SEGA Talk #86: Alpha Protocol (2010)

SEGA Talk is back, for the last show of the year! This time we cover the SEGA x Obsidian espionage RPG Alpha Protocol! Clock your weapons, turn up the volume and let’s dive deep into this spy thrilling episode!

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If you want to give us feedback, suggest a topic for the next podcast or want to ask a question for us to answer on the next episode you can add  them as a comment below or send theme directly to our email. Make sure you use subject line ‘SEGA Talk’ and as always, thanks for listening!

Sonic the Hedgehog 4K Bonus Stage Edition Steelbook releasing in time for the sequel

Paramount and SEGA’s 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog will be seeing a 4K + Blu-Ray + Digital re-release to coincide with the upcoming sequel. Dubbed the Bonus Stage Edition, the boxed set will include the previously released comic book, as well as mini posters, what appears to be a collector card, and an outer box and a mini CD sized Steelbook case. The set will release March 15th, 2022 and the sequel is due out April 8th, 2022. You can pre-order it now here.

Official Sonic the Hedgehog HORI Switch Split Pad Pro revealed, available to pre-order now

Revealed today is an officially branded Sonic the Hedgehog HORI Switch Split Pad Pro, and guess what… you can pre-order it now! While Mario and Pikachu seem to have all the fun when it comes to branded Nintendo controllers, it’s great to finally see SEGA and Sonic stepping into the ring. The split pad retails for $59.99 and is said to release at the end of January, 2022.

SEGA Announces The SEGA Astro City Mini V

In the past we talked about the SEGA Astro City Mini, a mini console designed to mimic SEGA’s Astro City line of arcade machines that comes packaged with 37 SEGA arcade games. Well it looks like SEGA is ready to release a new successor, named the SEGA Astro City Mini V. As the name implies, the main difference between the original mini arcade cabinet and the new one is that the SEGA Astro City Mini V system has a vertical (aka portrait) screen. Another major difference is the larger emphasis on third party games instead of SEGA’s own arcade titles, including games such as Raiden, Truxton (aka Tatsujin), and Gunbird. 22 games have been revealed for the SEGA Astro City Mini V, which can be viewed under the read more tag below.

Five SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Games Get Added to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass

Five more SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive games are being added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service. These five games are Altered Beast, Toejam & Earl, Sword of Vermilion, Thunder Force II, and Dynamite Headdy. Out of the five games, Thunder Force II is probably the most notable, as it was skipped over in favor of its two sequels Thunder Force III and Thunder Force IV with stuff like the SEGA Genesis Mini or the SEGA AGES series, until now. All five games are the same across every region, and are available now for anyone that uses the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Service.

The SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show LIVE: Our Favorite and Most Disappointing Games of 2021

Let’s close out the year by talking about our favorite and most disappointing SEGA and ATLUS games of 2021! In previous years, we’ve presented these as two SEGA News Bits videos, but this year we’ve combined them into one big SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show awards show. Special guest Sonic Yoda from SEGA Driven will also be featured, walking us through the games released throughout the year.

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Shinobi inspired ‘Shadow Gangs’ launches Kickstarter for Dreamcast port

The independent, Shinobi inspired arcade action game Shadow Gangs, which has been released on Steam, Xbox and Nintendo Switch is asking fans to fund their Dreamcast port of the project with the chance of grabbing some sweet goodies for their support.

So, if you are reading this blog you are most likely a Dreamcast collector and are wondering what tier you get a physical copy? The company is asking for a pledge of £45, about $60 USD. But it also comes with a Dreamcast digital copy, a downloadable code (for either PC, Switch and Xbox) and even your name in the game’s credit.

Check out Shadow Gangs‘ Kickstarter here. 

 

Discotek Media announces Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog SD on Blu-Ray release, packed with bonus features

Longtime readers of SEGAbits should know by now my love for Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. I’ve written about it a lot, so much so that each one of those words is a different article. So it pleases me to write about it AGAIN to share that Discotek Media will be releasing an SD on Blu-Ray release of the series, meaning the full series in standard definition on two blu-ray discs. But that’s not all!

SEGA Announces Sonic the Hedgehog x Tesla Partnership

SEGA has announced that the company will be partnering up with Tesla to bring the original Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) to Tesla’s in-car gaming console for older and newer models. Passengers will be able to play the classic title that started it all on the SEGA Genesis in all Tesla models around the world via the built-in display screen in conjunction with a handheld controller connected through the car’s USB ports. Here is the press email description on the Sonic the Hedgehog x Tesla partnership:

“Get ready, Sonic fans! SEGA has just announced a partnership with Tesla to bring Sonic the Hedgehog 1, the game that started it all, to Tesla’s in-car gaming console for both existing and new models. Passengers turn into players as they race at lightning speed across classic zones to defeat enemies on a mission to save the world from the evil Dr. Eggman, all in the comfort of their own car!

