Kotaku Australia » sonic unleashed

Games On Demand: Fist-Bumping, Werehogs, And LA Traffic

Mike Fahey — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Whether you enjoy shooting, driving, or bemoaning the sad decline of a once-beloved franchise, today’s additions to the Xbox 360 Games on Demand lineup have something for you!

Three old Xbox 360 titles are made new again this week, thanks to the magic of digital delivery. Today you can download Army of Two, Midnight Club: LA, or Sonic Unleashed directly to your Xbox 360, with no need to leave the safety and comfort of your own abode. Just because we say you shouldn’t play Sonic Unleashed is no reason not to drop $US29.99 for it and see why you shouldn’t play it for yourself!

Midnight Club: LA also rings up at $US29.99, while EA’s buddy mercenary joint is a steal at $US19.99.

Has anyone out there purchased a game through Games on Demand? I’ve only picked up BioShock myself, and that’s because I was given a code to test out the service when it launched. Has the convenience moved you?

Kotaku AU Note: Midnight Club and Army of Two are both $AU49.95, while Sonic Unleashed hasn’t yet appeared on our store even though Major Nelson says it’s available in all regions. No great loss though!

Xbox 360 Games on Demand: Army of Two, Midnight Club: LA and Sonic Unleashed [Major Nelson]

You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Sonic The Werehog

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:40:13 +0000

Sonic the Hedgehog fans (read: masochists) will be delighted to learn that, should Sega see fit to subject them to another Sonic Unleashed title, the lumbering, stretchy “werehog” is almost guaranteed to return.

Sonic and the Black Knight director Tetsu Katano tells Videogamer “You will see the Werehog again.” That’s despite the general shunning of the Werehog version of Sonic by many longtime Sonic the Hedgehog fans and mixed reviews from critics.

“In principle, I think that the users are always right. They’re the ones paying the money and playing the games. If they don’t enjoy it, they’re not going to buy it,” Katano tells Videogamer. “I don’t think that producing the Werehog was a mistake per se, but there were a lot of things we could have done better if we had more time and resources.”

Katano kind of backs away from confirming a Sonic Unleashed sequel later in the interview, but we have a good feeling Sega sees a winning combination in expanding the Sonic the Hedgehog market to furry enthusiasts. That’s something that can only be done with either more Werehog or some disturbing Miles “Tails” Prower spin-offs.

Sonic and the Black Knight Interview [Videogamer via NeoGAF]

Kids Can Sit On Sonic For A ‘Full-Body Sensory Experience’

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

…with the Reactor Mini Chair from Ultimate Gaming Chair! The gaming chair manufacturer is delivering its first kid-sized, speaker-stuffed chair in time for the holiday season which just happens to coincide with the release of Sega’s Sonic Unleashed. The smaller sized gaming chair is designed for kids ages three to nine years and comes with a full colour image of Sega’s enduring mascot Sonic the Hedgehog.

Rob Lightner of Sega of America says that the chair is “an ideal complement to the Sonic franchise and delivers the ultimate game experience to young player.” However, he also says that Sonic Unleashed “reinvents the Sonic The Hedgehog dynasty” with “imaginative new storylines” so we’re not sure we can trust him.

Still, if you’re kid’s in need of something to sit on and isn’t jaded by Sonic games, this is the chair for him or her!

Ultimate Game Chair Unveils First Video Game Chair for Kids Featuring SEGA’s Sonic The Hedgehog

New Reactor Mini Game Chair Coincides with Debut of SEGA’s Best-Selling Kids’ Franchise “Sonic Unleashed”

November 18, 2008, ANTIOCH, CA – The Ultimate Game Chair, maker of all-in-one virtual game, massage and home theatre chairs, today unveiled the first-ever kids’ video game chair – the Reactor Mini Game Chair. The new Reactor Mini Chair is a result of a licensing deal between SEGA and Ultimate Game Chair and will feature SEGA’s Sonic The Hedgehog – one of the best-known kids’ franchise in the history of games. In addition, the Reactor Mini debut will coincide with the release of SEGA’s hotly anticipated Sonic Unleashed.

The Reactor Mini represents Ultimate Game Chair’s first-ever game chair designed for the 3-to-9 year old crowd. The Reactor Mini includes a larger-than-life, full-colour image of SEGA’s iconic blue mascot, Sonic The Hedgehog, which appears on the seat back and wraps around the chair for a three-dimensional effect.

“Sonic Unleashed reinvents the Sonic The Hedgehog dynasty to deliver innovative and unexpected game play, along with imaginative new storylines,” said Rob Lightner, Vice President of Business Development of SEGA of America. “The Reactor Mini is an ideal complement to the Sonic franchise and delivers the ultimate game experience to young players.”

Weighing only 13 pounds and measuring 25 ¾ inches (H) by 14 ½ inches (W), the Reactor Mini is sized and stylized specifically for young gamers. With four high-impact vibrating motors and 3D-stereo sound, the Reactor Mini amplifies game play with any title on all gaming systems.

Your browser may not support display of this image.”Perched in the Reactor Mini, young gamers will embark on a high-speed adventure where movements, fighting and speed deliver a full-body sensory experience – all in the comfort of a chair that is sized perfectly to fit,” said Jamie Duran, president of Ultimate Game Chair. “Drawing on SEGA’s legacy of the best game play and most engaging storylines, we have built a chair that will unleash a child’s inner hedgehog and redefine video game fun.”

