Post by: Jonnyboy117 on June 21, 2007, 04:54:20 AM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=13678
SEGA ANNOUNCES BIOWARE WILL CREATE SONIC ROLE PLAYING GAME FOR THE NINTENDO DS
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (June 21, 2007) -- SEGA® of America, Inc., SEGA® Europe, Ltd., and Canada-based developer studio BioWare® Corp. today announced a partnership to create a new video game based on the classic SEGA flagship icon Sonic The Hedgehog. The exact name of the game is undetermined, and it will ship in 2008.
"BioWare is one of the hottest names in RPG development in the world," said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America, Inc. "Everyone at SEGA has huge confidence that Sonic is in the safest of hands, and that BioWare can create the ultimate handheld RPG experience for gamers of all ages."
BioWare is the award-winning independent developer that has created some of the world's best-selling titles including the Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights series, the 2003 Game of the Year, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic and the 2005 RPG of the Year, Jade Empire. BioWare is currently developing one of the most anticipated next-generation titles of 2007, Mass Effect.
"We're thrilled to be working with SEGA on Sonic, one of the industry's most enduring and compelling icons," said Greg Zeschuk, president of BioWare. "As huge fans of Sonic ourselves, we're committed to delivering a truly amazing story-driven experience within the Sonic universe, focusing on capturing the character's broad appeal and placing him in a completely original adventure," added Ray Muzyka, chief executive officer of BioWare.
The relationship with BioWare reinforces SEGA's increased emphasis on Western content development for Western audiences. In the past few years SEGA has announced partnerships with developers Bizarre Creations, Gas Powered Games, Monolith Productions, Obsidian Entertainment, Planet Moon Studios, Pseudo Interactive and Silicon Knights. SEGA has also acquired development studios The Creative Assembly, Secret Level and Sports Interactive.
Post by: Ceric on June 21, 2007, 04:57:31 AM
Post by: Pale on June 21, 2007, 05:04:51 AM
Post by: Caliban on June 21, 2007, 05:11:49 AM
Post by: Pale on June 21, 2007, 05:21:05 AM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on June 21, 2007, 05:23:55 AM
Post by: Caliban on June 21, 2007, 05:25:20 AM
Post by: Athrun Zala on June 21, 2007, 05:38:37 AM
Quoteagreed, SoA needs a sequel, like NAO (although it will probably never happen... I've waiting for one almost 7 years...)
Originally posted by: Caliban
Right company, wrong ip, they should have chosen the Skies of Arcadia ip.
Post by: Caliban on June 21, 2007, 05:41:54 AM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on June 21, 2007, 06:14:07 AM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 21, 2007, 06:44:31 AM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on June 21, 2007, 06:48:39 AM
The only Sonic games I've played were on the Genesis so I don't really know much about the Sonic universe or any of the supporting characters other that Tails, Knuckles and Dr. Robotnik, but I've seen the other character from the Sonic Adventure games getting slammed left and right. Makes me think that a Sonic RPG is not the wise decision here.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 21, 2007, 07:18:03 AM
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on June 21, 2007, 07:21:13 AM
Post by: TrueNerd on June 21, 2007, 09:16:20 AM
Post by: Bill Aurion on June 21, 2007, 09:43:49 AM
Do you mean making a story, period, or making a GOOD story?
"...it just doesn't need to be done, and I wish the entire series would dry up and blow away."
Were you paying attention to the gaming crowd when Super Mario RPG was announced? The hardcore Mario fans pretty much acted the same way...Not to say that this game will definitely end up amazing like the Mario RPG/Paper Mario series has, but still, there's the chance...
Post by: Ceric on June 21, 2007, 09:49:04 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on June 21, 2007, 10:05:08 AM
I wasn't on the internet at the time so I don't know what was up there but among the people I knew discussion was as follows:
"They're making a Mario RPG and Square is the one doing it! And it will have rendered graphics like Donkey Kong Country!"
"COOL!!!"
