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Yakuza 4: US gets no special edition, DLC with regular version

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In Europe, if you want that DLC, you will have to opt into buying the limited edition of the game. In America, we don’t have the choice of a limited edition, so if you buy a new version of Yakuza 4, you will get a one-time DLC code to use. You will get:

  • Bonus costumes for Kazuma, Akiyama, Taiga, Tanimura, and Haruka
  • Survival Mode
  • Underground car park racing
  • The much-loved underground Fighting Arena

If you pre-order the game via Gamestop you’ll receive a free dynamic Hostess theme. Not bad at all.

[Via SEGA]

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Facebook considered a blue hedgehog mascot in early days

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It isn’t new for software companies to use an animal to promote their products. Even as I type this, I’m looking at a orange fox hugging a blue globe (firefox). So it’s no surprise that the Facebook creators had a similar idea:

“True story: in the very early days of Facebook, Sean Parker wanted to make Facebook’s mascot a hedgehog. We had early plans to build a local business program around each college on the site (a Yelp-like service similar to what later became Facebook Pages). As part of that, Sean wanted us to send each participating business a little blue stuffed hedgehog. Matt Cohler and I even sourced a couple companies to make them.Sean actually wanted us to get a real hedgehog for the office. Turns out they aren’t street legal in California, or something, but I guess he found a way to obtain one in Nevada. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your affinity for hedgehogs) Sean couldn’t convince any of us to drive there to get one.”

The local business program was shelved mid 2005 (we decided a revenue product wasn’t as important after the Accel financing), and Sean let his dream of the hedgehog go with it.

This would have probably ended up with SEGA suing them and them making a sequel to their hit film, The Social Network.

[Via: TSSZNews]
[Source: LAtimes]

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AvP engine already running on Sony’s NGP

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Rebellion Studios has announced that their internal game engine known as Asura works on Sony’s PSP successor, NGP (codename). The technology was used to power the SEGA published Aliens vs. Predator last year.

“The technology, design and art teams have worked incredibly well with Sony’s newest device. We have managed to make our engine fully functional, and looking great on the hardware in double quick time. We’ll be attending DICE and GDC to show what we have created and look for business partners.”– CEO of Rebellion, Jason Kingsley.

The team now has a demonstrable demo running. Rebellion says it’s a “Multiplayer third person shooter”. Of course no one knows yet who the publisher will be or if its Aliens and Predator related. How did they get the engine working so fast? They said that the whole engine is internal, this includes physics and lighting. So porting it was easier than waiting for middleware.

Mike Hayes already expressed that he wanted to do another Aliens vs. Predator on 3DS. Maybe doing a NGP version is the way to go?

[Source: CVG]

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Phantasy Star Online 2 alpha testing starts this summer (in Japan)

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So SEGA had their Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity event this weekend, where they said they where going to reveal some Phantasy Star Online 2 news. The news is that alpha testing will start this summer. How do you get in?

You need to get a special code, the code can be obtained in two ways. The first print of Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity will have codes inside, it will have a yellow sticker on the cover stating it has the code. The other way is playing Phantasy Star Universe and Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst (which is still active in Japan), SEGA has not given details on what you will have to do to get them.

So you get the code and you’re in, right? Nope, the code just lets you get into a drawing for the beta. Damn, SEGA are really making it hard. No word on how we in the West will be able to play or if it’s being published here…

[Source: AndriaSang]

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Conduit 2: The first 30 minutes

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If you already made up your mind that you are going to purchase Conduit 2, you probably won’t want to see the first 30 minutes of the game. But if you are on the fence about it, because you hated the AI and level design on the first one, this is for you.

Check it out, it might change your mind.

[Source: GoNintendo]

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Conduit 2 Hands on Preview

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Note: This preview was actually written after PAX 2010, not the recent Conduit 2 community event. As a result, the build I played would now be considered outdated. The only part of the preview this really effects is my opinion on the  frame rate, but nevertheless keep this mind. I actually have a few articles from PAX that never went up. You’ll be seeing the other article soon.

The original Conduit garnered a lot of press for being the first serious attempt at a Wii first person shooter. At the end of the day, despite all the hype surrounding it, The Conduit garnered only a good review score average. The game was criticized for being a very generic corridor shooter, with not much beyond typical running and gunning. With Conduit 2, High Voltage Software has set its sights on correcting all of the flaws of the original.

More after the break.

Continue Reading ➜

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SEGA Sequel Saturdays: Craaaaazy Taxi

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We’re at episode 3 of SEGA Sequel Saturdays, and for this go-round, I’m taking a look at Crazy Taxi, a series that many SEGA fans (especially those old enough to have been to something called an “arcade,”) have fond memories of. Though the home console ports got old for me after about a weekend, there’s just something about the first entry in this series (I never really got into the other two) that screams “SEGA!” and it’s a series I’d love to see brought back, though only if it really expands upon what the earlier entries offered.

