Just like their predecessor, House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut, House of the Dead 3 and House of the Dead 4 will have Move support. With Move support players can still get that arcade-style experience while playing in their living room. Sega also stated the games were updated with HD graphics and trophies.

House of the Dead 3 was originally released in 2002 but only came to the original XBOX in 2003 and the Wii in 2008. House of the Dead 4, which hit North America in 2006, never left arcades. House of the Dead 3 will be available from the PlayStation Network on February 7th. House of the Dead 4 will follow sometime in “Spring 2012″, according to Sega.

[via Kotaku]

You’ll be dunking down tubes and flipping over television boxes full of rings just far enough to accidentally smash into a trio of spikes, and all of it in style with NVIDIA’s set of fabulous systems on chips. You’ve got brand new character animations, a reworked physics engine for superior effect, and all of it tuned to perfection by the developers at Sega working with the specialists at NVIDIA. Can you imagine such a cool customer made specifically for your Transformer Prime?

Have a peek at the trailer above and note that this game will also be coming to iOS for your iPhone and iPad as well as the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. In other words, it’ll be difficult to find a platform this game is NOT on when it comes down to it. We’re feeling strongly that this game will be released inside the first quarter of 2012, but no guarantees yet! Stay tuned for more Sonic action!

Sonic CD, a revamp from the original that was released on the Sega CD platform, will feature both US and Japanese soundtracks. The addition of both soundtracks is not all that has changed. The gameplay through the levels has seen some renovations. Sonic now has the ability to travel through time – either shooting to the future or going back to the past. One thing that didn’t change is the ability to see Sonic’s famous sidekick, Tails. Once players clear the game, Tails will be made available as a playable character.

UPDATE: as it turns out, our original source may have been mistaken, as Sonic CD is on the Android Market right this second and it’ll set you back a grand total of $1.99 – cheep!

Whether you’re just discovering all this hedgehog can do or if you’re old-school enough to remember Sonic in his younger days, Sonic CD will be a game worth picking up, according to Haruki Satomi, Senior Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA of America. If you’re looking to mix a little old-school with some crisp new additions, Sonic CD will be available for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Android and Windows Phone users should expect the game to be available soon into 2012.

Although just about everyone likes to talk about mobile gaming as the future, and the preferred way in which many smartphone owners are entertained, I can’t help but look to the past, and consider how this time in mobile gaming reminds me so much of the early-1990s.

Nearly 20 years ago, the gaming industry was in an interesting place. A few companies, namely Nintendo and Sega, were continuing to try and innovate, and startup developers around the globe were offering some of the most cutting-edge (and addicting) games the world had ever seen. At the time, not everyone believed that the gaming industry would become the multi-billion dollar industry that it is today, and the vast majority of players couldn’t have cared less.

Today, many of those people that didn’t live through that generation look back at games on the Sega Genesis and SNES and laugh, wondering how we could have ever been entertained by those titles. But for those of us who lived through that period, it was a glorious time, and one that, every now and then, we wish we could have back.

Today, with mobile gaming becoming increasingly important on iOS and Android, I’m seeing many similarities. The games available on these platforms can’t quite match what we find on consoles or PCs, and yet, we don’t care. The games are innovative, they’re fun, and they appeal to both the hard-core segment and casual gamers, alike. What’s more, the companies building the hardware to support the titles are working hard to push the envelope and give developers as much to work with as possible.

Sure, the devices are different, and the way in which we get the games is something that wasn’t even considered back in the 1990s, but the basics are identical. For most small, independent development houses, building a console game is simply too costly. But building boatloads of iOS games isn’t. And so, with such low barriers to entry, people around the globe are turning their unique ideas into reality. And in many cases, those unique ideas have become cult classics.

Looking ahead, there’s no telling where the mobile-gaming space is headed. It could continue to explode, or it could fizzle out if developers find other opportunities elsewhere. But if I had to make a prediction, I’d say that the best is yet to come.

