That seems a highly unlikely back cover. He would be a footnote, as he is nowhere in the game's title, and there is no room left for game summaries back there.
Anyways, who reveals back covers early? I still don't understand the concept of revealing front covers early.
Hint: Nobody cares about the box it comes in.
@Cptn.PaxtonAstypalaea(Corsair): It wouldn't be unlikely; Konami Krazy Racers on the GBA had Cyborg Ninja/Grey Fox as a playable racer - there was even an MGS themed track. I doubt Konami would allow Sega to use any of their characters, but then again Snake was in SSBB... Hmm..
I loved Nuts and Bolts, one of my favourite games of last year. It's a shame it doesn't get the love it desrves just for being different Hopefully, even though I heard sales were poor, there's more Banjo in the future. Anyway, if this is true, I may just have to check this game out.
@SadAstronaut: I think people were just a bit dissapointed to not get the game they expected to get. I know I certainly was. However I wouldn't mind seeing another true Banjo Kazooie game.
@Bouchart: They said they already tried experimenting with him on foot but it would have been too different of a control scheme from people familiar with Sonic gameplay. That it would feel awkward steering Sonic like a car and not a character. Not to mention that if he did control like his 3D faring self it would be totally unfair compared to the other mechanics of a kart racing game.
Think of it this way, he's in a car to at least give the other guys a chance.
@WhiteMåge: Still, Sonic in a car is like, uh, seeing Mario on one of those motorized scooters or something. Whatever they are called, Segways I think. Just seems way out of place.
@jayntampa: Another thing that casts doubt on it for me is there's no Sumo logo on the back, but there is a Sonic Team logo on there, who didn't make the game/
(although it wouldn't be the first time they were credited for games they didn't make - the Advance and Rush series, for example)
It might be a mockup, but I still buy this as a possibility. Sega's learned the power of sharing mascot characters via Nintendo games like Brawl and the Olympics games.
This could be a Soul Calibur 2 deal, with different characters exclusive to each platform. Banjo would fit on the 360, the PS3 could use Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, or a Sackboy, and Nintendo...well, that list is a mile long.
That box art is clearly a fake - like White Mage said, that's a Nuts and Bolts screenshot and there's no information about the game over the art - but I wouldn't write the rumor off entirely yet.
I know you want to be like Nintendo but heres the deal, before you can whore out Sonic in Sonic themed sports, racing, and party games you need to make a decent Sonic game first.
If you can't get his own game right, then what reason do we have to try one of these lesser knock offs.
@Taggart6: I don't always drink beer, but when I do...: Some of those "lesser knockoffs" have been fun. I got Sega Superstar Tennis for a few bucks from GameStop, and it was actually a solid game - think Mario Tennis meets Virtua Tennis.
Besides...is Sonic Team involved in this at all, aside from a rubber stamp logo? Wikipedia and the rest of the internet list Sumo Digital as the developer for this one, so this probably isn't actively affecting Project Needlemouse or anything else.
@spiderweb1986: I see what you mean, though my point is that Sega is trying to market these random games with Sonic even though "actual" Sonic games are received poorly.
It would be nice if they focused on making the actual Sonic brand stronger by producing higher quality core games and then move on to the "tangents".
The thing is, that's probably not necessary - the Sonic games sell, no matter how bad they get or how many werehogs are involved, because they're easy to market to kids and their parents who might remember his Genesis days. Even if it's waned some over the years Sonic's still popular, and that's all it takes to make the kart games sell.
They'd probably sell more if the core games were good, but that's something that I've been waiting for for years.
@spiderweb1986: I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not. Sumo Digital isn't my favorite of developers and they haven't put out a game that's a real great game that everyone has played as part of their portfolio, let alone a fantastic driving game. Then again, seeing as how Sonic Team's last racing game was: [en.wikipedia.org]
it might be good they're using this company instead at least.
@Taggart6: I don't always drink beer, but when I do...: The daytime levels frm Sonic Unleashed were extremely fun. It's just too bad the Werehog levels were more boring than a Nickelback album. It shows there's still hope hough...
@Master_Odin: "Sumo Digital isn't my favorite of developers and they haven't put out a game that's a real great game that everyone has played as part of their portfolio, let alone a fantastic driving game"
What? They ported Outrun 2 to home consoles, and ported GT Club to PS3. I'd say they are very experienced on working on a fantastic driving game.
