*SEGA USA posted two sets of pictures from the Toronto Fan Expo [1-2]. Plenty of cosplay and even some copies of DC DUX that were for sale..
*Gamefront posted some pictures of a Bayonetta event held in Japan. Footage, drinks and a ‘gallary’. Sound like a good night to us..
*Following Europe, Phantasy Star (Master System version) is now available for American Wii owners. Cost: 500 points.
*You win some, you lose some..but is it all the same? After the recent opening of SEGA Republic in Dubai, SEGA Japan closes three SEGA amusement arcades; Club SEGA Motoyawata, SEGA World Yumetown and SEGA World Hita will all close shop at the end of september. Painful, but considering where SEGA’s losses come from, probably a wise decision.
*Japanese consumers filling out a reservation form for their copy of Phantasy Star Portable 2 will receive one of two promo postcards. Yay!
*It finally made it to Japan: House of the Dead: Overkill. See if you can spot the changes from these screenshots.
*Yesterday we had the boxart for Bayonetta, today we can show you the Japanese boxart for Phantasy Star Portable 2. Check it out HERE.
*The game’s opening cinematic can now be seen at the official site.
*Other new parts on the website are an overview of some of the available races and some battle information.
==
’till next week!
*SEGA USA posted the details of the upcoming XBLA release Sonic & Knuckles, which is due September 9th.
*The Japanese PS3 Bayonetta boxart can now be seen HERE.
*Gametrailers uploaded a new video interview with one of the people behind Alpha Protocol; Andy Alamano.
*SEGA USA had trouble releasing the Genesis version of Earthworm Jim for XBLA, yet SEGA Japan have just announced that the Megadrive version of Earthworm Jim 2 will be available through the Wii’s Virtual Console soon and will cost 600 points.
*The planned PS3 release of 428 was reviewed by the Japanese Dengeki team, the game scored: 95/90/100/85
*German company Millennium 2000 will be releasing a portable system using the Master System technology. If it’s something like the portable Megadrive, it could be interesting.
*If you were watching the Judo World Cup today you might have seen several Sammy billboards. Why? Not quite sure, but it’s still pretty neat to see, anyway.
*J-Pop fans rejoice: The track ‘Something missing’ from J-Pop singer MiChi will run along the Japanese commercials of Bayonetta.
In other Bayonetta news; it’s likely that the game will be region locked for both the XBOX 360 and PS3. Boo.
Finally, the game will include a new mode called ‘Very easy automatic’. Full info HERE.
*Some new scans of Phantasy Star Portable 2 can been seen HERE and HERE.
*If you live in the USA and were planning to bu Alpha Protocol you’ll be happy hear SEGA USA will include a free digital download of Space Siege.
Remember the SEGA Republic story from last week? Well, SEGA USA posted a hands-on report, including plenty of photos of the recently opened Dubai theme park. Check out the rest of the pictures HERE.
All-format, budget price
[#9](-1) SEGA Superstars Tennis
Wii, full price
[#7](+1) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
PC, full price
[#3](-1) Football Manager 2009
[#5](+1) Empire: Total War
PSP, full price
[#8](-1) Football Manager 2009
XBOX 360, budget
[#1](+2) SEGA Superstars Tennis
PlayStation 2, budget
[#5](-) Sonic Unleashed
*Japanese Wii owners will be able to download yet another Megadrive classic via the Virtual Console: Pitfall. It will cost them 600 points.
*You might think Japanese people must have become a liiiittle tired of Puyo Puyo games by now..or not. Puyo Puyo 7 claimed the #7 spot in the all-format software charts of last week, selling roughly 29.000 copies. Sadly, no other SEGA games made the top 30, with Project DIVA dipping to #36.
*‘The fans have spoken - the next Genesis game for XBLA is ToeJam & Earl’. Looks like we got our way, good. See a classic interview with the developers from back in the day HERE.
*The chances that you’ve recently visited a Japanese baseball game are slim but should you’ve visited the Inner-city baseball tournament (in the Tokyo dome) you might seen three intruders next to the cheerleaders on stage. So what’s the deal?
