*A trailer of SEGA Vintage Collection 2 was added to Gametrailers. It shows some footage of Gunstar Heroes, Shinobi, Comix Zone, Sonic 3 etc.
*SEGA USA posted an impression of the E3 booth of The Conduit. A total overview of the floor (with SEGA’s booth mapped) can be found HERE.
*Feel like splashing out? The (VERY) limited edition of Enemy Zero (only 20 were made) is for sale on the Japanese auction site Yahoo Auctions. Price? 400,000 Yen (~$4000). For your cash you’ll receive a huge crate filled with Enemy Zero items. Have a look. Only four days left!
==
’till next week!
*SEGA Europe posted 3 trailers: There’s a Bubble Voyager (Let’s Tap) one, a CGI trailer for Alpha Protocol and an impressive E3 trailer of Bayonetta.
*We already reported that USA gamers preordering their copy of The Conduit at Amazon would receive a free digital comic. European gamers need not to worry; they’ll receive a free set of The Conduit branded speakers!
*IGN posted some new videos for SEGA’s upcoming DS game Bleach: The 3rd Phantom.
*More Virtua Tennis 2009 review marks came in:
-8/10 (Official XBOX magazine UK)
-8.8/10 (Ngamer UK, Wii version)
-8.3/10 (GUNK magazine)
*Readers from the Benelux might be interested in this month’s GUNK magazine. Apart from the review of Virtua Tennis 2009 (see above) the magazine contains a six page preview of Bayonetta, a preview of Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics and offers free copies of Virtua Tennis 2009 with a subscription. It must be said the quality of GUNK has been dramatically improved over the last years and worth checking out..if you can read Dutch. More details on the official site.
*We already reported about the American Virtual Console version of Space Harrier months ago. From now on European Wii owners will also be able to purchase the game. It will cost 800 points.
*Alright, this one took us back. Remember that little number called The Matrix Online? It was published by SEGA waaay back in 2005. Sony Online Entertainment later picked up the rights from Monolith to operate the game. The news? Sony just announced to ’suspend commercial services’ as of June 1, 2009.
‘As of June 1, 2009, SOE will no longer offer customer support or provide updates for MxO, and active subscribers with accounts in good standing will not be billed after that date. MxO subscribers who have prepaid subscription time that extends their subscription period past June 1, 2009 will receive a pro-rated refund for any such pre-paid excess subscription payments*. Such refunds are expected to be issued by October 1, 2009.’
According to recent reports roughly 5000 people were still playing the game.
‘No surprises’ eh? Well, this actually was a surprise to us!
SEGA just announced a new racing game featuring famous Sonic/SEGA characters like Sonic, Aiai, Tails, Amigo, Amy and Dr Eggman. The game will be released on all major platforms (XBOX 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS and PC) and will have online play on most of them.
Other good news is that the soundtrack (or at least parts of it) will be done by SEGA-music-maestro Richard Jacques. The game is planned for release in 2010 (Q1 sounds feasible).
SEGA Europe uploaded a trailer HERE. More media and info can be found on the official page.
*Football Manager 2009 got voted second best game of all time as part of BBC Radio 1’s (UK) big games weekend. Other games on the list were Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and ShenMue.
*SEGA USA posted an update on Alpha Protocol. Featured are a new trailer and a spy dossier giveaway.
*Still get your ass kicked in Empire: Total War? SEGA USA lends a hand with a strategy guide.
*Live in the USA and planning to pre-order The Conduit? You can look forward to a free digital comic when you purchase the game from Amazon.com
*High Voltage Software (the team behind -yes- The Conduit) announced two new games. There’s The Grinder as well as Gladiator A.D. (both Wii projects). SEGA to publish? We’ll keep you updated.
*1UP posted a big cover story on Bayonetta. There’s a preview as well as an interview.
*Those of you hoping for any big surprises from SEGA at the E3 can stop; according to SEGA (French article) there will be none of them. There will -however- be a new game (or a localized version of a game) announced this friday, but it won’t be ‘big’. Hmm.
*The first Virtua Tennis 2009 review is in: Playstation Universe ranked the game 7.5/10.
*It’s been a while since we featured an obscure Japanese girls game, so here’s Project Diva, a dance/rhythm game for the PSP. It’s not that bad, actually.
All-format, full price
[#9](-2) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
All-format, budget price
[#5](-2) Sonic Unleashed
[#8](+12) SEGA Superstars Tennis
Wii, full price
[#4](-1) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games
DS, full price
[#6](-2) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
PC, full price
[#1](0) Football Manager 2009
[#2](0) Empire: Total War
PSP, fullprice
[#3](-1) Football Manager 2009
XBOX 360, budget
[#3](+3) SEGA Superstars Tennis
PlayStation 3, budget
[#5](-4) Sonic Unleashed
PlayStation 2, budget
[#7](-3) Sonic Unleashed
Due to technical difficulties saturday’s update was cancelled, but we’re back in action now!
*SEGA Europe posted a new Let’s Tap trailer. Check out the Silent Blocks minigame in action.
*Want to play some games on your iPhone? SEGA now has a version of Sonic the Hedgehog available for download. Not exactly the most original choice of game, but there you go..
*GameKyo posted two new trailers. There’s a new trailer for The Conduit, as well as this Bayonetta one.
SEGA did several updates on its upcoming action game Aliens vs. Predator. First, there’s some new high-resolution screenshots (Aliens playing pool?!), secondly there’s a lot of new information.
There’s also a teaser trailer available on Gametrailers.
That’s right, the game that -so nearly- made it to the Dreamcast is coming for the Wii and DS(!).
“As with the original, the new Jambo! Safari allows you to play as one of four safari park rangers, but this time they are fully customisable. With the ultimate aim of becoming a fully qualified ranger, players must take on high speed challenges and exciting rescue missions across the rich and varied free-roaming landscapes of the African Plains. Using one of the four customisable vehicles, including the licensed Land Rover Defender 90 and 110, rangers will need to ensure the animals in their park are healthy and happy. The vast range of Jambo! Safari missions include rescuing animals in need, diagnosing and treating them before releasing them back to the wild, wildlife photography, sight seeing adventures and even hot air balloon rides!”
Check out the full news story HERE.
* ‘Imitation is the most flattering form of compliment’ they say. I guess Nintendo should feel flattered because SEGA just announced a new fitness game for the Wii. It’s called Daisy Fuentes Pilates and features an American fitness coach called..-you guessed it- Daisy Fuentes.
“This is a great way to get Pilates training that fits your schedule and lifestyle,” said Daisy Fuentes. ”You can start out as an absolute beginner then move into intermediate and advanced levels–all at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home, and with responsive feedback that helps ensure you’re mastering core skills correctly before you advance.”
Some more screenshots can be seen HERE.
All-format, all prices
[#7](+2) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
All-format, full price
[#7](+1) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
All-format, budget price
[#3](0) Sonic Unleashed
Wii, full price
[#3](0) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games
[#7](0) Sonic and the Black Knight
DS, full price
[#4](+2) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
PC, full price
[#1](0) Football Manager 2009
[#2](0) Empire: Total War
PlayStation 3, full price
[#6](+3) SEGA Megadrive Ultimate Collection
PSP, fullprice
[#2](+1) Football Manager 2009
XBOX 360, budget
[#6](+4) SEGA Superstars Tennis
[#7](0) Sonic Unleashed
PlayStation 3, budget
[#1](0) Sonic Unleashed
PlayStation 2, budget
[#4](0) Sonic Unleashed
*You can put your racket, sweatbands, energy drink and sneakers back into the closet; Virtua Tennis 2009 is delayed after all.
Despite confirmation from SEGA last week that the game was still planned for release next (this) week, the game (XBOX 360 and PS3 versions) is now put back to May 29. The Wii version will be due for June.
