Phantasy Star Online 2 – Opening CG and Trailer

Last night Sega held two Phantasy Star Online 2 “Fan Briefings” where members of the development team including ‘Dragon’ Sakai took to the stage in Akihabara Japan to revealed new details about PSO2. Fans who could not attend the even, like you and I could watch it on USTREAM.

The above video is the opening CGI movie of PSO2, hit the jump to watch a trailer for the game which includes lots of gameplay recorded from the USTREAM video so quality isnt the best.

Note the remixed version of the original PSO theme music ‘A Whole New World’ playing during both videos.

Fancomic: The Sonic Eggs Christmas Special!

Merry Christmas everyone! What many of you may not be aware of is that I’m not just a staff writer on Sega Bits. I’m also a staff writer on Sonic Stadium and have my own (currently on hiatus) Sonic webcomic, Sonic Eggs. It’s a Sonic X parody comic I’m very proud of and am very lucky to have had some Archie comic talent working on it thanks to my producer Nuckles87. Last year, one of those projects I was able to do was a short X-Mas story with art by Sonic Universe artist (and current writer) Tracy Yardley! (BTW, the exclamation point is his thing.) Click to read the comic and also an explanation on a character you may not be familiar with.

Check out this Alex Kidd remake in LittleBigPlanet 2

Sony’s Little Big Planet titles have had many remakes featured in the fan made content, but check out this particularly impressive remake of Alex Kidd by one fan, made in Little Big Planet 2. The art direction, level design, music and gameplay tries to stay as close to the title as possible. One now can only wonder what a new release of SEGA’s fallen mascot may have looked if it came out in this day and age.

[Thanks to Centrale for the link!]

How the rumors crumble…


So I might have posted a rumor that turned out to not be so correct during the start of the week. It seems that the rumor was a complete fabrication and for this I’m sorry. I have been getting emails (some to my personal account, you angry people sure know how to use Google) as to why I posted this rumor and long letters as to why I shouldn’t post every rumor that comes along.

First of all, I would like to just say that we get a ton of rumors. Anywhere from Shenmue 3 coming to Wii U (obviously fake) to this. Some of the rumors we don’t pick up usually end up on other sites a month or so later, most of those turn out to be true. When this one came along I decided to take a risk and took the wrong type of risk, for that I’m sorry to our staff and readers. So why did I post it? It seemed true. Though, I ignored some rules I usually stick by: “Don’t post unless there is evidence that it is correct or you personally know the person.”

From now on I’ll treat rumors like a newborn baby, with informative respect and if I don’t like the way it looks; i’ll ignore it.

Sonic 4 Episode 1 on the iPad, As You Truly Imagined It

SEGA has released an iPad version of Sonic 4 Episode 1 just in time for the holidays! No longer will players have to upscale the original iOS version of the game. Now, the game appears in HD! What more, word has it that the level select now matches the one found on the console versions, the original iOS version only had the simple menu listing. Also, Sonic sports a new model (perhaps what we’ll see in Episode 2?). The revamped Lost Labyrinth and Casino Street act 2’s are not present, however. Instead, the game features the original pinball mini-game and the strange mine cart. I noted in my original iOS review of the game that the strange mine cart, while a boring level in itself, does sport fun tilt controls. You can buy the iPad version now for only $1.99!

Toshihiro Nagoshi Teases ‘Project-A’

Not satisfied with already having three in development (Binary Domain, Yakuza Black Panther 2 and the recently announced Yakuza 5) Toshihio Nagoshi and the newly formed Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is teasing yet another game in the works. The new game tentatively titled ‘Project-A’ has a teaser site HERE. The teaser site has very little information on it beyond Nagoshi’s big angry face looming over you like a sex criminal. It does however credit the concept of the game to Nagoshi himself and also says that the game will be announced world wide in four days time.

Could it be Yakuza 5? Could it be a brand new IP? Check back in 4 days to find out!

[Thanks Pao]

Daytona USA Dev Diary

Daytona USA has long been one of the first games I think of when I think of SEGA’s arcade games. You guys picked up Daytona USA from XBLA or PSN yet?

Rumor: Sonic 4: Episode 2 to feature Tails and Metal Sonic?

According to the original rumor, the last bit of info confirms that Tails will be playable. Not only that, Metal Sonic would be the main villain. I guess there was something to that marketing for Sonic CD. Reading the info that the source gave, it seems the version he got was pretty early and sections of it weren’t completed yet.

