Sonic 1 heading to 3DS…in 3-D!

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Looks like we’ll be getting a heavy dose of the original Sonic 1 this year.

Thanks to our sister site Sonic Retro, we have learned that Sega of Japan have announced Sonic 1 as the third Sega game (along with Space Harrier and Super Hang-On to get the 3-D treatment. It looks like this will not be the same as the version coming from Christian Whitehead for the iOS. While it will have full 3-D effects, it will still looks to be in 4:3 mode. Besides 3-D other new features include..

  • Switch between Japan/Western version with some minor differences.
  • Spin Dash.
  • New animations in backgrounds like rippling effects in water.
  • CRT mode to give it that “classic” look.
  • Full controller customization. Set it to press A to jump or B to jump, or X to Jump or Y to well you know where I’m going here.
  • Sound settings for PSG and FM.

While the game will be coming to Japan on the 15th, but given how long it’s taking Space Harrier and Super Hang-On to come over here, it may be awhile before we see it stateside.

Insert Coin Clothing announces more SEGA designs – Sonic, Jet Set Radio and Space Channel 5!

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The folks over at Insert Coin Clothing have added brand new, and in one case revised, SEGA clothing to their collection. The new items include Sonic leggings, t-shirts featuring Sonic, Tails and Green Hill designs, Knuckles and Shadow hoodies, as well as a Space Channel 5 logo vest top and a revised Jet Set Radio Beat t-shirt which finally has the record icon on the back. You can view the full gallery here, or check out the images after the break. Insert Coin Clothing promises more details in the coming weeks. In the meantime, which new design is your favorite?

New arcade game Sonic Athletics to release April 25th at Tokyo Joypolis

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Via the Tokyo Joypolis website and The Sonic Stadium comes news of a new Sonic arcade game set to release at the Japanese arcade on April 25th. Dubbed Sonic Athletics, the game features a line of eight treadmills set in front of vertical screens depicting a track stadium. Players choose from Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Amy, Metal Sonic, Silver, and Blaze and begin running. The faster you run, the faster your character runs. First to the finish wins. Pretty simple game, but quite a slick looking setup. I wonder if the arcade staff allows boosting? After the break, check out a few more images of the new game.

Fan made: nikibaby’s sweet Sharpie SEGA drawings

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Third place SEGAbits third anniversary contest winner nikibaby won herself a My Life with SEGA DVD thanks to these two cool photos showing off her unique drawing style. Of course, the contest rules stipulated that the entry would have to be a review, but we left it as open as possible, hoping to see some more unique takes on the guidelines of the contest. As such, nikibaby worked in a short, but sweet, written review of SEGA by proclaiming “I ♥ SEGA”.

But the real stars of the pieces are her takes on iconic SEGA characters Sonic the Hedgehog and Jet Set Radio’s Beat. Using nothing but paper and Sharpie markers, nikibaby depicted Beat by way of bright colors, hatching, and cross-hatching. Sonic, meanwhile, was expertly drawn using a technique called pointillism. Bonus points for not scanning the drawings, but rather displaying them in a photo alongside the markers used. You can see nikibaby’s Sonic drawing after the break.

Great job, nikibaby!

Archie Comics releases a trailer for the Sonic & Mega Man comic book crossover – hitting stores today!

Yesterday we shared a five page preview of the Sonic and Mega Man crossover comic, and today IGN has released a launch trailer for the event. Yes, you read that correctly, a video trailer for a comic book. The trailer is actually quite well done, with a motion comic vibe to it and a ton of great drawings lightly animated to awesome official music from both franchises. Check out the trailer above and head to your comic shop today to pick up Mega Man #24, the first of twelve parts in the crossover event.

Android and iOS: Sonic the Hedgehog remastered video surfaces, as well as date and price

Android Police have posted gameplay video of the remastered Sonic the Hedgehog game, which is releasing soon to Android and iOS platforms. How soon? According to Android Police, the game is set to hit this month and will retail for $2.99, the same price as the existing app on iOS (which SEGA has said will update to the remastered version).

It appears that the video above has been edited to remove the menu screen, which has been noted in past previews. Perhaps there were a few surprises that SEGA didn’t want spoiled just yet? Also, oddly, there is little to no sound in the above video. Hopefully SEGA releases a proper trailer soon so we get more of an idea of how the game will look and sound.

Preview the Sonic and Mega Man crossover “Worlds Collide: Part One”

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Courtesy of Comic Book Resources comes an exclusive five page preview of the Sonic and Mega Man crossover event, Worlds Collide: Part One, which kicks off this month in the pages of the Archie Comics series Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Universe, and Mega Man. The crossover event, which will span twelve issues from three different series, concludes in August. In November, Archie plans to release the first of three trade paperback books, Sonic / Mega Man World Collide Vol. 1: Kindred Spirits, which will collect the first four issues and will undoubtably include extra goodies like pencil sketches and varient covers.

