4Gamer recently caught up with Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed producer Steve Lycett with the game having been released in Japan last month. We already heard that Lycett had hoped to include Ristar as a playable character, but as it turns out, this wasn’t the only franchise he hoped the game would represent.

Lycett stated:

From three big SEGA classics, I think, “Space Harrier”, “OutRun”, and “After Burner”. Because these three are so popular around the world, I was thinking I wanted to find a way for them to work somehow. For “After Burner”, since there is no emerging main character, both it an “OutRun” both got full courses. But unfortunately, “Space Harrier” only got a song in the soundtrack on one of the stages. Even though it wasn’t convenient to include the hero of “Space Harrier”, we just couldn’t abandon the recording.

Lycett continued by elaborating on his interest in featuring Space Harrier one day:

Well, the truth is, I wanted to include the running character riding the dragon. But I won’t give up! If I ever get the opportunity, I absolutely want to see this happen.

More: interview, SEGA, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Steve Lycett, Sumo Digital

Below are the latest titles that can be currently pre-ordered at retailers:

Wii U

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (new) – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Falling Skies: The Game – GameStop
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Skylanders Trap Team – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop,
How to Train Your Dragon 2: The Video Game – Amazon, GameStop
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Watch Dogs – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Bayonetta 2 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Super Smash Bros. – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Yarn Yoshi – Best Buy

3DS

Story of Seasons (new) – Amazon, GameStop
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (new) – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Pokemon Omega Ruby – Amazon, Best Buy
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire – Amazon, Best Buy
Scooby Doo & Looney Tunes Cartoon Universe: Adventure – Best Buy, GameStop
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Skylanders Trap Team – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit! – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Tomodachi Life – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
One Piece: Unlimited World Red – Amazon, GameStop
How to Train Your Dragon 2: The Video Game – Amazon, GameStop
LEGO Ninjago Nindroids – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Farming Simulator ’14 – Amazon
Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Super Smash Bros. – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Putty Squad – Amazon, Best Buy

Thanks to Jake for the tip.

More: pre-order

According to a Bandai Namco representative, there are no plans to bring Tales of the World: Reve Unitia to the west… at least for now. Perhaps that’ll change in the future? Bandai Namco has been more consistent with Tales localizations over the past few years, so maybe a western launch will happen one day.

Source

More: Bandai Namco, Tales of the World: Reve Unitia

New DLC is out now for Disney Magical World. As of now, players can get their hands on items inspired by The Aristocats and Pinocchio.

Nintendo of America tweeted the news:

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More: Disney Magical World, DLC

Club Nintendo has been experiencing various issues over the past few days, in large part due to the launch of Mario Kart 8. Those who register their copy of the game on the website are entitled to a free Wii U game download.

Nintendo has now issued a very brief comment about the situation, acknowledging that Club Nintendo is experiencing high levels of traffic. The company also thanked users for their patience.

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More: Club Nintendo

Shiness’ Kickstarter now includes a Wii U stretch goal. If total funds surpass $170,000, Ynnis Interactive will bring its RPG to the eShop. That needs to happen in about a week.

You can find Shiness on Kickstarter here.

Source

More: indie, Kickstarter, Shiness, Ynnis Interactive

This week’s expanded Japanese software sales are as follows:

01./00. [PS3] World Soccer Winning Eleven 2014: Samurai Blue Challenge (Konami) {2014.05.22} (¥8.208) – 35.656 / NEW
02./00. [PS4] Infamous: Second Son (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2014.05.22} (¥7.452) – 34.801 / NEW
03./03. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch (Level 5) {2013.07.11} (¥4.800) – 33.974 / 984.009 (+12%)
04./00. [PSV] To Love Ru Trouble: Darkness – Battle Ecstasy # (FuRyu) {2014.05.22} (¥7.538) – 22.327 / NEW
05./00. [PS3] World Soccer Winning Eleven 2014: Samurai Blue Challenge (Konami) {2014.05.22} (¥8.208) – 16.762 / NEW
06./01. [PS3] The Idolmaster: One for All # (Bandai Namco Games) {2014.05.15} (¥8.208) – 12.488 / 95.883 (-85%)
07./02. [PSV] Genkai Totsuki Moero Chronicle # (Compile Heart) {2014.05.15} (¥7.344) – 9.492 / 42.450 (-71%)
08./00. [PSV] Amnesia World # (Idea Factory) {2014.05.22} (¥6.264) – 8.650 / NEW
09./00. [PSP] World Soccer Winning Eleven 2014: Samurai Blue Challenge (Konami) {2014.05.22} (¥3.067) – 7.245 / NEW
10./04. [3DS] Mario Golf: World Tour (Nintendo) {2014.05.01} (¥4.937) – 7.069 / 93.279 (-25%)
11./05. [3DS] Mario Party: Island Tour (Nintendo) {2014.03.20} (¥4.800) – 6.741 / 377.925 (-16%)
12./07. [3DS] Pokemon X / Y # (Pokemon Co.) {2013.10.12} (¥4.800) – 5.489 / 4.068.956 (-1%)
13./06. [PSV] Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment # (Bandai Namco Games) {2014.04.24} (¥6.664) – 5.267 / 206.648 (-33%)
14./10. [3DS] Monster Hunter 4 # (Capcom) {2013.09.14} (¥5.990) – 4.244 / 3.281.369 (+25%)
15./09. [3DS] Kirby Triple Deluxe (Nintendo) {2014.01.11} (¥4.800) – 4.055 / 588.563 (-10%)
16./12. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo) {2011.12.01} (¥4.800) – 3.960 / 2.322.537 (+18%)
17./08. [3DS] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call # (Square Enix) {2014.04.24} (¥6.264) – 3.057 / 123.606 (-33%)
18./15. [PS3] Grand Theft Auto V (Take-Two Interactive Japan) {2013.10.10} (¥7.770) – 3.020 / 778.762 (+2%)
19./13. [3DS] Style Savvy: Trendsetters – Tokimeki Up! (Nintendo) {2014.04.17} (¥4.936) – 2.972 / 39.121 (-6%)
20./14. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf # (Nintendo) {2012.11.08} (¥4.800) – 2.932 / 3.737.633 (-4%)

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More: charts, Japan, Media Create, sales

The 3DS version of 1001 Spikes won’t include multiplayer elements, according to Nicalis. However, Nintendo fans can count on multiplayer for the game’s Wii U version.

Nicalis wrote on Twitter yesterday:

Source

More: 1001 Spikes, Nicalis

More: Activision, Edge of Reality, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

More: Japan, Quarth, Virtual Console