Kotaku
So I am sitting here trying to figure out what to say about the press release I just received, and words are failing me completely. RPG gods BioWare are teaming up with Sega to create a Sonic RPG for the Nintendo DS. My excitement glands and cynicism glands just leapt out of my body and are sword fighting across the top of my desk. We'll see what Sega of America president Simon Jeffery has to say while I wrangle these suckers.
"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."
So we have BioWare, who have never created anything I didn't love, working in the Sonic universe, which lately has been transformed into a giant farm where they only grow crap. A shitfarm, if you will. Can a story-driven game about a character who has always been about blindingly fast action even work?
If I think about this too much my head will explode, or I'll be torn into two separate beings with the evil side getting the goatee. Kind of fond of my goatee. Here, have a press release.
SEGA And BioWare Collaborate On New Sonic Role Playing Game For The Nintendo DS
LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (Thurs 21st June 2007) - SEGA® Europe, Ltd., SEGA® of America, Inc. 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, but this new title developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS 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.
Comments
surely the evil side with the goatee is The Master eh?
this can only end in tears
Furries the RPG
*shudder*
And I thought the 'Dirty Dancing' game was the best idea ever. Clearly I wasn't expecting this!
He's had enough. Just let the poor bastard die already.
Wow, there's a possibility a GOOD Sonic game might be released. While it is odd to see it in RPG form, it worked pretty well for Mario.
Who the fuck keeps funding more Sonic games. Kill the fucking blue rodent already. He's no longer relevant. Just like Crash Bandicoot slowly faded away without overstaying his welcome. Yes I realise they're still making a Bandicoot game, but they don't pretend he's a big shot anymore.
Congratulations, Shadow! You've obtained the following item: Gun (1)
Next up: A Secret of Mana racing game.
damm...
finally a good Sonic to come out in past 5 years...
leave it to American company to make a great Sonic game....
this will be the best sonic game since the genesis ones. easily. bioware is awesome
@icepick314:
BioWare is Canadian!!
Simple recipie for Win™: Let BioWare make the game and let SEGA do the graphics.
I loves me some BioWare titles, but everything they make looks so bland and generic that the gameplay is the only thing pulling me through. And while SEGA's more recent efforts have been slightly...lacking, I suppose...they've always had a unique visual style that I've immensely enjoyed.
Well, if the Advance and Rush series have taught me anything, it's that any developer EXCEPT Sonic Team can do a reasonably good Sonic game, so this could probably kick ass.
I am truly hoping they go, more or less, the route of the Mario Bros RPG games.
*twitch*
don't mind me, I'm just about to SPAZ OUT.
When I first heard this news, it was a big WTF moment for me, but the idea has actually grown on me.
Colour me excited about a Sonic game for the first time since the Dreamcast era.
@Fahey:
Shitfarm? Who are you, Mr. Lahey? Trailer Park Supervisor?
I'll buy it.
Ugh...what a repulsive idea. All Sonic has EVER been good for is some quick action. The character is not strong enough to be the backbone for a real story, much less an rpg. Didn't we learn ANYTHING from the recent Sonic games?
Mario RPG vs Sonic RPG....PLAY BALL!!!!!!
Ah...remember when Sonic 2 and Sonic and Knuckles came out?
Do you?
Those were good times...
The only 3D Sonic game that rocked was Sonic Adventure 2: Battle for GCN, since it's replay value went up as I became hooked to the Chao thing. That's right, I said it.
@Wolf_Dog: Canada is in America =)
curious and curiouser
@baxterpunch: Nice! TPB rules
@Wolf_Dog: Canada is in North America, smarty pants.
This is almost as weird a team-up as that sonic vs mario Olympic games thing.
It seems that in order for SEGA to survive they are having to work more closley with other companies.
So then how about including Sonic in Brawl, huh?
Please?
@baxterpunch: I wonder how many people will understand this reference. ;)
This sounds interesting and all but what I want to know is what kind of moves would he do? Spin dash, and jump on them? 0_o
I hope there is a press release on the heels of this one that announces Jaleel White as voicing Sonic.
