RGG Studio programmer Hitoshi Iizawa receives excellence award for Model 2/3 emulation in Like A Dragon games

Esteemed Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio programmer Hitoshi Iizawa is being given an excellence award at the latest CEDEC, or Computer Entertainment and Developers Conference, in Japan for his work on emulation of Model 2 and 3 arcade games in the Like A Dragon series. This news was shared yesterday on Twitter by Lost Judgement director Yutaka Ito and is also being shown on the CEDEC website’s top awards list. Yutaka Ito’s tweet was also transcribed by known Twitter translator Gosokyuu.

Here’s what the CEDEC had to say about this honor on their website, translated to English:

The committee commended the expertise and uniqueness of the efforts to reproduce games for dedicated arcade hardware at the dawn of 3DCG games, as well as the fact that through the commercialization of these games, past arcade games that were often buried in the past were brought to the attention of today’s players.

Ito also had more to say about what went into the development of the emulation for these games and the difficulties of it on Twitter. You can read more about that past the break.

New SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS Trailer unveils Shadow’s Doom Powers

Just in time for Gamescom, SEGA has released a brand new gameplay trailer for SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS showcasing Shadow new abilities called “Doom Powers” which allows him to traverse through iconic stages and challenging boss battles like never before! The Doom Powers revealed are:

  • Doom Spear
  • Doom Blast
  • Doom Morph
  • Doom Wing
  • Doom Surf

From surfing on water to flying over obstacles, the trailer is filled with high-speed gameplay and highlights the new abilities, stages such as Chaos Island from Sonic Frontiers™, and boss challenges fans can expect to play through this fall.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is set to release on October 25, 2024, starting at $49.99 USD on PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems, and PC. Sonic fans can subscribe to the Sonic newsletter before November 1, 2024 to receive the Sonic Jam Legacy Skin for Classic Sonic, inspired by Sonic’s first 3D appearance. The Sonic Jam Legacy Skin is free for all SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS players. Pre-order your copy here!

 

Mini-Moni. Shakatto Tambourine! da Pyon!, Sega’s one and only PSOne game, gets a fan translation

No, this ain’t Samba de Amigo, but it’s not that far off. The only PlayStation game Sega has ever developed “Mini-Moni. Shakatto Tambourine! da Pyon! (2002)” has just been fan translated, opening it up to an English speaking audience. Of course, this only goes for written text in the game, and not the lyrics to the songs within. The translation comes courtesy of the team of fan translators at Hilltop Works.

The game is very similar to Samba de Amigo and has tambourine motion-based controllers that you can play it with, which were originally packaged with copies of the game. The game can still be played with a regular DualShock controller, which you’re much more likely to own.

For a link to download the translation patch, as well as a brief background on the game, come on down past the break.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS Collector’s Edition Speeds into Pre-Orders at Limited Run Games

As a surprising announcement from SEGA and Limited Run Games, Limited Run Games is opening global pre-orders TODAY for the way-past-cool SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS Collector’s Edition with pre-orders only remaining open until October 6, 2024!

What makes this Collector’s Edition set so special is that a copy of SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS will be available for everyone who pre-order the physical editions on major platforms; however, it’s the jaw-dropping, exclusive Dreamcast-inspired Sonic and Shadow statue that makes it a must-have for fans of everyone’s favorite hedgehog!

The design team at Limited Run is throwing back to the Sonic Adventure days with a Collector’s Edition that includes an exclusive Dreamcast statue with Sonic and Shadow, a commemorative Dreamcast jewel case, Chao mini figurines, an art book with the concept art of Shadow Generations, and more!

Here’s what’s included in the Collector’s Edition:

  • Standard Edition for PC OR Physical Day One Edition of SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X

  • Physical Day One Edition Only:

  • Sonic Adventure Skin

  • Gerald Robotnik’s Journal

  • Reversible Cover

  • Sonic & Shadow Dreamcast Statue

  • Switch or Blu-ray Steelbook

  • Deluxe Art Book

  • Original Soundtrack CD

  • Chao Mini Figurines

  • Sonic, Shadow, and Classic Sonic Shoes Keychain

  • Commemorative Dreamcast Jewel Case

  • Collector’s Box

  • Individually Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

The SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS Collector’s Edition is set to retail for $249.99 USD and will arrive on doorsteps in 2025.

