Sonic Mania (August 15th 2017, Christian Whitehead, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch) - The New Classic

[Kintor]

48 minutes ago, Chris Knopps said:

...Then what the heck is the deal with the Sonic franchise and why are they letting themselves seem like they're near deaths door in the rest of the world then? In regards to their funds of course I'm speaking based on assumptions, but if they're so well off overseas, they really need to start putting all they have into the Sonic franchise again, and perhaps into other games so they aren't known for "just Sonic" basically.

Well, I think the negative perception of Sega you described is largely just media driven and doesn't have much of a basis in reality. When both Atlus and TMS Entertainment (to mention the examples from earlier) can both operate just fine without any explicit Sega branding most of the time, even though both companies are 100% owned by Sega. As for Sega games themselves, I'm quite pleased with Sega's current output; just a couple of weeks ago Yakuza 0 was released, with the promise of more localised Yakuza games in the future, that bodes extremely well.

In regards to Sonic Mania specifically, I don't think there's any significance about the fact that a smaller team is involved with its development. Digital distribution has been a real boon to 2D gaming, when these smaller titles can be sold online at a relatively cheaper price point and find an audience. Whereas the retail situation makes it difficult for these kind of games to find shelf-space alongside 50 hour open world games like GTA V and the Witcher 3. Taxman and his team are the perfect choice for making Sonic Mania, allowing Sega to develop nimble digital titles likes alongside the massive 3D projects Sonic Team is working on.

[Wraith]

1 hour ago, Chris Knopps said:

...Then what the heck is the deal with the Sonic franchise and why are they letting themselves seem like they're near deaths door in the rest of the world then? In regards to their funds of course I'm speaking based on assumptions, but if they're so well off overseas, they really need to start putting all they have into the Sonic franchise again, and perhaps into other games so they aren't known for "just Sonic" basically.

You answered you own question. If Sonic's success clearly isn't THAT much of a factor in the success in the company as a whole they don't have that much of a reason to push harder than they are.

[Chris Knopps]

1 hour ago, Josh said:

You answered you own question. If Sonic's success clearly isn't THAT much of a factor in the success in the company as a whole they don't have that much of a reason to push harder than they are.

That... makes me severely depressed in a way... ^^;

[Indigo Rush]

Alex Kidd needs to reclaim the throne, you see.

[molul]

16 minutes ago, Indigo Rush said:

Alex Kidd needs to reclaim the throne, you see.

Sega should seriously think about starting an indie division dedicated to remaster or make sequels for every single great franchise they've forgotten about. Alex Kidd, Ristar, Streets of rage, Nights... 

Nintendo has managed their IPs correctly, and it's a big part of their survival so far. People who buy Nintendo, they buy it because they want to play Nintendo exclusive games. Sega could have done that if they focused on their greatest characters and worlds.

[SonicComicFanboy]

2 hours ago, molul said:

Sega should seriously think about starting an indie division dedicated to remaster or make sequels for every single great franchise they've forgotten about. Alex Kidd, Ristar, Streets of rage, Nights... 

Nintendo has managed their IPs correctly, and it's a big part of their survival so far. People who buy Nintendo, they buy it because they want to play Nintendo exclusive games. Sega could have done that if they focused on their greatest characters and worlds.

  SEGA's biggest problem is quality control.  The Wii Nights game was pretty Janky, and as we all know Sonic has been hit & miss for well over a decade.   Hmm, given SEGA being more friendly with Nintendo instead of rivals these days, maybe they could ask the Big-N to help them make a NEW Alex Kidd or Ristar game.  (that will never happen of course, but I can dream!)

[Chris Knopps]

4 hours ago, molul said:

Sega should seriously think about starting an indie division dedicated to remaster or make sequels for every single great franchise they've forgotten about. Alex Kidd, Ristar, Streets of rage, Nights... 

Nintendo has managed their IPs correctly, and it's a big part of their survival so far. People who buy Nintendo, they buy it because they want to play Nintendo exclusive games. Sega could have done that if they focused on their greatest characters and worlds.

So much yes. And also Billy Hatcher.

[Kintor]

10 hours ago, molul said:

Sega should seriously think about starting an indie division dedicated to remaster or make sequels for every single great franchise they've forgotten about. Alex Kidd, Ristar, Streets of rage, Nights... 

Nintendo has managed their IPs correctly, and it's a big part of their survival so far. People who buy Nintendo, they buy it because they want to play Nintendo exclusive games. Sega could have done that if they focused on their greatest characters and worlds.

This idea that Nintendo shows greater respect to their old franchises in comparison to other publishers is largely an illusion. Look below the surface and you'll find plenty of complaints from Nintendo fan that they never see old Nintendo franchise anymore; unless the game is Mario, Zelda or occasionally Fire Emblem. When the last Metroid game was Metroid Prime: Federation Force, possibly the worst Metroid game ever created. While Star Fox Zero also received significant criticism, an uninspired rehash of Lylat Wars but this time with a bad control scheme. That in true Nintendo isn't a good example for other publishers to follow.

