The final Sonic Unleashed site will be different than the one that's up there now, and have far more information, media and interactivity. Not sure about RSS as of yet.
Regarding the blog, I'll do my best to make sure to post whenever we add significant new assets to the Unleashed site.
The Hedgehog Engine used in Sonic Unleashed has been under development for around three years, and I saw an early build of this game many months ago. It's not like we just started working on it last week and announced it today...
Rushed? I dunno... maybe. Sonic Next Gen is generally regarded to not be a very good game by a lot of fans, but I don't know if that's an issue with it being rushed, or an issue with the fact that it was developed for next-gen platforms at a time when basically nobody knew what they were doing on those consoles. Take a look at most of the early titles for both PS3 and 360 (not all, but most) -- most really weren't very good. It typically takes any developer a couple years to get the console's capabilities under control. I had a 360 at launch and I can tell you that almost all of the early titles I played left a lot to be desired.
But I dunno, maybe that had little or nothing to do with NG's flaws. I wasn't at SEGA at the time. All I can tell you is, I don't think Unleashed is being rushed at all -- there's still at least a half-year of development (or longer) that will occur before the game is released, and they've been working on it for a while already.
I get that many Sonic games as of late haven't been very well-received, but between Chronicles and Unleashed, I think 2008 is going to be quite a good year for our little blue hero.
I don't have an answer to any of those questions, sorry. The early build I saw several months ago was 360, and the graphics look next-gen quality, so I don't think it's being ported up... but I don't have specific answers as to the development, porting, details or features specific to each console, etc.
Rushed? I dunno... maybe. Sonic Next Gen is generally regarded to not be a very good game by a lot of fans, but I don't know if that's an issue with it being rushed, or an issue with the fact that it was developed for next-gen platforms at a time when basically nobody knew what they were doing on those consoles. Take a look at most of the early titles for both PS3 and 360 (not all, but most) -- most really weren't very good. It typically takes any developer a couple years to get the console's capabilities under control. I had a 360 at launch and I can tell you that almost all of the early titles I played left a lot to be desired.
But I dunno, maybe that had little or nothing to do with NG's flaws. I wasn't at SEGA at the time. All I can tell you is, I don't think Unleashed is being rushed at all -- there's still at least a half-year of development (or longer) that will occur before the game is released, and they've been working on it for a while already.
I get that many Sonic games as of late haven't been very well-received, but between Chronicles and Unleashed, I think 2008 is going to be quite a good year for our little blue hero.
grandjedi6 said:It is sad that Sega still hasn't figured out that Sonic's main problem is Sega's horrid design choices
I'm fairly certain the CG in Sonic games is all outsourced to these folks. Art direction is Sega's fault, though.Kulock said:This doesn't look like their usual CG work, which is a shame because that was one of the better things they had going for the last few games. The wolf hand looks really awful stylistically. The whole thing reminds me of the recent Crash Bandicoot reboot, I just can't help but think that.
I'm not hearing it.Manabanana said:I don't know if this was mentioned, but the song in the trailer is a remixed version of Back to Back from Sonic Rush.
Sciz said:I'm not hearing it.
Kulock said:Watching the high res MP4 version... if that's a fake, they knocked together some convincing models ahead of time, some excellent lighting effects (there's a trailing glow on the ring), and effects like the fur on his arm shaking around after the slam... I'm not saying it's impossible, but people like that get hired for this sort of thing, and generally don't have the time to make things on this quality level for their own entertainment.
This doesn't look like their usual CG work, which is a shame because that was one of the better things they had going for the last few games. The wolf hand looks really awful stylistically. The whole thing reminds me of the recent Crash Bandicoot reboot, I just can't help but think that.
Sciz said:I'm fairly certain the CG in Sonic games is all outsourced to these folks. Art direction is Sega's fault, though.
Rushed? I dunno... maybe. Sonic Next Gen is generally regarded to not be a very good game by a lot of fans, but I don't know if that's an issue with it being rushed, or an issue with the fact that it was developed for next-gen platforms at a time when basically nobody knew what they were doing on those consoles.
Sciz said:I'm fairly certain the CG in Sonic games is all outsourced to these folks. Art direction is Sega's fault, though.
Having worked in the video game industry for closing in on a decade, Ive heard a lot of common misconceptions from my friends and family regarding exactly what it is that I do as my job. The most common one seems to be: You just get to sit around and play video games all day, dont you?
