Sonic 20th anniversary teaser website opens.

[CrazyT]

Guess we @ SEGAbits forums should jump on the bandwagon as well.

http://sonic.sega.jp/20th/

Let the speculation BEGIN!!

I think it's pretty cool how they finally put that oldschool monitor back, with the succesful classic nineties sonic in it.

Some would say that the picture looks degrading towards classic sonic. Others think that this picture is a hint to the direction of the game. That they might mash classic and new school together(which would be awesome)

I personally am skeptic as the picture shows they really love what they have putten down character wise in s4e1. Yeah it's hard to miss that it's the s4e1 model, which I despise. Just to clarify, I have nothing against the newer model, I am judging from a sort of objective standpoint. I just think they should put more thought and care into into sonic's character apeal. Sonic's looks have never been consistent and I have no problem with change when it's actually good. In the 90's you could see the progression from sonic 1 to even sonic R. The sonic fighters model looked great too(the one from shenmue's capsule toys). But from sa1 his model looked either decent(sonic unleashed/colors) or kind of crap (sonic heroes, sonic 06. s4e1).

Modern sonic can look GREAT too

Anyway, there's not really much to get out of the picture. In short I like the monitor with classic model in it, which might hint to something nice. But dislike how they do not make modern sonic look a little bit better, instead just use the hideous CG model from s4e1 with a different animation, giving the impression that nobody at Sonicteam thinks that something's off about him, in my opinion.

Share your thoughts. What sort of game do you expecT? What do you think about the picture and what it's presenting?

[Sharky]

And some people need to get over it...

This whole character model debate is as bad as 'will sonic marry amy' dude, sonic fans... Apart from that weird shit in 'Sonic 06' The Sonic model hasn't changed THAT much in the past decade. They're still using a Sonic that looks basically like the Sonic from Sonic Adventure.

In Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic had freaking trainers (soap shoes or what ever, a marketing gimmick for real shoes...) That's probably the biggest ever change to his look, bar the green eyes. But suprise suprise nobody gave a shit... Because even that, which I would consider the most jarring change to the character ever... Is pretty damn trivial.

If anything the Sonic model used in Sonic Colours, Unleashed, Sonic Episode 1... Which btw is basically the same model to everyone except the most hardcore mouth-breathing nerds... That is PROBABLY the best model so far and has the best of both modern and classic Sonic.

Mario had a very similar redesign like Sonic did... You don't see the Mario fans shitting their pants over trivial crap like green eyes, slightly darker shade blue or an inch taller.

Is the above image disrespectful to classic Sonic?... No, anyone that suggests it is anything but a cool throwback to the past is a complete and utter twat.

Happy 2011 Sonic fans.

[George]

I would prefer them keep the older model, I like it way more for some reason.

(how can you hate that?!)

Whatever it is, I hope it has a classic model Sonic unlockable. Not too much to hope for.

[CrazyT]

@sharky

I agree on the last part. I just saw it somewhere so I listed it.

But I just think sonic can look more apealing if someone actually gives a damn about his looks at sonicteam. I am 100% sure that his character apeal was one of the big reasons for sonic's succes. It wasn't just because of the good games, but also the way he looked so great which caused interest. I am sure i'm biased on this subject myself but sonic here in holland is overall a laughing stock, they think he looks like shit and the whole franchise to be overall childish. Sonic looking more grown doesn't make him more apealing to a wider audience than just kids if that's the idea behind the whole change. It actually makes him less apealing to older people. The whole cutesy behind the classic sonic's attitude was much more apealing than what we have now. Tell me that you don't feel prouder and more confident wearing a classic sonic shirt instead of the newer model shirt. The general reactions from others towards the former would be much more positive.

I'm basically one of those fans that would really love to see sonicteam aknowledge that there are still a lot of classic sonic fans around that didn't find the change nescesary. It'll never do bad to just cater to us for once in a while, and "not fail" in doing so, if that's even possible seeing how s4e1 turned out (physics). I believe sonic would only become more succesful this way. This way they'll only appeal to more people. They allready got a lot of fans that would buy anything no matter what, count in the people they'll attract back and the new people they attract and we have a winner. I honestly don't get why sonicteam still haven't done anything. Either it's their ego in caring what they want themselves or misscomunication. With the better communication lately i'd have to believe the former, but it could also be that the community managers themselves are opposed to the idea.

Some just have to realise of how succesful was back than. It wasn't just the 6 million people that bought sonic 2. Sonic was a globally liked character and was one of the cool things to like back then.

Anyway, I personally interpreted that out of the picture but I don't want this whole thread to be about his looks. I hope there will be more speculating about the game directions too.

I would like to know what you'd like to see for a sonic game.

[Sega Uranus]

My biggest issue with Sonic's newer look has more to do with his and the other characters personality changes. I think things like Sonic's "Toothy grin" where he is smirking with teeth showing like a retard and the Shadow-like characters who are usually seen with Dragon Ball Z-like poses are some of the most embarrassing things SEGA does, I really just do not like to be seen around images of these things.

To be fair, they probably did that stuff more during the Dreamcast days, but the overall quality of the series was not in question and the marketing campaigns were not aimed at toddlers. Plus that was all happening when I was like 12, everyone knows all 12 year olds only enjoy stupid shit.

