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iOS

Game News

Sonic Dash, Sonic Jump Are Mobile Blockbusters

DashiOS2

For those that doubted the power mobile platforms can have, Hardlight Studios has a bone to pick with you. Speaking with Joystiq, Chief Technical Officer Chris Southall is proud at the pace both Sonic Jump and Sonic Dash are downloaded and played daily.

According to Southall, Jump, which is a paid download, is currently at 8 million downloads while the speedy Dash, a free-to-play title, is currently zooming at 20 million downloads, with 1 million “Dash-ers” actively playing the game daily and an additional average of over 100,000 users adding the game to their devices for the first time.

“You can just see that Sonic is such a big IP; we haven’t actually done any advertising or user acquisition yet on Sonic Dash,” Southall said. “We’re doing updates through the year, we’re going to to keep doing that, and using the learning we’ve gained as a studio. And [we’re going to] start to actually advertise the game and push it more. So hopefully where we are now with Sonic Dash is kind of the beginning rather than the end.”

He finally teases that Hardlight Studios has already signed off on its next game, which will be using “a big SEGA IP” that isn’t Sonic. An open beta for the game is currently slated for early 2014.

Now more than ever will I repeat this: “Chao Game, F2P, mobile platforms. You’re welcome, Sega.”

Game News

Sonic 1 Hits the Top 10 on Android and iOS

Less than a week ago, Sonic 1 received a Taxman/Stealth makeover for mobile platforms. The updated port has already cracked the Top 10 Paid Apps list in the US for both Google Play and the iOS App Store at #2 and #8, respectively. As we covered earlier, there are a ton of bonus features that more than warrant its $2.99 price tag. We encourage you to purchase the app, which you can find in the links below. After the jump you will also find some screenshots showcasing some of the bonus features (slight spoilers).

Google Play

App Store

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Game News, Game Secrets, Humor

Have an Extensive Look at Sonic 1 iOS/Android’s Debug Features


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If you’ve heard of the recent rumblings of the debug mode for the latest Sonic 1 port, you may not be aware of some of it’s hidden features that some of you die hard Sonic fans will get a kick out of. Rolling balls, goggles, animal buddies, unfinished editor features and more await you in this port, and we’ve got a video of almost two hours worth of content.

You have a number of ways for trying out the debug mode yourself. First start a “No Save” game and choose a character. If you have a controller plugged in you can use the traditional method of entering the cheat codes (Up, Down, Left, Right, Hold A + Start) or on the touch screen, after selecting. Otherwise, on the touch screen, tap the letters S-E-G-A in that order and listen for a ring chime. Then hold two fingers on the bottom of the touch screen. When the title screen appears, slide both fingers to the top of the screen to enter the level select.

Here you can enter the sound test for some additional cheats.

04, 01, 02, 06 – Obtain all emeralds

01, 09, 09, 01, 00, 06, 02, 03 – Debug mode.

To activate debug mode tap the GUI in the top left corner of the screen.

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Sonic 1 on iOS and Android Landing Now

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[UPDATE: It’s now on the Google Play store.]

Ever wondered when Taxman and Stealth’s Sonic 1 Retro Engine remaster would be made available? Next week? Next month?! Well, in fact it is actually hitting both the iOS and Android as soon as today or tomorrow depending on your region and platform. Most regions should be seeing the iOS port as soon as right now, or at least tomorrow. As for Android, according to Taxman on the Retro Forums he says, “Thursday 16th PST for Android, US & Canada so you’ll have to wait a bit longer sorry.”

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Game News

Sonic 1 Remastered Releases Later This Month, First Gameplay Footage

Android Police reports that Taxman and Stealth’s remastering of Sonic the Hedgehog will be released on Android and presumably iOS as well later this month for $2.99. Those who have already bought Sonic 1 on iOS will get this release as a free update. The site also released some gameplay footage of the Android version, which confirms that this is indeed Sonic 1 in widescreen running nice and smooth.

Also it has shows that Sonic can indeed use the spindash in this new version. The music isn’t present in this video, presumably because they aren’t done making the tracks sound nicer yet. The menu isn’t present either, as they probably aren’t allowed to share the neat new features. Also no zone title cards for some reason.

Community, Miscellaneous

Sonic 2 HD Team Behind iOS Game Major Magnet

major_mag

We all remember Sonic 2 HD and how it regrettably met its end not long after releasing a playable demo of Emerald Hill Zone due to internal controversy. Just because the door on that project closed though doesn’t mean that this was the end for them. Some of the team, now working under PagodaWest Games, put their talents toward a brand new IP for iOS systems called Major Magnet.

Retro Engine creator and the man behind the 2011 digital port of Sonic CD Christian “Taxman” Whitehead confirmed as much in a tweet to his followers earlier today congratulating the group on the successes the dev’s title has met, including an Editor’s Choice award from Apple itself.

While Sonic 2 HD may be resting eternally, definitely give these guys some love and pick up the game on your iOS device and hope that they can bring the game over to other platforms. Good job, PagodaWest!

Game News

Sonic Dash to Release at Midnight, Also Have Some Gameplay Footage

Turns out Pocket Gamer France was right about Sonic Dash releasing on Thursday. Hardlight said on Twitter (before removing the tweets) that the game will be released at midnight for $1.99/£1.49. Unless you live in New Zealand, then the game is already out for you.

Touch Gameplay has recorded some gameplay footage, which can be viewed above. It shows that you’ll be able to unlock Tails, Knuckles and Amy as playable characters and that it is indeed a Temple Run-style game. Though instead of having to tilt the device to move, you swipe with your finger left and right to let Sonic do a quick step. Graphically it looks pretty good, it seems to be using the Sonic Generations models for Sonic and some of the enemies. Also, microtransactions, because that’s a thing you can earn money with on iOS.

[Source: SEGADriven]

Game News

Sonic Dash Officially Announced for iOS

DashiOS

SEGA has officially announced Sonic Dash for iOS. According to their press release the game will be a 3D endless runner, probably in the style of Temple Run and the like. The stage nobody at SEGA can seemingly get enough of, Seaside Hill, will be present in this game. When Pocket Gamer France reported on the game last Thursday they said that the scenery will change as you get further, so it could be that more than one zone will be represented. There will also be leaderboards that show your friends’ best times.

Pocket Gamer France also reported that the game will be released this Thursday, March 7th. It’s not unusual for an iOS game to be released shortly after its announcement. For example, Hardlight’s previous game Sonic Jump was released two weeks after it’s announcement. Sonic Dash will be released on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

[Source: SEGA Blog and Pocket Gamer France]

Game News

Sonic Dash for iOS Spotted on SEGA Hardlight Job Listing

Sonic-Dash-Hardlight-job-postingSonic Stadium noticed on a job listing on LinkedIn for SEGA Hardlight that they are developing a new iOS game titled Sonic Dash. Hardlight has previously worked on Sonic Jump for iOS/Android and the PC version of Viking: Battle for Asgard. The job listing also says that they are working on both new IP and existing SEGA IP (such as Sonic). SEGA has already altered the job listing to remove any mention of Sonic Dash, but Sonic Stadium had screen capped before they removed it.

Going by the name, I think it’s safe to assume that this game will be in the style of endless runners like Canabalt and Temple Run (Which totally copied Sonic and the Secret Rings), or something level-based like Rayman: Jungle Run. Anyway, it seems like the drought of upcoming Sonic games that we know of is finally over!

[Source: Sonic Stadium]