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And lo, the angels hath smiled upon thee: NiGHTS 2 confirmed
This isn't some sick, delayed April Fool's joke. After endless rumors and speculation, Japanese gaming mag Famitsu has finally confirmed ONM's "world exclusive": the official sequel to NiGHTS into Dreams, tentatively titled NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, is coming to the Wii this winter. The Wiimote will be heavily utilized in the flying mechanics, which include soaring, tumbling, and freewheeling through an endless diamond sky. The producer of the title, Takashi Izuka of Sonic Team USA, has this to say about the title: "In 1996, we created the NiGHTS character to achieve a concept of 'being refreshed from being able to fly in the sky'. 11 years later, at last, we have broken our silence. NiGHTS will now fly in a new dream world: new stages, new story, and on the new Wii platform. Please look forward to NiGHTS and friends exploring this brand new adventure." Better news in the world of Wii does not exist, friends. What is it now, like, 264 days till the Winter Solstice? [via Joystiq] [Thanks to Dias and Creamsugar!]
NiGHTS Wii screens, interview found in Portuguese game mag
French gaming site Jeux France has what it claims is the first images of the new NiGHTS title for Wii, from magazine scans of Portuguese magazine Maxi Consola. (We're so multicultural.) So far, NiGHTS has been an extremely persistent rumor; this is the either the first concrete evidence of the title's existence or the cleverest Photoshop effort to date.The magazine scans feature an interview with Takashi Iizuka (here written Takeshi), a Sega developer who's had a hand or two in every Sonic game since 1994 as well as the original NiGHTS Into Dreams. Our Portuguese is a bit pathetic, but Play Nintendo has translated the interview. The game is purported to have a two player mode and some online capabilities. Jeux France purports that Sega will make an announcement early April.
Sonic getting a much needed break
Speaking to N'Gai Croal about the upcoming Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, SEGA of America president, Simon Jeffrey intimated that Sonic will soon be disappearing from the public eye for a while. Jeffrey notes that "we're not going to be bringing another [Sonic] game out on the other platforms for quite some time, because we feel that it is time to reinvent Sonic, to make Sonic contemporary again." While the recent Nintendo iterations of Sonic (Sonic Rush on DS and Sonic and the Secret Rings on Wii) have received decent reviews, his most recent outing on PS3 and 360 suffered from serious problems. Before that, the Sonic universe was subjected to the God-awful combination of hedgehogs and guns in Shadow the Hedgehog. To put it bluntly, the Sonic series has been faltering. Of course, that doesn't mean it hasn't been selling well, as Jeffrey points out.Frankly, this can't be viewed as anything but a good thing. The quality of Sonic games has been slipping over the last few years and a "reset" sounds like exactly what Sonic needs. What would you like to see SEGA do with the next Sonic. We have only two words. No. Sidekicks.[Via Joystiq]
Time to reinvent Sonic the Hedgehog, says Sega
So, we agree then. In speaking to Newsweek's N'Gai Croal about the Olympic pairing of Sonic and Mario, Sega of America president, Simon Jeffery, echoes a widespread sentiment that it's time to give Sonic a bit of a reboot. "We are actually undergoing a fairly considerable refresh of Sonic as an intellectual property, as a character," says Jeffery. "Sonic on the Wii is probably the first product that's come to market that reflects that. We're not going to be bringing another game out on the other platforms for quite some time, because we feel that it is time to reinvent Sonic, to make Sonic contemporary again." If Sonic and the Secret Rings was the first step in revitalizing a franchise gone astray, it certainly wasn't a very good one. In fact, it turned out to be more like a drunken waddle out of bed before careening down a flight of stairs. Still, it's reassuring to see that Sega is, at the very least, attempting to reestablish their fallen mascot as a character that could convince you to buy his game. Unless, of course, that's still happening... "At the same time, even the recent 360 and Playstation 3 games have sold extremely well," continues Jeffery. "Sonic is still an extremely endearing character; there's still a lot of love for Sonic out there in consumerland." If gamers are trying to send Sega a message, it's getting garbled in consumerland's confusing postal network. If we truly want a Sonic reboot, we'll have to stay away from the hedgehog until he gets his 3D act together. Perhaps a little help from Mario and Miyamoto will set him back on track by the time the 2008 Olympics arrive.
Should we be hyped for more Mario & Sonic?
So, this news is kind of big and already causing a buzz on the intertron, wouldn't you say? This caused debate at Fanboy HQ, as we argued amongst ourselves the implications such a team up would mean for the future of our games. Did this game just confirm Sonic being in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, or is it merely the beginning of what Nintendo and Sega hope will be several games where their strongest mascots can compete? One then might also consider that a lot of folk just aren't going to care about this type of game and perhaps haven't waited for the two to go at each other since they were much younger. And, also to look at this a little more negatively, do Wii owners want another set of minigames? Obviously, the game is going to have to be comprised of several different sports ...wait a minute, why wasn't this announced at GDC? It hasn't been so long since the show's conclusion, so we wonder what could've prevented Nintendo from revealing this at the event? With all that swimming about in your skull, chime in with your thoughts, fine reader, on the importance of this partnership, the possibility of Sonic being in Super Smash Bros. Brawl or your feelings of complete apathy toward it all. Comment away! How about that Sonic and Mario? This excites me! Not so much for this game, but for the games that it could pave the way for ... I'm also excited! I love the Olympics and being able to play them as these guys sounds fun. Sonic versus Mario = I'm sold. More minigames? Bleh. Where was this game in 1992?
Nintendo and Sega execs talk about Sonic and Mario at the Olympics
In the spirit of Sonic and Mario uniting for a friendly sporting exhibition, N'Gai Croal brought Nintendo of America Vice President Perrin Kaplan and Sega of America President Simon Jeffery together, ushering in a new age of Sega and Nintendo Doing Stuff Together. In addition to the quite promising info that Shigeru Miyamoto is involved in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games "more ... than sort of the average game," there are some hilarious quotes from Kaplan, who seems to be euphoric in the extreme over the Sega-Nintendo collaboration. On why Mario gets top billing in the title: "He's Italian, he's really sexy, and he can get more women than Sonic." Depressingly, we have evidence to the contrary of that last point (said evidence is a Sonic 360/PS3 spoiler, so be warned ... in fact, be warned in general).
Sonic & Mario finally team up for a game
Once embittered rivals, Mario and Sonic were at each others' necks during the 16-bit console wars, both of them vying for the Top Mascot prize that awaited the victor at the end of the battle. Tensions eventually eased between the two combatants and their respective companies, and after years of respectful neutrality, Nintendo and Sega are making their friendship official with a game that joins both franchises.Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games will be released during the holiday season this year for the Nintendo DS and the Wii. Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Tails, and the rest of the extended casts will be competing in events set in arenas modeled after the venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.Hisao Oguchi, Sega Corp.'s President and CEO, had nothing but praise for the project: "For the first time, two of the world's greatest games' characters come together to compete in the world's greatest sporting event and we couldn't be more excited." While we can't imagine anyone from the Mario troupe besting Sonic at the 100m run, the blue hedgehog might have trouble with swimming competitions if he has to stop and replenish his air supply with bubbles too much.This might not receive the same fanfare as a Sonic appearance on Super Smash Bros. Brawl would, but maybe this is just a hint of what's to come from Nintendo and Sega? There's not much at the video game's official site yet, but head over there to check out forum discussions and sign up for email updates.
Sonic and Mario team up for the Olympics
Bitter competitors since the 16-bit era, Mario and Sonic are finally burying the hatchet and starring in a game together: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Characters from both franchises battle it out in Olympic-style games such as swimming, the 100 meter dash, and table tennis. The worldwide launch is this holiday season, so prepare to finally discover who's faster -- Mario or Sonic.If this were 1992, we'd think it was an early April Fools prank.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
NiGHTS 2 gets out of our dreams and into our European magazines
We've been speculating and reading rumors for a while, but now we have what seems like a believable confirmation from Swedish magazine Gamereactor. It's right there on the cover of the April issue! NiGHTS! We are seriously freaking out about the return of one of the coolest Sega games ever.There are, however, a few problems. First is that the cover doesn't necessarily mention the Wii as the platform for the new game. The rumors have all placed this on the Wii, so we'll just continue believing there. Secondly, there's the possibility that this preview cover is an elaborate April Fool's Day prank. We don't even want to think about that.Finally, we have to remember that this new NiGHTS game, if it's real, is going to be made by 2007 "Sonic 360/Shadow the Hedgehog" Sega, and not 1996 awesome Sega. Also, former Sonic Team leader Yuji Naka has already disavowed any involvement with a new NiGHTS.[Via NeoGAF]
Yuji Naka not involved in any new NiGHTS game
As dubious as we find this NiGHTS rumor, the community love for the game has kept it alive and kept gamers hopeful. However, the one man who could truly make a high quality NiGHTS game has no intentions of returning to the franchise.Speaking to CVG, Yuji Naka, the former leader of Sega's Sonic Team, has stated quite bluntly that "at present, I have no intentions" of revisiting any of his old Sega franchises, which includes Sonic and NiGHTS. Granted, Sega could make a new NiGHTS title without Naka, who left the company in May 2006 to form his own studio Prope. But the quality of Sonic Team's work has been questionable at best since his departure.If all these rumors lead to a NiGHTS virtual console release, then consider us excited. However, if Sega looks to add another entry in the series, then we hope the hype wears down (not likely) or that Sega gives this to a new studio. Considering recent releases, we're not sure a NiGHTS game from the Sonic Team will be capable of living up to the fanbase's high expectations.
Rumorang: Yuji Naka says no new NiGHTS (from him at least)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Rumorang_Yuji_Naka_says_No_New_NiGHTS_from_him_at_least'; Responding to the rumors about a new NiGHTS game on the Wii, Yuji Naka, formerly the head of Sonic Team, told CVG that even if such a thing exists, he's not a part of it, and has no plans to be. Naka recently left Sega to form his own studio called PROPE, so for him to rejoin Sega for a project so soon would be slightly unusual.The other major figure involved with NiGHTS is Naoto Oshima, who is now head of Artoon. If the two of them were to reunite to work on a NiGHTS game, then we'd really have something! But the fact that these two esteemed developers no longer work at Sega casts more doubt on the NiGHTS rumors, or at least makes them less exciting if true.
Sonic Boss Attack mode on Marketplace
Sonic the Hedgehog has a a few pieces of new content available on Xbox Live Marketplace. If you enjoyed the boss battles found in the game with, you might be interested in this. You can download, for 150 MS points each, "Boss Attack"s for each of the game's lead hedgehogs. Apparently, if you've completed Sonic, Shadow, or Silver's respective episode, you can use this content for what seems to be a game mode akin to Heavy Weapon's Boss Blitz, but for individual characters. Do you play the game, and would you pick this up if you do?
Sonic-branded Wii Giveaway
Sega's branch in Germany is hosting a contest to celebrate Sonic and the Secret Rings' release, offering up prizes like figurines, signed memorabilia, and a Sonic-Team-branded Wii. The winner of the limited edition Wii will also receive a German copy of the game -- a cruel reminder of the hardware's region lock. We're not sure how faithful the customized console will be to the mock-up pictured above, but the simple stamping of the blue hedgehog's head on both the system and the Wii remote is a lot more attractive than we expected. Entering the contest is as easy as sending an email to Sega's offices with the German title for Sonic and the Secret Rings. They will be accepting entries until March 23rd, so don't put your Google-searching off for too long!
Sonic Spinball, Tecmo Bowl & Double Dungeons hit Virtual Console
Nintendo takes a backseat this week while three third-party titles are launched for Wii's Virtual Console. Tecmo, which promised aggressive support back in August, has released its NFL license-free (and not-so-super) Tecmo Bowl ($5) for NES. The other two titles we already knew were coming: Sonic Spinball ($8) for Sega Genesis and Double Dungeons ($6) for TurboGrafx 16.Though there is no specific VC release schedule (a predicament both Nintendo and Microsoft's downloadable services unfortunately share), we do know that Splatterhouse, Vectorman, and Beyond Oasis have been promised for this month.
