Kotaku: sonic team

Rumor: NiGHTS Sequel Was Originally An Xbox 360, PS3 Game

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:30:00 MST

Sega's NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Wii was once planned for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but shifted platforms against the wishes of Sonic Team producer Takashi Iizuka.

Sonic the Hedgehog-centric site TSSZ News cites a now-deleted personal blog "Boss Rush" written by former Sega Europe employee Ben Andac as its source for the revelation. Andac, posting under the more anonymous title "jpeg," wrote of then in-development games like Sonic Unleashed and the then still to be announced NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams.

On the blog, he lamented the fate of Sonic Team, venting that the internal Sega development studio had "lost their quality touch" calling them "bored, weary, closed-minded and out of touch with any sense of what makes games good anymore; not to mention what consumers want (and in the long-term what the company itself so desperately needs)."

The change in platforms from the high-definition PS3 and Xbox 360 wouldn't be that out of the ordinary, nor notable, if the game weren't so highly anticipated by fans of the original NiGHTS for the Sega Saturn.

Andac's version of the Wii game's development history purports that Sega brass switched platforms at a late point in the game's production. He writes that, due to the change, Sonic Team had little more than a year of actual development time to finish the title.

What ultimately resulted was a Wii title that was coolly received by fans and critics. Whether Andac's assessment of the situation at Sega is accurate is unconfirmed, but his post, archived here, is fascinating to read.

The Blog Sega Doesn’t Want You to Read [TSSZ News]

Sonic Delay Due To "Manufacturing", Not "Quality"

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:30:00 MST

On Monday, we heard that the Japanese release of Sonic Unleashed had been delayed until Spring 2009. Due to, we were told, quality concerns over the 360 and PS3 versions of the game. Uh oh. Now, a little later in the week, Sega's damage control team has taken over, and changed the company's tune. The game hasn't been delayed in Japan due to "quality" concerns. It's been delayed due to the company's "manufacturing schedule", the Western versions won't be affected, there's nothing to see here, move along, move along. Whatever guys. Consider us, until further notice, sceptical.

海外在住のソニックファンの皆様へ [Sega]

Into the Arthurian Legend, New Sonic and the Black Knight Trailer

Adam Barenblat — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:00:00 MDT

Sonic is headed into the mighty realm of Arthur to alleviate the curse that has fallen upon it. Sega's "Storybook series" continues from Sonic and the Secret Rings with Sonic and the Black Knight. Remember? it's the one where Sonic holds a sword and you use your Wii-mote to slice and dice bad guys. Looking at this trailer, the in game stuff looks fairly good, but it might be a little tough to sell the premise of the blue hedgehog saving Arthur's kingdom. We'll just have to wait and see.

New Sonic Unleashed Screens

Adam Barenblat — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:00:00 MDT

There's little doubt, Sonic Unleashed is looking a lot better than Sonic Team's other recent outing most of us are still trying to forget. In fact, any Sonic game without a blue hedgehog's desire to trade saliva with a Homo sapien appeals to me. Speaking of Unleashed, we got some new screenshots from what looks like the Wii version. Apparently the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of the game will use Sonic Team's "Hedgehog Engine," which has been in development since 2005.

Expect the game on PS3, Xbox 360, PS2 and Wii November 18th.

Happy Birthday Sonic!

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:00:00 MDT

Seventeen years ago to this day, Sonic spirited onto the Genesis/Mega Drive. And he did it with 'tude. That's right! SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog was released in North America and Europe on June 23, 1991. The game came out a month later in Japan. In his heyday, the blue hedgehog gave Mario as run for his money during the 16 bit generation. While SEGA seemed to have lost the plot in the last few years (human kissing anyone?), recent Sonic titles like the Sonic Team and Dimps developed Sonic Unleashed show promise of a return to form. And that is probably the best birthday present Sonic could ask for.

Sonic's Birthday [Sega Nerds]

Will Burning Rangers Return? Sonic Team Shrugs

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:20:00 MST

With NiGHTS into Dreams finally getting a Wii-bound sequel and a surprise remake for the PlayStation 2, what else does Sonic Team have planned? Gearbox Software is already hard at work on a Samba de Amigo follow up and no one actually cares if that furry Billy Hatcher ever shows his face again. But what about Burning Rangers, one of the Saturn's finest technical achievements?

Sonic Team USA Takashi Iizuka told Games Radar, "I hear there is a lot of demand for a sequel, to bring out Burning Rangers on Wii so... we'll see." If you could, that'd be just great. We certainly don't want you working on another Shadow the Hedgehog game, OK?

NiGHTS team prefer Gamecube pad to Wii-mote [Games Radar]

Clips: The Loading Tragedy Of Sonic The Hedgehog

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 17:40:46 MST

Not only do owners of Sonic the Hedgehog have to suffer through bad gameplay, poor camera angles and lousy design decisions, but they also must endure painful loading, the kind that hurts in waves like a series of soft flicks to the family chaos emeralds. Anyone with the PlayStation 3 version on pre-order ought to watch the above clip, just to see what kind of mess they might be getting themselves into. Bravo, Sonic Team! Another job well done! Michael McWhertor