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From Swirlvision

Here are the release months in which Sega will unleash their latest arcades in Japan. Most are being developed by Sega, while a couple are just using Sega's hardware.

9/??/01 - Project Ikuraga by Treasure (NAOMI GD)
9/??/01 - Alien Front by Sega (NAOMI GD)
9/??/01 - Inu no Osampo (Dog Walk) by Sega (NAOMI GD)
9/??/01 - Mobile Suits Gundam DX by Capcom (NAOMI GD) (new characters, and balanced gameplay)
Late October - Virtual On Force by Sega (Hikaru)

Source: SwirlVision

Sonic 104 Spoilers have been released, and one of the fan artists that has been reported on The Sonic Foundation News Page has been revealed. Read on...

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #104
Written by Mike Gallagher, art by Dawn Best, Ken Penders, Dave Manak and Harvo.

"Freedom Fighters of the Galaxy, Part Two." The tribute to the Guardians of the Galaxy continues. Sonic's troubles in the alternate future version of Mobius go from bad to worse, as the harbinger of doom arrives - and his name is Silver Snively. That can only mean on thing: his master, the incarnation of doom itself, can't be far behind - none other than Robolactus. Can Sonic and the future Freedom Fighters stop this menace before he has a chance to erase them from the history books. "The Return of the Downunda Freedom Fighters, Part Two." A continuation of the confrontation begun last issue, as the Downunda Freedom Fighters square off against Bunyip in a classic-style Sonic tale.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Nov. 16.

Ken Penders had this to say on the matter on his message board:

I had been keeping the identity of my new assistant a carefully guarded secret for some time, mostly because I wanted this person to be able to concentrate on the work while outside distractions were kept to a minimum, especially since this person is still in school.

About the only thing I didn't foresee was the timing of the solicitations for upcoming issues, so it took me by surprise when I learned the game was given away on a website that promotes the comics industry, and thus announced on the SONIC HQ website. After that, it was only a matter of time before the buzz hit the mailing lists.

Since I'm on a couple of these mailing lists, and since word is spreading, I may as well break the news here.

My new assistant is none other than Dawn Best AKA Chordsy.

Since I've recruited her, she has turned in pencilled work based on my layouts for the KNUCKLES stories you'll be seeing in SONIC #101, #102 and #106, as well as the SONIC story in issue #104.

At the moment, I'm preparing the Knuckles script for SONIC #107, which she will do as well as any other Knuckles stories from that point onward. While she is learning from my layouts, it is my intention at some point to eventually cut back to strictly inking as far as art chores for Sonic and Knuckles go and allow her to solo on the pencils.

While others submitted samples of very high quality, it was Dawn's work that Bob and I kept coming back to, and I predict within a short time she'll be leading the vanguard of the next generation of artists on the series.

So let's give her a round of applause. (You deserve it, Dawn.) I also look forward to comments on her work for the letters pages.

Well, I'm certain this will be big news for fan artist fans and comic fans alike. The second artist is slated to make his/her debut #108.

Source: Comics Continuum

GameSpot has finished it's 15 most influencial video games of all time vote, and everyone's fave 'hog pulled in at #9 in the reader voting. Go here to go to the start of these 'awards'. It's interesting to see what the masses consider influencial.

Source: GameSpot

Sonic team must be so happy right about now...

According to Dengeki Online, Phantasy Star Online, Yuji Naka's wondrous online RPG for the Dreamcast has garnered another award. At the Sixth Annual Animation Kobe, Phantasy Star Online received the Best Network Media award, adding to it several awards received from various coventions including TGS and GDC.

I bet Sonic Team's awards shelf is just bursting right now.

Source: IGNDC

From DCIGN:

According to a press release today, major Japanese pachinko maker Sammy has purchased 90% of stocks in Sega's subsidiary SI Electronics for 134 billion yen (roughly USD$1.08 million). With this purchase, Sammy acquires SIE as a direct subsidiary and strengthens the relationship between Sega and Sammy. SIE will be responsible for research and developing the LCD chips to be used in future Sammy pachinko and pachisuro machines.

