Gone live a few minutes ago, Sonic 4: Episode II is now available for purchase off the Xbox Live Marketplace. The game is priced at 1200 points and should be available worldwide.

Those who are away from their consoles at the moment can reserve a downloadable copy of the Sonic 4 saga’s second entry right off the game’s Xbox Live Marketplace product page and start the download immediately when they get home.

Hey America! Is this yours? I found it on your PSN just sitting there.

UPDATE!!: There is also a Sonic 4: Episode 2 Demo on the US PSN which can be downloaded by anyone with US PSN account for free! That means even if you do not live in the US, use a US Playstation 3 or have even said ‘how do you do’ to someone from the US, you can download the demo right now for free! All you need is a US PSN account and 3 min to make one. That’s it.

Original Story: I thought some of you might like to know that Sonic 4 Episode 2: Can now be downloaded from the US PSN, at the time of writing the store has not fully updated, but the game is there.To find it, use the ‘search bar’ and type ‘Sonic 4′ you will see the listing for ‘Sonic 4: Episode 2′ a few options down.

The game is priced at $14.99 and can be downloaded now, this isn’t a leak, it is the final game, it’s just that Sony slowly adds content to the store and then does the ‘full update’ which changes the ‘new this week’ listings at a later time. It is the final game and you can download it right now… Like this second… as you’re reading.

[UPDATE] The main website has updated with Sky Fortress Zone and Episode Metal in accordance with S4EII‘s launch, including some new screenshots. Thanks to MilesKnightwing for the tip! Prices for the game are now included in the article as well. Original post below!

Showcasing the four main zones and bosses in action, the launch trailer to Sonic 4: Episode II was unveiled today in conjunction with the releases of the PSN and PC versions of the game. The new trailer also unveils the iOS release date: the game will be available off the iTunes App Store on the 17th, two days from now.

SEGA Blog also listed the prices for the different versions of the game: $14.99/€12.99/£9.99/AUD$18.25 off the PlayStation Network and Steam, 1200 points from the Xbox Live Marketplace, and $6.99/€5.49/£4.99/AUD$7.49 for the iOS and Android versions.

Check out the True Blue Initiative and the new screenshots after the jump!

Just like the campaign following the release of Sonic 4: Episode I, the community team down at SEGA of America will be gathering names for The True Blue Initiative, Episode II.

To qualify, all you need to do is purchase at least 2 of the 5 versions of the game eligible (XBLA, PSN, PC, iOS, Android) by the end date and send a message with your receipts as well as your preferred name to the community team, either through a PM to Kellie down at the SEGA Forum or through an email communityteam@sega.com.

Those who have managed to snag 4 versions of the game will not only get a special thanks note, but also a Sonic 4: Episode II poster signed by the Sonic 4 team at SEGA of America. In addition to your proofs of purchase and name, supplementary details such as your full name, home/mailing address, phone number, and the name you’d want signed for yourself on the poster will be required as well.

The end date to submit to The True Blue Initiative is on Friday, June 15th at 10:00am Pacific Time. For more details, head to the thread on the SEGA Forum here.

[UPDATE] Here are the new screenies as well as Sky Fortress Zone’s description from Sonic 4‘s main site!

A supergiant flying fortress made to be the final line of defence. Can Sonic fend off the relentless chase from Metal Sonic in a high-altitude battle?

Images and descriptions are posted below for all products except the flash light, which is apparently just the Project-A-Sketch without the stand. All of these products will be available for US and Canadian residents at Toys ‘R Us, Costco, Wal-Mart, Dick’s,  Zellers, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, and Mastermind Toys.

So, now that it seems like Sonic is going through another merchandising boom, might we see the return of Sonic Shampoo? Please, SEGA?

“These saucer sleds provide tons of fun for all ages. With handles and a 24″ base to sit or kneel on, kids will feel safe and secure riding their favourite character down the hill. The board itself is also very light and easy to carry so they can toboggan all day long! These round saucers feature colorful graphics on 3/4″ thick foam board, 2 foam handles and a slick bottom.”

 “A great activity toy for kids that allows them to trace beams of light emanating from a fun flashlight. Each Project a Sketch comes with the main “stand on its own” flashlight as well as 6 lenses each with its own Sonic image. The flashlight comes bundled with its own case and stand, so to begin, all you have to do is open the case to mount the flashlight on any table or flat surface.  Once opened, turn the flashlight on and place a piece of paper beneath the light.  Select your lens and begin tracing! Once finished, you can even colour in the tracing with any style marker or crayon! Comes with new brighter, longer lasting LED lights!”

“Create huge blasts of water! Colorful water cannon that blasts huge streams of water.  Features an adjustable nozzle that allows you to select from 4 different stream types. Full color graphics for a great high end look. Powerful water blast shoots up to 25 feet(8m)!”

