Monthly Archives

January 2012

Game News, Hacking

Check Out These Unleashed Levels in Sonic Generations PC

Sega’s been showing a lot of love to PC owners as of late with releases of Sonic Generations, Sonic 4: Episode 1 and Sonic CD to the platform. But what of Sonic Unleashed, the game which kicked off Modern Sonic’s current breakneck speed style (and included the highly divisive Werehog)? If anything, those Unleashed stages may soon be making their way as a patch to the PC version of the game.

Forum members Dario FF, Twilightzoney and Chimera have been hard at work trying to bring Unleashed‘s stages over to Generations’ engine. In one week, they went from bringing in the stages without any sort of collision and usage of Global Illumination Ambiance (GIA), the system used in both Unleashed and Generations to give some dynamic lighting to the levels, to the above video. So far, Windmill Isle Act 2, Dragon Road Act 1 and Cool Edge Act 1 have all made a partial conversion. The group admits that while progress is going well, there is still much work to be done.

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Fan Works, Hacking

Sonic Megamix Still In DevelopmentSonic Megamix Sigue Estando En Desarrollo

In light of speculation that the popular Rom Hack Sonic Megamix might be cancelled due to recent events, the head of Team Megamix, Stealth, has opened a new thread for discussion on the game, and made a statement in regards to its progress.

Ha habido ciertos rumores y especulaciones sobre el popular rom hack Sonic Megamix de que supuestamente iba a ser cancelado por causas ocurridas en eventos recientes, el líder de Team Megamix, Stealth, ha abierto un nuevo hilo de discusión sobre el juego, y ha notificado una declaración acerca de su progreso.

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Game News

Sonic 4: Episode 2 Concept Art Round 2

Being Friday, Sega continues what they promised last week, issuing out yet another round of concept art to hype up Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2. Doing what they did last time, we get the deluxe version of concept art for one with both the black and white and color sketches, while the Facebook exclusive image only comes in the final colored form.

The first featured is the multicolored Fullboar, who will certainly fulfill your pig-badnik needs. The other is the Facebook exclusive “Steelion,” whose name is all sorts of pun. Normally I’d go into super commentary mode, but there isn’t much to say except, hey, they are new enemies. See you next week!

[Source: SEGA Blog]

Game News

US Nintendo 3DS eShop Offers Mario and Sonic 2012 Olympic Games Demo

Nintendo has recently released demos for the eShop on Nintendo 3DS which primarily consist of retail released games, this also means as of Thursday a release for the demo of the hotly anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog title coming out in February. That’s right, the 3DS edition of Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Hold your applause please. Keep in mind that each downloaded demo from the eShop has a limit of thirty uses. Look through the Game Demos section of the store, or search for the game to download the game to the 3DS system. If you rather hold out for the full version, or don’t live in the US, but still carry an interest, be sure to hit the jump for impressions.

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Arcade Games, Sega Retro

Mitsuyoshi’s PSA on Daytona USA

Click play to get a rolling start. Did you hear that Daytona USA came out on Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network? You may have heard from us several times that it came out last year, but if you’re still not convinced, perhaps the vocalist for the songs may persuade your interest?

Sega’s US branch uploaded a 10 minute trailer on their YouTube account with Takenobu Mitsuyoshi detailing the Karaoke Mode for the digital download release, which allows you to have instrumental versions of songs play as you drive around the track (Or have the game run the track for you) and display the lyrics on screen (Which he demonstrates as ‘loudly’ as possible.) As an additional bonus, Mitsuyoshi-san also sings “Lets Go Away” for the latter half of the trailer.

 

Game News

Sonic 4 Gets Roboticized, Finally Out On Android

Despite Sonic 4 being readily available to iOS and Windows Phone 7 users for quite some time now, it seems Sega has finally decided that those of the Android persuasion should be so fortunate to finally get Sonic 4: Episode 1 for general consumption, launching on the Android Marketplace for only $3.99/£2.56/€3.05.

Actually, this version of Sonic 4 is once again an oddity compared to the others. Like its mobile brethren, it shares the same stages. That’s right, that means everyone’s favorite minecart level and 100,000 point pinball challenge are back. It also includes the console version’s overworld, though in a much more static variety. Curiously enough, the game also uses the graphical assets of the iPad version, which makes Sonic and his environs look more detailed.

A word of caution for those of you with tinfoil hats: Sonic 4, for some reason, requires permissions to have access to your phone number, potentially knowing who you’re calling. Why a game of all things would need this is beyond us, but we are guessing it may have something to do with a potential phone database where Sonic Brand Manager Ken Balough will personally call you to tell you about Sonic 4: Episode 2. Insider sources!

Despite Sonic 4 being readily available to iOS and Windows Phone 7 users for quite some time now, it seems Sega has finally decided that those of the Android persuasion should be so fortunate to finally get Sonic 4: Episode 1 for general consumption, launching on the Android Marketplace for only $3.99/£2.56/€3.05.

