SEGA Blog &#187; Valkyria Chronicles

Official Bayonetta Costume

Seriously? Seriously.

We are incredibly excited to offer this for auction. If you were at E3, Comic Con, or saw coverage of events where we had our live Bayonetta model, then you’ve seen this item in action. This is the completely original, totally custom-made, incredibly accurate and detailed Bayonetta costume. It’s truly the only one like it in the world.

The costume does include the wig (and foam head) with ribbons and chains, the bodysuit, the gloves and the boots. This costume does NOT include the glasses or the guns. The bodysuit has all of the details you’d expect from an accurate representation of the character, including the round chest piece, chains on the front and back of the costume, and more.

Because it was custom-made to fit our Bayonetta model, we don’t have a numbered size for it. However, you can examine the photos above and below to see the size of the bodysuit. The boots are a size 10. The wig should fit most heads. The gloves should fit most hands/arms.

Sonic the Hedgehog 15th Anniversary Figurine

What you’re looking at was part of a figurine series created to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 15th Anniversary back in 2006. This figurine is about 4 inches tall, and is of excellent quality and detail. It was owned by a SEGA of America employee, who took care of it at his desk, and is now donating it to help with Japan relief efforts.

The figurine features modern-style Sonic and comes with a black base that reads “SONIC” on the front. On the top of the base, just in front of where Sonic stands, is the official Sonic 15th Anniversary Logo, marking the piece as part of the 15th Anniversary Collector’s series. Sonic’s arms are slightly bendable, but this figurine is meant for collectors, and is not recommended for playing with, chewing on, or using to save the world. (That said, sometimes Eggman just needs a good beating!)

As part of the 15th Anniversary set, this figurine is also unique from the Sonic Statue, which is larger and limited to a run of 2500. (We also have one of these up for charity auction – check our full listing page for info!)

Signed Vanquish Art & Statue

What you’re looking at is a signed glossy art piece from the PlatinumGames team featuring Inaba-san and Mikami-san signatures and a very special and highly detailed statue from the Vanquish Videogame. The signed art images were hand signed by the development team in preparation for the game release. The Vanquish statue was part of the original pre-order offering in Europe. This particular statue was donated by our marketing director and has been unopened, still in its original packaging!

Super Monkey Ball AiAi T-Shirt

This is one of a few hundred AiAi shirts made for Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll. It is a replica of the shirt that AiAi wears in the game. These were given out to Nintendo World Store employees that worked our launch event at the store, as well as internally to SEGA employees. It is a size Medium.

Project Needlemouse “Team Needlemouse” T-Shirt

This is a limited edition, super-rare Project Needlemouse t-shirt that was created for SEGA employees working on Sonic 4. If there was one T-shirt that Sonic fans are constantly asking about, this is it – and for good reason, too: only about 250 of these T-shirts exist in the entire world, and most of them were given out at Comic-con and internally to the teams working on Sonic the Hedgehog 4, back when the game was code-named Project Needlemouse.

This is one of our last remaining new Project Needlemouse t-shirts here at SEGA, and we think that there are few better reasons to donate it than to help Japan in this time of need.

The shirt features the Sonic Silhouette and reads ‘PROJECT NEEDLEMOUSE’ above it on the front. The left sleeve features the SEGA logo, and the right sleeve reads “TEAM NEEDLEMOUSE – 9.09.09″. This date is a reference to two things: the first reveal of Project Needlemouse, and also the original launch of the Dreamcast, which launched on a similar 9.9.99 date.

The shirt is size XL.

Ryo Hazuki Figurine – in Forklift!

Attention Shenmue fans! This figurine of Ryo Hazuki in his forklift is one of only 1,000 in the world! They were made to promote Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, which features Ryo and his forklift as his All-Star move. Now is your chance to own one! The figure is 5 inches tall.

