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Newsroom

Sega Saturn Shiro Spotlights Vandal Hearts Port

Sega Saturn Shiro Spotlights Vandal Hearts Port

Sega Saturn Shiro's #BestOfSaturn series has featured Vandal Hearts, a 1997 strategy RPG that was ported to the Saturn by Konami's KCE Nagoya team for the Japanese market only. The feature notes that, similarly to Konami's Castlevania conversion for the system, the Saturn version of Vandal Hearts lacks enhancements specific to the Saturn hardware. Vandal Hearts originally released on PlayStation and is known for its tactical, grid-based battles. via segasaturnshiro.com

Secret of Mana ROM Hack Swaps Hero for Dragon Ball Z’s Goku

Secret of Mana ROM Hack Swaps Hero for Dragon Ball Z's Goku

A fan-made ROM hack called Secret of Goku has been released, retooling the classic SNES RPG Secret of Mana around Dragon Ball Z's Goku. Secret of Mana, originally released in 1993, is widely regarded as one of the best action RPGs on the SNES, often mentioned alongside Chrono Trigger. The hack reportedly brings the Dragon Ball Z character into the game's world and structure rather than building a new game from scratch. via retrododo.com

FiGGYZ Reveals Jet Set Radio Collectible Figure Box Set

FiGGYZ Reveals Jet Set Radio Collectible Figure Box Set

FiGGYZ has announced the Jet Set Radio – The GG's Box Set, a collectible set based on Sega's Dreamcast-era graffiti skating game. It includes three pixel-art FiGGYZ figures depicting characters Beat, Combo and Gum, each with a display base and wall mount, three reversible backplates and three exclusive holographic plates. The set also comes with a numbered commemorative coin. Jet Set Radio originally launched on the Dreamcast in 2000 and became known for its cel-shaded visuals and graffiti-based gameplay. via segabits.com

itch.io Moves to Filter AI-Generated Game Spam

itch.io Moves to Filter AI-Generated Game Spam

Itch.io has begun taking action against a build-up of low-effort AI-generated projects on its platform. The storefront is deleting spam listings and introducing filters that let users choose whether AI-assisted games show up when browsing or searching. Itch.io is widely used by homebrew and indie developers, including many making games for retro systems, so changes to how it surfaces AI-made content could affect how those releases are discovered. via retrohandhelds.gg

AM2R Fan Remake Ported to Nintendo Wii

AM2R Fan Remake Ported to Nintendo Wii

Developer cmyksoda has released a Wii port of Another Metroid 2 Remake, the fan-made reimagining of Metroid II: Return of Samus. The port is built on the Butterscotch GameMaker runner with a native GX renderer, and supports both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios as well as 240p and 480p output. It also includes scanline options aimed at users running the Wii through an HD CRT who want a 240p appearance. via retrorgb.com

Warren Spector Reflects on Immersive Sim Legacy After Retiring

Warren Spector Reflects on Immersive Sim Legacy After Retiring

Warren Spector has given an interview reflecting on his career following his retirement from video game development. Spector was a key figure behind influential titles such as Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss, System Shock, Deus Ex, Thief: Deadly Shadows and Epic Mickey, many of which helped define the immersive sim genre, where players use real-world mechanics to find emergent solutions. In the interview he draws a connection between the design philosophy of his own games and later titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He also worked on Wing Commander earlier in his career. via timeextension.com

LEO Computer’s 75th Anniversary to Be Marked by CCH Event

The Centre for Computing History and the LEO Computers Society are holding an event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of LEO, the Lyons Electronic Office, described as the world's first business computer. LEO was built by the J. Lyons and Co. catering firm in Britain, adapting early computer research to run business applications such as payroll and inventory. The anniversary event brings together the preservation society dedicated to LEO's history with the computing museum hosting the celebration. via computinghistory.org.uk

C64 Ultimate Lands Exclusive Retail Deal with Colby

Commodore has announced an exclusive retail partnership with electronics distributor Colby to bring the C64 Ultimate to physical shop shelves. The company, led by Christian Simpson, says this marks the first time the Commodore 64 brand will be sold in stores across Europe and parts of Africa and Asia in over 30 years. Previously the C64 Ultimate and other Commodore products, including the 64C and the Talkback 8020 phone, have been sold online only. via timeextension.com

Super Mario 64 Is Being Ported to the Virtual Boy

Super Mario 64 Is Being Ported to the Virtual Boy

A homebrew developer is working on a port of Super Mario 64 for the Virtual Boy, Nintendo's short-lived 3D console from the 1990s. The project adds to the long list of unusual platforms that fans have managed to get the N64 classic running on, a trend the story compares to the way id Software's DOOM keeps turning up on unlikely hardware. The Virtual Boy, released in 1995, was known for its red-and-black monochrome stereoscopic display and had a limited library before being discontinued. via retrododo.com

Hyperkin Says Mega95 Handheld Has Entered Mass Production

Hyperkin Says Mega95 Handheld Has Entered Mass Production

Hyperkin has given an update on its Mega95 handheld, confirming that mass production has now begun. The device, which plays original Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges in a portable form factor similar to Hyperkin's SupaBoy line, had previously been delayed due to manufacturing issues. The company says the long wait is nearly over as the product moves into production ahead of release. via timeextension.com

Under the Microscope Examines Saturn Game Sokkou Seitokai

Under the Microscope Examines Saturn Game Sokkou Seitokai

A new instalment of the "Under the Microscope" series looks at Sokkou Seitokai, also known as Sonic Council, a fighting game released for the Sega Saturn. The game is based on a manga series that originally ran in Gamest magazine, a Japanese publication known for its coverage of arcade and fighting games. The feature notes that background on the game's origins is already well documented in Japanese sources, and examines the title in more technical detail. via segasaturnshiro.com