Sega plants Appleseed

While it isn't about to challenge Bandai Namco for the sheer volume of anime- and manga-based games it releases, Sega is no stranger to bringing properties from the Japanese art forms to the gaming world. In 2004, it produced three games based on the works of Osamu Tezuka (Blood Will Tell and Astro Boy for PlayStation 2, and Astro Boy: The Omega Factor for Game Boy Advance), and now the company is developing a PS2 game based on the manga and anime series Appleseed.

Sega of Japan has created an official Web site for Appleseed (working title), based on the series created by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell, Dominion: Tank Police). The site lists the game as a fighting and gun action title, with DreamFactory handling the development duties. The developer has plenty of experience with fighting games, having developed the Tobal series, as well as UFC: Tapout, Kakuto Chojin, and The Bouncer.

Although the site is thin on specifics, it does state that the game will feature new film clips with the original cast of the upcoming film Ex Machina, which will be produced by John Woo and released in 2007. Sega's Appleseed game is set for release in September.