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Mama Robotnik · Aug 2, 2010

... because 2D fans want 2D games and 3D fans want 3D games. Nothing to do with the quality of the product, if you take their word for it.

Eurogamer has an interview with Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka, whose arrogance blames any negative perception of recent games on the fans entirely for being impossible to please.

Some bits:

Eurogamer: How do you feel when you read old-school Sonic fans slagging off the Sonic franchise and what it's become?

Takashi Iizuka: The fundamentals of both games, the 3D Sonic or the 2D side-scrolling games, are the same. Sonic is all about the speed and the platforming. It just comes down to how the gameplay differs when you're playing in 3D and 2D side-scrolling.

I understand there are differences in the ways users interpret the 3D side than the fans who particularly like the 2D classic side of the game.

This is why we're releasing two different types of Sonic games this year - to please the 2D classic fans who have been playing from the Genesis [Mega Drive]. Sonic 4 is more for those fans.

There are also fans who like the 3D Sonic games which have been released in the past couple of years. Sonic Colours is probably more for the users who appreciate the 3D side of Sonic.

Eurogamer: But how do the negative comments make you feel? Do you ignore them?

Takashi Iizuka: It's more that those fans are not positive towards the recent 3D Sonic games because we've been releasing only 3D Sonic games in the past couple of years.

It's hard to please both 2D and 3D fans at the same time, in the same title for instance.

This is why the team decided to release two different types of Sonic games. It's always hard to dodge every negative perception or make everybody happy with just one title. So we're giving two options to the users.

So, either way, you'll be pleased.

and try not to laugh:

Eurogamer: LittleBigPlanet is a platformer that allows players to create levels and customise characters. Any plans for similar features in future Sonic games?

Takashi Iizuka: It's something the team is not looking into at the moment. Sonic games, it's pretty clear that how good the level design is directly affects the quality of the game.

The team believes the speed and the tempo is crucial. Sonic Team are the professionals at doing it. It's hard to leave it up to the users because it's quite difficult.

We have, however, allowed this feature through PlaySEGA, which allows our users to create their own levels. But in terms of future Sonic games, this is not in the plan.

Considering the PlaySEGA Sonic editor is the only Sega-developed Sonic project for the last decade that isn't a shining beacon of shit, its amazing they don't see the potential of such a direction.

These people are in their own little world.

Gravijah · Aug 2, 2010

Whatever, Sonic Team.

V_Ben · Aug 2, 2010

What :lol So, if the game is bad, we're wrong for thinking that it's bad, and are therefore making the game bad by thinking that it's bad in the first place? My head hurts.

Sanic · Aug 2, 2010

Errr, ok guys.

Dedication Through Light · Aug 2, 2010

Well I would have preferred the 3D sonic games to have also came to powerful consoles, but Sonic Colors now gives me a reason to brush off the dust on my Wii and try to figure out how to use it again...

I found the 3D sonic games charming and relatively fun and heart pumping. I was always baffled by the negative comments people give the 3D games, their fun, intense, fast, and everything and more that I expect of Sonic.

Sonic Unleashed was their best effort yet

ChronicleX · Aug 2, 2010

Sonic Team to me is what 3D Realms would of been if they kept releasing Duke Nukem games. "We'll make a new GOOD game soon we promise! ETA? It's done when its done!" :lol

Gomu Gomu · Aug 2, 2010

And people STILL expect good Sonic games from these guys? :lol .

Gravijah · Aug 2, 2010

Can someone please ask them why I haven't gotten a Chao raising game on XBLA/PSN/WiiWare/DS yet?

toythatkills · Aug 2, 2010

There are also fans who like the 3D Sonic games...

No there aren't.

EmCeeGramr · Aug 2, 2010

ahahahahahaha

Gravijah · Aug 2, 2010

toythatkills said:
No there aren't.

Have you ever stepped foot onto the internet?

Calcaneus · Aug 2, 2010

This has to be the farthest a huge game franchise has fallen from glory, and they don't even realize why its happening. At least MK is trying to pull itself back to respectability.

jman2050 · Aug 2, 2010

Yeah, okay.

sigh

Gomu Gomu · Aug 2, 2010

Calcaneus said:
This has to be the farthest a huge game franchise has fallen from glory, and they don't even realize why its happening. At least MK is trying to pull itself back to respectability.

