Gamerant reports:
‘The Yakuza franchise has a small but passionate fanbase in North America, and those fans should be glad to hear that SEGA is teasing an announcement for May 24th, and it’s most likely related to Yakuza 5.’
XBOX360Achievements reports:
‘The wait for SEGA’s four sets of Vintage Collections is almost over, as dates for the XBLA compendiums have been revealed, confirming that they’ll arrive in two rounds, with the first round bring one pair to the Xbox Live Arcade next week and the second round seeing the remaining two collections launch the following week.’
May 23rd
- SEGA Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
- SEGA Vintage Collection: Monster World
May 30th
- SEGA Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage
- SEGA Vintage Collection: Golden Axe
*Nintendo Life reviewed the Virtual Console release of Monster World IV.
*Kotaku updates us with the latest Project X Zone character roster info.
*GamersHell posted some new screenshots of VF5: Final Showdown.
*Famitsu magazine reviewed Samurai & Dragons (PS VITA): 9/8/8/8.
As the game has now hit the (digital) shelves, here’s an overview of the latest -rather disappointing- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 -episode II review scores:
- 6/10 (Eurogamer)
- 6.5/10 (EGM)
- 5/10 (GamesRadar)
- 7.5/10 (Official Xbox magazine)
- 5/10 (Destructoid)
- 6/10 (Metro UK)
- B+ (1UP)
- 8/10 (Eurogamer Germany)
*In case any of you missed it (not very likely): Sonic the Hedgehog 4 -episode II launches tomorrow. All the info you need can be found here.
*Know Your Mobile reviewed Blue Tomato (what’s in a name?), a way to play Master Sytem and Game Gear games on your Windows 7 mobile.
*Two SEGA games qualified for the US PSN April sales top 20: The House of the Dead 4 (#5) and Sonic CD (#11). Not bad.
Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown will hit PSN (USA) on June 5 and XBLA/EU PSN on June 6. It should cost you roughly $15 or 1200 MS points.
This week’s entries in the Full price Top 40:
[#8](-) Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
[#17](+5) Football Manager 2012
This week’s entries in the Budget price Top 40:
[#17](-3) Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
[#18](-6) Sonic Generations (XBOX 360 / PlayStation 3)
[#19](-9) Sonic Colours
[#39](-24) Binary Domain
Pixel Nation a ‘fiercely independent publishing company, specialising in hard print publications about video game history, art, design and culture’ will be publishing a Mega Drive book.
‘Volume One covers nearly 300 games with statistics, game overviews and using over 1,000 illustrations and pictures. Just take a look at our design concept pages for a preview of what we have in store. A must for any Genesis/Mega Drive collector.’
It will be available from July and should cost you £15.99. Now how about sending us a book for this free plug, guys?
Gamespot reports:
‘[..] As part of SEGA Sammy’s latest financial report, the company revealed Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games has sold 3.28 million copies between the Wii and 3DS versions. Mario’s Olympic outing was a bright spot on SEGA Sammy’s earnings report.
Other million-sellers on SEGA’s resume were Sonic Generations at 1.85 million and Virtua Tennis 4, which sold 1.04 million copies. Other titles called out by SEGA were Football Manager 2012, which sold 710,000 copies, and Yakuza: Dead Souls, which moved 550,000 units.
The most lucrative platform for SEGA software sales during the year was the Wii, which accounted for sales of 3.05 million titles. This is compared to 2.45 million for the PlayStation 3, 1.79 million on 3DS, 1.54 million on Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and 1.1 million on PSP. ‘
*Wonderboy in Monster World and Monster World IV are now available from the Wii Virtual Console. They should cost you 900 points each.
*Gamefront posted six new screenshots of Aliens: Colonial Marines. Also check this page for a lot of info concerning the game’s multiplayer modes.
*You’ll be able to play Sonic & All-Stars Racing at this year’s Summer of Sonic and Sonic Boom events. More info can be found on the official website.
*The people behind DUX have announced a new Dreamcast title Redux: Dark Matters. To make it happen, they need your help (well, your money basically).
MCV reports:
‘SEGA has revealed it will not be exhibiting its games at this year’s trade and consumer show in Cologne. The publisher attributed this “commercial decision” to unfortunate timing of its triple-A releases.
SEGA’s 2012 releases due in the second half of the year include London 2012: The Official Games of the Olympic Games, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed and the long-awaited Aliens: Colonial Marines.
“SEGA has made the decision not to attend Gamescom this year,” the publisher said in an official statement.
“Gamescom 2011 was a very successful show for us and continues to be the most important European event in the calendar. Unfortunately the release timing of our 2012 triple-A titles and new projects don’t work with the mid-August scheduling of the show”.
*International Business Times posted an article entitled ‘Aliens: Colonial Marines - What we know so far’. Quick quote: ‘[..] the game’s environment is impressive as well as creepy.’
*TouchArcade reports:’Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing gains 2 new characters, new track and more in latest update’.
*Jaz Rignall @ Eurogamer posted an article on 1991’s historical significance. Naturally, the Mega Drive also gets a mention.
*Another Game Gear title can now be downloaded from the Nintendo 3DS
e-Shop: Vampire: Master of Darkness.
*Seems today’s barrel has been filled with retro-flavoured items: DarXide (32X) is now available as a repro. Still a lot to pay, though.
*NintendoLife posted a short review of the Wii (Virtual Console) release of Super Hang-On (Arcade version).
*The Sonic Generations music team answered some questions.
Binary Domain is already listed as ’Budget’ this week. Painful.
This week’s entries in the Full price Top 40:
[#8](+1) Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
[#22](+6) Football Manager 2012
This week’s entries in the Budget price Top 40:
[#10](-2) Sonic Colours
[#12](-7) Sonic Generations (XBOX 360 / PlayStation 3)
[#14](-5) Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
[#15](NEW) Binary Domain
[#31](+2) Shogun 2: Total War
TSSZ News reports:
‘Kickstarter is a pretty hot-button issue right now after Tim Schafer and his Double Fine Productions studio made waves by asking for $400,000 to make
a small independent game and ended up receiving over $3,000,000 in money pledged by fans.
Since then, a number of other high-profile (but still small-scale) developers have followed in their example, such as the Shadowrun Returns Kickstarter and one for a sequel to the Fallout progenitor, “Wasteland”.
Speaking to Official Xbox Magazine UK, Steve Lycett of Sumo Digital fame (makers of many of the fine SEGA All-Stars games) reveals he is not only a fan of the service, but would like to see Yu Suzuki try his hand at funding the long-awaited Shenmue 3 via the site. [..]’
*Gamerlive.tv posted a preview. ‘It’s funny how the “little guy” can suddenly be propelled forward by the right project.’
*SEGA added a new ‘Gameplay Reveal’ trailer to their Youtube channel.*The latest set of screenshots and news concerning the PC version.
Droidgamers reports:
‘Back in the beginning of March 2012 SEGA announced that their upcoming Phantasy Star Online 2 RPG would be smartphone and tablet compatible for both the iOS and Android platforms. Along with that news came word that it would be a free-to-play game supported through in-app purchases but as the game’s series producer explains, it will be done the right way.
It’s no secret that a lot of people dislike the free-to-play and freemium business models a lot of games come with these days. While both of those business models differ slightly, the core point behind them is the same, to get you to invest into the game using real cash. This could be done by offering special items and boosters for real cash purchasing to unlocking the entire game. [..]’
*MTV wonders ‘Did SEGA start development on, then cancel Bayonetta 2?’.
*MCV reports: ‘SEGA West boss Mike Hayes leaving this summer’.
*The SEGA Toylet went on sale in Japan, hurrah! Price: ¥140,000 (~$1750!).
*SEGA released a Shogun 2: Total War ‘Dragon War’ battle pack.
*CloudPro reports: ‘SEGA uses hybrid cloud shorten games testing’.
*SMS Power! found a new SEGA Game Gear prototype: Crazy Faces.
*Fancy your own Virtua Fighter 5 skills? Take a look over HERE.
SEGA reports:
‘Today, we are announcing Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, a thrilling new racing experience featuring Sonic the Hedgehog and a fantastic cast of SEGA All-Stars competing across land, air and water in vehicles that fully transform from cars, to planes to boats.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed will speed on to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, and PC Digital Download late in 2012.’
This week’s entries in the Full price Top 40:
[#9](-) Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
[#28](+1) Football Manager 2012
This week’s entries in the Budget price Top 40:
[#5](+2) Sonic Generations (XBOX 360 / PlayStation 3)
[#8](+1) Sonic Colours
[#9](-1) Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
[#35](NEW) Shogun 2: Total War
[#38](RE) Sonic Classic Collection