Newsletter: Sega World Weekly issue 13 (then Sega 2000-X)
From Video Game Morgue File
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> > > SEGA 2000 - X MAGAZINE < < <
ISSUE 13 -- The Original Dreamcast Magazine -- August 23 1998
Sega 2000 - http://www.dchq.com
Sega X - http://www.segadreamcast.net
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======== EDITOR'S COMMENTS ==================================
WOW! I lost count of how many times I said that work the last
day, WOW! Sonic Adventure is looking for a number one spot in
video game history for me. Well there is a huge feature in
this issue on Sonic Adventure!
About the last issue, I'm really sorry there wasn't one, but my
computer was in repair for awhile. It seems problems with this
and the site have become common now, but also in this issue I
will annouce the future of Sega 2000.
Sorry this is a little cut down, but I did run out of time. Well I
hope you have a fun week!
> > > Page 1 - News < < <
> > > Page 2 - Sonic Adv < < <
> > > Page 3 - Anti-Sega < < <
> > > Page 4 - Survey < < <
> > > Page 5 - Letters < < <
> > > Page 6 - Web Sites < < <
> > > Page 7 - Staff < < <
======== NEWS ===============================================
> > > SEGA 2000: The Future
Updates at Sega 2000 haven't exactly been plentyful lately, and
its because I've been so busy with school mainly. Meanwhile Sega
2000 has been using up all my spare time... but unfortantly my
school work has been suffering, and this being my most important
year I'm sorry to say I have to stop concentrating on Sega 2000
for a bit. I really don't want to, this is the most exciting time
in all of Sega's history, but I plan to start regular updates
again just before the start of November.
As for the magazine, you will be happy to know (well I hope so)
that I will continue to send it out each week. If however anyone
is intrested in being a tempory webmaster of Sega 2000 until
November you can reach me at Elijah@dchq.com
You would need to know HTML, how to use an FTP, and have time
to update regularly. If I haven't put you off yet (he he) please
send me an example of your work. On the good side, you will get
about 200 people a week seeing your work, which may well
increase and its pretty fun.
> > > SONIC ADVENTURE DELAYED???
Thanks to Game-Online
The Sonic Adventure launch was rapturously received by the gaming press and Sega
fans alike, but one aspect of the presentation missed by most is the fact that there's a
good chance the game will not ship with the Dreamcast on November 22nd.
At the presentation the term 'year end' was used on several occasions, and even 'New
Year' mentioned. The recent build shown in Sega Europe was described as 60%, and
though Sonic Team has tripled the team working on the game, the remaining three
month period is a tall order, especially with some sections looking 'ropey', compared
to the dazzling areas showcased at the launch. Yuji Naka is in the position to delay
the game's release even if this blunt's the first few weeks of the Dreamcast's arrival.
The quandary is similar to that faced by Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto at the time of
the N64 launch. In the event, Nintendo delayed the release of the machine for some
months so that Miyamoto could complete Mario 64 to his satisfaction.
It's distinctly less likely Sega would delay the hardware launch of Dreamcast in a
similar way. Having set so publicly a date, Sega might feel embarrassed to renege on
it. Also, Sonic does not have the same resonance in Japan as he does in the US and
European territories.
Dreamcast could launch quite comfortably there with the promised Virtua Fighter 3
conversion, and a couple of other Sega developed titles. Staggering the Sonic launch
could even help matters, adding momentum to the launch period in the run-up to the
holiday season.
Those who will be most disappointed by the delay would be the few thousand
westerners with imported machines, who might have to wait until 1999 to play a new
Sonic game. But it's unlikely SOA and SOE will shed to many tears for them.
> > > 6 BUTTON CONTROL PAD
Yes everyone wants it, including Capcom. Sega have produced a
proto-type of a 6 button control pad to hopefully get Capcom
to sign on as a Dreamcast developer. Sega 2000 has managed to
find a find a picture, and its now posted on our news page
(www.dchq.com).
> > > MORE DREAMCAST GAMES
Midway has reportedly announced two more Dreamcast titles, Rampage
World Tour and a Mortal Kombat title similar to Sub Zero.
Video System is converting their game Formula 1, which is
currently an N64 title, for the Dreamcast.
Microsoft has reportedly announced Urban Assault for Dreamcast.
======== SONIC ADVENTURE ====================================
Here is game-onlines report about Sonic Adventure, its so good I just had
to share it with you (if you haven't already read it that is)...
