It’s 2018 and it’s time for another Mega Drive collection for modern systems. This time around we have SEGA Mega Drive Classics for PS4, Xbox One and PC. This collection has been developed by d3t who have previously worked on the SEGA Mega Drive Classics Hub for PC. In fact, this collection is incredibly reminiscent of the Hub and includes the same bedroom menu presentation. PC owners of the Hub will also notice it has now been patched to more closely resemble the collection on consoles, except it still retains its Steam Workshop support for mods.
AtGames have now confirmed their involvement, in a tweet.
UPDATE 16:32
It appears that the SEGA Mega Drive Mini maybe different in design to the AtGames Genesis Flashback. The unit itself is much smaller that the Genesis Flashback making backwards compatibility with actual Mega Drive cartridges impossible. Could this in fact be a newly developed system by SEGA Japan? We will update this article when we learn more.
ORIGINAL POST
SEGA Japan have announced the SEGA Mega Drive Mini for Japanese release.
Details on the exact specifications of the SEGA Mega Drive Mini are sparse at this time, but if it is a slightly altered version of the AtGames unit, it will likely feature the same line-up of Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear and original titles from the Genesis Flashback. It will also include backwards compatibility with existing Mega Drive games via its cartridge port, as well as HDMI out for modern televisions.
The SEGA Mega Drive Mini will launch in Japan later in 2018.
In an article published by Yahoo! Japan, SEGA Games COO Kenji Matsubara has stated the company are looking into bringing back the Mega Drive for a modern audience. This has lead to speculation that SEGA could be planning a proper rival to Nintendo’s massively successful NES and SNES Mini consoles – but unfortunately, the truth is slightly less glamorous.
In the full version of the article, Matsubara states:
“We are considering importing and selling the ‘Sega Genesis Flashback’,… [it] is built-in game software primarily sold in North America & Europe”
The SEGA Genesis Flashback is the latest effort from AtGames. Priced at an eye-watering $80, you’d expect some bang for your buck – but while there are some improvements to AtGames’ much loathed older units, it’s still not on par with Nintendo’s in-house efforts, or even M2’s attempts at rejuvenating Mega Drive titles. Even worse, many of the 85 games on the collection aren’t even classic Mega Drive titles!
As such, Matsubara’s announcement unfortunately doesn’t mean much in the long run; back to hoping for an M2-led Mega Drive release, we go.
When Tracker isn’t playing SEGA games, he’s talking about SEGA games. Or drawing about SEGA games. Or all of the above. You can also catch him over on Twitter.
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.
If you haven’t subscribed to GameHut yet then sort that out right now because Jon Burton of Traveller’s Tales has been revealing some fascinating prototypes of Sonic R, Sonic 3D: Flickies’ Island, Puggsy and Toy Story. Now Burton has gone a step further and explained one of the weirdest little quirks about Sonic 3D – it’s infamous level select glitch. People have wondered for ages why if you wobble or hit the Sonic 3D cartridge while its in the Mega Drive and turned on, why it instantly displays the game’s level select menu. Burton has all the answers and you can learn exactly what’s causing this by watching the video below:
If you’ve never seen it, go and watch Red Bull Music Academy’s fascinating documentary series Diggin’ in the Carts. It interviews loads of Japanese video game composers from its earliest days and right up to the PS1 era. While lots of different composers from many different publishing houses feature, Yuzo Koshiro of Streets of Rage and Revenge of Shinobi fame features in one episode and many contemporary artists heap praise on his revolutionary dance-influenced music.
Despite the fact the series is now 3 years old, Red Bull Music Academy are reviving the Diggin’ in the Carts name for a world tour featuring composers that appeared in the original series. Yuzo Koshiro and fellow Streets of Rage composer Motohiro Kawashima are due to appear at 3 live shows that will also feature many other composers from the series. The dates for these shows are listed below:
– October 22nd 2017, Regent Theater, Los Angeles, USA
– November 17th 2017, Liquidroom, Tokyo, Japan
– November 30th 2017, Fabric, London, UK
Tickets aren’t available just yet but as this information becomes available we will be sure to keep you updated.
Okay so Bubsy is not a SEGA property but the original 2 games did appear on the Mega Drive and publisher Accolade are intrinsically connected with a big part of SEGA history (click here to read more), so we have to let you know that Accolade are back and they’re publishing a brand new Bubsy title called Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back. Yes, really.
Developed by Black Forest Games who are responsible for the rather good Giana: Twisted Dreams, Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back is clearing riffing on the first two Bubsy titles and offers a 2.5D aesthetic, a whole host of yarn-based gimmicks and a snarky attitude to boot.
Check out the announcement trailer by clicking below:
Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back will launch on PC and PS4 in Autumn 2017.
The original Earthworm Jim is a zany, off-the-wall, run ‘n’ gun, cartoon platformer that has earned its place as one of the Mega Drive’s greatest games. A sequel seemed inevitable at the time, but in hindsight, was there really anything that the Earthworm Jim formula needed to improve on?
Myself and Titanscreed from Project Phoenix Productions recently re-launched our let’s plays under their own banner and are now advertised as a show called 8-Bit Phonies. In our inaugural series we played through the Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog but recently we’ve also started a let’s play of Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster’s Hidden Treasure. You can watch the series as it unfolds via the embed below:
Various updates have been made to the hardware section, merchandise sections and some select reviews on the website. Look below for all the new additions and changes on the website:
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