Aliens vs Predator

Published by Sega, and debuting at No.1 in the ELSPA GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top Ten last week, Aliens vs Predator is a first person survival horror with a twist. Developed by Rebellion Developments, who coded the original game released onto PC back in 1999, this completely new game contains three individual single player campaigns where you choose to play as a Colonial Marine, as the Predator, or as the Alien!

There is a storyline to it all but I shan't bother. Each character has a completely different motive and completely different gameplay; for example as the Alien you can traverse any surface at speed making your kills swift and lethal! As the Predator you are the master of the hunt, focusing on the close up trophy kill.

There is of course a huge multi-player environment too.

The game is out now and has been met with mixed reviews. Probably best to buy on PC or Xbox360 currently as most PS3 owners are not allowed to turn on their console until Sony advises it is safe to! Bless them.

More Info is available at the original Sega Micro-site:

Aliens vs Predator Website Link

Screenshots and Artwork from Sega Europe below:

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

Debuting at No.8 in the ELSPA GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top Ten last week, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is out, so go and buy it!

You could even track down the Special Wii version with the steering wheel:

Afterburner Returns

Sega have announced that the latest version of the Afterburner Series, that being Afterburner Climax, is in development for Home Systems. The game , which was originally launched in the Arcades in 2006, will be presented in high definition and available to download via Xbox Live Arcade for the 360 and Playstation Store for the PS3.


(2006 Arcade Flyer)

The Afterburner Series started way back in 1987 when it followed Out Run, and Super Hang-on, as the next generation of Arcade Games hosted in Sega's over-the-top mechanised cabinets, built to create a greater Arcade Game experience. The game itself saw you flying an American Tomcat Fighter Jet, into waves of incoming enemy jets and the cabinet moved in parallel with your movements, shifting wildly left and right depending on how you weaved to miss that enemy fire.
At the time, it was revolutionary and worth every penny of that huge £1 cost per go!

(1987 Arcade Flyer)

Its success spawned not just Arcade Sequels but conversions to the Home Computers of the time. After the first sequel was launched, Sega took Air Combat to the extreme launching G-Loc in 1990, hosted in a full 360 rotating cabinet! Now this was something special! You were actually strapped in like a rollercoaster ride and you found yourself flying upside down in Air Combat. A wonderful piece of early nineties excess! (Wouldn't get it now, Health and Safety wouldn't allow!)

(R360 cabinet - Photo courtesy of System 16.com)

Back in the Home Market, Activision had the job of converting the game to the main Home Systems of the later eighties, those being the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and the Spectrum. The graphics were far from high definition (or even low definition on the Spectrum!) however you were actually playing "afterburner" in your bedroom! Heaven!

(Atari ST Game Cover and In-Game Screenshot)

(Mmmm.... that'll be the Spectrum Version then! Blimey, I bought this at the time and thought it was sooooo Arcade Perfect!)

Sega continued in the arcades releasing Sky Target in 1995 (which saw a conversion to the Sega Saturn Console) and then a further arcade outing with Sega Strike Fighter in 2000 on the Naomi Hardware.

History Lesson Over. For more detailed reading on this subject, you can visit www.system16.com where you will find the Ultimate History of all Sega Arcade Gaming or you can order a copy of Retrogamer's Afterburner Special, available from the Back Orders Web Page.

Screenshots? Oh Yes, here some are courtesy of Sega Europe (you can see the rest by following the link to the website at the top of this page):

Forget the Cufflinks.....

The Out Run cufflinks seemed quite important at that moment. Things change quickly in gaming. Sod them. Contact your best import shop and beg them to tell you where you can get a Limited Edition Sega All Stars Ryo Promotional Forklift Truck (it would look better on your desk than the cufflinks would on your sleeves)

You need these!

What Can I say, Out Run cufflinks on Ebay

Out Run Cufflink Auction Link

Sonic Races into 2010 !

Set for release in early 2010, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing brings together all of Sega's most popular gaming characters, to compete in a head to head racing game.

All of the most famous Sega characters are in the line-up including Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Beat From Jet Set Radio, Aiai from Monkeyball, Dr Robotnik, Samba (the Amigo!), and Ryo from Shenmue!

Racing through different environments inspired from previous games, each character will have their own custom built vehicle. Beat has a streetwise car, Aiai has a banana(!), and Ryo switches between a cool Harley and his forklift from the docks!

Not only does each character drive their own custom vehicle but they each have their own special move, such as the "Super Sonic", the "Banana Blitz", and the "Tails Tornado".

From medieval ramparts to Lush Rainforests each course will contain power ups and shortcuts, to aid and divert as you aim each character for the Number 1 spot.

See the preview videos at Sega's Mini-Site (click here)

Its a screenshot frenzy below:

Samba (look at that grin!)



Aiai's Custom Banana Car!



Knuckles!



Beat!



Ryo (check out that forklift!)

Jambo!

I can't believe I hadn't mentioned that Jambo Safari is now out to buy on Wii or DS so head to the shops like an "animal" and "rescue" a copy (see what I did there? I know, amazing!)



Sega have also partnered with Pizza Hut to promote the game. In store they are giving out poster based games and puzzles but if for some reason you want to get them direct, then just click the picture to go to the Pizza Hut site to download them in pdf format for free ...