Yakuza 1&2 HD Wii U trailer (thanks: SEGADriven & Yakuza Fan)
- This week’s entries in the UK Full price Top 40:
[#17](+2) Football Manager 2013
[#24](-9) Aliens: Colonial Marines - This week’s entries in the UK Budget price Top 40:
[#18](-) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed [360/PS3]
[#19](+5) Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games - This week’s entries in the UK Wii U Top 10:
[#5](-) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed
- Yakuza 1&2 HD to be released for Wii U (only confirmed for Japan now).
- More Game Gear games (Columns, Sonic Blast, ..) to hit the Nintendo 3DS.
- Sonic the Hedgehog (the 1991 original) arrived on Android & iOS.
- Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition (Windows Phone version) on sale.
- Dreamcast-Scene/RedSpotGames report: ‘Sturmwind has SOLD OUT’.
- The SEGA DeviantArt selection of the Week: Mr.X & Christmas NiGHTS.
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games announcement
Nintendo of America posted this Twitter image and added:
‘We’ve partnered with @Sega on a new Sonic the Hedgehog game – Sonic Lost World. #NintendoDirectNA. Sonic Lost World will come exclusively to #WiiU and #3DS.’
More information soon!
- Sonic Stadium reports:
‘Looks like we now know the possible title of the next Sonic game. Today, Sega of Japan has registered the trademark “Sonic Lost World”. Also, the domain soniclostworlds.com has been registered to Sega of Europe (so is it “Sonic Lost World”, or Sonic Lost Worlds”).
It’s not uncommon for a game to be announced after it’s trademark has been released. Plus, with E3 coming very soon and many games being announced this month, so don’t be surprised if we hear about Sonic’s next big gaming adventure very soon. ‘
Japan’s population is rapidly greying and various companies have started aiming their marketing campaigns specifically at seniors.
Japanese food makers produced a lineup of soft, freshly prepared deli-syle foods for people ‘who might not be able to chew as well as they once did’ and a large chain of convenience stores opened an experimental store with ’subdued tones and dark wood flooring’ to cater to a more elderly clientele.
Now both SEGA Japan and Capcom have also realised that marketing their (struggling) Game Centers to seniors makes very much sense indeed.
By offering them free coffee, a stamp card for extra premiums and special games that can be played ‘while sitting down’ they’re hoping to create ‘new communities’ of elderly costumers.
So, will our future retirement homes come filled with Let’s go Jungle, The House of the Dead 4 -special and Daytona USA cabinets? Here’s hoping..
The second SEGA Pluto prototype (but actually the #1 unit) that was found
by a Destructoid user was put up for auction on Ebay a few weeks back.
The auction ended last week but the 89 bids (with a ‘high bid’ of $15,500.00) were in vain; the unit remained unsold as ’kidvid666’s reserve was not met.
- This week’s entries in the UK Full price Top 40:
[#15](+6) Aliens: Colonial Marines
[#19](+5) Football Manager 2013
[#39](-19) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed [Wii U/3DS] - This week’s entries in the UK Budget price Top 40:
[#18](-1) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed [360/PS3]
[#24](-3) Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
[#40](RE) Sonic Generations - This week’s entries in the UK Wii U Top 10:
[#5](-4) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed
- SEGA reports: ’SEGA mobile weekend sale; discounts for your favorites’.
- TimeGate Studios (of Aliens: Colonial Marines ‘fame’) closed its doors.
- Hatsune Miku artist draws Dreamcast and VMU as console mascots.
- We’ve driven the virtual 24Hours of Le Mans (Dreamcast). Footage soon.
- The SEGA DeviantArt selection of the Week: Shining Force III & Vipers.
- WiiUdaily reports:
‘[..] it looks like we’ll be seeing seven new titles this year. The information is located on page five of the document linked, under the Wii U SKU column.
No names of games are given, but a new 3D Sonic game has been rumored.
Aside from that, SEGA owns a few interesting IPs that I would like to see make the transition to Wii U. The first of those is the Total War series, which is a grand strategy game.’
- Polygon reports:
‘SEGA reported total sales of 321 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, an 18.7 percent drop over sales of 395 billion yen last year, according the company’s recent financial report.
The company reported a 53.3 percent increase in net income to 33.4 billion yen, which the company attributed to changes in employee pension funds, the liquidation of some U.S. subsidiaries and sales on investment securities. However, operating income dipped 67.3 percent since last year to 19 billion yen.
