With the holidays right around the corner, now is the perfect time to pick up a few goodies at a discount! Now through November 1^st, select North American titles on the PlayStation Network are available at special prices.

Nothing to wear for Halloween? POW – Dress your Home avatar in the Alpha Protocol Tactical Gear pack for only $14.99!  10 hour drive to grandma’s house for Thanksgiving?  BAM – pick up the SEGA Genesis Collection for PSP for the low price of $12.99! Need a Christmas gift for yourself? KAPLOW – SEGA Rally Online Arcade for PS3 is only $6.99. A complete listing of sale items is below.

PlayStation 3:

Crazy Taxi: $6.99 (30% off)

SEGA Rally Online Arcade: $6.99 (30% off)

Gunstar Heroes: $2.99 (50% off)

Alpha Protocol Tactical Gear pack: $14.99

PSP:

SEGA Genesis Collection: $12.99 (20% off)

Crazy Taxi: $6.99 (30% off)

Phantasy Star Portable 2: $19.99 (50% off)

Valkyria Chronicles II & Valkyria 2 DLC Pack 2: $22.99 (almost 50% off), $13.79 for PlayStation Plus members (almost 70% off)

Today, it’s time to give back!

People across the world have felt the effects of the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan. As someone who was there when it all happened, we saw firsthand many of the challenges that the Japanese people are now going through. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we all do our part to help those who truly need it.

Here at SEGA, we’ve decided to gather some of the rarest, most unique items we could find, and we’re auctioning them all off right now, donating 100% of the funds to the Red Cross to assist in Japan relief efforts.

If you’re a SEGA fan, this is your chance – bid on super rare SEGA merchandise, and do your part to help Japan in this crucial time of need.

To all those in the SEGA Community – let’s get this started!

Yakuza Track Jacket

A super-rare, high-quality Yakuza Track Jacket! Originally valued at over $200, we’ve started the bidding at .99 cents! This jacket is officially licensed from Ryu Ga Gotoku, or “Yakuza” here in the west. It looks and feels like one of the most epic jackets you could ever own – and, if Nagoshi himself is willing to wear it, it probably is.

You can also see this item in today’s edition of “On the Spot” over at Gamespot!

Bid on this item now!

Dreamcast Hoodie

We created these for the recently-release Dreamcast Collection, and they’ve been super popular ever since. We’ve given away many of them through Free Stuff Friday and partnerships with other sites, but we still get asked all the time how people can buy one of them. Until today, the answer was that you can’t. This is your chance to pay for a hoodie — just be the highest bidder, and its yours. We have sizes XS, M, L, and XL (sorry, we’re out of smalls!).

Bid on this item now!

Dreamcast Bag

This is from the Dreamcast days… a big bag to hold all your stuff. We found this in our old office, rescued it, and have been hanging on to it for several years now, just waiting for the right occasion to part with it. This is it! It is a big bag (about 17 inches wide and 15 inches tall) and was originally intended to hold your Dreamcast console, controllers, etc. It could be used for that, or as a cool computer or book bag. There is one zippered pocket on the front (just above the logo), and it zips open to reveal one interior front pocket and 4 smaller mesh pockets on the back to organize your stuff. It has two handles at the top for hand carrying, a shoulder strap, and also some backpack straps, if that’s how you choose to roll.

Bid on this item now!

Yakuza 4 Officially Licensed T-Shirt from Japan

This is an amazing shirt. It’s officially licensed, and has the Ryu Ga Gotoku tag still on it. It’s a black long-sleeve shirt in a size XL, but it’s a Japanese XL so it’s smaller than a US size XL. But you may not even want to wear it, because it’s so pretty! The front, sleeves, and back have a tattoo design in gold — as you can see, it’s very intricate and shiny. This shirt sells in Japan for approximately $110 US, so it’s definitely rare and valuable!

Bid on this item now!

Valkyria Chroncles – Signed copy for PS3

One of SEGA’s best games for the PS3 – and perhaps one of the best games on the console itself – this is a rare chance to pick up a shiny copy of Valkyria Chronicles, signed by two key members of the Japanese development team. This includes Ryutaro Nonaka, the game’s producer from SEGA of Japan! The winning bid scores both the open case and a brand-new, unopened copy of the game, still in its original shrink-wrap. How’s that for awesome?

Bid on this item now!

Yakuza 4 US Promo T-Shirt

While less rare than the Yakuza shirt above it, this is still a pretty rare item. We made 500 of these shirts to promote Yakuza 4, and just because they are more subtle than your average game t-shirt doesn’t mean it’s any less awesome. We have these in size M, L, or XL (winner picks their size). It’s a black short-sleeve shirt with a tattoo design over the shoulder, and the Yakuza 4 logo on the opposite sleeve. The screenprint design continues over the shoulder and on to the back of the shirt.

Bid on this item now!

Sonic Colors Kiosk Art

This is art that was originally placed in demo kiosks for Sonic Colors. Now it could be yours! There are 6 pieces in total, each with a different design of Sonic and his Wisp friends from the game. Each piece is about 28 inches tall and 9 inches wide, and they’d look great hanging on your wall!

Bid on this item now!

Virtua Tennis Sweatbands

These are some brand-new promo items for the upcoming Virtua Tennis 4 game. Keep your forehead dry during long jogs or some marathon gaming sessions. You get 5 sweatbands in total — one in each color we made — to keep yourself cool.

Bid on this item now!

Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll Promo Poster Art

This is a piece of promo art that we used at several locations during the promotion of Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll. It’s a really big poster — 28 inches wide and 35 inches tall — and it’s mounted on heavy 1/4 inch foam core. This is a piece of art that will stand the test of time!

Bid on this item now!

OutRun Art – Signed by Yu Suzuki

If this looks familiar to you, you’re probably a frequent Free Stuff Friday viewer/participant. This was one of our prizes for last week’s giveaway. The winner contacted us and asked to donate it to an auction to benefit relief in Japan, and we were happy to oblige. Thanks to @bdavid81, who gave up his prize for auction.

Bid on this item now!

Yakuza 4 – Model Car Kit

Nothing says “I was once top boss of the Tojo clan” like a painmobile. (Well, that’s the literal translation, at least.) This rare Yakuza Model Car Kit comes to us from Japan, and includes a ton of awesome car stickers for use as decals! Instructions might be in Japanese, but thankfully, the box itself has enough English to tell you what you need to get this model put together and painted up.

Bid on this item now!

The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Promo “Meat” Package

This is a medium-sized (12 inches by 7 inches) package wrapped in brown butcher’s paper and packing tape with a House of the Dead OVERKILL logo sticker on the front. Inside is a styrofoam tray similar to what you’d find in a butcher shop. On that will be a fake body part of some kind — a hand, a foot, an internal organ — we don’t know what it is, because the package is unopened! So, have a heart, and you may get a heart in return!

P.S. – Not for kids!

Bid on this item now!

Sonic the Hedgehog Limited Edition Lanyard

This is a black ribbon-style lanyard with the running sprite animation from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. We made these for PAX Prime 2010, and they were a monster hit. If you didn’t get a chance to pick one up, you can do so now — and for a good cause, too!

Bid on this item now!

MADWORLD Gamestop Manager’s  Pre-order Kit

Better watch your step! This is a kit that was handed out to GameStop managers and employees before the launch of MADWORLD. It is a MADWORLD-branded box, that has the SEGA and GameStop logo on it as well as “MADWORLD Employee Kit” on it. Inside, there is a big red plastic button (like the Staples “easy” button) that takes 3 AAA batteries and makes a chainsaw noise when pressed. The kit also contains a bag of “Pre-Order Today” buttons with the MADWORLD logo on them, and a package of MADWORLD stickers. These stickers have the “Caution” sign design that was used throughout the marketing campaign. The box also includes a flyer for GameStop store managers.

Bid on this item now!

Sonic Classic Collection – Signed by Ken Balough

The cover of this game has been autographed in silver pen by Ken Balough, who many Sonic fans know as the SEGA Brand Manager for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I. The front cover says “Sonic 4 games in one as you truly imagined it – Ken”. This is a blend of two recurring jokes: The first came about from the SEGA US community managers teasing that this was “Sonic 4 … games in one”. We made this joke several times on our blogs and Free Stuff Friday videos, and it’s possible that it is only funny to us. The second part, “as you truly imagined it” is a quote from Ken himself, and it became a meme within the Sonic community. Ken is a great guy, and doesn’t mind laughing at himself, so he signed this on the game for a lucky fan to cherish.

Bid on this item now!

Valkyria Chronicles – Rare Promo Poster Art

What you’re looking at is one of the rarest pieces of original Valkyria Chronicles promotional merch in the west. Featuring Welkin Gunther, Alicia Melchiott, and their tank the Edelweiss, this beautiful piece of art was printed on a huge piece of glossy, thick posterboard, and was one of three pieces of promo Art used at the Valkyria Chronicles Launch Event in San Francisco.  Now you can bid on this exclusive piece of promo art and help Japan at the same time!

Bid on this item now!

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams Pillowcase

Dream delight! One of the more unique pieces of promotional merchandise we’ve ever created, this NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams pillowcase is the perfect addition to any NiGHTS fan’s collection. (Not to mention, you can actually sleep on it!)

Bid on this item now!

Yakuza 4 Japanese Promo Fan

This is a fan that we picked up at the Tokyo Game Show in 2009. It’s got a tattoo design and the Japanese website for Yakuza 4 on one side, and the Japanese logo for the game on the other.

Bid on this item now!

Check them out on video!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Want to see some of the items above on film? Check out the video we’ve put together to show them off on YouTube! Almost all of the items listed are shown, though we’ve had even more items join the auction pool after filming.

Good luck, and happy bidding!

On behalf of all of us here at SEGA, thank you to everyone to who bids and donates to help Japan in this time of need. Good luck on all those rare pieces of SEGA merchandise – we hope you’ll give each and every item an awesome new place to call home!

SEGA!

Today is the day – December 30th – we are happy to reveal the Xbox Live Arcade games for our Holiday Mega Sale. Remember, these are available in North America, Europe, United Kingdom, and Australia! You have only one day to get in on these crazy deals – do not delay! The Xbox community has been very patient so without any further delay …

Xbox Live Arcade

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
→ Xbox Live Arcade price was $5.00 now $3.00 save 40% – Buy Now!

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG2
→ Xbox Live Arcade price was $5.00 now $3.00 save 40% – Buy Now!

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3
→ Xbox Live Arcade price was $5.00 now $3.00 save 40% – Buy Now!

SONIC & KNUCKLES
→ Xbox Live Arcade price was $3.00 now $1.50 save 50% – Buy Now!

SONIC 4 EPISODE 1
→ Xbox Live Arcade price was $15.00 now $10.00 save 33% – Buy Now!

SONIC ADVENTURE
→ Xbox Live Arcade price was $10.00 now $5.00 save 50% – Buy Now!

AFTER BURNER CLIMAX
→ Xbox Live Arcade price was $10.00 now $5.00 save 50% – Buy Now!

iPhone

› Super Monkey Ball
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)
› Sonic the Hedgehog
$4.99 $2.99
£2.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Sonic the Hedgehog 2
$4.99 $2.99
£2.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Super Monkey Ball 2
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)
› Super Monkey Ball 2 Sakura Edition
$4.99 $2.99
£2.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Sonic 4 Episode 1
$6.99 $2.99
£3.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Phantasy Star 2
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $0.99 (AUS)
› ChuChu Rocket!
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)
› ChuChu Rocket! HD
$4.99 $2.99
£2.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Gunstar Heroes
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)
› Altered Beast
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)

PlayStation Network

› Sonic Adventure
$9.99 $4.99
£6.29 £3.19
€7.99 €3.99
$12.95 (AUS) $6.95 (AUS)
› Sonic Adventure DX
$4.99 $1.99
£3.19 £1.19
€3.99 €1.49
$6.95 (AUS) $2.45 (AUS)
› Sonic 4 Episode 1
$14.99 $9.99
£9.99 £5.49
€12.99 €6.99
$19.95 (AUS) $11.45 (AUS)
› Afterburner Climax
$9.99 $4.99
£7.99 £3.99
€9.99 €4.99
$15.95 (AUS) $8.45 (AUS)
› Phantasy Star Portable 2
$39.99 $15.99
£27.99 £13.99
€34.99 €17.99
$54.95 (AUS) $27.95 (AUS)
› Valkyria Chronicles 2
$39.99 $15.99
£27.99 £13.99
€34.99 €17.99
$54.95 (AUS) $27.95 (AUS)

› Sega Genesis Collection $15.99 $9.99

› Iron Man 2 $19.99 $15.99

› Gunstar Heroes $4.99 $2.99

└─═[ MEGA SALE HOLIDAY 2010 ]═─┐

This Holiday save up to 70% on over 20 SEGA games! Buy for yourself, or buy for a friend! The Sale starts tonight on December 21st and runs until January 3rd, details below, read on!

Super Mega Special Deals!

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 4 EPISODE I

→ iTunes AppStore was $6.99 now $2.99 save 57% – Buy Now!
→ iTunes AppStore was £3.99 now £1.79 save 55% – Buy Now!
→ iTunes AppStore was € 5.49 now € 2.39 save 56% – Buy Now!
→ iTunes AppStore was $8.99 (AUS) now $3.99 (AUS) save 56% – Buy Now!

→ PlayStation Network was $14.99 now $9.99 save 33% – Buy Now!

SONIC ADVENTURE

→ PlayStation Network was $10 now $5 save 50% – Buy Now!

CHUCHU ROCKET!

→ iTunes AppStore was $2.99 now $0.99 save 67% – Buy Now!
→ iTunes AppStore was £1.79 now £0.59 save 67% – Buy Now!
→ iTunes AppStore was € 2.39 now € 0.79 save 67% – Buy Now!
→ iTunes AppStore was $3.99 (AUS) now $1.19 (AUS) save 70% – Buy Now!

Plus a special treat for Xbox LIVE Arcade customers on Dec 30th. Don’t forget to buy for your friends and Santa won’t forget to bring you gifts!

iPhone

› Super Monkey Ball
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)
› Sonic the Hedgehog
$4.99 $2.99
£2.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Sonic the Hedgehog 2
$4.99 $2.99
£2.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Super Monkey Ball 2
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)
› Super Monkey Ball 2 Sakura Edition
$4.99 $2.99
£2.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Sonic 4 Episode 1
$6.99 $2.99
£3.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Phantasy Star 2
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $0.99 (AUS)
› ChuChu Rocket!
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)
› ChuChu Rocket! HD
$4.99 $2.99
£2.99 £1.79
€ 5.49 € 2.39
$8.99 (AUS) $3.99 (AUS)
› Gunstar Heroes
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)
› Altered Beast
$2.99 $0.99
£1.79 £0.59
€ 2.39 € 0.79
$3.99 (AUS) $1.19 (AUS)

Xbox Live Arcade

› Afterburner Climax $10.00 $5.00
› Shhh, it’s a secret – no really – we can’t tell you – so check back on December 30th to see what we’ll be discounting!

PlayStation Network

› Sonic Adventure
$9.99 $4.99
£6.29 £3.19
€7.99 €3.99
$12.95 (AUS) $6.95 (AUS)
› Sonic Adventure DX
$4.99 $1.99
£3.19 £1.19
€3.99 €1.49
$6.95 (AUS) $2.45 (AUS)
› Sonic 4 Episode 1
$14.99 $9.99
£9.99 £5.49
€12.99 €6.99
$19.95 (AUS) $11.45 (AUS)
› Afterburner Climax
$9.99 $4.99
£7.99 £3.99
€9.99 €4.99
$15.95 (AUS) $8.45 (AUS)
› Phantasy Star Portable 2
$39.99 $15.99
£27.99 £13.99
€34.99 €17.99
$54.95 (AUS) $27.95 (AUS)
› Valkyria Chronicles 2
$39.99 $15.99
£27.99 £13.99
€34.99 €17.99
$54.95 (AUS) $27.95 (AUS)

› Sega Genesis Collection $15.99 $9.99

› Iron Man 2 $19.99 $15.99

› Gunstar Heroes $4.99 $2.99

The DLC for Valkyria Chronicles 2 may have come out a little while ago, but why not celebrate with a whole lot of explosions and a new trailer anyway? We like explosions. (Boom.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Download this complete pack of 22 missions and immerse yourself in the ultimate Valkyria Chronicles II experience. A wide range of missions are on offer to add even more challenges.  Missions range from all-out assault mission, intercepting enemy intrusions, escorting a VIP in the battle field, fighting enemies stronger than the main scenario and many more! Train and fight your way through the civil war with cadets from the academy.

We hope you guys enjoy the video! Also, a little shout-out to all you Valkyria fans who came out for our Community event earlier this month! We hope you guys had fun.

The holiday giving season kicks off this weekend, and SEGA games are being featured in some of the best gift-giving guides!

1UP

1UP has chosen the following games for their guide:

Bayonetta (X360 and PS3)

Vanquish (X360 and PS3)

Yakuza 3 (PS3)

Chu Chu Rocket (iPhone)

After Burner Climax (PSN)

Valkyria Chronicles II (PSP)

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I (PSN)

Gamespot

Gamespot also has their gift guide up, and has chosen the following SEGA games for their guide:

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (DS)

Valkyria Chronicles II (PSP)

Bayonetta (X360)

Whether you’re looking for a gift to give, or trying to put your own wish list together, let these guides help you pick the perfect thing!

Hey everyone!

We hope you’re all excited for tonight’s big event! From Valkyria Chronicles to Phantasy Star to Sonic 4, we’ve got cool things in store – including food (and chocolate)!

Because demand for space was big really big astronomically high, we’ve also booked a fourth room to help accommodate more guests. First things first – here’s the final guest list!

1. Eric (Giolon)
2. Mike S.
3. Montes
4. Austin M.
5. Casde (needs confirmation)
6. Daniela T.
7. Bao
8. Sam
9. William
10. John M.
11. Yoko
12. Tom F.
13. Matt
14. Matt’s guest (needs name confirmation)
15. Daniel Hong
16. Ryan Cameron
17. Steven Regalo
18. Steven’s guest (needs name confirmation)
19. Karl Stenerud
20. Victor S.
21. Victor’s guest (needs name confirmation)
22. Paul Tidd
23. Ron Z.
24. John Gillis
25. Keith Tidd
26. Audrey Spoor
27. Audrey’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
28. K.C.L.
29. Nilknarf C.
30. Michael S.
31. Garret C.
32. Maegan C.
33. Skyler K.
34. Skyler K’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
35. Skyler K’s second Guest (needs name confirmation)
36. Michael T.
37. Gabriel P.
38. Gabriel P.’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
39. Gabriel P.’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
40. Gabriel P.’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
41. Michael V.
42. Chris Yelton
43. Ellis K.
44. Max V.
45. Carl B.
46. Robert W.
47. Robert W’s guest (needs name confirmation)
48. Karlan Harris
49. Michael L.
50. Stephan C.
51. Johnnie M.
52. Paul W.
53. John S.
54. Hector L.
55. Frank C.
56. Matt L.
57. Randall Miyashiro
58. Travis Girard
59. Drew Girard
60. Michael T.
61. Farris D.
62. Owen S.
63. Jason L.
64. Jonathan Lee
65. Frank Du
66. Oliver W.
67. Selena
68. Anthony C.
69. Sandra S.
70. Joel P.
71. Joel P’s brother (needs name confirmation)

Finding SEGA

There are two entrances to SEGA: one on Kansas street and one on Rhode Island street. For this event, please make sure to use the Kansas entrance, as it’s the one we’ve secured for the evening so that the doors don’t lock you or your family out, etc.

