Topic: Sonic 4 Delayed Until Fall

[NWR_Neal]

Sonic's latest 2D entry is getting more development time to incorporate fan suggestions.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23113

 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I is now set to come out in fall 2010 instead of the original summer release date, according to the Sega America Blog.    

"SEGA has made the decision to ensure that Sonic 4: Episode I is a game worthy of bearing the weight of its name," reads the blog post announcing the delay. "To do so, we've decided to extend the gameÂ’s development – and, for the first time ever, weÂ’ve mixed internal suggestions alongside fan feedback to make some new, positive changes to the game."    

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I is coming to WiiWare this fall.    

Sonic The Hedgehog™ 4 Episode I    

Release date and new platform confirmed!    

SEGA is incredibly happy at the overwhelmingly positive response to Sonic The Hedgehog™ 4 Episode I from both press and fans around the world.  SEGA wants to ensure that we're delivering the best Sonic experience possible.    

With this dedication to quality and the Sonic experience in mind, SEGA has decided to extend the development of the game and will now release Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I in the latter half of 2010. The additional time will allow the Development Team to focus on keeping the game high-quality, continuing tuning and balancing of levels and interface and overall maintaining the kind of polish that an important game like this demands, ultimately providing fans with an unrivalled classic Sonic feel.    

SEGA is also pleased to confirm that Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I will be coming to the iPhone and iPod Touch via Apple's iTunes App Store.    

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I is developed specifically for the download market and will be available via Microsoft XBLA, Sony PSN, Nintendo WiiWare and the iTunes App Store in late 2010.    

For more information please visit www.sonicthehedgehog4.com

[BlackNMild2k1]

I hope that doesn't turn out to be a worse idea than just releasing it in the summer as planned. Fans can often suggest crazy things that don't lead to what they actually want, which is a fun game.

[Caterkiller]

I hope its not just for what fans what but mostly polish. I can't stand the blubbering of the Sonic fandom!

[that Baby guy]

Wasn't pretty much the entire game leaked in videos thanks to XNET or whatever it's called?  I'm pretty sure I saw a video of the last boss and several stages.

Which makes me wonder "Why?"  Seriously, a big bulk of the game seemed to be done.

[Shaymin]

Translation: We're adding Big the Cat and Sonic's other ****ty friends because furries threatened to burn down our headquarters.

[NWR_pap64]

The "fan input" worries me. Like its been explained, fans often wish for things that are stupid. Everyone wanted a classic Sonic the Hedgehog game, and its being developed by Dimps, who has a great history with the franchise. That should be enough.

[broodwars]

The "fan input" worries me. Like its been explained, fans often wish for things that are stupid. Everyone wanted a classic Sonic the Hedgehog game, and its being developed by Dimps, who has a great history with the franchise. That should be enough.

Agreed.  As much as fans like to think they know how to design a game and you want to respect their opinions, ultimately if you're the developer it's your game.  Only bad things come from diluting your product to match every single minor quibble from the "fans".  Hopefully, they're not doing that.
 
Honestly, I read more into that that Sega made this game an episodic download series before they were equipped to handle it, it got behind on their milestones, and now it's being delayed to allow for the sudden influx of personel that comes from Sega of America leaving retail.

[Arbok]

Is it not possible that it was mostly delayed for a simultaneous launch across all platforms (iTunes being the new addition), and that they are adding in a few extra fan inputs to make the delay seem less economics focused?

[Mop it up]

Zelda: Twilight Princess is a good example of why a company shouldn't listen to its fans.

[that Baby guy]

Is it not possible that it was mostly delayed for a simultaneous launch across all platforms (iTunes being the new addition), and that they are adding in a few extra fan inputs to make the delay seem less economics focused?

The site itself had embedded data in the flash files that revealed long ago that it would be coming to the iPhone.  Remember how there was a fourth, secret platform on the site?  That's what it was, and the images revealing that were discovered.

[Stratos]

Is it not possible that it was mostly delayed for a simultaneous launch across all platforms (iTunes being the new addition), and that they are adding in a few extra fan inputs to make the delay seem less economics focused?

The site itself had embedded data in the flash files that revealed long ago that it would be coming to the iPhone.  Remember how there was a fourth, secret platform on the site?  That's what it was, and the images revealing that were discovered.

Silly companies thinking they can hide secret data on public websites. I love discovering things like that.

[Arbok]

The site itself had embedded data in the flash files that revealed long ago that it would be coming to the iPhone.  Remember how there was a fourth, secret platform on the site?  That's what it was, and the images revealing that were discovered.

Oh okay, never mind then

[TJ Spyke]

Zelda: Twilight Princess is a good example of why a company shouldn't listen to its fans.

You mean they shouldn't make one of the greatest games of all time and one that sells millions of copies?

[ControlerFleX]

Zelda: Twilight Princess is a good example of why a company shouldn't listen to its fans.

You mean they shouldn't make one of the greatest games of all time and one that sells millions of copies?

Nah I think she was referring to how soooo many "fans" was disappointed at the LOOK of Wind Waker so the next console outing scrapped that look and went after the "adultish" look that wowed us in Ocarina of Time.

Buuuut back to Sonic, I wonder if the iPhone version will be identical to the console versions. If so, will they all carry the same price tag?

[TJ Spyke]

Ah, OK. I never got the people who complained about the look, especially since Miyamoto even said that was how he always envisioned the series (and the original artwork for the Zelda games reflected this).

I couldn't care less about a iPhone/iPod Touch version TBH since I have no plans to ever pay for one (I am happy with the free games on it).

[BlackNMild2k1]

People complained about the look because of Zelda 2004(?) reveal with the more realistic look(the battle with Ganon) and then the follow up reveal of Wind Waker with the cell-shaded look. People kept complaining that they wanted that other look(and another OoT) and that's exactly what we got. A zelda that took the look and playstyle of OoT.

(I think what most of us really wanted was another r/evolution of the series that brought the same feeling that OoT did the first time you played it. What we got instead was OoT meets Okami: the expansion pack)

[BeautifulShy]

Well first of all it was at Spaceworld 2000 that they showed that realistic battle with Link and Ganon. The Cel shaded look was shown I think in 2002. WindWaker was released I think in March of 2003. There was a preorder bonus that when you reserved WindWaker you would get OOT Master Quest.The disk had some videos of upcoming games. Wario World and F-Zero GX to name a few. You could get the disk like 1 month before the release of Windwaker.


But yeah anyway I am kinda bummed about the delay of Sonic 4.