You’re currently viewing the SEGA news archives, filled with wonderful rants, gems, rambles, and other assorted written works of confusion about SEGA games. In all seriousness, it’s mostly news and updates on the SEGA section of the site with a few editorials sprinkled in for good measure.
Sonic CD, notably absent from recent Sonic compilations, is being made available on most major digital distribution platforms. Via SEGA Blog.
Sonic CD, notably absent from recent Sonic compilations, is being made available on most major digital distribution platforms.
Via SEGA Blog.
Sega blog UK:Resistance is down for the count. Sad to see it go, but it was probably time. Via UK:Resistance.
Sega blog UK:Resistance is down for the count. Sad to see it go, but it was probably time.
Via UK:Resistance.
Warm weather, convertibles, girls, palm trees, fast cars, sandy beaches, more cars, the ocean, tons of highway, blue skies… What could it be? California, of course. And what game reminds me of California more than any other? Outrun.
January. The coldest month of the year for the middle of the eastern half of the US. Living here nearly all of my life has made me expect a few things out of this month: snow, cold, ice, sunsets at 5:20, overcast skies, heavy coats, scarves, dead trees, dead grass, cars powdered with road salts, snow tires…
So, it’s much to my happy surprise to find that I’m shipped off to southern California for a couple of weeks in January.
Two things immediately stick out: The weather is great. And the traffic is horrible. (more…)
Out in California, on the opposite side of the US, and what do I happen across? Something I thought I may never see in person: an authentic Virtual On arcade cabinet.
In a semi-random situation, I found myself on the opposite side of the US for the past couple of weeks, and somehow I ended up at the Redondo Beach Pier outside of LA. Little did I know that when I stumbled upon the “Fun Fish Market & Restaurant,” that I’d actually be wandering into an awesome arcade. The place definitely looked the part; Unlike the glitzy sheen of the neon-coated GameWorks and Dave & Busters of today, the dim lighting and concrete floors felt a tad grimy and very well-worn.
So, I perused the place, and in a corner, found some retro machines with classics like Centipede, Galactica, Tempest, and Mortal Kombat. It was definitely worth a quarter to play the original MK, which unfortunately my brain had completely forgotten over the years. The result: Sub-Zero kicked my ass.
I was afraid I spent my quarter too soon, though, when I ran into an arcade rarity: a Virtual On machine
This may be the first time that I’ve ever seen one in person. I checked my pocket and, lucky me, there were enough quarters left for the ultra-expensive, 50-cent Virtual On. I sat down, adjusted the seat, leaned back, grabbed the twinsticks and hit Start.
Virtuaroid… Apharmd, of course.
Now, it’s time to get down to business. The twinsticks on this game seem very natural, and after a couple of seconds, I was jump cancelling like nobody’s business… because I soon realized that the right trigger was broken. Shit. I’ve only the bomb to work with? No melee attacks? No shotgun?
Sucks, but I managed to beat Temjin, and was well on my way to taking out Viper II via clock stoppage until I got cocky. Damn, I wish Sega had made more of these machines.
After years of Sega announcing that Sonic has returned to his roots, it finally happens. Sonic’s back in a solo 2D platforming adventure, but despite the appearance, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 seems lacking.
Sonic the Hedgehog, I like to remember you in your glory years. Your original Genesis games are some of the best sidescrollers I’ve ever played. The sheer size of Sonic 3 and Knuckles is amazing.
The Saturn years were rough. Sonic 3D Blast was probably a sign that the end was in sight. The Dreamcast’s Sonic Adventure was the series’ last hurrah. Blazing fast Sonic levels, an exploration hub, big stories with different points of view told from each character – it all really created an experience. (more…)
That game called Rez finally gets the mass availability that it deserves on the Xbox 360. In this rundown, The Local ditch checks out the new features to see if Rez HD is a worthy release.