SEGA Digital Brand Manager Ken Balough has revealed at the SEGA Forums that Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I sold best on the PlayStation 3 platform on consoles. Xbox 360 came second and Wii last. The news is quite a twist when compared to retail Sonic titles, where Nintendo’s consoles usually come out on top. No information was given as to where PC and mobile platforms ranked.

Will the same happen for Episode II? Time will tell. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II is out now on Steam in the UK, and will be released later today in other territories. The PSN version will also be released later today in the US, then Europe tomorrow. The Xbox Live Arcade version is due out worldwide tomorrow.

Source: SEGA Forums

I told you so!

Just as on Saturday, we have a Sonic Colours-centric Mash-Up Monday as we bring you a very special guest, providing us a very special mash-up!

Some of you might recall the name DJ EAR. Whether it is for his musical contributions to The Sonic Stadium Music Album or the brawler fan game Super Sonic Knockout, this artist has a massive talent for music. One such display of his prowess is a mash-up compiling various tracks of Sonic Colours, highlighting every zone and then some, appropriately titled “Every Colour Has A Sound”.

You won’t have to guess which tracks in specific have been used; the songs used are listed on screen as they play. Very cool!

Found an interesting mash-up? Made one of your own? If you’ve answered yes to either question, then send them over to vizardjeffhog@sonicstadium.org!

“…wow.”

One word alone is enough to summarize anyone’s reaction toward this, as Wave 1 of Summer of Sonic 2012 tickets went and gone by in under three minutes; the 400 free tickets being distributed have been sold out only mere moments after the wave went up, lasting from 12:30 to 12:33 BST.

To those who haven’t managed to get their tickets, you’re too slow! a second wave will be announced this weekend with all needed details including the distribution date, so brace yourselves: like the first wave, it’s on a “first come, first serve” basis!

In comparison, last year’s convention, which brought special guests such as Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka to celebrate Sonic’s 20th anniversary, took almost ten hours to give out 700 tickets! This, in conjunction with the surprisingly brief giveaway and the recent announcement of Crush 40 attending this year’s convention, is a sure sign of exponentially rising demand and anticipation for SOS 2012!

For inquiries concerning ticket reservations and other issues, you may direct yourselves to the full report on the Summer of Sonic webpage.

The video above contains what at first appears to be a normal run through of Windmill Isle, but when you look closer you discover that it’s not Windmill Isle… at least not from Sonic Unleashed. That is a re-creation of Windmill Isle running in Sonic Generations!

Dario FF released the stage about an hour ago stating that the level has been released to the public mainly for hardware spec testing. If you have the PC version of Sonic Generations, feel free to download it and give it a go, report your experience along with your computers specs either at Sonic Retro or SSMB’s Generations mod topic.

But the beauty of a Sonic Unleashed Total Conversion mod? You can use all the perks that you find in Sonic Generations, so yes my friends, that means you can finally play as Super Sonic in Windmill Isle.

Full instructions as to how to download/install the mod can be found at the Sonic Retro link. If you’ve got Sonic Generations on the PC and are a tad disappointed by the lack of DLC stages, with any luck this should quench your desires!

So give it a download and try it out, let us know in the comments what you think and of course help out the people behind this by posting your system specs and experience of playing it at the links provided in this update and at the end of the post.

Now Sega… about that Sonic Generations DLC which has been on the Japan store for a month and a bit now… any chance we can get that over here in the west?

Source: SSMB & Sonic Retro.

Let’s start with something unique: a House mix of the Green Hover Wisp theme by Stylez-T!

Update: The video has been removed. Thanks to Darksonic20 for the notice.

As if the Hover theme wasn’t relaxing enough. Stylez here somehow managed to make a blissfully happy and sleep-inducing track even more sleep-inducing and happy. Of course, what’s most impressive is how Stylez turned a short, soft, situational loop into a full fledged 4 minute track! Definitely the last sort of thing I expecting! His “Hover House” mix at least deserves that credit.

And now, we dive into a unique remix, combining Aquarium Park with… Mystic Mansion from Sonic Heroes!

…wait, what?

Another returning artist, xTrickyWolfy was featured last week for her collaborative cover on Dragon’s Lair from Sonic and the Black Knight, along with FireGXLOL.

This week, however, Tricky goes solo as we take a look at another unexpected, yet brilliantly pulled off remix.

What surprises me most with this tune, a feeling that might be shared with most of you, is the unlikely combination, likely due to the associated stages: Aquarium Park being an aquatic paradise (bar the sushi available, yuck!); Mystic Mansion being a haunted domain filled to the brim with ghosts. However, the instrumentation and tone manage to stay faithful to the tracks and atmosphere of the levels represented.

