Even though Zool debuted as an Amiga title, SEGA fans will remember the original Zool as a Mega Drive, Master System and Game Gear title released back in 1993. Well, the game is being resurrected for a brand new PC port by Sumo Digital Academy and published by Secret Mode. This new port will be titled Zool Redimensioned and features a high definition widescreen overhaul to the visuals. This new version is actually based on the Mega Drive version and features 28 stages, 2 difficulty options as well as new secrets and achievements. Check out the reveal trailer below:
2 new additions have arrived in our SEGA Hardware section in the form of 2 models of Tianli VCD players.
In 1998 SEGA officially licensed Chinese home entertainment company Tianli the rights to make VCD players combined with Mega Drive hardware for sale in the Chinese market. Games were distributed on VCD compilations instead of cartridges and the systems themselves also have 2 controller inputs for use with actual Mega Drive controllers.
Click below to read the 2 articles we now have on the following models of Tianli VCD player:
A brand new PC port of Dizzy the Adventurer based on an unreleased Mega Drive port has been released thanks to the wonderful efforts of The Dizzy Fansite.
This port of Dizzy the Adventurer was originally scheduled for release in a Mega Drive compilation called The Excellent Dizzy Collection, but it was unfortunately cancelled due to time constraints. The compilation would only release on Game Gear and Master System in November 1993.
This completed PC port of the previously unreleased Mega Drive port of Dizzy the Adventurer is available to purchase now from The Dizzy Fansite’s Itch page. It costs a minimum of £10 to purchase.
A small selection of 3 books have now been added to the SEGA Book Catalogue in our Merchandise section. See below for the full list of additions as well as direct links to each feature:
You may have seen the various unused gameplay elements and alternate artwork from this prototype in pre-release footage or the various magazine coverage from the time. This includes the UFOs in Marble Garden Zone, the different neon signs in Spring Yard Zone, the checkerboard ball that Sonic can run on in Green Hill Zone and the different stage titles for Spring Yard Zone and Scrap Brain Zone. Well, they’re all in this prototype and it makes for a fascinating insight into the game’s development.
Fast becoming one of the most important resources for digital archiving of prototype software, Hidden Palace have released another slew of prototype versions of various Sonic the Hedgehog titles. These new dumps of late development builds of Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Spinball and Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine showcase some fascinating insight into their development and feature a slew of differences from their final builds.
Sonic Adventure 2 features many grammatical errors that would be corrected for the final build, Metal Harbor and the final Sonic and Shadow battle are considerably more difficult and the driving stages feature different collision results when driving into other vehicles. The full list of differences can be read on the Hidden Palace entry for this release.
All of these dumps can be downloaded and played through emulation or on real hardware from the Hidden Palace entries linked above. Hidden Palace will be streaming and revealing their “last present from under the tree” tonight (31/12/2020) at 10pm GMT on Twitch, so if you’re excited to see more prototypes from their team then be sure to tune in.
SEGA Forever continue their franchise retrospective series on YouTube with an in depth look at the entire Streets of Rage series. It’s a very interesting little piece that even makes mention of the 8 bit ports and the failed franchise revival from 1999. Check it out via the video embed below:
A brand new book from the publishers of Japan’s Beep! Mega Drive, SEGA Saturn Magazine and Dreamcast Magazine will release in July 2021. This new book is described as a “tankobon & catalog” of magazine “contributions & retrospectives from many former staff, reprints of the famous reader ratings & more”.
The book will also include 10 Mega Drive games for the PC, a Takara Tomy Mega Drive minifig set and 3 volumes of the Sega no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i manga in PDF format. The first 4 Mega Drive titles announced for inclusion with this book are Chelnov, Langrisser, Star Cruiser and Undeadline. The games included have been chosen specifically so they don’t overlap with anything included on the Mega Drive Mini.
Upcoming Monster World IV remake Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World will be getting a few physical editions of varying complexity, from Strictly Limited Games.
The contents of each pack vary; there’s the regular edition which simply gets you a physical copy of the game for either Nintendo Switch or Playstation 4 (there is no physical option for the PC version), followed by the Collector’s Edition which comes with the entire kitchen sink – including your very own squishable Pepelogoo. Finally there’s the Mega Collector’s Edition, which has the contents of the CE as well as some more extras on top; including a sticker, pin badge, and even an exclusive statue of Asha and Pepelogoo.
Most notably though, all physical versions will include the original Mega Drive version of Monster World IV, ported to the respective platform. For Switch owners, it’ll be included on the cartridge, while PS4 owners will receive a download code for the MD title.
According to Gematsu, pre-orders will open later today. They also have a detailed run-down of what each edition contains. If you want one you’ll have to act though; even the regular edition is limited.
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.
In the new year, SEGA are running a 60th anniversary initiative called the SEGA Test. This will be an online course that will contain 60 questions and take roughly 60 minutes to complete. The test will take place 3 times a day on January 23rd and 24th 2021.
In preparation for the test, Hiroyuki Miyazaki, the Chief Contents Officer at Sega of America, is hosting a series of online SEGA history videos and the first is now available to watch below. In this video, Professor Miyazaki discuss SEGA’s console history and the code names used for its various hardware.
A real surprise occurs at 11:36 has Professor Miyazaki shows the Venus prototype of the Genesis Nomad for the very first time. It’s a fascinating look at the console’s development and it clearly uses the buttons of a stock 6 button Mega Drive controller and a directional pad from a Game Gear. Check out the full video below and brush up on your SEGA knowledge so you’re ready for the SEGA Test!
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