Rez, Sega’s techno shooter tale of self-awareness and kinesthesia, saw a limited release on the Dreamcast and PS2 in 2001. In 2008, mass availability finally happened when the game arrived on Xbox Live and was later packed with Lumines Live and E4 in the Qubed set.
I like Rez. Rez is still Rez. Rez is still good. The selling point, of course, is that the game is in HD, with enhanced resolutions and a 5.1 channel mix. No doubt, the additions complement the game. The sharper images give the Tron-like world a nice clarity, while extra effects, like bloom, help push the game’s visuals over the top. (more…)
Rumor has it that SEGA may be creating a Dreamcast collection for release on the XBOX 360 and PS3 consoles. Via Fudzilla.
Rumor has it that SEGA may be creating a Dreamcast collection for release on the XBOX 360 and PS3 consoles.
Via Fudzilla.
Can it be? Shenmue returns, but only as a sidestory on a mobile device. Via joystiq.
Can it be? Shenmue returns, but only as a sidestory on a mobile device.
Via joystiq.
A few days ago, I received an e-mail asking if I wanted to put some maps to the I ’76 levels on the site. After checking them out, the answer was a definite, “Yes,” so those are up on the site in the I ’76 Downloads and through the I ’76 walkthrough. I went and […]
A few days ago, I received an e-mail asking if I wanted to put some maps to the I ’76 levels on the site. After checking them out, the answer was a definite, “Yes,” so those are up on the site in the I ’76 Downloads and through the I ’76 walkthrough.
I went and cleaned up some the of I ’76 links last week and it seemed like I should do the same for the other sections of the site. So, the Battlezone and BZII sections have had all of the broken external links removed.
There are a few small changes to some pages on the SEGA section, but I can’t even recall what they are.
As usual, there’s some behind-the-scenes stuff as well, most of which isn’t noticeable.
Updates:
Battlezone Links – Old links removed
Battlezone II Links – Old links removed
Interstate ’76 Downloads – I ’76 Maps added
Interstate ’76 Walkthrough – New maps for maze levels
Another set of updates has been added to the site. With the turkey-fuel provided over the weekend, I’ve been given the energy for a rather large update. As promised, for Interstate ’76, I’ve added in a scanned version of its quick reference card. If you need it, at least there’s a place out there on […]
Another set of updates has been added to the site. With the turkey-fuel provided over the weekend, I’ve been given the energy for a rather large update.
As promised, for Interstate ’76, I’ve added in a scanned version of its quick reference card. If you need it, at least there’s a place out there on the web that has it. While I was at it, I figured I’d add up the key card for Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries as well.
The Battle Zone site gets a quick update. At the bottom of each page is a link to the other pages. In case you find your way here through a search engine, you can still navigate around without the frame on the left hand side.
One of the links in the Mech 2 FAQ was old, so it’s been pointed to the right spot.
Speaking of FAQs, the I ’76 FAQ is updated with some new and refined info. In case you’re tired of setting down the hardware acceleration on your computer just for a game of I ’76, there’s a fix for that.
The Q&A has been brought up to date, so the three e-mails I’ve received in the last two years are up.
On the Sega side, the Rez section has some more info/screenshots about its pre-release versions and I’ve got some pictures up of the real-world Shenmue locations.
Behind the scenes, I’ve installed Google Analytics. The stats about the site are fascinating – where traffic comes from, how long people browse the site, what pages are looked at, which aren’t. In case you’re wondering, this site is most popular in Germany (I have no idea why) and the least visited portions are BZII and Deus Ex. Most popular? You guessed it, Interstate ’76, Battle Zone, and Mechwarrior.
It seems like I’m leaving some things off, so look around.
Updates:
Battle Zone – Navigation all around
I ’76 Downloads – Key Card
Interstate ’76 FAQ – New info
Mechwarrior 2 FAQ – Link is corrected
Mercenaries Downloads – Key Card
Q&A – Three new questions almost answered
Rez – K-Project and Vibes Info
Shenmue – Real-world Locations
Local Ditch Gaming