Sammy is one of the largest pachinko/pachisuro machine makers in Japan, responsible for roughly 78% of total pachisuro machine sales and 8% pachinko machine sales in Japan. With other recent acquisitions, Sammy has been attempting to expand into other areas of the amusement/entertainment industry, including softwares for the PlayStation, cellphones, and other platforms.

Sega, on the other hand, is one of the oldest console gaming software development houses in the world. The sale today is one of many changes with the recent pull out of the hardware home gaming industry by Sega. SI Electronics was responsible for many major components in Sega's Dreamcast entertainment system.

Boring? Probably, but hopefully someone will find this news interesting. :)

Source: DCIGN

If you can read Japanese, take a gander here for Sonic and company footage in VS3. Should be neat, seeing as the game is headed for GameCube as well.

Source: IGNCube

Swirlvision has put up screens and info on the next Bleemcast game, Tekken 3! Check it out here.

From FGN:

Sega R&D AM2 game development department was merged with CSK Research Institute last year to be an independent company according to Sega's strategic decision. AM2 is a leading brand of the arcade game and is now eyeing the field of home videogame development.

The company said, "By taking this occasion, we decided to change our company name by adapting these honorable 'Sega' and 'AM2' brands and restart for goal with refreshed spirit and exiting enthusiasm for success."

According to Japanese reports, CSK will be announcing reorganization plans of the company at the end of the fiscal year. Specifics have yet to be revealed, but insiders suggest that there's a possibility of two of CSK's major divisions, Sega and ASCII, being sold off. These rumors have been follwed up by ones suggesting that Microsoft could swoop down on Sega. Don't you love the Internet?

Probably not tremendous news for most folks, but probably worth putting down.

Source: FGN Online

Well, this news may disappoint some, but at least this is for a good reason...

Although Phantasy Star Online would most likely be completed by GameCube's launch, Naka-san is reconsidering having the game as a launch title. The reason is that Nintendo's online plans will not be set in stone yet, leaving the user without online capabilities - which as you know is a major part of the game. Props to CCB's Game Review for the scoop.

The page mentioned above is in Japanese, just so you know. Anyway, told you it was a good reason.

Source: SwirlVision

The following somewhat major news is from SegaWeb:

We've been reporting for months about the rumors that Sega and Nintendo have teams working on a title featuring the companies respective mascots, Sonic and Mario. After a long silence, Peter Moore has commented on the matter to IGN.

"I think that's just wishful thinking," he said about the rumored project. "But if I got a phone call at four o'clock this afternoon from Japan that said they were doing it, it wouldn't surprise me in the least. We have a great relationship with NCL all the way to Yamauchi-san, who has great regard for Sega and what we've done over the years. There is also an incredible mutual respect, particularly between Naka and Miyamoto. So, yeah -- have we done anything? No. Are they talking about it, I'm sure. Have we announced anything? No. Might we? I bet you that we do."

If that sounds a bit like Peter is leaving the door open for announcements at Spaceworld, you are not the only one.

When asked specifically about Sonic's appearance in Super Smash Brothers Melee for the GameCube, he commented, "Wouldn't surprise me at all if Sonic were to show up in Super Smash Bros. Melee. It wouldn't surprise me at all if two of the greatest videogame development talents in the world sat down and said, 'Hey, we've got to do something together.'" But it's just a rumor at this point. There is nothing definitive. And I'm not holding anything back. But with that said, I've got to believe that conversations are being had."

While far from being a confirmation, we can take Mr. Moore's hedging comments as an indication that the project, in whatever shape it will eventually come in, will happen possibly as soon as Spaceworld, now only three weeks away. We'll have more on this story one way or the other then.

Looks like we're all waiting untill Spaceworld...

Source: SegaWeb