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Arduino project has Sega Rally cabinets steer RC cars: like the game with more bruised ankles (video)
We've seen attempts at recreating video game racing in real life. For Artica and The Arcade Man, there's no desire to preserve the illusion -- they've jury-rigged two Sega Rally cabinets to control the strictly real-world racing experiences of RC cars. Their two-machine setup from the recent Codebits VI event in Portugal yanks the original arcade computing power in favor of an Arduino-powered system that maps the steering wheel and pedals to the tiny vehicles through a wireless Xbee link. The setup does make a nod to traditional video games through the cameras, however: drivers can pick either an arcade-style overhead camera or jump to a cabin-level view. The only true challenge during the build process was to find viable displays for the rigs, as the original CRTs proved too problematic for the retrofit. Some might consider it sacrilege to gut a classic cabinet for the sake of some RC action, but the end result is a racing experience that's at once very familiar and yet surprisingly fresh. Spectators had better watch their feet, though -- the competition might get fierce out there.
Uninspiring demo madness: NBA 2K8 and Sega Rally samples now on Live
We love telling you guys and gals about demos, because its the closest we can get to giving you a free game (except, of course, for when we do). But honestly, for the past two Xbox Live demos, we've been stymied about what to say beyond a headline. So, let's get this out of the way: Sega Rally and NBA 2K8 demos are both on Xbox Live. ... Now what?We're not the only ones who are uninspired. Look at the real, actual dash description of NBA 2K8: "Download the demo." Sega Rally's not much better, promising a "unique mix of fun, bumper-to-bumper racing and next gen technology". What does that even mean? Luckily, we have you dear readers to turn to. We're hopeful that your demo impressions will at least make this post worthy of the server space it's taking up. Read -- Demo: NBA 2K8Read -- Demo: SEGA Rally
New Sega Rally Revo details
When SEGA Rally Revo was first announced, we weren't given a whole lot of info. Luckily for SEGA Rally fans, IGN has gotten more details on the off-road racer. Here is what PSP gamers can expect when they pop the UMD into their PlayStation Portable: 34 different cars 16 tracks 6 different environments Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure multiplayer Game Sharing This handheld edition of SEGA Rally Revo isn't a port, but rather was uniquely made for the PSP by Bugbear Entertainment (Flatout). It certainly breeds confidence in the title, when you know the developer has had experience with off-road racing before.
Dev for SEGA Rally Revo calls PS3 and Xbox 360 "equal"
Add yet another console comparison to the pile. This time around, the flame bait can't really be cast either way. SEGA Racing Studio boss Guy Wilday came out calling both consoles equal on development opportunities. SEGA Rally, an arcade favorite since 1995, is making its way to both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 in a title appropriately called, SEGA Rally Revo (gallery below). According to Guy Wilday, both games look fairly identical when comparing graphics, saying "you're really hard pushed to tell the difference." In sync with earlier confirmations made on the PS3 development, he stated, "the learning curve is steeper in that you have to do certain things to get the most out of the platform." It may come as a shock to some developers, but this appears to be concise proof that simultaneous development for both platforms can prove successful with identical results. Now lets get to the good stuff and make that PS3 really shine. SEGA Rally Revo makes its way to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC platforms this September.%Gallery-3246%
SEGA hopeful for Rally Revo demo
Speaking to Eurogamer, Guy Wilday, the head of SEGA Racing Studio, claimed that he'd like to see a pre-release demo of their upcoming title, SEGA Rally Revo, which is set to debut in September. Wilday noted that the team will "look to do potentially 360 and PS3 downloadable demos before release." Not exactly the most concrete of promises, but we'll take what we can get. Wilday further comments that the challenge of creating demos comes from balancing how much of the game one is allowed to play. As Wilday puts it, "We want people to get the experience of the game without giving the game away." Whatever the team decides to do, finishing touches are still being put on the game proper, so the demo will have to wait.With two major racing titles -- Forza 2 and DiRT -- just released for the 360, are you considering SEGA Rally Revo?
Sega Rally skids onto PSP this September
We never really understood what a "garally" was or why we had to say it, but our love for rapidly moving metal objects needs no explanation. Joining the previously announced PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 version on store shelves this September, Sega Rally for the PSP is described by Sega as a provider of "everything its predecessors laid out when defining the rally genre; amazing visuals, superb handling and closely fought competitive racing." And as any rally fan will tell you, the real competition comes in the form of dirt, dust and remorseless trees.In terms of human competition, the game will feature an infrastructure multiplayer mode along with Wi-Fi support. And for those worrying that Sega Rally might be a shoehorned PlayStation Port-able game, Sega assures us that it's been developed from scratch by Flatout's Bugbear Entertainment. Garally![Via PSP Fanboy]
SEGA Rally to feature Infrastructure multiplayer
Sega is continuing its (questionable) love of PSP with the newly announced SEGA Rally. Like Full Auto 2 before it, the game will be built from scratch for the handheld, instead of being a watered-down port of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Bugbear Entertainment will be responsible for the PSP duties. An especially exciting feature of the PSP version is its Infrastructure mode, which allows players to compete over the internet against players around the world. From the press release:"The original SEGA Rally is heralded as one of the all time great video games and this new installment on the PSP is a great example of updating a classic perfectly for today's machines," said Guy Wilday, Studio Director, SEGA Racing Studio. "With the addition of multiplayer Wi-Fi and online multiplayer, there's scope for players to show off their skills against their friends, whilst the excellent PSP screen exudes all the visual qualities expected of SEGA Rally".