Actually, this version of Sonic 4 is once again an oddity compared to the others. Like its mobile brethren, it shares the same stages. That’s right, that means everyone’s favorite minecart level and 100,000 point pinball challenge are back. It also includes the console version’s overworld, though in a much more static variety. Curiously enough, the game also uses the graphical assets of the iPad version, which makes Sonic and his environs look more detailed.

A word of caution for those of you with tinfoil hats: Sonic 4, for some reason, requires permissions to have access to your phone number, potentially knowing who you’re calling. Why a game of all things would need this is beyond us, but we are guessing it may have something to do with a potential phone database where Sonic Brand Manager Ken Balough will personally call you to tell you about Sonic 4: Episode 2. Insider sources!

Despite Sonic 4 being readily available to iOS and Windows Phone 7 users for quite some time now, it seems Sega has finally decided that those of the Android persuasion should be so fortunate to finally get Sonic 4: Episode 1 on for general consumption, launching on the Android Marketplace for only $3.99/£2.56/€3.05.

Actually, this version of Sonic 4 is once again an oddity compared to the others. Like its mobile brethren, it shares the same stages. That’s right, that means everyone’s favorite minecart level and 100,000 point pinball challenge are back. It also includes the console version’s overworld, though in a much more static variety. Curiously enough, the game also uses the graphical assets of the iPad version, which makes Sonic and his environs look more detailed.

A word of caution for those of you with tinfoil hats: Sonic 4, for some reason, requires permissions to have access to your phone number, potentially knowing who you’re calling. Why a game of all things would need this is beyond us, but we are guessing it may have something to do with a potential phone database where Sonic Brand Manager Ken Balough will personally call you to tell you about Sonic 4: Episode 2. Insider sources!

Despite Sonic 4 being readily available to iOS and Windows Phone 7 users for quite some time now, it seems Sega has finally decided that those of the Android persuasion should be so fortunate to finally get Sonic 4: Episode 1 on for general consumption, launching on the Android Marketplace for only $3.99/£2.56/€3.05.

Actually, this version of Sonic 4 is once again an oddity compared to the others. Like its mobile brethren, it shares the same stages. That’s right, that means everyone’s favorite minecart level and 100,000 point pinball challenge are back. It also includes the console version’s overworld, though in a much more static variety. Curiously enough, the game also uses the graphical assets of the iPad version, which makes Sonic and his environs look more detailed.

A word of caution for those of you with tinfoil hats: Sonic 4, for some reason, requires permissions to have access to your phone number, potentially knowing who you’re calling. Why a game of all things would need this is beyond us, but we are guessing it may have something to do with a potential phone database where Sonic Brand Manager Ken Balough will personally call you to tell you about Sonic 4: Episode 2. Insider sources, man!

Game Secrets, Interviews, Sega Retro

Sega Plays Dangerous Games

The American government recently made an attempt to enact rules to regulate protection of intellectual properties and to take down piracy. Thanks to the millions of people who shared their anger for overbearing protection and angry high school kids cheating on their homework, both the SOPA and PIPA bills have been suspended for reconsideration. What great timing for this, and the re-release of Sonic CD for PC platforms via Steam, as it lets us recall an incident as early as 1993 during the US Senate hearings for violent video games.

If you recall the lengthy retrospective on the Sega Mega CD, as well as another one of its landmark titles, Night Trap, the developers put out a short documentary named “Dangerous Games” regarding their perspective during and after the hearings from producers, actors as well as avid ‘gamers.’

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Game News

Sonic CD is PSN’s Top Dowloaded Game for December 2011

Sony’s official U.S. PlayStation blog revealed that Sonic CD boomed past the competition and was the top purchased digital game on the PlayStation Store for the last month of 2011. Given the cult classic status it has amongst Sonic fans, seeing it bust out the gate strong is always a pleasant sight, though its feeling of familiarity with small enhancements for this HD age to give it a breath of fresh air certainly left us smiling.

The other story is that it no doubt shows success for Christian “The Taxman” Whitehead’s Retro Engine, utilized to power the game and all its modifications, and more importantly sends a strong message to Sega that demand is out there and there is benefit to using the engine in not only new Sonic games, but various new titles in general given the engine’s versatility. Congratulations, Taxman!

If you’ve not gone and purchased Sonic CD or spread the word to friends who enjoy a quirky platformer, what are you waiting for? We’ll even GIVE you a copy of Sonic CD on Steam if you have a nice tale on how you got someone to play Sonic CD!

Sony’s official U.S. PlayStation blog revealed that Sonic CD boomed past the competition and was the top purchased digital game on the PlayStation Store for the last month of 2011. Given the cult classic status it has amongst Sonic fans, seeing it bust out the gate strong is always a pleasant sight, though its feeling of familiarity with small enhancements for this HD age to give it a breath of fresh air certainly left us smiling.

The other story is that it no doubt shows success for Christian “The Taxman” Whitehead’s Retro Engine, utilized to power the game and all its modifications, and more importantly sends a strong message to Sega that demand is out there and there is benefit to using the engine in not only new Sonic games, but various new titles in general given the engine’s versatility. Congratulations, Taxman!