If anyone can turn crap into Monet its Bioware, please game/internet/whoever the god 4chan worships god make this game awesome, Sonic needs a good game.
Though I wonder how in hell they're gonna make a sonic game an rp.....wait nevermind -then sees SMRPG-
Though yeah just let Bioware work their magical hands on mechincs and let sega handle graphics........then let Bioware fix graphic glitches that sega makes.
Well, this kinda came out of nowhere. With Bioware involved, I'm pretty interested.
@baxterpunch
He's a shitfake.
who says RPGs need a story? If games like Grandia can score well with a boring story, this game could be great with a cheesy story.
I just hope there's no shadow...
Oh, and Mario had an RPG where he didn't say a word, and it was great.
*waggles finger in sonic/dikembe mutombo fashion*
How do you milk this little rebel any further?
I live in Edmonton, where Bioware is based. I went to Video Games Live here a few months back, and the Lead Designer dude from Bioware was there to meet and greet. That thing was a huge Bioware love in, and then you just got this vibe that only the hardcorest of the hardcore worked there.
...But they're making a Sonic RPG. That's inexplicably strange
Wait, wait, wait guys. As long as Sonic Team and Sega aren't involved with it in anyway it could be real good.
As if Sonic wasn't getting slow enough.
@Lono: @kidko:
So let me get this straight...
Canada is Canada
United Staes is America
America is North America.
Mexico is Los Angelos :P
If anyone can save Sonic the Hedgehog now...it is BioWare.
Godspeed.
Sonic in the hands of good developers? Be still my heart.
@baxterpunch:
Two smokes, lets go!
But hey... why can't sonic get an RPG? Mario did, as unfathomable as that was at the time. I remember yon days of 'Mario in a D&D type game' was as my friends were trying to describe it to me when it first came out. I kinda looked at it with disgust, until actually playing and loving it when I was older.
So the question is... why not? Maybe we'd finally see a good sonic game again.
@Wolf_Dog: Wait for it... Brazilians, Columbians, Peruvians? ALSO AMERICAN.
Hope I didn't blow your mind. :)
lol I actually like the Sonic Team games on DS.
@Wolf_Dog: You obviously didn't grow up in the 90's =)
Can't get enough of those golden rings.
I like my goatee too.
As a huge Sonic fan I have high hopes for this. Yes, the last multitude of games have been rather crap (Sonic Adventure 2 was the last one I liked- that was close to an RPG.), but maybe it'll be good. I'm not sure if I've played any Bioware games, so I dunno how capable they are.
However, as has been said, Mario got his own RPG on the SNES, and that game was fantastic. Of course, that was made by Square, so we'll see.
This is.....both odd and interesting at the same time.
Maybe even a little frightening.
@Komrade_Kayce: @MrLahey: @chronubis: @kidko: It warms my soul to know other people know about the Boys. Unless you are Canadian. Then I would expect you to know what I'm talking about.
A blue Rocket Propelled Grenade?
@baxterpunch:
Brazilians, Columbians, Peruvians are South American dummy. Look at a map.
No such thing as America unless you're refering to the united States. This isn't the 14th Century.
My excitement might just win this one....wait...no...cynicism fights dirty.
XD
I automatically scrolled over this post because I saw sonic; But then I did a double take and saw Bioware. I love, love, bioware, but still a sonic title is announced every time that Jack Thompson announces a preemptive lawsuit.
Maybe I'll have to take Sonic seriously for the next few months.
Surely this must be a PS3 exclusive!
I see this as a King of Fighters-like Desperation Move. Its either going to score huge (and BioWare can pull it off) or its going to result in Sonic's final demise (cue Iori cackling).
@Wolf_Dog: Usually people who live in the USA use the term "American" to refer to other citizens of the USA. However, to most of the rest of the world, "American" can mean any resident of North and South America. So, it really depends on context.
Usually when I mean citizens of the USA, I say "American citizens," as one cannot be a citizen of a continent. (For the record, I live in, and was born in, the USA)
Fahey, I think the words you are looking for are: "Cautious optimism."
"What if Krispy Kreme..."
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