They've been in those four basic archetypes since SA2.
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Sega: Sonic Boom is being made in the West to have fully Westernized branch of Sonic
- Thread starter Nirolak
- Start date
They've been in those four basic archetypes since SA2.
Horseticuffs
Full werewolf off the buckle
2013- Year of the bow.
2014- Year of the scarf?
2014- Year of the scarf?
"Knuckles strong guy, last of a south american/eygytpian race thingy. How do we do this?".
" well since he is apart of this last of a race thing, maybe we could make him i dunno a bit more Aztec or something, or maybe we could..
" MAKE HIM BIG"
" well shit "
So that they can appeal to the nostalgia of 20+ old dudes? This is supposed to make the franchise more popular with younger audiences again, not less.
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
This has been the status quo since Adventure.
Man but Knuckles wasn't on the football team then.
I woudn't call knuckles a jock, but yeah. Ain't nuthin changes, hell they was like that before sonic adventure.
This is a point I made on Twitter. People bought Sonic games back in the day because they were good games. They can change his visual design but if the games aren't any better (and I fully expect this one to be worse) then they're not gonna sell.
Particularly for Nintendo.
Maybe it's time for the mainline series to return to this:
Sega said no .
Classic sonic is extra extra dead.
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
I'm only want tat Tails here is the snarky douchebag of Lost World and a competent Amy (and there is a occasional serious episodes in the cartoon)
Yep, if they play their cards right, this could be what they needed.
Yep, if they play their cards right, this could be what they needed.
ZeroGravity
Member
The idea that part of the problem is that Sonic wasn't "Western" enough is pretty laughable. Just as laughable as this attempt to make him Westernized.
Funny how you don't see this kind of shit with Mario, and yet that's plenty successful in the West.
Funny how you don't see this kind of shit with Mario, and yet that's plenty successful in the West.
MisterHero
Super Member
Good plan. Japan and anime had its chance. Sonic X was terribad.
Myabe they are gonna make traditional sonic more japanese?
That would actually be interesting.
It was successful as shit doe.
Another point of interest involving this title: Chris Senn, one of the lead developers on Sonic X-treme, is working on the project!
Source: http://www.linkedin.com/in/senntient
Source: http://www.linkedin.com/in/senntient
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
Dude, Sonic was created by committee, even supposing that Ohshima got his way after having his submission selected. Mario's a character that came about organically in the hands of a few people, like Bugs BunnySonic really is the model for Poochie, as harsh as that sounds.
I think that this brand segregation will benefit the franchise, but not without cringing and groans. Ideally, we'll still get Sonic Team's games using the old art style and character designs.
This would give SoJ an excuse to sell a Sonic closer to the classic designs and Mega Drive games, but I'm not sure what Sonic Team wants to do. Assuming that Sonic Boom takes up more of the commercial burden, Iizuka and pals will have more room to experiment than before.
tiggerkiddo
Member
I don't see any true issues with this.
Box of Bunnies
Banned
Except that while they didn't touch the games the franchise's entire image in the west in the 90s was American fabrication of stuff like the big scary Robotnik and GOTTA JUICE
Just now it's Knuckles juicing.
akidnamededdy
Banned
SatAM's dead and buried, but the basic cast has done just fine living on through the comic, which is still predominantly read by kids. It isn't super crazy to think that they could be reintroduced to a new generation in a new show. That said, since they're still never going to be in the games, it's for the best that the cartoon stays focused on the core Sega cast. It'd be fun to see them show up as side characters like all the minor game characters inevitably will, though.
Remember Sonic Generations
We've moved on because it's never coming back.
Sonic games struggle to sell 20k in Japan. SEGA isn't going to bother with JP exclusives.
I don't see them going back to that, at all. For multiple reasons, but sega has proven me wrong before, so lets see whrre this goes.
It didn't help that 4Kids were involved.
Azure Dream
Member
I thought he was fantastic in Generations. The people who redeveloped him and animated him did some fantastic work. But even there it showed why they redesigned him around Sonic Adventure: Because Classic Sonic looks REALLY BAD from several common angles used in 3D games. Sonic CD's intro got around it by massively cheating with his design in ways that would be extremely difficult to replicate with a polygonal character.
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
lol, SEGA only hit gold in their home country with the Saturn. They just keep on tryin'!
Hope this effort comes out closer to Sonic 2 than Sonic Adventure 2
Year of the ScarfLink wears it better.
4KIDS:CAN'T HAVE KIDS BE READING ANY JAPANESE. THEYRE TOO DUMB TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ANOTHER LANGUAGE IS.
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
There's a chance that can happen, but Western involvement in the Sonic series is nothing new, and when it worked, it really worked.
Remember Sonic 2 and 3 were joint Japan/American efforts, they collaborated with Western musicians (Micheal Jackson) for songs and Sonic had a comic book out here too. I never read all the issues, but it's said to be pretty good.
It doesn't have to be generic if they don't want it to. As for the cartoon, if they bring Jaleel White back to do the voice, I'm instantly watching.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I'm honestly OK with this.
Sonic was always best under the influence of westerners, IMO.
Sonic was always best under the influence of westerners, IMO.
The first couple years are good. The last few years are good. There's a long period in between those that you should avoid like the plague.
SpikedGunner
Member
The box art/promotional assets for the games also redesigned Sonic appearance to better appeal to the US market.
Funny enough, Ken Penders will be at a local con this July...I'm going for other reasons, but I don't know if I should see what he's up to...
What in the world?
TheCongressman1
Member
Maybe it's time for the mainline series to return to this:
Maybe? There is no doubt about it. IT IS TIME.
You can probably pump him for hilarious new details about his chronicles silliness by acting like a fan, if you don't mind forgoing your dignity.
It was a pure cornball fun series until Penders and co. got a hold of it and darkened the whole thing up. Lots of great gags in that period, like the NO FUN ALLOWED sign that's gotten e-famous in recent times.
To Far Away Times
Member
This is excellent news.
A "modern" Sonic series that tries to reinvent the franchise for today's younger audience.
And a "classic" Sonic series for the traditional fanbase.
Maybe it's time for the mainline series to return to this:
Unfortunately, Sega of Japan is the one that wanted the "Modern Sonic" from Adventure onwards.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I loved those old Sonic comics. I forget the name of the fellow who did all the writing in those early issues, but the man is hilarious.
I didn't like the old comics that much, I thought they were stupid. Penders weren't much better but there were a lot of interesting ideas, just executed poorly ( a lot like sonic games themselves ) then Ian happened, and did great and excited some of the poorly excited ideas well, but then it got rebooted. But its still good though.
Mike Gallagher (not the radio personality, a different one).
Anyway, to get back on topic, there's certainly been good material created for the franchise in the West before, and there still is to this day. Never thought they'd give SoA this much autonomy to manage it, though.
Arc Christelle
Member
Funny enough, that is exactly what I didn't want. I didn't even like America's take on Sonic's design even in the 90's. Greg Martin's artwork was atrocious, rest his soul. But it'll never be on the funk level of Japanese classic Sonic, and this shit right here....... man. Pac Man and the Ghostly Adventures levels of bad.
Sonic most likely the common protagonist, Amy spunky, smartmouth female badass, Knuckles Swole Dumbass who apparently chuckles after all, Tails Mr. Sarcasm. Man that is some great.... you know what, whatever. It's been good SonicGAF.
Sonic most likely the common protagonist, Amy spunky, smartmouth female badass, Knuckles Swole Dumbass who apparently chuckles after all, Tails Mr. Sarcasm. Man that is some great.... you know what, whatever. It's been good SonicGAF.
Sylverstone14
Member
Says who?