The short answer is no, I dont not even close, unfortunately.
But that doesnt mean I dont get to play games at all; on the contrary, most of the time Ill get to play one of our titles well before it hits retail shelves. Today, as an example, I got to play Sonic Unleashed on the 360 for about 15 minutes.
The game is far from complete, but most of the game elements are in place, and in some cases its just a matter of polish and tweaking to get the gameplay to work correctly. In other cases, theres more development that needs to be done, but since the games not due to ship until late in the year, theres still a ton of time to iron out the details, both large and small.
I got to see three different levels being played, and then got to try one of the levels myself. Here are my initial impressions, keeping in mind that there are still aspects of the game that we wont discuss until a later time:
# Theres speed, and lots of it. Those of you wanting 2D youve got it. Those of you wanting 3D, well, youve got it too. Each perspective brings its own challenges.
# The gameplay itself on the level I played really felt like classic Sonic. Theres rings, theres bumpers, theres loops, theres jumping but theres also a few other things in there as well that add to the experience.
# The level I played had multiple paths so youll be encouraged to play each level several times over and try to find the fastest path or the most rings you can.
# There was a cool section in 3D perspective where Sonic has to use a quick-step to the left or right to avoid multiple obstacles in his path. This is done with a button-push, not with the stick, so its an almost-instant jump left or right without breaking stride. Pretty cool.
# The landscape and environments look great and there are some things there that Sonic can interact with.
# A couple of the sections felt a lot like a roller coaster.
# Not all the bumpers work in Sonics favor.
Overall, even though it was one level, it was a blast and I would have played it a lot more if Id had the opportunity. The gameplay style of this particular level a style that comprises a good portion of the overall game is going to make a lot of old-school Sonic fans really happy. The little blue guy gets going so fast sometimes that its truly difficult to keep up !
Thats all I can really say at the moment, but I wanted to throw it out there to wet your whistle on a Friday afternoon. Have a good weekend!
"# A couple of the sections felt a lot like a roller coaster."ShadiWulf said:SegaDawg Sonic Unleashed Impressions! (XBOX 360)
http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2008/04/25/playing-unleashed/
ShadiWulf said:SegaDawg Sonic Unleashed Impressions! (XBOX 360)
http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2008/04/25/playing-unleashed/
The little blue guy gets going so fast sometimes that its truly difficult to keep up !
# Theres speed, and lots of it. Those of you wanting 2D youve got it. Those of you wanting 3D, well, youve got it too. Each perspective brings its own challenges.
RagnarokX said:"# A couple of the sections felt a lot like a roller coaster."
The little blue guy gets going so fast sometimes that its truly difficult to keep up !
No, the problem is that Sonic games have become too focused on speed and not on platforming and exploration. Describing this as a roller coaster is a negative thing.Kulock said:Sonic Heroes was first described as "like a roller coaster." That and "going back to his roots", I wish they would stop using these phrases. How about "It feels like a solid action game" and "We don't have a set release date"?
...Yeah, let's not shout that out so proudly.
Actually, there is one stretch in Green Hill Zone where you can go fast enough that you die because Sonic goes down a hill before the screen can scroll down and it mistakes it for a bottomless pit. But yeah, modern Sonic games are way too fast.Innotech said:I dont recall the original sonic games ever going so fasT I couldnt keep up. thats not a good thing. Unless its Fzero, then its just standard. but this isnt Fzero.
Sonic was always controllable and very few times did you not have complete control over him. I dont very much enjoy the parts of recent sonic games where he explodes into speed in a cutscene and you cant do anything.
# There was a cool section in 3D perspective where Sonic has to use a quick-step to the left or right to avoid multiple obstacles in his path. This is done with a button-push, not with the stick, so its an almost-instant jump left or right without breaking stride. Pretty cool.
OH GOD THE NIGHTMARES THEY ARE COMING BACK IM SCARED MOMMY HOLD MEEEEEEEEEDeath_Born said:
No, I'd bestow that honor on Sonic 3D Blast (Sonic Labyrinth if you count portables).Shadowlink123 said:Hopefully this game actually becomes one of the good sonic games ever since Sonic for DS.
