Difference between revisions of "Sonic the Hedgehog 4"
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− | The challenge was completed, and Sega announced the next week would be Hedgehog Week, which would start on GroundHog Day, "Hedgehog Day," and would be a week full of big reveals and possibilities to earn prizes, one which was a signed copy of [[Sonic 3]] by one of its developers. | + | The challenge was completed, and Sega announced the next week would be Hedgehog Week, which would start on GroundHog Day, "Hedgehog Day," and would be a week full of big reveals and possibilities to earn prizes, one which was a signed copy of [[Sonic 3]] by one of its developers. |
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+ | ===Hedgehog Week=== | ||
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+ | Hedgehog week started on Hedgehog Day. (Groundhog Day in US) The reason this day was chosen was because it was the original release date for [[Sonic 3]]. The 1st things revealed on Hedgehog Day were as promised, 2 new pieces of concept art: a palm tree and a sunflower, both reminiscent of [[Sonic 1]]. Also revealed was a short clip of music from the new game, which accompanied the "Happy Hedgehog Day" banner on Sega's official website. | ||
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File:Needlemouse sunflower.jpg|First zone sunflower concept art | File:Needlemouse sunflower.jpg|First zone sunflower concept art |
Revision as of 19:23, 11 February 2010
- For similarly-titled media, see Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (disambiguation).
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 |
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System(s): Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, iPhone |
Publisher: Sega |
Developer: Sonic Team |
Genre: 2D Platformer |
Sonic the Hedgehog 4, codenamed Project Needlemouse, is an upcoming Sonic game scheduled for release in July 2010. First announced on the GameSpot website on September 9, 2009, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will be in 2D, feature HD graphics, and be a downloadable title on XBLA, PSN, WiiWare, and the iPhone. It will be released in episodic format with the game's story spread throughout the series. It is a direct sequel to Sonic & Knuckles and takes place after its story.
Contents
Gameplay
The game intends to replicate the feel of 16-bit era Sonic games with elements such as momentum-based physics and classic-style badniks. Further details are yet to be revealed.
Marketing
On September 8, 2009, Sega revealed to GameSpot details about a new 2D Sonic game. Named Project Needlemouse, it would be released in 2010 and feature HD graphics. GameSpot conducted an interview with Sega's associate brand manager, Ken Balough. Balough described the game as a response to "old-school Sonic fans [who] have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay."
A teaser video (info) (2.4 MB) was also released. While the video didn't include any actual gameplay, it showed Sonic racing around collecting rings, with the words "Speed returns in an all new 2D adventure built from the ground up." It included sound effects from early Sonic games (like the original Sonic the Hedgehog). The video concludes with a silhouetted "ribbon, ring, and stars"-style emblem, which hides details such as the game's true name and main character (which would later be revealed as Sonic). The shape of the emblem closely resembled that of the one on the original Sonic the Hedgehog's title screen.
Character Countdown
On Monday, January 11, 2010, the "Project Needlemouse Character Countdown" began on the official Sega Blogs. This countdown would eventually reveal that Sonic is the only playable character in the game, after goals were met by the community. On Monday, a picture was released showing the names of potential playable characters. Each day that week until Friday, names would be crossed off that picture if enough fans answered Sonic-related trivia questions correctly. The list of possible characters included: Chip, Charmy, Shadow, Sonic, Vector, Sonic's new friend Mr. Needlemouse, Shade, Tikal, Big the Cat, Amy and Froggy.
