While “Manager Man” will no longer be in new Football Manager game, we might see him pop up in other digital entertainment,  like sports betting. When Eurogamer editor Wesley Yin-Poole asked the studio about the decision to retire the mascot, they said:

“It’s a big year of change for us as a studio – we’ve taken the opportunity with moving to our fantastic new office in the Olympic Park to make many changes, such as bringing in our first COO, putting a better structure in place, changing some of our practises as part of what we call SI 3.0 – and a release in Germany for the first time too.

“So with all that going on, it seemed the perfect opportunity for us to have a think about our branding and try and be as fresh with that as we are being with the other changes in the studio, hence the new logo and a point of view perspective for the key art and pack shot.

“Fans of Manager Man shouldn’t be worried though. He’s currently sitting on a beach in Santorini, sipping on a delicious cocktail, deciding what his next career move will be. He’s likely waiting til Xmas to get a new job – the bonuses for keeping clubs up for experienced managers will likely tempt him back in.”

Football Manager 2019 is scheduled to be released on November 2nd. You can pre-order the game by clicking here. 

Via Eurogamer 

■ Who Gets a Survey?

Surveys will go out to all backers who pledged on Kickstarter and those who pledge on the Slacker Backer up through August 13, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. JST (7:59 a.m. PT).

*Backers will receive an email with instructions for the survey once preparations are complete. Surveys from Fangamer will be sent within 10 business days from the date of your pledge.

■ When will Surveys close?

Surveys will close September 30, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. JST (7:59 a.m. PT). We please ask that everyone respond by this time. We need your responses for game production and reward manufacturing, so make sure to respond within the survey period.

■ Can I Upgrade My Reward?

Reward upgrades (and add-ons!) will be available through the Fangamer survey site. We have received many requests asking about possible reward tier upgrades and add-ons, and now is the chance! *Please note that upgrades are available up to the $250 tier level.

For more information on the available upgrades and add-ons, please visit Shenmue III on Fangamer.

■ Which Reward Tiers can be Upgraded?

Reward tiers differ between the Kickstarter and Slacker Backer campaigns, so please see below which reward tiers can be upgraded.

*Backers who selected “No Reward” during the Kickstarter are also eligible for this service.

Kickstarter Reward Tiers that can be Upgraded

• $5 USD – Shenmue Lives
• $29 USD – Digital Copy
• $39 USD – Save Shenmue Digital Upgrade
• $60 USD – Physical Copy – PC
• $60 USD – Physical Copy – PS4
• $80 USD – Shenmue III World Telecom
• $100 USD – Shenmue 3 Trial Version
• $120 USD – Toy Capsules “I Should Buy One”
• $160 USD – Bonus Pack
• $175 USD – Printed Art Book
• $250 USD – Kickstarter Collector’s Edition

Slacker Backer Reward Tiers that can be Upgraded

• $13 USD – Digital Soundtrack
• $29 USD – Digital Copy for PC or PS4
• $30 USD – Shenmue III T-shirt
• $60 USD – Physical Copy for PC or PS4
• $100 USD – Shenmue III Trial Version
• $120 USD – Toy Capsules “I should buy one.”
• $160 USD – Bonus Pack
• $175 USD – Printed Art Book
• $250 USD – Shenmue Collector’s Edition

■ $7 Million Stretch Goal in Reach!

The Kickstarter and Slacker Backer campaigns combined currently stand at $6.9 million. We are almost at the $7 million stretch goal for the AI Battling battle system expansion! This is the last chance for stretch goals and we ask for your continued support!

*The Slacker Backer campaign and upgrades & add-ons through Fangamer will end on August 13th.

Battle System Expanded: AI Battling

This control system lets you automatically unleash the perfect technique in response to the opponent’s positioning and distance. R&D for this system is based on Yu Suzuki’s concept for players who are not used to fighting games or for those who want a full immersion battle experience. This battle system is highly compatible with the current battle system, and will be implemented upon reaching the stretch goal.

