Project Needlemouse 10/19/09 Discussion

So now that we believe that there is a fairly good chance that this mysterious Project Needlemouse is going to be the next Sonic Game the question for today’s discussion is “Who’s responsible?”

Because of that news article posted last month we know SEGA is publishing the title.  If you think otherwise you should be slapped silly with a wet salmon.  The point of SEGA NOT publishing this title is moot so don’t even bother in sending me nasty emails with “proof” SEGA is not the publisher of this game in development.  If you do send such an email the next SIRF blog will just be me ridiculing and making fun of you and if I really have to I’ll FedEx you a wet salmon.

With that said let’s look at the possible developers of this game.  I will do this in a similar fashion I did the last blog by discussing the yay and nay from all my bullet points that I posted in September.  I will also have the running “score” throughout the post.

Point #1 : The trailer makes references to elements of the Sonic Series.

Sonic Team has been developing the elements of the Sonic series really since 1989 when the internal competition began to find Sega a new mascot.  Since 1991 when Sonic 1 for Genesis was first released Sonic Team (in which I count Sonic Team Japan, Sonic Team USA/STI/SegaStudio USA, Sonic Team International, and SOME UGA games) has developed 19 Sonic games (including compilations, spin offs, alternative releases, and re-releases) and has helped co-produce 17 other titles.  This means Sonic Team is responsible for 36 Sonic Titles of 62 meaning Sonic Team has been responsible for just under 60% of all Sonic Titles released in almost 20 years.  Sonic Team are the ones that have created the ring and speed elements and were the ones that created the original Sonic 1 title screen that seems to be shadowed in the Project Needlemouse Trailer.  Plus hey Wikipedia is showing that Project Needlemouse is part of the main Sonic Console Series and Sonic Team has been responsible for every main console series (if we chose to ignore Dimps’ involvement in the Wii/PS2 Version of Unleashed which I will for the sake of argument).  This is the internet so Wikipedia never lies.

Well that’s great that Sonic Team has been involved in 60% of Sonic games, the keyword being involved, but what of the other 40%?  Plus if we take out all the ones they’ve co-produced it’s really only about 30%.  Drops quite a bit there doesn’t it?  So yeah Sonic Team may have started the elements seen in the trailer but this leaves 70% of the series that they did not have total control over meaning a lot of what we have come to associate with the Sonic Series was really made from out side development companies (outside companies include other internal Sega Divisions).  Plus the Wikipedia thing may apply to the internet but to reality it doesn’t quite hold.    That’s why most college professors won’t allow their students to use a free, editable encyclopedia, that the whole world has access to.

From what the  numbers show there is a good chance that Sonic Team may not be involved in this project.  Wikipedia is really the only source claiming this to be the next console main Sonic Team.  Who is the say this is even a main game?  It could be a spin off.  And if it claims to be 2D (a discussion for another time) then it’s possible it could be a handheld game which Dimps usually [co]produces.

Produced by Sonic Team: 1
Not Produced by Sonic Team: 0

Point #2: There are similarties between the shadowed logo at the end and the original 16-bit Sonic 1 title Screen.

Sonic Team produced Sonic 1 for Genesis.  There is no doubting that if you do then you get FedExed the Wet Salmon.  Sonic 1 Created this title Screen and reused it for Sonic 2 only with Tails and later similar looking titles for CD, 3, and others.  Sonic Team likes reusing things just look at the similarities between the box art for Ristar and Sonic 3.  This shadow looks too similar to not be a game produced by Sonic Team.

Ok so Sonic Team has reused this title screen a few times, but guess what in Sonic Pocket Adventure the Sonic 1 title screen is used only with the updated Sonic from Sonic Adventure.  Dimps produced this game.  Oops.  Guess it’s not exclusive to Sonic Team only games after all now is it?  So what that four games have used this title screen?  How about all the other games that have not?  Plus let us not forget that the Sonic 1 Genesis title screen was really just a rip off of the Alex Kidd title screen.  The title screen means nothing.

Both good arguments but in a time of rip offs, parodies, and reboots the Sonic 1 title screen to the similarities of Project Needlemouse’s shadow means nothing.  Really in my opinion the most damning piece of evidence is the Alex Kidd argument.

Produced by Sonic Team: 2
Not Produced by Sonic Team: 0

Point #3: It is assumed this is the next in the main Sonic titles, Sonic Team/Sonic Team USA (formally STI) is usually responsible for the main Sonic titles.

This was all ready brought up.  All of the main Sonic games are produced by one of the many sub-divisions of Sonic Team.  Yes Wikipedia can be edited by anyone anywhere but their moderators are usually pretty good at checking facts, updates, and fixing any mistakes intentional or not.  Plus this was released with a Sega press release so it’s the next canon Sonic game.

The Wikipedia moderators are human (we think) and have biases too.  Plus on Wikipedia there is a coalition of Sonic Fans that “moderate” the Sonic posts day and night for truth.  Let’s face it the Sonic community is pretty divided over just about everything and most sides to any Sonic issue can’t get along so do you really expect us to believe this Wikipedia group can?  No.  Plus this group is not affiliated with Wikipedia in any way.  This group probably wants this to be the next canon Sonic game and the real Wikipedia moderators have no facts backing it up so for the time being they are keeping the things they are.

We can’t base this entire argument on Wikipedia.  Most likely this is the next canon/main console Sonic game as there has not been one in awhile and Sonic Team has produced all of these titles.  Point to Sonic Team.

Produced by Sonic Team: 2
Not Produced by Sonic Team: 1

Point #4: Game claims to be 2D.  Most 2D Sonic titles are made by Dimps.

The 2D argument really should be made another time so I’m just going to touch upon the developmental aspect of this nothing else.  The next SIRF blog will discussion the gameplay and if it will be 2D or not.

Sonic Team generally puts the best quality graphics wise in their games no matter the system.  As crappy as Sonic 2006 was the graphics were beautiful same thing with Sonic Unleashed.  Now when they don’t want to push themselves to far Dimps come in (Wii Unleashed, Advance, etc) and makes a less graphically pleasing game (hey Sonic Rush was great but the graphic were eh in my opinion).  So it makes no sense for the next console Sonic game developed by Sonic Team is going to be 2D if they did such a great job with the 3D renderings in Sonic Unleashed the last main console title.