And they're doing a pretty darn good job with that.

Blueblur1 · Aug 2, 2010

Iizuka is a terrible designer and will continue to be one. And of course, he's going to back up the shit his team makes. He's a joke.

ULTROS! · Aug 2, 2010

toythatkills said:
No there aren't.

I liked Sonic Adventure on the DC. :X

Art Teitlebaum · Aug 2, 2010

OK, they are in the phase of denial.

Gravijah · Aug 2, 2010

ULTROS! said:
I liked Sonic Adventure on the DC. :X

LOOK AT THAT FUCKING WHALE

Combichristoffersen · Aug 2, 2010

toythatkills said:
No there aren't.

I have encountered people on the Internet who love the post-SA 3D games, and consider the old 16-bit 2D games to be boring and shit. Made me sad.

Dedication Through Light · Aug 2, 2010

ULTROS! said:
I liked Sonic Adventure on the DC. :X

Im excited for its PSN/XBL release this fall. It was so hot back then

Diablohead · Aug 2, 2010

Obligatory "Sonic 4 lol."

I don't feel like writing a huge post about why I like sonic games but they have been shitty since the dreamcast and why sonic 4 will fail, it's not going to help any.

ntropy · Aug 2, 2010

ULTROS! said:
I liked Sonic Adventure on the DC. :X

wow

fuck sonic, how about a new 2d Ecco the Dolphin? the DC version is ass.

Minsc · Aug 2, 2010

The solution is clearly a Paper Sonic franchise.

Diablohead · Aug 2, 2010

ntropy said:
wow

fuck sonic, how about a new 2d Ecco the Dolphin?

DC ecco was the dogs bollocks, i'd like to see that on xbla and psn to see if it still has a good userbase behind it.

Zenith · Aug 2, 2010

Were-hog! UZIs! Cream!

Diablohead · Aug 2, 2010

Don't forget that the port of Sonic Adventure 1 for xbla is a shit storm of sub-HD, non-widescreen 30fps PC ported mess which isn't helping the sonic fan's any.

Calcaneus · Aug 2, 2010

Gomu Gomu said:
And they're doing a pretty darn good job with that.

Yup. Its too early to really know, but it seems like they actually understand what made the old games fun.

From what we've seen of Sonic 4, Sonic Team (or Dimps) seems to only have a superficial understanding of what made old Sonic fun. And I was a defender of the game early on.

Fersis · Aug 2, 2010

So yeah guys Mama Robotnik and Huelen10 are the ones to blame for Shadow.

BOOOO Mama Robotnik BOOOO!!!

Mama Robotnik · Aug 2, 2010

Fersis said:
So yeah guys Mama Robotnik and Huelen10 are the ones to blame.

BOOOO Mama Robotnik BOOOO!!!

Are you saying BOOO or Booo-urns?

Fersis · Aug 2, 2010

Mama Robotnik said:
Are you saying BOOO or Booo-urns?

:lol

Damn, the Devs are in the same crazy Sonic cycle as the fans.

Empty · Aug 2, 2010

man, social services should have been set on sonic team ages ago; so much abuse, so much misguided parenting and then the gall to blame others for their attacks. outrageous. i'm sure nintendo would make for a loving foster home.

Synless · Aug 2, 2010

Why doesn't someone take a copy of Sonic 06' and put it in front of him and force him to play his own abomination. Then ask him if he honest to God thinks that piece of shit is a good game.

Skilletor · Aug 2, 2010

Nintendoes what sega don't.

jman2050 · Aug 2, 2010

It should be clear by now why I got into Sonic rom hacking if it wasn't before.

Ferrio · Aug 2, 2010

Art Teitlebaum said:
OK, they are in the phase of denial.

No they're not, it's all of you that are in denial. Give up... he's dead.

Well not dead, but they just cater to a different... and very strange audience now.

Diablohead · Aug 2, 2010

Synless said:
Why doesn't someone take a copy of Sonic 06' and put it in front of him and force him to play his own abomination. Then ask him if he honest to God thinks that piece of shit is a good game.

