SEGADriven is a SEGA news and information source that focuses on SEGA's console history, retro games and new software hitting the shelves. We want to share a love of great, quirky, clever and down-right fun games - something that SEGA have always specialised in. See below for the latest news, reviews and features added to the website.
Naoto Ohshima and Hirokazu Yasuhara were recently guests at the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco and they gave an hour long postmortem talk on Sonic the Hedgehog.
The entire talk is now available to watch online via the GDC Vault and it’s a fascinating watch that details the creation, design and art direction of the original game. It also features interesting anecdotes and first hand experiences from Ohshima and Yasuhara themselves.
SEGA Japan’s music division Wave Master International have finally struck a deal with a European label to distribute SEGA soundtracks in the West. Wayo Records are working in collaboration with Wave Master and their first release with them is a 3CD soundtrack for Sonic Forces called ‘A Hero Will Rise’. This soundtrack contains the same content as SEGA Japan’s ‘A Hero Will Rise’ soundtrack and there’s currently no plans to release the now Japan exclusive, Sonic Forces Vocal Traxx: On The Edge CD.
The soundtrack can be ordered directly from Wayo Records’s store for €25.00 and the label ships worldwide. The soundtrack also comes with a bonus sticker and poster.
The latest in Bitmap Books’ acclaimed Visual Compendium series is on the way – and it’ll centre on SEGA’s 8-bit machine, the SEGA Master System.
Bitmap’s previous works have included visual compendiums for the Super Nintendo and Commodore 64, as well as artbooks centered on arcade games and an upcoming collection of NeoGeo visuals. Apparently, SEGA are actually involved with this book – making it the first somewhat official entry in the series. There’ll be a Kickstarter campaign to get the book made, starting May 7th.
The Master System was a surprisingly strong contender in the UK, so we’re always happy to see it get some love. It’ll be interesting to see how the book explores SEGA’s unique alternatives to Nintendo’s output – as well as if it’ll delve into the system’s staggering popularity in Brazil.
With Yakuza 6 on the way, and last year’s Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami still relatively fresh on our minds, SEGA has continued the Yakuza series love with the announcement that Yakuza Kiwami 2 (a remake of Yakuza 2 for PS4, in the shiny new Dragon Engine) is coming West. And you won’t be waiting long either, as it’s out on August 28th!
As the official description from SEGA eloquently puts it:
It’s been a full year since Kazuma Kiryu took his leave from the world of the Yakuza during the events of Yakuza Kiwami. Fate, however, has other things in mind for the legendary Dragon of Dojima, and Kiryu finds himself back on the front lines of a potential all-out war.
The game will also receive a steelbook edition, as has basically become tradition for the series now. It’ll be a limited edition though; time to get those pre-orders in!
The Film Distributors’ Association, the UK body for theatrical film distributors, have listed the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie on their site. Notably, it’s been given a later release date than the previously reported November 15th 2019 launch, suggesting the film will launch in the UK on the later date of Friday December 13th 2019.
While films releasing later in the UK is nothing particularly new, this is somewhat notable; as it puts the film a week before the projected release date for Star Wars: Episode IX. Perhaps Paramount are betting on Sonic’s historic popularity in UK stacking up to Disney’s holiday juggernaut? It’s no doubt a risky move, but with a relatively star-studded team behind the Sonic film (including Neal Moritz of the Fast and the Furious series, and Tim Miller of Deadpool), whether it’ll pay off is anyone’s guess at this point.
Tags: release date, Sonic Movie, sonic the hedgehog, uk Posted in News | Comments Off on Film Distributors’ Association Lists Sonic the Hedgehog Movie for a December 13th 2019 Release in the UK
A short teaser trailer revealed at the SXSW Sonic panel appears to be hinting at the release of a new Sonic racing game.
The trailer features some images of a car that looks suspiciously like Sonic’s car from Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing before revealing a logo that is partially obscured. The logo appears to read “Sonic Racing” but it’s only the ‘R’ that’s illuminated; a nice little nod to 1997 Sonic racer, Sonic R.
There are no other details on this title available at this time, although it has been heavily rumoured that Sumo Digital are leading development on the title.
A new 5 part animated series called Sonic Mania Adventures will launch later this year.
The series will be released online for free and it appears to feature animation led by Tyson Hesse who previously collaborated with Studio Yotta on Sonic Mania’s animated sequences.
Check out the teaser trailer by clicking the embed below:
Sonic Mania is getting an enhanced physical release called Sonic Mania Plus. This new version adds Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel as playable characters. Mighty hasn’t been playable in a Sonic game since 1995’s Knuckles’ Chaotix and Ray hasn’t been playable since his one and only appearance in the Japan exclusive arcade title SEGASonic the Hedgehog which was released back in 1993.
This new package also includes something called Encore Mode, a new 4 player competition mode as well as a 32 page art book, a reversible cover featuring a faux-Mega Drive/Genesis look and holographic packaging. That’s quite a substantial upgrade over the previously digital-only release.
Sonic Mania Plus will release for PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch this summer.
The full list of included games has been confirmed by the PlayStation Blog. Notable exclusions from the collection include Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles which is likely due to licensing agreements regarding the soundtrack, which infamously features work by Michael Jackson. We also have confirmation of both offline and online multiplayer for games that support multiplayer options.
UPDATE 1
SEGA Europe have confirmed that the game will feature a new rewind option, a mirror mode and a selection of visual filters. SEGA Europe have confirmed the mirror mode mirrors the entire game horizontally – text and all. There has also been confirmation that Sonic 3 will not be included. The game will support trophies and achievements. An official website is also now live.
ORIGINAL POST
A new SEGA Mega Drive Classics collection will launch for PS4, Xbox One and PC on May 29th 2018.
This new collection appears to be based on the engine powering the SEGA Mega Drive Classics Hub for PC (complete with the virtual gamer’s bedroom), which is bizarre considering this is supposed to be getting a PC port as well. Will it become an update to owners of the SEGA Mega Drive Classics Hub on PC or will SEGA de-list the hub? We will update this story as we learn more.
This collection will feature over 50 Mega Drive titles including Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Space Harrier II, Gunstar Heroes, ToeJam & Earl, The Revenge of Shinobi, Kid Chameleon and Altered Beast.
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