video, it has options to put the game in full English including the dialogue, options and subtitles. This is great news for those who wish to import this game since it won’t be at E3 and sadly doesn’t look like it will make it’s way here anytime soon. Can someone tell me why this game does not look like it will be available in the U.S. for awhile if at all when it’s got full localization?!!

Thanks to Substance TV for the first impressions video.

Rob Zombie’s Dragula Confirmed for Jet Set Radio

 

SEGA has confirmed another track for Jet Set Radio, this one from Rob Zombie. As far as I’ve heard, this is the first news of Rob Zombie’s track being confirmed for Jet Set’s upcoming digital re-release, meaning that fans of his work shouldn’t be left out in the cold! SEGA has more confirmations for Jet Set Radio’s soundtrack coming in the future, so stay tuned.

SEGA’s list of E3 games goes live

SEGA has posted a list of games they will have at E3. Sadly a few games that are expected are not included. Yep, Anarchy Reigns is missing and Phantasy Star Online 2 is nowhere to be found. I assume some are missing due to being unannounced, like Sonic Adventure 2. Anyway, check out the ‘confirmed’ titles for E3 this year.

Golden Axe and Streets of Rage collections ready to play on XBLA

As of today, two more SEGA Vintage Collection releases have hit XBLA: a Streets of Rage collection and a Golden Axe collection. Each are 800 msp and include the complete Genesis trilogies from each franchise. Unlike last week’s collections, these collections appeared in full in the disc release of Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection. However, this time out M2 handled the port, so the quality may be better than the UGC versions. There are also the 3D menus, the slick opening animations, online play and achievements. Those are all good reasons to buy the games again. After the break, a gallery of images from the collections as well as a video preview of the trials. Check out the video for the awesome Vintage Collection opening titles.

SEGA Tunes: Vintagenesis’s Golden Axe Melody

I never go searching around for fan made remixes when I’m looking for a Tuesday Tune. Not necessarily because they can’t be good, but because so many of them aren’t really that special. I want to keep this feature focused on SEGA’s own work. There is so much of it to explore and use, I try not to waste a week on something not from the company unless it’s really, really good.

Vintagenesis is very, very good. They’ve got quite a few songs on their channel, but this is easily the one to get me hooked. It takes the epicness of the old school soundtrack and enhances it with some pretty epic guitar riffs. Hope you guys enjoy!

Yakuza 5: New Haruka gameplay details released

Japanese magazine Dengeki PlayStation has finally put out some new gameplay details regarding Yakuza 5. This time they give us a glimpse as to how Haruka will (not) play.
Haruka is a playable character, so many have asked if she would be fighting in the streets like Kazuma and the other main characters of the Yakuza series have done in the past. Well, the answer is no. She will bring a new element of ‘fighting’ to the game. The developers said they will still be keeping it a secret though, but at least we know she won’t be pounding faces on pavement. Also Haruka won’t be able to take part in adult sports spots around the city, most notably she won’t be able to use the host club component since she is underage. But to make up for this the game will have her own exclusive play spots that other characters won’t be able to visit.

Nagoshi said in the interview that the five playable characters don’t have anything to do with this being the fifth title, just happened to work out this way. He also said the scenarios in Yakuza 5 are double of Yakuza 4. So, that is quite a bit!

 

If Sonic Adventure 2 avatar items are hitting XBLA on June 5th…

… that can only mean Sonic Adventure 2 will be revealed for XBLA and PSN at E3! The Sonic Stadium is reporting that XBLA’s Major Nelson has just posted the latest Xbox Live Marketplace release schedule of all the games and items being released over the next few weeks. Among these new goodies are Sonic Adventure 2 Avatar items with a release date of June 5th. Hey, that’s when E3 begins. This wouldn’t be the first time a Sonic Adventure 2 announcement was made at E3. Back in 2000, we were wowed by the trailer posted above. And last year, we were given the great City Escape trailer for Sonic Generations. If you want to see that, check it out after the break. As for E3 2012, stay tuned to SEGAbits for the impending trailer, assuming there is one.

