SEGA is to cancel certain titles and cut jobs in an attempt to “streamline” its’ focus.
SEGA have reported a significant loss for the financial year ending 31st of March 2012 and will go under a “structural reform” effective immediately. Reasons for the loss are said to be “challenging economic climate and significant changes in the home video game software market”.
The games that SEGA have cancelled have not been named at this time but the Sonic, Alien, Total War and Football Manager franchises are uneffected.
The European 3DS eShop has been updated to include the 3 Game Gear titles. The titles in question are Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble, Shinobi and Dragon Crystal. Dragon Crystal is priced at £2.70, Shinobi at £3.60 and Sonic at £4.50. The full press release now follows:
“We are pleased to announce that three original Game Gear games are making a welcome return to handheld gaming. Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble, Shinobi and Dragon Crystal are all now available on the 3DS eshop worldwide giving you the chance to overcome past adversities.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble was originally released in November 1994, as a sequel to Sonic Chaos. The platform-oriented game gives players the choice of playing as Sonic or Tails. Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble introduces players to Nack the Weasel for the first time.
Sonic and Tails are tasked with retrieving the Chaos Emeralds which have been scattered across planet Mobius during an experiment, by Dr. Robotnik and his team testing the ‘Atomic Destroyer’ which goes wrong. In the meantime Dr. Robotnik runs into Knuckles and convinces him Sonic and Tails are out to steal the emeralds. Nack the Weasel takes advantage of the confusion to collect the emeralds for himself.
Shinobi, known in Japan as The G.G. Shinobi, was developed and published by SEGA exclusively for the SEGA Game Gear. It was released in 1991 as part of the Shinobi series of games. The music in the game was composed by Yūzō Koshiro.
As Joe Musashi, student of the ‘The Master of Oboro’, you are sent to Ninja Valley which has been submerged by an air of terror and destruction as a dark force has established a base within Neo City. You must use the art of Ninjutsu to free your fellow shinobi, and continue your adventure by mastering their skills.
Dragon Crystal is an RPG which was originally released on the SEGA Master System and ported to the Game Gear in 1991 making it one the Game Gear’s earliest Role Playing Games.
In Dragon Crystal, you must navigate your way through 30 randomly generated, dangerous labyrinths, collecting weapons, armour, magic books along the way. Gameplay combat is turn-based, players positioning during battles is paramount to their success.”
Remember Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse for the Mega Drive? Remember how amazing it was? Well who would’ve guessed that it would get a sequel 22 years later, but that’s exactly what is happening!
The upcoming release of Epic Mickey 2 on 3DS will not follow the same path as its’ console brethren; the developers have seen fit to make it an entirely different game featuring the plucky mouse that follows directly after the events of Castle of Illusion.
Obviously SEGA won’t be publishing Epic Mickey 2 as Disney now publishes its’ own Mickey games, but this should be of interest to anyone who has fond memories of the original Mega Drive game.
Tak Hirai who was the lead programmer on Space Channel 5 and Shenmue is making a rhythm game for the PS Vita called Orgarhythm. The game is being developed by Hirai’s Nelio studio which formed in September 2010.
Famitsu has said the game will blend strategy and music but full details are very scarce at this time. The game will also include co-operative and competitive multiplayer.
UPDATE ON 29/3/12
Please be aware that the zip you have to download to play this game contains 2 infected files; a dll and the main executable. Remove these and use the 64 executable as to not put your computer at risk.
The Sonic Retro fan-game project Sonic 2 HD which aims to recreate Sonic 2 with high definition artwork, has received a new alpha release which is available to download from the project’s official website now.
The SEGA Community Roundtable is back for another edition! This time our contributors discussed their favourite SEGA RPGs and it’s made for some brilliant reading.
Once again, a big thank you to all our contributors who made this article possible. The roundtable is becoming one of the most enjoyable things to collate and it’s fantastic to see what everyone has to say. What a diverse bunch you all are!
The following videos were filmed at GDC 2012 and feature handheld gameplay footage of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II. Check them out to see how the game is shaping up:
Creative Assembly have announced a new Total War game for iOS and Android devices called Total War Battles: Shogun.
Mike Simpson, Creative Director descrbied the game as bringing “Total War’s compelling real-time battles to mobile devices.” He continues; “We’ve designed a fresh new interface, combat mechanics and visuals specifically for mobile platforms through the Unity engine. Players will face absorbing new tactical challenges across an extensive narrative-driven campaign, with numerous side missions to explore.”
The Brand Director Rob Bartholomew adds “This isn’t a Total War PC game experience on mobile devices; it’s a distinct, suitable, immersive and above all high-quality title that sits right for the format. Total War Battles is a new franchise for mobile gaming that inherits the high-quality strategy gaming principles from our core series, but tailored into a game mechanic that specifically fits the mobile format.”
The game will release on both platforms on April 19th 2012.
SEGA’s Ben Harbone may have just let slip that Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia will be coming to download services. In an interview with Gamesreactor, Harbone said “Those are a couple of our most requested games. I can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but we may be working on them.” My mind actually cannot fathom how awesome Shenmue in widescreen HD would be!
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