How Project Needlemouse Shelved the Effort
Completely flying under the radar until today was concept art from Britain’s Bradley Sturch, who had intended to create portions of the original Green Hill Zone to celebrate Sonic’s 20th anniversary.
It could have been playable, too–and perhaps quite beautiful, as Sturch was using Maya for modeling and rendering. There may not have been very much to it–this blog entry under Sturch’s STR Studios monkier noted only the title screen and perhaps a portion of the Green Hill Zone would have been recreated–but the concept art below suggests a lot of effort was to be put forth toward “Sonic the Hedgehog 20th Anniversary HD.”
That was during the Summer. Unfortunately, when Sega announced Project Needlemouse, Sturch canceled the project. He felt Sega’s attempts to revive Sonic in their own HD visualization would clash with the fan project.
So, we are left to look at the gallery below, and wonder how this could have looked in motion. Perhaps one man’s trash can serve as your own inspiration.
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Wow. That is awesome.
What else can Sega’s Project Needlemouse interfere?
Well… it would have been nice. I wish him the best of luck with future projects!
@ThE InFoRmEr
Who says Project Needlemouse interfered. It’s much more likely the guy used it as a welcome excuse to cancel this overambitious project.
Likin’ the Sonic concept art. It looks different, but the same. Like he has different eyes than he does now.
What Needlemouse@9.54 pm said.
Wow, well I’m chuffed to bits that my humble little blog was even noticed. But all things considered and peoples comments, you’re all right. It was annoying that Sega a month or two later unveiled plans for a 2D sonic game, but at the same time it was overambitious and I did feel relieved slightly although my heart was heavily set on it.
At the end of the day, as a fresh upcoming 3D designer, I need to create original works. Recreating Sonic is great, but it won’t get me a job in animation really as it wouldn’t show any imagination (According to studios i’ve been in contact with)
Thanks alot for the mention but here’s hoping Sega do a good job this time around.
Project Needlemouse didn’t shelve it, the fan decided to.
@Sturch: Understandable. If you’re really ambitious about breaking into the 3D design/videogame industry, then more power to you with original creations. That’s not to say this project was necessarily without merit. I recommend you get in touch with the two guys doing Needlemouse: The Emerald Hills. I especially liked your design of Sonic.
I’m not going to hold anyone down just because they cancel a project but to blame an announcement for a game we have little details about? Shameful.