*SEGA Europe added some new Let’s Tap screenshots to their Flickr account. Bubble Voyager, Rhythm Tap, Silent Blocks; they’re all there.
*Just a few days after its announcement SEGA USA posted a new Resonance of Fate trailer.
..when the search for news leaves us pretty much empty-handed. There was a lack of retro news, so no retro roundup, there’s nothing being reviewed at the moment, so no review score update and there was a lack of new videos to do a video update. Even ‘obscure Japanese news source’ Dengeki was pretty much SEGA-less. What to do?
Let’s tell you about a game I came across this afternoon, while adding new games to Segadatabase’s database; Action game Tsukuru (pack shot).
This piece of software (it’s not really a game) lets you create your own action games. Action game Tsukuru was released on the 3rd of May (by SEGA) for the PC and was developed by Entertain/Smileboom. You’ll basicly have three options:
-Create a 2D platform game
-Create a 2D RPG
-Create a 2D shooter
Action game Tsukuru works with a tile system:
Having worked with a tile system in the past, I call tell you; it works great. It gives the user the option to quickly ‘map’ an entire area with pre-created tiles.
Naturally, users will also be able to create new tiles, add (button) interactivity and add music. Best of all, though, is that users will be able to pitch their creations for release on the XBOX 360! To secure maximum compatibility users will be able to use various resolutions for their games.
If you’re interested in Action game Tsukuru (like me) you’ll be happy to know that it’s already being sold on import. (check HERE).
Hopefully we’ll see an English version someday!
==
’till next week!
*A rare occurance: SEGA released some of its software sales figures (thanks: Jeuxvideo);
-Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games was sold 4.2 million times so far.
-Iron Man sold 2.6 million copies.
-Sonic Unleashed sold 2.4 million copies.
-The Incredible Hulk sold 1.6 million copies.
-Empire: Total War sold 810.000 copies.
-Phantasy Star Portable sold 640.000 copies
-Ryu ga Gotoku (Yakuza 3) sold 500.000 copies
Added up that’s roughly 12.5 million copies for 7 games. Impressive!
*We already reported about a new RPG game by Japanese company tri-Ace and SEGA last month. The game was called End of Eternity. SEGA now reports that the game will finds its way to the USA and Europe during spring 2010 and will be called ‘Resonance of Fate’. Check out SegaOnline for some screenshots.
*Wii owners will be able to enjoy another Megadrive game: Pitfall was added to the Virtual Console. (cost: 800 points)
*IGN posted 23 new screenshots of The Conduit. They also posted a lenghty blog entry where Scott Williamson (of High Voltage) gives you all kinds of technical information about the game. Also check out the interview.
The Conduit currently also holds the no1 position in the IGN Wii ‘reader popularity’ chart.
*SEGA Europe posted a trailer of the Wii version (with the motionplus controls) in action. It looks like it’s working like a charm.
*Delayed..or not? Last month rumours floated around that Virtua Tennis 2009 might be delayed untill June. SEGA Europe now told the press that Virtua Tennis 2009 will hit the shelves next week. It’s likely that the delays only concern the American release of Virtua Tennis 2009 (sorry guys!).
*We didn’t inform you of THIS bundle yet, so now might be a good time. A good reason to buy a PS3? Perhaps.
*The list of achievements for the XBOX 360 version of Virtua Tennis 2009 can be seen HERE.
*SEGA Europe’s OutRun the rest competition will end tomorrow at 9AM (GMT). If haven’t recorded your best time yet; better get to it!
*SEGA USA posted large update on a current Phantasy Star Universe event called ‘Shred the Darkness’. They also started a Phantasy Star page on Twitter.
*Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu rated some games and among them was one SEGA release: Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! 2 (DS) scored an impressive 10/9/8/9.
*According to FGN Online SEGA/Sammy are working hard on a HD console called ‘RingWide’. The console features an Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, a DVD drive and WiFi connectivity. The console will be shipped with two controllers including a motion sensing one. SEGA Sammy plans on launching the system in time for the holiday season of 2010.
It all sounds as likely as Nintendo dropping out of the console market, but for once we thought a ‘SEGA’s new system!’ story was worthy of inclusion on the hallowed pages of SEGANEWS.NET, even if it’s just for a laugh.
SEGA managed to have a whopping sixteen games charted in top 10’s this week:
All-format, all prices
[#9](+3) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
All-format, full price
[#8](+3) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
All-format, budget price
[#3](+1) Sonic Unleashed
Wii, full price
[#3](0) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games
[#7](-2) Sonic and the Black Knight
[#8](0) The House of the Dead: Overkill
DS, full price
[#6](0) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
PC, full price
[#1](0) Football Manager 2009
[#2](0) Empire: Total War
PlayStation 3, full price
[#9](+1) SEGA Megadrive Ultimate Collection
PSP, fullprice
[#3](0) Football Manager 2009
XBOX 360, budget
[#7](-1) Sonic Unleashed
[#10](0) SEGA Superstars Tennis
PlayStation 3, budget
[#1](+1) Sonic Unleashed
PlayStation 2, budget
[#4](+1) Sonic Unleashed
PC, budget
[#10](0) Medieval II: Total War Gold Edition
Well, that’s the headline of SEGA USA’s blogpost. I’m pretty sure you all already knew that the likes of Gunstar Heroes, Altered Beast, Comix Zone, Shinobi, Phantasy Star 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles were XBLA bound, to be honest.
So, what’s the news? For starters, you’ll be able to use your ‘old’ download of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with Sonic & Knuckles. If you’re planning to download Sonic 3 as well, you’ll also be able to use that together with Sonic & Knuckles.
Apart from that, Gunstar Heroes, Altered Beast and Sonic 3 will all have online multiplayer functions. Oh and naturally each of the games will have their own set of achievements. More news soon..
*SegaOnline posted a video of the upcoming XBLA release Gunstar Heroes. Relive the days of this classic shoot ‘em up!
*Gametrailers posted a new video of Let’s Tap’s ‘Taprunner’ minigame.’This summer, tap your way to fun on the Wii.’
*Want to be in Ryu ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3)? SEGA started a rather special kind of promotion for its game. Japanese girls (over 18) will be able to send in their voice and picture for inclusion as a character in the in-game cabaret club. Ten girls will be so lucky to feature as CG animations together with their voice. Not sure how it all works out, perhaps the player will be able to ‘date’ these girls.
So, if you’re a Japanese girl reading this blog (what are the odds, eh?) check out the official audition website.
==
Right that’s that. See you next week!
Well, that took some time! It’s been a while since the first game on the Sega Saturn (1996 to be exact) but fans of the games can finally look forward to playing a Sakura Wars game in English.
NIS America (sorry, who?) are bringing the game (entitled: Sakura Wars: So long, my love) to PS2 and Wii this autumn. Perhaps we’ll see an European release as well?
A couple of the game’s features:
-Eight chapters, each consisting of roughly eight hours of gameplay
-Six unique endings
-Bonus features and unlockables.
Thanks to SegaOnline for the news.
If there’s enough retro news each week we might make this a regular feature.
*Pier Solar news: Team Water Melon added an excellent new video in which several of game’s innovations are displayed. (such as the option to use your Mega-CD/Sega-CD for a high quality soundtrack). Pier Solar is starting to look seriously impressive now and can still be pre-ordered!
*HuCAST posted a new video of their homebrew game: DUX for the Dreamcast. The videos shows the ‘Boss Rush’ mode, so expect plenty of action.
*We already reported on Little Ninja a while back, Yuan Works now posted several new ‘work in progress’ graphics on his blog. This could be one funky game!
*Who said the DC homebrew scene was dead? Another project called Elysian Shadows (A 2D RPG for PC and Dreamcast) is currently in development. The developers are giving you a view behind the scenes. A passionate bunch!