As I arrived at Yurakucho Station, just one station down from Tokyo Station on the
Yamanote Line I could already see from the train window the hundreds of people
leaving the Tokyo International Forum. Each of them was holding on to their special
Dreamcast/SONIC Adventure bag which contained a limited edition Sonic T-shirt, a set
of 7 Sonic Character Postcards and a mini-game pamflet.
These people were already leaving after the first performance while even the press had
to wait until the 2nd showing. This was a special service for Sonic's fans. However,
those you couldn't get into the first showing would have to wait over 4 hours to get to
see the second presentation but those loyal Japanese just sat there waiting. At least it
was good weather although very hot and humid. Inside the huge event hall itself Sega
were preparing with haste to get ready for the next surge of Sonic maniacs. Vast
amounts of goody bags were stacked up in huge boxes beside the entrance while on
stage helpers rearranged the set back to normal.
At 1:30pm the doors were opened and the crowds rushed in. Although it was free to
get in nobody would leave without spending something. Either side of the huge
staircase leading up into the building were two large stalls. One stall sold the excellent
quality SONIC Adventure guide pack which has been the source of almost every
web-site's screen shot. Sega only handed out 4 screen shots, a logo and one piece of
art to press but the guide book is packed full of pictures and art. This guide book is a
must have for every collector! The other stall sold a vast array of Sonic goods! The
most popular of which was the small Sonic cuddly toy which had already sold out by
the time that I had got there. Other goods on sale were T-shirts, posters, sonic money
box and best of all a set of 7 Sonic Adventure Pin-Badges!!!
Walking around the hall were a huge Sonic and Tails who posed with children to have
their pictures taken with them. Leaving the main entrance area and heading into huge
Hall A, nothing was clearly visible in the dimly lit room. On stage a huge screen was lit
up alternatively with the Sega Logo and the all black Sonic Image. Press got to sit at
the front and they all set their hundreds of Cameras pointing towards the centre of the
screen.
To save explanation later, in front of the stage is an elevated platform which can rise up
and down. At the start it was down but you could make out the main podium that
Irimajiri would stand behind and the drum kit that be used later.
The show started with the by now famous Irimajiri demo. This was exactly the same
as the one shown at the Sega New Challenge Conference but most people (except
press) have never seen it moving before so they were quite impressed. As the demo
drew to a close the stage plaform was raised up and Irimajiri waited in the darkness for
the demo to finish.
When the demo finished there was a large fanfare and a dozen spot lights suddenly
illuminated him. His first words were; "I'm the real Irimajiri". There was a instant roar of
laughter from the crowd and everyone applauded. Once again he was dressed smart
but casual with no tie to once again reinforce the image that Sega aren't old and stuffy
any more. He did a brief introduction of the Dreamcast etc before they ran a video on
the Dreamcast. The video was pretty much a cut down version of what was shown at
the Sega New Challenge Conference before except one got the impression that it was
made a little simpler to understand for the general public. The video started off by
explaining the hardware, showing which chips and technology were being used. In
particular, they concentrated on the graphics and audio even going so far as to
mention Hitachi, NEC, Microsoft and Yamaha. Next it focused on two of the main
unique features of the Dreamcast:
(I) Visual Memory System. The video showed a VMS inside a controller being held
infront of a Dreamcast screen. The screen showed a picture from the DC Godzilla
game while the VMS showed a picture from the VMS Godzilla game. This was to
show that you could transfer data from your VMS to your Dreamcast. Next they
showed a card game where by using the VMS in the controller you could keep the
contents of your cards secret. They finally showed that it could be used by linking to
arcade units, mobile phones etc.
(II) Built-in Modem. To emphasise how easy modems are the video showed a girl
putting the modem plug into the wall socket with her foot!! The showed that you'd be
able to play fighting games and RPGs over the network. They also hinted that you'd be
able to use it for real time chatting by sending written messages to each other as well.
After this video finished it went back to Mr. Irimajiri who said a few closing words
before leaving the stage.
Next, a man and a woman came on stage. They were the same two people who
hosted the Sega New Challenge Conference and are both famous announcers in
Japan. They introduced a small opening video of SONIC Adventure and referred to the
game as a 'High Speed Action RPG Adventure Game' which, considering there's also
a shooting aspect to the game as well, pretty much covers all the genres except
sports. They announced that the game was divided into three worlds each with various
stages. They also kept emphasing that there were 6 characters, 6 stories and 6
actions! Once they had finished they then introduced the man himself, Mr.Yuji Naka!