Continue Reading ➜

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Wavemaster releasing a Sonic 20th Anniversary album?

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Sonic’s 20th is gaining momentum! First SEGA teasing about the anniversary game, then prototype photos of Jazwares action figures and now a placeholder site for a music album! Looks like SEGA’s Wavemaster has a Sonic 20th Anniversary album planned as evidenced by this recently revealed teaser page www.wave-master.com/sonic20th. Nothing there just yet, except for the above image. A variety of Sonic soundtracks have released under the Wavemaster label, but this is the first time they have created a franchise spanning album. As Wavemaster albums are often two disc affairs, I have no doubt a 20th Anniversary album will be two discs as well.

I’m hoping the potential album gives equal representation of all the years and covers a variety of games. It would be awesome to hear some rarities, such as demo tracks and unreleased tunes. Remixes of old classics would also be pretty sweet. What would you like to hear in a Sonic 20th soundtrack? Sound off below! Any mention of Bentley Jones will result in severe punishment.

[Source: The Sonic Stadium]

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A little PSO2 info to satisfy your hunger

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Well, actually. This will probably only make you more hungry for PSO2, but at least it’s some info to think about and discuss.

  • Development of PSO2 has been running alongside PSP2 Infinity, so the game is further along in development than some people likely think.
  • Some kind of announcement may be made around the end of April, during the finals of the Infinity Grand Prix.
  • PSO2 will not be set in either Ragol or Gurhal. Instead, look forward to an even larger setting with numerous planets as indicated by the game’s logo.

[ PSO-World ]

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5 Annoyingly Catchy SEGA Genesis Tunes

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… or Mega Drive tunes, if you’re of that persuasion. Every blue blooded SEGA fan knows the distinct sound of Genesis/Mega Drive music. Having played dozens of Genesis games throughout the 90’s, a number of game tunes stuck with me. Many great, due to the sheer genius of their composition (Sonic 2’s Chemical Plant Zone and Streets of Rage 2 Stage 1-1 come to mind). But what of those game tunes that stick with you due to them just being plain old annoyingly catchy? Today I’m going to share 5 of those tunes. I actually find myself unknowingly whistling these on a daily basis. Proof of their annoying “catchocity” (a scientific measurement of catchiness).

Continue Reading ➜

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SEGA-Sammy Q3: $451 million in net income

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SEGA-Sammy has posted a net income of ¥36,821 million (about $451 million), that’s 117.3% increased compared to last year. So what branch of SEGA made the most money? Not a big surprise. Pachinco/Pachislots division ranked in ¥54,666 million(about $670 million) operating income.

Coming in at a hot second was Amusement Machine Sales, which had a operating income of ¥8,458 million (about $103 million). Guess who isn’t losing money and didn’t come dead last? Consumer Business (SEGA you know and love, they make those games you play). They brought in an operating income of ¥2,811 million(about $34 million). Congrats SEGA!

Continue Reading ➜

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SEGA and Capcom team up for Ace Attorney Investigations attraction

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I bet when you read the title of SEGA and Capcom teaming up, you wanted a cross over video game? Ha! Take that! SEGA and Capcom are teaming up to bring an attraction called Ace Attorney Investigations to Joypolis.

Ace Attorney is a spin-off of the popular DS series Phoenix Wright games. The second title of the Ace Attorney series just came out in Japan, what better way to promote?
In the attraction you take the lead role of Miles Edgeworth and physically move around to collect evidence, while searching for the criminal. The whole thing is said to take about 20 minutes. The attraction is hitting Joypolis in Spring, one play will run you ¥600.

[Source: AndriaSang]

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SEGA shows off early AOU 2011 lineup

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SEGA has opened up a site portal to tease us on what to expect at AOU 2011. Of course, they won’t reveal their secret titles on their site, you have to be there! What we do know is that this year’s theme is “Real Entertainment.”
As for confirmed titles to be shown:

  • SEGA Card-Gen MLB 2010
  • Network Taisen Quiz Answer x Answer Live!
  • Border Break: Air Burst
  • Shining Force Cross: Raid
  • Hatsune Miku Project Diva Arcade ver. A
  • Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown

Issues? All of these titles are old. I assume all new titles will be revealed at the show. SEGA has debuted games like Project Diva and Block People at AOU so don’t be shocked to get some new games this year.

AOU 2011 will be held on February 18th and 19th. If anything sexy is announced we will have it on this blog, along with exclamation marks.

[Source: AndriaSang]

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Anarchy Reigns: Jack character trailer

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The last of Famitsu’s character trailers, this one is for Jack and his chainsaw Gator Tooth. For all of you guys that didn’t know, Jack is the lead character for MadWorld, the Wii exclusive title from Platinum Games.

The more I see these characters, the more I want to see online gameplay. No, scratch that, the more I want to play it myself!

[Via: AndriaSang]

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