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Let's go save some crazy money, with Sega PSN/XBLA sales
Sega is offering discounts on its digital console games this month, on both PSN and XBLA. The regions, timing, and games are all different between the platforms for maximum confusion. In fact, the only thing the two sales have in common is Streets of Rage 2. Through November 29, North American PSN users will be able to get After Burner Climax for $5, and Genesis classics Streets of Rage 2, Comix Zone, and Golden Axe for $2.99 each. Sega's XBLA sale starts November 22 and runs through November 28, and offers 50% discounts on Crazy Taxi (sale price 400 Points), Sega Rally Online Arcade (400 Points), Streets of Rage 2 (200), Outrun Online Arcade (400), Happy Tree Friends (400), and Phantasy Star 2 (200).
Comix Zone coming early and free to PlayStation Plussers next week
The next set of bonuses coming to PlayStation Plus subscribers should tickle fans of old-school beat-em'-ups, as well as fans of egregious misspellings. The latest Sega title to serve as an incentive for the premium program is Comix Zone, the 1995 Genesis brawler that was notable for its clever comic-panel backdrop, as well as its inclusion of "Sketch Turner," the worst-named character in the history of written language. The game will be free for Plus members (and only Plus members) starting August 9, alongside a free DLC pack for Crash Commando and a trial for Far Cry 2. Based on the timing of the past Sega PSN releases, we'd wager Comix Zone will be available for the hoi polloi about one month later.
Sega puts entire XBLA catalog on sale
Frugal, Xbox-owning Sega fans, this is your week! Sega's entire Xbox Live Arcade catalog is currently heavily discounted. Again, that's the entire XBLA catalog, from Altered Beast to Virtual On. See all the discounts after the break. The sale ends April 25.
PlayStation Plus users get free, timed-exclusive Genesis games starting in March
The latest venue for the same set of Genesis ports seen everywhere else is the PlayStation 3's PlayStation Network, which adds another console to the system's retro roster. Sega is releasing them all for free to PlayStation Plus members for a limited time, starting with the March 1 release of Sonic the Hedgehog, which is free to Plus members through April 5. Sonic 2, Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe 2, Comix Zone, and Altered Beast will all follow on the day the previous game is removed. Those without Plus will have to wait for the opportunity to buy these Genesis games for $4.99 each: Sonic won't hit the normal PSN store until March 29, with the other games showing up around a month apart. You could wait for that, or you could get the Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection disc, which has all of these games and 42 more for ... $16.79.
Sega Genesis Classics rising from their graves, hitting Steam and other PC platforms [update]
POWER UP in our gallerySega is bringing a Virtual Console-like experience to PC digital distribution platforms. Sega Genesis Classics is a series of individual Genesis games available for download via Steam and additional, unspecified download services. On June 1, PC users will be able to download Golden Axe, Ecco the Dolphin, Comix Zone, and Vectorman, "from $2.99." We don't yet know how the prices will vary per game, but even if just one is that cheap, it's quite a savings over the $8 Virtual Console price. The screenshots sent out by Sega also include images of Gain Ground, Altered Beast, Space Harrier, Crack Down, Sonic 3D Blast, and Shadow Dancer, so we can expect to see those games from the distant past on PC in the near future. Update: Sega's blog post about the collection clears up the launch lineup: all of these games will actually be available June 1. %Gallery-93483%
XBLA in Brief: Sega Vintage Collection
This week, Sega has dropped six new games onto Xbox Live Arcade as part of its Sega Vintage Collection. These six titles are timeless classics and definitely need no introduction for Sega fans. For the rest of you, expect a crash course in Comix Zone, Altered Beast, Sonic 3, Shinobi, Phantasy Star II, and Gunstar Heroes (400/$5 each).
