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Mega Book Collection Digital Book Is Now FREE

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Yep, you read that right! The ‘Mega Book Collection – A Visual Guide to the Sega Mega Drive’ digital book – the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis visual opus is now totally gratis!

The author, Darren Doyle (Greyfox Books) explains the reason this book has now been released for free:

We attempted to bring this book physically to everyone back in 2021 via crowdfunding but alas we were unable to do so. So going forward, we decided rather than this amazing project to be left sitting on a hard drive gathering dust forever, we made the decision to offer it for free for everyone to enjoy and because we are very nice and generous people here at Greyfox Books and love to support the Sega retro gaming scene.

In case you were wondering, the great big SEGA put the kibosh on this book being published physically. So before they kill the digital one, grab it now! And while you are at it, please consider leaving a donation via the publisher’s PayPal account.

image source: Greyfox Books



The Sonic Pinball Machine That Never Was!

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With all the deep fakes these days, it is hard to tell what is real and what isn’t.

We will never ever know why Sega didn’t capitalise on it’s Sonic franchise back in the 90s by releasing a pinball machine. If Nintendo’s Mario got two pinball machines made, then surely Sonic deserved at least one! But all is not lost, thanks to talented folks like Ryan McQuaid, with his homebrew Sonic Spinball creation being the closest we will ever get to a physical Sonic based pinball machine – albeit a one of a kind.

Then there are folks like Greg Miller, who got us all excited when we stumbled upon his Sonic Pinball Panic machine! Before we dug deeper, the trade magazine-like ad for Sonic Pinball Panic looked like the real deal, even down to the 90s aesthetic and slogans that were bandied around those days. We did get excited for a moment, but then realised we had never ever hear of this machine, even the prototype – could this be fake? Of course it was fake, and Greg Miller didn’t hide this fact – he even explains how he did it!

The renders look so real!

All isn’t lost though, as Greg did create Sonic Pinball Panic in digital form. So, for all those Sonic fans wanting their pinball fix with their favourite speedy blue hedgehog, head on over to Greg’s site and grab the game for your Windows PC or Mac right now!

story and image source: Sonic Pinball Panic



Sega Reboots Classic Dreamcast Games

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According to this Bloomberg article, Sega is gearing up to reboot a couple of iconic Dreamcast titles, Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio as part of their Super Game initiative!

These titles will be first ones released under Sega’s Super Game initiative, which Sega announced a year ago. Sega’s Super Game aims to develop recurring revenue sources and build online communities around its stable of video games.

Mimicking Fortnite’s model, Sega’s Super Game setup will offer their games as free to play, be available across multiple platforms, host large multiplayer contests and include extras like vehicles, construction and social events on top of the usual combat, ensuring they get players to purchase in-game items.

Not sure how we feel about this approach from Sega, but if it works for Epic Games with Fortnite, then we guess that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – if you can’t beat them, copy their business model!



Sonic Statue in Japan Countryside is Restored!

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Earlier in August of this year, there were reports of a Sonic statue in the middle of the Japanese countryside that had been restored to its former glory, but no one knew who restored it and how the heck the statue of Sonic surfing got there in the first place!

According to this Polygon article, the mysterious case had been somewhat solved, with this TheGamingBeaver video stating that they had found a report from a Japanese TV station that was just as curious about the statue’s origins as we all were. It was stated that the statue originated at SegaWorld, and was then sold at auction after it was remodelled. The buyer, Mr. Kadeo, happened to live up a dirt road behind the statue, and the report says that he placed it there as a signpost to direct guests to his place of residence.

The mystery still continues, as there has been no confirmation that Mr. Kadeo was behind the restoration. If he wasn’t, then we wonder if a larger entity (surely not SEGA?!) had played a role in restoring their mascot!

Restored to his former glory!Story source: Polygon / Image source: Twitter

 

Sega Celebrates its 60th Anniversary with a New Console, Maybe

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Well, well, well, the internet went into a mini meltdown with the news circulating that maybe, and this is a big MAYBE, Sega will reveal a new console next week! If this news is true, then we honestly can’t wait, and neither can our Dreamcast – it needs a rest!

Just in case you think we’ve gone bonkers in self isolation, the news broke this week that Japanese digital technology journalist Zenji Nishikawa had hinted at a “huge scoop” during a YouTube live stream. Zenji’s news is set to be published in the June 4 issue of Weekly Famitsu, so mark that date in your diary.

We wish!
source: nerdbacon

For those of you (and us) that want to know what Zenji said, here is the English translation (via Gematsu):

“My column in next week’s issue of Famitsu is crazy. I got a huge scoop… It’s a world premiere article. And an exclusive. It may not be Nikkei or Weekly Bunshun, but if you want to know if it’s a scoop that big…it totally is! It’s a scoop from a game company that everyone loves. An insane scoop. Last year, Wired got the exclusive story on PlayStation 5, right? Other media didn’t. It’s that level of a scoop. I interviewed a certain company’s executive and technical staff, it’s really revolutionary… really, it’s a revolution.

It’ll be in Famitsu next Thursday. I already sent in my manuscript, so the proofs are being made now. It’s a scoop on a level that when the story comes out, other media will make a fuss to the company like, “Why didn’t you let us cover it?” Maybe people will say, “Who was the first to break that story?,” “It was Zenji Nishikawa, right?” It’s a scoop as major as the PlayStation 5 scoop. I just wanted to say that in advance.

I can’t say [anything more] here, but it’s OK for me to tease it (laughs). I was told that it’s OK to do so at various meetings. It’s being talked about in other places. Just not by the media. It’ll rile up the games industry.”

So there you have it folks. Lots of details to speculate on, so we have our fingers crossed that Sega do re-enter the hardware realm to shake things up (and run some cool ads like they used to)!

We Wish Mk II
source: NationStates

source: Sega 60th Anniversary