A Brief of his SAGE Q&A
After a delay of more than an hour forced by technical problems on his end, Sega of America’s Aaron Webber joined a loosely moderated Q&A session on the SAGEcast this afternoon.
Webber fielded questions mostly from those in attendance at the SAGE IRC venue on an array of Sonic topics, from Sonic the Hedgehog 4 to Sonic Free Riders and the internal perception of fan comment and criticism toward the franchise. He clarified his role in the company as it relates to fandom–using what he calls the “duality” of being on the inside and acting as community liasion to ensure fan feedback gets to developers during internal meetings.
One of the key components of the interview, which lasted more than an hour, was Webber touching on the use of Sonic 4 as a larger gauge for Sega on its newdigital strategy.
“Sonic 4 is kind of a test for Sega,” Webber said, as he explained how the game will be used to gauge fan reception on digital platforms, and in turn, help clarify company policy on it going forward. “This is a really important benchmark.”
Related, Webber dodged a question concerning Sonic 4 achievements, saying he was not authorized to speak on details of them. It was an odd response, considering the achievements have been publicly available for months. Webber did, however, touch on how he and Sega as a whole digests sometimes venomous criticism of Sonic 4 in its current state.
“There’s certainly a lot of people out there that complain,” Webber said, quickly turning the argument over to express his understanding of critics thus far. “They just want to see Sonic 4 be a really good game.”
Webber affirmed plans underway to possibly give the official Sonic 4 website a major update next week–an update which would include the formal unveiling of a new zone. He also stated plans to outline game changes within this month, but to potentially roll the specifics out gradually.
A downloadable copy of the full Q&A should be made available shortly, and we will update here with a link when it is.
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If they wanted to test the classic formula to see if it works nowadays, they shouldn’t have started with a direct sequel to the original series.
I don;’t know what has killed Sonic 4 for me personalty more, the broken physics put on display for months in videos or the way continue to piecemeal information out., you have no more cards to play Sega so just fold and be honest about this game instead of this announcing an announcement. nonsense.
Why are you complaining Eggfang? Perhaps you may be satisfied with Sonic 4 by now! I am not an old-school Sonic fan, I am a new fan, but I know that Sonic 4 would be awesome. Fans just complained without playing it, but at E3 they liked it.
I don;’t know what has killed Sonic 4 for me personalty more, the broken physics put on display for months in videos or the way continue to piecemeal information out.,
Don’t forget how they were trying to go for nostalgia but completely f*cked up the atmosphere with their ugly modern characters, badly made models, boring music, rehashed zones, and the homing attack and uncurling that ruin the gameplay.
I fucking hate you people.
You’re what’s wrong with the fanbase.
Webber = 1 point
Haters = -1
Webber wins
Congrats Webb,all see Episode 1 is ” test”,for obvious reasons.
The physics and graphics , just PERFECT.
Congrats to put you LOVE in sonic and looking for all sonic fans.
Since adventure 1,I don’t see detailed and awesome sonic.
PS: He speak is “TYPE” test
Btw
He says: Music remember old games,background remember “oldschool HD” on Episode 1
But the storyline and fun is original in sonic 4
If your gonna run a test, FOR THE LOVE OF PETE! DON’T USE SONIC 4!
I agree with Haru. People need to seriously chill out. I mean, I understand you guys want a good game. We all do. But this is definitely not the way to go about it. Just be glad we’re still getting Sonic games. And please lay the “What’s the point if they all suck!” argument to rest. That’s gotten really old and played out. I’m not saying Webber is awesome, but kudos to the guy for putting up with this relentless shit. I would have resigned a long time ago.
@SpeedinHedgehog But the test isn’t about the game itself, compromising the quality or anything like that. It’s a test if the choice to go digital was a good one, but that doesn’t mean anything within the game is a test.
@Kits’Okami Agreed
@Haru GTFO you Sonicfag this describes you best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgDBmL1UuQ
@steve kudos to the guy for still having the nerve working for sega cuz Sega sucks if i was webber i’d go work on nintendo the place that cares about the quality of their games
@glem3 i’ll tell you what this game is a crappy souless nostalgia cash-in nothing else and it seems like you always fall in sega’s tricks dammit the sonic cycle is too powerful and they’re using it with their fanboys as always
@DAMN
Super Mario Wii look more s**t than Sonic 4 for me
I finish NSMW on my wii
Sonic 4 have more interesting physics than NSMW =/
@DAMN²
You speak about fanboy?
hahaha.
This is funny you speak mimimi nintendo if mimimi nintendo
Ps3 and 360 have more interesting exclusives than wii for me.
@Lucas Hinz Shut Up you fukin fool if you want to play sonic 4 go play Sonic Rush and dot use the boost its the same gameplay fans like you boggle my mind voiceofreason come here please and teach this idiot some manners i cant deal wtih this piece of shit who doesnt know shit about video games and nintendo would of researched the classic games and make it like the classics and WTF you insulted NSMBWii are you crazy that game has sold like 14 million copies more then sonic games have sold this generation so fuck you
@LucasHinz again i was talking about nintendo as a developer not their console imagine if Mario Galaxy would be int he PS3 it would sold like 20 million worldwide in the first week i swear and what exlusive PS3 games are you talking about please just dont mention another crappy FPS game please just dont
@DAMN
Well,If you see Metal Gear 4 is FPS, god of war 3 is FPS,Gran turismo 5 is FPS,last guardian is FPS,this is not my poblem.
Btw,I don’t discuss more about your opinion
Webber’s comment is inaccurate. The fans don’t want it to be “very good” they want it to be PERFECT. “Very good” is not enough to please this goddamn fanbase.They’re unpleasable. (If that’s even a word.) Once this game comes out, people will just be flamming their asses off. No matter how many “flaws” will be fixed, fans will still complain over and over again. From now on, I’ll completely ignore anyone who gives their opinions on this game. When it comes out, I’ll play it myself to see how I like it.
Yeah, it’s a test, a test how much money they can still get from the old school crowd, that sworn themself to never touch a Sonic game that isn’t named Sonic the Hedgehog *insert number*.
@Bbop800 Sega sucks that’s why give it to Nintendo nobody would complain cuz they care about the quality of their games and know how to develop games unlike sonic team or dimps
*plays world’s smallest violin*
If there’s one thing I can say about Sonic fans, it’s that they just can’t seem to get along.
DAMN is the perfect representation of the most retarded Sonic “fans”
Seriously dude, why are you still here, you only complain, at least other haters are more constructive, you’re just “OHFUCK SEGA ISH SO EVUL AND OLNY WANTSOUR MONYS FIRE THAT DAMN IZUKA STUPID SEGA YA NEVAH UNDERSTUND!”
Chill out bro.
(EDIT – One more infraction and you’re banned. -T)
@Zeth and check my first post into the Iizuka Interview thread with the 20th and read it all so maybe you can STFU
WHY THE HELL ISNT DAMN BANNED YET?!!
Tristan, if your out there please say something
People…..It’s a test product release method, not a test game. They want to see if people will buy DLC more than retail. So they are testing the waters with thier best seller, Sonic. (Testing waters with Sonic, lol.)
Ignore the troll DAMN and back to awesome of sonic 4 is =)
@ Steve I got to agree you 100% dude. Webber been putting up with crap since 06.
@ DAMN Your one of the reasons why the sonic fanbase has been a laughing stock of the gaming world.
@ Komodin I have the world’s 2nd smallest violin to play.
There is one thing that Sonic fans grab no matter what… love.
Sonic 4 is kind of a crap.
If they wanted to start out with a test, couldn’t they have done it without starting off with a sequel to the very series that made Sonic famous?
Please understand.
Those who says bad about the physics, animation and models are fans of Sonic for a long time, starting from Sonic 1.
If this game would be renamed to Sonic Retro – then no problem, we don’t care about homing attack, uncurling, whatever else. We got used to trash like that over years.
But if you call that a sequel to Sonic 3&K, then please listen to those who played original Sonics in the 90′s. Or just rename it if you don’t have the skills or will to make a sequel.