Did you ever think that Sonic Team may be trying to go back to its roots?  The development team has gotten so much criticism the past couple years only focusing on graphics and ignoring plot, continuity, camera angle, etc, etc.  You really can’t mess most of that up with a 2D title.  Besides I’m sure the 2D graphics will look superb on a 360 or PS3.

Sonic Team doesn’t really have a good track record of making non-2D games since sprites went away.  Don’t forget Unleashed was claimed to be 2D as well and look what we got.  Sonic Team doesn’t get this point.

Produced by Sonic Team: 3
Not Produced by Sonic Team: 1

Point #5: Yuji Naka, former head of Sonic Team, runs PROPE another company that develops games for SEGA to publish.  PROPE has been developing a “secret game” since 2008.

What’s a true main Sonic series without the development of Sonic Team?  Sure Naka may have been there in the beginning but he’s gone now.  He’s out of Sonic Team so why would he want to start making new Sonic games since he left in 2006?  He got tired of the blue hedgehog so why go back to Sonic now that he founded his own company outside of Sonic Team?

Naka was one of the big 3 involved in the creation of Sonic.  He is usually credited as the “father” of the franchise.  So why not make a new Sonic game.  He may have left Sonic Team but he’s a businessman he wants profit and he got tons of it being head of Sonic Team for so long.  Besides he was working on Sonic games so long it may be what he knows best.  Even Let’s Tap has a lot of elements for Sonic Games in it.  He may be regretting leaving Sonic Team and he wants to go back to something he loved doing.

Now it is plausible that PROPE is working on Needlemouse however this argument is based just on one development company.  We just can’t have that so I am going to have award this point to Sonic Team on these grounds.

Produced by Sonic Team: 3
Not Produced by Sonic Team: 2

Point #6: There is no Sonic team logo present in the trailer.

So there’s no logo, so what?  Just because a developer did not put their log in the trailer it doesn’t prove anything.  It’s like saying there’s not console logo in the trailer so it won’t be playable on any console system.

There’s no logo so there for Sonic Team didn’t do it.  Does this really need anymore explanation?

The logo point really doesn’t seem to mean much.  The point is awarded to Sonic Team.

Produced by Sonic Team: 3
Not Produced by Sonic Team: 3

Point #7: Rumored to not to be published by Sonic Team.

This is a rumor so it really should carry no merit.

Rumors are usually started from some sort of truth.  Maybe another internal division?  Maybe Prope?

I’m going to have to side against the rumor as all rumors really should be looked at skeptically until proven true.  Point for Sonic Team.

Produced by Sonic Team: 4
Not Produced by Sonic Team: 3

Point: 8: Sega of America gave the interview assumed to be connected to the trailer not Sega of Japan.

That’s great SoA gave the interview and all but who is the big Sega publisher in the States?  Sonic Team USA or whatever their name is nowadays.  This should squash any PROPE rumors as well.

Who is even to say that a Sega division is publishing it?  Bioware is from Canada and they’ve made a Sonic Team.  Traveller’s Tales is out of England and they’ve made a few Sonic games.  Sega is a publisher their internal development divisions really have no say or control what Sega wants them to develop and Sega can very well hire an outside developer.

It really was never stated that a Sega developer was working this title.  However until we hear otherwise we have to assume that an internal Sega Developer is working on the title.  Point to Sonic Team.

Produced by Sonic Team: 5
Not Produced by Sonic Team: 3

There we have it 5 for Sonic Team 3 against.  Damn and I was really hoping for another Bioware title too.  Oh well but now from this blog it’s looking like a 63% that Sonic Team will be the developer of this game.

Project Needlemouse 10/4/09 Discussion

Now though I briefly had bullet points of the different reasons for or against Project Needlemouse being the next Sonic game on September 25, today I am going to go into more detail of each of the reasons.

I am going to look at each point individually showing both why each point stated either point to or don’t point to Project Needlemouse being the next Sonic game.  Then I will do a quick write up of MY OPINION in what I think is right, tally it up, see what comes up on top of for or against and write a quick thing at the end about the “winning” results.  I will keep doing this each update until I go through all topics covered on the 25 or until new information arises.  Regardless though whenever I stop I will do one final blog detailing the results/”winnings” of each blog to determine how good this game will end up being.

Point #1:

Rings, Sonic Sound Effects, mention of speed, and a fast paced blue blur are all present in the trailer.

The sound effects in Sonic games really haven’t changed much since 1991.  Sure there’s been variation and improvement as time and technology progresses but for the most part power ups, rings, etc, have pretty much been recognizable since the first Sonic game.

These sound effects have been used in various Sega games over the years as well as any time Sonic has made a cameo, and let us not forget about Smash Bros. Brawl here.  Then of course there’s Shadow the Hedgehog that has all the elements of a Sonic game and is based on a Sonic character but doesn’t have Sonic as the main character.

The cases for the sound effects can apply to the usage of rings as well.

Sonic is known as the Blue Blur and can run at the speed of sound (faster as Super or Hyper Sonic) and there is a fast moving blue blur in the trailer.  This should make it more than obvious that this the next Sonic game and not a spin off game!

Well we shouldn’t forget that Metal Sonic has all the same capabilities as the true Blue Blur.  He’s become conscious and escaped Eggma’s clutches once before whose to say it won’t happen again?  Also even though the blur looked Blue it also looks similar to the color used on Silver when he does his telekinetic moves.  Though Silver is usually shown as being a slow character we mustn’t forget that he keeps changing the past thus changing his present meaning it’s possible during one of the time shifting paradoxes he created he (or an alternate version of him which would make a similar paradox to the one Blaze has) he ended up becoming fast.  Given that a game was developed based on Shadow and Silver and Metal Sonic have been more prevalent in recent games and on top of everything the polls the various Sega divisions have been having of favorite characters and/or which one you want to see in their own game it could be safe it has at least been considered in Sega meetings for Metal or Silver to have their own game.  Who is to say this isn’t that game?

