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Sega says (again) Sonic is broke, will take awhile to fix him

July 30, 2009 in Interview comments 32

In a new interview with IndustryGamers, Sega of America's VP of Marketing Sean Ratcliffe stated for a second time (first was last year) what perhaps most fans have been thinking this last decade: Sonic is broken. Not one to lament it seems, Ratcliffe said 'fixing' him will take time, with the efforts possibly ending up in less traditional avenues like XBLA.

Translation: 'new' Sonic will be their bigger investment as it sells better; oldschool fans can get their fix via digital outlets.

“The quality is something that will be fixed over time. It's not something where you wake up one morning and say, 'You know what, we're going to improve our quality on this franchise,' and it magically happens. A lot of hard work goes into striving for quality. Interestingly, I think Sonic Unleashed was very well received by the kids. There was some talk about the werehog aspect, the slower pacing and more combat-oriented gameplay, but when we go out and test this stuff and sit down with the consumers, kids actually like that. I think older, die-hard Sega fans who grew up with the franchise and the first Sonic the Hedgehog associate Sonic more with 2-D side-scrolling super fast, and they liked the daytime gameplay, but when it came to the slower paced gameplay they were fairly critical of that, and that's fine – they have their opinions."
chautemoc via industrygamers.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Aug 19, 2009

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  • 0
    anacreon Jul 30, 09
    all i can say is its about time they realized that they screwed up the sonic series...
  • 0
    Storm* Jul 30, 09
    Wasn't there an article about them realizing Sonic has gone downhill anyway? At least now they are taking that one step further and will try to fix the character's future games.
  • 0
    Daweii* Jul 30, 09
    I remember an article saying Sonic was far too fast for 3D. They came up with that nice gameplay mechanic in the latest game to control that speed, but overall i think they should focus Sonic in 2D utilise the power of the PS3 and 360 and release it as a sequel to the 2D Sega Genesis titles with incredible HD graphics and effects. I wouldn't even expect the title to be full retail possibly $9 PSN title with about the same length as it's older 2D brothers as obviously 3D doesn't work.
  • 0
    FinalFantasyFanaticc Jul 30, 09
    Sonic's too broke to fix, he's so broke not even plastic surgeon could fix him by now.
    • 0
      Shinobi_razor Jul 31, 09
      he isnt too broke to fix, it would take a great deal of fixing though but if they made the right decisions they could revive him. its unlikely but it could happen.

      besides kids will always buy them.
  • 1
    SalboyOnDec Jul 31, 09
    I love Sonic. too bad he's broke. I was been playing sonic since it first came out. Seeing him broke is a set down
  • 1
    Hideo1 Jul 31, 09
    Really, he's broke? You know what Sega, you know what, after these years passed, what you've given us in terms of Sonic, this is an insult. How dare you say this like you will do anything about it, not after these last travesties. You know what Sega, you know what, go *bleep* yourself.
  • 0
    Drago Shi Jul 31, 09
    If it's broke then don't fix it.

    Its too late for poor Sonic anyway.
  • 0
    The Primagen Jul 31, 09
    Sega says (again) Sonic is broke, will take awhile to fix him.

    Sonic has been broke for a loooooong time.
  • 0
    Big A2 Jul 31, 09
    Isn't the correct adjective "broken"?

    Anyway, I don't see why this news is even important. Sonic fans, have admited it's over a loooooooong time ago.
  • 0
    Flippy Jul 31, 09
    We appreciate the thought, But I'm afraid it's too late...


    You're welcome to try again though, I've never really minded, but if you could, that would be great...
  • 0
    Audioslave Jul 31, 09
    Too late for Sonic and I know I'm not buying any more. =(
  • 0
    Ech0ez Jul 31, 09
    Keep the Unleashed team and they're set tbh. For their first game Unleashed was solid, give them a few years to improve and tbh they're set.
    • 0
      Hideo1 Jul 31, 09
      They're lazy though. They couldn't be arsed to make a proper Sonic Game because it would have been too much time, so they threw in the Werehog bullshit (which didn't make sense since Were is man. It should have been Hedgewolf or something). Sensical strategy business-wise but it makes for a shit game.
      • 0
        Ech0ez Jul 31, 09
        That was more so down to time constraints than anything, if they made a lengthy game of just high-cost Sonic levels it'd take much longer, and Sega were pushing for it been done as soon as possible. Now the engine itself is done, give them a several years to make the game while also giving the franchise a short rest, and then they can come back with something awesome.
        I doubt they'll have the sense to do so though unfortunately.
        • 0
          Hideo1 Jul 31, 09
          Don't get me wrong the potential's there, the non Werehog levels were alright, but like you've said there's little chance of them bothering to put the effort in. Sega are trying to follow Ninty's footsteps, sickeningly, so until someone buys Sonic off them or takes over Sega the little guy's royally *bleep*ed.
        • 0
          Ech0ez Jul 31, 09
          How are they following Ninty's footsteps? Ninty generally take the basic game and make it better somehow, where as SonicTeam (It isn't Sega tbh, all they do is force SonicTeam to keep to deadlines) keep trying new things with Sonic. In retrospect it's the new ideas that have been messing it over.
          Tbh the werehog wouldn't of been that bad if there wasn't such a huge contrast between the Day and Night levels. It wasn't so much the slower paced gameplay itself, but the sheer shift in tempo from the levels that made it so frustrating imo.
        • 0
          Hideo1 Jul 31, 09
          We must be talking about different Ninty's then.

          The Ninty I'm talking about is the moneyhungry company selling whatever scraps of game they can for ridiculous amounts of money. Those footsteps are what Sega are trying to follow.
        • 0
          Ech0ez Jul 31, 09
          I'm referring to Nintendo as a whole, not nessercarily Nintendo from one particular gen, I'm assuming you're referring to them as of this gen? Although "moneyhungry" is a petty gripe considering the N64 and Gamecube sold horrendously, you can hardly have a go at them for turning to an audience who are actually buying the console.

          Needless to say this isn't a debate about Nintendo, as for Sega most of what they publish is still good. It's just Sonic that's gone down hill tbh.
        • 0
          Hideo1 Jul 31, 09
          Each matters of opinion. I think we can agree though that Sonic needs some kind of renewal, to whatever degree, and Sega, or SonicTeam, doesn't seem to want to give it in spite of what they're saying.
        • 1
          HisServant77 Jul 31, 09
          What about simply putting an HD mix to the old Sonic games (original sonic games in the style how BC:R did)? I think that could help Sonic out a bit. Wouldn't really be a fresh sonic game, but . . .
        • 0
          Hideo1 Aug 1, 09
          Good > Fresh.

          Even if they kept that same style of play from the originals and made new games with it, it would be better then the shite they've been throwing at us lately.
        • 0
          Ech0ez Aug 1, 09
          More 2D games would satisfy the 'Gen 1 brats" as half the fanbase choose to refer to them, but the rest of them would still bitch about the lack of good 2D Sonic games and how it's outdated.
          The Sonic fanbase is probably the most divided, and one the most hostile you'll come across and they'll continue to bitch and whine regardless of what Sega & SonicTeam do.

          In retrospect they should continue to release 3D games (Although, after signifcant improvements obviously) as well as release more 2D titles, through things suck as XBLA, PSN, VC and the handheld systems. The fanbase will still whine regardless, but as long as they're trying to appeal to the two main sides of it, they'll win back some fans.

          What the series really needs though is a break, preferably 4+ years, and then to come back with something good. And from then on keep releases a few years apart, no rushing titles like they have been since 06. With downloadable and handheld titles inbetween to keep people happy.
  • 2
    HisServant77 Jul 31, 09
    I like the sonic games. I think the Sonic sections of the last game (Sonic Unleashed) were pretty dern good with keeping true to the original Sonic Games.
  • 0
    King_X2 Jul 31, 09
    To be completely honest, they need to stop making Sonic games.

    Like others have said, he's too broke to fix, even with the proper tools.
    • 1
      Wolverine527 Jul 31, 09
      quote King_X2
      To be completely honest, they need to stop making Sonic games.

      Like others have said, he's too broke to fix, even with the proper tools.

      I don't agree with you on that,I don't even think sonic is "broken",I just think they need to make more Sonic games that are less about gimmicks and more about the high-speed platforming.
      • 2
        Ech0ez Jul 31, 09
        "High speed platforming" is a gimmick. If there are no gimmicks it's just a barebones platformer with no substance.

        I know what you mean, but people seriously need to stop throwing the term 'gimmick' around constantly.
        • 0
          HisServant77 Jul 31, 09
          Platforming is definitely not bad. Platforming is needed again. Sonic isn't just about running and jumping platforming, but there are attacks and puzzles and such that can be done that is far from barebones platforming. Think back to the first sonic games. Put it in 3D (or rather 3D "look" to it like BC:R did), and you've got yourself a pretty good Sonic Game true to the character.
        • 0
          Ech0ez Aug 1, 09
          Irrelvent to my point. People throw 'gimmick' around like it's the word of the century and yet half of them don't know it's definition, or try to use it in a negative context. Just because something is 'gimmicky' doesn't make it bad.

          And Sonic was always about the flow between the speed and the platforming, the problem is most of the 3D games lost that flow. The only 3D games that really got it right were the first two Adventure games, but the other playable characters threw the tempo of the game out of the window and then jumped on it. Well SA2 wasn't so bad for it, SA1 was ridiculous though.
          Needless to say Sonic is about a blend of speed and platforming with smoothe transition between them and the thrill players get from it.
  • 1
    Shinobi_razor Aug 2, 09
    Nintendo should buy Sega and work on a Sonic game with Sonic Team. the guys that do Zelda should help them on it. or even a Super Mario 64 type game with Sonic and Mario characters together. just tossing out ideas...
    • 0
      Wolverine527 Aug 19, 09
      I'd buy that game,that would be awesome .

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