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Let's read this stuff from XenGamers, shall we?:

Sega held their second annual GameJam event last week at the Tokyo International Forum. Drawing an estimated audience of 24,760, the two-day event is essentially a public preview of Sega's software lineup. At this year's show however, Sega had several surprises in store for attendees. To begin, SonicTeam producer Yuji Naka finalized details for the GameCube version of Phantasy Star Online. While the finished version is scheduled for release this summer, Sega plans to release a trial version of Phantasy Star Online for the GameCube this May. Players will be able to preorder the trial version and a GameCube modem for 9800 yen. A separate package consisting of the trial game, modem, and keyboard will also be available for 16600 yen. For reference, the finished version will be officially entitled Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II.

Continuing, Sega-AM2 producer Yu Suzuki confirmed plans for two new GameCube titles, Virtua Fighter Quest and Beach Spikers. Virtua Fighter Quest is described as a mixture of action and RPG elements, and is scheduled for release in 2003. Beach Spikers will be a home translation of Sega's arcade volleyball title, scheduled for release in 2002. According to Suzuki-san, the GameCube version of Beach Spikers will include twice as many teams as its arcade counterpart, and several new play modes including World Tour and A.I., amongst others. AM2 representatives also confirmed plans to release Ferrari F355 Challenge, the second installment in Sega's racing-sim series for the PlayStation 2 this summer. Other titles in development include Power Smash 2 and Aerodancing 4 for the PlayStation 2.

Later in the exhibition, Sega subsidiary Red Entertainment unveiled GunGrave, a new mech-shooter in development for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Scheduled for release this summer in Japan, the game will feature the designs of famous anime director Yasuhiro Naito. While storyline specifics remain undisclosed, GunGrave was shown in playable form at the show.

In terms of playable titles, Sega had an extensive lineup onhand including Gun Valkyrie (Xbox), Sega GT 2002 (Xbox), Shining Soul (GameBoy Advance), REZ (PlayStation 2), PowerSmash 2 (PlayStation 2), Phantasy Star Online (GameCube), Crazy Taxi (GameCube), GunGrave (PlayStation 2), Switch (PlayStation 2), Maze of the Kings (Arcade), Pinball of the Dead (GameBoy Advance), and Soul Surfer (Arcade), amongst others. Below are a handful of pictures taken on location this weekend, our thanks to Tsuno Okashi and Gpara.

I like what they're doing over there with PSO... now only if they did that over here.

Source: XenGamers

Remember "Many Hands," credited for Sonic Super Special #15? Art duties for the main Sonic stories in the Archie comic are slated to be taken over by "Many Hands." This will start with Sonic #113.

From Comics Continuum:

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #113

Written by Jay Oliveras and Karl Bollers, art by M. Hands.

"Cry of the Wolf." Last month readers said goodbye to Lupe and the Wolfpack. This month, witness how they first met and teamed up with the Freedom Fighters. Adapted from a classic episode of DIC's Saturday morning Sonic animated series, "Cry of the Wolf" is an issue-length epic which finds the classic incarnation of Sonic and his friends up against the original Dr. Robotnik and Snively, out to unleash their secret weapon.

Read the full story here.

Ok, the bit about Many Hands taking over is a joke. :P It's just for this issue.

Finally, some news that brings a smile to my face.

It's come to my attention that in the latest issue of CoroCoro Comics, notorious for publishing the new serialized Sonic manga in Japan, an odd message was printed after the most recent installment. It said that starting next issue, Harukaze Santa will no longer be writing or drawing the Sonic manga. However, the manga WILL be continuing, and take a new direction at that.

Brimming with curiousity upon hearing this, I decided to do a little research on the topic. In the end, my fellow Sonicphiles, I have uncovered some very pleasant news in a Japanese article I found:

Naoto Ohshima (Sonic's mother), HIMSELF will be writing and drawing a brand new Sonic manga in CoroCoro comics. There's only one thing I have to say:

^__________________^

This is beyond fabulous. For those of you not in the know, Ohshima was the original designer for Sonic, Eggman and the classic furries. He was also the genius that brought us the visual masterpiece that was "Sonic CD", which many consider to be, visually, the best Sonic game EVER. He created Amy Rose, the Chaotix and, most importantly, METAL SONIC. He had recently left Sega and Sonic Team to begin his own development company, Artoon, who have so far churned out the mediocre GBA game Pinobee.

"When I first found out Sega was publishing a new manga," said Ohshima in the article, "I thought it was a great idea. It's been years since there's been an offical manga for Sonic, much less a good one. I was okay with the idea of Mr. Harukaze doing it at first, but when I thought about it I finally decided to myself how because I no longer work on the Sonic games I should, as his original designer, be the one to bring Sonic to life in this way".

Ohshima said the manga, which will begin publishing in three months time, will follow the existing Sonic stories rather than original adventures. He'll start with one 30 page intro comic (which he promises will be a visual delight whether or not you're a fan of Sonic games), and then jump straight into the "Little Planet saga" (I'm placing my bets on this being a Sonic CD adaptation). According to Ohshima, this new manga will have the same kind of flare that he put into Sonic 1 and Sonic CD designs.

Apart from being able to keep it alive along to even get as far as Sonic Adventure 2 (which he claims to have a slightly different view on), one of Ohshima's sincerest hopes is that this new manga will make it to the West.

"Sonic is a strange character," he also said, "he's been successful in the United States for the exact reasons that he's popular in Japan. That's a real rarity for characters created on the other side of the world. And yet at the same time, neither side has been given the opportunity to appreciate the true integrity with which Sonic was created, and that he carries on to this very day in both the storyline, the world and the character. I hope this manga can finally open that window to everyone, even outside Japan. That is if I can ever get it rolling".

This, my friends, truly is a time for people from ALL parts of Sonicdom to celebrate.

The article translated pretty easy through a basic AltaVista translator from the source, and some clarification from friends. The only thing I couldn't figure out, however, was the title of the article, which was "Yongatsu no Baka".

After a few delays caused by server problems, Other-M has released thier latest issue, as well as a few other updates. Check it out now!

From coremagazine.com...

Sega is gearing up for the release of the latest chapter in their Sonic series on the Game Boy Advance. Scheduled for release on December 20th in Japan, Sonic Advance will feature four playable characters; Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. At first glance the game appears reminiscent of its 16-bit predecessors, however, Sega has a few added goodies planned for Sonic Advance. Specifically, new gameplay elements including rail sliding and several linkup mini-games are expected in the finished version.

The Images

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Source - www.coremagazine.com

Amazingly, there's still new stuff coming out about Sonic 2 Beta. (See the "Hedgehog That Never Was" page in game info if you're unfamiliar with it.)

This post on the Sonic Area 51 message board contains screenshots of 2 badniks seen in the off-center magazine screenshots but not in the beta game itself.

This practically proves that the off-center pics, including the one generally known as "Dust Hill," were from an even earlier version of the Sonic 2 beta. Also found was a never-seen-before fish badnik.

Found on Sega of Japan's site by HQ Forumer Buzzbomber.

New pro art of all 6 characters has been added - a rare event for Shadow and Rouge.

The Sonic Advance box art (Japanese version) ha been released! It features some new character art, in the SA style.

Source: Sonic Online

This was taken from consolewire.com...

With a new price drop and an unexpected surge in demand in Japan, Dreamcast production has resumed, although for a very limited run. CRI, a Sega subsidiary, will produce 2000 black Dreamcast units, which can be preordered starting next week. The final units will ship to customers in February or March 2002. Sega abandoned costly Dreamcast production due to the financial drain the modest-selling console was inflicting on the company. Sega has since returned to its core expertise of game development.

No plans have been announced for the North American market where Dreamcast consoles are available for $50.

Source - consolewire.com