Sega Nerds

Sega Superstar Tennis interview

Posted by Ryan. Filed under Microsoft Xbox 360, News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Ryan, Sony PSP, Sony PlayStation 3.

Recently IGN court up with Omar Woodley of Sumo Digital to talk about the up coming fan service game Sega Superstar Tennis, which I’m sure you can all tell from the title is a Tennis game that you will love
… I’ll stop now.

They talk mainly about the Wii version of the game but it will be released on all platforms. Worth noting is that NiGHTS and Beat from Jet Set Radio are playable and have their own courts.

Regard ici,

Sega releases Universe at War and The Golden Compass

Posted by Nathan. Filed under Microsoft Xbox 360, Nathan, News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, North America, PC, Sony PSP, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3. Tagged with Golden Compass, Universe at War.

It’s another good week to be a Sega fan, as Sega released two new titles: The long-delayed and much-anticipated Universe at War: Earth Assault, and the not-so-anticipated movie tie-in The Golden Compass.

All RTS fans should do themselves a favor and check out Universe at War on Windows via whatever method they have to: Buy a disc in retail stores, download it straight to your hard drive through Steam, or sacrifice the souls of 10 neighborhood dogs to the demon Beelzebub in trade for delicious strategy goodness.

The Golden Compass, based on the movie, based on the book, is obviously nothing more than a cash cow. Quite appropriate, considering the movie stars real-life cow Nicole Kidman! All serious Sega fans should buy at least one copy immediately. Hell, I’m buying it on all seven available platforms. Twice.

First screens of Phantasy Star Portable unearthed

Posted by Chris. Filed under Chris, Japan, Sony PSP. Tagged with Phantasy Star Portable.

Despite abandoning the most crucial feature (online play) that we’ve all come to love about the last several iterations of Phantasy Star, there’s one thing that remains apparent in this first batch of Phantasy Star Portable screens that have been released - Sega knows how to create great looking games.

In this tiny, portable version, Phantasy Star Portable looks pretty darn good on the PSP. However, it appears that such a feat doesn’t come without a cost as it’s clear by the low resolution character models in some screens. But we should keep in mind that we don’t know how far the game is in its development process, so the graphics could look even better by the time PSP is due for release.

[Via Exophase - see more screens there]

Phantasy Star Portable announced

Posted by George. Filed under Sony PSP. Tagged with Phantasy Star Universe.

The latest issue of Famitsu showed a preview for a new version of Phantasy Star Universe game, for the PSP, dubbed Phantasy Star Portable. The game will feature an all new story mode, two new characters, and a new multiplayer mode that includes local 4 player co-op. No info if this game will feature a online mode.

The two new characters are:

• Vivienne: A new cast that looks like a rabbit, you will be able to team up with her in the new story mode.

• Helga Neumann: The villain in the new story mode, he is wanted for terrorist attacks in the Gurhal System.

The game is set to be released in 2008, in Japan. Lets hope we get a world wide announcement, soon, or this game might join many of the Japan-only Phantasy Star games.

[Via PSO-World Thanks Revenge Of Joe Musashi]

Ecco Jr. hits the Virtual Console

Posted by Hudson. Filed under Nintendo Wii, Retro, Sony PSP, Sony PlayStation 2, Virtual Console. Tagged with Ecco, Sega Genesis Collection.

How awesome? So awesome.

Ecco Jr. hit the Virtual console today for the low low price of $8.

 It’s a lot like Ecco the Dolphin, but with a difficulty level appropriate for small children. In addition, terror does not stalk you at every turn while your air supply threateningly drops leaving you no hope of reaching the sweet relief of the surface and its life-giving oxygen.

There’s also a lot more sea horse herding than your standard dolphin game. Which is to say, any.

Add in the fact that Ecco Jr. is already on the Sega Genesis Collection and you’ve got yourself a hard sell for anyone but unwitting parents or the girl that sat next to you in grade school who drew dolphins on her binder and talked about how much she wanted to be a marine biologist.

 She loved dolphins so much. Maybe a little too much…

EBgames Thanksgiving discounts

Posted by George. Filed under Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PSP, Sony PlayStation 3. Tagged with Full Auto 2, Virtua Tennis.

What’s better than a great SEGA game? A great priced SEGA game.

The sales are supposed to start on the 23rd, but its already started online. Here is the list of discounted SEGA games, that you can get online, right now. All games are new.

• Virtua Tennis 3 for the Playstation 3 19.99.
• Virtua Tennis 3 for the PSP 9.99.
• Full Auto 2: Battlelines for the PSP 14.99.
• Full Auto for the Xbox 360 14.99.
• Condemned: Criminal Origins for the Xbox 360 14.99.

Use the coupon code: SAVER for free shipping.

