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Post by BlazeHedgehod on Dec 9, 2006 21:54:19 GMT -5
It's only been a couple weeks since I've played Sonic 2k6, but I'm pretty sure there wasn't any water like that in Aquatic Base; it was just big black pits lining the bottom of the level. Incidentally, presumably what the next-to-the-last update to the Japanese Sonic site has been posted some time ago. Knuckles was obviously added to the section for Amigo characters, leaving only Eggman. Town stage descriptions were added. And, finally, "Soleanna News" was opened. "Soleanna News" seems to be some sort of developer blog run by Shun Nakamura, as he speaks about his involvement in Sonic 2k6. There are four blogs up currently: " Soleanna Communication Start": Nakamura talks about the game's launch in the states, the launch of the PS3, and the launch of Soleanna News. " Why is it called 'Sonic the Hedgehog'?": The decisions behind calling the game "Sonic the Hedgehog". " What is Cool?" Nakamura discusses what he thinks is cool, and how it applies to Sonic the Hedgehog. " Story of Shadow the Hedgehog" Nakamura talks about Shadow's side of the game, and how it was conceptualized. If you want to read the rest of these blogs, please use your favorite machine translator on this page.
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Post by 突貫 (Tokkan) on Dec 9, 2006 22:05:15 GMT -5
Ah, I see. So Nakamura is a fan of how Sonic X was handled. So that's why Shadow spoiler[Should've caught that sooner. -Ku.]
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Post by Jolly Joes on Dec 9, 2006 22:39:16 GMT -5
So, are they aware that this game has been critically panned in the West and has bombed commercially here?
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Post by Andrusi on Dec 9, 2006 23:12:31 GMT -5
...You know, that would make a lot of sense. I could see it happening.
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A Notebook
Behind The Logo Team
This is so not normal.
Posts: 962
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Post by A Notebook on Dec 9, 2006 23:31:08 GMT -5
...wait, do we have the official sales numbers for Sonic 2k6?
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Post by Jolly Joes on Dec 10, 2006 0:25:26 GMT -5
Well we do know that it isn't in the Novemeber NPD top 20 games sold profit wise and it isn't on the NPD's top 10 Xbox 360 games either.
It could be one of the games that sold over 100,000 and under 200,000 units--if it is lucky. I wouldn't be surprised it moved under 100,000 units given the demograph of the X360 and how fast word-of-mouth spread that it is a terrible game.
The game was also discounted before it was released in the UK also.
And well, this game will definately bomb in Japan due to Sonic not being popular there and the X360 and PS3 not being popular there.
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Post by Kulock on Dec 10, 2006 2:56:02 GMT -5
It's only been a couple weeks since I've played Sonic 2k6, but I'm pretty sure there wasn't any water like that in Aquatic Base; it was just big black pits lining the bottom of the level. Correct! Nothing but a black void under your feet in that sequence! Why is there even a silver bubble there when I don't think Knuckles uses them, anyway? I'll have to check that out (and take a shot) when I'm done testing my current theory. (Trying to see if you can still get S-Ranks with a timer overflow, like in the demo.) Since this is a 2k6 topic, I'll mention something I read about and has proved successful for those trying to S-Rank Town Missions (if you have the same sickness as I): Those "no entry" barricades they often stick up to point out: "Oy, there's an invisible wall here anyway"? They're worth a fair bit of points, and you usually find them in bunches of two or three. So during the Silver Missions, and the Shadow vehicle missions (like the "Motorcycle License" test part where you need to destroy 5 boxes), these become easy buffers toward getting that rank. In fact, there's one mission for Silver called "Raid: Enemy Monster" think, that may not be S-Rankable without. (Unless you have this absolutely perfect playthrough, good luck on that.)
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Post by Kulock on Dec 10, 2006 4:27:26 GMT -5
Aww, the timer overflow glitch doesn't work, you just get 0 Time Bonus. Maybe I didn't wait long enough past 99'99"999... ah, probably not. So I took some shots of Aquatic Base to prove our point, Blaze, and- whatwhatWHAT? There's several voids like the ones we described in Sonic's part of the game, particularly with the reflective bubbles you walk on. But Knuckles' part does actually have the water in it. Huh. So I guess we were wrong. Sorta.Try to find the silver bubble shown in that official shot. (Say hi to Sonic waiting on the other side of the doorway, too, the door closes if you try to backtrack toward him.) No such thing in that spot.
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Post by BlazeHedgehod on Dec 10, 2006 7:54:07 GMT -5
...You know, that would make a lot of sense. I could see it happening. Especially when you consider many people who bought PSU for the PC at launch ended up opening their case to find the completely wrong game. Sega had messed up and copies of Medival: Total War or whatever ended up in a lot of jewel cases for PSU PC as disc 2.
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Post by Jet the Hawk on Dec 10, 2006 14:56:45 GMT -5
So, are they aware that this game has been critically panned in the West and has bombed commercially here? They simply don't give a damn.
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Post by Jolly Joes on Dec 10, 2006 15:48:00 GMT -5
I think they(or at least the heads of Sammy-Sega) will be concerned once they find out their annual console Sonic game didn't turn up a whole lot of profit for the company this year and it seems like this game seem to have bigger production values than the last few games.
I forsee many future demotions in the company. XD
I'll doubt we will see another Sonic game of this scale, game mechanics, and atmosphere ever again, or at least for awhile.
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Post by Kulock on Dec 10, 2006 16:08:10 GMT -5
I don't think Sonic's going to blow up as badly in their face as some people think. Probably the biggest limiting factor is that it wasn't released to the most kid-accessible platform. With that in mind, it's probably going to sell steadily, for quite a long while, even just on the name and prettyness.
People flailing around calling it the downfall and end of Sonic... it sucks, but to say "THIS IS IT" is pretty short-sighted. If Sega was THAT freaked out, the PS3 version would be pushed much further back (Japan just recently mentioned it's coming out on December 21st, after all). So it must be doing alright at least.
What makes me wonder is why they've ignored putting Sonic on the DS since Sonic Rush, when that's where the big boffo portable money is at?
I'm not going to hold out for Secret Rings to be some "savior" or something, and I know for sure that most of the people who wouldn't give 2k6 a chance before even the demo came out that are looking forward to Secret Rings will probably turn on Secret Rings the minute they get it into hand, or possibly even before that. For one thing, we know it's got a dorky "Arabian Nights" presentation/theme tying it together, which they'll get annoyed by, especially Sonic and the book. They'll call the mechanics too limiting, bitch about it "being on rails," call the graphics inferior (again, it doesn't matter what they say now about how it looks), they'll probably rag on the music... really, people just like to fill in the blanks with their ideas, and many of the elitists will turn away the second they realize it's not their absolutely perfect little package. Games for them anymore are now either COMPLETELY perfect, or terrible.
This generation is going to be serious hell on developers and profits. It's no wonder they're catering to the mainstream as much as possible, the "hardcore" have become absolute snobs.
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Post by Jolly Joes on Dec 10, 2006 17:25:57 GMT -5
I don't think Sonic's going to blow up as badly in their face as some people think. Probably the biggest limiting factor is that it wasn't released to the most kid-accessible platform. With that in mind, it's probably going to sell steadily, for quite a long while, even just on the name and prettyness.After it has been discounted by $40 and when the 360 is cheaper and have more colorful games that mainly appeals to the 14 and under crowd and this is assuming that the 360 is a market leader...maybe. =P Though this game is pretty much already 'marked' as a bad game and bad Sonic games rarely have legs after the first sales of the holiday season. But really after the negative reaction of this game...yeah...I mean I don't see Sega planning a Sonic Heroes 2 or a Shadow the Hedgehog 2 anytime in the future. Or maybe they are just testing how far they can get away with selling a buggy product just in time for the Christmas holiday. It was announced several months ago that this game would be released in Dec in Japan, but somehow I doubt that only a month of reworking will actually improve the game to say..."7/10" quality--especially when the PS3 version was even more problematic than the Xbox 360 one. =/ A fallout between Dimps and Sega happened. Though that still doesn't excuse them for not outsourcing(seeing that Sega themselves don't make portable games) whoever to make a new Sonic game on the DS after the success of Rush. I think people secretly still expect a lot more from Sega. I mean just look at the company's legacy from the arcades in the 80's to the middle of last gen. When their games approach EA qualites of mediocre to average to mearly just acceptable at most, people will get disappointed. Still I have a feeling that at least Secret Rings would get a more positive reception than Sonic 2006. If you are also refering to Sonic 2K6 with this quote, honestly, considering the platforms, I wouldn't call it a mainstream game either, relatively speaking.
