Sega Calls Response to Game “Overwhelmingly Positive”
Sega Europe community manager Kevin Eva let the cat out of the bag early, upstaging his own colleagues at the US community team–but the only new information to come out of today’s Sonic 4 press release is news that the game will be delayed to the second half of 2010–not the Summertime period previously suggested when the Sonic 4 website opened. Furthermore, no specific release date was disclosed; the “latter half” rhetoric sufficed.
The release also affirmed something we correctly reported in February and was already well known by the community–the release of the game to the iPhone and iPod Touch. No price was disclosed for this or any particular version.
TSSZ News has also learned Sega will be releasing its first official trailer tonight, first on Gamespot’s On the Spot program. We can only conclude SOA community manager RubyEclipse is making the appearance on the program for this reason. The trailer is ready to go–in fact, it briefly appeared in an embed on the Sonic Stadium minutes ago (though unviewable, as it was made private), only to be quickly removed. (Thankfully, we caught wind of it.
The full release is below. TSSZ News editor Ryan Bloom will cover Sonic 4‘s appearance On the Spot, beginning at 7PM ET. I’ll be back late tonight to bring you community reaction.
SEGA is incredibly happy at the overwhelmingly positive response to Sonic The Hedgehog™ 4 Episode I from both press and fans around the world, and wants to ensure that we’re delivering the best Sonic experience possible.
With this dedication to quality and the Sonic experience in mind, SEGA has decided to extend the development of the game, and will now release Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I in the latter half of 2010. The additional time will allow the Development Team to focus on ensuring overall high-quality throughout the game by continuing to tune, balance, and maintain the kind of polish that an important title like this demands, and ultimately providing fans with an unrivalled classic Sonic feel.
SEGA is also pleased to confirm that Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I will be coming to the iPhone and iPod Touch via Apple’s iTunes App Store.
Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I is developed specifically for the download market and will be available via Microsoft XBLA, Sony PSN, Nintendo WiiWare and the iTunes App Store in late 2010.
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Dammit, I hate it when Eggfang is right.
Well at least this can ensure a better quality game overall
They better fix up all the physics gaffs by the time they release the game.
I’ll give them a second chance.
All jovial trolling and stuff aside, here’s an actual serious comment about the news. :U
This may actually be a good thing, with it being delayed. It means they may actually improve some things this time, such as that damn spindash/spinning sfx swap, as well as the general engine feel and the fan response, etc.
Plus, the time giving them the ability to get it re-rated, means they might put new content in? Mayhaps, anyway.
So that finally means they could be actually hearing us, and improving the gameplay. This is the best new they could announce.
Sorry for those that cannot wait, but this proves that the gameplay wasn´t that good and with some more effort it could be really better. Then, it won´t be liked by just new Sonic fans, but classic fans as well.
The trailer they have released doesn´t show any piece of physics, so that could mean that´s what´s going to be improved the best. All the gameplay from the trailer is the most automatic parts, which won´t change that much.
>Sonic 4 Episode 1 delayed until Late 2010
>Late 2010 = Mid-September to December
I can’t say if delaying it was a good idea or not, as now my entire summer of just playing this game is shot due to a bunch of leaked stuff. However, it’s good that they’re fixing it up so that it doesn’t go on the verge of being crap. Good work, Sega!
There’s still no PC version, which means that they are ignoring fan input. Fan input want things such as the speed boosters and minecarts to be removed. They want a decent quality game, not a piece of (EDIT – Inflammatory – T) which this is right now. Dimps can’t do this. Iizuka can’t do this and neither can Senoue unless they change things. Go refine the art, redo the music, reprogram everything, I don’t care.
It’s delayed? Wow I didn’t see that coming.
This is actually really good news though. Polish this game up. Make it the best Sonic game since Sonic 3.
And while you’re at it add classic Sonic mode kthnxbi
Well Arique, if you have a Wii, there is Galaxy 2, Arc Rise Fantasia, and Sin & Punishment 2. But yeah, I’ve gotta say, I’m not surprised its delayed. Delays always happen, no matter what, and we were bound for one soon.
Wow!! Extra polishing for a 2d game??! Thats fantastic news!!
Heh. Honestly, I think they may be trying to enhance the game a little bit and add some new features after nearly the entire game was leaked online. I don’t really think its a “quality” issue at all.
You can already see the new trailer in HD if you know where to look. Just shows about 30 seconds of Splash Hill with the same thumping drums as the first teaser.
This is the best move SEGA has made since making Sonic 4. Delaying a SONIC game, in THIS generation, for QUALITY?