I hope they put this song because It was in Sonic Heroes(BTW First game to make Sonic bad) because It reminds me of the old Sonic Games.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EC4FxlVJ3w
that game was fucking horrible.RagnarokX said:No, I'd bestow that honor on Sonic 3D Blast (Sonic Labyrinth if you count portables).
:lolDeath_Born said:
RagnarokX said:No, the problem is that Sonic games have become too focused on speed and not on platforming and exploration. Describing this as a roller coaster is a negative thing.
Firestorm said:Now that HD thing... hooolyyy crap:
jman2050 said:I'm kind of shocked it spread this far already, since we actually haven't done anything with it yet.
Firestorm said:Rush was decent but honestly not that good of a game.
Now that HD thing... hooolyyy crap:
Oh wow!Firestorm said:Rush was decent but honestly not that good of a game.
Now that HD thing... hooolyyy crap:
Well, this sounds good. I won't complain if they're shooting for something in between a clasic and Rush experience.Sega guy said:# The gameplay itself on the level I played really felt like classic Sonic. Theres rings, theres bumpers, theres loops, theres jumping but theres also a few other things in there as well that add to the experience.
# The level I played had multiple paths so youll be encouraged to play each level several times over and try to find the fastest path or the most rings you can.
And the contest is over, with sevenchaos' avatar winning. Sorry to everybody else who participated.LinkAMN said:Oh wow!
One free VC game to the person that can make that into a good avatar for me (I don't know how to work with anigifs. PM me so it's not stolen).
That's fucking awesome, sevenchaos!LinkAMN said:
EDIT Saturday 4/26:
Its a gorgeous day in the Bay Area so I dont want to spend too much time on work stuff, but after seeing the flurry of comments here and on various boards and blogs, I wanted to clarify some things.
One: I know you guys have a ton of questions about the game, but please keep in mind that there are aspects of the title ranging from environments to characters to gameplay that havent been officially announced yet. Theres a lot about the game that I still dont know about myself. So, dont take it personally, but please understand that your questions will be answered in due time, and for various reasons I cant address some of the things that are being asked. (Not to mention that if I did answer every question, I wouldnt have enough time to do all the other work on my plate !)
Two: I only played one level. I played for 15 minutes, mainly because I kept dying over and over. Right now the controls are ultra-sensitive (this will be refined in the coming months) and not having played before, it was really easy for me to mis-time a jump or fall off the path to my doom. But for the 15 minutes I played, I had a lot of fun.
Third and perhaps most important: Yes, I am a SEGA employee. This means that of course there will be a bias in whatever I write about any of our games. And yes, as someone else commented, early builds of games almost always get positive reviews, at least in the gaming press, to say nothing of reviews from employees of the company that makes the game !
That said: You Sonic fans are a very loyal and rabid fanbase, and you deserve a great game. Unleashed, right now, has the potential to be that game. Thing is, its not going to ship for a half-year at least, which is a long time and that means your hands-on stories from the gaming press wont show up for quite a while. But I work here, and I got my own hands-on yesterday, and I had a good time with it. I figured giving you guys a few tidbits to tide you over, even if its from an official company source like myself, is better than just giving you complete radio silence until our next big PR announcement.
So take it for what it is: one mans impressions of an early build, nothing more. I havent seen well over 90% of what the game has to offer, and when I do finally see the rest (and I get the go-ahead from our execs), Ill tell you a lot more. For right now, feel free to keep discussing what I wrote, and again, trust that your questions will be answered in due time, in most cases long before the game is due to ship. But theres still a long way to go, so please keep that in mind.
Happy gaming!
Sega Master System Sonic 1 was a diferent game though, I remember being so fast the screen couldn't keep up lol. It only happened on Green Hill Zone though I think.RagnarokX said:No, the problem is that Sonic games have become too focused on speed and not on platforming and exploration. Describing this as a roller coaster is a negative thing.
Actually, there is one stretch in Green Hill Zone where you can go fast enough that you die because Sonic goes down a hill before the screen can scroll down and it mistakes it for a bottomless pit. But yeah, modern Sonic games are way too fast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0lONBc5VJs
Respect +1ShadiWulf said:A Update from SegaDawg, same blog entry
Death_Born said:
Tiduz said:IS THAT SONIC 2...... IN HD?
*cries tears of joy*
FINALLY, i get to replay it and in HD. Sonic 2 FTMFW.
i never beat this level....neverDeath_Born said: