We have reported bits and pieces on this game for a while now, but in case you don’t know; Pier Solar is a brand new Mega Drive RPG title being developed and published by Water Melon Development, a small team of dedicated people, it seems.

The game originally started out as a small community homebrew project, initially dubbed “Tavern RPG,” which later evolved into Pier Solar, and the game production became a more serious project as the Water Melon team was formed.

Anyway, enough of the history lesson, in a recent interview with CVG, Water Melon spoke about how they would like to see the game also appear on current consoles, and are in particular looking at the Xbox 360 as a possible place to see the game in the future.

“We’ve been looking at XBLA since Microsoft opened up to XNA games and it’s a definite possibility in the future. At present though, we’re looking forward to the completion and release of the Mega Drive version, so that we can then start planning for new games. A next-gen port of Pier Solar (or maybe even its sequel) is definitely on the list of things to do.”

I have to admit that I would quite like to see the game appear on XBLA, not just because the platform is lacking in some good old fashioned RPGs, but because I would also like to see Water Melon do well and get their name out there.

If you take a look at the different stages of development the game has gone through since it’s beginning, you can clearly see that the team has put a lot of effort into the game during the time - and I think such hard work deserves some kind of reward.

~Just look how far the game has come since the alpha stages.  Not too shabby considering it started as a community project~

The only question is, would Xbox owners welcome such a game with open arms, or will they shun it?

If you are interested in finding out more about Pier Solar, then check out the official website, where you can find more information, screens, music samples, video and even an early demo of the game.

The game was due out December 24th 2008, but has been postponed until sometime in 2009, no definite date yet given.  But you can still preorder the title at the official site.

[Source: CVG Via Develop]

Nintendo Power had a hands-on preview with the upcoming Wii exclusive title, Sonic and the Black Knight. They gave out a bunch of new info, one being that there will be a multiplayer battle mode. The only other playable characters announced for this battle mode, other than Sonic, are Knuckles and Shadow. You will have to beat them in single player to unlock them in battle mode.

You can either do a free-for-all death match, or work together to take down big monsters. It seems that the multiplayer side wasn’t that great (according to Nintendo Power), so that might be an issue.

The cutscenes in game are meant to look like woodcuts, giving it a old style feel. I think that should be interesting. As for character roles in the game you have Shadow as Sir Lancelot, Knuckles as Sir Gawain and Amy Rose as Lady of the Lake.

[Source Nintendo Everything]

You remember the VMU, visual memory unit, for the Sega Dreamcast? It hasn’t been that long has it? It might not be as amazing as it was back in 1999, but it was mind blowing to me back then. It was like a little game inside a bigger game! What if someone told you that you could play a full RPG on that thing?  Marc Cellucci has left Sega, but in a recent interview with Siliconera he talks about his canceled RPG:

“The one I think I can mention is one I was working on in the Sega.com days — it was an RPG for the VMU. It was a side project being done by about three of us, and we had a full world map, scrolling engine, and game design all fleshed out, when the plug got pulled from on high. In retrospect, they were probably right… I don’t see a VMU RPG changing the fate of the Dreamcast! We still wanted to make it, though.”

Marc Cellucci started his job at Sega doing web work for Dreamcast Network, then started writing for Segasports.com, Sega.com and SegaNet. After this he went to Japan to study Japanese for a couple of years, got a job at marketing. But he went back to Sega, got a Job with AM3 arcade division and worked on the successful Dinosaur King franchise.

What does he do now? He has his own company called Mission One and they’re bringing a Pachinko game to the iPhone. The game is called Sho Chiku Bai and the music is composed by Norihiko Hibino. (worked on Metal Gear Solid series and upcoming Ninja Blade)

[Source Siliconera]

IGN writes about how Jet Set Radio can make a come back, I’m sure a lot of fans want this to happen, including me. IGN says the game should be on the Nintendo Wii, a Sega favorite for IP resurrections it seems. Even though NiGHTS and Samba de Amigo returns haven’t fared all too well in the sales department.