I think Mario has worked better at expanding beyond the main series because the world is a little more creative. Sonic's worlds are designed for you to run through at a million miles an hour. Who cares what a Sonic Zone is like as long as it has loops? Mario has a slower pace so you need areas that are a little bit more interesting to stop and look at. Not that Square didn't have to make up a whole bunch of new stuff with Mario RPG. The enemies in Mario are also more interesting since more of the focus is on jumping on them while in Sonic they're annoying distractions that get in the way of running fast.
Personally I think Sonic's world reaks of generic 90s platformers. The level design was good in that the game was much more fun that Bubsy or Aero the Acrobat but the enemies and characters were just there. Sonic's hip, cool attitude also comes across as extremely dated so it's harder to connect with him beyond nostalgia and the fact that his old games are still fun to play. Though Mario may have a more popular cast of baddies just because Super Mario Bros was so huge so everyone knows who Bowser and the Koopas are.
Post by: pyrokamileon on June 21, 2007, 10:12:59 AM
Post by: Crimm on June 21, 2007, 11:45:43 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ceric
This...really ...really really bad...
fixed.
Has a Sonic game ever not had an insipid story?
Good characters?
Pleasing voice work?
No
HELL NO
JESUS CHRIST NO!
No, the source material is all wrong for an RPG.
Post by: SixthAngel on June 21, 2007, 12:25:52 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: CrimmQuote
Originally posted by: Ceric
This...really ...really really bad...
fixed.
Has a Sonic game ever not had an insipid story?
Good characters?
Pleasing voice work?
No
HELL NO
JESUS CHRIST NO!
No, the source material is all wrong for an RPG.
You act like Mario games had a good story or pleasing voice work before the rpg. Mario stories were all just saving the princess. Square changed it and added what they wanted to make it work.
The Sonic world has plenty to work with for an rpg. It has quite a few main characters and you act like they can't invent new characters or enemies. Mario RPG brought in an entirely new villain and one of the first characters you got on your team was a totally new guy named Mallow. You all are showing how you never really liked Sonic/Sega or played the games. Especially when Bioware is behind it (I would be with you if it was the current Sonic team) you have to have some faith, Bioware has a great record.
Post by: Arbok on June 21, 2007, 12:46:21 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: SixthAngel
You act like Mario games had a good story or pleasing voice work before the rpg.
Mario games had no voice work at all when Super Mario RPG came out... unless you are talking about Hotel Mario.
Post by: Bill Aurion on June 21, 2007, 02:01:35 PM
"I think Mario has worked better at expanding beyond the main series because the world is a little more creative."
Bollocks! The stages in the Genesis games were almost as unique and colorful as any Mario stage...It all narrows down to SEGA'S TALENT, which they no longer have...
Post by: stevey on June 21, 2007, 02:28:10 PM
Post by: Mario on June 21, 2007, 02:34:51 PM
Post by: Sir_Stabbalot on June 21, 2007, 02:38:43 PM
Unless they go with the comic books and cartoons. In which case I'm not touching this game with a 38 and 1/2 foot pole.
Post by: stevey on June 21, 2007, 03:16:27 PM
Sonic get attacked by Dr. Robotnik,
Evil robots take over place
Sonic teams up Tails and Knuckles
Sonic goes out and save animals under attack
Dr. Robotnik kills Amy FF7 style
Sonic kill Dr. Robotnik
Game Over
All the enemies are robots and big eyed forest animals for characters. It not like they're making a Tertis RPG....
Post by: Khushrenada on June 21, 2007, 03:19:02 PM
On an extra note of interest, Bioware's HQ is here in Edmonton where I live. If I get the staff job, maybe I can get an interview or two on the game. Just one of those peculiar coincidences I like to point out every once in a while.
Post by: that Baby guy on June 21, 2007, 03:49:19 PM
For the record, if Artificial Studios ever makes something for the Wii or DS or any Nintendo system, I could probably manage an interview with them for NWR. It'd be freelance work, or something.
Khush, I bet if things don't work out with this staff job thing, you could do the same. Of course, that's if things don't work out, and we won't know that one until people tell us that one.
