Sonic

Sonic Stories: Barry the Nomad

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In celebration of Sonic’s 20th anniversary, SEGAbits proudly presents a limited feature highlighting SEGAbits stories from writers and readers of how they got into the franchise and their history with Sonic. Want to share your Sonic story? Check out the dedicated topic in the SEGAbits forum.

Welcome to the first entry of Sonic Stories! I’m one of those fans who was introduced to SEGA by way of Sonic the Hedgehog. Specifically the 1991 original classic. As such, despite now being a fan of many different SEGA franchises, it always comes back to Sonic the Hedgehog. To kick off this series, I wanted to share how I got into the franchise, my favorite moments as a fan as well as open up the article series to other SEGAbits readers and writers.

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Sega – The Earthquake Affects News Round Up

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We’ve all seen the devastation in Japan caused by the earthquake, tsunami and the ongoing nuclear worries. Many companies have felt the effects, not least Sega, who have donated a considerable amout of money to the recovery efforts. In this article I will cover all of the Sega related infomation we have linked to the earthquake.

Donations:
Sega have been extremely generous when it comes to donations from both sides of the pond.

-Sega Japan is donating 200 million yen to support recovery efforts. That is approximately £1,542,827 GBP or $2,481,722 USD.

-Sega Europe and Sports Interactive have donated all of their revenue from the Football Manager app starting from last Friday for the next 7 days to the disaster relief funds in Japan.

-Sega America will donate all proceeds from Sonic iOS titles to the Red Cross disaster relief funds in Japan.

As an added incentive Sega have even lowered the price of the Sonic iOS games for this week, there is simply no excuse not to go get them right now!

Find out more after the jump:

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SEGA Tunes Vol.2 “Unlikely Melodies by Jamie Maxwell”

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Alright ladies and gentlemen we are back, welcome to Tuesday Tunes Vol 2. We apologise for missing last Tuesday but to quote Kazuo Hirai, ” we could’ve given you Tuesday Tunes Vol 1.5 but we took the necessary time to give you Vol.2″ (yes, the quote isn’t exactly accurate).

Last week we introduced you to the melodic tunes of “Unlikely Melody by Jamie Maxwell”, this week we venture deep in to the world of his favorite SEGA games while playing his harmonious renditions of 16-Bit classics.

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Sonic 20th Anniversary Action Figure Collection Revealed! (drools)

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Just when I thought Jazwares has taken all the money they could take from me, they reveal this epic collection! Jazwares is celebrating Sonic’s 20th in style by producing figures that span his 20 year career. These photos found online were snapped at JazWares’ booth at the 2011 UK Toy Fair. One collection revealed is “Sonic Through Time”, which will depict the various designs of Sonic over the years. Photos reveal a 1991 Sonic and a 2008 Sonic, but I’m sure we’ll also see a 1999 and perhaps 2011 model as well. Very cool. After the jump, Eggman takes center stage.

click here to read more!

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SEGA hires Sissel Henno to head licensing department

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SEGA Europe is going to step up their licensing game, meaning you should expect more merchandise related to popular SEGA franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog in the near future. SEGA has hired Sissel Henno to head the licensing team.

“I’m very excited to become a part of the SEGA team and to grow the licensing activities around these fantastic brands. The celebration of Sonic’s 20th Anniversary this year is a great way to kick start my new assignment and I’m looking forward to working with the existing licensees as well as any new partners that we can welcome to the licensing program.” – Sissel Henno.

Sounds like we will be having a lot of junk to buy that is Sonic related for 2011. Feels good man.

[Source: MCV]

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Pakistani McDonalds Ad Featuring Sonic Heroes

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Kotaku Wrote:

You may have seen these cheap LCD games offered as McDonalds Happy Meal toys before. They’ve been run in several territories around the world. But you’ve never seen them advertised like they were in Pakistan.

Back in 2004, what must surely be one of the world’s least popular McDonalds outlets tried a unique method of selling the Sonic games: making an animated commercial that looks like it was made by a 12-year-old. In 1994.

Oh, and Rouge the Bat is naked. Creepy.

I have a few of these McDonald games still lying around (they were given away free with Happy Meals, I suppose that is the drill across the world), I don’t remember seeing this advertisement though. The advert has surprisingly poor production values and is entirely the fault of McDonalds, since SEGA has no presence in our country. This commercial marks the first and last time a SEGA game (or endorsed) product was marketed and distributed in Pakistan.

For Kotaku’s information, McDonalds is comparatively more popular in Karachi than it is in America, I am not sure but we definitely have more than 20 McDonalds outlets in my city alone.

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Sonic 2 HD is looking awesome, teaser trailer released

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The team behind Sonic 2 HD are almost ready to release the alpha build, so to tease the internet they have decided to make one of those teaser trailers that everyone likes.

The game is going to stay ‘true’ to the original and keep the physics, which most Sonic fans seem to like. Should be a solid release, but you have to question why SEGA, a big company, can’t put out a product like this? It isn’t like Sonic games don’t sell…

[Source: YouTube]

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Crushing Disappointments: Shadow the Hedgehog

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Let’s face it, SEGA can’t knock them all out of the park. No company can. Games have budgets and deadlines, and more often than not it’s more profitable to release a bad game and make some of your money back then cancel it and make none. SEGA is regrettably no stranger to bad games, especially in its awkward early years as a third party.

Among these bad games was a game that ultimately marked the decline of the company’s mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, into a pit of mediocrity. A pit the character wouldn’t even begin to climb out of until the release of Sonic Colors last year. This game was Shadow the Hedgehog.

Full article after the break.

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2011 – An industry’s hopes

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MVCUK have quizzed a number of top industry people based in the UK regarding what they are most looking forward too in 2011, on that list is everyone’s favourite western Sega CEO in god knows how long Mike Hayes and Sports Interactive head honcho Miles Jacobson. Let’s see what they are looking forward to in 2011.

Miles Jacobson – Studio Director, Sports Interactive
“Having been lucky to try out a beta version, I’m most looking forward to the new Virtua Tennis release, with a Move and a 3D TV. I’m really looking forward to March’s Nordoff Robbins Football Extravaganza dinner which is sponsored by Tesco – it’s always a great night and raised over £350k last year.”

Mike Hayes – CEO, Sega Europe and Sega America
“I want 2011 to be a great year for a little blue hedgehog – as Sonic is 20 years old in June.”

If Miles is looking forward to Virtua Tennis 4, which is being developed in-house at Sega Japan for the first time since PowerSmash 3 (Arcade) then I think that’s a good sign!

As for Mike Hayes; well shit man, so do we… So do we!

You can read the others HERE.

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5 Times Sonic Totally Beat Mario

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There are moments in Sonic and Mario’s histories worthy of debate: Sonic 3 or Super Mario 3? Who had the better first 3D game? Mario Kart Wii or Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Wii? However, there are also moments when it is so obvious that Sonic won, even the most hardcore Mario fans will have a tough time assembling a counter argument. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit 5 times Sonic totally beat Mario!

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10″ Sonic and the Sonic PVC 6-pack!

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As 2010 comes to an end, so too does a great year for Sonic toys! This year we saw toymaker Jazwares make a huge step up in quality and number of new figures. Meanwhile, First 4 Figures covered the collectible side of things with an awesome Super Sonic statue and a great collection of PVC figures. Today I thought I’d highlight two recent acquisitions: Jazware’s 10″ Sonic and First 4 Figures PVC 6-pack!

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Sonic Colours Deal, £17.99 at Play.com!

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If you are in the UK and you haven’t bought Sonic Colours yet, then shame on you! Sonic Colours isn’t just the best Sonic game in YEARS, it’s the best 3D Sonic game ever… Yes, EVER.

But if you are still on the fence and are in the United Kingdom, then Play.com has a great deal for you. At £17.99 this game is a steal.

So go on, redeem yourself. Buy it while stocks last, hell if you already have it, buy it for a friends Christmas present!

CLICK HERE TO BUY!

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Sonic Colours TV Spot

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Check out the Sonic Colours TV spot!

I like it, it’s got gameplay, a review score flashes up (Even if it is just Nintendo Power…) and some of that good old fashioned humour which 90’s era Sega commercials were known for.

Take note of the book Sonic is holding near the end of the commercial. The cover says,
“Cracked, the biography of Dr. Eggman.”
Great touch!

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Sonic Colors – US Commercial

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The release date for Sonic Colors isn’t far off now and Sega is pushing Sonic Colors like… Well, like a Sonic game. Check out this brand new Sonic Colors commercial to be aired in the USA.

Note; I’ve dropped the ‘u’ in ‘Colours’ for this update as it’s an American commercial. Now excuse me while I go scrub myself in the shower with bleach and a wire brush.

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New Sonic Strategy and My Comments

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‘Sega doesn’t want to make any more bad Sonic games.’
-Mike Hayes

I like Mike Hayes, he’s a pretty level headed guy and knows all the right words to make my tum-tum all fuzzy.

Recently he has been saying some more happy words. When talking to IGN Mike Hayes spilled the beans on Sega’s new strategy with the Sonic brand.

Hit the jump to find out what he had to say and more importantly, what I had to say… About what he had to say.

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