Putting arcade-style Outrun 2 driving physics into a circuit-based kart racer style game sounds like inspired genius to me.
@spiderweb1986: I have to agree with you on Sega Superstars Tennis. I thought it was a great bit of fun, the backbone of a Virtua Tennis game, with a whole lot of Sega fanservice thrown in.
I think it gets a bad rap purely because people will dump on anything with Sonic on the box art.
I'm not sure if it's one of those games in this day and age that can get away with a "full price" pricetag but the negative reactions to it are totally unjustified.
I have a lot of faith in Sumo, their Sega arcade ports have been top notch so far, and if you consider Superstars Tennis as a kind of warm-up towards the racing game, I have faith that they can make an arcadey racer that'll feel more Sega than most of Sega's internal teams can do nowadays, bar maybe AM2.
@Mentuss: Oh man, I can't believe I forgot about those ports. You're right, they are quite experienced and I know retract my statement as one of foolishness and silliness. However, my statement that not having Sonic Team making this game is probably for the best however.
Maybe if SEGA stopped making all these spin-offs and put the man power used to make them all into a new Sonic game for the current gen systems we'd have a shot at seeing a good game. I guess they'd rather destroy what good image Sonic still has left (does he have any left?) and make kart games, Olympic games, and party games.
Making a current gen Sonic game shouldn't be too hard. Should it?
@Friedhamster: I think Sega should just give up and release Yakuza 3 over here and make us all happy again.
I just feel that all of Sega's original old-school IP has severly dated and just won't work in today's market no matter how they try and wedge it in somehow.
@sonicsurge: Oddly enough I never played the original but I heard it was great. What did I miss? I was actually referring to most of their pre-Saturn games though, so Ulala might see the light of day again, we'd never know.
@James Henderson: It's an epic science fiction tale of alien invasions and sinister conspiracies in which disputes are solved through dance battles. Yes, it's just as amazing as it sounds.
@James Henderson: Space Channel 5 was amazing. It's essentially a rhythm-based version of that "Simon" game; the disc-shaped one with the four colored lights.
The enemies give out a command, you repeat the command, the enemies build back on that command, and it just keeps going faster and faster.
"I guess they'd rather destroy what good image Sonic still has left (does he have any left?)"
Nope
The problem is kids eat garbage up and parents continue to buy them for them (see Tennis, Riders, Racers etc.). It would be great to finally see a decent Sonic game after all these years but it's not happening anytime soon.
Everyone complains about Wii shovelware but the entire Sonic franchise has been in this state for years.
@sonicsurge: Sounds like perfect Natal fodder for me :| That said though, sounds like a blast, will definitely have to check the original out at some stage.
... wait is that the one with Michael Jackson in it?
@TheCatInTheHat: Here's what would make a good Sonic game.
Follow the Sonic Adventures formula on the DreamCast and expand. Make it a hub based open world sort of game. Ala Banjo-Kazooie. Oh, and the biggest thing of all, no load times. Sonic is all about speed. I don't want to see one, not ONE, load time. Ok, I take that back. I'd be alright with an initial install. Heck, make it 10gb if you want SEGA, but I don't want to see a load time in the gameplay, never, not a single one. If there's even one loading screen in a next gen Sonic game they've lost me as a buyer.
@James Henderson: That's the very problem, they are trying to "wedge it in" as you say. They need to start from the floor and rebuild Sonic. Maybe they should talk to the fellows over at Retro that redid Metroid. Or someone like that. Maybe SEGA shouldn't make the next Sonic game. GASP!
I'd love if they eliminated the use of rings as your haelth and the fact that no matter how many you collect, only about 10 fall from you once you are hit. It ruined the post-Genesis, 3D iterations for me because you couldn't always see where the enemies were and it took the fun element out of the game because you needed to be near perfect.
It would be great to have a total reimagining of the series and see the start from scratch.
That is so unbelieveably obviously a picture from nuts and Bolts.
I will go find it. Alright? I am not believing for a second that it's legit. Why the HELL would there be a giant box focused on two non-sega characters on the SEGA all star racing box, anyway? Not for a second.
Not to mention that picture already has the pair on it, so it's pretty silly to have it next to a picture of themselves, plus that's their picture from the cover art, PLUS that would be extremely strange re-using official art from an existing non-sega game for a new sega game, PLUS other party characters would not be a major focus of the box, PLUS you'd expect non-sega characters to be secret, PLUS It's a kart game, and that car is at least 10x the size of all the other carts... there are literally no reasons whatsoever to think for a moment this is legit.
