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''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' has gone through several changes over its development process. The following details several of these things.
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{{back}}[[Category:Development]]
 +
''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' went through many ideas and changes during the development process. What follows is a collection of items related to the game's development.
  
−
==Development Process==
+
==Development process==
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Shadow the Hedgehog was developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sega's Sonic Team, and published by Sega. The game and its tagline ("Hero or villain? You decide.") were revealed at the March 2005 inauguration of Sonic the Hedgehog into the Walk of Game. The game was formally announced by Sega on March 23.
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[[File:SonicAndTheMayor.jpg|thumb|190px|Sonic the Hedgehog and then-mayor of San Francisco [[wikipedia:Gavin Newson|Gavin Newson]]. From the Walk of Game celebration.]]
 +
After the release of the multi-platform ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'', questions arose as to what direction the ''[[:Category:Games|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' franchise would go next. Would it be a sequel to the ''Heroes'' formula? A return to the ''[[Sonic Adventure|Adventure]]'' style of gameplay? Or would it be something new entirely? Rumors began to circulate when, through official Sega channels, an online poll was put up asking people to vote on which character in the Sonic franchise they'd like to see star in their own game. With choices including the obvious ([[Miles "Tails" Prower]], [[Knuckles the Echidna]]) and some from left field ([[Espio the Chameleon]]), the winner of the poll would be none other than [[Shadow the Hedgehog]], the "Ultimate Lifeform" that had been introduced in ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' and was proven to still be alive (in some form) in ''Heroes''.
  
−
[[Sonic Team]]'s [[Takashi Iizuka]], who had worked on the Sonic the Hedgehog series since 1993, targeted a younger audience with previous games, and wanted to target an older audience with ''Shadow the Hedgehog''.[http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3140992&did=1] The game's development team wanted to make a game featuring Shadow to resolve plot mysteries that began with the character's introduction in Sonic Adventure 2.[http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/10414] The team felt that Shadow's design—inspired by films such as ''Underworld'', ''Constantine'', and the ''Terminator'' series—would make the story darker and allow for elements, such as vehicles and weapons, otherwise considered inappropriate for a Sonic game.[http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/645/645487p1.html] Sonic Team's [[Yuji Naka]] stated in an interview with GameSpy that he wanted to use Shadow as the game's main character due to his popularity among fans and being the best fit for a "gun action" game.[http://cube.gamespy.com/articles/654/654735p1.html] The game contains profanities—instances of damn and hell spoken by Shadow and other characters such as Espio and the president. Profanity and the usage of guns, firsts for the series, generated some pre-release controversy.
+
Only a few weeks after the results of the poll were revealed, it was announced that the character of [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] would be one of the inaugural inductees into the [[sega:Walk of Game|Walk of Game]], an attraction in San Francisco that was designed to honor the icons of video gaming, both the characters on screen and the minds behind the scenes. Being on hand at the event, Sega found it the perfect time to unveil the next installment in the ''Sonic'' series. The trailer came in two parts: the first being a celebration of all things Sonic over the previous fourteen years, the second footage of the latest title being developed by [[sega:Sonic Team|Sonic Team]], introduced with a hail of bullet holes over footage of the previous games. This was the world's first look at ''Shadow the Hedgehog'', named after the character who would be the star.
  
−
==Lost tracks==
+
Sonic Team USA, having renamed themselves Sega Studios USA after the completion of ''Heroes'', more than likely did not begin the development of the game based on the poll, using the results simply to gauge fan reaction when it would be unveiled. Knowing he wanted to do more with the character even while developing ''Sonic Adventure 2'', [[sega:Takashi Iizuka|Takashi Iizuka]] was ready to tackle the character after wrapping up production of ''Sonic Heroes''. As the previous titles has been aimed at a younger audience, Iizuka wanted to appeal to an older demographic with the game, and attract those who might not otherwise play a Sonic title.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20150416044056/http://www.1up.com/previews/shadow-the-hedgehog_11}} Also wanting to capitalize on the story elements of the game, Iizuka wanted focus on the mysterious nature of the character and his origins, providing a platform to answer the many questions fans of the character had been asking over the previous two games he was featured in.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20120724211458/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/10414}}
−
In this game, a track was removed for due to copyright and licensing reasons. The song was "Who I Am" by Magna-Fi, the band who made "[[All Hail Shadow]]". Another song, "Broken" by Sins of a Divine Mother, was desired by [[Jun Senoue]] to be used in the game. However, after being unable to contact the band's lead singer Wylie B. to discuss licensing, the song was dropped in favor of "[[Chosen One]]", written and performed by the band A2 (which features members from the latter band.) [http://info.sonicretro.org/Danny_Parker_interview_by_unDennis_Spielman]
 
  
−
==Censorship==
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Because of the darker nature of the character, the team took inspiration from such films as ''[[wikipedia:Underworld (film series)|Underworld]]'', ''[[wikipedia:Constantine (film)|Constantine]]'', and the ''[[wikipedia:Terminator (franchise)|Terminator]]'' series in building the world of Shadow the Hedgehog.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20090622050009/http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/645/645487p1.html}} This dark tone gave way for elements to be added to the game such as being able to ride vehicles and the use of weapons, which became one of the main elements of the gameplay to make ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' distinct from the standard Sonic franchise. Though shooting elements had been in the two ''Adventure'' titles, the team wanted to come up with a new way to challenge themselves, creating a "gun action" game that focused on both speed and shooting at the same time. Seeing Shadow as the only appropriate character to go about this, production was fully underway.{{intref|Interview: Yuji Naka (2005-09-30) by GameSpy}}
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Due to the mildly violent nature of the game, the ESRB rating was, for a time, in question. The official ESRB website originally had the game rated as T, along with GameSpot, but the official site listed E-10+. The T rating was seemingly further evidenced, however, by the fact that, at trade shows where Sega showed off the game, they asked only those 13 and older to play the title. Early builds of the game even had mild swearing in them, and the game does include two mildly offensive words (damn and hell). For the English Version of the game, Sega took out the human's blood, changed the color of alien blood from red to green, edited the word 'piss' and put 'tick' instead (Sonic says this), and censored the scene when a GUN soldier shoots Maria, cutting out as Maria is shot and falls to the ground. Regardless, the ESRB website later updated the rating to E-10+, thus making it unanimous. The following images show two examples of the censorship:
+
 
−
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4">
+
Another element the team was sure to put in the game was the use of branching pathways within the story. Wanting to use it for ''Sonic Adventure 2'' but running out of time, it was made an essential component of the ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' experience. Playing with the Hero/Dark motif from Shadow's introduction, the game's tagline ("Hero or villain? You decide.") encapsulated that each playthrough of the game could be a wholly unique experience. Though only playing through six levels at any given time, a total of 22 were available, with [[List of Library sequences|326 different ways]] a player could successfully complete the game.
−
File:ShadowTH Censorship1.jpg|Text was changed from "Just what the hell was that all about" to "What was that about".
+
 
−
File:ShadowTH Censorship2.jpg|Reddish blood was changed to green.
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Due to the minor controversy surrounding the use of weapons in the title, as well as mild swearing and the use of blood in the human and alien enemies, the game initially received a "T" rating from the [[cdn:Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]], Sega even asking those at trade shows and events where the game was being demoed to only play if they were 13 and up. As luck would have it, as the game was being produced, the ESRB decided to update their rating system, adding an "E10+" rating between "E" and "T." Wanting to take advantage of this, the Western translation of the game removed some of the swearing that was present, leaving other moments in tact. The blood was also dealt with, removed completely from the [[Guardian Units of Nations|G.U.N.]] soldiers and changed to green for the [[Black Doom]] armada. This purposeful censorship on Sega's part allowed the game's rating to be changed to the lower ten-and-up designation, even if such a move contradicted the intention of targeting the game to an older audience.
 +
 
 +
Echoing the multiple character themes in the previous 3D installments, multiple vocal tracks were composed for the game, specific ones playing depending on the path taken by Shadow. However, there were certain songs that [[Jun Senoue]], the lead music composer of the game, wanted but was unsuccessful in getting. The first of these was a track entitled "Who I Am," written by the band Magna-Fi. Also producing the track "[[All Hail Shadow]]" for the game, the former track was forced to be removed due to copyright and licensing issues. "Broken," a song previously released by the band Sins of a Divine Mother, was another track that Jun wanted in the game. Unfortunately, as he was unable to track down the band's lead singer to discuss the licensing of the song, it was forced to be dropped as well. Instead, the song "[[Chosen One]]" was used, written and performed by the band A2 (which happened to feature members from Sins of a Divine Mother).{{intref|Danny Parker interview by Dennis Spielman}}
 +
 
 +
This game was the first to feature a new English voice cast. Shortly before the untimely death of [[Deem Bristow]], Sega saw fit to replace the voice actors used in the ''Adventure'' series with the 4Kids dub cast of the cartoon ''[[Sonic X]]'' in an effort to bring consistency to the franchise. These actors would remain in their roles until ''[[Sonic Free Riders]]'' in 2010.
 +
 
 +
The risks that were taken during the making of the game proved ineffectual, as the released product was thoroughly trashed by critics. Although it defied those critics by selling reasonably well, in the end Sega judged it not successful enough to warrant a full-fledged companion franchise. The game has retrospectively been cited as a "jump the shark" moment for the ''Sonic'' series by both fans and industry professionals; a sentiment which would later be exacerbated by a [[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 game)|2006 ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' game]] intended to celebrate Sonic's 15th anniversary...
 +
 
 +
==Concept art==
 +
===Character/Enemy concept art===
 +
<gallery widths="148px" heights="140px" >
 +
File:Shadow Concept Meeker3.jpg|The initial render of [[Black Doom]]. By [[Barret Meeker]].
 +
File:BA soldier wire.jpg|A wire model of the [[Black Warrior]] enemy. By [[Cemre Ozkurt]].
 +
File:BA soldier.jpg|The Black Warrior fully textured. By Cemre Ozkurt.
 +
File:BlackArmsTrooper.jpg|Another shot of the Black Warrior.
 +
File:BlackArmsGiant.jpg|Black Oak.
 +
File:BlackArmsVolt.jpg|Black Hawk.
 +
File:BlackArmsBlackHawk.jpg|A model of Black Hawk closer to that in the game.
 +
File:GUN Concept.jpg|A G.U.N. soldier.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Space Colony ARK/Black Comet art===
 +
<gallery widths="148px" heights="140px" >
 +
File:Ozkurt Ark2.jpg|The [[Space Colony ARK]] orbiting planet Earth. By Cemre Ozkurt.
 +
File:Ozkurt Ark3.jpg|A closeup of the ARK, labeled as "Eggman's Space Station." By Cemre Ozkurt.
 +
File:Ozkurt Ark.jpg|A view looking in to the hallway in which Shadow and Maria run from the G.U.N. troops. By Cemre Ozkurt.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Meeker1.jpg|Concept art of the [[Black Comet]]. By Barret Meeker.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Meeker2.jpg|By Barret Meeker.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Model concept art===
 +
<gallery widths="148px" heights="140px" >
 +
File:Shadow Concept Macomber1.jpg|By Elena Macomber.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Macomber2.jpg|By Elena Macomber.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Macomber3.jpg|By Elena Macomber.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Macomber4.jpg|By Elena Macomber.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Macomber5.jpg|By Elena Macomber.
 +
File:Shadow-the-hedgehog-Air-Saucer.jpg|Air Saucer.
 +
File:Shadow-the-hedgehog-GUN-Vehicle.jpg|G.U.N. Vehicle.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Miscellanious Concept Art===
 +
<gallery widths="148px" heights="140px" >
 +
File:UFWhitehouse.jpg|The Presidential Mansion.
 +
File:ShTHGame_EggmanBase_ConceptArt.jpg|Eggman's base. Concept art by Barrett Meeker.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Macomber6.JPG|A concept of the ''Shadow'' hub, including a radar at the bottom of the screen. By Elena Macomber.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Macomber7.JPG|Mock-up of the Two Player mode. By Elena Macomber.
 +
File:Shadow Concept Macomber9.JPG|Concept of the branching story display. By Elena Macomber.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==Promotional screenshots==
 +
===Initial unveiling===
 +
The following screenshots were released to the public immediately after the reveal of ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' at the Walk of Game event.
 +
 
 +
<gallery widths="148px" heights="140px" >
 +
WOG shadowthehedgehog 001.jpg
 +
WOG shadowthehedgehog 002.jpg
 +
WOG shadowthehedgehog 003.jpg
 +
WOG shadowthehedgehog 004.jpg
 +
WOG shadowthehedgehog 005.jpg
 +
Shadowlowres1.jpg
 +
Shadowlowres2.jpg
 +
Shadowlowres3.jpg
 +
Shadowlowres4.jpg
 +
Shadowlowres5.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
−
{{ShadowZones}}
+
===Others===
 +
<gallery>
 +
THQLoaded05PressAssetDisc Shadow Shadow Screen 2.png
 +
THQLoaded05PressAssetDisc Shadow Shadow Screen 5.png
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Self-imposed censorship===
 +
<gallery widths="148px" heights="140px" >
 +
File:ShadowTH Censorship1.jpg|Shadow using the word "hell" in a scene that later omitted the word.
 +
File:ShadowTH Censorship2.jpg|An example of the red-blooded aliens.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==Marketing posters==
 +
<gallery widths="148px" heights="140px" >
 +
File:Shadowth PromotionalImage.jpg|By Daniel Rice.
 +
File:Shadowth_PromotionalImage2.jpg|By Daniel Rice.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==External links==
 +
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQVgN2qC49I Walk of Game Trailer] - The trailer that unveiled Shadow the Hedgehog.
 +
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfXlSnzoROw&feature=related Second Trailer]
 +
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLJdkG48qcQ Third Trailer]
 +
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frhC6b_gFFU Final Trailer]
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
  
−
[[Category:Game Development|Shadow the Hedgehog]]
+
{{ShadowOmni}}

Latest revision as of 12:17, 2 September 2023

Back to: Shadow the Hedgehog (game).

Shadow the Hedgehog went through many ideas and changes during the development process. What follows is a collection of items related to the game's development.

Development process

Sonic the Hedgehog and then-mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newson. From the Walk of Game celebration.

After the release of the multi-platform Sonic Heroes, questions arose as to what direction the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise would go next. Would it be a sequel to the Heroes formula? A return to the Adventure style of gameplay? Or would it be something new entirely? Rumors began to circulate when, through official Sega channels, an online poll was put up asking people to vote on which character in the Sonic franchise they'd like to see star in their own game. With choices including the obvious (Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna) and some from left field (Espio the Chameleon), the winner of the poll would be none other than Shadow the Hedgehog, the "Ultimate Lifeform" that had been introduced in Sonic Adventure 2 and was proven to still be alive (in some form) in Heroes.

Only a few weeks after the results of the poll were revealed, it was announced that the character of Sonic the Hedgehog would be one of the inaugural inductees into the Walk of Game, an attraction in San Francisco that was designed to honor the icons of video gaming, both the characters on screen and the minds behind the scenes. Being on hand at the event, Sega found it the perfect time to unveil the next installment in the Sonic series. The trailer came in two parts: the first being a celebration of all things Sonic over the previous fourteen years, the second footage of the latest title being developed by Sonic Team, introduced with a hail of bullet holes over footage of the previous games. This was the world's first look at Shadow the Hedgehog, named after the character who would be the star.

Sonic Team USA, having renamed themselves Sega Studios USA after the completion of Heroes, more than likely did not begin the development of the game based on the poll, using the results simply to gauge fan reaction when it would be unveiled. Knowing he wanted to do more with the character even while developing Sonic Adventure 2, Takashi Iizuka was ready to tackle the character after wrapping up production of Sonic Heroes. As the previous titles has been aimed at a younger audience, Iizuka wanted to appeal to an older demographic with the game, and attract those who might not otherwise play a Sonic title.[1] Also wanting to capitalize on the story elements of the game, Iizuka wanted focus on the mysterious nature of the character and his origins, providing a platform to answer the many questions fans of the character had been asking over the previous two games he was featured in.[2]

Because of the darker nature of the character, the team took inspiration from such films as Underworld, Constantine, and the Terminator series in building the world of Shadow the Hedgehog.[3] This dark tone gave way for elements to be added to the game such as being able to ride vehicles and the use of weapons, which became one of the main elements of the gameplay to make Shadow the Hedgehog distinct from the standard Sonic franchise. Though shooting elements had been in the two Adventure titles, the team wanted to come up with a new way to challenge themselves, creating a "gun action" game that focused on both speed and shooting at the same time. Seeing Shadow as the only appropriate character to go about this, production was fully underway.[4]

Another element the team was sure to put in the game was the use of branching pathways within the story. Wanting to use it for Sonic Adventure 2 but running out of time, it was made an essential component of the Shadow the Hedgehog experience. Playing with the Hero/Dark motif from Shadow's introduction, the game's tagline ("Hero or villain? You decide.") encapsulated that each playthrough of the game could be a wholly unique experience. Though only playing through six levels at any given time, a total of 22 were available, with 326 different ways a player could successfully complete the game.

Due to the minor controversy surrounding the use of weapons in the title, as well as mild swearing and the use of blood in the human and alien enemies, the game initially received a "T" rating from the ESRB, Sega even asking those at trade shows and events where the game was being demoed to only play if they were 13 and up. As luck would have it, as the game was being produced, the ESRB decided to update their rating system, adding an "E10+" rating between "E" and "T." Wanting to take advantage of this, the Western translation of the game removed some of the swearing that was present, leaving other moments in tact. The blood was also dealt with, removed completely from the G.U.N. soldiers and changed to green for the Black Doom armada. This purposeful censorship on Sega's part allowed the game's rating to be changed to the lower ten-and-up designation, even if such a move contradicted the intention of targeting the game to an older audience.

Echoing the multiple character themes in the previous 3D installments, multiple vocal tracks were composed for the game, specific ones playing depending on the path taken by Shadow. However, there were certain songs that Jun Senoue, the lead music composer of the game, wanted but was unsuccessful in getting. The first of these was a track entitled "Who I Am," written by the band Magna-Fi. Also producing the track "All Hail Shadow" for the game, the former track was forced to be removed due to copyright and licensing issues. "Broken," a song previously released by the band Sins of a Divine Mother, was another track that Jun wanted in the game. Unfortunately, as he was unable to track down the band's lead singer to discuss the licensing of the song, it was forced to be dropped as well. Instead, the song "Chosen One" was used, written and performed by the band A2 (which happened to feature members from Sins of a Divine Mother).[5]

This game was the first to feature a new English voice cast. Shortly before the untimely death of Deem Bristow, Sega saw fit to replace the voice actors used in the Adventure series with the 4Kids dub cast of the cartoon Sonic X in an effort to bring consistency to the franchise. These actors would remain in their roles until Sonic Free Riders in 2010.

The risks that were taken during the making of the game proved ineffectual, as the released product was thoroughly trashed by critics. Although it defied those critics by selling reasonably well, in the end Sega judged it not successful enough to warrant a full-fledged companion franchise. The game has retrospectively been cited as a "jump the shark" moment for the Sonic series by both fans and industry professionals; a sentiment which would later be exacerbated by a 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog game intended to celebrate Sonic's 15th anniversary...

Concept art

Character/Enemy concept art

  • The initial render of Black Doom. By Barret Meeker.

  • A wire model of the Black Warrior enemy. By Cemre Ozkurt.

  • The Black Warrior fully textured. By Cemre Ozkurt.

  • Another shot of the Black Warrior.

  • Black Oak.

  • Black Hawk.

  • A model of Black Hawk closer to that in the game.

  • A G.U.N. soldier.

Space Colony ARK/Black Comet art

  • The Space Colony ARK orbiting planet Earth. By Cemre Ozkurt.

  • A closeup of the ARK, labeled as "Eggman's Space Station." By Cemre Ozkurt.

  • A view looking in to the hallway in which Shadow and Maria run from the G.U.N. troops. By Cemre Ozkurt.

  • Concept art of the Black Comet. By Barret Meeker.

  • By Barret Meeker.

Model concept art

  • By Elena Macomber.

  • By Elena Macomber.

  • By Elena Macomber.

  • By Elena Macomber.

  • By Elena Macomber.

  • Air Saucer.

  • G.U.N. Vehicle.

Miscellanious Concept Art

  • The Presidential Mansion.

  • Eggman's base. Concept art by Barrett Meeker.

  • A concept of the Shadow hub, including a radar at the bottom of the screen. By Elena Macomber.

  • Mock-up of the Two Player mode. By Elena Macomber.

  • Concept of the branching story display. By Elena Macomber.

Promotional screenshots

Initial unveiling

The following screenshots were released to the public immediately after the reveal of Shadow the Hedgehog at the Walk of Game event.

  • WOG shadowthehedgehog 001.jpg
  • WOG shadowthehedgehog 002.jpg
  • WOG shadowthehedgehog 003.jpg
  • WOG shadowthehedgehog 004.jpg
  • WOG shadowthehedgehog 005.jpg
  • Shadowlowres1.jpg
  • Shadowlowres2.jpg
  • Shadowlowres3.jpg
  • Shadowlowres4.jpg
  • Shadowlowres5.jpg

Others

  • THQLoaded05PressAssetDisc Shadow Shadow Screen 2.png
  • THQLoaded05PressAssetDisc Shadow Shadow Screen 5.png

Self-imposed censorship

  • Shadow using the word "hell" in a scene that later omitted the word.

  • An example of the red-blooded aliens.

Marketing posters

  • By Daniel Rice.

  • By Daniel Rice.

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.1up.com/previews/shadow-the-hedgehog_11 (Wayback Machine: 2015-04-16 04:40)
  2. ↑ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/10414 (Wayback Machine: 2012-07-24 21:14)
  3. ↑ http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/645/645487p1.html (Wayback Machine: 2009-06-22 05:00)
  4. ↑ Interview: Yuji Naka (2005-09-30) by GameSpy
  5. ↑ Danny Parker interview by Dennis Spielman


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