Sonic Free Riders joins Games on Demand

So let’s say you just got a Kinect unit and you really want to play Sonic Free Riders… Like now. You don’t want to drive to Wal-Mart or some other lame store full of lame people to stand in a lame line to purchase your lame game (oh snap).

Don’t worry, Microsoft and SEGA got you covered. Introducing Games on Demand. Basically you can purchase the game on the Xbox Live Marketplace and download it through the internet. This is the future my friends.

Game is being priced at $49.99. Yeah, pretty much full retail. Rethinking about visiting that lame store?

[Source: SEGAblog]

Shinobi & Sonic Generations confirmed for Nintendo 3DS

Following our article earlier in the day, the newest cover of Nintendo Power not only shows Sonic Generations for the Nintendo 3DS (This despite SEGA’s attempt at hiding such information in their recent report) but indeed confirms the revival of the classic SEGA series Shinobi. Nothing else has been released just yet, but in the coming hours or days we are sure to get some scans of both particular games and confirmation if the original protagnist Joe Musashi returns or a new character once against takes on the title of the ninja master.

[Source: NeoGAF]

Anarchy Reigns gets its latest character: Leo

Leo’s reveal for Anarchy Reigns adds him to the growing roster of MadWorld characters who will be playing a role in PlatinumGames’ upcoming brawler. Leo, who played a small (but key) part in PlatinumGames’ first effort, MadWorld, will be joining the fray and he looks to be yet another totally badass character. His bio describes him as a “cyborg.” His appearance in Anarchy Reigns adds to the feeling that this is indeed taking the form of a sequel, in some capacity, to MadWorld.

Screens and concept art after the break.

[Source: Sega of America]

More Shinobi on the Horizon?

Someone over at Neogaf has uncovered some pretty interesting news! In this profile for Branden Brushett, one of the environment artist at developer Griptonite Games, he lists Shinobi 3DS as one of the games he has worked on.

Under Brandens Experiences, the top listed experience is;
’Shinobi 3DS, and an Unannounced title’

Pretty cool right? Well, maybe… Looking at Griptonite’s track record I wouldn’t blame any Shinobi fan for hopping off the hype train. They’re a license game developer first and foremost.

But all hope is not lost. MOST of their games are ‘me too’ games which come out along side bigger, higher budget titles. Could this mean there is a Shinobi revival on the horizon? I sure hope so, but if this turns out to be the only upcoming Shinobi game, can I have permission to be pissed off?

A lot of Sega fans have a soft spot for Shinobi and to see the series in the hands of Griptonite who have a very mixed, lower end track record is a bit of a worry. I hope Sega knows what they are getting themselves into if this turns out to be a horrible decisions like the atrocious reboot of Golden Axe… Here’s hoping for a fantastic Shinobi game both from these guys and a HD of the Shinobi series!

[Credit to: Superannuation]

Review: Thor: God of Thunder (PS3)

Thor has always been one of my favorite Marvel superheroes as a kid. So I was thrilled to find out there was going to be a Hollywood movie based on him and that SEGA was going to make a video game. Did the game match a fan’s expectations?

Plot spoiler: No.

Drama: High Voltage & Joystiq won’t get along


Summary
: Basically what happened is that Joystiq wrote a negative Conduit 2 review. Joystiq rated the game a 1/5, which would usually be the end of the story. But not with High Voltage. The writer for Joystiq, who happens to have a published book, all of a sudden just got a ton of negative spam reviews on Amazon.com for the book. After people accused High Voltage Software of writing them, the company has finally confessed that they did come from someone in the studio.

“Matt Corso did indeed write that internal email, however if you read the email he encourages folks to read Mike’s book and then write their own review in a ‘turn-about is fairplay’ sort of way” wrote Nofsinger in an official explanation. The email went to 70+ people on the list contains nothing slanderous or inflammatory; I believe people took it as such (the fact that there aren’t 70 negative reviews would support that assumption). Sure, it’s a tad unprofessional but if you knew Matt personally as I do, you would know it was nothing more than a tongue-in-cheek jibe at most. And for that, I apologise on behalf of High Voltage Software.” – Eric Nofsinger, Chief Creative Officer at High Voltage

So what does the writer for the inflammatory review have to say? What about the Joystiq writer who wrote the review?

Kamiya talks Bayonetta spin-off starring Jeanne


Platinum Games has released their 8th director commentary video. Basically Kamiya plays through the game, while he talks about various things. In this video he mentions wanting to make a Bayonetta spin-off starring Jeanne.

“I’m sure those of you who’ve unlocked the special features know about Cutie J. She’s Jeanne as a heroine, who would star in a spin-off game I like to fantasize about.” – Hideki Kamiya, Bayonetta Director

Another idea he spits out in the videos is a prequel to the game, one that would take place before the war between the witches and the sages with a younger Balder. Its too bad that none of these ideas are actually games in development. Shame.

[Source: Siliconera]

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – Flipbook Animation is Awesome!

Check out this really cool Sonic the Hedgehog 3 flipbook animation. I have some serious admiration for anyone that has the patience to make such a long and detailed flipbook.

I remember getting flip books like this in cereal back in the 90’s, I gave it a go and made a very primitive flip book of an alien space ship flying though clouds… It was bad to say the least!

[Thanks to TaroYamada]

SEGA Sequel Saturdays: HOTD Overkill!!!!!!

It might seem crazy now, but there was a time when the Wii was genuinely looked at by some publishers as a system where adult-targeted games could flourish. (Welcome to Sequel Saturdays number 18. Remember readers, if you want to write one of these yourselves, drop me a PM and we’ll work something out.) SEGA deserves credit for trying, as they delivered not only one ultraviolent Wii game, (PlatinumGames’ MadWorld) but two, and House of the Dead: Overkill was a bold step not only because it was a violent game on a Nintendo system, but because it was a classic SEGA franchise that had been given a pretty big makeover. The game was not developed by the studio responsible for the other HOTD games, in fact, it wasn’t developed by SEGA at all. The reigns were handed over to UK studio Headstrong Games, who took the opportunity and totally ran with it.

Get Ready for SONIC GOLF in 3D

Yes, Sega has decided to shove the fastest video game character in the slowest sport.

What’s more surprising is that this isn’t new apparently the game was released in time to celebrate Sonic’s 15th Anniversary remember the fantastic year where we got Sonic The Hedgehog Genesis (GBA), Sonic Riders, Sonic Rivals and ofcourse best of all Sonic the Hedgehog 06.

Yes, Sonic Golf was released in 2006 for Cell Phones and now 5 years later it is getting a 3D entry in the series for NEC Casio’s CA-o1 series.

Source Andriasang 
Further Reading: Sonic Wikia

Special thanks Deefy via Forums

Kingdon Conquest surpasses a million App Store downloads

SEGA’s free to play (with paid updates) iOS title has officially surpassed a million downloads on Apple’s App Store. An impressive feat indeed. Here’s the press release:

SAN FRANCISCO – May 17, 2011

SEGA® of America today announced that Kingdom Conquest™, its first free-to-play MMORPG for iPhone® and iPod touch®, has surpassed 1 million downloads worldwide. After launching in North America and Europe last fall, Kingdom Conquest quickly took the #1 spot in the Free RPG category on the App Store across eight different countries. The game also held the top spot in Free RPG App Store Sales ranking for 93 consecutive days after launching in Japan this past January.

Along with reaching this milestone, Kingdom Conquest also received the 2010 “Innovation Award” during the Global Mobile Game Award at the Global Mobile Internet Conference last month in Beijing. The game is currently available in 20 countries, and SEGA plans to expand the game to an even wider audience in the coming months.

Kingdom Conquest offers players a unique blend of competitive, massively multiplayer strategic gameplay with 3D, monster-slaying action. Players must delve the many dungeons and ruins that litter Magna, the Land of Monsters, defeating and capturing the creatures within to build out their army and grow their kingdom. Shrewd players can also acquire Charge Points via in-app purchase that help boost their progress in focused ways, from increased treasury capacity to speedier resource gathering.

To download Kingdom Conquest for free and join the global battle for Magna, the Land of Monsters, visit the app store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kingdomconquest/id384877854?mt=8


[Source: Gamasutra]

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Gamespot presents Crush3D preview

Gamespot has gotten their hands on Crush 3D at SEGA’s recent pre-E3 event in Santa Monica, and their impressions seem generally positive. Aside from a brand new (much brighter) art style, Crush 3D will feature a new story and enhanced levels, which were apparently fixed based on fan feedback from the original. Despite the new story, main character Danny will return from the previous game. Though Crush3D has been made more accessible, Gamespot claims that it continues to be a challenging, but satisfying, puzzler. Surprisingly, they also state that turning the 3D on makes little difference.

Though it’s looking a bit more like an enhanced remake than a full-on sequel, it’s a game that not a lot of people played (myself included) so hopefully it finds a bigger audience this time around.

Crush 3D will be released for the 3DS September 6th in North America and on the 9th in Europe.

[Source: Gamespot]