One of the teams playing was a SEGA Sammy one. Other teams were NTT (a large Japanese phone company), Saginomiya (a company that ‘creates happiness for all the emplyees and all human beings’(!?) and the Tokyo Gas company. Oh and SEGA Sammy won their game 5-0. (Not really fair, considering their star player).
See you tomorrow!
*Apart from 2010 ATEI, SEGA will also feature their amusement hardware on the 2010 EAG (the European Amusement and Gaming expo). Official website HERE.
*Apart from games like Rambo, Hummer and Harley Davidson: King of the Road, SEGA dived into an entire new side of amusements: Gun Consoles. You might remember these from some Theme Parks you’ve visited and we must say we are rather fond of them..especially the one that has a target that if hit will squirt a stream of water on an unsuspecting bystander..good times, good times..
*That’s not all though; it almost looks like SEGA is aiming for a ‘100% SEGA machine coverage’ in all arcades, as they just made a big distribution deal with ICE (manufacturer of coin operated amusements, sports, crane, pusher and redemption games).
This means that forthcoming ICE games will by represented by SEGA throughout the world, including Russia, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Germany and many other countries within Scaninavia and eastern Europe.
*American Wii owners can now experience the delight that is Revenge of Shinobi via the Virtual Console. Cost: 800 points.
*SEGA does get everywhere; SEGA has just opened a special theme park in Dubai(!) called ‘SEGA Republic’. Apart from games there’s rollercoasters, a drop-ride and something called ‘The Halfpipe canyon’. More info HERE.
*The mysterious new RPG wasn’t so mysterious after all; it’s Phantasy Star Portable 2. Screenshots and media can be found HERE.
The GamesCom has started and plenty of good stuff made the net already, here’s an overview:
*A completely new entry in the Total War franchise was announced! Meet Napoleon:Total War. Eurogamer preview HERE.
*A new trailer for Vancouver 2010; it’s the new Beijing 2008. Check out some Bobsleigh action HERE.
*Plenty of new Alpha Protocol screenshots HERE.
*New Aliens vs Predator screenshots HERE. Multiplayer info HERE.
*GamesCom or not, we figured we’d post them anyway; some new Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll screenshots HERE.
*An excellent new trailer of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars racing. Alex Kidd and his Sukopako Motercycle make an entry!
*A new trailer and character art from Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics HERE. It has curling, so it’s bound to be a winner!
*Check out SEGA Europe’s Youtube channel for plenty of new videos including some interviews with the people behind such games as Resonance of Fate, Planet 51 and Vancouver 2010.
*New Bayonetta screens HERE.
*Finally, something a little else; UK Comedy writer Danny Wallace will voice one of the characters in Assassin’s Creed 2. So what does that have to do with SEGA? Check out this interview.
*Undoubtly you’ve seen the SEGA voting page for the upcoming XBLA Genesis by now. If you visited it again recently you might have seen it now contains SIX instead of the original SEVEN. What’s more, the game that had a healthy lead, Earthworm Jim, was removed! The story: Gameloft obviously saw the potential of an XBLA Earthworm Jim game and was quick to claim a deal to do one.
Bit of a dodgy story, but at least we should be able to play some multiplayer ToeJam & Earl soon..
*Another interesting story; someone from the Saturn homebrew community has managed to boot his homebrew game (Police Offer Smith) with the aid of a self-developed(!) cartridge on an unmodded system! Read the story and see the pictures HERE. This could be a breakthrough in the Saturn copy protection area!
*If you were expecting some kind of ‘celebration’ by SEGA USA on 09/09/09 because of the DC’s tenth anniversary; forget about it. Mike Hayes (SEGA USA CEO) quoted: ‘Generally we won’t be doing anything that’s official’. Full story HERE.