Though the sound effects and rings have been a reoccurring theme through the Sonic series we can not forget cameos and spin offs.  Since we have Shadow the Hedgehog we can’t put it past Sega to publishing another spin off title so I am going to have to unfortunately issue this first point to not a Sonic Game.

Not A Sonic Game:1
Is A Sonic Game: 0

There are similarities between the shadowed image at the end of the trailer screen with that from the title screen of Sonic 1 for Genesis.

On the left is the end of the Project Needlemouse trailer and on the right is the Sonic 1 Title Screen.  Look how close they look.  If we shadow out the Sonic 1 title screen it gets even more obvious.

On top is the title screen from Sonic 1 and the bottom is from the trailer.  Clear cut don’t you think?  Or is?  Look closely at the image from the trailer.

If you notice here where the red would be in Sonic 1 there’s a different tone of black.  This does not occur later on where the circle Looney Tunes continues to his head.  Looks like his head is too round so it can’t be Sonic!  Oh no!

Then of course you do some fancy color changing and you notice yes in deed is separates and you can see the distinguishing characteristics of Sonic’s Spine from Sonic 1.  Looks like we have a point for this being a Sonic game or do we?

Take a quick look at this site: http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2009/09/10/fans-take-a-guess-at-project-needlemouse/#more-2722

Now that you’re back, we can probably quickly assume that Sally is out of the question and probably the trio of Silver, Shadow, and Big (at least we hope on that one).  Robotnik is a possibility seeing as we have gotten to play as him before.  I can also see Pikachu seeing Sega and Nintendo are all chummy now plus technically Pikachu and Sonic have been in a game together (Brawl).

Now it’s obvious all of these things are jokes.  But we must take into account that Shadow, Silver, Metal, and Amy are all hedgehogs (alright Metal’s a robot but he’s a robotic hedgehog).  And given what I said above about the whole color issues this point goes to not a Sonic game.

Not A Sonic Game: 2
Is A Sonic Game: 0

Mr. Needlemouse was the original name for a series of a rough concept art done by Naoto Oshima some time before 1990.  Mr. Needlemouse would become Mr. Hedgehog by 1990 when Oshima-san made a finalized concept sketch of a blue hedgehog with red shoes and fangs.  The concept art was submitted to Sega of America and altered to what we now know as Sonic the Hedgehog.

Well there’s really no arguing with this one.

Here’s all of the Mr. Needlemouses Oshima wrote drew on the napkin.  At least two of them look like what would become Mr. Hedgehog.

Here he is, Mr. Hedgehog.  We all know where it went from there then there was that alternation in 1998.  It’s doubtful that after 19 years Sega will be bringing back a concept character that would become one of the biggest video game characters of all time.  This point goes to pro Sonic game.

Not A Sonic Game: 2
Is A Sonic Game: 1

Several credible sources claim this to be a Sonic game.  In the same sense  credible sources have said this is not a Sonic game.  However in my research I have found more sites indicating yes to a Sonic game.  This point is hands down.

Not A Sonic Game: 2
Is A Sonic Game: 2

SEGA has stated they were going to publish a game similar to a classic SEGA title.  Though there are similarities to the classic Genesis Sonic Team Sega has been stating for quite some time for an interest to bring back the Alex Kidd series.  In the early 1990s after the release of Sonic 1 there was an idea to keep the Alex Kidd series going only Alex Kidd would be stuck within other Sega games, one of them being Sonic.

However I highly doubt that they’ve been clinging to this idea of having Alex Kidd run through Green Hill Zone for almost 20 years.  You know how much staff must have gone through Sega since they first conceived this idea?  Though it is likely Alex Kidd is going to return I doubt he’ll be collecting rings and Chaos Emeralds anytime soon unless you count the Sega All Star Series.  And for sake of argument let’s not.

Not A Sonic Game: 2
Is A Sonic Game: 3

It is speculation and assumed this is a Sonic game due to it being released along with an interview with the Sega of America president.  Gamespy is claiming this is Wii game along with a Sonic game however most other places claim it will be released for the 360 and or the PS3 as the game is supposed to be in High Def, the Wii is not a High Def system.  Wrong on the system could mean wrong on the title.

But getting the platform screwed up during a teaser trailer isn’t uncommon.  The fact that it is mentioned in the press release that this trailer is a Sonic game is probably the best evidence so far.  You really can’t argue otherwise after reading the press release.  Haven’t read well it’s located here: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/projectneedlemouse/news.html?sid=6216990&mode=previews

If that still doesn’t convince you then I’m sorry but I’m going to have to call you stupid.

Not A Sonic Game: 2
Is A Sonic Game: 4

There you have it folks more points indicating that it is a Sonic game.  Mathematically this would give it a 67% that is a Sonic game.  So let’s keep our fingers crossed.  So until next time!

Project Needlemouse 10/1/09 Update

Since I gathered information from numerous sources on the web and compiled them together on September 25 I have been unable to find any new information on Project Needlemouse.  My next post which I hope to be on Sunday October 4, will be a collection of previously posted information on if this actually will be the next Sonic the Hedgehog game or not.  Yes I did do bulleted points about this on the 25th but I wish to explore this in more detail.  Most likely it is the next “canon” game in the series but let us not forget that Shadow the Hedgehog is also considered canon as it bridges the gap between Sonic Heroes and Sonic 06 (which interestingly enough was supposed to be Sonic Heroes but that’s another post for another time).  Also Shadow the Hedgehog explains some points brought up in the spin off game Sonic Battle.  So hopefully I will see you all Sunday if not then my next most likely post date will be Tuesday…or Thursday…or Friday…or Saturday.  Just keep checking www.asscstudios.net or www.twitter.com/asscstudios for details.

Project Needlemouse 9/25/09 Findings

So not too long ago this video game teaser trailer was released by Sega.  For the past couple days I’ve checked around the internet for any possible more information on this game.  What follows are my current findings as well as questions, theories, etc raised by the online Sonic community about this upcoming title.