I’ve never been so happy to wait. Thanks, SEGA. Ruby, seriously, thank your people.
@Spanner: Who says they have the resources right now to put it on PC? And, also, do you have the numbers on the demand for a PC title? And, what if they don’t want to make a PC title at this moment due to things such as piracy? There’s too many questions and answers that you just don’t know.
Businesses can’t and will not ever please everyone.
…”latter half” of 2010? Crap, Valkyria Chronicles II is supposed to come out by then…. and Kindom Hearts: Birth By Sleep…. and God Eater…. and Ys SEVEN…. and Ys: The Oath in Felghana….
Watch, when it comes out, all bottomless pits and the moving wall will be removed due to whiners calling those hazards “cheap”.
Well, I guess they DID manage to have an announcement that was of note, even to those who’ve already played the current leaked version. Good job, SEGA!
I don’t mind waiting if the game is better for it. In fact, I wish EVERY developer would be able to do that for EVERY game. The more Nintendo-like business practices SEGA picks up (like the delay for quality, which Nintendo is KNOWN for), the better.
@Anonymous: That’s because pitfalls ARE cheap. I assume you loved Sonic 06.
Not in platformers they are. Go play Golden Axe if you don’t want bottomless pits.
Hrm… I just hope they take their time to fix the mine cart level.
@Anonymous
Uh? Actually Golden Axe HAS pitfalls…
The problem isn´t some pitfalls at all, it´s designing most of the game´s difficulty just abusing them…
Normally I’d say I hope they take it out completely and replace it, but that’s a long shot.
If it’s so overwhelmingly positive why are you delaying i? Haha Sega you cards, just admit that you finally decided to yell at Dimps to fix the rubbish physics and minecart level after the game became a laughing stock when it leaked.
I certainly would respect them a great deal if they admitted the game’s faults instead of spinning it like Fox News.
@Anonymous: Or Sonic CD. I think I’ll go enjoy that. May have a pit in small areas, but, I don’t remember seeing any, or dying from any, at least.
Most platformers you aren’t running and moving consistently at the rate of Sonic. You make it seem like all platformers are the same.
Oh, it does have pitfalls? Hm, I assumed a beat em up like that wouldn’t. Ah well, it has been a long time since I’ve played it.
Anyway, I’m not saying they should be everywhere; Just that to demand all of them taken out, on a platformer no less, just seems strange to me, especially considering some zones in the original Sonic games had them.
You don’t remember dying from that bottomless pit in Metallic Madness? Funny… I do. Shit sucks. Anyway, not saying they should be in the parts in which you’re speeding by blindly, but that parts (Like in the old Sonic games, I repeat) in which you aren’t.
it worth being delayed for once.
Bottomless pits in Sonic CD?
really? I’ve played the game like hundreds of times and I have yet to see any! (except in Debug mode by pressing the wrong button at the wrong moment XD )
Agreed anon. Although I would want them in places that aren’t just near the end of the zone. Seems like they’re well known for that, and I see it all too often in Sonic 4. That would be the one thing I’d want to change.
Yeah, the bottomless pit at the end of Metallic Madness Act 3. Anyway, Sam… true. Having them at the end all the time is annoying.
You guise take the vidya too seriously.
@ Spanner
The minecarts and such may not be in the game anymore, they said they wanted to fuse fan imput into this game, so therefore, the level design will likely be changed in certain stages.
For once I am actually looking forward to this game.
Now if only they delayed 06 then it would of been a great game
To be honest, I was REALLY hoping they’d one day start delaying a Sonic game like this for any improvements.
Indeed, this is the best news I’ve heard about this game in a long time.
I am ALWAYS in favor of developers pushing back a release date to improve a game as long as it does release eventually. Given the amount of unfinished games pushed out the door these days, I applaud Sega for having the guts to turn down immediate cash in return for a better, more appreciated product later.
Well guys, it’s just been confirmed in an interview on the latest episode of Gamespot’s “On the Spot” show that they will be revamping the entire game! These improvements include:
-An attempt to make Sonic 4′s physics more like the original Genesis/Mega Drive games’ “Pinball” physics.
-Redesigning levels.
-There will be 2 exclusive levels on the I-Phone version of the game that take advantage of I-Phone’s touch screen and motion-sensing abilities. [My guess is that they are Casino Street Act 2 (The Pinball score-attack level) and Lost Labyrinth Act 2 (The Mine Cart level), meaning that they MAY not be present in the console versions.]
They delayed it so thay wont have to make a sonic game rightaway its probably done. but like i said they just buy time. LAZY.
Sonic 4 should look like the artwork in the EGM article. That was awesome!