If you’ve not gone and purchased Sonic CD or spread the word to friends who enjoy a quirky platformer, what are you waiting for? We’ll even GIVE you a copy of Sonic CD on Steam if you have a nice tale on how you got someone to play Sonic CD!

Sony’s official U.S. PlayStation blog revealed that Sonic CD boomed past the competition and was the top purchased digital game on the PlayStation Store for the last month of 2011. Given the cult classic status it has amongst Sonic fans, seeing it bust out the gate strong is always a pleasant sight, though its feeling of familiarity with small enhancements for this HD age to give it a breath of fresh air certainly left us smiling.

The other story is that it no doubt shows success for Christian “The Taxman” Whitehead’s Retro Engine, utilized to power the game and all its modifications, and more importantly sends a strong message to Sega that demand is out there and there is benefit to using the engine in not only new Sonic games, but various new titles in general given the engine’s versatility. Congratulations, Taxman!

If you’ve not gone and purchased Sonic CD or spread the word to friends who enjoy a quirky platformer, what are you waiting for? We’ll even GIVE you a copy of Sonic CD on Steam if you have a nice tale on how you got someone to play Sonic CD!

Sony’s official U.S. PlayStation blog revealed that Sonic CD boomed past the competition and was the top purchased digital game on the PlayStation Store for the last month of 2011. Given the cult classic status it has amongst Sonic fans, seeing it bust out the gate strong is always a pleasant sight, though its feeling of familiarity with small enhancements for this HD age to give it a breath of fresh air certainly left us smiling.

The other story is that it no doubt shows success for Christian “The Taxman” Whitehead’s Retro Engine, utilized to power the game and all its modifications and more importantly sends a strong message to Sega that demand is out there and there is benefit to using the engine in not only new Sonic games, but various new titles in general given the engine’s versatility. Congratulations, Taxman!

If you’ve not gone and purchased Sonic CD or spread the word to friends who enjoy a quirky platformer, what are you waiting for? We’ll even GIVE you a copy of Sonic CD on Steam if you have a nice tale on how you got someone to play Sonic CD!

Comics, Game News

Sonic 4: Episode 2 Concept Art Once Again Trickling Out (At A Crabs Pace)

For anyone out there who was expecting the exact same marketing scheme, feel free to pat yourself on the back. If the initial teaser trailer wasn’t enough Deja Vu for you, the blogs at Sega.com have announced Concept Art Friday, where every week we get to experience another piece of imagery from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 with no context whatsoever. Hopefully we won’t be forced to answer generic questions to get palmtrees this time around…either way, what has Sega decided to use to kick off the next wave of Sonic hype?

If it hasn’t clicked yet from the black and white lineart just what that is supposed to look like, then the full color version might be enough to jog your memory…

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Humor

Sliding Around At The Speed of SoundResbalando a la Velocidad de Sonido

Here at Sonic Retro, we could subject you to mind-numbing analysis about a game, or you could watch the forums explode in negativity at the slightest mention of Sonic 4. We could tell you how the PC version is an unfortunate shoddy port of the Xbox 360 version lacking anti-aliasing among other settings.

But we’ve all heard that jazz and several more complaints for nearly two years now. The poor horse has been beaten into a fine powder. So here’s a video of the PC version in action. Left and Right and Slip’n’Slide!

However, just so you don’t leave here empty-handed or upset at yet another pot shot at Sonic 4, here’s a nifty little package for you PC version owners. Forum member Twilightzoney took some of the textures from the iPad version of the game and placed them into the PC version. This is the result:

To apply these textures, download the folder here and insert its contents in to the PLY folder located in the G_COM folder, which should be located where Steam stores the game. Make sure to back up a copy of the original files in case something goes wrong.

Aquí en Sonic Retro, podemos somerte te a análisis de un juego hasta que tu mente no puede mas con la vida, o usted podría ver los foros explotar en negatividad a la más mínima mención de Sonic 4. Podríamos decir te cómo la versión PC es, desafortunada, una copia de mala calidad de la versión Xbox 360 y que le falta anti-aliasing entre otros ajustes.

Pero todos hemos oído eso y varios otros recursos por casi dos años. El pobre caballo ha sido golpeada en un polvo fino. Así que aquí está un video de la versión PC en acción. “Left and Right and Slip’n’Slide!”

Sin embargo, sólo para que no salgan de aquí con las manos vacías o disgustado en otro tiro a Sonic 4, esto es un pequeño paquete interesante para los que tienen la versión PC. Twilightzoney, un miembro del foro, agarró algunas de las texturas de la versión iPad y los colocó en el juego. Este es el resultado:

Para aplicar estas texturas, descargue el archivo aquí y ponga sus contenidos en el archivo “G_COM”, que se puede encontrar en el archivo “PLY”, localizado donde Steam mantiene el juego. Asegúrese de hacer una copia de los archivos originales si algo va mal.