” Co-op or competitive play could allow for more extravagant city-spraying, allowing for teams of players locally to face off against other groups of AI gangs, or online foursomes to take to the streets and spray their own tags against other skate crews online, all with the help of WiiSpeak. Unique, user-made spray icons, taken from the original Dreamcast concept, could be made offline in a simple IR-based editor (or with the help of a connected DS and stylus), with whole crews using those logos not only in-level for basic spray zones, but also as their crew tag in massive online leaderboards.”

We already know that Head Strong games asked Sega if they could do a new Jet Set Radio game, but it wouldn’t be the same without Smilebit. Not saying that Head Strong Games aren’t good developers, just saying I would like a third game by Smilebit, thats all.

[Source IGN]

We finally got some more news on the Aliens FPS being developed by Gearbox Software. In a weird turn of events, it seems that Sega has confirmed the game is coming out the first quarter of this year, even though they haven’t released any information or gameplay footage.

Apparently the game is going to have QTE sections, which could be annoying. It is also going to let you weld down doors and move furniture, all in the sake of stopping aliens from ripping your face off. The game will span six chapters, each with flashbacks detailing stories of the six Marines in your squad.

Still zero news on the Aliens RPG, what a shame.

[Source: Destructoid]

Light gun games made with consoles in mind don’t have that feel that arcade light gun shooters have. Its possibly due to the fact that in a arcade, you have to grab the persons attention within the first 5 minutes, if you don’t you can forget about your game doing well.

In a new interview with Head Strong games, it reveals that the developer does have arcade fans in mind:

“However, we have done our utmost to ensure that it feels like playing an arcade machine — albeit an arcade machine that is out to entertain a paying customer, instead of one that is trying to lever money out of players.”

Don’t fret, apparently there is going to be two unlockable modes that will make you tear your eyes out due to the intensity. One is called Hardcore mode and the other directors cut, that is suppose to have more brutal enemies, extra content in levels and a brutal credit system.

[Source Wii Fanboy]

This is perhaps some news I shouldn’t post, considering we are meant to be a Sega fansite, but even bad news needs to come to light.  Some of this you might have already read a while back, but I’m sure you might read something new too.  It seems that Sega has a bit of a dark side.

Way back in 2006 a blog was setup by an anonymous poster called “jpeg.”  Like most blogs he spoke about his life and work, and claimed to be working in the gaming industry.  I never read the blog, but apparently it was mostly uninteresting, until he started talking about NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams and how he had played the Xbox 360 version of the game, before Sega decided to can it and move it to the Wii.

While his blog posts were not registered by the wider gaming community, it seems some of his complaints about Sonic Team have come to fruition, and he wasn’t just spouting nonsense.  A month or so after writing about NiGHTS, jpeg deleted his posts and said farewell to his readers. 

But his blog posts have been kept alive, by the wonders of technology and Internet archiving. Some of which you can read after the break.

“So a NiGHTS sequel has almost been confirmed (Update - 2/4/07: It’s official now.). If only that made me as happy as when I first heard about it. Unfortunately it doesn’t. You see, working in the games industry affords me a somewhat unique view of the industry, including this game in particular. As much as I’d love to believe otherwise, from what I have seen and experienced of it so far I’m 90% certain this game will disappoint. Of course there are still many months of development left, but unfortunately this is not seen as a “it’ll be released when it’s done” game by Sega bosses… there is a tight and relatively short schedule. Consider this: work didn’t even begin on this Wii version until around Sept/Oct 2006 (up to that point it was being developed for X360/PS3 until those platforms were canned against Iizuka-san’s wishes) and it’s due out this autumn-winter. Take into account the 4-6 week Nintendo submission time and you’re basically talking about roughly a year’s actual development (i.e. coding; not pre-production) time.”

