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segabits

Community, Site News

TooManyGames 2014: “Surviving the Dreamcast Apocalypse” & “The Secret History of the Hidden Palace Zone”


SEGAbits and Sonic Retro made our very first convention appearance together this year at TooManyGames in Oaks, PA. In addition to walking the convention floor, Barry the Nomad, Patrick aka Kori-Maru (Website of the Dead), Sonic Retro’s own David the Lurker and A.J. Rosa (My Life with SEGA) held a panel discussing the life and death of SEGA’s swan song, the Dreamcast. The same panel also included a presentation from Retro, covering the history of Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘s Hidden Palace Zone – with rarely seen footage of Sonic 2‘s release and early efforts to remake the lost zone. We also met with several fellow SEGA fans, gave away a pile of rare SEGA swag, and did we mention the panel was standing room only? SEGAbits (and Sonic Retro) Does.
Also featured in this video is a convention walkthrough with the crew, and a one-on-one bout between Patrick and A.J.
Like this video? Subscribe to the SEGAbits YouTube channel!

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Site News

Shameless Promotion: Sonic Retro @ TooManyGames

SBTMG
It’s almost here.
If you are an avid reader of our sister site SEGAbits (and if you aren’t, shame on you), you more than likely read a news article from last month announcing the “Surviving the Dreamcast Apocalypse: SEGA Fans in the 21st Century” panel that will be part of the TooManyGames convention. That’s right, three days of video game insanity at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, and right smack dab in the middle? A panel by SEGA fans, for SEGA fans. On June 28th, at the stroke of noon, all eyes will turn on SEGAbits Admin/Writer Barry the Nomad, “My Life With SEGA” creator A.J. Rosa, and The Website of the Dead owner Kori-Maru. There will be all sorts of SEGA discussion, reflecting on the moment where the company that ruled our childhoods forever changed, plus never before seen clips from A.J. that’ll be sure to dazzle. But how can you have a panel about SEGA and not touch on Sonic at some point?
Sonic Retro’s own David The Lurker (oh wait, that’s me) will also be there spooling a tale that is both familiar and strange. If you have the entire wiki memorized, you won’t be shocked by anything I have to say, but featured therein will be THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE HIDDEN PALACE ZONE, a trip down memory lane as we reflect on the one level that has captivated the minds of hardcore fans since it was teased in magazines way back in 1992. Missing from the final product, it inspired a legion of fans to create a Sonic Internet community that would have been vastly different had Craig Stitt’s baby made it into the final version. There’s a reason that “Master Emerald” still hides out in our logo.
So if you’re in the Greater Philadelphia area, or have the urge to travel, you can still register to get in. Be it one day or all three, I promise it’ll be a wild and crazy time. And if not…well, the Angry Video Game Nerd will be at the same convention. You can always go bother him afterwards.
For more information:
SEGAbits Original Announcement
Too Many Games Official Site
Too Many Games Attendee Registration

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Podcasts

SEGAbits & Sonic Retro E3 2014 Special


This week’s SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show features SEGAbits/Sonic Retro E3 representatives Shigs and Nuckles as they join SEGAbits editor George in chatting all about SEGA/Atlus’ presence at E3 2014. The discussion covers all of SEGA’s software on display including hands-on impressions of the two Sonic Boom video games, Alien: Isolation and even the Nintendo published Bayonetta 2. On the Atlus side, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Citizens of Earth and many more are covered.
Want to catch all of the SEGAbits E3 2014 coverage? You can by clicking here.
[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

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Game News, Previews

E3 2014 Hands-On Preview: Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS)


(Thanks to Shigs from our sister-site SEGAbits for providing the write up! Go check them out, they’re classy people.)
Nuckles87 and I have been at odds with the Sonic Boom games at E3. While he was more forgiving of Rise of Lyric on Wii U, I found it a dull and mediocre experience overall. However, for Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal on 3DS, I really enjoyed this platformer while Nux was not as pleased. Surprisingly, I agreed with most of his complaints, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the game. So what’s in this game that makes me not only enjoy it much more than Sonic Boom on Wii U, but might be my favorite Sonic game on 3DS? Read on.
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Podcasts, Sega Retro

Interview: Tom Kalinske – SEGA of America’s President and CEO from 1990 to 1996


This is it! The third Console Wars focused episode of the SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show in which Barry and George speak with the man himself, SEGA of America’s former President Tom Kalinske! Tom has an amazing history with the toy and game industry. Before his years with SEGA, Tom served as President and CEO of Mattel, reviving the Barbie brand and creating the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe line. During his time at SEGA, Tom reinvigorated the SEGA Genesis brand, helped in the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, and led the launch of many famous pieces of SEGA hardware including the Game Gear, Pico, 32X, Nomad, and Saturn.
Tom Kalinske’s career is chronicled in the book “Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation” by Blake J. Harris, and if you haven’t purchased a copy yet, do so today. If you’ve read the book, are reading the book, are awaiting delivery of the book, or are simply a fan of SEGA during the 90’s, this show is a must listen!
Also, make sure to check out the other Console Wars interviews including a discussion of SEGA’s marketing efforts with SEGA’s former Director of Marketing Al Nilsen and an interview with the author of Console Wars, Blake J. Harris.
[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