But that does not in any way change that this is a rather blunt fake, and it can't really count as a "rumor"- if anything the supposed documents saying Fable and Rare characters would be included makes it a rumor, not a really piss poor attempt at a fake box...
12/02/09
Anyways, who reveals back covers early? I still don't understand the concept of revealing front covers early.
Hint: Nobody cares about the box it comes in.
12/02/09
If Snake was in a "Kart" game, would his Kart be based on a Metal Gear, or a Cardboard Box?
12/02/09
12/01/09
Richard Jacques Sonic soundtrack = day one purchase.
This mathematical proof is known to all.
Even your mom.
12/02/09
D:
12/01/09
Banjo for 360
Mario for Wii
Alicia Melchiott (From Valkyria Chronicles) For PS3
12/01/09
12/01/09
12/02/09
12/01/09
12/01/09
12/01/09
But then again, as the Olympic games show us Sonic can apparently be beat in a foot race by a fat Italian plumber.
12/01/09
Think of it this way, he's in a car to at least give the other guys a chance.
12/01/09
12/01/09
OR! Or...he is in a car because it's a car game.
12/01/09
12/01/09
(yes that is my plushie)
12/01/09
12/01/09
12/01/09
(although it wouldn't be the first time they were credited for games they didn't make - the Advance and Rush series, for example)
12/01/09
12/01/09
This could be a Soul Calibur 2 deal, with different characters exclusive to each platform. Banjo would fit on the 360, the PS3 could use Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, or a Sackboy, and Nintendo...well, that list is a mile long.
That box art is clearly a fake - like White Mage said, that's a Nuts and Bolts screenshot and there's no information about the game over the art - but I wouldn't write the rumor off entirely yet.
12/01/09
I know you want to be like Nintendo but heres the deal, before you can whore out Sonic in Sonic themed sports, racing, and party games you need to make a decent Sonic game first.
If you can't get his own game right, then what reason do we have to try one of these lesser knock offs.
Sincerely,
taggart6
12/01/09
Besides...is Sonic Team involved in this at all, aside from a rubber stamp logo? Wikipedia and the rest of the internet list Sumo Digital as the developer for this one, so this probably isn't actively affecting Project Needlemouse or anything else.
12/01/09
It would be nice if they focused on making the actual Sonic brand stronger by producing higher quality core games and then move on to the "tangents".
Thats my view point at least.
12/01/09
The thing is, that's probably not necessary - the Sonic games sell, no matter how bad they get or how many werehogs are involved, because they're easy to market to kids and their parents who might remember his Genesis days. Even if it's waned some over the years Sonic's still popular, and that's all it takes to make the kart games sell.
They'd probably sell more if the core games were good, but that's something that I've been waiting for for years.
12/01/09
[en.wikipedia.org]
it might be good they're using this company instead at least.
12/01/09
12/01/09
12/01/09
12/01/09
What? They ported Outrun 2 to home consoles, and ported GT Club to PS3. I'd say they are very experienced on working on a fantastic driving game.
Putting arcade-style Outrun 2 driving physics into a circuit-based kart racer style game sounds like inspired genius to me.
12/01/09
I think it gets a bad rap purely because people will dump on anything with Sonic on the box art.
I'm not sure if it's one of those games in this day and age that can get away with a "full price" pricetag but the negative reactions to it are totally unjustified.
I have a lot of faith in Sumo, their Sega arcade ports have been top notch so far, and if you consider Superstars Tennis as a kind of warm-up towards the racing game, I have faith that they can make an arcadey racer that'll feel more Sega than most of Sega's internal teams can do nowadays, bar maybe AM2.
12/01/09
12/02/09
12/01/09
Making a current gen Sonic game shouldn't be too hard. Should it?
12/01/09
I just feel that all of Sega's original old-school IP has severly dated and just won't work in today's market no matter how they try and wedge it in somehow.
12/01/09
12/01/09
12/01/09
12/01/09
The enemies give out a command, you repeat the command, the enemies build back on that command, and it just keeps going faster and faster.
Bliss. @_@
12/01/09
"I guess they'd rather destroy what good image Sonic still has left (does he have any left?)"