Over time, the games will become more sophisticated, they’ll look better, and they’ll cost more to make. And in the process, gamers will benefit — just as they did during the 1990s when the gaming business evolved from a niche, largely ignored industry into an entertainment powerhouse.

Over the last several weeks, I’ve received some e-mails from folks about Nintendo and my comments on the company. Those folks say that Nintendo will always be a hardware-focused firm, and the very thought of playing its titles on other consoles is a joke.

Now, I would agree that Nintendo likely won’t opt to go software-only at any point in the near future. And I would even say that the very idea of playing Mario or Zelda games on another console is laughable. But unlike far too many folks out there, I don’t necessarily have a problem with it.

I absolutely love Nintendo games. I’ve always enjoyed playing Mario titles and I still look back fondly at the multiple times I played through The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I have the same love for the Metroid series, Donkey Kong, and all the other franchises that Nintendo has brought to us.

However, all along, from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the Wii, I haven’t thought twice about the hardware I’m playing it on. Sure, I knew that I needed a Nintendo console to play the company’s games, but beyond that, I simply didn’t care about the marriage between the two products. To me, it was all about the gameplay.

Unlike many Nintendo fans out there, I simply don’t believe that the magic Nintendo brings to the gaming world is only possible by combining its hardware and software. Quite the contrary, I think the real magic that Nintendo brings to the space is its games — its hardware is secondary. Whether the next Super Mario title was on my iPad or the Wii, I simply wouldn’t care. As long as I can get my hands on the latest and greatest title Nintendo has to offer, I’m happy.

So, no, I don’t have a problem thinking about playing a Nintendo game on the Xbox 360. I also wouldn’t mind playing them on the PlayStation 3. To me, the hardware means very little.

But it’s not only Nintendo that I feel that way about.

I was a SEGA fan since the beginning. Many of the company’s franchises, led by Sonic the Hedgehog, delivered hours of fun and excitement to me during the 1990s. But when SEGA decided to ditch its hardware business and become a third-party developer, I didn’t flinch: whenever the companies games showed up on other consoles, I bought them just as I would have if they were exclusive to its own hardware.

Call me crazy, but I just don’t see any reason to turn my back on Nintendo if it gets out of the hardware business.

Is anyone else with me?

With all these troubles, I can’t help but wonder if it’s time to sound the alarm on Nintendo. At this point, the company is hard-pressed to find a single business unit that’s operating even close to where it should be. And if it can’t jumpstart 3DS sales, there’s a good chance that Nintendo will find itself limping to the launch of the Wii U next year.

Speaking of the Wii U, I’m not so convinced that it has what it takes to be a success. I think that the device’s controller will be a standout feature that will attract a host of consumers in the short-term. And its graphical capabilities should appeal more to the hardcore segment.

But its market appeal could be short-lived. Sony and Microsoft are both planning their own hardware refreshes, and chances are, those platforms will feature even better graphics than the Wii. Moreover, those companies will have the luxury of seeing the Wii U in action to find areas in which they can either deliver the same compelling features Nintendo’s device offers or improve upon the hardware’s shortcomings.

Considering all that, and keeping in mind where Nintendo stands right now, I can’t help but wonder if it’s in danger of becoming the next SEGA.

If we look back at SEGA during the 1990s, we’ll find a company that was performing relatively well in the hardware space after the Genesis was released. But after a few hardware missteps with the SEGA CD and Saturn, along with poor market strategies, the company was up against a wall. It released the Dreamcast too early, and saw that console get trumped by the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. And when it was all said and done, SEGA had no choice but to leave the hardware game altogether.

Now, I’ll admit that SEGA and Nintendo are in different situations right now, and the issues that were surrounding SEGA at the time, including trouble with developers and retailers, aren’t necessarily Nintendo’s problems right now. But could they be? If Nintendo hardware sales continue to plummet, how long will it take before key stakeholders focus more of their efforts on competing devices?

SEGA’s decision to end its hardware development and focus solely on software was a controversial one at the time, but it made quite a bit of sense. The company had solid game properties, led by Sonic, and it knew that it could sell them on multiple platforms.