A bonus point could also be earned each day. If at least three bonus points were earned by the community by Friday, "something special" would also be awarded. On Friday, this was revealed to be drawn concept artwork of a Shellcracker badnik from Sonic the Hedgehog 2Day 1 (Monday) | Trivia questions:
Challege: Get 100 replies on the Sega Blogs with three correct answers in 20 hours. Get over 250 correct replies for a bonus point. Outcome: Over 700 correct replies within the first 12 hours; challenge met with a bonus point awarded. Charmy and Chip were eliminated. |
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Day 2 (Tuesday) | Trivia questions:
Challenge: Get 500 replies on the Sega Facebook page and Sonic Facebook page with three correct answers in 20 hours. Get over 750 correct replies for a bonus point. Outcome: Over 900 correct replies were posted; challenge met with a bonus point awarded. Vector and Tikal were eliminated. |
Day 3 (Wednesday) | Trivia questions:
Challenge: Get 750 replies on the official Sonic forums with three correct answers in 20 hours. Get over 1000 correct replies for a bonus point. Outcome: At least 750 correct replies were made, but the bonus point challenge was not met. Shade and Amy were eliminated. |
Day 4 (Thursday) | Trivia questions:
Challenge: Get 1000 tweets replying to @sega on Twitter with three correct answers in 24 hours. A bonus point would be awarded if over 1250 correct replies were made or if #SEGA or #Needlemouse became trending topics. Outcome: Over 1000 correct replies were made; challenge met with a bonus point awarded. Shadow, Sonic's new friend Mr. Needlemouse, Froggy, and Big the Cat were eliminated, leaving only Sonic. |
All of the trivia questions had to do with the gameplay or creation of early Sonic games. This strengthened the idea that Project Needlemouse would be a game that somehow was related to the first Sonic games. In revealing that Sonic is the only character, the Sega Blog acknowledged that this was in response to "thousands of [fans] out there asking for a game where Sonic is the only playable character." Project Needlemouse would focus only on Sonic. The Shellcracker concept artwork further suggests that this game is closely related to the original Sonic games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
The Needlemouse Challenge: Part 2
On January 27, 2010, the official Sega Blog announced the second and final competition. This competition took a different path than the first one, asking blog visitors to submit their own concept art of badniks. Along with the competition, concept art of a Motobug was shown.
Part 2 (Thursday-Monday) | Task:
Challenge: Submit 100 total pieces of concept art by February 1st, 2010. Reward: The actual name of Project Needlemouse would be revealed, along with concept art from the first zone and an extra bonus. Outcome: According to Sega, well over 300 pieces of Artwork were submitted within the contest's first 48 hours. "If our target had been a ship and your entries arrows, we wanted you to simply fire off one-hundred arrows and hit our ship. That would have been enough. Instead, you shot one hundred arrows, fired two hundred cannons, launched multiple air-to-land missiles, detonated at least three warheads, and sent the ship splintering into the air in a grand explosion of planks and pieces – of what used to be a target – as they fell, smoking, to the ground. (Note: The term ‘blew it out of the water’ just wasn’t accurate.)" |
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The challenge was completed, and Sega announced the next week would be Hedgehog Week, which would start on GroundHog Day, "Hedgehog Day," and would be a week full of big reveals and possibilities to earn prizes, one which was a signed copy of Sonic 3 by one of its developers.
Hedgehog Week
Hedgehog week started on Hedgehog Day. (Groundhog Day in US) The reason this day was chosen was because it was the original release date for Sonic 3. The 1st things revealed on Hedgehog Day were as promised, 2 new pieces of concept art: a palm tree and a sunflower, both reminiscent of Sonic 1. Also revealed was a short clip of music from the new game, which accompanied the "Happy Hedgehog Day" banner on Sega's official website.
Official Unveiling
On February 4, 2010 at midnight PST, the official title of Project Needlemouse, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, was revealed on the Gamespot website. It was accompanied by an interview with Sega's Ken Balough and a trailer containing a few seconds of gameplay footage.
External Links
- Official Website
- Initial announcement (and teaser trailer) on Gamespot
- Sonic 4 announcement and trailer on Gamespot
- The interview with Ken Balough on Gamespot
- Sega America Blog: Project Needlemouse Character Countdown – Finale and Concept Art!
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 | |
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Main page (I|II|Metal) |
show;hide
Episode I:
Episode II: Episode I: Episode II: Episode I:
Episode II: |
Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems | |
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2006 Sonic the Hedgehog 2008 Sonic Unleashed 2009 Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection 2010 Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing | Sonic Free Riders 2011 Sonic Generations 2012 Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed |
2006 Sonic the Hedgehog 2008 Sonic Unleashed 2009 Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection 2010 Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing 2011 Sonic Generations 2012 Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed |