“Two or Three Big Sonic Announcements in the Early Part” of 2011
For your reading pleasure in issue 213 of Game Informer Magazine, Sega’s new VP of Sales and Marketing Alan Pritchard opens up to GI’s Matt Helgeson. Pritchard opined on the near future of Sonic, and other properties as the company continues to navigate a shaky consumer climate.
The most prominent reassurance he gave to Sonic fans is that new game announcements are coming soon, but not before the page turns to 2011, and not long after. Pritchard hints at Mario and Sonic as the “party” Sonic game, and with Sonic Colors acting as the “pure platforming” Sonic, he alludes to the idea that principles stemming from it will be a part of the next titles:
We have been guilty of bringing too much Sonic product to market. Where we’re trying to move now is — we have Mario & Sonic, which is our party Sonic title. Then, we’re looking to improve the quality and focus of a pure Sonic platform gaming experience. We have released Sonic 4 digitally, which has reviewed very well. Last week, we released Sonic Free Riders on Kinect. That’s us being involved in the launch of a platform. Historically, Sega does very well in the launch timeframe of platforms. We did very well at the launch of PS3 and Wii. Free Riders was really about being a part of the launch of Kinect. Then, we have Colors, which is our pure Sonic gaming experience. That’s had some high scores. It’s also the highest pre-selling pure Sonic title we’ve had ever. That’s a good indication. With the quality of the game, we’re confident of that. That’s our pure platforming Sonic. But [....] we have some announcements in the early part of next year that will further support and add to this strategy. There will be two or three big Sonic announcements in the early part of next calendar year.
In many ways, this fits with what may have accidentally been revealed in October. We’ll have to wait to next year to see how much of it holds true. Thanks to Blue Emerald for sending this into us. If you have news to share, be sure to share it with us by clicking News Tips at the top of every page.
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I seriously hope they don’t keep the mario and sonic tittles as just a party type of game. Hopefully SEGA will (or has already) decide to bring us a Mario and Sonic Adventure! ^^
@=Sean=. agreed!
And to think I was getting excited for a true Mario & Sonic platformer…just to realize that it will still never see the light of day…
In any case, it’s funny how Pritchard explains this new “strategy”….
“We’ve been releasing too many Sonic games on the video game market, but instead of limiting our releases, we’re going to release two or three titles next year. Have fun.”
I hope one of them is a 3D platform game.
It will be interesting to find out when these supposed “three games” are announced. People better not complain about them the next time around (I’m so sick of whiners moaning about SEGA making decisions such as using the “modern” Sonic character designs).
1 – Sonic 4 EP2 with classic physics and original level.
2 – Sonic Anniversary with Sonic Colors engine and colors style.
3 – ???
Finally some news I am interested in! I hadn’t read TSSZ in along time because I just go for the Upcoming Games, I don’t care about comics or sales or Fangames. I just like Upcoming games! I can’t wait for the announcements! Three Sonic games announced in early 2011 is epic.
Oh no. SEGA’s letting Sonic 4′s high review scores get into their heads. We. Are. Fucked.
@Vulpine most people don’t complain about characters models anymore.(the green eyes in sonic 4 incident was crazy tho.)
Honestly, I’m hoping that the Mario & Sonic series goes to into partying. Perhaps a crossover of Shuffle and Mario Party? Now, that would be a good party. As for the new platfomer? I’m hoping for something other than Anniversary. It seems awesome but I think something original would be nice too. Maybe make Anniversary as a $30 game? Also, can’t wait for Episode 2 to see if SEGA listened to the fans about the pyshics and the music and massive amounts of nostalgia. I didn’t mind the levels and the green eyes, but it seems that too much nostalgia can rupture a game of creativity.
I really do hope that Sonic Colors HD is one of the announcement
Lucas Hinz has it.
I’d say the third is Mario & Sonic 3, and that’s our three games for 2011.
Sonic heroes 2!!!!!!
@Vulpine. Once again, I agree with you! Hopefully the sonic fans don’t screw up on a good chance this time. We might get a sonic heroes like title, or sonic adventure 3.
@Jak: Why do you guys think the game will be HD? It’s kinda random to think it’ll actually happen. Guess I don’t care cuz I own a Wii.
SONIC HEROES 2, SONIC HEROES 2!