It’s a similar story for Nintendo. If the game company sees its hardware business start to take it down, it has the software it needs to make the landing a bit softer. With Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, and others, Nintendo is arguably the most successful software developer in the game industry.

But before the Nintendo fans jump all over this, let me just say that I don’t know if Nintendo will ever be the next SEGA. And if it does eventually turn out that way, its transition might not happen for a long time. I’ll also freely admit that Nintendo’s demise has been predicted time and again over the years, and so far, it has triumphed.

But things aren’t going well at Nintendo. And unless the 3DS and Wii U can help the company overcome its issues, Nintendo’s future might not be as glorious as its past.

Names, birth dates and email addresses of registered users have been taken, along with their passwords, albeit with the latter in encrypted form. Although no fraudulent payments can be made, online services which rely on date of birth password resetting might be susceptible to unofficial access; users could also be at risk of brute force attacks where common passwords are tried against a known email address.

Sega Pass is currently offline, with a message on the site saying that it “is going through some improvements so is currently unavailable for new members to join or existing members to modify their details including resetting passwords.” No timeline for its restoration has been given, nor specific details about the steps Sega is taking to address the hack.

In a somewhat bizarre turn of events, hacking group LulzSec has denied responsibility for the break in and offered to hunt down those responsible. “We want to help you destroy the hackers that attacked you” the group tweeted, ”We love Dreamcast, these people are going down.”

LulzSec has been responsible for a chain of attacks in recent months following the PlayStation Network breach. The group has been on a rampage against prominent sites including Sony Pictures, PBS, various gaming sites, the U.S. Senate, and even CIA.gov. All this for providing entertainment and to make a statement on the current state of the internet and society in general.

Hence, when Sega Pass was brought down, the obvious suspect was LulzSec. However, the group not only denied responsibility for the attack, they even offered to help Sega seek revenge. The group posted the following message to Sega: “We want to help you destroy the hackers that attacked you. We love Dreamcast, these people are going down.”

[via Electronista]

Sega confirmed that the Sega Pass network went offline yesterday due to an attack and that the company has within the last 24 hours identified and isolated the breach. They are still investigating the extent of the breach but thus far know that a subset of Sega Pass members’ emails addresses, dates of birth, and encrypted passwords have been compromised.

However, they do stress that the passwords obtained were not stored in plain text. And, they add that no payment information was obtained as they do not store this data on their own servers.

Sega Pass members are advised to change their passwords if they use the same ones for other websites and services. Also, members should be on the lookout for any suspicious emails and should not attempt to login to Sega Pass at this time.

No hacker group has step forward at time of writing to claim responsibility. The recent chain of attacks on prominent websites and game sites have all been credited to hacker group LulzSec. The group mainly attacks to make a statement or for a political cause, but also for “lulz” or entertainment, even opening up a hotline for people to request their next target.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

Sega will follow the standard model for social games: free to play, but plenty of premium items and boost available for purchase. The company plans to grow its Sega Play! social games into a globally recognized brand. Any social games you’d like to see from Sega?

[via Games.com]

The only changes to the format are the touch screen controls (be prepared to look stupid) and the ability to challenge your friend via Bluetooth.

The fighting game is one of many SEGA titles the company has brought back to the App Store including Streets of Rage, multiple Sonic titles, and the famous Ecco the Dolphin. So bring out a stack of quarters for nostalgia and get tapping.

Virtua Fighter 2 is now available for iPhone and iPod touch for $1.99.

[Via PocketGamer]

Of course the first thing everybody says is “Where is Shenmu?” and of course “What about Jet Set Radio?” But chill! You know why? Because like all great holders back of amazingness, the people who are putting this out more than likely have those games up their sleeves and are waiting to see how well this collection does before sending out a second version.

What do you get in this pack? Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Sega Bass Fishing and Space Channel 5: Part 2. These games are ENHANCED GRAPHIC versions of their original counterparts, and there will be leaderboards online just like all the rest of your Xbox LIVE games so you can love and kiss and hug your buddies.