ATLUS announces full English voice cast for Metaphor: ReFantazio™ and details for an Xbox @ Gamescom Livestream

Gamescom is happening this week and ATLUS has recently announced the full English voice cast for Metaphor: ReFantazio, including the voice role for the Protagonist. Here is the full list of voice actors for the upcoming game:

Voice Cast

  • Protagonist – Caleb Yen

  • Strohl – Stewart Clarke

  • Hulkenberg – Kristin Atherton

  • Gallica – Alejandra Reynoso

  • Heismay – Philippe Spall

  • Junah – Emma Ballantine

  • Eupha –  Emily Burnett

  • Neuras – David Monteith

  • Louis – Joseph Tweedale

  • More – Greg Chun

  • Grius – Gordon Cooper

Furthermore, Metaphor: ReFantazio will be part of the Xbox @ Gamescom 2024, hosting a voice actor interview and showing brand-new content. A demo of the fantasy JRPG from ATLUS will also be available for Gamescom audiences to play at the Xbox booth all week. You can catch the Q&A on Xbox Showcase Gamescom 2024 livestream on August 23rd here.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is an all-new fantasy RPG from the creative minds of the Persona™ series. Players will write their destiny and rise above fear as they step into a fantasy world unlike any other. Metaphor: ReFantazio will also launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Steam. Physical and digital pre-orders are available now. For more information and for links to pre-order, visit metaphor.atlus.com.

Skydance to produce a live-action adaptation of SEGA’s Eternal Champions

According to The Hollywood Reporter, American media production company Skydance is set to produce a live-action adaptation of the SEGA Genesis classic fighting game Eternal Champions. Derel Connolly, known for his work on the Jurassic World movies, has been assigned to write the script. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger will produce the project for Skydance, while Toru Nakahara, who oversaw the adaptation of SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, will produce on behalf of SEGA. Rob Ree, credited with bringing Skydance and SEGA together on this project, will serve as executive producer. Aimee Rivera will oversee the project for Skydance.

Eternal Champions is a 2D fighting game developed for the Sega Genesis (known as the Mega Drive in the UK) by Sega Interactive in 1993. Created by Sega of America to capitalize on the massive success of Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat, the game’s plot centers around the Eternal Champion gathering key individuals from different time periods before their deaths. These individuals compete in a fighting tournament, with the victor gaining the chance to regain their life and alter their fate, while restoring balance to the universe. The losers, however, are doomed to die as history records.

With recent trademarks and announced SEGA live-action adaptations, SEGA seems to be making a strong push to revive awareness of its classic brands. What are your thoughts on a live-action adaptation of Eternal Champions? We will keep you updated with more news on this project as it develops!

 

Dreamcast classic F355 Challenge’s online time trial rankings and ghost data sharing features restored

Another Dreamcast classic returns online. F355 Challenge (2000), the Ferarri focused arcade racer by the great Yu Suzuki that is otherwise unrelated to OutRun, has it’s own website restored, re-enabling all the online features of the Dreamcast game. The website can be accessed straight from the game’s disc when running on a Dreamcast connected to the internet, as well as through a network-enabled Dreamcast emulator. This comes thanks to developer Flyinghead.

F355 Challenge did not actually have an online multiplayer mode, however. Its online features were limited to allowing for the upload and download of time trial rankings and car ghost data, as well as an exclusive Ferrari movie that could be viewed on the website. DreamPi and Broadband adaptor users will be automatically directed to the site when trying to access it from within the game now.

Zoom in past the break for a bit more technical info to get you started.

SEGA Talk #146: Shenmue Online & Shenmue City (2004-2011)

On this SEGA Talk we take a look at two Shenmue games you most likely never played: Shenmue Online and Shenmue City. We take a look at one unreleased MMO and a mobile game that never made it out of beta.

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – Download]

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, have your memories read on the show, select the games we talk about!

The Sega Genesis turns 35 years old today

The year is 1989. In that year, people such as Taylor Swift, Danielle Radcliff, the late Avicii, SZA, Pewdiepie, Markiplier, and myself were born. Songs like “Bust A Move” by Young MC, “Cherish” and “Like A Prayer” by Madonna, and “Love Shack” by The B-52’s topped the charts. Movies like Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the Tim Burton directed Batman, Ghostbusters II, and Weekend At Bernie’s premiered in theaters. The Simpsons, Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, Family Matters, Baywatch, and Seinfeld premiered on TV. In Japan, anime like Dragon Ball Z, Patlabor, and Ranma 1/2 premiered on TV while Kiki’s Delivery Service premiered in theaters. Video games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Final Fight, SimCity, and DuckTales came out while Sega launched arcade games like Golden Axe, Turbo OutRun, and Tetris. Sega had done something else even more significant on this day that very same year, though. They launched the Sega Mega-Drive in North America as the Sega Genesis and the world would never be the same. Happy 35th anniversary!