We would like to thank everyone for your patience and the inquiries you sent in anticipation of the survey roll out!

Once we have your responses in, we will continue to move forward with in-game implementation and manufacture ordering. This is a wonderful moment with the dev team and backers taking the project forward together! We’ll be looking forward to your responses!!

■ Shenmue III Backer Survey

Backer surveys are now underway. For information on your survey, please see the email sent to you by Fangamer. Shenmue III can only be completed with your responses! Thank you for your cooperation!!

Please complete or make any necessary changes to your survey by these dates.

• Monday, August 13, 2018: Last day of Slacker Backer campaign, reward upgrades and add-on.
• Sunday, September 30, 2018: Surveys closes.

For further information, please visit:

• Survey Support and Survey Resender

Choosing the PS4 or PC platform

We have a few notes to consider when choosing your platform. Also, if there would be any major changes in the requirements for either the PC or PS4 versions, the platform selection question of the survey is scheduled to remain open.

Choosing your PS4 region

Your PS4 region will be decided with your “Country” selection. Please note, if the disc region differs from PS4 system region, the unit itself, PlayStation Network online services or DLC may not function properly.

System Requirements for PC Version

• OS: Windows 7 x64, Windows 8 x64, Windows 10 x64 (64-bit OS Required)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 (3.40 GHz) or better; Quad-core or better
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti or better (DirectX 11 card & VRAM 2GB Required)
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband internet connection
• Storage: 100 GB available space
• Sound card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
• Additional Info: Requires Steam Client to activate.

*Game is currently in development so system requirements may change without notice. We thank you for your understanding.

Fangamer and Third Party Use of Personal Information

Ys Net has a written contract with Fangamer to carry out the backer surveys. Fangamer is a formal representative of Ys  Net to help process and fulfill all backer’s orders through the surveys. Personal information is handed over and treated in accordance with the privacy policies of both companies for the purposes of conducting the surveys and reward delivery only. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Have you gotten the Shenmue III survey yet? Which console are you getting it for? Discuss in the comments below!

Via Gematsu 

Original post: SEGA Fes is turning out to be one hell of a show. For years, fans have been clamoring to get a modern release of Shenmue on current consoles and SEGA has heard our plea.

During today’s SEGA Fes live stream, SEGA announced that Shenmue I & II  would be heading to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Based on the trailer, it appears to be a straight port with shined up graphics.

Here’s SEGA’s overview of Shenmue:

Since their original release, Shenmue I & II have established a passionate following and are revered as one of gaming’s greatest series of all time. These revolutionary masterpieces deliver a gripping story of retribution as Ryo Hazuki sets out to avenge his father’s death and attempts to unravel the secrets behind a mysterious artefact known as the Dragon Mirror.

Shenmue I & II comes complete with the original feature set that defined modern gaming, including enthralling jujitsu combat, investigative sleuthing, and RPG elements in addition to memorable mini- games. Shenmue I & II is set within engrossing real-time open worlds that feel truly alive thanks to day-to- night cycles and weather changes, with a population of civilians who follow their own schedules.

This is the definitive version of these all-time classics and will be the best Shenmue experience to date. The re-release will stay true to the originals with modernised features including fully scalable screen resolution, choice of modern or classic control schemes, PC graphics options, an updated user interface and the option to enjoy either the original Japanese or English voiceovers.

Shenmue I & II  is scheduled to be released worldwide this year. It will be released as a physical and digital release.

Update: Shenmue I & II assets, courtesy of SEGA

Press Release:

A LEGEND IS REBORN. SHENMUE I & II LAUNCHING FOR PLAYSTATION 4, XBOX ONE AND PC IN 2018.

SEGA’s most requested re-release of all time finally comes to a new generation of gamers!

London, England – April 14, 2018 – SEGA® Europe Ltd. is proud to announce that the pioneering epic saga Shenmue I & II is to be re-released for a new generation. Get ready to go on a thrilling voyage across faithful recreations of Japan and Hong Kong, China, in a timeless tale of revenge and mystery when Shenmue I & II launches both physically and digitally on PlayStation® 4 and Xbox® One with a PC release on Steam in 2018.

Since their original release, Shenmue I & II have established a passionate following and are revered as one of gaming’s greatest series of all time. These revolutionary masterpieces deliver a gripping story of retribution as Ryo Hazuki sets out to avenge his father’s death and attempts to unravel the secrets behind a mysterious artefact known as the Dragon Mirror.

Shenmue I & II comes complete with the original feature set that defined modern gaming, including enthralling jujitsu combat, investigative sleuthing, and RPG elements in addition to memorable mini-games. Shenmue I & II is set within engrossing real-time open worlds that feel truly alive thanks to day-to-night cycles and weather changes, with a population of civilians who follow their own schedules.

This is the definitive version of these all-time classics and will be the best Shenmue experience to date. The re-release will stay true to the originals with modernised features including fully scalable screen resolution, choice of modern or classic control schemes, PC graphics options, an updated user interface and the option to enjoy either the original Japanese or English voiceovers.

The physical and digital editions will be available to pre-order from first party stores, Steam and US and EMEA retailers soon. For all the latest information on Shenmue I & II, head over to: https://shenmue.sega.com/

Endless Space 2, Amplitude’s Studios’ latest sci-fi 4X offering, officially released in May last year following a soft launch on Steam Early Access in late 2016. We looked at it in both its pre and post Early Access states for our sister publication, Mega Visions, giving it a well-deserved 5/5.

Since then, Amplitude has offered up a very generous slate of small, free DLC packs primarily featuring new questlines, heroes, minor factions, and quality of life improvements.

More recently, however, the Paris-based developer has turned turned their attention to paid-for content. In January, the “fan favourite” Vaunters faction from the original Endless Space broke the ice, followed by Untold Tales and Lost Symphony.

Endless Space, Finite Content

The former is a familiar bundle of the aforementioned. While being more content-rich than Amplitude’s prior complementary efforts, it’s still a pretty svelte package that adds a 4 minor factions (with whom you can interact with but not play as), heroes for each, plus additional questlines.

The problem is, most of this is simply thrown into Endless Space 2’s existing random number generator rather than taking centre stage in their own mini campaign or seperate mode. Ergo, start a new game and the overwhelming likelihood is that it’s going to take you a fair while to happen across anything new. Indeed, unless you’ve sunk some serious hours into Endless Space 2, you may well struggle to tell where the old content ends and the new begins.

Likewise, Lost Symphony adds 7 tracks to Endless Space 2’s already generous repertoire of grandiose, ethereal musical accompaniments, but throws them to the existing mix at random. Plus, it adds another fan-favourite minor faction to the fray: somewhat apty, The Harmony.

Endless Space 2’s soundtrack has always been a strongpoint, from the warbling, thoughtful minor chords of ‘Geodesic’ to the airy, ascending synths of ‘Dyson Sphere’. This further septet are just as much – if not more – of an aural treat than what’s gone before. We particularly liked ‘Digital Minds’, with its tense and sinister sounding electronica and powerful drum beat.

Summary

The problem with both of these mini-expansions is that the content they offer compliments the Endless Space 2 experience in quite a tertiary way, and paying real money for the mere prospect of encountering new quests or factions at random will not appeal to everyone, even at such a low price. There’s nothing ‘wrong’ here as such, but our advice would be to wait until Amplitude has turned out a few more bitesize morsels of paid DLC and then buying in bulk to get a more worthwhile, cumulative supplement to the base Endless Space 2 experience.

PROS

+ New content
+ Low price
+ Lost Sympony adds some truly excellent new music

A bunch of screenshots were released at the original announcement, but now we have some actual gameplay footage. The gameplay is pretty similar to the original Theme Hospital, except with updated visuals and brand new cases. You can take a look at the gameplay in the video above.

Two Point Hospital is scheduled to be released later this year on Steam.

The game will also come with pre-order bonuses, including special avatars, wallpapers. They will also give a 10% discount for those who pre-order right now. The link to the Steam page is here.

Puyo Puyo Tetris will be released for PC on February 27th, check out the press release and screenshots below, for more information.

Screenshots

Press Release

Puyos and Tetriminos collide in the frantic four-player puzzle mashup arriving on Steam with exclusive features & pre-order bonuses!

LONDON – February 6^th, 2018 – SEGA® Europe Ltd. and The Tetris Company, LLC are pleased to announce that the fast-paced, competitive party game mash-up, Puyo Puyo Tetris® will launch on Steam for PC, on Tuesday 27^th February 2018.

Puyo Puyo Tetris sees two puzzle game juggernauts collide as Tetris, one of the top selling video games of all time and one of the most recognised brands in gaming history, and Puyo Puyo from SEGA combine to create a fun-to-play, fast-paced, competitive party game like no other! There are a ton of different styles of gameplay – from the single-player Adventure and Challenge modes to the ferocious competition of the up-to-four-player Arcade modes. You can even take your puzzle skills online in the Puzzle League or Free Play multiplayer modes with up to four players. Play through Adventure mode to unlock new characters and backgrounds, and visit the in-game Shop which enables players to unlock new character voices and skins for Puyos and Tetriminos.

For those wanting to get in on the frantic puzzle action early, pre-order Puyo Puyo Tetris on Steam or other SEGA approved digital retailers* before 27^th February and receive exclusive wallpapers and avatars featuring your favourite Puyo Puyo and Tetris characters. Pre-ordering through Steam will also net fans an additional 10% discount.

Puyo Puyo Tetris is the latest best practice PC conversion from SEGA and boasts PC exclusive enhanced features including scalable resolutions, fully customisable controls and mouse-driven menus. As an added bonus and for the first time in the West, players of the new PC version have the option to enjoy the game’s original Japanese voiceovers.

Puyo Puyo Tetris adds to the ever-growing list of best practice PC conversions from SEGA and joins critically acclaimed titles such as Vanquish, Bayonetta and Valkyria Chronicles. For more information on SEGA and any of its products, please visit www.sega.co.uk. You can also follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Hatsune Miku VR will support Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, launching for Steam this March. Check out Hatsune Miku VR‘s features below

Rhythm action game using VR controllers

Enjoy Miku’s original dance while playing the game

Eight songs with two difficulties for intense dance action (more planned to follow after release)

Game available in English, Japanese, and Chinese and more

There’s also a Hatsune Miku VR website which you can see by clicking here. 

Earlier today, SEGA announced Total War: Three Kingdoms, which is the next major historical game in the franchise since Total War: Attila. Three Kingdoms is scheduled to be released this fall for PC.

Check out Total War: Three Kingdoms‘ overview, courtesy of Steam.

The year is 190CE. China is in turmoil.

The Han Dynasty crumbles before the child-emperor. He is but a figurehead; a mere puppet for the tyrant warlord Dong Zhuo. It is a brutal and oppressive regime, and as Dong Zhuo’s power grows, the empire slips further into the cauldron of anarchy.

But hope yet blossoms.

Three heroes, sworn to brotherhood in the face of tyranny, rally support for the trials ahead. Scenting opportunity, warlords from China’s great families follow suit, forming a fragile coalition in a bid to challenge Dong Zhuo’s remorseless rule. Will they triumph against the tyrant, or will personal ambition shatter their already crumbling alliance and drive them to supremacy?

The crucible fizzes. Allegiances shift. The fires of conflict stoke opportunity. Only one thing is certain: the very future of China will be shaped by its champions.

via Steam 

To celebrate, SEGA will be hosting a “PS Vita Version 1.5 Million Download Commemoration Campaign” later in the month. Full details will be explained on the official website on a later date.

As for the west, we are still waiting on any news of a North American/European release on PSO2. We live in such sad times.

via Gematsu