Nope
The problem is kids eat garbage up and parents continue to buy them for them (see Tennis, Riders, Racers etc.). It would be great to finally see a decent Sonic game after all these years but it's not happening anytime soon.
Everyone complains about Wii shovelware but the entire Sonic franchise has been in this state for years.
12/01/09
... wait is that the one with Michael Jackson in it?
12/01/09
Space Michael! There were 2 for the Dreamcast and 1 for the Gameboy Advance, if I'm remembering correctly.
12/01/09
Follow the Sonic Adventures formula on the DreamCast and expand. Make it a hub based open world sort of game. Ala Banjo-Kazooie. Oh, and the biggest thing of all, no load times. Sonic is all about speed. I don't want to see one, not ONE, load time. Ok, I take that back. I'd be alright with an initial install. Heck, make it 10gb if you want SEGA, but I don't want to see a load time in the gameplay, never, not a single one. If there's even one loading screen in a next gen Sonic game they've lost me as a buyer.
12/01/09
12/01/09
I'd love if they eliminated the use of rings as your haelth and the fact that no matter how many you collect, only about 10 fall from you once you are hit. It ruined the post-Genesis, 3D iterations for me because you couldn't always see where the enemies were and it took the fun element out of the game because you needed to be near perfect.
It would be great to have a total reimagining of the series and see the start from scratch.
12/01/09
12/01/09
12/01/09
.....I'll take that as well...
12/01/09
I will go find it. Alright? I am not believing for a second that it's legit. Why the HELL would there be a giant box focused on two non-sega characters on the SEGA all star racing box, anyway? Not for a second.
Edit:
[image.com.com]
Bam.
Not to mention that picture already has the pair on it, so it's pretty silly to have it next to a picture of themselves, plus that's their picture from the cover art, PLUS that would be extremely strange re-using official art from an existing non-sega game for a new sega game, PLUS other party characters would not be a major focus of the box, PLUS you'd expect non-sega characters to be secret, PLUS It's a kart game, and that car is at least 10x the size of all the other carts... there are literally no reasons whatsoever to think for a moment this is legit.
12/01/09
12/01/09
I will take you on a bet, i bet he will be included in the game.
12/01/09
But that does not in any way change that this is a rather blunt fake, and it can't really count as a "rumor"- if anything the supposed documents saying Fable and Rare characters would be included makes it a rumor, not a really piss poor attempt at a fake box...
12/01/09
12/01/09
Ewwwwwww....great, my mind is 25% more dirtier now.
Thanks Custom.
:gets brain bleach:
12/01/09
Please please, call me Firmware. You're too modest.
What is this so called brain bleach?!
12/01/09
12/01/09
And he is so adorably fat and hairy :3
Banjo as banjo? Not that great. Banjo as a fuzzy guy who inexplicably walks around in only shorts and a backpack? D'awwwww
12/01/09
Somehow, when you typed that I can hear you saying that like all smooth like. Almost like a villain..
Great, now I'm worried. Thanks.
Brain Bleach? Anything that will scrub out the incoming horrors you might see or think about.
My brain bleach is staring at cute kittens. Or Nathan Drake....Drake with kittens.
12/01/09
Great...now I'm super corrupted...
12/01/09
D'awww...I've never seen that but it sounds cute.
See, humanoid versions are cool, like I love the humanoid Sonic and crew or the personification of OSes and game systems.
It's when they're straight on furries...eww, eww, eww....
12/01/09
12/01/09
Ahh....I see, give it time, give it time..
12/01/09
:3
Kazooie looks kinda post-op, though.
12/01/09
12/01/09
Drake with FURRIES YOU SAY?!
12/01/09
D'www, he's all round and hairy...he looks sorta soft too.
I can't cosign Kazooie, but she looks alright..
12/01/09
Be the beacon of hope cokefan...be the beacon of hope.
I wasn't always this...unpure. I blame society and my easy access to animated porn.
Sent me on a dark path to which there's no light.
12/01/09
You mean those things in the game? No...wait...yes....no...NO!
But yes.
Damnit Firmware!
:gets more brain bleach:
12/01/09
Well, you can't do a whole lot to society, but you can damage the availability of said pron. Fight! Win! :)
Look to the beacon of hope, and it will restore you to the light. :D
12/01/09
That's what she said!
12/01/09
Furries are a great at what they do. ;O