If you’re unfamiliar with the Sonic Cafe line of mobile games they were a series of i-Mode titles released exclusively in Japan between 2001 and 2007. The service is due to be discontinued which has sparked Japanese YouTuber Ruwa into action. Ruwa is currently capturing as many i-Mode games as possible and among them are direct feed captures of various Sonic Cafe titles like Sonic Darts, Sonic Golf, Sonic Jump and Sonic Kart 3DX. It makes for some truly fascinating viewing for Western SEGA fans as these games never made their way across the pond.
There’s also a number of SEGA i-Mode games like Out Run, Pengo and Monaco GP in there. Here’s an incomplete list of SEGA i-Mode games captured by Ruwa. I would list them all but there’s honestly just too many for me to list here. Check out the channel to browse more of his i-Mode captures by clicking here:
For SEGA’s 60th anniversary, the company have revealed a new novelty micro console in the form of the Game Gear Micro.
Currently only scheduled for a Japanese launch on October 6th 2020, the console will be available in 4 colour variants, each bundled with its own compilation of 4 Game Gear titles. Each system will launch for ¥4,980. A special edition bundle is also available which includes all 4 console variants, a set of replica game cases for each of the included titles and a working SEGA Big Window (aka the Super Wide Gear) which allows you to magnify the screen. This will set you back ¥29,980.
The Game Gear Micro will measure 80mm wide, 43mm tall and 20mm deep and include a 1.15″ display. It also includes a single mono speaker, a headphone jack and is powered by 2 AAA batteries. Supposedly you can power the system for a longer period of time with a separately sold USB cable.
The full list of included titles on each of the Game Gear Micro variants now follows:
Black Game Gear Micro
Out Run, Puyo Puyo Tsu, Royal Stone and Sonic the Hedgehog
Blue Game Gear Micro
Baku Baku Animal: Sekai Shiikugakari Senshuken, Gunstar Heroes, Sonic & Tails and Sylvan Tale
Yellow Game Gear Micro
Nazo Puyo: Arle no Roux, Shining Force, Shining Force II and Shining Force: Final Conflict
Red Game Gear Micro
Columns, The G.G. Shinobi, Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible and Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special
SEGA Arcade Pop-Up History is a wonderful idea in concept. What long-standing SEGA fan doesn’t want a book full of pop-up, cardboard models of some of SEGA’s most iconic, deluxe, arcade cabinets? That’s such a goofy and charming little concept that we instantly jumped on board as soon as this was announced on Kickstarter. But after pawing through the finished product, it often feels like the concept was far better than the end result.
The track is available as part of the “Donder Pack Vol. 16”, or on its own from the ingame DLC menu for 79p. The track is the original version of the song from OutRun’s arcade release – also making it quite the endurance run, as it’s a pretty long song!
Namco Bandai UK’s Tweet about the release can be seen here:
Keep up the beat with a pack of 5 new songs for Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! out today on PS4! DLC Vol.16 includes New Stranger, OLGA BREEZE (Sun Scene), MAGICAL SOUND SHOWER, DRAGON SABER and SHOGYOMUJO. #TaikoNoTatsujinpic.twitter.com/2RrKQuhW5C
— Bandai Namco Ent. UK (@BandaiNamcoUK) March 5, 2019
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 SEGA AGES version of OutRun for Nintendo Switch is getting its very own soundtrack release via Wavemaster.
The album encompasses all of the music available in the recent Switch release, meaning the original arcade tracks, the tracks made for the 3DS release, and the new tracks for the Switch release. In addition, the original versions of the songs rearranged for the Switch release are also included, as well as a “SHOCK TRANCE” arrangement of Magical Sound Shower by original composer Hiro.
Advance sales start in Japan on February 23rd at the Tokyo Game Music Show, for roughly £17.60. There’s currently no word of it making it to streaming platforms, but fingers crossed.
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 latest PS4 iteration of Namco’s beloved drum-em-up Taiko No Tatsujin is getting a fresh dose of SEGA rhythm action, as one of the newly announced DLC packs for the game includes music from SEGA’s arcade classic Out Run.
Unsurprisingly, “Magical Sound Shower” is the track being added, considered by many as the Out Run song. It’s not made clear if it’s the original arcade arrangement, a later arrangement from the likes of Out Run 2, or even a new arrangement for the game. There’s not long to find out however, as the DLC pack it’s included in, “Don Na Pack Vol. 16”, will be released in Japan on January 24th 2019, for 500 yen. The pack also includes music from the anime High Score Girl and Darius II.
Also somewhat related to SEGA is the next DLC pack, which was released today in Japan; a collection of Hatsune Miku songs, including the smash hit Senbonzakura. This pack weighs in at a rather fitting 390 yen.
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.
Nintendo Switch owners rejoice – the SEGA AGES re-release of Yu Suzuki’s classic driving game Out Run is heading to Western shores, and now we have a solid release date!
SEGA has confirmed the game will launch on the eShop in Europe and America on January 10th 2019. The game boasts a slew of additions and improvements over the original arcade version, including the car tuning feature and extra music featured in the 3DS release of the game, as well as 4 additional music tracks on top of those (3 of which are actually taken from other Out Run games, remade in the arcade style). It also runs at a smooth 60fps, and even allows toggling between the Deluxe cabinet and Stand-Up cabinet ROMs, with each having slightly different track layouts.
The game has been available on the Japanese eShop for a while, so if you’re savvy you can actually get the game right now if you don’t mind tangling with making a Japanese Nintendo account. For those who can’t be bothered with that, fortunately there’s not too much longer to go until Out Run arrives west.
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.
A fresh batch of screenshots showcasing the M2 SEGA Ages port of Out Run for Nintendo Switch have surfaced. Check out the gallery below to see how the port is shaping up:
This port appears to be heavily based on the previous 3DS port (also by M2). It appears we have new songs with one track in particular called Radiation -Nostalgia Ver.- (perhaps a chiptune version of Radiation from Out Run 2006?), we’ve got a CRT filter that’s made to emulate the look of the original arcade cabinet and an expanded widescreen (but bordered) resolution. The car sprites are also based on the later Shenmue II port of the game which alters the car graphics to make them more indistinct from actual cars like the Ferrari Testarossa. This is likely to avoid a licensing issue.
The Switch port of SEGA Ages is still due to release in Japan sometime this year for 925 yen. There is currently no word on a release date for the rest of the world.
UPDATE 22/11/18 Eurogamer have now confirmed that Out Run will launch worldwide early next year.
Weekly Famitsu have revealed that the next batch of SEGA Ages titles to release on Switch will include Columns II, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Out Run and more interestingly, Thunder Force AC. Thunder Force AC is a weird little title in that it’s an arcade port of Thunder Spirits for SNES. Thunder Spirits itself is also an altered port of Thunder Force III for Mega Drive.
The only new features revealed at this time are that Columns II is getting an online versus mode, while Out Run will featured newly arranged music tracks. There are currently no screenshots, video or release dates set for these titles at this time.
The SEGA Ages line for Nintendo Switch is still currently Japan exclusive. Development on these ports is lead by M2 who previously worked on the SEGA Ages ports to 3DS.
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