panzer dragoon saga
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Sega Saturn classic 'Panzer Dragoon' is getting the VR treatment
Well, that was unexpected. Out of nowhere, a relatively unknown game developer has announced a VR version of Panzer Dragoon, a beloved rail shooter franchise that started on the Sega Saturn in the mid-1990s. Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record will be a single-player experience that covers various episodes (the series' term for stages) from the original Saturn trilogy, according to a press release. Unsurprisingly, the game will use a first-person perspective, rather than the classic third-person view, and turn the player's VR controller into a handgun. There's no word on when it will come out, though, beyond "2020," or which platforms will be supported.
Man sells life on eBay for $3.5 million, includes chain of gaming stores
Shane Butcher, the owner and proprietor of the R.U. GAME? chain of stores in Florida, has decided to sell his entire life on eBay. The listing includes his house and condo (along with everything inside), three cars, three kayaks, his personal rare game collection, and all three R.U. GAME? locations. Butcher's entire "American Dream" can be yours, all for one low payment of $3.5 million.All merchandise/inventory associated with the retail outlets are included in the purchase price, and all employees "have agreed to give 110% in helping the new owners with the transition," according to the eBay listing. Butcher will hang around as a consultant for six months to ease the transition of ownership, as well as make a year's worth of lease payments in advance for all three locations.A full year of Home Owners Association fees for both residential properties will also be covered, but what we're most impressed with is the fact that Butcher's life bundle includes Panzer Dragoon Saga and a MIB Neo Geo, both of which would probably go for a pretty penny in their own eBay auction.
GameTap: Emulation 'complexity' holding back Panzer Dragoon Saga
We've received a response from GameTap Community Manager Matt Marchini regarding the current status of Panzer Dragoon Saga. First and foremost, Marchini confirm that GameTap does have the rights to distribute Saga, but does not hold the exclusive publishing rights for the game and is not "barring others" from releasing it on other platforms.As to why GameTap has yet to release the game, Marchini -- himself a "self-confessed Sega fanboy" -- told Joystiq, "The main factor keeping GameTap from releasing PDS [is the] complexity of Saturn emulation." (We believe him, the Saturn was notoriously difficult to program for.) He notes that it can take months to properly prepare a single title for release "or worse, to discover that after months of development the game will not be releasable." He adds that it's a matter of the amount of resources needed to release a game versus its worth to GameTap. Naturally, the larger a game's potential audience, the more beneficial it is to GameTap.Thus, it comes down to consumer demand, and that's where you come in. Marchini informed Joystiq that GameTap has set up a poll about Panzer Dragoon Saga on the GameTap blog and said that the company will be keeping an eye on Joystiq's poll as well (be sure to cast your vote below). "If the audience is large enough to justify development time," said Marchini, "GameTap would reconsider the PDS as a higher priority."You heard the man, get to it!%Poll-30086%
GameTap sitting on Panzer Dragoon Saga rights, Joystiq mobilizes masses [update]
Technically, the second half of that headline hasn't happend just yet. We're working on it though, so bear with us. Now, the news: According to GameTap general manager Sene Sorrow, GameTap has the rights to publish Sega's Panzer Dragoon Saga.A little history lesson: Panzer Dragoon Saga received widespread critical acclaim but had a very limited release -- only 30,000 copies in the US -- making it one of the most sought after games out there. Even today, copies routinely sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay. Releasing the game on GameTap would finally give gamers everywhere a chance to play the game without having to explain the credit card bill to angry spouses.The problem, apparently, is that GameTap doesn't see a pressing need to publish the title. GameTap operations lead Jake Armstrong told GameInsano, "It's a good game and a very rare title, so there would be a definite cool factor in getting it out there, but there would be other emulation efforts I would think we would want to work on first."GameTap wants to know what its audience thinks about it though, so feel free to take part in our poll below and let the bigwigs know that you want Panzer Dragoon Saga. While you're at it, go ahead and send an email to Sorrow and make your feelings known: sene [at] gametap [dawt] com.We've contacted GameTap and will update this post with any new information.Update: Joystiq has received a response from GameTap regarding the status of Panzer Dragoon Saga. Click here to read all about it and see how you can help Panzer Dragoon Saga appear on GameTap.%Poll-30086%