What we know from the trailer

• Sound effects from previous Sonic titles were used in the trailer
• The game is due out some time in 2010
• Sega is the Publisher
• The mysterious shadowed image loos SIMILAR to the title screen of Sonic 1 for Genesis.
• The game promotes speed and is supposed to be in 2D.

What we could probably safely assume from the trailer

• Judging by the sound effects, use of rings, shadowed tile, the call for speed, and the super fast blue blur bouncing around all over the place this is most likely a Sonic game.

Though there are many signs in the trailer that point to a 2D, fast paced, Sonic Game, most likely published by Sonic team there are many things we need to take into consideration for all of those.

Signs pointing to this being the Next Sonic Game

• As stated above the use of rings, Sonic Sound Effects, mention of speed, a fast paced blue blur bouncing around in the trailer.
• The similarities between the shadowed image at the end and the title screen from Sonic 1 for Sega Genesis.
• Mr. Needlemouse was the original name for a series of a rough concept art done by Naoto Oshima some time before 1990.  Mr. Needlemouse would become Mr. Hedgehog by 1990 when Oshima-san made a finalized concept sketch of a blue hedgehog with red shoes and fangs.  The concept art was submitted to Sega of America and altered to what we now know as Sonic the Hedgehog.
• Several credible sources claim this to be a Sonic game such as Nintendo, Gamespot, and IGN.

Signs pointing to this NOT being the Next Sonic Game

• The logo is shadowed.  Though it looks very similar to the title screen of Sonic 1 SEGA decided for whatever reason to hide the logo/character.
• The case has been made that the shadowed character does not look like Sonic.
• SEGA has stated they were going to publish a game similar to an classic SEGA title.  Though there are similarities to the classic Genesis Sonic Team Sega has be stating for quite some time for an interest to bring back the Alex Kidd series.  In the early 1990s after the release of Sonic 1 there was an idea to keep the Alex Kidd series going only Alex Kidd would be stuck within other Sega games, one of them being Sonic.
• It is speculation and assumed this is a Sonic game due to it being released along with an interview with the Sega of America president.  Gamespy is claiming this is Wii game along with a Sonic game however most other places claim it will be released for the 360 and or the PS3 as the game is supposed to be in High Def, the Wii is not a High Def system.  Wrong on the system could mean wrong on the title.

Signs pointing to Sonic Team is responsible for title

• References to Sonic series.
• Similarities with Sonic 1 title screen.
• It is assumed this is the next in the main Sonic titles, Sonic Team/Sonic Team USA (formally STI) is usually responsible for the main Sonic titles.

Signs pointing to Sonic Team NOT being responsible for title

• Game claims to be 2D.  Most 2D Sonic titles are made by Dimps.
• Yuji Naka, former head of Sonic Team, runs PROPE another company that develops games for SEGA to publish.  PROPE has been developing a “secret game” since 2008.
• There is no Sonic team logo present in the trailer.
• Rumored to not to be published by Sonic Team.
• Sega of America gave the interview assumed to be connected to the trailer not Sega of Japan.

Signs pointing to this game being in 2D

• The trailer states this game will be a 2D adventure.
• There has been outcry from Sonic fans for years for Sonic to return to 2D.  There has also be recent changes in the staff of Sonic Team and SEGA North America, Japan, and Europe leading to a possibility a new staff may listen to more of a fan input.

Signs pointing to this game NOT being in 2D

• Sonic Unleashed claimed to be in 2D.
• Most likely the game would be similar in fashion to Sonic Rush making it actually 2.5D (Sonic Rush series, Sonic Rival Series, Sonic Chronicles, Sonic 3D Blast, various special stages.  Note that if the game is similar to Sonic Chronicles style of sprites/characters/background it is possible Bioware could be the developer as the left Sonic Chronicles with a cliffhanger ending).

Signs pointing to this being released for a home console

• Gamespy placed this title in progress under the Wii section on their website.
• Nintendo seems to lean toward this game to be for the 360/PS3
• Emphasis on HD.  the 360 and PS3 are HD systems.  The PSP and DS are not HD.  Most titles found on Wii Ware, 360 Market Place, and the Playstation Network are not in HD.

Signs pointing to this NOT being released for a home console

• Emphasis on 2D.  Most games released for the Wii, 360, and PS3 are in 3D.
• 2D would imply if it is for a home console it may be downloadable such as Megaman 9.
• PSP and DS still have 2D titles, but mainly 2.5D.

Signs pointing to this being Nintendo exclusive.

• Sega has been publishing more Sonic titles for Nintendo than Microsoft and Sony since the end of the Dreamcast era.
• 2D game seems to indicate Wiiware or Nintendo DS
• The Storybook, Rush, Chronicle, Advance, Battle games/series are all Nintendo exclusive.

Signs pointing to this being Microsoft exclusive.

• Emphasis on HD.  The 360 is a true HD system.

Signs pointing to this being Sony exlusive.

• Emphasis on HD.  The PS3 is a true HD system.
• The recently leaked internal memo from Sega stating Sonic and Dreamcast title [re]releases on the PS3 and Playstation Network.
• The Sonic Rivals Series is Sony Exclusive.

Signs pointing to this being for the 360 and PS3 not the Wii

• Emphasis on HD.  The 360 and PS3 are both HD systems.
• Sonic the Hedgehog ‘06 was never released for the Wii.

So this is the information I have come across so far.  As I find more I will make more updates similar to this.  In the mean time instead of Comics I will be working on blogs that go with each topic areas covered above.  Best we could do no matter what is just wait to see what 2010 has to offer us.

