Topic: Sega Officially Announces Sonic Unleashed for Wii

[NWR_Neal]

The new Sonic game will feature "seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions" and use Sega’s new Hedgehog Engine.
 http://nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=15690

 Last week's leak of Sonic information has now been proven true as Sega has officially revealed Sonic Unleashed. The game is set to be released on Wii as well as other competing home consoles. Developed by Sonic Team, Sonic Unleashed will be a change from recent Sonic games as it will involve "seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions." It will use Sega’s new Hedgehog Engine which is tailor-made for the speed of Sonic games.    

Sonic Unleashed is currently scheduled worldwide for a Holiday 2008 release.    

  SEGA ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF SONIC UNLEASHED    

Latest Installment to Extend Sonic's Signature Style. but with a Twist!    

SAN FRANCISCO (April 3, 2008) - SEGA® of America and SEGA of Europe, Ltd. today announced that everyone's favorite hedgehog is once again breaking new ground in the upcoming title, Sonic Unleashed™. The latest installment in the multi-million selling franchise starring the beloved blue hedgehog will take players on an unforgettable high-speed journey around the globe in a way never before experienced in the world of Sonic. Fans will be treated to an array of new, exciting and unique next generation features to heighten their experience.  Sonic Unleashed is currently under development for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.    

"It is an exciting time for the Sonic franchise as we look to reinvent our hero while staying true to the spirit of what made him an industry icon," said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing at SEGA of America. "Sonic Unleashed will introduce a new, unexpected storyline along with innovative gameplay that compliments traditional skills and features, allowing players to experiment and engage in new ways."    

Having been broken apart by the evil Dr. Eggman, it's up to Sonic to put the pieces of the world back together again by retrieving the power of the chaos emeralds! In doing so, Sonic will find himself in a race against time and faced with an unusual situation that will challenge him in ways never before seen. Both day and night play different, yet important, roles in Sonic's newest quest. as the sun sets, a new adventure awakens. By completing a wide variety of action-packed stages, spanning the seven broken continents of the world, gamers will need to unleash Sonic's amazing abilities to save the world, and himself!    

Players will have an opportunity to engage in ways never before done with the Sonic franchise, so in addition to running at high speeds, which will be highlighted in four new speed mechanics, combat fighting now becomes possible. New combat, movement, functional abilities and platforming will be introduced to offer increased depth and variety.    

Sonic Unleashed will offer a re-defined experience for fans and newcomers of the franchise alike by combing picturesque & detailed scenery, an expansive world with multiple paths to choose from and dynamic viewpoints for an immersive and renewed gaming atmosphere. Along with seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions, the game is built on a powerful, new proprietary "Hedgehog Engine," which introduces impressive lighting abilities and new technology tailor made for Sonic's new speed capabilities. Under development for approximately three years, the Hedgehog Engine will help to produce a visually rich next generation look and feel with elements of classic Sonic gameplay components.    

Currently in development by Sonic Team, Sonic Unleashed is scheduled for release worldwide for holiday 2008. For more information on the game, please visit www.sega.com/sonicunleashed .

[Nick DiMola]

Awesome, awesome news. Hopefully Sega has finally realized that 3D Sonic games=FAIL, and will never make them again.

[NWR_Neal]

I really hope this won't suck.
History is against it though...

[King of Twitch]

powerful, new proprietary "Hedgehog Engine"


Even if it doesn't turn out well, they still know how to BS their way through it.

[Enner]

Doesn't sound as awesome as Blast Processing though.

Here's to hoping it will turn out well. The Rivals games didn't look good despite them being on a 2D plane, but there were other problems. Also, at least the trailer made it look like they are on a good track.

[Smash_Brother]

I'm still wondering why they insist upon releasing Sonic games across all three consoles.

Haven't the abysmal sales of STH on the PS360 compared to the surprisingly good sales of Sonic:SR on the Wii told them ANYTHING?

[Ceric]

I'm still wondering why they insist upon releasing Sonic games across all three consoles.

Haven't the abysmal sales of STH on the PS360 compared to the surprisingly good sales of Sonic:SR on the Wii told them ANYTHING?

Load times make for a terrible game?

[Luigi Dude]

I'm still wondering why they insist upon releasing Sonic games across all three consoles.

Haven't the abysmal sales of STH on the PS360 compared to the surprisingly good sales of Sonic:SR on the Wii told them ANYTHING?

If you want to know the answer, go to this topic.
http://nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=24552.0

Just scroll down and read my first post from a few weeks ago.  That will tell you why Sega is releasing it on the 360/PS3 as well.

[Kairon]

It's on the Wii. I'm happy.

[Bill Aurion]

Only you would be happy with scraps... =(

[Kairon]

PS2 fans were happy when they got multi-platform games, so I'll be happy when Wii gets multiplatform games.

[Deguello]

So Kairon, basically what you're saying is... "Thank you sir, may I have another."

[Luigi Dude]

PS2 fans were happy when they got multi-platform games, so I'll be happy when Wii gets multiplatform games.

The difference is since the PS2 was the market leader, third parties would make sure the PS2 version was actually GOOD.  They'd have one of their top teams work on it to take advantage of the PS2's hardware, so even if the PS2 version didn't look as good as the Xbox version, it would still look great as a PS2 game.  Not to mention the PS2 versions would come out first, or if they came out later would have extra content, and the controls would still be good.

The Wii on the other hand is getting what the Gamecube got last gen, which is complete sh*t.  Wii ports just like Gamecube ports, are done by the worst studio's in each company, and look pathetic.  Not to mention the controls for the Wii and Gamecube version of games are usually much worse, and have glitches that don't even exist in the PS2/Xbox and PS3/360 version.