MADWORLD T-Shirt

What you’re seeing here is one of the first edition T-shirts in SEGA’s popular MADWORLD series. While later versions of this popular shirt would show up at NYCC, this is a new, unworn, original T-shirt, given only to select press and SEGA employees back when SEGA and Platinum Games first announced their major partnership in San Francisco. It is a size Medium

The shirt is a play on the quirky nature of MADWORLD – and the fact that you can stab people in the head with CAUTION signs. Beyond being part of the super-limited first run, you can also tell this shirt apart from the later variants by the sheer size of the “CAUTION” sign on the front, which is huge and bright on the first edition set.

If you’re a fan of MADWORLD or Platinum Games, this is your one – and perhaps only – chance to score one of the first edition promo items from one of the most graphic games on the Wii!

Japanese Bayonetta for X360 and PS3

You are bidding on two Japanese copies of Bayonetta on PlayStation3 and Xbox 360, as donated by our PR Team to help Japan with relief efforts. The games are both sealed and never been used. The Xbox 360 version requires a Japanese Xbox 360 to play, however if so desired, the PlayStation3 version is region free and should work in any console. A collector’s item for anyone looking to expand their Bayonetta collection!

Sonic Colors Soundtrack from Japan – Signed!

This is the original soundtrack to Sonic Colors/Colours from Japan! These are not available for purchase outside of Japan, so this is your chance to get one! It is a 3 disc set, with 83 songs in total. To make it even better, the Sonic Colors marketing team from SEGA of America (Judy, Thu & Kellie) has signed the insert!

MegaDrive Collection Vinyl

What you’re looking at is a very special and extremely limited Megadrive Ultimate Collection Vinyl Record. Originally offered as a pre-order incentive for Australia for the Megadrive collection, this record has never been listened to and comes in near mint condition. This is a massive collectors item for anyone that loves Megadrive / Genesis and wants to celebrate some of the classic tracks from years gone by. This particular record was donated from Derrek P, Brand Manager here at Sega of America who worked on the title release.

Details about the album:

* Extremely RARE Megadrive / Genesis Limited Edition Vinyl Soundtrack
* Never been listened to, extremely good condition, #85
* Vinyl color is SEGA blue!
* Tracks include: Space Harrier – Main Theme, Ristar – Star Humming, Vectorman – Day 3 (Tidal Surge), Golden Axe – Turtle Village, Phantasy Star II – Restoration, and Vectorman 2 – Scene 18

Samuel L. Jackson Signed Iron Man 2 Promo Card

This is a thin cardboard (posterboard) promo card for the Iron Man 2 game, signed by Samuel L. Jackson.

Details about the card:

* Authentic, original signature
* Signed by Samuel L. Jackson
* Size: 8.5 inches x 11 inches

Sonic the Hedgehog Notebook from 1993

Take note, Sonic fans – or take lots of notes, because this rare Sonic notebook from 1993 is completely unused and in awesome condition. And, unless you happened to live in Brazil in 1993, chances are this is one piece of Sonic merchandise you don’t already own!

Inside the book is some Sonic art from the early 90′s era, including everyone’s favorite sidekick – Tails!
Whether you’d like to write in the notebook, or add it as the latest part of your Sonic collection, one fact remains – this thing is pretty awesome!

Details about the Sonic Notebook:

* Made in 1993, and still in great, unused quality
* Features classic Sonic and Tails, and a whole lot of space to write.
* Rare, imported from Brazil

(Thanks to all of our fans who pointed out this was from Brazil, not Mexico. )

Don Cheadle Signed Iron Man 2 Promo Card

This is a thin cardboard (posterboard) promo card for the Iron Man 2 game, signed by Don Cheadle.

Details about the card:

* Authentic, original signature
* Signed by Don Cheadle
* Size: 8.5 inches x 11 inches

Bid on this now!

SEGA Branded Ladies Watch

Hey Ladies, what time is it? It’s time to bid on an extremely RARE SEGA watch! This watch was created for SEGA of America employees as a holiday gift, only a handful were created and distributed, however the exact number is unknown. The watch was donated by Judy G, Brand Manager here at Sega of America and who might also be late to tomorrow’s meeting!

Details about the Watch:

* Extremely RARE Ladies style SEGA Watch
* Never worn or used
* Fully functional
* Tells time!