[..] SEGA’s best-selling title during the last quarter was Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed, which sold 1.36 million copies across the U.S. and Europe. Aliens: Colonial Marines was the second most-sold title, selling 1.31 million.’
- Eurogamer reports:
‘Total War: Rome 2 will be released worldwide on Tuesday, 3rd September, SEGA has announced.
You can pre-order it now and, if you do, you’ll get Rome 2’s first lump of DLC - the Greek States Culture Pack, which adds three extra playable factions (Epirus, Athens and Sparta) - for free.
If you want to go one better, grab the Collector’s Edition, bound in a “leather-effect” presentation box. It’s got a magnetic closure you know.
Inside the Collector’s Edition a bloomin’ board game, Tabula, a precursor to Backgammon. It has “bone-effect” pieces and burlap, drawstring bag. Oh and get this: the board itself is built into the base of the Collector’s Edition. ‘
- SEGADriven reports:
‘News has broken that SEGA will re-release Sonic the Hedgehog on the 3DS eShop with added 3D support to show depth in the backgrounds. This news follows the release of 3D Space Harrier and 3D Super Hang-On, all of which are still Japan exclusive.
The re-release will launch on May 15th to mark the 25th anniversary of the Mega Drive in Japan and it will be priced 600 yen. Additional features include the already mentioned 3D effect, all the bug fixes and added details from the later revisions of Sonic 1 (rippling water, scrolling clouds), the addition of the spin attack, a classic view mode which simulates a CRT monitor and an option to choose a Mega Drive model 1 or 2 sound balance. ‘
- Siliconera reports:
‘Backbone Entertainment was doing some neat stuff with SEGA and we’re not talking about the Sega Vintage Collection.
They pitched a new Streets of Rage game to SEGA. Concept art for Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, and Adam Hunter – the original trio from Streets of Rage – was shared by a former Backbone Entertainment artist.
[..] What’s really interesting is Backbone Entertainment also put together a pitch to reboot ESWAT! (ESWAT: City Under Siege is a sidescrolling action game for the Genesis).’
- This week’s entries in the UK Full price Top 40:
[#20](+1) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed [Wii U/3DS
[#21](-7) Aliens: Colonial Marines
[#24](+2) Football Manager 2013] - This week’s entries in the UK Budget price Top 40:
[#17](-6) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed [360/PS3]
[#21](-1) Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games - This week’s entries in the UK Wii U Top 10:
[#1](-) Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed
- SEGA reports: ’Play as Vectorman in House of the Dead: Overkill T.L.R’.
- SEGA reports: ’Godsrule: W.O.M. -So you want to Godsrule the World’.
- SEGADriven reports: ‘Interview with Kingdom Conquest II producer’
- Digital Spy posted an OutRun retrospective: ‘A Vintage Joyride from SEGA’.
- ArcadeHeroes reviewed ’100 Yen: the Japanese Arcade Experience’ (DVD).
- The SEGA DeviantArt selection of the Week: Golden Axe & Annelid.
- Kotaku reports:
‘A class action lawsuit claiming that Aliens: Colonial Marines used false advertising is happening. Today, SEGA—publisher behind the title—has responded with a comment.
“SEGA cannot comment on specifics of ongoing litigation, but we are confident that the lawsuit is without merit and we will defend it vigorously,” SEGA told Kotaku.
[..] Gearbox responds: “Attempting to wring a class action lawsuit out of a demonstration is beyond meritless. We continue to support the game, and
will defend the rights of entertainers to share their works-in-progress without fear of frivolous litigation.”
- Shenmue Dojo reports:
‘Shenmue Dojo is pleased to announce that we’re teaming up with First 4 Figures to give you the chance to win a Ryo Hazuki Exclusive Edition Statue!
The idea of this competition is to get fans worldwide together to play what is considered by many their favorite moment in Shenmue, the 70 man battle. By achieving the fastest completion time, and showcasing the moves you’ve practiced, you’ll be rewarded this coveted statue.’
- SPOnG reports:
‘SEGA and Gearbox are facing a class action suit alleging that they falsely advertised Aliens: Colonial Marines with demos at trade shows that didn’t represent the final product.
The suit, which was brought to light by Polygon, has been filed in the Northern District of California by Edelson LLC on behalf of Damion Perrine. It states that demos featured graphical quality, AI behaviour and entire levels not present in the final game.
The suit adds that late embargoes on reviews stopped early buyers from getting knowledge of the discrepancies.’