Shenmue 3

http://www.ps3center.net/news/4293/sega-talks-shenmue-iii/

Famitsu 360

In this year's issue, Sega talked a bit about the oft-requested Shenmue follow up. It's a title they still think a lot about doing, however, sales are a factor. Neither of the previous games sold well, so Sega is hesitant about returning to the franchise. They reassure fans, though, that if there is an opportunity to revisit the franchise, they would love to do it.

Sounds like Sega is hoping that one of the platform holders fund it, perhaps in return for an exclusivity deal.

"This is significant because this is one of the rare times that Sega Japan has made a positive statement to the media about Shenmue 3"

AfterBurner Climax

Time to fire up the afterburners; kick the tires and light the fires, big daddy!
ABC!!!     Holy mother of God!!
Sega Europe posted a new trailer. And we have an 8 min gameplay video!


http://blogs.sega.com/europe/2010/01/28/after-burner-climax-is-coming/

http://www.msxbox-world.com/xbox360/videos/view/1139/After-Burner-Climax.html


After burner RETURNS TO THE SKIES ON High Definition platforms AND PSP

Break The Sound Barrier In The World’s Fastest Fighter Planes

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (January 28th, 2010) – SEGA® Europe ltd. and SEGA® of America Inc. today announced that the classic arcade game After Burner™ has now returned for a new generation of gamers. After Burner Climax™ features fast and frantic feats, putting you in the cockpit of the world’s top fighter jets. Players will dodge planes, rockets and bullets while trying to target multiple on-screen enemy aircraft. Built for all skill levels, everyone will be able to take to the air and blaze through a branching storyline with over 20 stages. After Burner Climax will be available for download on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and on PlayStation® Store for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Developed by SEGA’s AM2 division, famous for titles such as Virtua Fighter™ and Outrun™, After Burner Climax is based on the latest arcade version in the franchise. Players will square off against a plethora of AI opponents as they dodge, shoot, and barrel roll their way to victory in a variety of the game’s environments. With the Climax Mode, players can activate slow motion, which makes avoiding rockets and bullets easier, and increasing accuracy whilst aiming for those harder to hit targets.

In other news, the classic After Burner: Black Falcon for PlayStation Portable® will be available for download via the PlayStation® Store on the 4th of February. This adaptation is compatible with all PSP versions, including PSP Go. Fly nineteen different real-world officially licensed jets during the course of the game’s 24 supersonic missions, and double the firepower in 2 player co-op mode.

After Burner Climax will be available for download on Xbox LIVE® Arcade and PlayStation® Store in Spring 2010. AfterBurner: Black Falcon is available on PlayStation Store from the 4th of February.

Jambo! Safari Wii

I just finished playing Jambo! Safari for the Wii. This is the home version of a 1999 Sega Naomi (Dreamcast) arcade game that we never received on the Dreamcast home console.

 Overall, this game is fabulous! The graphics and presentation have been changed to cater to the ‘casual’ and younger age demographic for the wii, but if you look past that underneath it is the arcade gameplay that is stellar. The motion controls are easy to learn and easy to use, making the gameplay experience enjoyable overall.

I never got to play it in the arcade but a few times, but the game is really fun. There are 9 stages to play and with the wealth of things to see and do in each stage, this game is lots of value for the dollar. There are some really beautiful stages, 3 of them are like the Africa safari plains, 3 are like wetlands, and 3 are rougher terrain. But each 3 have characteristics themselves, and all feature some really fun stages to play. Some of my favorite are the ones with rain and varied terrain. Some of these stages, the maps are HUGE and you can really go driving and exploring the game world instead of catching animals or working on missions. The game is very fun to play for this reason.

This is a must buy if you are a collector of home Sega arcade games, you won’t regret it. Good things come to those who wait, and I patiently wait for each and every Sega arcade game that is locked in the arcade, for the home version to come.

This year 2010 is going to be fabulous, SegaAllStarRacing AND Afterburner Climax, that is enough goodness to last for years!!

AfterBurner Climax XBLA 99%!!!

Looks like further proof of AfterBurnerClimax heading our way!!

