Legendary Mega Drive programmer Jonathan Miller has sadly passed away.
Miller is one of the key figures behind the GEMS sound driver, alongside Burt Sloane, Chris Grigg and Mark Miller. Miller’s career started with 1991’s Spider-Man vs the Kingpin as a programmer. He would later contribute to the development of Chakan, Taz-Mania, Pink Goes to Hollywood, Taz in Escape From Mars, Wacky Worlds and X-Men 2: Clone Wars.
The GEMS sound driver would go on to be utilised in over 200 Mega Drive games and was a key piece of software for Mega Drive developers in the early nineties. Chances are some of your favourite Mega Drive games are powered by the GEMS sound driver. Miller’s legacy in regards to the Mega Drive is one that has touched upon so many game soundtracks and Mega Drive owners as a result. His contributions go beyond simple music production as the GEMS sound driver is so synonymous with the Mega Drive that an experienced ear can instantly recognise music that has been made with it.
SEGADriven send our condolences to Jon’s family and friends. You can learn more about GEMS via this excellent video essay by GST Channel:
Duranik’s impressive 2013 Dreamcast shoot-em-up Sturmwind is getting a new pressing through independent publisher VGNYsoft. This new pressing comes in 2 editions – a standard jewel case version with a 24 page booklet, or a limited edition that includes everything in the standard edition plus a limited edition sleeve and a custom Sturmwind-branded VMU shell. This version is limited to 500 copies.
While pre-orders haven’t opened just yet, the listings are available on the VGNYsoft online store now. See below for direct links and pricing:
VGNYsoft are based in North America so expected a hefty shipping fee if you live outside the US. You can also check out a new trailer of the game in action via the embed below:
SEGA continue their recent mobile gaming initiative with a new Sonic game called Sonic Rumble. This 32 player online multiplayer game has a similar style and scope to something like Fall Guys where everyone is wrestling their way through the pack to be first across the finish line. There’s a big focus on character customisation that you can achieve by winning rings after successful play. You can check out the reveal trailer below:
Sonic Rumble is due to launch in Winter 2024. You can register for a closed beta test scheduled to take place from May 24th to the 26th by completing a form on the official Sonic Rumble website. You have until May 19th to register if you’re interested.
SEGA Japan have revealed they will publish the upcoming Shadow of the Ninja Reborn in Japan only. Now known as Kage: Shadow of the Ninja, this remake of the original NES game is being lead by Natsume Atari in the same style as Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined. This means we get entirely new artwork and a widescreen resolution. The game’s original composer Iku Mizutani also returns with a remixed soundtrack.
The game is due for release on PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch on the 29th of August 2024. The game will also release in Western territories on Xbox Series X|S consoles, and the PC via Steam. You can check out SEGA Japan’s announcement trailer below:
The follow-up to SRB2Kart is here! Developed by Kart Krew, Dr. Robotnik’s Ring Racers is a Sonic kart racing fan game that is free to download right now for Windows and Mac computers.
Dr. Robotnik’s Ring Racers boasts a huge selection of courses and playable characters, a complete single player Grand Prix mode, local split-screen multiplayer for up to 4 players, online multiplayer for up to 16 players, a time attack mode, replay support and a whole bunch of secrets.
The TeraDrive is a Japan exclusive IBM-compatible PC that also features a built-in Mega Drive. You can click here to read more about it in our website’s hardware section. The computer was released in 1991 and for the longest time the only piece of TeraDrive exclusive gaming software was thought to be a game called Puzzle Construction. This is no longer the case as Archive.org user ZiggyTheHamster has found and dumped a port of Cyan’s The Manhole which was originally released in 1988 for the Mac and developed using HyperCard.
This TeraDrive port of The Manhole is based on the FM Towns version released in 1990. ZiggyTheHamster notes that the in-game action of this TeraDrive port appears to be powered by the PC itself, while the Mega Drive portion of the computer is powering the audio. This is basically a reverse of what Puzzle Construction does which uses the Mega Drive hardware for the in-game action.
SEGA are continuing their run of Apple Arcade exclusive titles with a brand new Puyo Puyo game that will release on April 4th 2024. Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop will be Apple Arcade exclusive and playable in both single player and multiplayer. You can check out the reveal trailer below:
The game is boasting 24 characters that will also introduce some brand new characters to the franchise. The game will also feature a brand new story and fully voiced characters. The overworld and characters are rendered in true 3D, whereas previous Puyo Puyo games have favoured a 2D art style.
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop launches on April 4th 2024 exclusively for Apple Arcade.
A newly expanded version of Shin Megami Tensei V has been announced called Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. This new version of the JRPG will launch on June 21st 2024 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch. The game is being developed in-house at Atlus. You can check out the reveal trailer by clicking the embed below:
The original version of Shin Megami Tensei V launched back in November 2021. The new story line included in Vengeance is boasting new locations, demons and choices to make. The game is being published by both Atlus and SEGA.
Vanillaware’s upcoming tactical RPG Unicorn Overlord now has a free downloadable demo for the Nintendo Switch. The full game will release on March 8th 2024, but any progress made in the free demo can be transferred to the main game once it releases. You can check out a brand new trailer for the game below:
Unicorn Overlord is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. The game is being published by Atlus and SEGA and developed by Vanillaware.
SEGA have revealed the first entirely new Super Monkey Ball game in over 10 years. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is coming exclusively to Switch on June 25th 2024. The game is boasting 200 brand new stages and a new spin dash technique that works similarly to the Sonic the Hedgehog games. This means you can give yourself a burst of speed and open up new ways to progress through the stages. You can check out the game’s reveal trailer below:
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is also boasting 4 player multiplayer in the game’s adventure mode, as well as some exclusive multiplayer variants that support up to 16 players. You can also customise your character with over 300 items. Alongside the digital release of the game, a ‘legendary banana edition’ physical version is also available to pre-order which contains a reversible cover, bonus in-game banana suit for your character a 40 page ‘adventure book’.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a first party SEGA title and is being developed in-house. The game launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on June 25th 2024.
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