Sonic ‘06

So it’s been three years since the monstrosity that is Sonic The Hedgehog (known to many as Sonic ‘06) was released for the Xbox 360.  Now unfortunately (or really in this case fortunately) for me I did not acquire enough funds to purchase a 360 until earlier this year.  By the time Sonic ‘06 was released I was actually saving up for a Wii a purchase I did not make until nearly a year after this horrid game was released.  As I said I finally was able to purchase a 360 earlier this year and when I did I figured I would order the Sonic games so far released for the 360 such as Unleashed (a title I had originally purchased for the Wii but found out I missed out on tons of content, but Unleashed will be a rant for another day) and Sonic’s Genesis Collection.  When I wen searching for Sonic ‘06 on Best Buy’s website it turned out they no longer stocked the 360 version online or at any of their stores near me (online they only stocked the PS3 version).  Over the past few months I’ve tried looking at other retailers but to no avail.  I guess could’ve ebayed the game or got it through Amazon but whatever.  So a few days ago I finally found the game at Target for $20, which was strange because I could’ve sworn their website said they no longer carried the game but I guess it was my [un]lucky day.  Now I knew purchasing this game that it was the WORST SONIC GAME EVER TO BE CREATED but I figured people were over reacting.  I mean Sonic games since Sonic Adventure 2 have been crap, but I’ve found that some of the games that have come out since then have just gotten a bad reputation due to over reactions.  For example Black Knight wasn’t that bad…until you get to fighting King Arthur for the second time but that’s neither here nor there.  So yesterday I popped the game into my 360 thinking to myself that there’s no way this game could be worse than such titles as Sonic 3D Blast or Sonic Labyrinth (games of which I despise, I’d rather play Sonic Heroes or Shadow the Hedgehog the latter which in my opinion is better than the former seriously he’s got a gun and he’s randomly killing everything in site how bad ass is that?).  But I digress (again).  So I put the game in and it loads…and loads…and loads….and loads…and just as when I decide I should go to my bedroom and pick up that new book I bought it loads…to the opening cut scene.  Now I’ve seen the opening cut scene online, and I always thought it was quite epic.  Fire everywhere and Eggman’s blowing stuff up with his robots capturing the princess then Sonic comes out of nowhere and opens a can of whoop ass, whisks the princess away and some dude who you later finds out is an assassin from the future calls him the Iblis Trigger and it ends.  So after seeing this epic opening sequence on the sweet 360 graphics I’m pumped to play only to get another loading screen, so glad I had some dinner on the table.  So the loading screen ends only to see another cut scene  ok fine whatever.  So the scene ends and I have another five minute wait.  That loading screen ends and now I’m at Soleanna what I’m assuming is the next day though every time I attempt to play the time looks like it’s changing at random.  For example I played the first level (which I’ll get at in a bit) died, found out auto-save doesn’t exist in this game, replayed Soleanna and the next cut scene with Tails was all of a sudden night time when the first time around it was day.  From Sonic Adventure I’m used to hub worlds.  Areas like Station Square weren’t too bad in SA, they were small, you didn’t have to go too far to get to your desired level, and 95% of the time you would end up in the part of the hub level where you were right next to where you had to head to next to progress the game, oh and best of all you DIDN’T HAVE to talk to people you had the OPTION of doing so but it wasn’t VITALLY IMPORTANT to game play.  So I’m wondering around Soleanna looking for the first level (at this point I had been playing for about a half hour still no first level) and finally I find a trail of rings.  “Oh sweet,” I thought, “lemme do light speed dash.”  And I fall into the God damned water.  Wait…what?  So a move Sonic has had since Sonic Adventure practically you all of a sudden need to buy from some stereotypical black guy ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN for 100 rings.  First off where the hell am I going to get 100 rings I HAVEN’T PLAYED A LEVEL YET I’VE BEEN BORED TO DEATH FOR A HALF HOUR FROM LOADING SCREENS, POINTLESS CUT SCENES, AND TALKING TO RANDOM PEOPLE.  Luckily I found the old guy who gives you shoes that apparently make Sonic faster?  I don’t know I didn’t quite understand what he was yammering about but it seemed ridiculous.  All I know is that in Sonic Adventure 2 when Sonic was wearing Soap Shoes instead of his classic high tops/Michael Jackson “Bad” rip off shoes he could do the light speed dash FOR FREE.  He could also do it for free in Sonic Heroes where he had the same shoes he’s had since 1991.  Yes I realize that in Sonic Adventure you acquire the light speed dash at some point during the game but once again you acquire it FOR FREE.  So I go and blow my 100 rings on the light speed dash and yay I upgraded Sonic’s shoes though they look EXACTLY THE SAME as they did before I talked to the old man, but whatever.  So now I head to the first level (finally).  Ok it’s a generic first level of a Sonic game.  Generic green scenery near water.  The same cliche they’ve been puling for 15 years whoopee.  No biggie.  So I’m still thinking this isn’t too bad and that Sonic Heroes is worse.  Then the whale.  They ripped off the God damned whale from Sonic Adventure.  Now I realize that all the Sonic Series is nothing more than 18 years of cliches built up upon cliches but I don’t know it was cool in Sonic Adventure and no in Sonic ‘06 it was just stupid.  Oh yeah and the whale didn’t actually try to kill you in Sonic Adventure, it couldn’t.  Now the whale CAN ACTUALLY KILL YOU!  Since when do Killer Whales live near Venice and eat hedgehogs anyway?  Now I’m play as Tails and I swear every Sonic game they make his flight time shorter and shorter, if it’s even present at all (Sonic Adventure 2 anyone?).  You know how in every Sonic game Tails has been in he’s been able to jump on robots to destroy them?  Well I guess after 14 years Sonic Team figured that was a stupid idea that Tails have the ability to jump and smash robots and now he throws some stupid ring bomb that you have no control over the aim of.  Great.  I have dozens of robots firing missiles at me and I can’t even jump on them I have to throw rings at them, ring may I add that you can’t even collect.  The whole point of a Sonic game is to jump on robots and collect rings.  It’s like having a Mario game where Mario can jump on goombas and collect coins but all Luigi can do is throw coins at them and hope he can get out of the way in time before they slowly kill him.  So I manage to save Sonic from the whale.  Apparently Japanese people hate killer whales because Tails shuts some gate of an enclosed area in shallow waters of some tropical paradise near Venice.  (Second time I’ve referred to Soleanna as Venice.   It’s so blatantly obvious just like how the United Federation is actually the United States only with the Capital being San Francisco instead of Washington D.C.)  So Sonic is off of the stupid whale and now decides to speed up.  Alright cool finally Sonic is living up to his name.  He’s going really wicked fast, just like in Sonic Unleashed with the ring power thing.  Then you hit something, anything, a tree, water, rocks, spikes (though that’s understandable), poles, the railings of a bridge and you lose ALL of your rings, all of them.  Ok since what Sonic Heroes or Shadow the Hedgehog you get hit you lose like 10 rings.  And even in the FIRST HALF OF THE SAME LEVEL you get hit and lose some random quantity of rings.  (I noticed Sonic would lose 10 when he got hit but Tails lost anywhere from 1-20 when he got hit).  So halfway through the level EVERYTHING IS TRYING TO KILL YOU.  Imagine running down the street one day, you get distracted for one second, run into a tree, AND IT KILLS YOU.  Or even better.  You’re running over a bridge you accidentally hit the side of it with your elbow or something AND YOU DIE.  If you hit any, ANY object by even one pixel you die.  Seriously?  For 15 years you can hit walls, trees, rocks, THE EDGE OF THE PATH YOU’RE ON, and it does nothing, NOTHING.  Now all of a sudden Sonic has a seizure and dies because he hit a rock…or the side of the path.  That’s right the level itself can actually kill you if it was programmed as solid.  WTF.  So I waste my 6 lives dying by hitting random things.  I figured I’d start from the beginning of the level you know kind of like how most Sonic Games have played since the post-Genesis era.  You lose all your lives and you just start at the beginning of the level.  No.  Not in this game.  Instead I’m back AT THE TITLE SCREEN.  Really?  The idea of you dying and starting off at the beginning of the same level is in present in some of the games before Sonic ‘06 and MOST of the games afterward.  Why is this the exception?  Alright so it kicked me out to to the title screen.  Luckily ever since Sonic Adventure (plus Sonic 3) the games auto save from where you left off level wise.  Boy was I surprised when I HAD TO WATCH ALL OF THE CUT SCENES OVER AGAIN AND NO LONGER HAD MY LIGHT SPEED DASH.  The game doesn’t auto save?  Is that even legal?  The 360 is a seventh generation video game system with it’s own internal and external memory.  Lego Star Wars auto saves but Sonic The Hedgehog can’t?  Hell I think EVERY GAME I’VE OWNED SINCE MY PS2 COULD AUTO SAVE.  But no it’s 2006 we apparently don’t do that…until our next game?  So the previous installment (Shadow the Hedgehog) auto saves and our next installment (Sonic Unleashed) will auto save but here in 2006 Sonic Team doesn’t believe auto saving is the “in” thing to do.  Can I mention that even Sonic Rush for the inferior gaming system to the 360 the Nintendo DS even auto saves?  Can I please mention that?  Especially since it came out just one year prior?  Or even better can I mention that Sonic Riders (which I own for yet another inferior system compared to the 360, the PS2) also has an auto save feature and what’s interesting to note about Sonic Riders having an auto save feature and Sonic ‘06 is that Sonic Riders and Sonic ‘06 WERE RELEASED THE SAME YEAR!  Wouldn’t that mean that Sonic Team who developed both games would’ve been working on these games around the same time.  Yes let’s put an auto save feature into some crappy spin off racing game we’re releasing on the PS2 but let’s say screw it to our brand new game coming out for a next gen system that we’re pouring all of Sega’s money into.  I think I’m beginning to see why Yuji Naka left halfway through the development of this game.  Smart man.  Didn’t want his name on it all.  *Phew* this rant took a lot out of me.  If I ever manage to somehow beat the first level I may post more about what I think of this game, you know three years after it was release but whatever.  In conclusion I would just like to point out that this game is in fact a Platinum Family Hit.  I guess there’s a bunch of masochist families out there…