On August 14th, 1989, Sega of America launched the Genesis in North America to much fanfare, including with a televised launch party attended by convicted felon and overall weirdo Donald Trump. Sega had failed to make much of a splash in North America with the still beloved Master System, but they had a new plan in mind for the Genesis. That plan included a fierce mockery of Nintendo’s strict adherence to sanitized, family friendly gaming, with the tagline “Genesis Does What Nintendon’t” remaining a staple in gamer lingo. This allowed Sega to stand out with the teens-to-adults crowd and ended up with Sega being the first video game console manufacturer to seriously threaten Nintendo’s market dominance, as well as inspiring future console rivals Sony and Microsoft to do the same with the PlayStation and Xbox respectively, while stealing Sega’s thunder in the process. Today, the Sega Genesis lives on in gaming and pop culture history as one of the most influential and memorable gaming consoles of all time and a hallmark of the 1990’s.

Come with us past the break to continue this celebration.

Graveyard Good’s Limited The House of the Dead Merchandise Now Available For Pre-Order (72 Hours)


It’s time to reload your wallets with money as Graveyard Goods is selling limited The House of the Dead merchandise which are available for pre-order within 72 hours ranging from head caps to hoodies. These items include:

Grab them fast through pre-orders while you can as these are very limited and are up on the website for 72 hours!

New Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis Trailer Showcasing Metis

Today, ATLUS shared a trailer highlighting Metis, the new android companion in Persona 3 Reload’s Episode Aigis -The Answer –. The trailer also introduces Lizzie Freeman, the voice actor bringing Metis to life. Episode Aigis is the third and final addition to the Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass, featuring 30 hours of all-new gameplay, new costumes and background music sets.

Character Description of Metis: A mysterious android who claims to be Aigis’s “sister”. She appears before the S.E.E.S. members who are trapped in a never-ending March 31st time loop and leads them to the Abyss of Time that has appeared in the basement of the dormitory. Her unique Persona is Psyche, specializing in physical, wind, and ice skills.

Episode Aigis -The Answer – releases on September 10, 2024, and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Steam, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

The Expansion Pass is available for free to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass can be purchased on digital storefronts today for $34.99 and also includes the previously released Persona 5 Royal EX BGM Set, Persona 4 Golden EX BGM Set and Velvet Costume & BGM Set. For more information on Persona 3 Reload, visit persona.atlus.com/p3r/.

SEGA Talk #145: Gaming Memories

SEGA Talk takes a detour! This episode we’re trading our blue blur for a trip down memory lane. Join us as we reminisce about our gaming days and explore some non-SEGA classics. Of course, there is still plenty of SEGA games that make it in!

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – Download]

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, have your memories read on the show, select the games we talk about!

TMS Entertainment announces 60th Anniversary YouTube campaign, including timed uploads of Japanese Sonic X and Orguss episodes

TMS Entertainment, a beloved Japanese animation studio currently owned by Sega Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of SegaSammy holdings, has just announced that for their 60th anniversary, they’ll begin uploading special animated features of significant importance to the company to their official YouTube page. Most noteworthy to Sega/Sonic fans, this includes the first six episodes of Sonic X in its original Japanese dub. The entire campaign begins on August 5th, 2024. This is a good chance to get a taste of what Sonic X was originally like, free of both English voices and the cacophony of censorship edits imposed on it in its original English dub by 4Kids Entertainment.

EDIT: It’s come to my attention that one of the other anime part of this celebration: Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983), also has a Sega connection, as Sega made an SG-1000 game based on it. I’m adding details about that show below the break too.

Gotta go fast as you rush past the break for the skinny on this special event. GO! GO! GO! GO! LET’S GO!

EDIT: The 60th Anniversary event has ended and all these videos have, unfortunately, been removed from the TMS Entertainment YouTube Page. Fortunately, Discotek Media has released both Japanese Sonic X and Super Dimension Century Orguss on Blu-Ray. You can buy them from Amazon or Crunchyroll’s store. I removed the dead YouTube embeds from the article

NFTs and esports killed the Mario & Sonic Olympic Games series

SEGA and Nintendo’s long running Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series has come to an end. Speaking with Eurogamer, series veteran Lee Cocker explained that the International Olympics Committee left the partnership with SEGA and Nintendo in favor of new partners that focused on NFTs and esports. Believe it or not, there IS a game based on the 2024 Summer Olympic Games out right now. You just wouldn’t know it because it isn’t really being marketed and it looks like crap. Olympics Go! from developer nWay released to smart phone stores and the Epic Games Store and it features microtransactions and officially licensed “commemorative” NFTs. Whee.

Shenmue World: Issue 3 – Unofficial Shenmue Fan Magazine Kickstarter launches

From the fans behind the Shenmue fan site Shenmue Dojo comes the third issue in their fan magazine Shenmue World! Hitting Kickstarter just yesterday, the campaign for Shenmue World: Issue 3 is already $17,330 pledged of a $22,496 goal. If issues 1 and 2 are any indication of the quality we can expect, then issue 3 is sure to be a feature filled book sized magazine featuring impressive fan artwork, fictional and journalistic coverage of the Shenmue series and several bonus goodies that should not be missed!