I heard that sonic team keep the spare prints in the bathroom so they can wipe their asses on it to save money on toilet paper.

not really but it might be true

andymcc · Aug 2, 2010

Combichristoffersen said:
I have encountered people on the Internet who love the post-SA 3D games, and consider the old 16-bit 2D games to be boring and shit. Made me sad.

you're talking about willy105 aren't you?

Fersis · Aug 2, 2010

2D Sonic Fans : This sucks!!!
3D Sonic Fans : So awesome.

Mama Robotnik · Aug 2, 2010

Synless said:
Why doesn't someone take a copy of Sonic 06' and put it in front of him and force him to play his own abomination. Then ask him if he honest to God thinks that piece of shit is a good game.

Its a delusion that's affected all of Sega. We are, after all, talking about a company that thinks the one and only Sonic game in 19 years that "missed the mark" is Sonic Chaos.

GS: What games do you think didnt quite nail it?

KB: I think Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos was put in a bit of a situation. Coming out on the Master System with 8-bit graphics after you had seen Sonic on the Genesis in full 16-bit glory was a bit rough. Visually and speedwise, it was just not as impressive as its Genesis brethren.

Just going to add that Sonic Chaos is actually a pretty good game. Which only makes the above statement all the more enraging and offensively self-deluded.

Raging Spaniard · Aug 2, 2010

When in doubt, blame the fans! Classy.

Neo Child · Aug 2, 2010

Mama Robotnik said:
Just going to add that Sonic Chaos is actually a pretty good game. Which only makes the above statement all the more enraging and offensively self-deluded.

yeh the special stages were epic, really liked the game

Sciz · Aug 2, 2010

Reminder: Iizuka and what used to be his team are responsible for such shining gems as SA2, Heroes, Shadow, and NiGHTS 2. He is also the design genius who had Sonic Rivals overhauled into a racing game instead of the platformer it was conceived as.

Synless said:
Why doesn't someone take a copy of Sonic 06' and put it in front of him and force him to play his own abomination. Then ask him if he honest to God thinks that piece of shit is a good game.

For all his sins, Iizuka had nothing to do with '06. The blame for that particular train wreck lies at the feet of a completely different group of incompetents.

But hey, Sega:

Eurogamer: What is it about Mario Galaxy 2 that makes it so good?

Takashi Iizuka: It's hard to specify what makes it really good. But it's a game I enjoyed. I see a lot of ideas. To be a very good platformer it's almost like ticking the right boxes.

The man in charge of your flagship series can't identify why the leader of the genre (and former archrival) gets wild critical acclaim and sells millions. Can him.

Sadist · Aug 2, 2010

"Our Sonic games are so awesome"

HK-47 · Aug 2, 2010

Fersis said:
2D Sonic Fans : This sucks!!!
3D Sonic Fans : So awesome.

I thought both said it sucked, cause it was a piece of shit released in an alpha state or something.

Empty · Aug 2, 2010

Sciz said:
The man in charge of your flagship series can't identify why the leader of the genre (and former archrival) gets wild critical acclaim and sells millions. Can him.

holy crap :lol :lol

Laguna · Aug 2, 2010

He actually didn´t blame the fans, he just said that it´s hard to satisfy all fans since 2D Sonic fans want something different than what a 3D Sonic can possibly offer and vice versa.

PepsimanVsJoe · Aug 2, 2010

Hmm looks like I can expect to never see another good Sonic game again.

Mama Robotnik · Aug 2, 2010

Laguna said:
He actually didn´t blame the fans, he just sad that it´s hard to satisfy all fans since 2D Sonic fans want something different than what a 3D Sonic can possibly offer and vice versa.

He was asked about "negative comments" and entirely attributed these to fans wanting a 2D or 3D game. He is absolutely blaming negative perceptions of the series on fans and not his own trainwrecks.

Fersis · Aug 2, 2010

HK-47 said:
I thought both said it sucked, cause it was a piece of shit released in an alpha state or something.

Nope according to the head of Sega Team.

Aaron Strife · Aug 2, 2010

fuck this guy

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