Sega Rally video shows off asphalt, dirt and such
The above video shows some of the first in-game footage of the newest title in the popular Sega Rally franchise. What can we say? It looks like another not-bad-but-not-great racing game. While most levels look good, we're kind of at a loss when watching the snow/asphalt level. The tires of the other cars continue to kick up snow even when in a tunnel. Sure, it's nitpicky, but aren't we beyond that level of detail by now? We'll keep our eyes on this game though, since it looks like it'll at least be a decent foray into an otherwise clogged genre.
First video of SEGA Rally Revo, better than DIRT?
Announced last year, the first gameplay footage of SEGA Rally Revo has surfaced. We have to say that the footage has left us a little underwhelmed, especially considering how nice the previously released screens looked. It's certainly not bad, but with heavy hitters like Forza 2 and DIRT coming around the bend, SEGA Rally will have a tough time standing out. The gameplay looks faithful to previous iterations of the series, which is either a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view. The audio in the video awkwardly cuts out towards the end, too, which is a little strange. Still, it's enough to give you an idea of what to expect.So, what do you think, fanboys, does it stand a chance against DIRT?
SEGA Rally Revo, screens and a dirty attitude!
If MotorStorm just isn't enough off-road excitement and you'd like to go for a more... rally approach, SEGA's got you covered. They're reviving the classic SEGA Rally series on next-gen consoles, complete with licensed autos and all the trimmings. The game looks pretty damn nice, to boot. Online capabilities? Naturally. Multiplayer options? Check. Deep, involving storyline about racing against the best drivers in the world as a single-player campaign? Half-credit... it's probably not going to get any deeper than that. While you wait for more details on this game, why not enjoy the limited screenshots available?
New shots of SEGA Rally Revo
Announced at last year's E3, SEGA has released some new screen shots of SEGA Rally Revo. In short, the pictures are dirty, nasty, muddy, and beautiful. We have yet to see the game in motion, but the shots are definitely promising. Dare we hope that SEGA will pull out of its development funk and deliver us a newly re-imagined classic? Let's hope so. A new SEGA Rally and a great port of Virtua Fighter 5 might just rekindle our faith. Check out two more shots after the break. Click any image to enlargenate. Enjoy.
Joystiq interviews Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Q Entertainment
In our final interview from the Develop Conference, Jen and I had a quick chat with Tetsuya Mizuguchi from Q Entertainment (and Rez fame) about the problems western developers face in trying to tackle the Japanese market, Rez 2 (he regrets never making it) and the issue of games that are critically successful, but don't sell so well (Rez again).Earlier on in your career you worked on titles like Sega Rally, Channel 5 and Rez. These are all very different genres and styles of game. What's inspired you to create such varied styles in your games?I don't care about the genre. Somebody once told me that I'm "hopping genres", but I've never really cared about genres. I always think about the human being, the wants that I think people have. Their basic instinct. So my games speak a universal language, so everybody can feel what is fun.
More musical Mizuguchi mayhem materializes
Oh, death by alliteration can be most painful indeed. And yet, it's a risk worth taking when it comes to revealing new PSP and DS games from Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the creative, possibly insane game designer behind Space Channel 5 (and it's swinging sequel), Rez, Sega Rally and of course, the criminally addictive Lumines. Featuring heavy musical components that can often be influenced by the player, his recent titles have demonstrated a knack for style and an unusual ability to impart something vaguely resembling inspiration. If you've played through Space Channel 5, you'll know exactly what we mean.Thankfully abandoning orcs and dynastic warriors for greener and more familiar portable pastures, Mizuguchi is now acting as executive producer on Gunpey-R, short for Gunpey Reverse. Based on an older Wonderswan game, Gunpey-R sees the player -- wait for it -- moving square panels up and down in an effort to create lines running from right to left. Success leads to panels vanishing as ooposed to killing you violently when they claw their way to the top of the screen. The PSP version will feature interactive "skins" (in the same vein as Lumines), whereas the DS version will play different sounds as each panel is cleared.Namco Bandai is taking care of publishing duties in Japan, with American and European releases still unaccounted for. Given the success of Q Entertainment's previous games, it shouldn't take too long before everyone is pulled back into a mesmerizing music-and-rhythm marathon. With such a widespread appeal, music is most certainly a sound route to the home of that elusive casual gamer. See also: Lumines Live to hit Xbox Live Arcade Lumines Plus to drop on PS2 Joystiq's top 10 hidden gems of this generation
