Retro news too small for its own thread

[CMcK]

Got stuck into in yesterday. It’s kind of on the easy side. Feels like the hard setting should be the default. Catchy tunes and bright colourful visuals do make it feel very much a product of its time.

[Yakumo]

Yeah, it's way too easy. I actually finished it on my first try using 1 continue on Normal setting.
I think the audio is weak though. The tunes are fine but the sound driver lacks any bass at all.
The graphics are really nice in many areas. Great is of colour too.

[Hirst]

Just got mine today, not bad for cheap air shipping. Sadly my Mega Drive is currently behind several boxes so it might be a week or two before I get onto it. As somebody who enjoys shooters despite being fairly rubbish at them, I welcome this easy one (that said, I’ve seen the footage and it looks like a bit of a walkover even by my standards).

[wakka]

https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/04/bafta-crowns-shenmue-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time-in-surprise-result

Shenmue has topped a BAFTA public poll for the most influential game of all time.

No single game can ever be definitely declared that of course, and this list is as faulty as any other 'Best of...'.

But I'm really glad to see Shenmue secure the accolade, because it will always be an incredibly special and unique game and was also a totally groundbreaking one. I still play through both titles (no, I don't count the third) on a semi-regular basis. The first in particular still has, in my opinion, one of the most realistic and immersive worlds ever made.

Also, you get to collect lil gacha toys. So that's nice.

[Nu-Eclipse]

https://www.timeextension.com/news/2...urprise-result

Shenmue has topped a BAFTA public poll for the most influential game of all time.

No single game can ever be definitely declared that of course, and this list is as faulty as any other 'Best of...'.

But I'm really glad to see Shenmue secure the accolade, because it will always be an incredibly special and unique game and was also a totally groundbreaking one. I still play through both titles (no, I don't count the third) on a semi-regular basis. The first in particular still has, in my opinion, one of the most realistic and immersive worlds ever made.

Also, you get to collect lil gacha toys. So that's nice.

All I ever do when I boot up Shenmue is end up wasting hours on Hang-On.

[wakka]

It's so fun that the arcade was functioning. The first time I played it I was like wait...no way...the games actually work?!

[briareos_kerensky]

A Two year journey to get 16 players to play Faceball 2000 on the Game Boy.

[egparadigm]

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[Hirst]

They need to do a flat batteries mode where it goes BEEP every time you turn the Dreamcast it on, to me it's an integral and iconic part of the whole experience.

[egparadigm]

They need to do a flat batteries mode where it goes BEEP every time you turn the Dreamcast it on, to me it's an integral and iconic part of the whole experience.

You can ask the designers, they have a discord!

It’s going to support direct transfer from vmu (no console required) by plugging them into each other. It is expected to have an airplane mode, even.

[Yakumo]

Super Delux Games sent out a mail today promoting Earthion but with some very worrying omissions. There's no mention of the Mega Drive version at all. All it says later in the mail is that the game was designed to run natively on Mega Drive hardware.

It says there will by physical releases coming later in the year but only for PS4 / 5 and Switch 2 it would seem.
Those systems plus Xbox and steam get digital versions soon.

If there's no Mega Drive version I'll be extremely pissed off. What's the point on this game on more powerful hardware. It's impressive if running on a Mega Drive but not so if running on modern hardware.

[Neon Ignition]

[egparadigm]

They need to do a flat batteries mode where it goes BEEP every time you turn the Dreamcast it on, to me it's an integral and iconic part of the whole experience.

Your prayers have been answered. Apparently this will indeed be a feature!

[Tobal]

A kickstarter from 2023 bearing fruit, the cartridge in the hands of some backers now with steam version and their own little web shop for the MD cart to come as well for those that missed out. They had previously done Demons of Asteborg which received a lukewarm reception, i didn't like the no stun lock on hitting regular enemies, so dropped it quickly, which looks to be sorted out for both characters in Claw.

[Wools]

Time Extension had a little article about Lionhead's cancelled Kinect game, Milo & Kate.

Peter Molyneux's Most Infamous Cancelled Game Would Have Allowed Players "To Hang Out With Someone That Loves You" | Time Extension

I was part of that project and have my own thoughts and feelings about it all. It was very much a real project but the E3 demo had smoke and mirrors to get it working, much like any E3 demo. It hurt back in the day as I remember listening to the Giantbomb Podcast while I was literally testing the Tools and Engine, while Jeff Gerstman said "The game doesn't exist" as I was playing the ****ing game!

It was a shame it didn't pan out. My memory of it is not that we couldn't pull it off, but more Microsoft weren't convinced they could sell a game where you interact with a child and their dog. And Fable II sold so well, the hype train was behind Fable, so they decided to exhaust us on that series instead. I remember cool design ideas like your character could message you with a Microsoft Phone (Remember, this was 2008 and Microsoft had just brought Nokia!) about what they were up to and you could message back with instructions. It was so Black & White in AI ideas, and the ideas were so strong, for this artificial life style world.

Out of all the game projects I've been involved with in QA, Design and Programming, this project was the most exciting, and I always wonder what it could have been if we were allowed to go into full production.