Once you come in from the Kansas side, you’ll see a number of Rappies guiding your way. They’ll lead you to the doors, then to the elevators, and from there you’ll want to head up to the Fourth floor. We’ll be there ready to check people in starting at 5:00 PM!

What kind of food will there be?

We’ve ordered some very yummy sandwiches and some even more yummy dessert to feed you guys with. We’ve also picked up a fairly wide variety of soda (super healthy!), so whether you’re a Coke, Pepsi, or even a Mountain Dew person, your drink of choice will be there!

Is there parking nearby?

The best spots to park will be in the blocks nearby – De Haro and Carolina, which are only a couple blocks away, may also have parking. If you go up the hill a little on either Rhode Island or Kansas streets, you may also find some parking spots to use!

What kind of prizes are you giving away?

That’s a secret! You’ll have to wait and see what we’ve got in store.

We’re looking forward to seeing all of you guys tonight – and sorry that we couldn’t fit in everyone who wanted to come! The high demand for this event is a great sign for the future, though – if you guys want more, we’ll make them happen.

See you tonight!

Hey everyone!

Even if you can’t make our Sonic Colors event in New York next week, we’ve got something on the west coast coming up right after!

Some of you may remember that last year, right around this time, we held SEGA’s first ever Community Event here inside SEGA of America HQ in San Francisco. It was all about Phantasy Star Zero then, and this year we’re making the event even bigger – and featuring Valkyria Chronicles II, Phantasy Star Portable II, and Sonic the Hedgehog 4 as our big games of the night!

What: A special, free event open to the SEGA Community! Bring your own PSP and your copies of PSP2 and Valkyria Chronicles 2!

When: Friday, November 12th, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Where: SEGA of America (directions below)

Who: You! And a friend. (Or three) The event is free and open to the public, but we only have room for around 50! You can reserve your spot here on the blog via the comments, so make sure to do so asap!

What to bring: Your PSP and a copy of Phantasy Star Portable 2 / Valkyria Chronicles 2! If you don’t own a PSP or the games, just let us know and we’ll get one for you to use!

Dinner: Provided by SEGA!

Event Agenda

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM - Check in, introduction, and welcome

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM – Play with SEGA + Dinner (Multiplayer sessions with VCII and PSPII)

6:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Valkyria Chronicles II Team Tournament – 4P teams, Co-op

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Phantasy Star Portable II Team Battle Tournament

8:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Sonic the Hedgehog 4 – Community Feedback Session + Free play on PSP titles

8:30 PM – 9:00 PM – Closing, swag raffle,  and awards ceremony

In more detail, some of the highlights of the event are listed below:

Free play + SEGA!

Join your friends – and maybe even some SEGA Staff – in co-op games of Valkyria Chronicles II and Phantasy Star Portable II. Have fun meeting other fans of the series, and get some practice runs in for the competitions later in the evening!

Valkyria Chronicles II – 4-person Team Tournament

Put your squad’s skills to the test with a race to the finish line in Valkyria Chronicles II! This tournament will be held using an in-game mission, and you’ll compete in teams of four. The fastest team to complete the mission wins, and the top three teams all score prizes!

Phantasy Star Portable II Team Battle Tournament

The heat of player versus player is back – and it’s up to you and a friend to fight your way to the top of the bracket together, and to take home the glory of being crowned the champions! These matches will take place on the island capture the flag battle rule, one of the two starting rules available in Battle Mode.

Sonic 4: Episode I – Community Feedback Session

Join Ken (Brand Manager for Sonic 4) and Aaron (Community Manager for Sonic 4) for a special Community Feedback Session on Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I! What did you like about Episode 1? What things do you think could be improved upon in the future? Bring your best ideas to the table and we’ll talk all things Sonic 4!

In the meantime, if Sonic 4 isn’t really your thing, free play of both Valkyria and Phantasy Star will also be taking place in the other rooms.

Swag Raffle, Awards Ceremony, and Closing

Everyone who attends the event will be going home with some special swag – and on top of that, a few lucky winners will also be getting extra prizes that we’ve got hidden away here at SEGA! You could go home with rare merchandise from last year or even vintage merch from the Dreamcast era and before!

Whoever travels the furthest distance to arrive will also score a special prize. Oh, and know your SEGA trivia, too – because we might give out some extra goods to anyone who can correctly answer some quickfire questions!

Once all is said and done, we’ll have our closing, bid everyone a good night, and let you all loose on San Francisco for the weekend.

Directions to SEGA

If you live in or near San Francisco, you may have been by our offices before, or seen the big blue SEGA logo as you were driving down the highway. But if it’s your first time in the city or at our HQ, here’s our address:

350 Rhode Island St # 400
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 701-6000

Find us here on Google Maps! The entrance to use is on Kansas street – the doors will be on your right!

When you get here, just look for the Rappies and signs – they’ll lead you to the elevators, and SEGA’s reception is on the fourth floor.

Reservation List

1. Eric (Giolon)
2. Mike S.
3. Montes
4. Austin M.
5. Casde (needs confirmation)
6. Daniela T.
7. Bao
8. Sam
9. William
10. John M.
11. Yoko
12. Tom F.
13. Matt
14. Matt’s guest (needs name confirmation)
15. Daniel Hong
16. Ryan Cameron
17. Steven Regalo
18. Steven’s guest (needs name confirmation)
19. Karl Stenerud
20. Victor S.
21. Victor’s guest (needs name confirmation)
22. Paul Tidd
23. Ron Z.
24. John Gillis
25. Keith Tidd
26. Audrey Spoor
27. Audrey’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
28. K.C.L.
29. Nilknarf C.
30. Michael S.
31. Garret C.
32. Maegan C.
33. Skyler K.
34. Skyler K’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
35. Skyler K’s second Guest (needs name confirmation)
36. Michael T.
37. Gabriel P.
38. Gabriel P.’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
39. Gabriel P.’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
40. Gabriel P.’s Guest (needs name confirmation)
41. Michael V.
42. Chris Yelton
43. Ellis K.
44. Max V.
45. Carl B.
46. Robert W.
47. Robert W’s guest (needs name confirmation)
48. Karlan Harris
49. Michael L.
50. Stephan C.
51. Johnnie M.
52. Paul W.
53. John S.
54. Hector L.
55. Frank C.

[Update, Nov 1st: We have extended the list five additional spots to 55 - hoping to add more soon!]