Rumor: Another stash of Wiis coming to Toys R Us
... and another Matthew Lesko picture to summarize our feelings. Tipster HexiJosh was spot on about the last TRU Wii hoard, so we have no reason to disbelieve him now when he tells us that Sunday, March 18 is the day to queue up. Still, we're marking this as a rumor just to be safe.He says that Toys R Us stores are getting even larger shipments this time than last time-- his store is getting a minimum of 12 systems-- and that TRU is planning to sell them bundled with Sonic and the Secret Rings. We hope these bundles don't cost full price-- bundling is only fun when there's a discount involved, and even then it's kind of annoying.But complaining about bundles misses the point, which is HEY THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME WIIS FOR SALE. Plan your next weekend accordingly![Thanks, HexiJosh!]
Mannerisms in Hotel Dusk and other games
The New Gamer might not have enjoyed their stay at Hotel Dusk: Room 215, but they appreciate the work put into creating its memorable characters. Adding onto the unique visual style, each individual has a rich set of expressions and postures to communicate with. When one of the hotel guests describes a mannerism of the game's protagonist, you know exactly what he means by "that serious look in [Kyle's] eyes." Sonic's toe-tapping idle animation and King Hippo's falling shorts were also cited as great examples of unforgettable character details. Simple idiosyncrasies like that stay with you long after you've finished playing a game. What unique traits have you seen give a collection of pixels an identity? Was it Midna's sigh? Or Dry Bones' skeletal chuckle as he passed you in Mario Kart DS?
WRUP: blue streak edition
Blue streak is our cute little nickname for a blue hedgehog with a knack for speed. So how many of you out there picked up Sonic and the Secret Rings (and are thankful it didn't turn out as it was originally planned)? Enjoying it? Already beat it? For us, we'll be battling the depression that comes from having done everything imaginable in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (seriously, we did everything). A large part of that battle involves playing WarioWare: Smooth Moves (review coming soon) to cope.So what will you be playing this weekend?Previous posts: What were you playing?
Sonic and the Spoiled Ending
Well, that didn't take long. Two days after the US release date of Sonic and the Secret Rings, a Sonic fan has made it to the end of the rails and posted a video of the ending on YouTube. We're sure it totally makes sense in context, but we have yet to jump into Sega's latest mascot platformer.Great news for people who only play Sonic games for the stories: we just saved you $50. It's about time Sonic fans had some good news, right? Of course, this is terrible for weaker-willed fans trying to avoid the rushing tide of SPOILARRRS.We dare you to watch the video after the break.[Via Insert Credit]
Sega: Sonic Wii was almost a port of Sonic 360
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Sonic_and_the_Secret_Rings_was_almost_a_port_of_Sonic_on_the_Xbox_360'; And how lame would that have been?During an interview with Kikizo, Sega's Sonic Team Producer Yojiro Ogawa spoke about the team's latest game Sonic and the Secret Rings. What gamers may not know is that the title was originally going to be a port of the Xbox 360 and PS3 title Sonic the Hedgehog. Thankfully though, this did not come to pass once Sonic Team got their hands on the hardware and decided to create a whole new game. Ogawa takes us back to a time before the game was under development when "the team looked at the controls and the hardware, we realised that the hardware was very different compared to the 360 and PS3 version that was under development, and that we wouldn't be able to convert the game to Wii. So we started a completely different title."The rest of the interview talks about the team's decision to play Sonic into the story 1,001 Nights and how the 'Revolution' code-name for the system gave them inspiration to revolutionize Sonic and the way we play him. Thank our lucky stars they did, because we do not want to think about what could've been.
Sega: forget about the PSP, we're focused on the DS
Sega Managing Director Hideki Okamura recently conducted an interview with Nikkei Shimbun, discussing the company's future in the handheld racket. The future? Well, for Sega (and others), it's the DS. That's right, Okamura confirmed that the company is shifting its handheld focus over to Nintendo's dual-screened beauty, also taking the time to drop a tidbit of a teaser by saying Sega will release a game later this there that will "surprise absolutely everyone."Sega isn't blind to their competition on the platform, as Okamura recognized Nintendo's own titles that have done so well on the DS. He says that "We [Sega] have to do a lot of thinking about titles for Nintendo's hardware, because Nintendo's own titles are extremely strong. It really is difficult to sell a title as a third party." So who else wants a sequel to Sonic Rush?[via Game|Life]