Sonic Free Riders Soundtrack from Japan

This is the original soundtrack to Sonic Free Riders from Japan! These are not available for purchase outside of Japan, so this is your chance to get one! The CD has 12 tracks on it.

Details about the soundtrack:

* 12 songs
* Not available for purchase outside of Japan
* Still in the original shrink wrap

Sonic the Hedgehog Boombox

You are bidding on an official Sonic the Hedgehog CD Boombox, with AM/FM Radio. Plug your head phones in! Works with your MP3 Player! Listen to all your favorite Sonic classic songs (not included) and impress your friends with this awesome Sonic merchandise!

Sonic Colours UK Limited Edition Pack – DS

This is a limited edition Sonic Colours pack that was only available in the UK. It contains the Sonic Colours game for the Nintendo DS as well as a Sonic figurine and several Wisps from the game. The game’s cover and manual have been signed by the Sonic Colours marketing team at SEGA of America — Judy, Thu, and Kellie.

Super Monkey Ball & Valkyria Chronicles Pins

Looking for a hip way to show off your SEGA pride, donate to a good cause, and not break the bank in doing so? Perhaps these limited edition Super Monkey Ball & Valkyria Chronicle pins will help you get there! The pins were created for promotional use at the Penny Arcade Expo and given out to fans who visited the SEGA booth.

Sonic Colours UK Limited Edition Signed – Wii

This is a limited edition Sonic Colours pack that was only available in the UK. It contains the Sonic Colours game for the Nintendo Wii as well as a Sonic figurine and several Wisps from the game. The game’s cover and manual have been signed by the Sonic Colours marketing team at SEGA of America — Judy, Thu, and Kellie.

SEGA Director’s Notebook

Yes, you read that correctly. This is a special, SEGA Branded, high-class professional-style notebook. Until today, it was owned and used by SEGA of America’s own Marketing Director. Now, you too can feel the awe-inspiring power of a SEGA director by possessing their book! (… or something like that.)

The notebook itself is a black and a light, iridescent blue, and features a zipper protecting the paper and pockets inside – and this thing has a lot of pockets. It’s perfect for jotting down notes about the next upcoming SEGA game, how awesome the SEGA of America Community Team is, or how you’re totally planning to give them a raise in the next fiscal year. (Because, you know, that’s what Directors do!)

Rumor has it this Notebook was even down through generations from each SEGA Director to the next over the last two-hundred and fifty years. Other rumors state that it holds the power to create world peace, and that using this notebook while wearing a “three wolves howling at the moon” shirt will amplify your natural Director powers, instantly transforming you into a qualified, bona fide leader. Please note that we have not tested either of these rumors to confirm their validity.

In short, it’s a sweet, classy, SEGA branded Notebook, once owned by our Marketing Director.

Details about the Notebook:

* Owned and used by a SEGA America Marketing Director
* Will make you feel just like a real SEGA Director!*
* Use this Notebook while wearing a “three wolves howling at the moon” shirt to amplify natural leadership powers!

*: Effectiveness at transforming regular people into SEGA Directors has not yet been fully tested. There’s a slight chance you might feel just like a normal person holding a very, very special Notebook.

SEGA Saturn Game Gloves

Planning on a long gaming session of your favorite old school SEGA classics, but lack the proper attire? Look no further, we have a very special and extremely rare auction for a pair of Saturn Game Gloves. These were donated by one of our SEGA producers, Omar W., who held on to these gems for several years, waiting and training to be the best gamer there ever was. Now, this pair of gloves can be yours, complete with padded thumbs!

Details about the Game Gloves:

* Branded SEGA Saturn
* Super Cool Gloves for Video game play, bike riding, playing sports – or just having fun!
* Padded thumbs
* Fits ages 14 and up

Sonic the Hedgehog Backpack

What would it be like to give Sonic a piggyback ride everywhere you went? You can find out with this Sonic the Hedgehog backpack! Thanks to adjustable straps connecting Sonic’s hands and feet, Sonic can be with you all day to help you carry your stuff. Not a lot of stuff though… the backpack portion is accessible through a zip pocket in Sonic’s stomach and doesn’t really hold more than a few items. But still — an adorable item for any kid, or just a kid at heart.