SEGA is excited to partner with Tesla to bring this iconic Sonic title to their extensive gaming library. Sonic the Hedgehog 1 will be available in all Tesla models around the world via the built-in display screen in conjunction with a handheld controller connected through the car’s USB ports. Now no matter where you travel, Sonic can come along with you!”

Let us know what you think about the Sonic the Hedgehog and Tesla partnership on the comments below!

SEGA Talk #85: Astro Boy: Omega Factor (2003)

On this SEGA Talk, we cover all things Astro Boy and we dive deep into the manga and anime world created by Osamu Tezuka. We also discuss how SEGA’s Hitmaker studio and Treasure teamed up to create the Game Boy Advance classic Astro Boy: Omega Factor!

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, tell us what games to cover, and have your SEGA memories read at the end and more!

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – RSS – Download]

If you want to give us feedback, suggest a topic for the next podcast or want to ask a question for us to answer on the next episode you can add  them as a comment below or send theme directly to our email. Make sure you use subject line ‘SEGA Talk’ and as always, thanks for listening!

Rumor: SEGA working on Phantasy Star Online 2’s successor as their next ‘Super Game’, will use NFTs

Its not hard to see that SEGA’s Phantasy Star Online 2 has been a massive success for the company, so much so that it recently that it got a graphical update with Phantasy Star Online: New Genesis. But the company is already ’embracing the future’ with them planning the successor, if this new rumor is to be believed. The rumor comes from Japanese user Makino180 that says:

  • Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis will be supported for only 5 more years.
  • Phantasy Star Crew’s 3rd Division is in planning stages of the next “Super Game” and is aimed to be finished in under 5 years.
  • Phantasy Star Online veteran Satoshi Sakai will spearhead the project
  • Plans are to make the next “Super Game” running on Microsoft Azure Cloud Servers.
  • SEGA is thinking of using NFT Blockchain technology for its monetization to prolong the value and wants to spearhead the future of Gacha Games which will implement a possible SNS Distribution of virtual items.
  • Initial Budget for this “Super Game” is 5 times the budget of normal SEGA AAA Games!
  • The main audience of the new “Super Game” is the Western audience.

While gamers dislike NFTs, Blockchain technology, it seems that companies and developers see a avenue for them to be used in games. What is your thoughts on the rumored, next, “Super Game” by the developers that made Phantasy Star Online 2?

SEGA Saturn classic Bulk Slash gets impressive English fan localization patch

[Trailer edited by Bofner]

The SEGA fan translation community has been on fire recently with fan translations and they seem to be getting bigger. For example the recently fan localized Sakura Wars GB: Go Forth, Young Cadet! even restored cut content that didn’t make it in the Japanese release. 

Now some of the people that brought you that are back to release their most ambitious localization to date: Bulk Slash, a title praised for its presentation, soundtrack, gameplay, replayability, and its graphics. The localization team not only translated all the text, but also had voice actors come in and dub the game. For a fan localization project, this is pretty major.

Download Bulk Slash English Translation Patch Here

SEGA News Bits Live: Sonic Frontiers & Movie Sequel Trailers Analysis

Wow! What a night at the Game Awards! That one game won, and that lady got an award too! Okay, we don’t care about the awards. It was a trailer show, and Sonic fans had a plate full of footage to sift through! On this SEGA News Bits Live, Barry analyzes the trailers for Sonic Frontiers and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 the movie.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie trailer debuts at the Video Game Awards

The expected and anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie trailer debuted at the Video Game Awards, and it largely delivers! Sonic, Tails and Robotnik are all on display sporting refined designs thanks in large part to the movie not starting production with that wonky early design and Jim Carrey finally truly looking the part. What more, we get a look at Knuckles and hear more Emerald Hill Zone music. All-in-all, an impressive trailer. Though, the big question I have is will we return to Sonic’s world and explain that whole owl versus echidna thing? I guess we will find out on April 8, 2022.

Sonic Frontiers revealed at The Game Awards 2021

We finally received news at the Game Awards with not only the announcement of the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie trailer, we also got a quick look at Sonic Frontiers which is set to be released this Holiday 2022 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Here are the details on Sonic Frontiers:

“Worlds will collide in Sonic the Hedgehog’s newest adventure. An experience like never before, accelerate to new heights and experience the thrill of high velocity open-zone freedom. Battle powerful enemies as you speed through the Starfall Islands – landscapes brimming with dense forests, overflowing waterfalls, sizzling deserts and more! Planned for Holiday 2022.

According to Game Informer, Frontiers is an open-world game developed by Sonic Team Japan and led by Sonic Forces/Sonic Lost World director, Morio Kishimoto. Sonic embarks on an adventure to the Starfall Islands, a collection of forests, deserts, waterfalls, among other biomes. It’s unsure what to expect, but based on the trailer, Sonic has some titanic opposition standing in his way. Ian Flynn has also been announced that he will pen the story for the title.

Hit the jump to check out the screenshots.