What is most shocking, if true, is Sega Japan’s treatment of Sonic Team in recent years.  Apparently part of the reason they have produced such lacklustre titles, since the Dreamcast days, is because they have been kept on as a form of “sweatshop” to make Sonic-related titles.  Supposedly NiGHTS: JoD only came about because of Iizuka-san’s passion and Sega finally backing down to the fanbase wanting more.  But the transfer of JoD from 360 and PS3 to Wii was against the wishes of Iizuka-san.

“The fact that it’s being made at all is not even a good sign, for this only came about due to a combination of Iizuka-san’s efforts and Sega’s managers finally relenting and giving Sonic Team a brief break from the monotony of Sonic related development (e.g in Sonic Team USA’s case Shadow The Hedgehog) - there is no genuine expectation from Sega’s bosses that this title will perform well and thus they will spare little development time, thought and marketing spend on it. Furthermore I know Sonic Team, by which I mean I know them in person, in a professional sense. I know how they work, and the (difficult) conditions they work under. I also know the aforementioned Iizuka-san, the director of this new NiGHTS game (who was also one of the leading creative forces behind the original NiGHTS). Knowing all this, I am still not hopeful (not, I should clarify, for any lack of faith in Iizuka-san’s talent and commitment, neither of which are in question; but rather because of the environment and conditions he has been forced to work in on this project).”

What is even more interesting is that jpeg actually tried to warn everyone about Sonic Unleashed, over a year before it was announced.

“…before they release another Sonic game with a transforming Evil ‘Night’ Sonic who looks like a werewolf and can stretch his arms out Dhalsim-style. It will happen, mark my words.”

If you want to read more about jpeg’s insight into Sega/Sonic Team, then be sure to check out the archived blog posts here.

Perhaps some of what is said isn’t true, I guess you have to take it with a pinch of salt, but it would certainly explain some of the actions and titles made by Sonic Team in the last few years.

[Source: TSSZ Via Destructoid]

Members of the popular NeoGaf forum have made a art thread with art of their favorite old school games, the art is “what if…” those games where remade in HD. One of the game chosen was Gunstar Heroes!

What did they do with the art? They made one of the coolest PS3 themes this side of the internet and yes it has custom icons! Not a PS3 owner? You can download the HD wallpapers for your PC here.

How to install with a USB drive:

• Download this.
• Make a PS3 folder on the USB and in that folder make another folder titled THEME.
• Drop the file into the THEME folder.
• Plug the USB to the PS3, go to themes and hit install. You should be able to figure out the rest.

So now if Sega is reading this, give us a Gunstar Heroes HD , please? Though if you do, make it with less brown and bloom!

[NeoGaf via Kotaku]

We reported about this before, but now we have some photos of the White “Dragon” Yakuza 3 bundle, that is obviously for Japan only. The console is white with a silver dragons, giving it that gangster look that is very popular with todays teenagers!

The bundle is limited to a mere 10,000 units and will set you back a cool ¥45980 ($490 USD). In the box you get the game, 80 gb Playsation 3 and a white Dualshock 3 controller. For importers, the console is region free to play Playstation 3 games, everything else is region blocked (inculding watching Blu-rays). Release date for the bundle (and the game itself) is February 26, so if you want one, start saving!

[Source Kotaku]

Sega/Sports Interactive has just released the first proper trailer for the upcoming Football Manager title.  Football Manager Live takes the highly popular PC franchise and turns it into a real man’s game.  No longer do players pit their wits against the AI, but now they have to take on other (real) managers from around the world.

Some of the trailer might be a little over the heads of some people (looking at any non-soccer playing Americans/Eskimos), but it did make me chuckle a couple of times, and while the actors might not be of Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp standards (hey I think they are good), they do show off some of the emotions I felt whilst playing Football Manager 2009 late last year.

If they can keep the same addictive quality of FM09 in FMLive, then this should be a cracking game.

[Source: Sega PR]