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Interviews, Podcasts

Interview: Al Nilsen, SEGA’s Director of Marketing (’89-’93), appears on the SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show


Al Nilsen, SEGA of America’s Director of Marketing from 1989 through 1993, sat down with Barry and George on the latest SEGAbits podcast to talk about the glory days of the SEGA Genesis. Al and his team were behind everything, including promoting the famous “Genesis Does What Nintendon’t” campaign, the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, implementing the legendary “Sonic 2sday” worldwide launch of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 1992, and rolling out the “Welcome to the Next Level” campaign.
Al’s appearance is in anticipation of the release of “Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation” by author Blake J. Harris, which you can pre-order today from Amazon.com. “Console Wars” tells the story of SEGA vs. Nintendo during the early 90′s, as told from the perspective of SEGA of America president Tom Kalinske. Based on over two hundred interviews with former SEGA and Nintendo employees, “Console Wars” is the underdog tale of how Kalinske miraculously turned an industry punchline into a market leader. It’s the story of how a humble family man, with an extraordinary imagination and a gift for turning problems into competitive advantages, inspired a team of underdogs to slay a giant and, as a result, birth a $60 billion dollar industry.
Expect more “Console Wars” content throughout May, including a podcast with the author Blake J. Harris next week, and a podcast with Tom Kalinske the week after that!
[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

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Podcasts

Swingin’ Report Show and Sonic Talk podcasts look back on Sonic’s Genesis days


March was Genesis month at SEGAbits, but it looks like we love the Genesis too much to stop talking about it! On our two podcasts this week, we kept up the 16-bit spirit by focusing on Sonic’s early titles. In episode 59 of the Swingin’ Report Show, George and Barry are joined by Sonic Retro’s Bartman to look back on Sonic’s spin-offs: Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, Sonic 3D Blast and, only because Bartman brought it up, Wacky Worlds.
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Humor, Podcasts, Sega Consoles

SEGA Channel Retro Highlights: Sonic Lost World Zelda DLC and Sonic on your PC


On our most recent SEGA Channel Retro stream, we got to check out the DLC for the recently released Legend of Zelda Zone for Sonic Lost World. If you think that’s old news, then how about going old school? We also took a look back at SEGA’s attempts at bringing the blue blur to PC with sister site SEGAbits during their Genesis month with a look at Sonic & Knuckles Collection and Sonic 3D Blast (Or Flickies Island if you’re THAT guy…) complete with the awkward bonus stages. We even got a look at SEGA Smash Pack 1 and 2 on PC that features an interesting, exclusive screen resolution for the 2 Player VS. mode in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. All this and more is currently rehosted on our YouTube channel. You can also watch the original, uncut stream on our Twitch page here.
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Game News, Interviews

SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show Interview with Sonic Boom Producer Stephen Frost


 
Hot on the heels of the reveal of the new Western television series and video game Sonic Boom, SEGA of America producer Stephen Frost sat down with SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show hosts Barry and George, as well as David of Sonic Retro, to discuss all things speedy and blue. In this hour long discussion we delve into the genesis of the project, learn more of the team at Big Red Button Entertainment, and get a few hints at what we can expect to see in both the game and show. If Stephen’s enthusiasm is any gauge for what we can expect, we’re in for a real treat later this year!
Learn more about the new branch in the Sonic franchise at the official Sonic Boom website.
[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

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Game News, Miscellaneous

Monday Links: Sonic Gets Punched in the Face Edition

littlemacpunchingsonic
Truly one of the best moments ever captured in a screenshot for a video game.
Anyway, this week includes: an announcement on something coming soon from Sonic Retro/SEGAbits, lots of Sakura Taisen stuff, Bayonetta 2 and even more Sonic Boom details.
Retro/Bits News

  • Sonic Boom producer Stephen Frost will be on SEGAbits’ Swingin’ Report Show later this month! [No link for this one, I just know]
  • Remember that time SEGAbits did a Sakura Taisen themed week? Well, that was last week, so here’s all the stuff that they did:
    – Tuesday Tunes features a live performance of Kimi Yo Hana Yo [With subtitles]
    – SEGA Channel Retro did a streaming marathon of the first four Sakura Taisen games [Wait I thought streaming was our thing]
    – A list of five ways to experience Sakura Taisen [The Not-Really-Weekly Five]
    – Kori-Maru goes back in time to review Sakura Taisen 2 [For the Saturn]
    – Segata Sanshiro shows how manly love can be in this Sakura Taisen 2 commercial [So manly]
    – Segalization decides to join in on the Sakura Taisen fun [Segalization]
    – And finally, the SEGAbits staff members share their thoughts on how they’d like to see the franchise localized [Featuring our very own Bartman]

Sonic/SEGA News

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