SEGA Memories: Game Gear promotional events of the 90’s

The Game Gear, SEGA’s little handheld that had a color screen and a very bright back lit screen, is over 20 years old. Sure the device never out sold Nintendo’s juggernaut known as the Game Boy. But if you were a SEGA fan back in the day, the bad battery life didn’t keep you away from owning one. Some people may wonder what sort of promotional events SEGA did before launching a device like the Game Gear. Well, this week on Monday Memories we take a look at “Operation Game Gear” and “Superstar Kids Challenge”.

Watch sexy Asian girls audition to be in Yakuza 5

SEGA has now launched the Miss Yakuza 5 auditions for all those women that want to be in the game as a hostess. SEGA is ready to crown a ‘Miss Yakuza 5’ from each of the game’s five cities. Yes, Yakuza 5 will have five cities. Did you miss the news? Read up here.

Each city will have 3 girls, so people will get to vote for one girl in each of the five cities. You can play vote on the audition campaign site.SEGA will also do a new promotion where the girls, over the coming weeks, will introduce internet viewers to each cities. Showing people local cuisine and other activities.

Sonic Team gives Hell Yeah! their approval


Arkedo Studios, the French developer behind the upcoming digital title Hell Yeah! had a meeting with two main members of Sonic Team, where they played the game and told them what they thought about it. One of the guys was the infamous and lovable Takashi Iizuka.

“They said, not a lot sucks, but you should pay attention to what happens when you’re jumping, the stop and go, the inertia you have when you’re jumping on platforms. You should add this little thing, this little thing… We said, hey yeah, it’s much better. Thank you very much. That’s the craftsmanship. Those guys, they are bright yellow, they glow. Okay, this guy knows what he’s talking about. We loved it.”

Yeah, there are now developers asking Sonic Team what they think about their platforming game. I consider this to be a positive step and I’m glad that Arkedo Studios is so open to feedback. I think this is something that more developers need to do. If something is broken, fix it. Make a great game! Hit the jump to hear more quotes on what they thought!

Sonic Monopoly gets officially announced

We knew this was coming, USAopoly had a listing for it awhile back. Now it is official via USAopoly’s facebook, which announced Sonic Monopoly this morning. So what do we know about this board game beside that it’s a Sonic themed Monopoly game? Nothing much sadly. All we have is the picture above and the quote below.

“Here is a sneak peek at a few Sonic The Hedgehog titles speeding their way to retail shelves in the near future, also be on the lookout for a new Sonic puzzle as well!”

Yeah, there is also going to be a puzzle game based on the Sonic the Hedgehog IP. Not that its as exciting to fans as a monopoly game. If you don’t have the money for it, you can check out BarryTheNomad’s free print out Sonic Monopoly project here.

SEGA West delays Anarchy Reigns despite the game being completed


Platinum Games has said that SEGA has delayed Anarchy Reigns in Europe and North America, even though the game is all finished. Its release date was changed from July to  TBC (To Be Confirmed). This is what a Platinum Games representative said:

“That means ‘to be confirmed’, not ‘to be cancelled’. We worked really hard to make sure everybody could get the game on time. The game is fully localized. If you buy the Japanese version or any version, it’s going to have all the languages in it. We really wanted everybody online around the world to play together at the same time, but unfortunately that’s not going to happen. In the West, Sega is looking for the best time to put it out. It will still be out in July [in Japan]. There will still be ways for you to get it if you know where to go. We’re still 100 per cent behind the game and we still want to connect with you and play with you and have a good time. So let’s make sure that happens no matter what bad news we get.”

This is one of the few times I have seen a representative from a developer openly suggesting to import their game. How are prospects looking for a Western release? I don’t know, if ‘summer’ isn’t a good time to release this niche title, then when is a good time? Fall?  Not to mention SEGA West is acting like the game doesn’t exist. Anarchy Reigns comes out in Japan on 5th of July. Get your import pre-orders in.