If you look at these screens, gorgeous!!!

http://www.siliconera.com/2010/01/18/after-burner-climax-screens-surface/

http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/after-burner-climax-26-live-arcade-shots_497.html

These screens are Sega HD heaven. = )

http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/screenshot_original-497-0003-39745483.html
http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/screenshot_original-497-0004-93976745.html
http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/screenshot_original-497-0005-75028076.html
http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/screenshot_original-497-0006-72591857.html
http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/screenshot_original-497-0007-30637817.html
http://www.gameswire.net/screenshots/screenshot_original-497-0008-29366149.html

Sky Crawlers and Mamoru Oshii

I just screened “Sky Crawlers” on Blu-Ray last night. The movie is two hours long and a treat for fans of Mamoru Oshii. Mamoru Oshii is the director of this anime film and he is famous for Ghost In The Shell 1 & 2. The music is by Kenji Kawai. Animation is by Production I.G. If you are a fan of GITS1&2, you can definently see the style of Mamoru Oshii in this film! However, this film is quite different from GITS1&2.

This film has themes that are similar to GITS1&2. It features young kids who don’t age, but fly airplanes against others who are the same. These kids go through a phase of trying to understand who they are, similar to the puppet dolls in GITS2. Mamoru Oshii mixes the cel animation of the characters with the CG of the airplanes and it is really beautiful to see in motion. The airplane scenes CG rendering style makes them look like real airplanes without being fake, a style of CG that was found in GITS2. The airplanes design is also different and striking. The HD Blu-Ray makes it even more sharp and detailed, it is a 1080p disc BD-50 with a high bitrate of 25 to 30 mbps.

Oshii features a dog with long ears in this movie, one very similar was in GITS2. Sky Crawlers features a young girl named “Kusanagi,” and she looks similar to Motoko Kusanagi from GITS1&2. GITS1 had some camera angles where it looked like you were viewing the character’s POV from a rounded lens, and this film has several shots like that. Oshii has some really wondrous scenes of blue sky, clouds, and he allows you to just be in thought with yourself as you ponder what the characters are thinking themselves as they journey through the film. GITS2 had a music CG device with bells, and there is a similar one here that shows up occasionally during the film. The film has a great 5.1dd soundtrack, and sounds as loud as gunshots from the airplanes and giant explosions to ones as small as ambient noise really add to the movie experience. The small sound effects come when you least expect it, subtle and artful, timed perfectly with the minimalist anime movements. I watched the film in Japanese 5.1dd and white text English subtitles.

There is a cool Wii game by Namco-Bandai that I plan to check out later. Probably the game that most connects me with Sky Crawlers is Sega AM2’s excellent Propeller Arena for the Dreamcast. Also Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

Overall, it is a great film and one that any Mamoru Oshii fan will not want to miss. It almost feels like an alternate reality film for Kusanagi, as if the character from GITS is experiencing a dream sequence or side adventure. The similar themes and styles from GITS1&2 are enough to connect you to Sky Crawlers, but not so much that the film can’t provide you with its own unique and new viewing experience.

2010-2011 Game List

This is my list of new games coming out for 2010 and 2011 that I am looking forward to:

Afterburner:Climax                   XBLA/PSN    Spring 2010
Sonic & Sega All Star Racing      X360 February 2010
SuperMonkeyBall:StepNRoll       Wii February 2010
Sin&Punishment2                      Wii 1Q 2010
RyuGaGotoku4                          PS3 March 2010 (JPN)
Yakuza3                                   PS3 March 2010
MetalGearSolid:Peacewalker      PSP May 2010
SuperMarioGalaxy2                  Wii 4Q 2010?
Metroid:OtherM                       Wii 4Q 2010?
MetalGearSolid:Rising              X360 2010/2011?
Zelda:WiiMotionPlus                 Wii 4Q 2010?

Sonic & Sega All Star Racing

http://www.sega.com/sonicracing/

Sega's first game for 2010 which is #1 on my list to get is:  Sonic & Sega All Star Racing.   This game will be out Feb. 23, 2010 for Xbox360, PS3, Wii, and DS.   
I plan to get the Xbox360 version.    This game will be spectacular, as it is being created by Sumo Digital, the same amazing game company from Sheffield that brought us Outrun2, Outrun2006, Outrun Online Arcade, Virtua Tennis 3, SegaSuperstarTennis, and VirtuaTennis 2009!!!

It might look like a faster version of Mario Kart, but I'm sure Sumo Digital will make it so much more.  Sega's own attempts at a "sonic" race game which I have played are Sonic R, SonicRiders1&2; all pretty fun games.    This new one looks to take the crown!!

Welcome to Club Sega

Welcome to my blog! I love to play games (interactive entertainment), watch movies/cinema/film, and play golf. These are my three most favorite activities.

I don't have time to write pages about everything I enjoy & experience, so I will keep my entries to a minimum to save you and myself some time to go and enjoy our own lives. However, I feel compelled to blog in order to broadcast my message or ideas that I feel is lacking in the media today.

If you are up for a crazy adventure, thanks for reading my blog!! = )