Check out the full preview over at Comic Book Resources

Shirt Punch: Celebrate being a 16-bit war veteran with a shirt

April 8-Nathan Davis, Console Wars

The guys over at Shirt Punch have another Sonic the Hedgehog related shirt going up tomorrow. The site sells 3 shirts everyday, but only for 24 hours and then after that they are gone forever. So if you want to get yours, make sure you go to Shirt Punch tomorrow, they are only $10!

This shirt is called Console Wars and is by Nathan Davis. The shirt should be up by midnight EST or 9PM PST. Tell us what you think of the design!

SEGA says they have exciting plans for Sonic in the near future

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Sometimes people at SEGA just love to tease and those teases sometime excite us. Its almost going to be two years since Sonic Generations came out and that seems like a long time for Sonic games (which used to have almost yearly releases). So Sonic fans ask, where is the next one? VentureBeat spoke to senior director of digital marketing Mike Evans and director of online operations Ethan Einhorn, this is what they teased:

“We’re taking, on the console side, more of a pillar approach. We’re doing some very exciting things with Sonic as a brand in the near future. We’re also very heavily focused on strategy, as you’ve seen with our pickup of [Company of Heroes developer] Relic, as well as what we’re doing with [Total War developer] Creative Assembly. Of course, we’re continuing to do core titles like Aliens: Colonial Marines.”Ethan Einhorn, Director of Online Operations

Are we shocked that SEGA has big plans for their #1 brand? No, but its exciting to see if this new game will be on a next generation system. If you want to see the full interview head over to VentureBeat.

Jazwares has a bunch of Sonic toys planned for this year

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Jazwares has been releasing action figures for SEGA and it seems that this year they are going to go to the extreme. They have a whole ton of figures planned for release, not only figures but stuff like cosplay masks and life-sized rings as well. I guess if it makes money…

Hit the jump to see all the new plushies, figures and cosplay accessories…

More features revealed for Sonic the Hedgehog remastered – Spin dash confirmed!

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As GDC 2013 continues, more details regarding the upcoming rerelease of Sonic the Hedgehog are rolling in. Pocket Gamer reports that on-screen controls will retain the virtual d-pad and single button layout, however new features include a cartridge art gallery and the ability to use Sonic’s spin dash attack, which can be turned on and off in the game’s menu. As most Sonic fans know, the spin dash made its debut in the sequel, while the first game has only featured the addition of the move in Sonic Jam and various ROM hacks.

Meanwhile, Slide to Play expanded on the on-screen controls, noting that “the large, visible buttons of the Genesis controller have been replaced by one tiny jump button in the corner. The joystick is now a virtual stick that feels much more natural and suitable for touchscreen gaming.”. Slide to Play also noted that a SEGA executive indicated that future Genesis games on digital marketplaces would receive the remastering treatment, by casually stating “that was the plan.” If true, SEGA could eventually update existing games like Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Shining Force, and Gunstar Heroes, as well as release titles not yet seen on mobile devices.

Thanks to SSMB member Shadzter for the info!

UPDATED – GDC 2013: Sonic the Hedgehog remastered releasing to iOS and Android in Spring 2013

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SEGA has revealed, at GDC 2013, that the original Sonic classic Sonic the Hedgehog will be releasing to iOS and Android this Spring for $2.99. While SEGA is only commenting on Sonic the Hedgehog at the moment, AndroidPolice.com is reporting that the sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is also set for a remastered release. Thus far, iOS and Android are the only platforms announced, but if Sonic CD’s rerelease is anything to go by, we’ll see console ports as well. Speaking of Sonic CD’s rerelease, Christian “Taxman” Whitehead is likely behind the Sonic 1 & 2 rereleases if his recent tweet is anything to go by: “Those feels, I’m preparing a build for GDC and I won’t even be there.”

Now I hear you saying “but Sonic 1 & 2 are already on digital marketplaces! I don’t want to buy it again!”. Well SEGA has a few new features to entice you to buy the classic again. SEGA promises widescreen support, 60fps, a remastered soundtrack, and an added time attack mode. As soon as we learn more details, we’ll be sure to share! In the meanwhile, check out the gallery below.

UPDATE: Over on the Sonic Retro forums, Christian “Taxman” Whitehead has confirmed that he is behind the project, and that iOS users who already bought the past release of the game will receive the remastering as a free update. Also, in regards to the soundtrack, Whitehead promises that “The arrangements are identical to the originals, using FM synthesis. But they have been put together in a DAW environment and given an actual mix as opposed to simply recording the existing music. The Drum samples are sourced from the original synthesiser so they’re super clean and crisp too.”