The giant dark screen backdrop was raised revealing a brightly coloured stage. In the
centre was a single large piece of cloth hanging from the very top of the stage. On it
was a picture of the old Sonic. This was dropped from the top so that it crashed onto
the stage revealing another curtain behind it with the new Sonic image on it. This was
then dropped to reveal a third curtain with a stylised image of a spinning Sonic. Once
again this was dropped but this time we could see a giant square podium with a large
white ballon on top. Suddenly, white smoke was blasted out obscurring the ballon. We
could hear a giant bang as if the ballon had been popped and when the smoke cleared
Mr. Yuji Naka was standing there, dressed all in black. It may sound from my
description that this all lasted quite a while but in fact this whole effect was done in
just a few seconds and everyone was stunned for a second. You could actually hear
the gasps of amazement. Then the audience broke out into cheers and applauded
wildly.
Mr. Naka walked down some steps and joined the two announcers behind a special
counter / table which had some microphones, some monitors and a real working
dreamcast system. The three of them chatted to each other with Mr. Naka playing it
cool while the other two ranted and raved about how great the Dreamcast and Sonic
Adventure was.
Their first topic was about Mr. Naka's trips to St outh America to gather materials for
the game. At this point they introduced a special comedy / drama video that the Sonic
Team had prepared! The start and end of the video are full of jokes where the Sonic
Team members are introduced by making fun of themselves. The video starts with
Mr.Naka pulling up outside Sega's Japanese HQ in his luxury red sportscar (with the
Sonic Team numberplate). Meanwhile, inside the Sonic Team are considering ideas for
their new Sonic game. One person has a idea for the Sonic Love Story and has Sonic
dressed in a bikini on a beach. Another guy has a new design for a super realistic
Sonic but when he shows it we see that's a real drawing of a Hedgehog. The final
scene has someone using a Sonic hair tonic to change his hair into a blue spikey
Sonic equivalent. Anyway, Mr. Maka bursts in demanding to know that all these silly
ideas are. He tells to forget those and pulls out a Dreamcast. At which point they all
rush off to Central & South America. They visited Mexico, Guatamala and Peru. They
left last year on the 26th Nov and came back to Japan on Dec 9th. Here the video
becomes more like a documentary drama with actual footage of the Sonic Team
treking through the jungle, standing infront of ancient buildings and climbing high into
the mountains. Various scenes are shown then the video cuts to clips from the game
to show the relationship. The video shows the Sonic Team facing ants, monkeys,
deadly spiders and bats. In particular, they used the bats in the game also in a similiar
place to where they had encountered them in real life. They also showed footage taken
from an airplane of Nascar (I'm not sure of the spelling) where huge mystic drawings
and diagrams are drawn on the ground. They also visted some old Aztec ruins where
Mr. Naka is shown playing a Peruvian flute. They also put some some cuddly sonic
toys on the back of a Lama as it walks off. Because they are high up into the
mountains one of the team became ill because of a lack of Oxygen and had to use an
Oxygen mask in the team bus.The final scene sees them all back in their office again
now inspired with lots of great ideas for their next Sonic game thanks to their trips.
The three of them continue talking again this time with game images on the main
screen. Mr. Naka shows specific examples of ideas used in the Sonic Adventure and
it's our first good look at the game in detail. He also explains the VMS device and how
it will used in the game. The screen shows images both of the A-Life in the Dreamcast
and on the VMS controller. He holds up a real VMS device in his hand for all to see
but the camera doesn't zoom in so it's not possible to see if there's a game running on
it or not.
At last, they decide that it's time for an actual live demonstration of the game but to
show that it's not fixed they ask the audience to choose which part of the game they
want played. There are three choices:
(I) Tails in Ice Cap
(II) Knuckles in Red Mountain
(III) Sonic in Speed Highway
In order to work out which one the audience once they have a special sound sensor
connected to a board that lights from the bottom upwards. As the audience claps
louder bars light up from below one by one. One by one the audience are asked to
clap for the three choices. The first two reach just two bars below the top but the final
one (Sonic in Speed Highway) goes straight to the top!
The game player is not Mr. Naka but the director of Sonic Adventure, Mr. Takashi
Iizuka. Mr. Naka actually picks up a real Dreamcast unit that's lying infront of him and
shows that it's connected to the controller. He even opens up the lid to show the CD
inside as well!! Mr. Iizuka selected his character and choose his stage and played the
game for quite a long time (much longer than Mr. Eno got to play D2).
