Browsing Tag

Sonic 4 Episode 1

Game News, Miscellaneous

Starbucks UK App of the Week: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1

If you’re a coffee addict in the UK (and/or you just want to sabotage Costa Coffee), Starbucks is offering a free download of Sonic 4: Episode 1 for iOS now through the 21st in their UK locations. Simply pick up one of the small cards (usually near the register) and the promotional code will be on the back. Please note that for all of you who think you’re going to be sneaky and have a friend pick up codes that they are only redeemable with a UK iTunes account.

For the record, I would have preferred a grown-up Sonic mug that I would not be embarrassed to drink out of, like my current Starbucks mug. Seriously Sega, give me a merchandise license so I can make things 30 year olds wouldn’t have secret shame about owning. 😐

Community, Game News

PSA: How to Fix “Missing” Sonic 4 PC Saves

Chances are the small percentage of you that picked up the PC version of Sonic 4: Episode 1 have gotten a small update to the game. Upon trying the game out, you might have also noticed that your settings were all gone and that your save file was gone as well.

While we could take yet another potshot at Sonic 4, let’s focus on fixing that issue. What this last update did is create a second executable file: one for Windows XP and one for Windows Vista/7. To restore settings, you’ll need to run the settings application included with the game. As for the save file, it’s still there with all your hard work. It just needs a little renaming.

To do so, head into your Steam folder located in Program Files, click on the folder named “steamapps” and then “common”. Click on the Sonic 4 folder and you should see a file named “Sonic_save.dat”. Simply rename this to “Sonic_vis_save.dat” and all your hard work will be restored.

Chances are the small percentage of you that picked up the PC version of Sonic 4: Episode 1 have gotten a small update to the game. Upon trying the game out, you might have also noticed that your settings were all gone and that your save file was gone as well.

While we could take yet another potshot at Sonic 4, let’s focus on fixing that issue. What this last update did is create a second executable file: one for Windows XP and one for Windows Vista/7. To restore settings, you’ll need to run the settings application included with the game. As for the save file, it’s still there with all your hard work. It just needs a little renaming.

To do so, head into your Steam folder located in Program Files, click on the folder named “steamapps” and then “common”. Click on the Sonic 4 folder and you should see a file named “Sonic_save.dat”. Simply rename this to “Sonic_vis_save.dat” and all your hard work will be restored.

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!

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.

Game News

Sonic CD, Sonic 4 Episode 1 And More Get Released On Steam, Generations 50% Off Until Monday

More than a month after it was released on consoles, the new version of Sonic CD has finally hit Steam today. And for a limited time only if you buy the game you will get a free Metal Sonic costume for SEGA and Three Rings’ free to play MMO, Spiral Knights. You can also get Tails’ tails by buying energy within said game, though sadly these do not give you the ability to fly. Screenshots and a video of the costumes can be seen after the jump.

Besides that, Sonic 4 Episode 1 and the Casino Night Zone DLC for Sonic Generations have been released on the service as well. The former was already spotted on the Steam registry some time ago and the latter was supposed to be released on December 26th last year, but was delayed for unknown reasons. If you haven’t gotten Generations yet, the game is now 50% off until January 23rd as a weekend deal along with all other Sonic games besides those released today with the exception of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, which is 75% off.

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Game News

Corrections; Video Interview with Ken Balough on Sonic CD, Sonic 4

A little real talk first before business goes on. We earlier reported that Sega staff member Patrick Riley was interviewed by forum member Shade Vortex. It looks like he might have been a little starstruck as he was actually not speaking to Patrick Riley at all, but Sonic Digital Brand Manager Ken Balough. Patrick Riley had no involvement with the previous interview and we wish to offer our apologies to the two gentlemen and to you, our readers who put up with us, for the confusion. For future reference:

This is Patrick Riley.

This is Ken Balough, as you truly imagined him. Please beat us over the head if this happens again.

Let’s move on to the video interview goodness after the jump. Continue Reading

Game News

UPDATE: Sega Staffer Speaks Sonic CD Details; Revised as Sonic 4 ‘Prequel’

[UPDATE: Sega’s Ken Balough offers more clarification on the jumbled mess that is the timeline. Read the full quote at the bottom.]

Brace yourselves one more time. This could be a bumpy ride.

The start of PAX today in Seattle allowed attendees to get a first taste of Sonic CD on the Retro Engine before making its way to consoles, computers, and mobile devices, running through the entirety of Palmtree Panic Zone. Initial reactions from the crowd are fairly positive.

While trying out the game, forum member Shade Vortex got to speak to Patrick Riley, a staff member at Sega of America, [UPDATE: Ken Balough, Sonic Digital Brand Manager,] about the game. A few of the details revealed by Retro Engine creator Christian “The Taxman” Whitehead might have been a little premature.

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Game News

Titbit: Sonic 4 Episode 1 coming to Windows Phone 7

For those four of you that have Windows Phone 7 equipped phones, Sega was pleased to announce earlier today that the game is on its way Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

By posting it five different times on their Facebook page.

There’s no price point and a vague release date of “within the next six weeks.” It’s unknown if the game is a port of the iOS version, though likely, and if Sega will see it fit to bring the game to Android users.

[Must-Have Games – Xbox.com]

Game News

Sonic 4 Prototype Captured on PS3

First the 360 PartnerNet leak, then the Japanese Wii Shopping Channel leak. Now, we have video of the QA Network’s version of Sonic 4: Episode 1.

While there’s no leak of the game itself, and from the looks of it, the game won’t run unless the PS3 in question is a debug unit, the video shows enough of the gameplay to satiate curiosity on the game.

Content wise, if you’ve seen or played the Wii and 360 leaks, you’ll already know what to expect here. However, the PS3 version has its very own little oddities that make the game almost unplayable.

Forum member sonic4dude describes that the game has a poor implementation of the SIXAXIS tilt control APIs that make them extremely sensitive, to the point that levels like the special stages and the Lost Labyrinth mine cart stage are barely playable. On top of that, being a Japanese prototype, the game will only boot in Japanese.

As for the timestamp on the build, it’s roughly December 2009 – January 2010. The QA Network is Sony’s equivalent to Microsoft’s PartnerNet.

Screenshots of the build will be coming soon and can be found in this topic on the forums. Information will also be added to the game’s wiki page as it rolls out.

Game News

Sega Games Go Cheap on Apple App Store

Missed the discounts on some games for your iDevice or you just haven’t gotten around to jail breaking it? Sega wants to ease the hit on the wallet with some permanent price drops on their stuff on the App Store.

Keeping the site relevant info first, a trio of Sonic games are part of the deal with Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 both reduced to $4.99 and Sonic 4: Episode 1 down to $7.99.

The rest of the drops are down below.

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