Sonic Periodic Table

Sonic Periodic Table

You know this has got to be one of the most awesome things you’ve ever seen if you’re a Sonic fan.  Yes, I got really bored.  What can I say?  It’s a Sonic Character from all media (Archie, Fleetway, X, Underground, SatAm, AoStH, OVA, the games, etc.)  10 points to whoever can guess “No” is.  Catch you all later.  Remember to check out ASSC Studios in the mean time for our comics, movies, and Sonic Information.

-Jay

Mobius vs Earth

So you want to make some sense of the Sonic games and set them up in some sort of timeline in an order that would make sense “chronologically.” Chronologically in quotes of course because games would be from the point of view of characters in Sonic Universe not ours. So you want to make this timeline to make sense of everything. You decide to start weeding through the gazillion and a half Sonic games to weed out anything “non-canon.” You take out the obvious ones like Wacky Worlds, Sega Superstars, all the cameos, most of the cell phone games, remakes, etc., etc., etc. But then what’s this? You come to Sonic Spinball and you think to yourself, “Well this can’t be canon because it’s set on ‘Mobius.’” We all know that the different comic continuities are different from that of the games’ and after Sonic Adventure the Western games no longer took place on said planet. (Though there’s not necessary much proof of most of the games before Sonic Adventure in the West technically taking place on Mobius either but that’s another issue up for debate at another time). So you continue on with your creating your timeline (and that’s exactly what is, your timeline as SEGA/Sonic Team have never released an official in-game chronology though Sonic Chronicles came close in some areas). You start putting the games in order Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic CD. Sonic CD? (Speaking of problems). That game came out between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 but it’s to take place before it because of Tails and sprites and other issues. Well let’s check out the game manual to see if it gives any clues. So you open up the manual or read it online and what do you see? Well if you’re reading the English manual you’re going to see that Amy refers to the planet she is on as “Mobius.” Mobius? But that would mean Sonic CD isn’t “canon.” Now we begin to run in to what is known as the “Mobius Problem.” Now the real question is what to do about it?

If you’re really advent on creating a sensible timeline based on the “canon games” (Sonic Adventure and afterwards) this would be the easiest thing to do. If you ignore all the games that mention Mobius your timeline is now going to be that much smaller and easier to do. This would resolve any issues dealing with Sonic Spinball and Mean Bean Machine right away. Going through your timeline you now notice you’re going to have to take away Triple Trouble. Really not much a big loss there unless you’re a big Fang fan, also I’m assuming you’re just relying on English manuals and not using anything Japanese or relying on both to put everything together.

