SEGA Japan have revealed plans for a new Sonic the Hedgehog initiative that will run every month this year. The ‘Sonic 2020’ initiative promises new Sonic news on the 20th of every month throughout 2020 with today’s news being the reveal of the initiative alongside new key art, wallpapers, a Twitter header and profile icons. You can view and download them from this page on SEGA Japan’s Sonic Channel.
It looks like SEGA has big plans for the Sonic franchise this year, so keep an eye on the official Sonic 2020 page to see what new announcements come our way. If you’re a Sonic fan then this is definitely worth bookmarking!
SEGA’s UFO catchers are a staple of the Japanese arcade. This crane game allows players to win exclusive licensed merchandise from a huge range of properties. While similar games have existed in Western arcades for quite some time, the quality of merchandise is often lower quality to what SEGA offer in their UFO catchers.
SEGA Japan also run an online service where people can play on UFO catchers from their computers and still win physical prizes that are then delivered to your home. This service is going to be expanded outside Japan for the first time ever when it comes to the US on December 3rd 2019.
SEGA Catcher Online can be accessed via this link, but the US site won’t go live until December 3rd. Probably best to bookmark it and come back on December 3rd if you’re interested in winning some exclusive goodies produced by SEGA Japan’s SEGA Toys division.
2 new features on some rather obscure Dreamcast hardware have now been added to our hardware section.
To begin with we have a feature on the incredibly rare, Japan-only SEGA Fish Life unit. This piece of hardware was sold to businesses as a way to add a virtual aquarium to their decor.
The other hardware feature we’ve added is on the unreleased Dreamcast Zip Drive peripheral. This peripheral would have connected to a Dreamcast and sat underneath the console and given users access to 100mb zip disks to allow for greater storage space while browsing the internet and downloading additional game content.
Both features contain multiple images of both pieces of hardware.
UPDATE
The event has not gone live yet. It is due to go live on the 20th of November 2019 as per details on the Phantasy Star Online 2 news page.
ORIGINAL STORY
Japanese Phantasy Star Online 2 players have a real treat on their hands as the game now features a crossover event with the Evangelion franchise.
The event features a mission based on the famous Ramiel battle where the fifth angel drills into Tokyo-3 in order to get to NERV headquarters. You can also equip your character with costumes based on Unit-01, Shinji, Rei, Asuka and Misato and there’s a choice of 4 weapon skins with one taking the form of the Lance of Longinus.
You can see all of this in action in the trailer below:
Phantasy Star Online 2 is still Japan-exclusive, but a North American released is scheduled for 2020 on Xbox One and PC. There is still no word on whether the game will release in Europe.
UPDATE 22/03/19: SEGA have confirmed that the character of Kyohei Hamura will be “adjusted” for the final Western release of Judgment, but the game will not suffer a delay. All official trailers and screenshots featuring the character have been removed. The Kyohei Hamura character is likely being re-cast and will now be represented by a different actor in the Western version of the game.
Sales of Judgment have been halted in Japan after the arrest of actor Pierre Taki for cocaine possession. Known as Judge Eyes in Japan, Pierre Taki plays the character of Kyohei Hamura in the PS4 exclusive. This halt on shipments has been done voluntarily by SEGA Japan.
Judge Eyes has been on sale in Japan since December 13th 2018 and is due for a Western release on the 25th of June 2019 under the name Judgment. Presumably, this will now be delayed as the game will likely re-cast Taki’s role with another actor and then re-enter development. There is currently no word on when Judge Eyes will resume shipping or if Taki’s arrest will affect the June 2019 release of the game in the West.
Japanese companies have a habit of dealing with celebrity drug cases in quite extreme ways. It is not uncommon for actors to be entirely stripped of all association to any companies and products they publicise or work with after an arrest involving drugs.
SEGA Sammy are in the process of moving to a new headquarters building in Ousaki, Tokyo. On September 11th 2018 they also held a press conference and took press on a guided tour of the new premises. The move will be completed by next month and there’s some fascinating memorabilia on display in the new building. Check out a selection of photos from inside SEGA Sammy’s new headquarters courtesy of Dual Shockers. It’s worth visiting their article on the new building as they have even more photos of the interior.
SEGA’s Mega Drive mini console has been delayed to 2019 in an attempt to improve the system and aim for a worldwide launch.
The system was previously being developed by AtGames who have a notorious reputation for developing clone systems that don’t perform well or emulate sound accurately. SEGA is now working with a domestic Japanese software developer but the developer has not been named at this time. The statement from SEGA Japan says the developer has “a proven track record”. Could it be M2, the developers of the SEGA Ages ports?
SEGA’s Mega Drive and Genesis mini consoles will launch together worldwide in 2019.
The PS4 home console port of SEGA’s previously arcade exclusive title Border Break has finally been set for August 2nd 2018 in Japan.
The game will be available as a free-to-play digital release that supports micro-transactions, but a boxed copy and a paid digital version will include extra bonuses. These bonuses basically amount to various in game items like an exclusive mech (or “border”) to use, additional parts for the mech (including customisable skins) and digital currency to be used for unlocking items, weapons and mechs in the in-game shop.
Border Break is currently a Japan exclusive PS4 title set to release on August 2nd 2018.
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.
A brand new Sakura Wars game has been announced for Japan. The tactical role-playing series hasn’t had a new entry since 2005’s Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love.
This new title is promised to be set in the imperial city of Tokyo in the Taisho era during 1929. No further details like release dates or what platforms the game will appear on have been revealed at this time.
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