Gary Knight, VP of Marketing at Sega of America and Sega Europe, noted that “The Dreamcast console is still remembered as a pioneering console for online gaming. We are delighted to be able to offer to our large community of dedicated fans a collection such as Dreamcast Collection for them to enjoy old favourites on this generation of consoles.” We emailed him to ask if he really meant to spell favorites like that, but he had no response.

[Via Pocket Lint]

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Nexus S Rooted Already, Guide Available [GET YOUR ROOT DOWN]
NEC LifeTouch dual-screen Android tablet tipped for CES 2011 [NEATO]
Facebook Memories timeline gets accidental preview [WOOPSIE]

Android Community
Android Honeycomb Actually 2.4, Launching in February?
Nexus S smartphone works after soaring to 32K meters on a weather balloon
Vlingo adds ActionBar and more to Android app
Loopt 4.0 hits Android
New Android Market arrives on Samsung Galaxy Tab
NEC dual-screen Android tablet & Android netbook incoming
Amazon Kindle for Android 2.0 released: Periodical support & SD saving
Motorola Quench XT5 Launches on Aircel India
Nexus S Rooted Already, Guide Available
R2-D2 DROID 2 Now Only $199.99
Samsung Intercept Froyo Update Coming December 17th?
Trillian Multi-Protocol Chat Now Available in the Android Market
SEGA Dreamcast Emulator Coming Soon To Android

SlashGear
Panasonic VIERA TH-L42G3 HDTV records Full HD video to SDXC
Amazon MP3 swallowing heavy loss-leaders in fight for iTunes market share
EA iPhone, iPad and iPod touch games slashed to 99 cents
Sharp to provide 2012 Apple displays with new $1.2bn LCD facility?
PC versus Windows Phone 7 gaming launches
$99 Wii and 3rd-party gaming is Nintendo’s salvation suggests EA boss
Hitachi outs new 7mm thick 500GB single disk HDD
Dish Network adds new 3D movies
Sceptre X420BV-FHD 42-inch HDTV unveiled
Razer unveils new Scarab hard gaming mouse pad
Scosche launches new kickback P1 iPad case
PlayStation App hits Android devices and it’s not for gaming :(
RIM talks PlayBook and more on Wall Street call
iKit offers Chrome iPhone 4 case with kickstand
Google’s music aspirations surface
iSkin unveils Aura folio for iPad
TikTok and LunaTik iPod nano watch kit nears $1m in funding
Keybrid is the coolest house key ever
NEC LifeTouch dual-screen Android tablet tipped for CES 2011
Word Lens for iPhone auto-translates foreign text in real-time [Video]
Kindle for Android 2.0 adds e-magazines, in-app shopping, more
Facebook Memories timeline gets accidental preview
AT&T-spec Dell Venue Pro clears FCC with 3G promise
Movie Review – Tron: Legacy [REVIEW]

To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

It’s designed by SEGA, and it’s called Toirettsu. It works by including a sensor inside the urinal itself, which can determine when it is being peed on. Not only that, but it can actually tell how hard it is being peed on, too. The result? A set of mini-games that are featured on an LCD display that’s about eye-level, above the urinal. As a guy is relieving himself, they’ll be able to play cute little games, all depending on how they’re going. Games include putting out fires, or shooting milk out of a character’s nose at other people who may be using the urinals next to you. (That’s right, there’s multiplayer!)

Unfortunately for those in Japan, these games haven’t been installed in any actual restrooms yet. It has just been shown off at trade shows, which you can watch on video below. No confirmation as to when Japanese men should expect to find these games in bathrooms at their favorite restaurant, but hopefully it’s sooner than later.

[via OhGizmo!]

Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito do not agree on the issue at hand. Scalia asked “What’s next after violence? Drinking? Smoking?” and noted that the First Amendment was never thought to protect obscenity, but questioned weather the framers also envision an exception for “portrayals of violence”? Alito noted that video games “cannot possibly have been envisioned at the time when the First Amendment was ratified,” so it would be “entirely artificial” to assume they deserved the same constitutional protection as books.

Paul Smith, a Videogame industry attorney, noted that children’s stories have traditionally involved “graphic violence,” but not explicit sex. Chief Justice John Roberts did not agree, “We do not have a tradition in this country of telling children they should watch people actively hitting schoolgirls over the head with a shovel so they’ll beg with mercy, being merciless and decapitating them, shooting people in the leg so they fall down,” he said, reading a description of the video game “Postal 2,” “We protect children from that. We don’t actively expose them to that.”

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked why videogames were the only ones under fire here, “Or does your principle extend to all deviant, violent material in whatever form?” To which Morazzini noted that video games are picked on because they’re interactive.

Once the game Mortal Kombat was mentioned, all heck broke loose with Justice Kagan speaking thusly: “Mortal Kombat,” she responded, “is an iconic game which I am sure half of the clerks who work for us spent considerable amounts of time in their adolescence playing.” A decision on this law is expected before July of next year.

[Via the Wall Street Journal]

Speaking with CVG, President of Sega West Mike Hayes said that while the company is not planning on releasing anything on the current generation of consoles available now, that doesn’t mean that the company has completely forgotten about the franchise. “While at present we have no plans for the franchise [on next-gen consoles], the Shenmue legacy ignites a lot of passion among fans. Never say never.”

So, we can’t expect it to hit any time soon, but at least we know that Sega isn’t sitting there, listening to all of the fans cry out for a game and completely ignoring them. With petitions floating around the Internet, all of which asking Sega to bring back Hazuki to consoles, it’s no surprise that Sega wouldn’t want to miss the chance of raking in the money from a high-profile release as Shenmue. And, for gaming enthusiasts who are still waiting to end the conflict between the main character and Lan Di, the man who killed Hazuki’s father, it looks like the resolution of the series is still coming soon. Of course, soon is a relative term.

[via CVG]

But then Sega came around towards the end of the 1990s. The company realized that it had made mistakes, it wanted to right the wrongs that it committed, and it turned to the Sega Dreamcast.

Released on September 9, 1999, the console was arguably one of the best gaming devices ever released. It was a trendsetter that helped ignite the online-gaming revolution. And it laid the groundwork for what would eventually help Microsoft, Sony, and even Nintendo capitalize on the changing gaming landscape.

During the Dreamcast years, Sega released a slew of outstanding games, including Shenmue. The title was an adventure title that, at least in my opinion, had no equal. It combined an outstanding story with fighting mechanics that worked extremely well as a body of work.

The game was a major release for Sega. And after the Dreamcast died, Ryo Hazuki continued his quest to avenge his father’s death by killing Lan Di, the game’s antagonist, on the Xbox. But that game didn’t sell as well as it could have. And Sega eventually decided to ditch the franchise before its completion.

Instead of trying to compete in the difficult hardware business, Sega is now trying to make a name for itself in the crowded software space.

But the company has had difficulty doing so. And its decision to release Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and WiiWare later this year speaks to just how badly the company has lost its way since the hey-days.

Lately, all I’ve seen from Sega is remakes of old titles. Yes, Sonic is great and having Crazy Taxi again will be nice. But the Yakuza franchise has run its course. And the company’s long line of titles outside of those main franchises are doing little to suit my fancy in any meaningful way.

Sega says it’s doing well financially. But I don’t really care about its business performance. I want the fabric of what made Sega so special in the first place back. And that can only happen with hardware and unique games.

Yes, I know my hopes for a Dreamcast 2 will fall on deaf ears, but I’d like to see Sega bring back some of its innovation from the Dreamcast days. After all, that was when the firm delivered Shenmue, Sonic Adventure, and Crazy Taxi — games that in one way or another still strike a chord with the hardcore gamer.

I guess I just don’t like today’s Sega. I want the old days back when Sega knew what it was all about and it took some chances. Nowadays, it’s a shadow of its former self.

Who’s with me?

Other partners include US retailers Best Buy and Chroma, together with UK retailers Dixons and Currys.  The Unity game development tool will also be coming to the AppUp store, opening up the potential for more intensive gaming experiences for ultraportable devices, together with the Havok SDK which developers can use to create realistic cloth and skin models.

AppUp will initially be available on Windows and MeeGo netbooks using Intel Atom CPUs, with Intel planning to extend the download store to TVs using their CE4100 SoC, smartphones and other devices.  Both paid and free apps will be on offer, and there will be trials available prior to purchase.

If you do have all your old games and controllers lying around a new game system from Hyperkin called the RetroN3 has surfaced that will get you playing those games again using the original controllers. The system supports cartridges from the Nintendo, Genesis, and Super NES game systems.

It does ship with a pair of wireless controllers for gaming. However, if you have the original controllers from these systems there are ports built into the device to let you play with those real controllers. The RetroN3 system is cheap at $69.99 and comes in black or red colors.

Video demos after the cut

The grey window in the top right hand corner is where the DreamCast’s VMU sits, the combo memory cartridge and display/portable mini game unit – and the whole thing is powered by a 6 amp battery.  That’s good enough for up to 2 hours 15 minutes of solid gaming, which pales somewhat compared to a DSi or PSP but then again they’re not using mainstream gaming hardware.

It’s all good enough to run Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament with no problems, and was the handiwork of four months effort.  No plans to sell it, however, though there’s the possibility of a few basic commissions being taken for less complex consoles than the DreamCast.

Build log:

Demo video:

[via Joystiq]

I don’t even recall the Sega Saturn; much less have the ability to pull off this cool transformation. The finished “space bug” as Killinger calls it uses all of the joysticks original components and three extra screws.

If I had tried to build this, I would have needed lots of duct tape and spent hours climbing around in the couch cushions looking for the three screws I dropped. The only way the thing could be cooler would be if it could transform back into a joystick that still worked.

Well, I say ”respond”; apparently Sega Toys worked Tohoku University’s Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer in Northern Japan to make sure Yume Neko Venus responds appropriately to touch or vocal prompts.  If, for instance, you say “there there” in Japanese, she’ll purr at you.

Movements, meanwhile, include laying down, reaction to touch from a number of hidden sensors, reaction to light from a hidden forehead photo-receptor, and the ability to move her paws around.  She measures 490 x 240 x 230 mm and comes, like the original, with a plastic comb for grooming.  Japanese buyers will be able to pick up Yume Neko “Dream Cat” Venus on July 30th, priced at the equivalent of around $110; the rest of us will have to wait for importers to get their act together.

[via CrunchGear]

The console follows Blaze’s first attempt at a Genesis clone, which was a handheld unit rather than a more traditional replica.  It also lacked a cartridge slot, relying instead on 20 built-in games.

The Blaze Sega Genesis/Mega Drive is available in the UK now, priced at £38 ($53).  No word on whether it’ll be making an official leap over to the US.

[via Kotaku]

The Iron man theatrical release scored big in movies industry and obliterated Blu-ray sale records, the game experience, on the other hand, is reported mediocre at best. The press release were thin on specific platforms and details, the only information make known was that “players can expect an entirely new and enhanced gameplay experience”

Development of the game is currently underway at SEGA Studios San, with schedule to debut alongside with the continuation of the blockbuster hit of 2008 theatrical film with the same title and timing.

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON –(Business Wire)– Feb 03, 2009 SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA of Europe Ltd today announced a continuation of their existing partnership with Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) to include Iron Man 2™, the video game. The multi-platform title is slated to come out in 2010 along with the Marvel Studios film of the same name, a sequel to the 2008 box office triumph distributed by Paramount Pictures.

“We are thrilled to build on the success of the Iron Man phenomenon and work with Marvel and Paramount on another epic project,” says Simon Jeffery, President of SEGA of America, Inc. “SEGA and Marvel are collaborating closely to ensure we deliver an authentic Iron Man experience.”

