Cartridge Thunder announces The House of the Dead 1 & 2 Music Collection Vinyls with Hardcover Box Set


The guys over at Cartridge Thunder, who previously released the awesome Comix Zone vinyl soundtrack, have set their eyes on the next SEGA music to release: The House of the Dead 1 & 2! It seems both these soundtracks will be released on a three LP box set with hardcover and extras or separately (without the hardcover).

Twitter:

“Some clarity on #TheHouseoftheDead box set! Both albums will be included, in their jackets, within a hardcover slipcase. The slipcase will feature artwork of Curien Mansion, the Magician, and spot gloss logos✨”

Pre-orders for the soundtrack open on September 18, 2021, so keep an eye open on their site.

The SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show LIVE: Knock Knock It’s Knuckles

Swingin’ Report Show returns with a new format! On this debut LIVE show, Barry is joined by George to discuss the history of the podcast, recent news of Idris Elba being cast as Knuckles, the new trailer for the Jet Set Radio inspired indie game Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and a peek at the latest Sonic collectibles.

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, join in the conversation, become a guest on the show and more!

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Sonic and Tails speed their way to Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania as playable characters

To celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 30th Anniversary, roll around puzzling world and collect rings as Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles “Tails” Prower in their classic iterations from the Sega Genesis (Sega Mega Drive) days by unlocking them in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania for free on all platforms through normal gameplay when the game launches for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X on October 5, 2021!

PRE-ORDER

Steam | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S

Knock Knock, it’s Idris Elba as Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2

That’s a headline I never thought I’d type. But yes, fresh off The Suicide Squad as Bloodsport comes confirmation from the man himself that Idris Elba will voice Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. While filming has already wrapped, post production is underway and thus the voicing of the CG characters. For some time it was speculated Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would take the role, but some fans thought that was too big a “get” for the film. But Idris Elba is, arguably, just as big a get for Paramount and SEGA.

Shining Force: Heroes of Light and Darkness coming to mobile

It seems that Shining Force series, the classic turn-based role playing game originally developed by Climax Entertainment, Sonic! Software Planning, will be returning to mobile devices as Hive, the Japanese subsidiary of Korean company Vespa has acquired the rights from SEGA to develop a new title and announced Shining Force: Hikari to Yami no Eiyuu (tentative)(Heroes of Light and Darkness).

The new game will launch in the first half of 2022 worldwide as a free-to-play title with item-based in-app purchases. Specific territories were not announced, but the licensing includes right to distribute games in Japan, South Korea, and other Asian countries, as well as North America and Europe with a beta test being planned.

Shining Force: Heroes of Light and Darkness is currently in development with the goal of brining the strategy and fun of tactical RPGs to mobile devices, based on the unique setting and story of the Shining Force series and the fun of developing unique and charming characters.

Source: Gematsu, Gamer.ne.jp

SEGA Talk Podcast #76: Yuji Naka’s Let’s Tap (2008)

This time on SEGA Talk we dive deep into Yuji Naka’s studio PROPE, his departure from SEGA and the creation of his first independent title: Let’s Tap! So get your fingers ready to tap and let’s get into it…

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!

Sonic Colors: Ultimate – Wisp Spotlight trailer gives fans a look at alien power-ups

SEGA has released another spotlight trailer for the upcoming Sonic Colors Ultimate, this time detailing those alien power-ups the Wisps. Given the game originally released in 2009, we know the Wisps… right? WRONG! There is a new Wisp called the Jade Ghost Wisp. Learn what he’s all about in the video above!

Pre-Order Sonic Colors Ultimate

PlayStation 4 | Nintendo Switch | Xbox One

SEGA’s Ikebukuro GiGO arcade in Tokyo set to close on September 20, 2021


In a Twitter post on August 2, the Ikebukuro SEGA arcade branch has announced that they will be closed on September 20th. They explained that the lease contract for the building that houses the arcade has expired and is ready for renovation. The arcade opened up in 1993, housing many arcade classics as the rising SEGA boom was taking over during the 90s (a 28-year open service). They also wish to provide the same premier customer service that brought in customers since opening. Currently celebrating the 28th anniversary, exclusive prizes can be won via UFO catcher machines or be bought for the month of August.

Beat from Jet Set Radio joins Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania in the latest trailer

It’s time to get funky as one of the iconic GG members, Beat, from the Jet Set Radio series makes his way into the Super Monkey Ball world as a free and unlockable character through normal gameplay in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania. If you’ve been a fan of Jet Set Radio since it’s launch on the SEGA Dreamcast, then this is a treat for you. Happy to see that SEGA and RGG Studio were able to pay tribute to such an awesome classic SEGA video game series into another franchise.

Glide, grind, and roll your way through the wondrous worlds of Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania as the iconic rebel graffiti artist when the game launches for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X on October 5, 2021!

PRE-ORDER

Steam | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S

The Monkey Gang is all here in the latest Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Gameplay Trailer

SEGA has uploaded a new gameplay trailer featuring the playable cast of Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania with little trivia on the characters personality traits. Play as the gang as you roll, tilt, and bounce your way through wondrous worlds in the newest Super Monkey Ball adventure. No banana is safe when this all-star crew returns for more monkey mayhem! Also, be sure to watch until the end of the trailer to see a familiar face pass by.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania will be released on October 5th for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Pre-order your copy today!

PRE-ORDER

Steam (Coming Soon) | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S

Fans celebrate 30 years of Sonic the Hedgehog in community spotlight video – Hey, there’s us!

SEGA has released a 30+ minute video celebrating Sonic the Hedgehog’s 30th anniversary by spotlighting those in the fan community who have a passion for and, in many cases, contributed to the legacy of the character through events, interviews, videos and more. At 12 minutes and 20 seconds, yours truly appears sharing memories of Sonic and looking ahead to the future. Also featured, at 33 minutes and 38 seconds, is SEGAbits contributor and longtime community member Kori-Maru. Check the video out for yourself, and after the break you can see the fullscreen video of our own contribution.

Thank you to SEGA for highlighting the community and fan sites and please, please do more of this stuff!

New Upcoming Update for Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown to include Tournament, Team Battle Mode and more

During a recent livestream session on the Virtua Fighter Official YouTube Channel, VF5US Chief Producer, Seiji Aoki, announced that the game will include new modes and features in the upcoming update. Two of the newest modes will be Tournament and Team Battle Mode. There will be weekly tournaments for players to enter and earn exclusive title cards for winning. As for Team Battle Mode, this mode will feature 8v8 players akin to Fighters Megamix for the Sega Saturn.

The update will also include concurrent play during tournament/league matches along with other additions such as:

  • Changed side hit sparks
  • Lock stage during room match
  • Enable stage select upon rematch
  • Ability to filter rooms without passwords
  • Adjustments to allow sub-characters easier rank climbing when a main character ranks up
  • League match differentials count rounds instead of games, trophies, bug fixes

The official date for the update has not been stated on stream but the developers are at least pushing for a summer release. Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is now available on PlayStation 4 and is free to download with PS+ until August 2nd.

Source: GSK on Twitter

Sonic the Hedgehog and Phantasy Star music play during Tokyo Olympics opening ceremonies

First we had Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, then we had Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game and now we have the real thing with Sonic the Hedgehog and Phantasy Star! As the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games kicked off with the opening ceremonies, viewers were treated to a medley of video game tunes including a few from beloved SEGA franchises. The playlist lists several franchises from various companies (though Nintendo is absent) and the SEGA tunes include Sonic the Hedgehog‘s Star Light Zone and Phantasy Star Universe‘s Guardians.

It’s awesome seeing SEGA elevated to big cultural moments like this, and it is a huge win for the company, the fans and the brands. After the break, check out the moment Sonic played and we will be sure to update this article once the full opening ceremony is posted.

SEGA Talk Podcast #75: Panzer Dragoon Saga (1998)

This time on SEGA Talk, we dive deep into the development history, characters and explore the world if the SEGA Saturn classic Panzer Dragoon Saga. Or as its known today, one of the most expensive games on the SEGA Saturn!

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!

Lizardcube’s Art/Creative Director, Ben Fiquet, explains how Streets of Rage 4 came to be

 

After the recent release of Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare, Lizardcube’s Art/Creative Director, Ben Fiquet, explains how the Streets of Rage project came to be after finishing Wonder Boy on his latest blog post.

The blog post contains early artwork/animations and screenshot mock-ups of a remastered version of Streets of Rage 2 and an earlier version of Streets of Rage 4 along with details on how the project was greenlit by SEGA of Japan and his experience working with Guard Crush, Dot Emu and several composers together on the game. Check out Ben’s blog to see cool concepts on Streets of Rage 4.