Really though taking out these games may be kind of silly? You may ask why because we all know Sonic’s world isn’t Mobius, it’s Earth, or at least called Earth. Listen if the “Mobius games” aren’t canon or official or whatever word you want to us for it then why does Sonic Central list them on their website? I know what you’re thinking that Sonic Central also has listed compilations and various arcade games (Spinner types of arcade games not Fighters types of arcade games I’m talking about) so granted that does not technically make these games “canon” as well but it’s got to mean something.

The Mobius vs Earth debate is probably one of the biggest arguments in the Sonic community. Archie Comics even eventually retconned its storyline and made Mobius Earth, our Earth, from the way distant future, like 1300 years or some ridiculous amount. Once again what applies in Archie does not apply to the games, though I think Ian Flynn really should make the plot or storyline for the next game because he’s been doing such a great job with the comics but that too is a different story for a different day. So getting back to Mobius vs Earth let’s think about it this way:

For this I’m assuming that a majority of the people coming to this website is from English speaking nations or knows how to speak English. In English we refer to the planet we are living on as “Earth.” But at the same time in English we can also refer to the planet we’re on as “World” (a term less used thanks to science fiction). Another term applied to this planet in English is “Mother Earth.” Now let’s look at beyond English. In Roman mythology the goddess of the plant was Tellus whose Greek equivalent was Gaia (no not that Gaia). In Romanian Pamint, in German Erde, Dutch Aarde, Swedish Jorden, Norwegian Jorda, Finnish Maa, Albanian Toka, Japanese Chikyuu, Spanish Tierra, French Terre, Latin we’re on Terra (also called Terra Firma), and in Klingon tera’. So who’s to say any of these peoples are wrong when calling the planet we’re on now what they do. All right maybe we shouldn’t listen to the Klingons because they’re from Qo’nos and hey look we call it Kronos.

What I’m trying to point out here is that though we live on Earth in England across the Channel we’re now on Terre, we head east and we’re in Erde, and then north were in Jorden. There are many different names for the planet. Assumedly Sonic’s “Earth” is the same size as our Earth meaning it’s quite possible that there are different languages and dialects meaning that it is quite possible for the planet Sonic is on is going to be called Earth in some areas and Mobius in others. So if in the next game they change the name of the planet to Halukomako or something stupid like that it’s still Earth and at the same time it’s still Mobius. Earth is just what a majority of the citizens of that planet call it just like on our Earth it’s…Terra (or some similar variant of).

Don’t like what I said or have something to add? Drop me a line at jay@asscvx.net Just to warn you in advance though if I find your email to be mean or spiteful or whatever I’m going to ignore it (or post it on the front page where I will humiliate you). So please be calm and respectful when you email me, if you’re not going to be then I really don’t care what you have to say.

Sonic Chronicles Second Impressions

All right I have only one chapter left in Sonic Chronicles.  When I finish the game I will give my third impression.  I know it’s been out for awhile now and I should probably be finished with it right now but in this game you really need to remember to level up, a fact I always forget to do.  Like most RPGs it takes forever to level up.  But that’s an RPG thing not a Sonic thing so I’m not going to hold that against Sonic Team or Bioware or this game.  The story is solid.  Anyone who says otherwise needs to have their head examined.  Bioware did an excellent job with creating this storyline it’s easy to follow, very exciting, and makes you want to keep playing.  It’s like crack.  Bioware also did a good job with including elements from past games and to go out of their way to make sure these elements make sense and don’t contradict each other.  There’s references to Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Battle, Sonic Advance 3, and probably some other games and they smoothed and connected all of these other games out perfectly and connected them to this game even more perfectly.  There’s only one major flaw in this game, only one which is pretty good for a Sonic game if you look back to all the non-handheld games that have come out since Sonic Adventure 2.  This flaw is that it is evident that the Bioware staff do not understand basic math.  Usually when you subtract something and add what you subtracted to something else that number  stays the same or it can be less.  For example you have 200 of something, let’s say apples.  You take 20 of these apples away and you can drop anywhere from 0 to 20 of these apples in another apple bushel.  Well in Sonic Chronicles for some reason when you or an enemy take away 20 HP via an HP draining ability that character can be recovered by anywhere from 0% to 100%.  In other words if a character has 200hp and 20 hp is drained from that character the character that drained the hp shouldn’t gain any more than 20 hp if we apply the rules of basic math.  Apparently no one ever told the Bioware staff this as for some reason when a character drains 20 hp they can be restored by 200 hp.  It’s great when it happens to one of your characters but it’s annoying as hell when you’ve been at a battle for five rounds and can’t KO an opponent because they’re down to 10 hp, drain 20 hp from your character, and are then fully healed by magically turning 20 into 300.  And I had such high hopes for Canadians too *sigh* oh well.  All and all this is a good game.  Generally the newer handheld games have yet to disappoint and Chronicles defiantly keeps this up.  I would have to say that this is now my second favorite Sonic game, the first of course being Sonic 2.  Nothing could ever top Sonic 2 unless of course they reinvent the series and make a 3D version of the Death Egg Saga (Sonic2-Knuckles) and kept it EXACTLY as the Genesis games were.  But that would never happen.