When third parties start to give the Wii ports that are done by their top development teams and actually take advantage of the Wii's hardware, like PS2 ports usually did with the PS2's hardware, then some of us won't mind so much.  But when the Wii's getting games that look WORSE then PS2 games and control poorly, and full of glitches that shouldn't even be there because they're not in the other version, that's what's we call getting screwed.

[Caliban]

I will probably get the 360 version because I'm expecting the Wii version to be the exact same game with the exception that it might have some waggle mini-games which I don't care for.

[animecyberrat]

BUt game companies have seen that the Wii is selling like crazy even without good quality games and as long as the crap sells, more crap will come.

[Luigi Dude]

BUt game companies have seen that the Wii is selling like crazy even without good quality games and as long as the crap sells, more crap will come.

And how is that any different from the PS2 which had just as much crap that sold even better.  Bad games selling didn't stop third parties from releases their best series on the PS2 now did it.

Not to mention most of the Wii tops sellers have all been good, so your quote is wrong anyway.  Here's the Wii's list of million sellers.
http://vgchartz.com/worldtotals.php?name=&console=Wii&publisher=&sort=Total

Now I would agree that some of those games aren't the greatest, but nothing there is complete crap.  Maybe a few mediocre titles, but most of the games range from good to amazing like Mario Galaxy, Resident Evil 4 and Smash Bros.  Not to mention there's a lot of great games for the Wii that didn't sell a million but still but in good numbers.  Like Zack and Wiki which last we saw was over 300,000 which for a small budget, new and unique IP, is great numbers.

If your want to see what crap selling really looks like, here's the PS2's million seller list.
http://vgchartz.com/worldtotals.php?name=&console=PS2&publisher=&sort=Total

[Ceric]

I didn't realize just how good Wind Waker looks until I started replaying it.  I think everyone is lazy on the Wii.  Even Nintendo.  MP3 didn't look like anything that couldn't be done on the Gamecube.  It didn't even have the muzzle heat like MP1&2.  Galaxy seems to be the exception but I'm now not even fully convinced of that.

[animecyberrat]

You keep forgetting that it takes time to make games also. PS2 was a hit right after Ps1 being a hit, most companies had already given up on Nintendo before Wii came out, so it makes sense they didn't jump on it right away. GIVE THEM MORE DAMN TIME!

[Djunknown]

Saw the trailer, and well, I have to be skeptical until the reviews come in. 

"Along with seamless 3D to classic 2D camera transitions"

Sounds similar to what Super Paper Mario did. Now with Nintendo, you can trust them with innovation. But Sega today?....

[Bill Aurion]

I didn't realize just how good Wind Waker looks until I started replaying it.  I think everyone is lazy on the Wii.  Even Nintendo.  MP3 didn't look like anything that couldn't be done on the Gamecube.  It didn't even have the muzzle heat like MP1&2.

The areas in MP3 are tons larger than any in MP1 and 2, and the textures ARE much better...It needs to be realized that horsepower doesn't just have to be used to make the game flashier...

[animecyberrat]

Yeah MP3 was the first game I showed my 360 fanboy friends that Wii wasn't that bad for graphics. They bought it.

[Ceric]

I didn't realize just how good Wind Waker looks until I started replaying it.  I think everyone is lazy on the Wii.  Even Nintendo.  MP3 didn't look like anything that couldn't be done on the Gamecube.  It didn't even have the muzzle heat like MP1&2.

The areas in MP3 are tons larger than any in MP1 and 2, and the textures ARE much better...It needs to be realized that horsepower doesn't just have to be used to make the game flashier...

No it doesn't but I like to maintain the flash I had.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I didn't realize just how good Wind Waker looks until I started replaying it.  I think everyone is lazy on the Wii.  Even Nintendo.  MP3 didn't look like anything that couldn't be done on the Gamecube.  It didn't even have the muzzle heat like MP1&2.

The areas in MP3 are tons larger than any in MP1 and 2, and the textures ARE much better...It needs to be realized that horsepower doesn't just have to be used to make the game flashier...

Bill is dead on, you need to be careful how you judge visuals because games attempt to do different things. Not to mention you are forgetting Super Mario Galaxy if you think Nintendo is being lazy visually.

[animecyberrat]

I never thought Nintendo was being lazy but I do think everyone else is. This game still has hope as far as I am concerned cuz I actually liked the 360 Sonic game.

[Kairon]

PS2 fans were happy when they got multi-platform games, so I'll be happy when Wii gets multiplatform games.

The difference is since the PS2 was the market leader, third parties would make sure the PS2 version was actually GOOD.  They'd have one of their top teams work on it to take advantage of the PS2's hardware, so even if the PS2 version didn't look as good as the Xbox version, it would still look great as a PS2 game.  Not to mention the PS2 versions would come out first, or if they came out later would have extra content, and the controls would still be good.

The Wii on the other hand is getting what the Gamecube got last gen, which is complete sh*t.  Wii ports just like Gamecube ports, are done by the worst studio's in each company, and look pathetic.  Not to mention the controls for the Wii and Gamecube version of games are usually much worse, and have glitches that don't even exist in the PS2/Xbox and PS3/360 version.

When third parties start to give the Wii ports that are done by their top development teams and actually take advantage of the Wii's hardware, like PS2 ports usually did with the PS2's hardware, then some of us won't mind so much.  But when the Wii's getting games that look WORSE then PS2 games and control poorly, and full of glitches that shouldn't even be there because they're not in the other version, that's what's we call getting screwed.

I acknowledge your points. But we're getting there. Change takes time. And companies feeling the pinch due to market forces takes time too.