You can select either Sonic or Tails before loading the first stage, but selecting Tails simply grants you playing as Sonic with a Tails life icon and ‘Tails got through Act X’ messages.
The level design consists of many bottomless pit areas and failing to avoid Metal Sonic after he teleports usually results in death.

I’ll be publishing the full e-mail later tonight for the interested. This seems like a given, at least to me. After Sonic CD coming out ‘before’ they announced this? I pretty much knew it was going to have Metal Sonic. Tails was a given because he was introduced in Sonic 2, so introducing him in Episode 2 makes sense. Like you can assume that Knuckles will be in 3.

Amazon Offers Great SEGA PC Deals

Amazon offers some superb deals this time of year. Today and today only they are offering amazing deals on several SEGA games for the PC. The best part? They are all for download, meaning you don’t even have to wait for them to ship! Here’s a few of the deals:

SEGA Power Pack ( 20 downloads including Sonic Generations, Complete Total War series, Football Manager 2012, Renegade Ops, and SEGA Genesis Classic Series): $49.99 (List Price 261.42)

Sonic Generations: $15.00 (List price $29.99)

Total War: Shogun 2: $7.49 (List Price $29.99)

 

There’s loads more deals, which you can find here.

Rumor: Sonic 4 Episode 2’s first stage called Cryptic Clock Zone?


Adding to yesterday’s exclusive rumor on Sonic Episode 2, this time we hope that we are revealing the first stage name for the game. According to the anonymous e-mailer the first zone is going to be titled ‘Cryptic Clock Zone’.

The first stage is titled Cryptic Clock Zone, set in a dark moonlit stonehenge like area.

I’m pretty sure if this turns out to be true, that this is an original level idea, unlike the first episode that seemed to borrow themes from past Sonic titles. Or am I wrong? Is there a super secret stonehenge inspired Sonic stage that I missed?

Edit: Put rumor in the title after some sites started running the story as a fact. This is a rumor and has been filed under rumor since I posted it.

Sturmwind Delayed

Those hoping to have the new Dreamcast game in time for Christmas will be disappointed, I’m afraid, as Sturmwind has ran into some production problems. Unlike the previous delay this has nothing to do with the game itself. Sturmwind has gone gold and is ready to go into production. Unfortunately, the CD pressing company that was slated to print copies of the game has gone bankrupt. Sturmwind’s publisher, RedSpotGames, has already found a replacement manufacturer, but for the time being the game’s release date is now “TBA”. We’ll be sure to update you as soon as a new release date is established. An announcement is expected later in the month.

Until then, if you wish to purchase the game, you can pre-order the regular edition, special edition, or the Wind and Water combo pack here.

Full press release is below the fold.

Rumor: Sonic 4: Episode 2 not fixing physics complaints


We got an anonymous tip from a fellow reader that has actually played Sonic 4: Episode 2 and his opinion on the title wasn’t a positive one. He stated that the game uses the same physics from the first episode.

“I have obtained access to a prototype build via the Xbox Live PARTNERNET program, and what is concerning is that the physics are exactly the same as they were in Episode 1. Yes, letting go of the stick makes Sonic drop like a brick. The reason I am telling you this information is that if it is out in the open, the fans will have a chance to speak out and make Sega delay the game. I am worried if it is left too late Sega will push out yet another disappointing software product.” – Anonymous e-mail

Some fans didn’t seem to hate the new physics, but many did. We have more Sonic 4 information that he leaked, we will be posting something everyday, so come back when you can. Hopefully we can get some screenshots as well.

Edit: Put rumor in the title after some sites started running the story as a fact. This is a rumor and has been filed under rumor since I posted it.

Renegade Ops Accolades Trailer

Sega just wanted to remind you how good Renegade Ops was, so they made this accolades trailer! Pretty sure this is exactly the same footage as another trailer just with quotes spliced into it… But hey, why not? It does a good job of showing off what Renegade Ops is all about, driving around and blowing stuff up!

It’s a brilliantly fun game that reminds me of classic top down shooters of the 90’s like Jackle and Desert Strike except in beautiful HD graphics, online play and four player co-op. If you haven’t already got it, go treat yourself it’s on PSN, XBLA and Steam and its well worth it.