Explanation Owed

All right so I’m back in charge of the website, hurray!  I was gone for close to two months and from the “hints” that were put up on the website throughout October indicated I was going to come back on October 25 but I didn’t officially make my come back until November 21 the day after the Marvelous Land of Schnoz was released.  Before I get into the reason why it was so delayed with returning let me first explain why I left.  Really it’s a stupid reason, there are a lot of more serious reasons that I could have left for, some of which occurred while I was gone which is why it took so long for me to return after the October 25 return date.  When I left in September I was really stressed out about school as it was.  Every September it’s always very hard for me to adjust from doing nothing for three months then bam nothing but school for thirteen weeks straight until Thanksgiving.  It was also the ending of “back to school” season at work (I work at Staples) so that too added to my stress levels.  It was getting rather hard to maintain the website as well as working extended hours at work while maintaining my school work.  I was also getting overly stressed about the election, more than I should have been because it was September, because at the point I think McCain was either ahead or gaining ground in the polls.  Then one day I found out something that just made my stress levles snapped and I just couldn’t handle everything anymore.  I had to give up something so I immediatly left the website until things cooled down.  To make a long story short there was this girl that left in 2007 and when she did I kind of went a little crazy when she did (ok so that might be and understatment).  If ASSC wasn’t down when she left I probably would have left then but since Kyle basically runs Blue Apple I didn’t have to leave I just had to put up with filming where I just breakdown in the middle filming and start laughing as seen in Numa Screw Up and in the second Mounties’ blooper reel.  But yeah I went a little crazy then and a bunch of stuff happenned and I had to slowly piece together my life and it took me a little over a year to get everything back to normal and smoothed out.  Then in September I come to find out that she was coming back and what was worse was that all my friends knew and didn’t bother telling me so I lost and I snapped so something had to give and that something was the website.  So she came and went, never saw her though we did talk briefly.  Things started to settle down.  Work was giving me less hours because the economy was going down the toilet and I was able to have a steady pace with my schoolwork.  Now it was time to decide to come back.  I picked October 25 because I had a report due the 22 and figured I would give myself until the weekend after the report was due to come back.  So Dan I staged this whole thing with the “hacker” and the “gremlin.”  Just that Dan forgot to tell Kyle and the two started to go at it (at first I thought nothing of this as I had told Dan to tell Kyle to have the two of them “fight” over control of the site).  So I had to explain everything to Kyle and he decided to follow everything.  All right well my professor decided to extend the due date of the report for another week so as Dan and Kyle were finishing their preparations for the gremlin/hacker thing I was slacking off keeping with the election still instead of finishing my report.  So the 25 was approaching so we “shut down” the site so it only linked to the Wizard of Schnoz promo so I could start and finish my report and Schnoz.  I was going to finish it over that weekend but my dear cat Lillian who I had for so long and literally grew up with died, her liver failed and she died a painful, agonizing, horrible death…poor cat.  So instead of doing my report and working on Schnoz I was too busy attempting to cope with my loss.  Luckily there was that extra week to work on that report, right?  So I took advantage of that extra time and worked on my report (which I managed to pull a B out of my ass on) instead of working on Schnoz.  Now it was the final days of the election so I once again put off coming back.  The election cam and Obama won and there was much rejoicing, we even filmed an Early Early Late Show but Kyle lost his camera so it won’t be uploaded until he finds it.  He’s an English major so it’s probably buried under several rough drafts of one of his papers.  So the election came and I did the whole ASSC is in the Land of Schnoz thing as I worked on Schnoz at Dan’s house because he had Flash and I did not.  Due to our different schedules, though we work at the same company with the same job and title, I could only manage to work on Schnoz once a week for a few hours at Dan’s house.  Finally I finished it and the rest is history.  I hope I cleared everything up for everyone and I apologize for everything.  Unfortunately the gremlin/hacker thing didn’t work out as planned as I was trying to get Alby involved without Kyle or Dan’s knowing (Dave was supposed to be involved too but he ignored all requests but Dan knew of Dave’s involvement).  Like Dave Alby ignored me.  It was supposed to be that I ended up being the “gremlin” and Alby ended up being the “hacker” which I tried to imply with the ending of the Marvelous Land of Schnoz.  Oh well.  It’s good to be back!

Sonic Chronicles First Impressions

Shh, don’t tell Dan, Kyle, and Dave I’m here.  I’m still not ready to officially come back to the website but I just got Sonic Chronicles today and figured I’d give you all my first impressions.  So far the game seems good but it seems as though that Bioware has fallen into the same thing with this Sonic game that previous titles have.  No I’m talking about bottomless pits as they’re kind of hard to have in an RPG (but I haven’t beaten the first chapter yet so only time will tell).  I am talking about how right away there is some impossibly hard boss (ala Shadow the Hedgehog anyone?)  Seriously, I had to reset my game because I spent a frigging hour on that damned Swatbot (awesome inclusion btw Bioware but aren’t you afraid some rabid game only fanboy is going to flame you for it) and it just kept kicking my ass thrice times over.  So I went back and decided to boost Sonic and Amy up to like level 5 before I fight it again (just as a heads up for others who have just started I read on a forum somewhere of enemies called something like Swatbots MK II or something to that effect and they totally just roflolpw3n level 7 characters and I guess they’re in Metropolis when you visit it in Chapter 1).  So yeah way to go Bioware for releasing yet another impossibly hard Sonic game (because Zero Gravity for the Wii and Secret Rings weren’t bad enough).  Sonic’s gotta be cursed or something.  It’s Bioware.  They’re supposed to make good games!  Though I’m not saying it’s bad just impossible there’s a difference.  So Green Hill Zone is amazing and that’s all I can really say.  After I finished playing for the night I decided to surf the interwebs to confirm some of my thoughts I’ve had reading while I was following Chronicles before its release as well as some questions I started asking myself while playing the little bit I did.  I guess I know Sonic games too well as all my suspicions were correct.  I’m not going to mention these in this post as they are major spoilers.  However when I eventually come back to the website after I post why I was gone I’ll tell you the spoilers as most people will have it beat by then, me not being one of those people.  What I will tell you from what I read is be nice to Amy and it apparently doesn’t matter if you’re a jerk to anyone else.  My impressions so far is that it’s a good game probably the best game I’ve played since Sonic Advance 3, though Rush isn’t too it’s just filled with way too many bottomless pits for me!  All right before I leave again let me just leave you with one last thing I’ve read which I’m sure many of you all ready know and if you didn’t know this I think you can still read as I don’t believe it’s much of a spoiler (especially if you visit Sonic Stadium on a regular basis).  I guess the ending is a cliffhanger and ends with “To be continued” Bioware is all ready writing the script for the sequel and just need the green light from Sega and from what I’ve read the way they leave the game it totally voids the “continuity” that Bioware tried so hard to put in and explain.  Oh well only time what will happen.  Personally I don’t think it matters as this game is supposed to take place after every other game, did you not pay attention to the opening sequence?  If I ever beat it I’ll give a full review as I progress I will give more reviews but the next one will not be until I officially come back to the site.  Until then my friends.

-Jay