@Koolsk8ter111
It’s good to see someone who agrees with me for once. I have been cussed or flamed by those who disagree far too much lately, and I’m tired of it.
I also hope that the fans won’t screw up the entire Sonic series. They already keep making endless amounts of terrible fanfics and art about it and post it on their little corners on the Internet. We don’t want them influencing the development of the games.
@lettman8520
I’m glad people don’t complain about the character designs anymore. Honestly, the argument was getting old, and “modern” Sonic designs look fine the way they are. I have no problem with the classic designs, but if SEGA wants to keep using the modern designs, then let it be. There is nothing that you, or I, or anyone else, can do about it.
@58SlugDrones!
Guess what my brother do own a Wii and he bought Sonic Colors I just cant stand the Wii, a game as beautiful and as awesome as Sonic Colos need an HD Port
@Vulpine
As you complain about the state of Sonic characters’ love lives…
well we know that games we know will come next year other not will lets start with game we know so far
1.sonic 4 ep 2
2.mario and sonic the party game or mario and sonic at the summer olypic games
1. sonic 3rd squeal story book
2.werehog return possibiltie
3.other squeal
4.silver the hedgehog ?
5.sonic adventure 3/when sega made adventure 2 it relasse sonic 10th birthday it could be 20 anerversity with saonic adventure 3
6. sonic meets scourge in the game in anti mobius
1) Sonic 4: Episode 2. Now featuring Tails, some original levels and some better physics.. maybe.
2) Sonic Anniversary. Lots of classic stages remade in HD and 3D, from Sonic 1 all the way to Sonic Adventure 2. Done in Unleashed or Colors style (or maybe Genesis/SA1 style if were lucky). Lots of throwbacks and awesome.
3) Mario and Sonic Party. Great fun platformer times.
Called it.
Ffffuuuu had to fix typo
*good fun partygame times. Massive troll for people who wanted a platformer from this. :<
Here’s a strategy for you, SEGA. You can fuck off.
Careful, Kits–if you say that loud enough, Kellie @ Sega will give you both copies of Sonic Colors to review.
-T
It may or may not be fully correct, but what I am hoping is that the three games are:
1. Either Sonic 2011 or Sonic Colors 2 depending on whatever the next “3-D Sonic platformer” is going to be.
2. Sonic 4: Episode 2
3. Another Mario & Sonic game. I liked both M&S at the Olympic Games and M&S at the Olympic Winter Games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if another one is in the works.
Unfortunately, anything Sonic is SEGA’s decision, not mine. But we will have to see what happens in the upcoming year.
@Kits’Okami
Please, watch your mouth. Don’t cuss.
(EDIT – Vulpine, that’s my job to moderate, not yours. I’d like to think we’re all mature here. -T)
@Vulpine:
Nobody gives a shit much anymore about BAWW GREEN EYES SONIC anymore, get over it.
But seriously bro, get over that Sonic has fanart and fanfic. You’re kind of being a dick to people who haven’t done anything to you and while yes most may be bad, you’re being a bit of an asshole to just call all of them BAD or that they are what’s ruining the series, etc etc.
…….and hilarious this is coming from YOU, who have tried to get SEGA to “see” the relationships in the series. Please realize the irony in this.
In other news, let us hope Sonic Anniversary is what they mean, and that it’ll be multiplatform (or maybe Wii? I can get it if it’s Wii since I own Colors now) and that it’s as awesome as was hinted.
I’ll buy 10!
We can all pretty much guess what games are coming (Sonic Anniversary, Sonic 4:2, and Mario & Sonic ‘somethihng’), we should try to guess which ones will hit which consoles. I hope the Sonic 4 series hits 3DS.
@PreStalnic
Ah, so I’m not the only one who wanted a “Mario & Sonic’s Shuffle Party”, lol.
“We’ve gone back to the classic design”.
That’s too much to hope for….
@Haru
Let me list good Sonic fan fiction:
It bothers how they continue to ignore how awful Free Riders is instead of addressing it and fixing it. He all but admits that the game is launch title shovelware.
The Colors/Unleashed guys better be directly involved with next years game, they are the only ones at Sonic Team that seem to get it.
@Haru
You’re a buttface. That is all I will have to say.
If you don’t like me, then either leave TSSZ News or don’t reply to my comments at all.
Sonic 4: Ep 2′s a given, I bet. Mario & Sonic is likely, but hopefully they try something different, at least a deeper party game than the previous two.
And the 20th Anniversary game. That’s all I’m going to say, because that’s all I know other than Crush 40 writing a song (or songs) for it.
Two or Three Sonic Games being announced for the following year. Think the possibilities (pun not intended) despite the maturity here it is nice not see hotly debated arguments everywhere. I do hope things go well for Sonic especially on his 20th birthday!
I love everybody ideas here, the Sonic fan community is getting better I’m prouwd of all y’all
Next week I’m gonna buy wii and SONIC COLORS yheeeeeeeeeeeeee
Yeah, let´s make better products by launching 2-3 Sonic games per year, like it has been most years since 2003. That surely will make those titles better, instead giving them a little more time before hitting the shelves. Oh, yeah, and they are probably working right now on the 2-3 Sonic titles for 2012 too, so there´s surely some quality Sonic games in the future
Seriously, I would be happier if they stopped to say every year that they know previous Sonic games weren´t that great, that they will improve on the next ones, that it´s *another* return to the origins, and that they know they are flooding the market with Sonic games, just to launch many mediocre games with some nice ones in between, only to repeat exactly the same sentences every year.
It´s about time they make a masterpiece game, and not just “meh”, “good” or “nice” ones u__u At least they have stopped making crap games into the core franchise, which is welcome.
“Yeah, let´s make better products by launching 2-3 Sonic games per year, like it has been most years since 2003.”
Try 1993.
YES! =D
Sonic has been and always will be the coolest game character ever. A sequel to Sonic Heroes could be cool, if it isn’t too slowed down by the “non-speed” formations. Sonic/ Mario party?! Might be good less the Mario. Mario rivaling Sonic at running is like a duck rivaling a T-Rex at a trough. Unfortunately, I’ve been at college and unable to purchase any Sonic games since Sonic Heroes on Gamecube. I would love to have a Sonic for PC. I want to get a ds and SAR when tax returns come in. I dreamed of working for Sonic Team when I was a child. I’m glad Sonic Colors and Sonic the Hedgehog 4 are streamlining the gameflow of the series. Sonic, I believe in you. Only a short time, and then I will return. I hope Sega knows I’m still out here. Don’t stop making Sonics! Sonic Team, You Rock!
@Vulpine:
You’re hilariously immature I almost can’t stand it, but I do because it gives me something to laugh about. “Buttface”. XD
Sonic Adventure 3 Knuckles and Shadow need to be playable again and we also need (drum-roll) CHAO!
@Haru
But I’m not immature.
First off, @Vulpine: Please get off of the computer. Calling people “buttface” is not an act of maturity when your opinion is challenged, or otherwise pointless to the subject at hand.
You’re not mature, so stopping delusioning yourself and take a break. You’ll thank me in a few years.
Secondly, it seems that we may be in for a shittacular “business as usual” year. Sonic 4: Episode 2, Mario and Sonic Party games, and Sonic Adventure 3 ahoy! That sounds like a great year for conning little kids out of their money yet again. We can only hope that the Sonic Colours team learns even more of the advantages that the retro titles had, and gets to make a new title next year. I’d love to see them take on a fully 3D game in the free open style (Mario and Epic Mickey are good examples of this brilliant style), and not the linear style we’ve faced ever since Sonic Adventure 2 which involves constantly moving forward. Remember what Sonic said in the 90s (credited from ScrewAttack): “Hey, it’s okay. You can turn left.” Just because he’s a fast runner doesn’t mean he’s constantly moving forward (out of a pit, no less).
Well, yeah. I hope next year marks more better games such as Sonic Colours.
@Greg the Cat
I may be sorry, but I do not care about your opinion: People like you are the reason why I rant occasionally in the first place. You seem to whine and moan about recent Sonic games and complain about SEGA deciding to use the ‘modern’ designs for the characters (I know people don’t complain about the designs anymore but there are still some who do). Goodness sake, you are a fan of what you want the Sonic series to be rather then accepting what it really is! At least I don’t complain about those things, unlike the most of you. Why would anyone call me ‘immature’ when I accept the Sonic series for what it is and not what I want it to be? I’ve played Sonic games since the old Genesis days starting with 1991, yet people think I’m ‘immature’ for not having the same darn opinion. In fact, I’m one of the more intelligent posters here on TSSZ News. At least I use proper spelling and that I don’t cuss nor type like an idiot, or anything.