Post by: TMW on June 21, 2007, 03:53:03 PM
(Herein I reveal my secret inner fanboy)
While the comics do have a huge (too huge) storyline and large cast of characters, if they stuck with the somewhat simpler and very similar old saturday morning cartoon show, they could make a helluvan RPG.
And, since Sega of America was largely responsible for both the comic and the entirely american produced cartoon series (it has nothing to do with the newer, more crappy anime series based on Sonic.)
And considering they somehow sorted out the licensing issues and released the old cartoon on DVD, I don't see a reason why this couldn't work, legally.
If anyone is curious and has no idea what the old cartoon is like, just google satAM, that way you get the more serious, mature version of the two Sonic cartoons that were produced in the early 90's.
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on June 21, 2007, 04:34:18 PM
+ New, quality developer is welcome (though Dimps has done a bang-up job overall on the portable front, too)
+ RPG and DS means Sonic will most likely avoid sloppy controls this time
- I don't like western RPGs
- Western development teams have a poor dev record with the franchise IMO (Sonic Team in San Francisco, Traveler's Tales...)
- A story-driven Sonic game with "Eggman" as the villain would make me sad
Looks like the pluses are stronger than the minuses, so I'll keep an eye on this one.
Post by: Athrun Zala on June 21, 2007, 06:18:51 PM
Post by: Kairon on June 21, 2007, 06:54:33 PM
Post by: Nephilim on June 21, 2007, 10:37:54 PM
Post by: KDR_11k on June 21, 2007, 11:14:31 PM
Post by: 18 Days on June 22, 2007, 03:46:51 AM
Post by: King of Twitch on June 22, 2007, 01:21:10 PM
Post by: blackfootsteps on June 22, 2007, 05:58:03 PM
Post by: Kairon on June 22, 2007, 08:43:27 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: blackfootsteps
Sega should have given them Shenmue instead.
ZOMG YES!
Post by: ReverendNoahWhateley on June 22, 2007, 10:15:18 PM
The idea of the guys behind Neverwinter Nights and Jade Empire working on a Sonic RPG makes me kinda feel sorry for them. I'll just bet there's a scene that features Amy Rose being whisked away by a large winged monster while Sonic reaches out and screams "AMY!!!" Honestly, if Bioware can make this a little less pompous than almost every other Sonic offering has been for the last decade or so, it might actually not be so bad.
Even if it's not, though, my hopes of this being a DS sequel to Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale have just been shattered.
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on June 22, 2007, 11:25:37 PM
Post by: Smoke39 on June 23, 2007, 12:01:16 AM
Post by: Requiem on June 23, 2007, 01:59:20 AM
Post by: IceCold on June 23, 2007, 09:16:26 AM
- Bioware supporting the DS
- Bioware supporting the DS with an RPG
- SEGA collaborating with Bioware supporting the DS with an RPG
- SEGA collaborating with Bioware supporting the DS with an RPG, possibly with a critically acclaimed RPG franchise from either company (Phantasy Star, Shining Force, Skies, a Bioware franchise etc) OR even better, a new IP
And out of all the franchises that they have, they chose.. Sonic?!
Post by: Kairon on June 23, 2007, 09:40:18 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: S-U-P-E-R
I have it on a good source that they are basing the story on this.
omg. OMG! SO NOT SAFE FOR WORK BUT OMG!!! AWESOME! awesomeAWESOME!
Post by: LuigiHann on June 23, 2007, 09:55:20 AM
A) A fluke. Not very likely to happen in the first place, and also fairly hard to replicate.
B) Preceded by Mario's other successful forays into other genres.
So this game is unlikely to be good because: A) It's very unlikely that any such genre-swapping game will be good, and B) Sonic has been particularly unsuccessful at transitioning out of the platform genre.
But hey, stranger things have happened.
I also agree that just about any other Sega franchise would be a better choice. Or that Ultimate Fan Fiction. That'd be a good story for an RPG.
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on June 23, 2007, 10:50:58 PM
