Swingin’ Report Show #11: Getting hot with Sonic

This week we have a special sexy Sonic edition podcast. He is turning 20 and we are celebrating in style. Graham (from SEGA Nerds) and Shigs both join me to discuss Summer of Sonic, VMUs and much more. Listen this week for a chance to win a Sonic Boom shirt! Sadly, the Jewish man known as Nuckles87 who travels all the time couldn’t make it in time for this podcast to talk about his experience at Summer of Sonic.

[audio:http://www.segabits.com/wp-content/uploads/swingin_report_show_11.mp3]

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The Weekly Five: Overthinking Sonic

In his 20 years of existence, Sonic has not only appeared in dozens of games, but he has also introduced a ton of irregularities. The irregularities I’m referring to are the things that exist within his video games that support the gameplay and the player playing the game, yet don’t make a whole lot of sense within the context of the world within the game. For example, it’s a ton of fun to run through a twirling highway in Sonic Adventure, but why in the world would such a highway even exist? Or what about all those springs and item boxes? Surely Eggman didn’t put them there, because they assist Sonic. So just how and why do elements like that exist in Sonic’s world? In this week’s weekly five, I’m going to attempt to explain five oddities of Sonic’s world. Most of my explanations will probably be complete bullshit, but that’s the fun of over-thinking!

Classic SEGA Magazine Corner: SEGA Visions introduces us to Sonic 20 years ago

Oh snap, is this magazine already 20 years old? SEGA Visions magazine was the first official magazine of SEGA of America. It was launched to compete against Nintendo Power. It was actually free for a year if you owned a SEGA console. Not bad, not bad at all.

In this issue we will be looking at SEGA of America talking a bit about their new hero, Sonic the Hedgehog. It’s so odd reading their description of what Sonic is like, since we have known him for 20 years.

The other scans show SEGA’s Game Gear US launch and profiles of people that used to work at SEGA… 20 years ago. Interesting indeed.

Sonic the Hedgehog retro soundtrack compilation coming


Sonic is turning 20 years old, man! That means that this is the perfect time to re-release a ton of shit and make the mad money. Just announced? Sonic 1 and 2 compilation soundtrack. You get your favorite tracks from both games, in one collection.

The soundtrack will be out this summer and will include composer Masato Nakamura’s demo tape for Sonic 1 and 2. So far its only been announced for Japan.

[Source: TheDailyDL]

Jimquisition discusses Sonic trying too hard to be cool


The new Jimquisition is being posted here because one of the characters he discusses on this video is Sonic. How Sonic’s way of being cool is outdated, thus is lame in new games when he walks around going “Dude, totally awesome Tails!”

In an odd way, I agree with this part. I disagree with what he says after. He suggests that SEGA make Sonic a joke, you know, a character that doesn’t try to take himself seriously. I think this is a mistake. The whole “Dude I’m totally cool” was basically marketing stuff and I think a silent Sonic is the best medicine.

Sonic’s design is timeless. It will always look awesome. His attitude is best left like it was in the classics, a silent picture.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – Flipbook Animation is Awesome!

Check out this really cool Sonic the Hedgehog 3 flipbook animation. I have some serious admiration for anyone that has the patience to make such a long and detailed flipbook.

I remember getting flip books like this in cereal back in the 90’s, I gave it a go and made a very primitive flip book of an alien space ship flying though clouds… It was bad to say the least!

[Thanks to TaroYamada]

J!NX now has Sonic steam punk shirts

This is one of those creative ways of getting around trademarks to sell SEGA merchandise without the big bad SEGA license. Though it means that you will probably have a Sonic shirt that no one else in your town will have, so you can sit back and laugh at all the 8 year old kids that bought their shirts at Hot Topic.

Problem, kids?

[Source: J!NX]
[Via: GoNintendo]

Sonic joins Namco’s Taiko No Tatsujin Plus

Sonic the Hedgehog has had his fair share of crossovers in the blue blur’s lifetime. Two of the most iconic have been the Mario crossovers, which include the Olympic titles, and Super Smash Bros Brawl. This time Sonic and its music will be featured in Namco’s upcoming drumming game Taiko No Tatsujin Plus.

So out of all the Sonic games that they could have picked to feature tunes from, which title did they end up choosing? Sonic 4: Episode 1. Ah, most likely just a crossover to promote their downloadable title.

Takio no Tatsujin Plus is an iPhone/iPad game. So it’s a good way to cross promote.

[Source: Siliconera]

Sonic Team’s attempt at a Tony Hawk game

Assembler games forum member got his hands on an XBOX 1 devkit. A lot of unreleased games were unearthed, including “SONIC EXTREME”. SONIC EXTREME looks like Sonic Team’s attempt at Tony Hawk… quite literally! You can see Sonic doing Tony Hawk style skateboard tricks.

So yeah… just think. We could have had a Sonic game like this! This was an amusing video to watch and I just had to share it with you guys!

[Source: TSSZNews]

SEGA Sales: 50% off select XBLA titles (UPDATED)

CVG has just reported that from April 19th through April 25th, Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode I, Crazy Taxi, and OutRun Online Arcade will have their prices slashed by 50%. OutRun will run you 400 points, Sonic 4 will cost 600, and Crazy Taxi will set you back another 400 points. No better time to pick these titles up than now.

SEGA Europe has posted a blog about this same sale that includes ALL of their XBLA titles included in this sale. Pick these titles up NOW. Below is a of the titles on sale.

[Source: CVG]
[Source: SEGA]

Want to donate to Japan relief and get some cool SEGA swag?

Well, you still can. It looks like SEGA Of America is about done auctioning off their items, having raised thousands of dollars by selling rare merchandise on eBay the past couple of weeks.

Well, they still have a few items up. If you’re into cosplay, two Valkyria Chronicles uniforms are up for grabs, as well as some Aliens Vs. Predator games, a rare Sonic & Tails 1992 SEGA watch, and more.

Get them while you still can, and help out a truly noble cause.

[Source: SEGA]

Sonic facebook to have “something big” on April 7th


SEGA is now teasing people that Sonic’s Facebook is going to have something big, most likely on April 7th. Check out the tweets in their uncut glory below.

“There’s something big coming this week to the Sonic Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/sonic”

“Sonic’s 20th Anniversary is this year, but SEGA start celebrating on 7th April and you’ll only find out how on the Sonic Facebook page!”

So what could this be? We will find out in 48 hours, no need to have a panic attack. Could this be a Sonic social game to make old school fans even more mad? We can only dream.

Emerald Hill Zone theme remade in WarioWare D.I.Y.


WarioWare D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS allows users to create their own minigames, which also means creating the music for them. So savvy internet users have decided to create great tracks and upload them on the YouTube.

Above is a creation from , he remixed the theme for Emerald Hill Zone from Sonic, using the tools provided by the game. Not bad, right? Like it? He provided a MP3 download here.

[Via: GoNintendo]