Sonic & Knuckles Race Set

Fan of Sonic & Sega’s Allstars racing and looking for even more Sonic racing action? Look no further! Now you too can join in the fun with Sonic or Knuckles in this racing set, featuring 8 feet of track! What fun!

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing – Tails & Plane Figurine

Tails flew his plane in Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, and that’s commemorated in this figurine set.

Details about the figurine:

* High-quality, detailed Tails figurine
* Part of the Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Set
* Size: 5 inches tall

Valkyria Chronicles JPN

For Gallia – and Japan! This super-rare Limited Edition box set for the epic PS3 game Valkyria Chronicles is being auctioned off straight from SEGA to help raise funds for Japan relief efforts.

The box itself is in almost-new condition, and includes a special Alicia figurine, an extremely detailed Edelweiss Tank figurine, the Japanese edition of the pre-order Artbook, and the game itself. Only available in Japan, the copy of the game will also work in US and European PS3 systems.

The Alicia figurine is also a unique version not available in other Valkyria Chronicles figurine sets. The only way to pick it up is through this Box Set!

Details about the Limited Edition Box Set:

* Rare, Limited Edition Box Set from Japan.
* Includes the Game (PS3, JPN), Alicia Figurine, Edelweiss figurine, and Artbook.
* The perfect addition to any Valkyria Chronicles collection – especially if you like tanks!

SEGA Cards, Dreamcast Postcards, and SEGA Pen

This set includes two SEGA holiday cards that were sent to friends, partners, and business associates at the end of the year. One features Sonic the Hedgehog on a snowboard, and the other features Bayonetta, AiAi, Sonic, and the Alien from AVP – all kickin’ it by the fire in holiday sweaters (of frankly questionable taste).

This set also includes 6 Dreamcast-era postcard – 3 of each style. The first features Seaman and the quote “Get a life, fruitcake.” That lovely holiday sentiment is followed up by a lady in her recliner, speaking to Seaman on her Dreamcast microphone.

You’ll need something to write on all this paper with, so we’ve included a SEGA pen.

Sonic the Hedgehog MP3 Player

This Sonic the Hedgehog MP3 player holds 500 songs (it’s 2GB) and comes with earbuds. What else could you want in an MP3 player? Well, I’ll tell you. It opens and closes.(!!) I know, It’s crazy. But I know it’s true, because it’s right there on the package. What is the world coming to.

Planet 51 Movie Art Book – Signed!

This is a hardcover, full-color book featuring art from the Planet 51 movie. If you’re into animation, this is a great item to have. The front of the book is signed by Marcella Churchill, who was the Brand Manager at SEGA of America for the Planet 51 game.

Crazy Taxi Art – Signed

This rare piece of art was signed in late 2010 to celebrate the release of Crazy Taxi on PSN and XBLA. If you’ve got crazy money (or just the highest bid), it’s yours!

Details about the art:

* 8.5 inches x 11 inches
* Glossy artwork
* Signed & dated

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Cover – Signed!

This is a cover for the Nintendo DS game Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. It is signed by the entire BioWare dev team that worked on the game. And it is awesome.

Details about the cover:

* Cover of Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
* Signed by entire BioWare Dev Team
* Awesome

The Epic Soniclock!

***Own the most epic, rare Sonic Clock in the history of the world!***

You probably thought we were joking about that whole “Most epic Sonic Clock in the whole world” part, right? To understand the value of this masterpiece, one first needs to know its history…

This clock was originally given out for free to a SEGA event attendee last year. Apparently that person wasn’t a huge fan of Sonic, and in a gesture that was probably meant to insult us, he destroyed part of the clock and then put it up on Ebay. The rest of the Sonic community was appalled, until…

One of the other attendees from that same event bid on the clock – and won it. And then the story got 10x better: The winner wrote around the edges of the clock, in a personalized message to SEGA and our Sonic 4 Brand Manager Ken: “The Sonic(lock) Cycle as you truly imagined it!”

For Christmas that year, we here at SEGA received a package – and within it, we got our clock back. You can check out the full blog detailing the awesome return here: http://bit.ly/h9rXDN

Now, we have decided to end (or continue?) this story where it began: Ebay. We’ve upgraded the clock, adding a new “Biker-Balough” picture to the 12:00 spot, and have repaired the rest of it through large amounts of super glue and excessive strips of tape. The Soniclock has been upgraded to a new level, and by bidding on this piece of SEGA Community history, you can also help those in need in Japan!

Details about the Soniclock:

* Features Ken “Biker” Balough at 12:00!
* Signed by Ken Balough on the side. Reads: “It’s Biker Balough O-clock! -Ken”
* Also signed by Community member Skyler, who originally saved the clock here on Ebay.

Virtua Fighter 5 – Signed

Signed by the Japanese development team, this rare copy of Virtua Fighter 5 for PS3 is among some of the rarest items we’re auctioning off to support Japan. As you can see in the picture, a number of big names from the VF team signed in silver, and this copy is truly one-of-a-kind if you’re a collector of rare SEGA or Virtua Fighter merchandise.

Both the signed case and the actual game for PS3 are included in this auction. To all our Virtua Fighter addicts out there – good luck!

THANK YOU!

That’s all the items in our second batch, but we’re already collecting more for a third! We’ve got some good stuff coming up too… stay tuned!

SEGA Auctions for Charity!

RubyEclipse — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:27:35 +0000

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!

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!).

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.

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!

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?

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!)

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.

Check them out on 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!

Win a signed copy of the huge Valkyria Chronicles Dev. works Art Book!

RubyEclipse — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:03:30 +0000

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, Part IX: One step more

RubyEclipse — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:54:01 +0000

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

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

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

HPF2B7ASMWV5798U

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 15

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

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

YLBWA9UFTHQ3ZM1E

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 16

Today’s third free code: Alternative G Cadets

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

NL45TX9F8VRSUKGR

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 17

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, part VIII

RubyEclipse — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 03:58:36 +0000

“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

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, Part VII

RubyEclipse — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:19:30 +0000

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

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, Part VI

RubyEclipse — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:20:22 +0000

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

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, Part V

RubyEclipse — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:51:12 +0000

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

Today’s first free code: VANQUISH Sticker

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

BUNLT4EXDS74QRCR

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 10

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, Part IV

RubyEclipse — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:02:40 +0000

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

Today’s first free code: Super Monkey Ball Sticker

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

7JMNHZ83TGH7XFKT

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 7

Today’s second free code: Crazy Taxi sticker

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

38WV17PK45TYAF8V

Lotte Insider – Special Edition, Issue 8

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, Part III

RubyEclipse — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 02:14:15 +0000

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

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!

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, Part II!

RubyEclipse — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:43:39 +0000

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

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

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Special Edition, Part I!

RubyEclipse — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:11:05 +0000

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Finale: Succeeded Wish

RubyEclipse — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:33:46 +0000

(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!

Valkyria Chronicles Community BLiTZ – Day X: The grounds of Lanseal

RubyEclipse — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:31:06 +0000

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!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Day IX: The lay of the land

RubyEclipse — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:28:32 +0000

Welcome to Day IX of the VCII Community BLiTZ! Today we’re checking out the new fields of Valkyria Chronicles II, the effects they’ll have on both your infantry and your tank, and some new tricks you can use to make the most of your surroundings.

We’ve got the winner of our Selvaria figurine, more special thanks, and news on some special Valkyria Chronicles 2 collector’s buttons that you’ll be able to get exclusively at PAX this year!

Community BLiTZ – Day IX: The lay of the land

As a certain member of Squad 7 knew well, winning a battle is about far more than simply charging in headfirst. The land itself – from trees to ruins to rivers – can all be used to turn the tide of a fight. Like the first game, the conditions you’re up against will affect not only you, but your enemies as well – meaning that the first to take advantage of the situation can gain a critical upper hand.

Our first tip sounds simple, but it’s actually quite important:

Tip #1: know what time of the day you’re fighting at.

Why is this important? Because almost every single area in the game has different effects at night as opposed to during the day. The first key is to learn these, to prepare your squad and your tank accordingly, and then to plan a strategy around it. (You could just charge in too, but it’s not quite as effective.)