The game is currently in production at SEGA Studios San Francisco. SEGA has continued to refine its game engine so that players can expect an entirely new and enhanced gameplay experience. Stay tuned for more information about Iron Man 2, the video game.

The game is set to be called Sonic World Adventure in Japan, and the delay is said to be due to Sega’s desire to improve the game. This seems like a good enough reason to me, but the quality assurance doesn’t seem to be across the board.

In fact, Japan is the only place that will experience this delay. The U.S. will still see Sonic Unleashed before the year is out, on the Xbox 360 on November 24th and on the PS3 on December 12. This is just plain weird. So the U.S. version of the game will have problems but will be released anyway? Color me confused! However, it seems the Wii version will still be released in both the U.S. and Japan on its original release date. So, that version will have problems everywhere–I guess.

Two joypads are provided, together with RCA composite video cables (that support stereo sound in 16-bit games).  Best of all is the price: from around $32.99 on eBay.  Obviously you’ll have to pick up a few games to go with it, but there’s plenty to choose from (on eBay again) for just a few bucks.

Apparently a new version of the console is about to launch, with three slots and compatibility with NES, SNES and Genesis titles.  No specific release dates, though.

[via technabob]

Official SEGA statement after the cut

“The Sega Vision is a real device.  But it is not intended as a re-entry to the gaming hardware market or a rival to Sony or Nintendo’s systems.  Sega is committed to remaining a software third party in the videogames industry, but also has several non-games products in the market. The Vision is primarily an MP4 video player with some basic games functionality, and not a new handheld gaming machine.” SEGA spokesperson

It seems that SEGA have licenced their name to the PMP, but not made any attempt to revive their hardware arm.  Any titles that run on the device are likely to be the same Java games the company makes for cellphones, such as SEGA Rally.

Few hardware details are known about the Vision PMP, but it’s said to include a TV tuner, ebook reader and voice recorder along with music and video playback.  It’s uncertain whether it will even make it to the US or Europe.

[via Joystiq]

Video of the Sega device after the cut

No specific hardware details are known at this point, such as the type of TV tuner (likely DMB digital) or what resolution the built-in camera is.  The Vision will also act as an eBook reader and a voice recorder though, without knowing what size the display is, it’s hard to judge how successful the former feature will be.

If the hardware really is going to look as it does in this video, then we fear Sega may have a hard time persuading people away from their current mobile gadgets.

Yes, you heard me right. A robotic plant. How can a plant be robotic, you must be wondering? Well, it nods at you. So, when you speak toward the plant, it nods back at you as though in agreement. That’s it. That’s all it does.

When I saw this, I guess I had hopes it would do a little something more than nod. But when the tag line for the product is, “When you need someone who just listens to you,” I guess I shouldn’t have expected much more. You can get your own robotic plant for about $23.

[via Gizmodo]

This toy is very similar to those Tamogotchi toys. It features a fish in an aquarium that shows up on the screen that you must take care of if it is to survive. The world around your creature grows as it grows, giving you more options for gameplay. You can play either a dolphin or an angelfish and there are three mini games you can play with your digital pet.

This underwater gadget is suitable for all ages and is a fun way to teach kids how to take care of something. That being said, a display-based fish isn’t going to replace the family dog.

[via Boing Boing Gadgets]

It makes me wish I could sit still long enough to soak in the tub, however, I just tend to enjoy showers way more. For those that aren’t as squirmy as I am, you can also flip the planetarium over and have it cast different colors and designs into the water itself.

The Homestar Spa from SEGA Toys is being sold for $70. It might also be cool for those with hot tubs to give different lighting than the boring colored bulbs that are usually featured in hot tubs.

[via geekologie]

So some guy went to Japan, saw these new arcade cabinets and decided he wanted one. Importing was out of the question solely due to the high cost of shipping, so he did what any card carrying geek with proper motivation would do, he made one himself.

This amazing looking cabinet has a large Sony display on the top, a small car audio system built in, and it houses his PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. Basically this is an arcade fan’s dream, and now I want one too. It appears he even had the foresight to make some extra arcade control units for when his friends come over.

[via Kotaku]

I’ll admit that when I heard Sega announce the release of Sonic The Hedgehog for the iPod, I did get a bit excited. I never ended up downloading it though, as I’ve usually got something I’m trying to beat for my DS. However, I think it is awesome to see a game as big as Sonic making its way onto Apple’s iPod.

While Sega praised both the iPod for being able to play games and iTunes for its distribution, they have not announced whether they will be releasing any more of their classic titles for the portable player any time soon.

[via mcvuk]

Check out a video of the new Yume Neko Smile after the cut!

With a newly patterned ginger and white coat – and very smart Yume Neko looks too – the cat can now demand further attention by squealing “pet me softly” and “give me more, give me more” in Japanese.  Apparently it can giggle, too.  As before, there are numerous sensors hidden beneath the fur which let you stroke, pat and scratch Yume Neko until she subsides into uncontrollable purring.

I’m sure you’ll agree this is better than any stupid 0.76-inch thick notebook Apple could announce.

Sega Toys [via TOKYOMANGO]

 A small LCD screen, all the controls you’d normally find on a Dreamcast controller (albeit with no viewing hatch for the plug-in memory block/mini-game that made the console so cool) and stereo speakers round out the hardware.  Sadly, if you want one of your own, you’ll have to make it yourself!

TechEBlog [via Coolest Gadgets]

This hand held Sega is packed with twenty fun titles from the good old days including: Sonic and Knuckles, Ristar, Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Golden Axe, Ecco the Dolphin and Altered Beast. It has a color LCD screen and can plug into your TV for bigger gaming/viewing. They aren’t quite the same games from back in the day but the gameplay will still be the same.

It’ll cost you about $40 to purchase one. Can you just imagine the looks you’ll get from the all the “youngsters” out there as you play this on your commute to work?

Benheck.com [via technabob]

It uses some near-medical grade technology to read the signals your brain is giving off and use that to control things. Finally, my dream of becoming Sylar is coming close, luckily for the rest of you I won’t have to kill anybody for it.

I have no clue what sort of progress they’ve made with this technology, but they have apparently had some success if they are leaking their efforts to the press. So, the makers of such great games as Sonic the Hedgehog aren’t done yet, they were just taking a break to round up their resources for this new push.

Sega and NeuroSky Create Though Control Games [via Coolest-Gadgets]

But, their system comes with 20 games pre-loaded, and that’s it, there’s no way to add more. So there’s that, however the Tec Toy version is by far more power efficient, using 3 AAA batteries compared to my GameGear’s 6 AA batteries that last, at best, a couple of hours.

The Tec Toy will cost you about $100 and will be available from various UK importers early next year. I would say its worth it, but not when a DS is going for $129 and from what I hear (I don’t have one) has far better games and selection.

Tec Toy Makes Sega Genesis Portable [via pmptoday]

So if you have a TV (most people do) and a Sega Genesis controller (most people don’t) you are set to begin playing some sort of RPG entitled Dungeons of Doom. Want to know what the best part is?

You can make it yourself. The cost is surprisingly cheap too, at a total cost of $21.50 for everything including the controller. Oh, and the guy already had the DB9 connector and video jack, so if you don’t have any spares of those lying around it might cost a little more, but I am sure not much.

RPG In A Cinnamons Box, Plug A Sega Genesis Controller And Play On A TV [via Play Gadgets]

Based around the company’s Lindbergh CG arcade board, the game blurs the line between arcade and theme park ride as it buffets you from side to side and generally shakes the hell out of you, while bits of zombie and empty ammo shells ricochet across the screens.  There’re even air-jets to simulate getting slapped in the face by an undead spleen.

Currently the machines are being trialled in Europe, but they’ll eventually be available for you to coat in your own vomit in US arcades.

Sega [via Kotaku]