The Reactor Mini Game Chair will be available online at www.ultimategamechair.com beginning November 21. SONIC Unleashed Xbox 360 games in the United States will include a promotional piece spotlighting the Reactor Mini and offering Sonic fans a 10 percent discount. The Reactor Mini is $69.99 (MSRP) or $62.99 (with coupon), plus shipping. Sonic Unleashed will be rated E10.

ABOUT ULTIMATE GAME CHAIR

Ultimate Game Chair, Inc., headquartered in Antioch, California, designs all-in-one virtual game, massage and home theatre chairs. Ultimate Game Chair amplifies the video gaming experience by delivering patented special effects and high-impact vibration capabilities that deliver the ultimate in game play intensity. For more information, visit http://www.UltimateGameChair.com.

Sonic Delay Due To ‘Manufacturing’, Not ‘Quality’

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:30:00 +0000

On Monday, we heard that the Japanese release of Sonic Unleashed had been delayed until Spring 2009. Due to, we were told, quality concerns over the 360 and PS3 versions of the game. Uh oh. Now, a little later in the week, Sega’s damage control team has taken over, and changed the company’s tune. The game hasn’t been delayed in Japan due to “quality” concerns. It’s been delayed due to the company’s “manufacturing schedule”, the Western versions won’t be affected, there’s nothing to see here, move along, move along. Whatever guys. Consider us, until further notice, sceptical.

海外在住のソニックファンの皆様へ [Sega]

Team Sonic Upbeat About Sonic Criticism

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:00:00 +0000

Sonic has it rough. His games like 2006’s Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic Heroes often get torn apart by many. That must be pretty damn hard for the Team Sonic developers. Actually, according to Sonic Unleashed director Yoshihisa Hashimoto (not pictured), it’s not for him. “I think the fans’ evaluations are fair I often read the forums run by Sonic fans on a routine basis,” says Hashimoto. “I hardly feel any discomfort from their comments. I often find myself rather agreeable to them.” Classy!

Sonic Unleashed: Yoshi Hashimoto Interview [Kikizo] [Pic]

Sonic Delayed in Japan ‘to Improve Quality’; Still on Schedule for US

Owen Good — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Siliconera reports that the Japan version of Sonic Unleashed — titled Sonic World Adventure — will be delayed until Autumn 2009. It was originally scheduled for a Dec. 18 release date. Sega is using the time to improve Sonic World Adventure, but Sonic Unleashed is still on target for its Australian dates (PS2, Wii, 360 on Nov. 28, PS3 in Dec.). The Wii version of Sonic World Adventure is not affected by the delay.

It’s a valid point — is Japan getting a noticeably different game, or will Sega AU follow suit and delay the title too?

Sega Delaying PS3/360 Sonic Unleashed to Improve Quality, but Only in Japan [Siliconera]

Sega Reminds All of Dreamcast

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Just because Sega shitcanned the Dreamcast, doesn’t mean the company has forgotten. (We haven’t!) The company still has a Dreamcast game page on its corporate site. And if you look very closely at this Sonic Unleashed screenshot, you can glimpse that magic enjoyment box. Dr. Robotnik has stellar taste in game consoles. He should be congratulated.

Dr. Robotnik still plays his Dreamcast [Sega Nerds]

Sonic to Star in Animated Short

Owen Good — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Sega has a page up now touting “Night of the Werehog,” an animated short that should release sometime soon to build hype for Sonic Unleashed, which hits Europe Nov. 14 and North America Nov. 18. Not sure if the story will be part of the game’s canon or what, or if it will tease in-game cutscenes but visually it’s some first-rate CGI, and here you can enjoy watching Sonic beat arse as his werehog self.

Sonic Set to Star in Animated Short: Night of the Werehog [The BBPS]

Sega Japan NoThankYou.JPGs Sonic Unleashed For PS2

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Sonic Unleashed is getting, erm, unleashed on every console under the North American sun: Xbox 360, Wii, PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation. Retitled as Sonic: World Adventure for the Japanese market, the SEGA game is not getting a PS2 release in The Land of the Rising Sun. Game site Siliconera wonders why the title is not getting a PlayStation 2 port — especially because the PS2 version would be ready in time for the Japan release. SEGA hasn’t abandoned the PS2 platform yet as shooter Thunderforce IV is hitting that platform later this month. Could it be SEGA Japan’s last PS2 title?

Sega Japan Passing On PS2 Sonic Unleashed [Siliconera]

On The Possibility Of 2D, HD, XBLA & PSN Sonic Games

Luke Plunkett — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:40:01 +0000

Yesterday, I got the chance to sit down for tea and biscuits with Akinori Nishiyama, producer on Sega’s upcoming Sonic reboot Sonic Unleashed. When you get a chance to ask someone high up at Sega why they, uh, don’t make good Sonic games anymore, you don’t pass that chance up. So I asked him, in light of the company’s insistence on including 3D elements in Unleashed, whether Sega would be taking a leaf out of Capcom’s book and putting out a 2D, HD Sonic remake (or even a new game) on XBLA or PSN?

Nishiyama: There’s always the possibility. Whether it would be viable remains to be seen, but having a new game – or even a remake of the GBA games, which we now can’t use [thanks to the DSi] – would certainly be possible. If we made one, would you buy it?

Me: [nods]

Nishiyama: Really?

Me: [nods]

Nishiyama: [laughs] Great! One of our ideas has been that on older consoles, you may have had only 16 colours. One thing we could do is make a game like Mega Man 9; do a new Sonic, but in an old style.

Encouraging words, but let’s not jump the gun. This is Sega we’re talking about, after all.