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Post by Evan on Dec 10, 2006 17:34:15 GMT -5
I still don't see why anyone could possibly have faith in Secret Rings anyway. Sonic is no better than Crash Bandicoot anymore.
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Post by 突貫 (Tokkan) on Dec 10, 2006 18:38:13 GMT -5
I still don't see why anyone could possibly have faith in Secret Rings anyway. Maybe because Secret Rings left good impressions on everyone who I know had played it in some form at something like E3 or Leitzpig, but Sonic2k6 was pretty much hated all around from the start. Also, it's something different for a change.
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Keith Stack
Behind The Logo Team
Cookin' M.C.s like a pound of bacon.
Posts: 2,532
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Post by Keith Stack on Dec 10, 2006 18:53:14 GMT -5
Also it has dinosaurs and dinosaurs are cool.
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Post by Kulock on Dec 10, 2006 22:58:08 GMT -5
After it has been discounted by $40 and when the 360 is cheaper and have more colorful games that mainly appeals to the 14 and under crowd and this is assuming that the 360 is a market leader...maybe. =P Though this game is pretty much already 'marked' as a bad game and bad Sonic games rarely have legs after the first sales of the holiday season. Sad truth: Most of game sales come from people who could give a rat's ass about reviews, or even warnings. But really after the negative reaction of this game...yeah...I mean I don't see Sega planning a Sonic Heroes 2 or a Shadow the Hedgehog 2 anytime in the future. All the fan bitching aside, Shadow actually did decent sales. I'm not saying that's a GOOD thing, but you didn't see him backseated in this game, did you? More like he was brought to the forefront when this originally seemed to be primarily about Sonic and Silver. A fallout between Dimps and Sega happened. Though that still doesn't excuse them for not outsourcing(seeing that Sega themselves don't make portable games) whoever to make a new Sonic game on the DS after the success of Rush. ?? I've heard nothing of this. Where did you learn of it? If you are also refering to Sonic 2K6 with this quote, honestly, considering the platforms, I wouldn't call it a mainstream game either, relatively speaking. ...Huh? Wii seems like the obvious choice now, perhaps, but 2k6 development was started quite some time ago, when much of Wii was still a giant question mark. In lieu of that, they're putting it on the two other major platforms. No, 360 isn't a $250 console (but technically you can "see" it as a $300 one, although you're still going to need something to save on), but it's not the highly selective top tier too expensive thing you're apparently thinking of. Regular games sell on it all the time, to regular people. How is it not a mainstream console at this point, even if it is a bit pricey? Nintendo's shown their hand, and Wii is a different route. People know this now, so even if they buy one, they still might be considering a Wii60 or PSWii route to get their "normal" favorites as well. And whichever way they go, Sonic will be available, and will probably get a major boost when it goes to Platinum Hits/Greatest Hits.
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Post by Evan on Dec 10, 2006 23:24:24 GMT -5
I still don't see why anyone could possibly have faith in Secret Rings anyway. Maybe because Secret Rings left good impressions on everyone who I know had played it in some form at something like E3 or Leitzpig, but Sonic2k6 was pretty much hated all around from the start. Also, it's something different for a change. It also seems utterly boring. When did people not have faith in Sonic 2k6? Everyone had been all "THIS IS GOING TO MAKE SONIC GOOD AGAIN " like every other game before it was going to. Then as soon as we find out the game sucks, we say "oh we never thought it was good" when I hear nothing but hope out of everyone whenever a new ship sails along for us to ridiculously cling to as it sinks. Even I had a tiny bit of hope for 2k6 despite knowing better. I mean, even if it did turn out bad, I was expecting Shadow the Hedgehog bad, not...this. Sonic 2k6 was supposed to be "different". It had a "deep" plot and amazing graphics and all that jazz. But now because we're moving Sonic back and forth mindlessly with a Wii controller, that's suddenly going to be the last hope. Secret Rings will bomb. Count on it. It's utterly ridiculous to have any faith whatsoever for Sonic after that atrocity that was Sonic 2k6--I imagine even if they had "shipped the right build" metaphorically the crappy cliche furfag plot would've detracted from any love for the game possible. The only thing Secret Rings has going for it is the hilariously bad plot. And dinosaurs. Sounding more and more like Crash Bandicoot. The Wii controller adds NOTHING to Sonic but a bit of "whee he's moving where I point the controller isn't that cool" to it, because there is literally nothing else whatsoever to Sonic. The Sonic community at large is in denial--even I can't believe Sonic 2k6 could possibly be as bad as it is. But...it is! I'm giving up on Sonic--my childhood memories have taken enough blows in other spots that it doesn't hurt so bad to see my fondest memory of all totally crapped.
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ϟ¶∀☡ⓩ
Behind The Logo Team
Try Happy! =^-^=
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Post by ϟ¶∀☡ⓩ on Dec 10, 2006 23:31:21 GMT -5
I bet Sonic Rings was originally a completely different game involving dinosaurs with completely different characters and Sonic was shoved in at the last minute.
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Post by hedgesmfg on Dec 10, 2006 23:32:32 GMT -5
People flailing around calling it the downfall and end of Sonic... it sucks, but to say "THIS IS IT" is pretty short-sighted. If Sega was THAT freaked out, the PS3 version would be pushed much further back (Japan just recently mentioned it's coming out on December 21st, after all). So it must be doing alright at least. I'm not going to hold out for Secret Rings to be some "savior" or something, and I know for sure that most of the people who wouldn't give 2k6 a chance before even the demo came out that are looking forward to Secret Rings will probably turn on Secret Rings the minute they get it into hand, or possibly even before that. For one thing, we know it's got a dorky "Arabian Nights" presentation/theme tying it together, which they'll get annoyed by, especially Sonic and the book. They'll call the mechanics too limiting, bitch about it "being on rails," call the graphics inferior (again, it doesn't matter what they say now about how it looks), they'll probably rag on the music... really, people just like to fill in the blanks with their ideas, and many of the elitists will turn away the second they realize it's not their absolutely perfect little package. Games for them anymore are now either COMPLETELY perfect, or terrible. This generation is going to be serious hell on developers and profits. It's no wonder they're catering to the mainstream as much as possible, the "hardcore" have become absolute snobs. Now I think that's taking it a bit far here. I mean, honestly, if a Sonic game with this kind of budget and this much focus turns out this badly rushed and flawed, what genuine hope do we the fans have of Sega turning out anything else worth playing? Franchises 'do' often die after a serious decline in quality... and I honestly feel that the decline in quality has reached a seriously problematic point. Sega simply does not have the developer talent it used to, and now it has become noticable even to the more hardcore Sonic crowd. Do I expect or need absolute perfection to enjoy a game? No. I don't, but I honestly hope for improvement over the course of time. 3D Sonic games have been doing the exact opposite since Sonic Adventure 2, with this recent outing being the least enjoyable of them all. I wanted to like it, I honestly did, but I just could not help but be appalled by the serious flaws that plagued this game, and the general incompetent design that went into it. The game had immense slowdown glitches, terrible loading times, bland and uninteresting visual designs, sloppy and uninspired use of the havok engine, tons of easy and unfair ways to kill your character, and an overall design philosophy that struck me as incompetent. Some of these flaws plagued earlier games and were a bit more forgivable, but a few of them had never even happened before! The game not only failed to improve the Sonic formula in most notable ways, but it actually managed to making playing as Sonic the Hedgehog a frustrating and uninteresting experience. My honest problem with this game is the fact that, despite everything we were promised, and despite all these years, it simply turned out to be WORSE than previous efforts had been! Shadow the Hedgehog had less glitchy and better designed gameplay than most of this game did! How can we excuse all these years of the team slowly degrading the quality of the gameplay? Even the demo felt better than the final product! I understand your frustration with earlier cynicism when people criticize the game before they even play it... but at this point, I'd say it's pretty apparrent SEGA no longer cares about putting a quality product out as much as others in the industry still do. They've lost the key members that made their group so great in the early 90s, and have since failed to replace them with talent that can live up to the task. Is there something wrong with some of us wanting the Sonic franchise to simply stop so we can preserve the better games and the memories that they gave us?
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