[Sharky]

I am sure i'm biased on this subject myself but sonic here in holland is overall a laughing stock, they think he looks like shit and the whole franchise to be overall childish.

BINGO! Give people in Holland a prize of some kind... Sonic, IS for children. These so called 'OLD SCHOOL FANS' are a tiny minority of horrible mouth breathing nerds making a big stink on the internet.

Sonic has changed with the times, just like Mario, Ninja Turtles, Spiderman, Mickey Mouse and most other things for kids. They have changed to appeal to the kids of today. You think people in Sonic Team don’t care about Sonics look? Wake up... The REASON the character has changed is because they do care.

Frankly I don't blame them for not wanting to pander to one of the worst fan bases I've ever come across... Sonic fans are fucking horrible, whiney shitbags... Extremely ungrateful and will find something to moan about in even the best situation.

Sonics looks RIGHT now is the best it has ever been, I do LIKE some versions of classic Sonic but the little fat Sonic on the Sonic 1 box isn't appealing to me and it wont be to kids...

I'm fucking irritated that the 20th Anniversary thread has been hijacked by this fucking stupid shit... RIGHT from the start.

Surely... SURELY there are other forums to discuss this crap.

[Aki-at]

All I can see from the picture is they are showing Sonic's first outing (Japanese boxart you know) and showing his latest look as celebration of how he has changed. I think thinking about anything else would be over analyzing things.

Anyway, I really do not see anything wrong with his current look, fix the quality of the game and bring back classic Sonic elements (Spindash, badniks, art direction etc) and ditch certain elements (Speed boosters, boost button etc) and people will forgive easily.

Basically build on everything on Sonic Colours. Hopefully a fully 3D adventure next time round.

Sonic has changed with the times, just like Mario, Ninja Turtles, Spiderman, Mickey Mouse and most other things for kids. They have changed to appeal to the kids of today. You think people in Sonic Team don’t care about Sonics look? Wake up... The REASON the character has changed is because they do care.

Offtopic but: The original Turtles were changed to fit the original cartoon actually. There was a mass departure from extremely violent ninjas who cut people up to extremely child friendly cartoon characters.

They've only just started to make them go back to their original style.

[Sharky]

^Exactly my point about the Turtles, they were redesigned to appeal to the mass market at the time... Children.

The point is, characters that stand the test of time HAVE to change with the times.

Now I wouldn't be apposed to the classic Sonic being optional in new Sonic games. But the current Sonic is actually a lot more appealing to the target audience and honestly... It has been this way for a decade now.

Some people need to get the fuck over it.

[Sega Uranus]

I am not sure why you are getting so bent out of shape about this Sharky, it is established that the majority of Sonic fans are freaks.

My point was that Sonic stuff is just embarrassing. Even the worst of Mario stuff now is not annoying for the majority of people to look at, except maybe the soccer games, but that is only because they tried to make it look like a Sonic game... Everything else you posted except MAYBE Ninja Turtles is not hard at all for many older people to get into, even when characters like Mickey are dark (Epic Mickey) it still does not detract much from what he has been like in over 80 years. Leaving Sonic's model design alone, the worlds that Sonic visits are nothing like they were ever in with his first 10 years.

Obviously people are going to complain, the series completely reinvents itself every other year. You would find it hard to be a Shenmue fan if there were dozens of releases a year that had little to nothing to do with what people liked about the IP to begin with.

[Sharky]

But we arent talking about any of those things... We are talking about the character model. Which frankly I'm VERY tired of hearing about.

If you're going to make a 20th anniversary sonic thread... Don't START right out of the gate with this nonsense.

[MadeManG74]

While that particular picture doens't look great, I don't think Sonic looks too bad in his current incarnation. Some drawings of him are just horrendous though (like Sanus said with his big shit eating grin especially).

And yes, Sonic fans scare the crap out of me.

[Barry the Nomad]

I don't know, I've met some very nice Sonic fans. Especially over at TSS. I guess with a franchise that is so old and broad in its range of games, comics, cartoons, art styles, etc, you're bound to run into fans that seem rather crazy. I get along with the ones who play the games for what they are, talk shit about the bad ones are are optimistic about the ones that seem to be striving towards being a quality game. Oh yeah, and those who like to reminisce of the good ol' days in the 90's. They're fun.

However, SatAM fans and those who stuck it out with the Archie comics from issue 1 until now scare me. I jumped ship at issue 100 when I realized it was becoming a furry romance series filled with some f-d up Mushroom Kingdom run by chipmunk-squirrels. Them and those who take physics and coding a little too seriously.

[CrazyT]

@mademang

Lol yeah, but in the end we´re just fans. Caring about the characters design seems to become a taboo around the fanbase. Always someone throws the ZOMG green eyes card trying to make you look like a fool.

We do know nothing about the game itself but I hope the picture kind of references the direction of the game even though the classic sonic is just in the monitor. Or maybe it´s just a random picture made to celebrate his 20th :D

I'll just go with what Aki said

[Sharky]

Or maybe it´s just a random picture made to celebrate his 20th :D

Bingo... It is kind of obvious it has nothing to do with the upcoming game.
If they are using old renders its very probably the whole thing was made by the webteam or something and has nothing to do with what ever game they are making.

[MadeManG74]

When I say Sonic fans scare me, I don't mean you guys, I mean the nutters like Barry described.