All-format, budget price
[#8](-3) SEGA Superstars Tennis
Wii, full price
[#8](+1) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
DS, full price
[#10](-1) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
PC, full price
[#2](-) Football Manager 2009
[#6](-2) Empire: Total War
PSP, fullprice
[#7](-1) Football Manager 2009
XBOX 360, budget
[#3](-2) SEGA Superstars Tennis
PlayStation 2, budget
[#5](+4) Sonic Unleashed
*As gruesome as MadWorld turned out; some things just had to be cut. Like this finisher for example.
*SEGA’s line-up for the GamesCom 09 (the games that are showcased):
-Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
-Aliens vs Predator
-Bayonetta
-Jambo! Safari
-Planet 51
-Alpha Protocol
-Resonance of Fate
-Sonic & SEGA All-Stars racing
-Wacky World of Sport
-Vancouver 2010
Pictures HERE.
*Segadatabase network update: Another classic commercial was added to the Segadatabase Youtube channel: NiGHTS into Dreams.
*A small news update from the team behind Pier Solar (the homebrew Megadrive/Genesis RPG); the European version has completely sold out! American and Japanese versions are still available, though.
*Plenty of Dreamcast homebrew projects were updated as well:
-Blocks 2 (a game like Lumines)
-Futbillar (a football/billiards crossover)
-Crimson Fields (A turn-based tactical war game)
*I uploaded a video of the 1996 Tokyo Game Show to Youtube. With games like NiGHTS, Virtua Cop 2, Lunar and Virtua Fighter 3 it sure takes you back.
*Wii Virtual Console update: European gamers are now able to buy the Master System version of Phantasy Star. Cost: 500 points.
*Finally, a quick update on the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 HD project. Good news; it’s still in production. You can check out the latest updates HERE.
Now THIS is the way things should be handled! SEGA USA gives you the option to vote for the next Genesis (Megadrive) game to hit XBLA. Votes can be cast between August 14th and August 21st and you even can vote multiple times (bit strange, perhaps).
Here are our favorite three (in order):
-ToeJam and Earl
-Streets of Rage
-Golden Axe II
Purely based on the fact they are (well, SHOULD BE) multiplayer. Shame the list only consists of seven titles, should’ve been 10 at the very least. Oh well.
Plenty of new media was posted:
-A trailer of the Wii version of Jambo! Safari
-Some ‘work in progress’ screenshots and boxart of Football Manager 2010
-A preview of Alpha Protocol
-A special on the 20th anniversary of the Genesis
In other news:
-As we predicted, two games are now available from the XBOX Games on demand service: there’s Sega Rally (available in Europe) and Sonic the Hedgehog (USA. Cost: $19.95).
-Wired talked to SEGA USA CEO Mike Hayes about The Conduit sales and the future SEGA’s mature titles on the Wii. A good read.
Started on August 12, 2008, SEGANEWS just became 1! Hurrah for us!
All-format, budget price
[#5](-) SEGA Superstars Tennis
Wii, full price
[#9](-1) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
DS, full price
[#9](-) Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
PC, full price
[#2](-) Football Manager 2009
[#4](+1) Empire: Total War
PSP, fullprice
[#6](-) Football Manager 2009
XBOX 360, budget
[#1](-) SEGA Superstars Tennis
PlayStation 2, budget
[#9](-2) Sonic Unleashed
*After the recent release of Virtua Hamster, another unreleased 32X game made it to the net; X-MEN! There’s a video HERE, you should be able to find the game itself with a quick Google search.
*And more unreleased prototype goodness: We did a video of the unreleased Saturn snowboarding game Chill. Check it out HERE and make sure you join our channel!
*Finally, a video we came across, and while it’s already a little older, you just should’ve seen (heard) it! It’s Crazy Taxi on the Master System. Boy oh boy is it catchy.
Remember the competition SEGA ran in which girls could ’win’ to be featured in a Yakuza game? Well, the results are in. Over 1500 girls entered, of which SEGA selected 20 for the ‘final vote-off’. You can see the girls HERE and cast your vote HERE. Our favorite is Noa (no1).
Now, let’s get this thing over with. Kinda sexist, really.