Hoaxbusters: What Else Isn’t Project Needlemouse

Another Photo, Another Dupe Attempt

It’s surprisingly rare that we get a double case within a week.  But, as always, we aren’t afraid of no hoax.

This one comes from another news tip received by an individual only identifying himself as “NEEDLEMOUSE.”  Here’s what he wrote:

Oh my god… I think I may have actually found a Needlemouse screen! A guy on a forum said he was a SEGA employee, I didn’t believe him and asked for proof. He uploaded this!

It looks legit!
His name was Wallace Salesman or something.

The name “Wallace Salesman” probably should have given it away from the beginning.  Still, we took the photo–which you see above–and sent it to our Hoaxbusters team.

They weren’t fooled by the purported engine test screen

“Yeah, it looks fake to me,” said one of our Hoaxbusters, Sonic Retro’s Tweaker.  “I can’t fathom SEGA using existing sprites–let alone Genesis ones–for Needlemouse while still calling it “HD”… that’s not what the title implies, and I severely doubt that it would please anyone looking forward to that kind of treatment. Besides, why would they use Sonic CD bumpers with the Sonic 1 springing sprite? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Indeed, it made no sense to Tweaker or the other two community members we contacted to debunk the imagery.  So what is it, and where did it come from?

Another one of our Hoaxbusters, Phugolz of the X Cult, believed it may have been floating around on IRC.

“I forgot where I saw that but someone posted it on IRC,” Phugolz said.  “I think it’s someone’s homebrewing tool.”

If that’s true, the project certainly could be noble in a fan gaming environment.  But all of our Hoaxbusters agree–it’s definitely not from Project Needlemouse.  Still, images like this serve a purpose–to note how starved the community is for new information on the 2D Sonic game, slated for a release next year.  If nothing’s known about it so on, fans will be left to think for themselves, and draw up their own concepts as a means to drum up false hope while boosting personal ego.

And when those times happen, be warned.  Because when it comes through our door (unless we want some more,) you bet we’re gonna call…Hoaxbusters!