Thanks to this remix, I find that such a fusion of tropes would make a really cool stage for a future Sonic game! An underwater haunt, how exciting!

…or lethal.

Speaking of colourful combinations, keep your ears peeled for Monday!

Found an interesting remix, cover, or original? Got a bit of music of your own you’d like to share with others? If so, then send over your findings/submissions to vizardjeffhog@sonicstadium.org!

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

Now, we know Sonic is not exactly you’d relate to on Mother’s Day. After all, the only official mother in the Sonic games is Cream’s mom, Vanilla. But in the land of Sonic cartoons and comics, anything goes and just about every character you can think of has a mom and dad. So, the questions remains, which Mobius mama is the top pick of all time? Read on to see who my five favorites are.

#5 Rosemary Prower

I bet most of you didn’t even know Tails had a mom and dad. Well, it took them a long time to arrive in the comics. Especially since they’d been exiled to another planet for an entire decade! Upon returning home (thanks to Tails wizard uncle Merlin…don’t ask), Rosemary and her husband Amadeus wasted no time. They didn’t like the way the current kingdom had been ruled and started a rebellion. It was quelled with the help of Sally and Nicole, but it ended up with a new council being formed. Now, the king must answer to the council before any big decisions are made. This is fortunate since King Elias was overthrown by the new king, the evil wizard Ixis Naugus but he still can’t make a huge decision without the councils vote. Sadly, this means she hasn’t had much time to be with her newly reunited son. In fact, it was Tail’s dad that helped comfort him through these darker times with Antoine at death’s door.

#4 Bernadette Hedgehog 

Besides constantly changing color from blue to purple and looking like Sonic in drag, Bernadette has suffered a fair amount in the comics while still raising her boy. Her husband Jules was the first person ever to be roboticized. Sadly, while under Robotnik’s control, Jules then threw his wife into a roboticizer and the two were robot slaves for years. After being fully freed and made flesh and blood again by the BEM aliens,  Bernadette went back to her normal way of life with their son Sonic. Sadly, due to his grave inures all Jules got was his free will, but his body will forever remain a robot. This hasn’t stopped Bernadette from loving him through these hard times. Think you hate having a husband with cold feet? Try cold EVERTYTHING! Sonic still lives with her and Jules to this day.

#3 Vanilla 

The only official mother in the Sonic games, Vanilla was only known for a long time as “Cream’s mom”. It wasn’t until Sonic X (or possibly Sonic Rush?) that she even got an official first name.  Vanilla is the one who taught her daughter her well-behaved mannerisms along with how to make a necktie accompany a dress well.  Oddly enough, she is not very protective of her daughter. Often letting her get into adventures with Amy or Blaze and in the comics, she recently let Cream join Team Freedom.  Maybe her husband left all the money in his will to her daughter.

Vanilla can be seen on Tuesdays hanging out with Crimson Viper for their weekly “video game single mother’s with neckties” club.

#2 Lupe Wolf 

While not having mothered any of the main Sonic cast, Lupe gets put near the top of this list for several reasons. She’s a heavy multitasker.  She went from leading the wolf pack to being grand chief of the entire wolf tribe. On top of that, she has four children to take care of. Two of them are adopted human girls!  One of whom, is mute (hey, that’s what rabies will do to you. I kid).  Think your mother gets on your case? Imagine one that also gives you fleas and ticks!

Kidding aside, in an older issue Lupe proved she would make any sacrifice for her children in order to keep them safe by being roboticized so they would not. She’s back to normal now, thanks to the BEM and living in an uneasy peace with the neighboring Felidae tribe. For a really fun story with Lupe and the Wolf Pack, check the “Reigning Cats and Dogs” storyline in Super Sonic Special #3 out now.

And the most memorable Mobius mama is…..

#1 Mama Robotnik 

Seriously, who didn’t see this one coming? The job of any good mother is to help their son go out into the world and succeed even if they fail time and time again. Unfortunately for Robotnik since he couldn’t get the job done, his mother would often come in with her own “tough love”. This usually meant throwing her own son out and trying to defeat Sonic herself. Some schemes included getting Robotnik to run for president, adopting Sonic as her new son and proving Sonic 4’s physics work by making walls explode just by walking into them. If you think Bernadette looks like Sonic in drag, take a look at the family resemblance Mama Robotnik has to her son. Right down to the giant mustache. No one puts more fear into Robotnik than his mama, but no one comes closer to defeating Sonic than her.

So Sonic fans, let this list remind you of all the sacrifices your mother does to help you out in your everyday life. In the wise words of Mr. T “There is no other, like mother. So treat her right!”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Gotta love the 80′s.