Sonic Retro Actively Seeking Materials from UK Source, More Legit Screenshots Inside
TSSZ News has learned a 27 year old from the United Kingdom is behind what could be the beginnings of a very big leak related to Sonic the Hedgehog 4.
But it’s not him directly who’s supplying a steady stream of screenshots to Sonic Retro this afternoon, it’s a friend of his. But if there’s a manhunt, it may rest on the shoulders of one who only calls himself browny.
The only thing clear at the moment is that browny is getting the materials from another party, one who has access to PartnerNET, the XBOX360 developer network on which a trial copy of Sonic 4 was released last week. It’s not clear how much more or less is on the way, but if nothing else, the batch of shots affirms the authenticity of the photos circulating.
What we have below are the fruits of the leak: A screenshot from an XBOX360 clearly showing the presence of Sonic 4, and a screenshot from Splash Hill Zone. This is in addition to the boss screenshot that was seen this afternoon.
“We talked to the guy in IRC and he said he’ll try and push for more, apparently,” Sonic Retro forum administrator Tweaker told TSSZ News late this afternoon. “We’re just taking what we can get, I guess.”
Sega has been especially protective of materials related to Sonic 4. Even on an eyewitness account, prominent community member Endri Lauson changed his mind about leaking game copy to the community when Sega of America community manager RubyEclipse contacted him on the matter.
When prompted as to whether Sonic Retro would remove the materials if asked by Sega, a decision on compliance did not appear clear.
So, here’s what’s been additionally released thus far–the proof, and the new Splash Hill screenshot. We will monitor the situation for more developments. For the record, these photos, as they are coming from a secondary source, may be subject to sensitivity guidelines we recently established.
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Until Sega officially confirms it I’m not buying into it. Taking into account JPEG and compression I’m still convinced the edges of the foreground, parts of the background, and even Sonic look too “magic wand”ed.
I despise these “leakers” with a passion for ruining my anticipation piece by piece.
Come on, It hasn’t been one week since the last leak and now we get another one?
Im on the fence, could be real, but then again they may not be real.
Sometimes we like to overanalyze a photo to make our eyes see things that arent there. So right, im still on the fence.
Interesting, but 400 MS points for episode 1? that’s a bit cheap.
400 POINTS!?!?!?!? If that’s going to be the price I’m a very happy! THAT’S REEEAAALLY CHEAP!
I live in sweden and that’s like 36 SEK…..and well that’s really cheap…wow I though it would besomething likte 1000 points….but if it’s just 400 points…WOW! X)
I can’t believe you guys still think these screenshots are fake.
I mean, really. Where would they get the materials to even create them?
It looks legitamate then again, more impatient fans trying to pull a fast one. Now we have to find the person who’s going to release a unauthrorized demo. man i wish the demo came for the wii ware.
This game is going to suck.
To the people who are complaining about these leaks and saying it’s ruining the anticipation. You do realise that nobody is forcing you to look at these screenshots. The only person ruining it for you is yourself for giving in to temptation.
Anyone who doubts these screenshots are real at this point in time is seeing things. These have to be legit.
@■omegasmash
Ahh, the Sonic fanbase.
@ Crysore: With Endri confirming these screenshots as real, and his preview impressions, it’s starting to get very dificult to get hyped for this game.
As opposed to what buying things blindly? Would you prefer for people to post equally baseless comments like “BEST GAME EVER” “NEVER PLAYED BUT IT”S GOING TO ROCK!!!!!1″
Endri only pops up after something leaks with comments that seem to be based of the leaked material, funny that! Gotta love how THAT GUY eats it up and claims it’s for real because it supports his stance on the game.
Jesus Christ! SEGA better stop this!!!
What the fuck is up with that Splash Hill screenshot? Nothing in that shot looks coherent at all. That XBox picture looks official enough though.
He he, like I´ve said many times: If the game´s actually launching on Summer, it should be FINISHED. So all the leaks you are seeing are on a final product. If there´s any change, it will be something game breaking.
On another note, if each episode cost only 400 points, I´m really amazed at the price. I expected 800 points per episode. If there are 3-4 episodes, that would mean a 1200-1600 points game, which is a really good price for me if they have 4 acts per episode. If this turns out to be true, I´ll applaud Sega even if the game isn´t as good as it was hoped from the beginning.
Anyway, it´s a pitty that they are marketing a Sonic 4 game when they are actually making a Sonic Advance 4 using old Sonic games materials…
I was comparing a screenshot that 1UP posted earlier and this new one to see if this thing is legit. The screenshot 1UP posted before is a few frames away from this new shot. Then I looked at the video that was leaked before….
Its looks 100% legit.
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7594/movementcomparison.png
@Knuckles MetalMind: yeah Dimps may be re-using old things but thtas how nowa days things work.
well atleast its loooking fab eh? 
personlly I cannot wait! 
wow only 400 points, whats that in money? £3.25? Someone tell me please 
BY THE WAY!!!!!! I have a pretty obvius theory on this Sonic 4…..
Episode 1: sly secret (But well exacuted) re-make of Sonic 1! Only better, c`mon! Splash hill zone? Green hill zone.
Lost Laybrinth? Labrinth Zone.
Casino street? Spring yard zone.
Mad gear zone? Scrap brian zone.
and… Sonic 1′s special stage…. lol.
so…………… Episode 2 = Sonic 2
Emerald’ish zone, Hill low zone? And Not so Aquatic ruin zone…..
@RGX: awesome pics dude! They all match apar tfrom the bad camera quality but, They all look 100% real
Is itme or does Sonic look Sel-Shaded?
@John the Breeze
i love your photoshop term =]
MAGICWANDED =D
In terms of “Is the game final?” arguement, I think people are arguing different things.
The game is likely mostly final in terms of design and content, of course. That was never in doubt. Nobody expects a completely different product to emerge. Sonic 2 betas didn’t become Sonic 3. So, if you’re unhappy about the direction of the game in terms of styleor substance…fair enough. Months before Unleashed was released, the game wasn’t going to magically become Sonic Adventure. If you hated the direction the game was going, it wasn’t going to change.
However, whether or not the game is mostly final is terms of playability and the content we’ve seen is entirely up in the air. Glitches can be fixed in DAYS. Playable builds online may only include certain content so as to limit the damage of potential leaks. Nobody wants everything included in pre-release alphas and betas. Betas of Sonic 2 that are widely considered to be late in development still contain huge bugs and even missing content. This is standard issue for games.
Sonic 4 may be delayed, btw. Isn’t this a possible event?
Oh, for the people who’ve played it,how glitchy was the Sonic Advance 3 leak that came out not long before the game?
no coment about those leaks…
But it seems that once-again the Xbox 360º is the lead-plataforme for a Sonic and SEGA game
… yheee 
Just like “Tails the best@” said I was hoping for a more 2d game play of the day-time stages of Sonic Unleashed in Sonic TH 4 , but from what I could see until now about STH4, I’ve like it a lot
but it would be purely amazing if SONIC TEAM and SEGA combine SU with STH4:Episod 1 when making the other episods 
hehe… but if they don’t do that, the game will still be AAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE 
@Blueblue
“Green hill zone.
Lost Laybrinth? Labrinth Zone.
Casino street? Spring yard zone.
Mad gear zone? Scrap brian zone.
and… Sonic 1’s special stage…. lol.”
Ohhhh ye
Green Hill = Emerald Hill Zone
Casino Night = Canival Night
Metropoli zone?
hahaha , since sonic 1 all other sonic copy events of sonic 1,in classic games,sonic 4 is not different ;D
The game comes AWESOME
The hd graphic is very good.
The error jump can be compared with Sonic 2 alpha
Sonic 2 alpha have more bugs
The Splash Hill music will be AWESOME 16 bits with touch HD , remember the classic.
The zones use old school support compared
Metropoli zone = Mad gear
in sonic 2 – green hill = emerald hill
The fandome is not satisfation in ALL!
But,if this is mario or megaman,instant the bad game is good.