The waiting list

1. Matt L.
2. Randall Miyashiro
3. Travis Girard
4. Drew Girard
5. Michael T.
6. Farris D.
7. Owen S.
8. Jason L.
9. Jonathan Lee
10. Jonathan’s friend (needs name confirmation)
11. Oliver W.
12. Oliver’s friend #1 (needs name confirmation)
13. Oliver’s friend #2 (needs name confirmation)
14. Oliver’s friend #3 (needs name confirmation)
15. Anthony C.
16. Sandra S.
17. Joel P.
18. Joel P’s brother (needs name confirmation)
19. Keishi (needs name confirmation)

To reserve your spot, just post here in the comments! Your real first name and the initial of your last name is needed for the reservation. Spots will be given out on a first-post, first-reserved basis, so get yours in quickly!

FAQ

Q: Can we choose our own teams for the Valkyria Chronicles 2 and Phantasy Star Portable tournaments?

A: Yes, you may! Just let us know ahead of time if you have 1-3 people you’d like to be partnered with. Please note that they will each need a reservation for the event!

And that’s that! We hope you guys are excited for the event – Let us know in the comments if you have any questions. You can start reserving your spots… right now!

If there is one book that every fan of Valkyria Chronicles should own, this is it:

Amassing hundreds of pages and in beautiful, crystal clear detail from start to finish, the Valkyria Chronicles development works art book costs almost $60 normally – and even that, as most of us who own it will tell you, is well worth the value.

Little could make a book such as this any more valuable or rare, save for one thing – the signatures of the team behind it all in the first place. Today, we’ve partnered with Gamrfeed to give away just that: one of the rarest and most coveted Valkyria Chronicles books out there, exclusively signed by the team in Japan.

To enter, check out their contest page here. (To participate, all you’ll need is a Twitter account.)

Good luck everyone, and we hope whoever wins that art book appreciates it. It’s one of only a few in the world, so take good care of it!

Tonight is one of many late nights that have become the norm here in the office lately. Often I find myself thinking at about 7 PM: “Why did I plan an update every single day?“, but each time the BLiTZ goes live and we get to see how much you guys are enjoying the content, it makes it entirely worth it.

(I’ve also no room to complain, as the development team over in Japan works even longer hours – I’m not sure how you guys do it, but as with all things, it really shows in the work you produce.)

Since I wasn’t able to update over the weekend like I’d hoped, I’m going to make today’s update one of the most special ones yet. Since we’re almost to the end, today we’re giving away four (count ‘em!) new codes, including a Rappy sticker, a Rodin sticker from Bayonetta, alternate outfits for Zeri, Ali, and Cosette, and even a Robotnik sticker for all you Sonic the Hedgehog 4 fans.

We’re also happy to announce that you’ll be able to pick up our massive DLC Mission pack, featuring a whopping 22 missions, tomorrow on the PSN store for $4.99! Fans in the west also get a special deal here, as you’ll be getting an awesome value compared to the cost and the way these missions released in Japan.

Finally, tomorrow is going to be the big Finale to end the BLiTZ, and our friends over at the Official Playstation Blog have teamed up with us to give Valkyria some special coverage! We invite you to keep all eyes peeled to their blog tomorrow, as we give out our four final codes!

We hope you’ll all join us in supporting VCII’s DLC launch tomorrow – if you love the game already, there’s a ton more in store to add to the experience. Now then – on to today’s free codes!

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 14

(Click for full size.)

Today’s first code: Phantasy Star Zero Rappy Sticker!

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

HPF2B7ASMWV5798U

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 15

(Click for full size.)

Today’s second free code: Rodin Sticker (Hot!)

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

YLBWA9UFTHQ3ZM1E

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 16

(Click for full size.)

Today’s third free code: Alternative G Cadets

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

NL45TX9F8VRSUKGR

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 17

(Click for full size.)

Today’s fourth free code: Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

GVFX8GA73FDWHQUS

One last hurrah

Join us for the last part of the BLiTZ tomorrow on the Playstation Blog! We’ll have four final codes to send flying your way, and alongside the release of our huge DLC pack, the BLiTZ will finally come to an end.

Until then – thanks for sticking with us every step of the way.

Here’s to the big finale!

“Heed my words and know victory. Loose you fire, men! Annihilate our enemies!”

Woot! Finally, another new unlockable character in VCII! Today we have a special code to add one of the imperial princes of the empire, Maximilian, to your roster! Check out today’s issue of the Lotte Insider below for all the details.

Lotte Inside – Special Edition, Issue 13

(Click for full size.)

Today’s free code: Prince Maximilian + Imperial Flag Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

H73G4L9GLJR1CHJP

Coming tomorrow

We’ve got a little love for a certain rappy in Phantasy Star Zero tomorrow, with a special unlockable tank sticker that is sure to put a little more Piiiiiiii in your treads. Or barrels. (You get the picture.)

Thanks for waiting eagerly, and we hope you guys liked today’s code – if so, as usual, give us shout in the comments below!

Welcome to day seven of the Community BLiTZ – Special Edition! Combine seven with however long the original BLiTZ was (I lost track somewhere between the launch of VCII and PSP2), and that equals a whole lot of blog posts. And we’re not done yet!

Today we have another new sticker for you in the form of Alicia artwork from the first game! Now that Edy is no longer asking us every day when her sticker is going to release, we can finally relax a little.

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 12

(Click for full size.)

Today’s free code: Alicia Gunther Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

K1C7XKLJMXUHRD8S

Coming Tomorrow…

Tomorrow is going to be a good day. That’s all we’ll say for now – beyond confirming that yes, we will be unlocking another new character!

We’ll see you then!

P.S. Mrs. Gunther, could you send us some more bread sometime? Clumsy and Kellie ate all of the last batch!

(… Well, alright, I ate a little too. Maybe more than just a little.) In any case, we need more!

Tuesday! That fateful day that finds us just after Monday and right before the middle of the week. (Random trivia: did you know that Tuesday actually got its name from the planet Mars? Really.)

Mars can step aside today, however, as Edy has arrived to hog the spotlight with today’s sticker! In addition, today we have a special bonus code for those of you who own Phantasy Star Portable II, which will unlock a special Edelweiss tank item for your room!

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 11

(Click for full size.)

Today’s free code: Edy Nelson Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

R5PT1MXEY3BW8VBE

Bonus Code – Edelweiss Room figurine in Phantasy Star Portable II!

Want to get your very own Edelweiss figurine in the latest PSP outing of Phantasy Star? You’re in luck! Enter in the following code at the Visiphone in your room to get the figure:

Bonus Phantasy Star Portable II Code: Edelweiss Room item:

54333358

Coming Tomorrow

Tomorrow’s new sticker is done in a similar art style to today’s – only it includes a certain member of Squad 7 who dreamt of one day being a baker. Those of you who like codes should also keep an eye out for an exclusive Wall scroll code from Phantasy Star Portable II, which we’re going to put live later today!