Second batch of Sega Vintage Collection titles confirmed
Sega has announced plans to release seven more of its classic titles under the Sega Vintage Collection banner later this year, thus confirming one of Xbox Live Arcade's worst-kept secrets. Included in Sega Vintage Collection 2 are Shinobi (arcade port), Comix Zone, Altered Beast, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Phantasy Star II, Sonic & Knuckles and Gunstar Heroes. Interestingly, Gunstar Heroes is the only title also announced for the PSN.According to Sega, each title will include online leaderboards, re-worked graphics (using smoothing filters, not HD upgrades) and most will feature network play (Comix Zone, Phantasy Star II and Shinobi excluded). No word on pricing or release dates but Sega plans to release the titles separately this summer, with Sonic & Knuckles appearing last. Why the delay? With Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 2 XBLA and Sonic 3 XBLA owners will be able to use the classic lock-on feature from the Genesis-era to import Knuckles into each classic adventure. Of course, if patience isn't your best quality, you could just buy Sonic's Genesis Collection now (which doesn't support lock-on).%Gallery-63190%
Achievements confirm XBLA release of Altered Beast, Shinobi, Comix Zone
If a few questionable screengrabs and a handful of ESRB ratings weren't evidence enough for you to believe in the XBLA-bound "Sega Vintage Collection Vol. 2," we now present you with exhibit C -- MyGamerCard recently dug up achievements for Altered Beast, Comix Zone and Shinobi, three of the titles belonging to the heretofore unannounced collection. Sadly, the other three titles which are rumored to accompany them, Sonic 3, GunStar Heroes and Phantasy Star II, are still unspoken for in the Cheevo department. We'll let you know when we hear more!See: Altered Beast achievementsSee: Comix Zone achievementsSee: Shinobi achievements
Rumor: Sega Vintage Collection coming to XBLA
An anonymous source apparently tipped off Dutch gaming site Segaonline.nl to some top secret images of Sega Vintage Collection, a series of retro titles making their way to Xbox Live. The games are what you'd expect; it's classic Sega fare with Gunstar Heroes, Comix Zone, Altered Beast, Shinobi III, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.The images and information seem sound enough to us, but you know how it is with these things. "My uncle totally works at Nintendo," and "My mom is in Bill Gates' book club" are just a few of the lies we've heard when dealing with these types of rumors in the past. So keep that tucked under your cap when you head over to check out the pictures.If you would like a machine to totally butcher the translation for you, then click here.
SEGA classics get ESRB rating, to XBLA soon
According to the ESRB ratings website, a foursome of classic SEGA titles will be making their way to the Xbox Live Arcade (presumably) sometime next year. SEGA's Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Gunstar Heroes, Phantasy Star II and comic book inspired Comix Zone are all listed on the ESRB as "Xbox 360" titles, which sorta lends the games to being XBLA releases. Of course, we're huge fans of Sonic 3 and even Comix Zone, but would you be willing to plop down 400 or even 800 Microsoft points on old-school SEGA gaming?[Via CVG]
VC Friday: Shooting and stealing
And to think, people assume Nintendo's all kid-friendly! Okay, okay, so sometimes the thug lifestyle is a little colorful when it's designed for the Big N. Still, this week's European VC lineup proves that Nintendo's all about being hard ... at least, when it's tongue-in-cheek or in outer space. Check out this wacky trio of titles up on the block today. Any of them strike your fancy? Bonanza Bros. (Sega Mega Drive) -- 800 points Comix Zone (Sega Mega Drive) -- 800 points Gradius (NES) -- 500 points
Sega does what Nintendon't on your PSP
If you're into classic games like me, you're probably eagerly awaiting the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console feature so that you can play not only some Nintendo games, but some Genesis games as well. For those of you Sony fanboys that'll avoid the Wii like its a smelly grandmother, there's finally an alternative: Sega Genesis Collection, a compliation of nearly thirty Genesis games is heading to the PSP. The disc will not only come loaded with the games, but exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. PSP owners can rejoice in knowing that an exclusive wireless multiplayer mode is being created just for them. Maybe it'll even support Game Sharing? (I hope so!) Here's the list of games: Alex Kidd Altered Beast Bonanza Bros. Columns Comix Zone Decap Attack Ecco the Dolphin Ecco: The Tides of Time Ecco Jr. Eternal Champions Flicky Gain Ground Golden Axe Golden Axe II Golden Axe III Phantasy Star II Phantasy Star III Phantasy Star IV Ristar Shadow Dancer: Secret of Shinobi Shinobi III Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Super Thunderblade Sword of Vermillion Vectorman Vectorman 2 Virtua Fighter 2 Whoa... out of breath just reading that list. Visit 1up to see details about all of these classics.