After that, they joked that that there was a bit more time left over so if the audience
wanted to see another part of the game they could. Of course, the audience shouted
'Yes!'. This time, Mr.Iizuka played Knuckles in the Red Mountain.
After this was finished the 3 of them started talking about the characters explaining
how the their different roles and some of the ways in which the scenarios are
interlinked together. Next they announced that for the first time all the characters
would have voices. To show this they had a mini presentation video showing each of
the characters in action which the character narated his actions and talked about
himself. The were all speaking in Japanese and sounded very 'anime' like. I'm sure
they'll be well appreciated in Japan.
The next stage event was truely awesome. Mr. Naka said that they were going to use
the voices of the audience in the actual Sonic Adventure game. In one scene in the
game (Station Square) where I think maybe Sonic is battling Chaos there's a crowd of
people supporting Sonic by shouting his name. In order to get this crowd noise they
intended to record the audience in the hall. However, in order to get the audience in the
right mood they called upon Japan's biggest living legend, Mr. Segata Sanshiro! The
stage was illumiated with giant lights as the theme music from his CD single played.
As he walked onto the stage the audience went crazy, shouting his name and
screaming and cheering. They really do love him in Japan! With him were two
members of the Sonic Team Sound Department. The woman held a shotgun
microphone while the man had a DAT recorder. Mr. Naka came out into the middle of
the stage as well. Mr. Segata Sanshiro got them to shout ''SONIC, SONIC SONIC . .'
repeatedly by punching him arm into the air each time they shouted SONIC. They
practiced it twice before they recorded it for real. They were LOUD!!
The final event was a live performance of the main theme tune of Sonic Adventure by a
Rock Band. The Sonic music is all hard rock now. They rose up on the elevated
platform as they started to play. In particular, one of the guitars was a special 'SONIC
Guitar'. It had been especially painted with the black SONIC image. There are only two
of these guitars in the world. The drums also had the Sonic Image on the them as well.
While they played on stage Mr. Segata Sanshiro chatted and joked with Mr. Naka at
the back of the stage.
Finally, Mr. Naka, Mr. Segata Sanshiro and the two commentators came to the front of
the stage and said a last few words before at last leaving the stage. They announced
that it would definitely be an end of year release maybe even slipping into January
which makes it seem unlikely that it'll be launched on the same day as the Dreamcast
hardware itself.
======== ANTI-SEGA ==========================================
Just a few of the things we could do with Anti-Sega people...
Anti-Sega people should be converted by being forced to sit in
front of the Saturn with every single good game it has. That
should turn them to the dark side! Or even better, make them
sit in front of a Dreamcast for an hour!
Tie them down, tatoo and big Sega logo across their head and
have a cerminoal bashing of PSX's and N64's in front of their
eyes.
Force them to listen to the Sonic Adventure theme music over
and over and over and over... (I can't say I'd like that either
- Elijah).
Thanks to the people who submited ideas.
======== SURVEY =============================================
What do you think of Sonic Adventure? Send in all your droolings,
comments, thoughts, gasps to me at Elijah@dchq.com It will be nice
to read them and I will print lots of them next issue. Begin your
drooling... :)
======== LETTERS ============================================
If you have a letter, please e-mail it to me at Elijah@dchq.com or
just click REPLY to this e-mail. Simple! I look forward to hearing from ya!
By the way, their are people from Sega on this mailing list so maybe
all these modem letters might have a bit of an effect... lets hope so! :)
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Due to time limits I haven't had time to add letters this week,
but I do appoligize for the rude letter in last issue, like now
I didn't have enough time to read them first. Sorry.
======== WEB SITES ==========================================
If you have a web site you want here, just e-mail me on
Elijah@dchq.com
> > > http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/3375/
Shining Force III Petition
======== STAFF ==============================================
I'd like to present Team 2000... the people working hard on Sega
2000 to bring you the best Dreamcast coverage on the net...
Elijah@dchq.com - Webmaster
robert@dchq.com - Head News Editor
Charlie@dchq.com - News
James@dchq.com - News
segaslave@dchq.com - Q&A
saturnfreak90@dchq.com - Preivews Editor
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@1998 Elijah Parker - ELIJAH@DCHQ.COM
- http://www.dchq.com - Sega 2000
- http://www.segadreamcast.net - Sega X
Written and edited by Elijah Parker (just so you know who to blame for the
terrible spelling... he he) The magazine is owned by Sega 2000 / Sega X
and no parts may be copyed without prior permission. It would be very mean
and I will tell my mummy about you! (he he)