Enjoy your time in the spotlight, Edy!

A new week begins – and whether that means the daily grind at work or the daily grind through classes, we’ve got two more codes today to help make Monday a little less… well, Monday.

If you haven’t seen Vanquish yet, you need to. Grab the demo on 360 or PS3 and check out what Shinji Mikami, his team, and the good folks over at Platinum Games are up to. Once you’ve played it, you can grab the first of today’s codes to go with it, adding another exclusive sticker to your selection.

As promised, another sticker is going out that should make a lot of other SEGA fans happy – myself included. Remember the blue rogues symbol that you can get in-game fairly early on? We’re happy to reveal that we’ve added a second Skies of Arcadia sticker to Valkyria Chronicles II, and this one is exclusive to the west!

Two more DLC missions are also revealed, and like the previous ones, they will all be included in a single DLC package.

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 9

(Click for full size.)

Today’s first free code: VANQUISH Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

BUNLT4EXDS74QRCR

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 10

(Click for full size.)

Today’s second free code: Skies of Arcadia Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

WVZLPTYXURS1Q8TV

Coming Tomorrow

A famous artist is rumored to have just finished a new design based off of a certain idol from Squad 7. Whether her singing is music to your ears or sounds a bit like nails a chalkboard, there’s no denying that in her world, she thinks she’s number one. Fans of this idol, rejoice – because tomorrow’s sticker is a little tribute to her glory. (Even if it is self-appointed!)

Also, for those wondering whether or not there will be any more characters unlocked in the future – the answer is a definite yes.

We hope you guys enjoy today’s codes – especially you Skies fans out there!

The weekend is almost here!

Today we have three special codes to pass out, all of which will unlock new Tank Stickers. Whether you’re a fan of Super Monkey Ball, a hardcore Yakuza player, or a Dreamcast junkie who has fond memories of a certain game called Crazy Taxi – we hope these codes will brighten your day and make for an awesome start to the weekend!

In addition to the codes, each issue of the Lotte Insider also reveals a new DLC mission that will be included in this month’s upcoming DLC pack!

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 6

(Click for full size.)

Today’s first free code: Super Monkey Ball Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

7JMNHZ83TGH7XFKT

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 7

(Click for full size.)

Today’s second free code: Crazy Taxi sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

38WV17PK45TYAF8V

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 8

(Click for full size.)

Today’s third free code: Yakuza Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

QAKVXZTALF4TU7SK

Coming next week…

More codes, more stickers, more characters! Oh, and one sticker in particular that we think fans of a certain Dreamcast RPG will be pretty stoked to see. It’s a Valkyria Chronicles II exclusive in the western version, so be sure to visit back for more free codes next week!

If today’s stickers made your weekend a little better, let us know in the comments below!

Hey everyone, and welcome to Part III of our Community BLiTZ Special Edition! Today, as promised, we have two times the codes to make up for yesterday, one of which is going to make a whole lot of you very happy. And by very happy, I mean very, very, very, happy.

Sorry for not getting the blog up yesterday – as many of you may know, our other awesome game for the PSP, Phantasy Star Portable II, launched yesterday, and we had some fun time with the online servers getting ready until about 10 PM lastnight. I would have liked to post one lastnight, but it probably would have looked like I smashed my face against the keyboard a few times. Still, thanks for sticking with us as the last two days have been really busy due to that.

Finally, speaking of Phantasy Star Portable II, anyone who picks up the game here in the west will be able to unlock Emilia as a playable Armored Tech in VCII, and you’ll also get two special missions from the mercenary group Little Wing. Rumor has it that there might be some Valkyria Chronicles momentos hidden within PSP2, as well – time will tell!

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 4

(Click for full size.)

Today’s first free code: Sonic the Hedgehog sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

CUP34ASEZ9WDKBYV

As with all previous editions of the Insider, Lotte also reveals another DLC mission that will be included in the pack this month. But that’s not all we have for you today…

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 5

There were a whole lot of comments on BLiTZ Part II when we asked about the characters you’d like to have with you from the first game again, but none quite so requested as a certain azure witch from the original Valkyria Chronicles.

Rejoice – because today, you can finally add Selvaria to your roster!

(Click for full size.)

Today’s second free code: Selvaria Bles + Witch Profile sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

53K8FKGP1GHQ4SBN

Coming tomorrow…

With Selvaria released, we’ve still got more stickers and playable characters to unlock throughout the month. Join us again tomorrow evening for the next issue of the Lotte Insider!

If you’re stoked to finally have Selvaria playable – let us know in the comments below! Thanks again for waiting, and we hope you guys enjoy today’s codes!

Happy Monday, folks! To help brighten your week, we’ve got another free unlockable code for VCII to start things off, a second edition of the Lotte Insider, and news on the second DLC mission that will be included in our DLC pack coming out later this month!

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 2

(Click for full size.)

Today’s free code: Gallian Military Sticker

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

TXU14EUV74PCR3TE

Bonus Challenge – Extra code

Today we have a special challenge for you guys – complete it, and we’ll hook you up with a second, bonus code, complete with another edition of the Lotte Insider!

• Tell us in the comments section below which characters from the first game you would most like to have again as part of your Squad in VCII. You can pick any character from the first game!

If we get over 100 comments from fans telling us the favorite characters you’d like to see again, we’ll update this blog with a second code, which will unlock one such character from the first game as a playable member of your squad in VCII!

You can only comment once, and you have until 11:00 PM Pacific time tonight to hit 100 comments. Spread the word and work together, and let’s see how fast you guys can accomplish it! (P.S.: A rank = within 2 hours of this blog going live.)

BONUS COMPLETE!

Rank: A!

Well done everyone! As promised, here’s a special extra edition of the Lotte Insider today, and with it, a code to unlock Welkin’s best friend – Faldio!

Bonus Reward

(Click for full size.)

Unlock Faldio as a playable character:

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

GWNU95RSETW1VGNQ

P.S. – Selvaria fans, your day will come!

Coming tomorrow…

As another awesome game launches on the PSP tomorrow, we’re going to have another edition of the Lotte Insider, a new code for everyone to download, and more Valkyria goodness! The release day and cost for the massive DLC pack will also be revealed soon!

Good luck with today’s challenge!

Welcome back to a surprise special edition of the VCII Community BLiTZ! After the amazing reception we had from you guys here on the blogs, we wanted to keep you up to speed on how Valkyria is doing, both in reviews and in stores, and let you know how you can help the war effort keep pushing forward.

First off, let’s talk about the reviews. What do the critics (and gamers) think of VCII?

• IGN was the first to go live with a review, giving the game a fantastic 9/10 and crowning it with an Editor’s Choice Award!

• The 9/10 scores continued to pour in, from sites like Eurogamer Italy, PlayStation Official Magazine (UK), and Cheat Code Central.

• Destructoid gave it a rocking 9.5 and an Editor’s Choice, writing “A new story, battle improvements, new troops, and a ton of missions are exactly what Valkyria Chronicles fans were asking for.”

Right now, the game is averaging a score of 81 on Metacritic, which is fantastic – here’s to hoping that number will rise even higher.

The first week

We’re happy to announce that Valkyria’s first week in stores was a good one, with fans all across the US picking up the game both physically and digitally. The game is also now available in the UK, so for all of you who spend with pounds instead of dollars, get out there and grab a copy!

We’d like to thank everyone who did their part, and likewise to urge those who haven’t picked it up yet to do so – the first battle went very well, but the war is far from over. Every copy picked up helps us prove that Valkyria Chronicles is a series that deserves even more attention here in the west, and it’s a cause that many of us here are happy to fight for.

New VCII DLC coming out this month!

We’ve mentioned in the past that there was DLC planned here in the west, but today we’re happy to specify that DLC will actually be arriving this month! All of it will be coming together in one huge pack, and we’ll have details on how many missions that pack will give you, as well as the cost next week!

The value you’ll get for the missions in the pack is huge, and today we’re going to unveil the first mission included in the DLC pack, as well as give away a special free code for all of you who need a little more Squad 7 love in your team!

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue I

(Click for full size)

Code to Unlock Isara Gunther + Isara’s Dream Sticker:

(Enter this in-game at the “Extras” section)

37LRK5D214VQVFYH

The first of the DLC missions included in our pack will also take you back to Mellvere – though the challenge will be unlike any you remember from the initial campaign!

More Winners!

Who scored that one-of-a-kind signed Developments Artbook from the Valkyria Chronicles Team? Give your congrats to user mowmow, who wrote:

“From the bottom of my heart I thank you so much for bring Valkyria chronicles to the US, and I hope there will be more of this Series to come. I will continue to try and put the word out so that everyone can play these games.”

You rock, mowmow – thanks for helping spread the word!

Coming next week

Check back in next Monday as the Special Edition BLiTZ continues on, with news on the second DLC mission you’ll get in the upcoming pack, and another new code for a special, unlockable tank sticker! Every day next week we’re going to be giving away a new code for something special!

Rumor has it that fans of a certain azure witch from the original Valkyria Chronicles should also keep their eyes peeled next week – we’ve got all sorts of awesome lined up to say thank you for supporting VCII.

If you’re excited about the DLC, the unlockable characters, or the new stuff to come, drop us a line in the comments below.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(Before you start reading this blog, we recommend getting this music playing in the background!)

Finally, the release day has come. As Valkyria Chronicles II ships to stores across the US, the long wait for the sequel to the PS3 masterpiece is over.

Writing a new, lengthy piece for the BLiTZ each day has been a challenge, but one always made worth it by the amazing responses we get from you guys – the fans. We hope you’ve enjoyed the stream of info, pictures, and prizes just as much as we enjoy seeing your excitement.

We have a very special finale today to say thank you to all the fans. For following us from day 1, for supporting great titles like Valkyria Chronicles, and for getting out there to pick up and also support the second game – here is our tribute to you.

A special message for the fans – from the Valkyria Chronicles devs

Just after we began the BLiTZ, I put in a rather selfish request to the developers over in Japan, asking them if they would like to take part in our final day of the BLiTZ and write a message to the fans. The request itself was on very short notice, and I had actually only expected maybe one or two members of the dev team to write back.

Instead, they found time amidst their busy schedule to write something very special for all of you. And not just one – but a great many of them, each responsible for something unique within the series, all took time out of their day to create the following messages, just for the Valkyria Chronicles fans in the west. And here they are:

Their messages, and their role in the team:

Shinji Motoyama                  Chief Producer

We’ll be waiting for you in the new battlefield!

Takanobu Yoshino                Localization Director

Try collecting all the medals with Avan and his comrades.

Hope you like Vario!

Kazuhiro Matsuta                 Chief Programmer

We put in all you can ever want for a portable game.

Thank you for supporting Valkyria Chronicles II!

Hirotaka Kanazawa              Chief Artist

The new Valkyria Chronicles is loaded with new tanks, weapons, characters, and so much more!

Protect Gallia with your one and only Class G!

(JP message: Protect the homeland!)

Shuntaro Tanaka                  Chief Adviser

Valkyria is back!

Takeshi Ozawa                    Original Director

All Valkyria fans are my fellow comrades!!

Kohei Yamashita                  Chief Game Designer

Valkyria is THE strategy game of the century.

You’ll find out that it’s worth 100 times what you pay for, so you gotta play it!

Daisuke Tabayashi               Setting Designer

All Valkyria fans, here we go! Make way for Edelweiss!!

…Sorry, you don’t have Edelweiss this time.  But you get to customize your tank to the limits!  The magnificent world of Valkyria Chronicles and the BLiTZ system are greater than ever, so get ready for some fun!

(+ the illustration)

Akio Horii                            Map Designer

Thank you very much for supporting Valkyria Chronicles!!

And thank you, to everyone above, for taking the time to write those messages.

A call to action

As the day arrives, we hope that everyone will do their part to support the series. Whether that’s simply picking up the game, telling your friends about it, or even cosplaying VC at PAX this week – every little things helps, and collectively as fans, we can move mountains when we all do even just a little.

Thank you to the many who are already doing that – and to everyone who plans to pick up or download a new copy of the game to support Valkyria Chronicles!

A super rare finale prize!

We’ve saved the best for last. Today, we’re going to give away the huge Japanese Development Works artbook, which is worth over $60 alone and is a masterpiece filled with art and design concepts from the entire first game. Massive is an understatement.

But this one is special. This artbook has also been signed by those above – the Japanese development team, and the back inside cover has both messages from them and even a sketch of the Edelweiss all drawn onto it. To date, only two of these exist in all of the US – and you can win this one.

• To win the artbook, write a message here for the Valkyria Chronicles dev team. Make it as short or as long as you want – and let them know what you think of Valkyria Chronicles, and what the series means to you.

We’ll draw one winner at random from here on the blogs, and they’ll get one amazingly rare piece of merchandise to add to their collection!

What comes next

As the BLiTZ finishes on our end, it passes on to all of you – to the world of Valkyria Chronicles II that you can now experience, and to the battles, characters, and story that awaits.

Our support for Valkria Chronicles II is far from over, and we’ll be back soon with even more news on the upcoming DLC for the game, and some special codes to unlock new content – some exclusive to the west!

On behalf of all of our teams, thank you for joining us through the entire Community BLiTZ. If you liked it, please let us know!

Happy Valkyria Chronicles II day everyone – we hope you’ll love the game!

Hello everyone, and welcome to Day X of the Community BLiTZ! Thanks for being patient as we’re traveling around a bit and finding time to update has been a challenge. On the plus side, that travel schedule does mean we might meet you at PAX this year, and Valkyria Chronicles II will most definitely be there!

Today marks the launch of the game here in the west, but we’ve saved the big launch blog post for a little later in the afternoon. Thanks to all the great responses on the BLiTZ though, it is going to be a little more special than I thought when we started the series of updates. Stay tuned!

As we catch up on Day X, we explore the grounds of the military academy Lanseal – the place you’ll be spending almost all of your time leveling up, researching new equipment, and learning more about your fellow cadets. A few special guests from the first game might also make appearances here. Read on for all the details, our special thanks, last week’s winners, and another giveaway!

Community BLiTZ – Day X: The grounds of Lanseal

Standing tall for 217 years, the Lanseal Royal Military Academy is also Gallia’s only military academy. The “Royal” part of the name comes from the time it was created: back when Gallia was actually still a Monarchy. Records of the academy’s location show that it was not in fact built from scratch, but rather constructed around an existing old citadel, and then adding new expansions like the training grounds and the residential buildings.

Want to graduate at Lanseal? The academy uses a credit system, and on average, cadets can get through the program in approximately three years. There are two ways in: either get recruited by one of Lanseal’s scouts, who visit schools across the country looking for gifted students, or apply directly. Everyone has to pass both a written and field test, but the bar is much stricter for those applicants who are non-scouted.

Because graduates are immediately promoted to officers in the army, the thought of having a Lanseal diploma is actually quite tempting for many who want to serve their country further. This also means that the age of cadets varies widely, with some in their late teens, others in their twenties, and some in their thirties.

What’s on the campus itself? We’ll start today with the Training Grounds – a very important place for any Squad Leader, and a crucial location to making sure troops are ready for the next battle.

With a special training area designed to tire cadets with rigorous workouts, and with a drill instructor just as hard and relentless as the one from the first game, you can spend your experience here to push your unit classes onward and make them more effective in combat.

Like the first game, you level up units based on class. Scouts, shocktroopers, etc – the only new thing worth noting is that leveling up a class also levels up all advanced types of this class, meaning that leveling up scouts does in fact still give boosts to your snipers, or that leveling up Armored Techs will also make your Fencers even stronger.

Also at the training grounds, you can promote your units based on the number of credits they’ve earned in battle. If you’re missing credits, you can also check which missions offer the specific ones you need – and likewise, you can always move a character back to a previous class, provided they have the credits to do so.

Welcome to R&D! Equipped with their own facilities and a capable young woman known as Lavinia who watches over things here, R&D is a one-stop-shop for all sorts of upgrades. You can create and outfit new parts for your tank, research new guns, grenades, uniforms and armor to keep your soldiers safe, and even combine materials you find in the field to offer new, mission specific buffs to certain classes. These bonuses last for a single mission on a specific class, and you can repeat them after every single mission.

R&D is every bit as important as leveling up your squad members at the training grounds. Those of you who like tanks, especially, will find this as your home away from home at the academy. Lavinia is always around to help, and there are rumors of other cadets sneaking in from time to time here too, whether to admire the stockpiles of weapons or just to lend a helping hand.

Also on the grounds is the residential area, including Avan’s own room. Here, you can explore info about people, places, and more via a  book system that is quite similar to the one used in the original Valkyria Chronicles. You can also check up some very amazing stats – with a full on stat system that we highly recommend taking a look at. From your most used characters to the up-to-the-moment number of kills your squad has achieved, this scorebook has all the numbers you wanted to see and then some.

Finally, the shop on the campus grounds is also open for business, and they offer not only new missions but also Orders (and bread) during times when Welkin or Alicia visit. If keeping up to date and being well educated is your thing, you can also buy three different types of papers here. The Gallia Times is a regularly printed newspaper covering topics across Gallia, the Lotte Insider is Lotte’s own faux-newspaper covering the latest happenings at Lanseal, and the Encyclopedia offers a wealth of knowledge about topics from Ragnite to the Rebels.

That’s it for the tour of Lanseal – you’ll all be able to explore the academy in even greater detail when you pick up the game and arrive there soon. On to the next part of today’s BLiTZ!

Special Thanks

Today’s special thanks go to IGN, who were among the first western press to review VCII. Their score, which went up  yesterday, made all of us here extremely happy – the game received an oustanding 9/10, and was also credited with an Editor’s Choice award.

We’re glad you guys loved it as much as we do – and we’re hopeful that many other reviewers and fans alike will find it just as enjoyable.

Last Week’s Winners

Who got those awesome sets of our exclusive PAX Buttons? Please give your congrats to:

• On the SEGA Blogs: Steve Halter, who wrote:

I’m looking forward to the snow maps the most. My favorite missions in VC1 were the most challenging ones (Chapter 7!), and from the descriptions you gave, snow sounds like it will make the fight tougher. Can’t wait to play!

• On Facebook: Brennan M, who wrote:

The desert will always be my fave from VC1. Especially when the sandstorms came in. Something about them masking everyone from each other made it really epic to me.

• And on Twitter: personasama who wrote:

Chapter 13 and its trench warfare and long strip of no-man’s-land. Those trenches… I still have nightmares about them.

Congrats to all three of you! We’ll be able to ship out the buttons (as well as most of last week’s prizes) following our return from PAX next Monday!

Today’s first giveaway!

As there are two blogs going up today, the first is going to be awarding somebody with a very, very special Alicia Figurine! This figurine, however, is not part of the Yujin set, and the only way to get it was to buy the limited edition version of the original Japanese Valkria Chronicles!

I’ve been giving her a nice home on my desk, but now I think it’s time Alicia was finally given out to another fan to celebrate today, and all of the hard work that the fans have put in to helping this series.

• To enter to win this figurine, drop us a line here on the blogs with the class you think you’ll level up most at the training grounds of Lanseal!
  

As a reminder, the choices are: Scout, Shocktrooper, Lancer, Engineer, and Armored Tech.

Coming next…

Keep your eyes to the blogs – the BLiTZ Finale is almost here, and we’ve got something very special for all of you to celebrate the launch of the game!