[via EBgames Ad]

Sega: Golden Compass could be the next Lord of the Rings

Posted by Graham. Filed under G, Microsoft Xbox 360, News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PC, Sony PSP, Sony PlayStation 3. Tagged with Golden Compass.

That might sound a bit crazy to some people, as Lord of the Rings has a massive fan base, and while Phillip Pullman’s trilogy is quite popular, I’m sure there are many people who still have no idea what it is.

“Lord Of The Rings was a fantastic success which not only delivered for the core book fans but also managed to appeal to a wider cinema going audience,” Sega’s UK marketing manager Grant Gie told MCV. 

“The great thing about The Golden Compass is that the story can be appreciated by all age groups. New Line is targeting eight to 80 year-olds for their movie advertising – the best possible audience.” 

But there is some logic to the madness, here.  As there are many fans of the book, who will, no doubt, be interested in the game.  And with the movie coming out, people’s interest, in general, will be high, and I’m sure there will be a frenzy for people to buy the books, and also get their hands on the game.

But to compare it to the mammoth that is Lord of the Rings, is a tad over the top, in my opinion. 

Though, I do wish the movie and game more success, than Lord of the Rings.  In my personal opinion, the Lord of the Rings is greatly over rated, and the only good film was Two Towers (which was excellent), I pretty much dislike everything else about the franchise.  And I have read “His Dark Materials” - the name of the trilogy, from which Golden Compass (better known as ‘Nothern Lights’) derives, and it is excellent.  But that’s my just view.

Anyway (back on topic), according to MCV, Sega are set to do a 3 month online campaign, for the movies launch, a 4 week TV campaign, and have “massive” exposure in cinemas.

[Source: MCV]

Sega releases new Sonic Rivals 2 trailer

Posted by Graham. Filed under G, News, Sonic, Sony PSP, Video. Tagged with Sonic Rivals.

Sega has released a new trailer, for Sonic Rivals 2, on the PSP.  This new trailer shows off some speedy gameplay, plus introduces some of the new multiplayer modes, of which there are to be six in total.

The game is shaping up quite nicely, I think.  Though I’m still not totally convinced about it, as it still looks a lot like the original, to me, which failed to draw me in.  But I’d certainly like to give it a whirl at some point.

Sonic Rivals 2, is being developed by Backbone Entertainment, and is released, in the US, sometime in November.  While all us unlucky Europeans will have to wait for it’s December release.

[Source: Qj.net]

TGS 2007: Day two (quick) overview and what do you want from me?

Posted by Graham. Filed under G, Microsoft Xbox 360, News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3. Tagged with TGS.

TGS day two was actually yesterday, for me - not sure about all you folks in other timezones - But I was not able to update with the round up of the day, because immediately after the show, I went to the main TGS party, and then bumbled my drunken way into the Xbox 360 party, yeah all hard work.  But I was hob-nobbing (so to speak) and met a few interesting people.  And went out for some more drinks afterwards, getting back very late and very wobbly.

So this morning I got a phone call in my hotel room, from one of the guys I met at the party.  It was very early and my head was still spinning.  But my new friend ask if I would like to go to Akihabara, check out some games stores and what-not.  So I spent the day walking around various stores, in incredible heats (for an English man), with a guy who works for Codemasters.

I’m not bragging, but that is my excuse for not giving you another up date, till now.  Also it wasn’t all fun, I have been buying games in Akibabara… games for you guys!  So expect some goodies for a few lucky people upon my return.

Anyway, what happened on day two?

TGS 2007: Day one overview

Posted by Graham. Filed under G, Japan, Microsoft Xbox 360, News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PC, Sony PSP, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3. Tagged with Bleach, Exhibition/ Show, Ghost Squad, Golden Compass, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, Pachinko, Seaman, Sega Nerds, Sega Rally Revo, TGS.

 

Well hello there fellow Sega Nerdians.  It is I Graham, and I have just finished for the day at Tokyo Game Show.

It was a worrying time for a while, as we were told at one point we wouldn’t be allowed Press Passes this year (another sucky thing about not being paid for this job!).  However, I managed to use my cunning, guile and my amazing charms to get myself tickets for all 4 days.  So after flashing my collection of thongs at the lady, and blinding her, I managed to nab a pass, and got into the show.

Right now, I’m incredibly tired and hungry - walking around for some 9 hours definitely wears a hole in your socks!  So because of this, I have decided to give you guys a very quick overview of my experiences today.  A quick guide to some of the games I played, and some brief impressions.

But do not worry, over the next couple of days, I shall definitely be bringing you the goods, with plenty of videos, pictures and honest opinions on the upcoming games from Sega, plus some big games from some other companies - and a few smaller ones.

What did I see/do today?