Regardless, we could well see the return of more classic Sega franchise in the future. However, I think that such a turn of events would largely depend on the success of Sonic Mania. I have no doubt that Sonic Mania is going to be a hit for Sega, the hype surrounding the game is already pretty intense. From this point on wards Sega can use the success of Sonic Mania to justify more retro 2D just like it. But first things first, Sonic Mania needs to be released.

[Chris Knopps]

5 minutes ago, Kintor said:

This idea that Nintendo shows greater respect to their old franchises in comparison to other publishers is largely an illusion. Look below the surface and you'll find plenty of complaints from Nintendo fan that they never see old Nintendo franchise anymore; unless the game is Mario, Zelda or occasionally Fire Emblem. When the last Metroid game was Metroid Prime: Federation Force, possibly the worst Metroid game ever created. While Star Fox Zero also received significant criticism, an uninspired rehash of Lylat Wars but this time with a bad control scheme. That in true Nintendo isn't a good example for other publishers to follow.

(Don't forget what they've done to Paper Mario)

[Kintor]

10 minutes ago, Chris Knopps said:

(Don't forget what they've done to Paper Mario)

Yes, that too. It turns out Miyamoto doesn't like complex stories...

[Wraith]

15 minutes ago, Kintor said:

This idea that Nintendo shows greater respect to their old franchises in comparison to other publishers is largely an illusion. Look below the surface and you'll find plenty of complaints from Nintendo fan that they never see old Nintendo franchise anymore; unless the game is Mario, Zelda or occasionally Fire Emblem. When the last Metroid game was Metroid Prime: Federation Force, possibly the worst Metroid game ever created. While Star Fox Zero also received significant criticism, an uninspired rehash of Lylat Wars but this time with a bad control scheme. That in true Nintendo isn't a good example for other publishers to follow.

This is cherry picking and ignores the recent revivals of Franchises like Donkey Kong Country, Pikmin, and Kid Icarus or franchises that have consistently sustained themselves this whole time like Kirby or Animal Crossing. I don't like how Nintendo handles Metroid and Starfox either but comparing them to Sega and their total abandonment of a majority of their IPs is laughable. 

[Kintor]

19 minutes ago, Josh said:

This is cherry picking and ignores the recent revivals of Franchises like Donkey Kong Country, Pikmin, and Kid Icarus or franchises that have consistently sustained themselves this whole time like Kirby or Animal Crossing. I don't like how Nintendo handles Metroid and Starfox either but comparing them to Sega and their total abandonment of a majority of their IPs is laughable. 

It's as the old proverb goes: "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Certain segments of the internet treat Nintendo and their staff like living saints, that Nintendo can do no wrong and is somehow free of the frailties of other publishers. But such sentiments are a highly fragile illusion, easily breakable once so much as a single contradiction is found. Nintendo is no better than the rest of us sinners who buy games on non-Nintendo platformers. Sega will revive more old franchise with time but they'll do so by avoiding Nintendo’s' mistakes.

[Chris Knopps]

28 minutes ago, Kintor said:

Yes, that too. It turns out Miyamoto doesn't like complex stories...

I find this issue with both Nintendo and SEGA to be very...

Not good...

They make a hedgehog kiss a princess one time, then after Unleashed it's plots on par with sticking out your tongue and blowing raspberries through the whole script. lol

[Wraith]

3 minutes ago, Kintor said:

It's as the old proverb goes: "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Certain segments of the internet treat Nintendo and their staff like living saints, that Nintendo can do no wrong and is somehow free of the frailties of other publishers. But such sentiments are a highly fragile illusion, easily breakable once so much as a single contradiction is found. Nintendo is no better than the rest of us sinners who buy games on non-Nintendo platformers. Sega will revive more old franchise with time but they'll do so by avoiding Nintendo’s' mistakes.

Seems more like a personal beef with Nintendo and it's fans than anything to do with the topic at hand, but aight.

[Tracker_TD]

25 minutes ago, Kintor said:

It's as the old proverb goes: "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Certain segments of the internet treat Nintendo and their staff like living saints, that Nintendo can do no wrong and is somehow free of the frailties of other publishers. But such sentiments are a highly fragile illusion, easily breakable once so much as a single contradiction is found. Nintendo is no better than the rest of us sinners who buy games on non-Nintendo platformers. Sega will revive more old franchise with time but they'll do so by avoiding Nintendo’s' mistakes.

I like how you didn't actually address any of his points and instead went into "Ni-Nintendo are sinners!" with a bunch of flowery language to make it seem more like you were saying something of note

Reeeeeal strong argument you got there 

yep

[Indigo Rush]

Sonic Mania is a video game which features 3 playable characters, including fan favorite Knuckles the Echidna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what are we talking about again

[Polkadi~☆]

2 minutes ago, Indigo Rush said:

Sonic Mania is a video game which features 3 playable characters, including fan favorite Knuckles the Echidna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what are we talking about again

How Sonic Mania is the work of the devil, and how it makes you commit suicide with it's subliminal messages, and how that represents what society has become today, as we all bow to one leader who controls everything, memes.

Y'know, compared to actually talking about the game.

[Kintor]

27 minutes ago, Josh said:

Seems more like a personal beef with Nintendo and it's fans than anything to do with the topic at hand, but aight.

Well, the problem for you is that Nintendo has no relevance to Sonic Mania. Bringing up Nintendo franchises to take a cheap shot at Sega is always going to end badly and risk derailing the thread in the process.

Far better to actually, you know, talk about Sonic Mania:

7 minutes ago, Indigo Rush said:

Sonic Mania is a video game which features 3 playable characters, including fan favorite Knuckles the Echidna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what are we talking about again

It's certainly good to see Knuckles back as a playable character. I wonder if Knuckles will get unique alternative routes, that only he can access. Just like how it was in S3&K.

[Tracker_TD]

1 minute ago, Kintor said:

Well, the problem for you is that Nintendo has no relevance to Sonic Mania. Bringing up Nintendo franchises to take a cheap shot at Sega is always going to end badly and risk derailing the thread in the process.

...about that.

Even then, it wasn't a 'cheap shot' - pointing out how Nintendo and SEGA handle their IPs and why Nintendo's method is preferable is a perfectly fair comparison to make, given the line of discussion at that point. 

[Wraith]

3 minutes ago, Kintor said:

Well, the problem for you is that Nintendo has no relevance to Sonic Mania. Bringing up Nintendo franchises to take a cheap shot at Sega is always going to end badly and risk derailing the thread in the process.

 

Far better to actually, you know, talk about Sonic Mania:

 

Nintendo was already in the discussion and I refuted a statement I thought was incorrect. You're also the one that spurred the Nintendo derail to begin with by taking a passing statement about them and using it as an excuse to vent. Anyone who's been reading and paying attention the thread can tell that this post, along with some of the other posts you've made in this conversation, border on nonsensical.

[Chris Knopps]

32 minutes ago, Indigo Rush said:

Sonic Mania is a video game which features 3 playable characters, including fan favorite Knuckles the Echidna.

No sale until we get DLC of Nipples the Enchilada and Biles the Funk and Pig the Carp.

(Edit)

I'll admit I officially suck at making up fake names...

[Psychicmoose103]

Lets bring the topic back to Mania

If you were going to be hired to make a 30 second or less commercial for Sonic Mania, what would the script be?

Here is Mine - "Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are back in a brand new adventure. Travel through new and old zones to defeat the evil Dr. Eggman! Sonic Mania, for Switch, PC, Xbox, and Ps4!"

[FriendBot]

16 minutes ago, Psychicmoose103 said:

Lets bring the topic back to Mania

If you were going to be hired to make a 30 second or less commercial for Sonic Mania, what would the script be?

Here is Mine - "Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are back in a brand new adventure. Travel through new and old zones to defeat the evil Dr. Eggman! Sonic Mania, for Switch, PC, Xbox, and Ps4!"

Sonic Mania

You want it, you got it

Now shut up and give your money to get the true 3D Classic Sonic game you asked for.

[Kintor]

2 hours ago, Tracker_TD said:

...about that.

Even then, it wasn't a 'cheap shot' - pointing out how Nintendo and SEGA handle their IPs and why Nintendo's method is preferable is a perfectly fair comparison to make, given the line of discussion at that point. 

Nah, Nintendo is just the third wheel in this situation. When the Switch gets a late announced port of Sonic Mania alongside PC, PS4 and Xbox One. No reason to give Nintendo special treatment in this thread.

After all, Nintendo doesn't treat its old franchises particularly well, as the arguments in this thread already show. Following Nintendo's example is simply a quick path to irrelevancy, like how Nintendo crashed and burned with WiiU after the height of the original Wii era.

1 hour ago, Psychicmoose103 said:

Lets bring the topic back to Mania

If you were going to be hired to make a 30 second or less commercial for Sonic Mania, what would the script be?

Here is Mine - "Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are back in a brand new adventure. Travel through new and old zones to defeat the evil Dr. Eggman! Sonic Mania, for Switch, PC, Xbox, and Ps4!"

*Bored guy sitting on a couch in front of a TV*

*the TV explodes to life in a wall of light and sound that pushes the guy to the back of the couch.*

"Blast processing is back!"

*Montage of Sonic Mania footage, with plenty of fast edits.*

"Sonic Mania! Available to download now!"

*The guy looks directly into the camera with a crazed expression on his face and screams one word:*

"Sega!"

[Chris Knopps]

...Anybody else think it'd be cool if the game card for Sonic Mania on the Switch was designed to look like a Genesis cartridge?