For example, Leanbluff forest is a heavily wooded and hilly area, and one of the first you’ll encounter once you get past the training grounds of Lanseal. During the morning and much of the day, the forest is covered in a fine, foggy mist, making sighting enemies difficult and lowering accuracy. At night, the mist dissipates completely, but the lack of natural light also makes finding enemies hard in its own way.

Tip #2: Use your tank to give you the advantage.

If it’s daytime, you can research, build, and equip your tank with a Defogging unit to counter the effects of the mist for all of your units on the same map as your tank. Worth noting: this bonus effect only applies to your own / allied units, and will not help your enemies!

Likewise, if it’s night, you can equip a lamp that will boost your own units sighting abilities, making it easier for them to see hidden or incoming enemy units. Just as before, only your troops will get this support buff, making it invaluable to bring along your tank sometimes – even if you don’t end up moving it.

This is Castle Gassenarl, located near Southern Gallia. (Click the picture to see it in high-res.)

Fans of the first game will also recognize the desert settings, though this time they’ll be taking place south of the Barious Desert, which is in eastern Gallia. During the daytime, the immense heat can limit how far your units can move, and during the night, harsh sandstorms make sighting and accuracy rough – thankfully, these will pass eventually, offering a short respite during which to finish off any enemies left standing.

In the cold mountains of Diebal, the chilling temperatures can be both dangerous and deadly. Amidst the freezing snow, units here won’t regain HP at the end of a turn – and if one of your squad members goes down, it’s a race against time to get to them before the weather does.

There are new strategies to keep in mind and new tricks to each of these situations – the best of these, of course, will need to be discovered when the pressure is on: we aren’t going to take the fun out of it!

Remember these basics and you’ll save a lot of time – and headache – when you pick up the full game. If you ever need a refresher, the drill instructor on campus is always there to offer further tips and advice. Once you know the lay of the land, a quick victory is always within reach.

Exclusive: Valkyria Chronicles II PAX Collector’s items!

Exclusive to PAX, we’re going to be bringing along a few thousand Valkyria Chronicles II buttons to give away! There are five buttons in total, featuring Avan, Cosette, Zeri, Aliasse, and the VCII Logo.

Normally, you’ll only be able to get a single button – meaning you might have to trade with friends to pick up the full set. However, we’re going to make one special exception to this rule:

Show up at the PAX SEGA Booth anytime or the SEGA PAXtravanganza event on Saturday night dressed as any Valkyria Chronicles character, and we’ll give you a full set of all five – you’ll also be featured here on the blogs!

I’ve heard rumors that a few members of Squad 7 were already planning on attending, so we’d love to see you guys come spread the VC love – and get something from us as thanks, too. To confirm, all characters from VCI and VCII are eligible!

And the Selvaria figurine goes to…

Time for the moment of truth. Who is the lucky fan (out of over 100+!) who won yesterday’s Selvaria figurine? Please give your congrats to…

Aurora, who wrote:

Selvaria. Experience and cunning. Those tip the scales in battle.

And truly, they do. Congratulations on your new Selvaria figurine, Aurora! Hit me up on the forums (RubyEclipse) to let me know where to send it.

We also had two other winners yesterday, once more for signed copies of VC1! They are:

On Facebook, Yuta John Y., who wrote:

Obviously Johann from the “Behind her Blue Flame” EX Report. Yuri Lowenthal did an amazing job voicing him, and his character was someone I could relate to. It’s also cool how he constantly appears as an enemy Ace. It shows just how determined he is to protect Selvaria. *tear*

On Twitter, GunslingerXIX who wrote:

Selvaria! No question about it. She is tough, on and off the battlefield. She’s also classy and drop dead gorgeous!

Congrats all around! (P.S. Aurora – take good care of that figurine!)

Today’s Special Thanks!