There is no reason to tell me to get off the computer, since I always do when I want to play a video game, or eat breakfast, lunch or dinner, or go to sleep. I have a life, and I do more things then be on my computer: I play video games (of course), I draw, I read, I exercise to stay in shape. I do not sit on my butt posting at TSSZ News all the time like you think I do. Stop putting me down, now.
@sonicwarrior
A sequel to Sonic Heroes is a nice idea but it’s up to SEGA to make that (They’re the owners of the entire Sonic franchise). Besides the four teams from the original Sonic Heroes making a comeback, one team I would like to see is “Team Future” or something among the lines, which consists of Silver, Marine and Blaze. It may or may not be likely but we can always hope, though.
@Bowbowis
I always did like raising Chao when I play the Sonic Adventure games, and (although unlikely or not) it would be nice if they bring ‘Chao raising’ back, even though those creatures appeared recently in Sonic Chronicles. I still wish I had a Tails Chao, though.
@Vulpine
The reason why we keep talking about what we want the Sonic franchise to be, rather than accept it as what it is, is because it could (and SHOULD) be much better. Forget the modern or classic designs, most people don’t care at this point. We point out strong and persistent flaws in the franchise, such as camera, control, and too many characters. And guess what? SEGA LISTENED. We no longer have those problems. You see? Us complaining is the reason the Sonic franchise is getting better. And you keep telling us to shut up? Why? So Sonic 4: Episode 2 will have us playing as Spider-Hog, accompanied by his friends, the Red Latern and Wonder-Fox? Stop being so naively deluded and accept that constructive crticism is continually helping the frachise. Are there whiny nitpickers? Certainly. Does anyone pay attention to them? Not really. Again, we (usually) complain about what matters, and that has gotten us nothing other than spectacular results.
- Sonic 4: Episode 2
- Sonic Anniversary
- Sonic 3DS
It’s not hard.
@soranamineforever
The problem I have with people talking about what they want the Sonic franchise to be is because they want SEGA to listen to all the Kingdom Hearts fans who like Sonic in terms of suggestions of what they want to see. If they listen to those kinds of fans then they’ll do nothing but turn all the future Sonic games into an exact clone filled with the same cliches and tropes, with pop-culture references. That would be just dull, and not right. As much as you want the Sonic series to crossover with that piece of garbage Kingdom Hearts, it’s not going to happen no matter how you wish and no matter how you desire. Your wet fanboy dreams will never come true.
I know constructive criticism is different, and I know that hearing fan feedback is always nice, but don’t be a snot about it. I, at least, accept the fact that Sonic is SEGA’s property and that SEGA can do whatever they want with their properties (including Sonic) instead of whining about it like everyone else does.
@Wilford111
We can only hope so, but it’s also possible that another Mario & Sonic game is in the works, too.
Every time Vulpine posts, the internet collectively loses 10 IQ points.
@Vulpine
Kingdom Hearts? What in the world gave you the idea that people want Kingdom Hearts-ish stories in Sonic games? Have you even been paying attention to what fans have to say? Do we have to go over Sonic 06′s over-the-top love story again. The fans want simpler Sonic stories that stay limited and are within in the comical grounds mixed with action adventure plots for everyone to enjoy like in the classics and Colors. No one wants super serious, complexed soap opera Sonic stories that the game gives to much emphasis on like in Kingdom Hearts. Could you take the time to listen the constructed criticism from the fans sometimes?
@ChaoticFox
First off, you shouldn’t be posting here on TSSZ News at all. Second, the Internet does not lose intelligence when I post. Go away if you’re going to be mean to me like you did in previous topics here.
@krush96
Not if the fans whine and throw tantrums like babies. I know no one wants a soap opera storyline but you have to understand that no one wants overrated pieces of garbage either. As for the “idea”, I hate it when people make crossover fanfics and art that don’t make sense at all (combining Kingdom Hearts with any video game franchise is one of them), and I don’t want their horrid fanfic ideas turning into a real game because of that. All I can hope for is that they make a Sonic game successful enough that no one complains about it.
OK, this fighting has become a two way street. Please be nice to one another. No ganging up on one person, and no unnecessary retorts in response. We’re all here to respect one another’s opinion.
-T