They officially ran out of ideas...they gave Sonic a handgun
by Simon Love · in General Discussion · 03/09/2005 (4:06 pm) · 15 replies
Today on ign, I saw the trailer for 'Shadow the Hedgehog'. I have been a Sonic fan since day one, but...Is it just me or is giving a gun to Sonic the cheapest marketing move ever in history?
Imagine someone asked you the question "What could we do to make this well-known series fresh again?". The first answer anybody would scream out would probably be 'let's give the hero guns!!!'. And not a robotnik gun or whatever, a gangster pistol...
Another note, the game is slated for release on Gamecube.
As one of my good friends mentionned, maybe 50cents will do the voice.
Imagine someone asked you the question "What could we do to make this well-known series fresh again?". The first answer anybody would scream out would probably be 'let's give the hero guns!!!'. And not a robotnik gun or whatever, a gangster pistol...
Another note, the game is slated for release on Gamecube.
As one of my good friends mentionned, maybe 50cents will do the voice.
About the author
I am here to help. I've worked at every imaginable position in game development, having entered the field originally as an audio guy.
#2
Sonic games dont have guns...
03/09/2005 (4:39 pm)
That might be cool if it was a diff game char (not sonic related).Sonic games dont have guns...
#3
-Ajari-
03/10/2005 (3:54 am)
LOL Looked so stupid. If he had a Robotnik gun or something it would have been better. He had like a 9MM and some other real world machine gun. !O! And I coulda sworn I seen him hold it sideways.-Ajari-
#4
-Ajari-
03/10/2005 (3:56 am)
LOL Looked so stupid. If he had a Robotnik gun or something it would have been better. He had like a 9MM and some other real world machine gun. !O! And I coulda sworn I seen him hold it sideways.-Ajari-
#5
Now I am not even a fan of Sonic, and this is a horrible idea for me, what must the real fans be thinking, or is there something I don't know about Sonic?
@Teck Lee Tan: Thats exactly what I thought about POP: WW, they focussed on the combat and removed the clever puzzle elements, once again, stupid games, for stupid people.
Ian
03/10/2005 (6:50 am)
You know I really tried to watch the video without thinking about what you guys had already said. After seeing it though, I just had the image in my mind of a bunch of execs sitting around, and deciding that the best way to make the franchise work again, was to give Sonic a gun. Why? Well because this will attract media attention (I shot my friend because I played too much Shadow the Hedgehog) and cater to the natural born killer that all us gamers have inside of us.Now I am not even a fan of Sonic, and this is a horrible idea for me, what must the real fans be thinking, or is there something I don't know about Sonic?
@Teck Lee Tan: Thats exactly what I thought about POP: WW, they focussed on the combat and removed the clever puzzle elements, once again, stupid games, for stupid people.
Ian
#6
I'm surprised they haven't taken advantage of a true 3D Sonic game, too.
Oh well...
03/10/2005 (7:13 am)
Of all the potential the Sonic series could have, and they go and 'thug out' a platformer, jeez! I've been waiting for a reason to play a sonic game again, but I guess they have to appeal to someone. Guess it makes up for those missing GTA on the Cube. :PI'm surprised they haven't taken advantage of a true 3D Sonic game, too.
Oh well...
#7
03/10/2005 (7:27 am)
It looks fun, and Shadow fanboys will be waiting with baited breath. As for stagnancy in franchises, I've found that many games wither hit their mark or fall far short. The Megaman series is a good example of one that has excellent games...and not so excellent games. The initial 3D foray for the Castlevania games a pockmark on a great series. As long as the gameplay looks fun, which this looked quite fun regardless of the spikey-haired protagonist, I'm more into it than the franchise.
#8
I have dreamed for years of a mature, more violent take on Sonic. He's a frickin' Buzzsaw for Pete's sake! But to do that correctly, they would have to change the art direction of the series, make it more "realistic". What they did is just take the art they already had and paste a gun in there somewhere.
Cheap Cheap Cheap
03/10/2005 (11:18 am)
I'm not saying I won't play the game, it might turn out to be pretty fun and all. But what really pisses me off is the fact that they could have created a new character, another universe or something that justifies that gun-wielding mechanic. I have dreamed for years of a mature, more violent take on Sonic. He's a frickin' Buzzsaw for Pete's sake! But to do that correctly, they would have to change the art direction of the series, make it more "realistic". What they did is just take the art they already had and paste a gun in there somewhere.
Cheap Cheap Cheap
#9
Also, on topic, I can't believe that Team Sonic would make a game a game like this. Doesn't seem like their thing...
Randy McMillen
03/13/2005 (4:50 pm)
@Chris: Sega actually did publish 2 3d Sonic games: Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 for GameCube and Dreamcast. The first one was cool, but the second left me dissapointed. (did have multiplayer battle though)Also, on topic, I can't believe that Team Sonic would make a game a game like this. Doesn't seem like their thing...
Randy McMillen
#10
03/18/2005 (8:11 am)
Http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=141
#11
Although from the looks of it I think maybe they're goin for one of those Ratchet and Clank style of games that are semi-popular right now.
04/13/2005 (2:08 am)
Actually last I looked it wasn't Sonic the Hedgehog with a gun it was Shadow the hedgehog with a gun. So maybe he's supposed to be Sonic's gang banger offspring or something.Although from the looks of it I think maybe they're goin for one of those Ratchet and Clank style of games that are semi-popular right now.
#12
And what's even worse is Shadow doesn't even have a beanie, gold chains, or baggy pants....and I didn't even see him flash one gang sign! I hope they read this post somehow and get that dark sonce guy free-style rapping and smoking pot with his "home-boys".
If they're gonna give him a freaking cannon, why don't they go all out?
LOL
04/13/2005 (2:40 am)
Wow! That's sad, just sad.....And what's even worse is Shadow doesn't even have a beanie, gold chains, or baggy pants....and I didn't even see him flash one gang sign! I hope they read this post somehow and get that dark sonce guy free-style rapping and smoking pot with his "home-boys".
If they're gonna give him a freaking cannon, why don't they go all out?
LOL
#13
Shadow is meant to be Sonic's nemesis yet if they make him the hero of the title then... well.... It just seem like such a big swing in the opposite direction. Really wasn't expecting that.
04/13/2005 (6:42 am)
I'm actually rather shocked at this. Not so much about a hedgehog having a gun per say, but at what this implies for the 'sega' brand. Sonic has long been sega's mascot, always at the forefront of the company's brand portraying them as somewhat hip yet peace-loving and environmentally aware. Shadow is meant to be Sonic's nemesis yet if they make him the hero of the title then... well.... It just seem like such a big swing in the opposite direction. Really wasn't expecting that.
#14
04/16/2005 (1:53 pm)
As a general rule for executives, you mimic what works, and it worked for Jak and Daxter. Doesn't matter how stupid and soulless of an idea it is to them as long as it sells. Though... it is being developed by SEGA of America, which would be their first whack at a Sonic game since the ill fated 'Sonic Xtreme'.
#15
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/begin Ice Cube voice over
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/end Ice Cube voice over
/end Gangsta rap background music
04/19/2005 (9:42 am)
Coming up next... Mario with an M16, in Super Mario FPS!/begin Gangsta rap background music
/begin Ice Cube voice over
Now you can kill dat punk @ss Koopa, fer takin whus yers and beat dat ho Princess Toadstool, for leavin ya in the first place.
Eat all the Shrooms ya like, and Smoke a little weed on da side, ya baby let's show 'em what flowa powa is really all 'bout!
/end Ice Cube voice over
/end Gangsta rap background music
Torque Owner Teck Lee Tan
/me sits in the corner and cries.
This honestly looks like your classic result of a marketing meeting on how to make a franchise "edgy" and "hard". Like how they killed (at least in my eyes) the tone of Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. Ugh.