Our special thanks today go out to anyone and everyone who has ever cosplayed a Valkyria Chronicles character! I met a girl at the last NYCC who told me she spent almost an entire week leading up to the Con just so she could finish her Varrot costume – and we were happy to give her a well-deserved art book (or two!). Across the world, a number of talented Valkyria Chronicles appearances have shown up, like the one pictured above, from Russia. There’s a really great thread with a collection of VC Cosplay photos here in our forums, so take a look for more!

More free stuff!

PAX is a huge event with a ton of gamers, but we realize that not everyone can always make it out there to pick up the swag and see the sights. So, today, we’re going to give away three full sets of the special PAX VCII Collector’s buttons! (All five) This will be one of your only chances to pick these up outside of the event itself, and anyone (even you guys in Europe) can win!

To enter, tell us which environment (Snow, desert, city, forest, etc) you’re most looking forward to fighting in with VCII!

One set will go out here on the blogs, and (you probably know the drill by now) another set on Facebook, and another on Twitter.

Coming Tomorrow…

Though people may have pegged it as a “high school”, the Lanseal Royal Military Academy is anything but. From the harsh courses of the training ground to Lavinia’s R&D department, the Academy is much more than just classrooms. Oh, and everyone’s favorite Drill instructor from the first game? We’d like to think he’s done justice here, too. Join us as we take an in-depth look at what Lanseal is all about, with a special preview of both the campus and a sneak peek inside Castle Gassenarl, which is notably more… red.

Following our list of exclusive swag giveaways, we also hear rumblings that tomorrow’s might be a rather special one related to a certain baker from Squad 7…

Six days to launch – we’ll see you tomorrow!

Valkyria Chronicles II Community BLiTZ – Day VIII: Azure Flames

RubyEclipse — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 01:44:19 +0000

Everyone who played the original Valkyria Chronicles knows that having a Valkyria on the battlefield is awesome – just as long as they’re on your side.

As Day VIII arrives, we’re taking a look at the Valkyria of old and new, including a mysterious young girl named Aliasse who wields a shield in one hand and a whip in the other. More special thanks, yesterday’s winners, and a rare Selvaria figurine are all lined up for the evening!

Community BLiTZ – Day VIII: Azure Flames

History across Europa teaches that the Darcsens, cruel rulers of times past, once controlled all of the continent and treated the people unjustly. Until the Valkyrur came, that is – liberating Europa from the Darcsens and rescuing all those under their rule. Until recently, it was commonly thought that House Randgriz was one of the few final homes of the Valkyrian bloodline.

For their crimes, the Darcsens were stripped of their last names, and the Valkyrur quickly rose to power. How much of the story is a myth and how much is fact, well… that depends on who you ask. But there is one point that remains true, even to this day: history is always written by the victor.

There are rumors going around about a number of countries experimenting with secret projects to ‘create’ artificial Valkyrur, but most of these are unsubstantiated. However, the recent appearance of more than one Valkyria after so many years of only legends does raise interesting questions…

If there was one mission that everyone had trouble with in the original Valkyria Chronicles, it was Chapter 7. Just when you finally think you’ve finally taken down that monster of a behemoth that Maximilian calls a Tank, in comes Selvaria, blue flames aglow, and lance at the ready.

It’s an important moment in the game, because for the first time yet, you finally come up against something that is so completely overpowering that you feel totally helpless. Even with the best strategy, and even with far more leveled troops, nothing can stand against her. For once, you’re forced to realize that retreating is the only option, and that sometimes, you have to lose some smaller battles to win the big ones later.

Meet Aliasse. Keep her happy, and she’s your best friend. Just don’t make her angry.

Valkyria Chronicles II introduces a new heir to the flame, and her name is Aliasse. Unlike most Valkyria spoken of in legend, she bears a shield and a whip instead of a shield and a lance. Little is known about her personality or her background, but some claim to have seen her wandering quietly around the campus at Lanseal.

The favor of the Valkyrur can be a powerful ally, but likewise, sometimes dangerously volatile. The difference between a person and a weapon is sometimes purely a matter of perspective…

That’s all the detail of the Valkyrur that we can reveal today, but we leave you with one warning: there are reports that the rebel army may be attempting their own mimicry of the Valkyria’s powers, so stay vigilant for anything with the code name “V2″…

New Story Trailer