PINGAS!

[Source: SEGA of America]

SEGA is once again thanking and showcasing hardcore fans of Sonic by creating another “True Blue Initiative” for Sonic IV, Episode II.

The initiative rewards multiple platform purchasers of the upcoming sequel – in this case, 2 or 4 copies of the game. I think Darren got it last time…and so did I but I never sent in any proof. Here are the details for this round. There are 5 platforms eligible for this – XBLA, PSN, PC, iOS, and Android.

Purchasers of 2 copies will get a shout out on SEGA’s Youtube channel. Purchaser’s of 4 copies will get a signed mini-poster from SEGA of America. At $15 dollars a pop – SEGA is essentially asking you to put down as if you are buying a retail title.

Here are the details: 

• You must submit a screenshot of your purchase receipt of the 2 or 4 versions. You can private message them to me on the SEGA forums or submit them by email to communityteam@sega.com with the subject line “True Blue Initiative”.
• Please include the name you’d like us to mention in the video
• If you are submitting receipts for 4 games, please also send us your full name, mailing address, telephone number (required for shipment), and the name you’d like us to personalize your mini-poster with when we sign it.
• You have until 10:00 AM Pacific Time on Friday, June 15th to submit your receipts.

Between iOS and Ps3…I got 2 copies for sure…I could download a Steam copy ($45). I don’t know…I think I’d be a truer blue if I downloaded Virtua Fighter Final Round with all the Bundle DLC.

[Source: SEGA Blogs]

The excitement for this Sonic title doesn’t seem very high as the last one but I am stoked to play it tonight (whenever PSN decides to update). I gotta go get some PSN point cards as the game will be available for $14.99:

_{“Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II comes complete with a totally reworked physics engine and all-new character animations as it expands the Sonic 4 storyline with new areas to speed through and new challenges to face.”}

Destructoid gave the game a 5 out of 10 review - criticizing the music, level design, and boss battles. However, I’m not deterred because despite how informatively entertaining Jim Sterling’s reviews can be – I have disagreed with him before (Vanquish and Alpha Protocol). This is a good thing because it is always good to understand differing yet valid opinions.

1Up has given the game a B+ stating that they couldn’t get Sonic stuck on a curve.

[Source: SEGA]

I don’t know about you – but I’m currently waiting for the Xbox 360 release of Super Hang-ON (I hear that it is in 3D) and Monster World IV.

That said, this is still pretty awesome because this is the first time Monster World IV (Virtual Console Arcade, 900 Wii Points) has been localized and Super Hang-ON (Virtual Console Arcade,900 Wii Points) is good nostalgic fun – both are arcade port!

No matter how you cut it, it is a pair of great pick-ups for Wii fans. The games were launched in early May.

[Source: Nintendo Life]

SEGA’s strategy for Phantasy Star Online 2 is as intriguing as it sounds risky. The company wants to fix the perception of online RPGS that have been misguided by “pay-for-power” iOS and cellphone titles. Satoshi Sakai stated: ” “By allowing a well made game like PSO to be accessible more people, we felt that we had a chance to teach people that ‘This is what online RPGs are supposed to be like.’”

SEGA essentially want to give away copies of the game for free and only charge for optional extras like customizable living spaces, increased storage space, and trading features. According to Sakai, “nothing that requires payment…will take away from the intrinsic game experience if they are not purchased.” SEGA already has experience in this sector with titles like Kingdom Conquest and Spiral Knights.

This certainly forward thinking of SEGA and this method will hopefully give the game a thriving community in a competitive market shared with titles like Maple Story, World of Warcraft, and Star Wars Old Republic.

_{“We are seeking to create a business model that functions while still allowing PSO2 to remain as much of an enjoyable experience as possible…I honestly think that Sega is the only maker that is willing to go this far. Even if we fail, if we can get people to say ‘They were 5 years ahead of their time’ then I’ll have no regrets. I believe that there’s meaning in the challenge itself.”}

Seriously, too many things SEGA have attempted have been 5 years ahead of its time. That said, while nothing has been confirmed outright, it seem that the code to Alpha 2 build of Phantasy Star Online 2 included references to an North American, English edition.

[Source: Kotaku]

This one is debatable as the “worst” Sonic title ever – but it’s coming to Japan’s 3DS Virtual Console! Set in an isometric view, you guide Sonic as you solve puzzles and collect keys to complete stages.

_{“There are four Zones in the game, with three Acts each. It’ll go up on the Nintendo eShop on May 16th for 300 yen.”}

At least the music is decent. In the meantime, I can’t wait for all those other Game Gear titles that SEGA has hinted at releasing!

[Source: SEGA]

SEGA-SAMMY and Namco-Bandai have gotten in bed together to craft an Idolm@ster slot machine for Japan. This is what makes me scared…I bet this is going to successful and SEGA will in turn give up releasing home console titles and focus solely on digital free-to-play goods and gambling cabinets.

I didn’t mention the Toylets, because I want SEGA to keep making hardware like that!

[Source: Siliconera]

It is time to virtua fight once again and the legendary 3D fighter will land on PSN and XBOX Live on June 5/6respectively. Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown will cost $14.99/£9.99/AUD$18.25/ €12.99 for PSN and 1,200 Microsoft Points for XBLA. The iteration of the series brings back re-hauled mechanics plus the return of Taka-Arashi and a newcomer in Jean Kujo. The title includes a Training Mode, Eight player Online Match Mode, and Match Recording.

I am assuming there will be a straight-up arcade mode as well – at least all the features of the original arcade release. The game will launch with a metric ton of DLC:

_{“Character customization DLC packs will be available immediately upon launch for all 19 fighters, with each character customization pack costing $4.99/£3.59/AUD$6.25/€4.49 for PSN and 400 Microsoft Points for XBLA, and will contain 600-950 customization items. Two additional customization bundle packs, consisting of nine characters’ worth of DLC items and the other with 10 characters’ worth, will also be available at launch for $14.99/£9.99/AUD$18.25/ €12.99 each on PSN and 1,200 Microsoft Points each on XBLA.”}

According to a confirmation by SEGA on Twitter…it sounds like if you only want the DLC items for one character – you should purchase that DLC pack for $5. However, if you want to purchase custom packs for all the characters than you should purchase the two bundles.

The Game + DLC bundle content should cost you $44.97 on PSN or 3600 XBLA Points.

[Source: SEGA]

I am back!

Cliff Bleszinski of EPIC and Gears of War fame played a bit of a doomsday thought experiment when he spoke to Gamasutra stating that he was ever fired from EPIC he’d want to become “a consultant to help Japanese developers make games that are more Western-friendly — not only from an IP perspective, but also from the game mechanics and features perspective.”

Bleszinksi has been inspired by Japanese titles like Resident Evil. He speaks a lot about multiplayer and brings up interesting ways to implement in Japanese franchises like Fatal Frame, Silent Hill, etc. His thoughts on Vanquish are intriguing:

_{“And if you’re going to make a third-person shooter… the fact that Vanquish didn’t have a multiplayer suite was a crime. That IP, it was pretty good as far as being Western, the gameplay was great, and the vibe… I’ve often said on record that if Gears is the kind of Wild, Wild West coal train chugging along, then Vanquish is the Japanese bullet train, with style and everything. There is absolutely no reason I shouldn’t have been zipping around, doing the mega slides, diving up in the air in an arena with other players.”}

I suppose multiplayer might have made the game more marketable but I want is a bullet train sequel to Vanquish. Cliff Belszinski goes one to state:

_{“And whatever reason they had… The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I’m sure the development team got together and was like, ‘Well, we probably shouldn’t do multiplayer because of the budget,’ or the time, but at the end of the day you have an amazing product that was [handicapped] by the fact that it was seen by many gamers as a campaign rental or a used game, and not the $60, day one, gotta have it game.”}

It’s nice to see other designers give Vanquish respect. It is an amazing game. The entire interview is intriguing – check it out: here.

[Source: Gamasutra]

Airships are an RPG mainstay but this one is just frightening. It’s like LEXX meets Japan Moe. I’m scared.

[Source: Siliconera]