Sonic The Hedgehog 4

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Originally Posted by Tain

It seems way, way easier to fuck up an HD game and make it feel like a cheap flash project, though.

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:sonic::sonic: BRING ON UDON AND BACKBONE :sonic::sonic:

Sonic Adventure was awesome. Gave me hope for 3D Sonic. Then every successive game failed. Bad.

Give a new 2D Sonic to that American dev that did Contra 4. I'd get that day one.

WayForward would probably care enough to get it right.

they could hire some ocremix guys to do the music

it would be the ultimate sonic fangame

The way to fix sonic is easy. Just hire Yasuhara back. Simple.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Considering the last game that would fit my criteria of being a major franchise and actually utilizing real hardware was Symphony of the Night, I'd say that's your proof. It's inexplicable that it has been that long though.

The publishers have no clue what will sell beyond a dozen or so sure things. They prove that 1,000 times every year.

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Ok then, start naming games that were hyped to hell and back and didn't sell for shit and then name games that no one ever heard of then started selling like mad. Katamari might fit the latter. Nothing else comes to mind. Perhaps some of the music games as well. That's about it.

They have a pretty good clue what will and won't sell, they spend ass loads on the sure things and half ass nearly everything else because of ROI concerns. You sound like you want technical advancement in games for the sake of technical advancement when in reality clever gameplay trumps all. Just accept that the industry is the way it is for a reason.

You sound like a car enthusiast that thinks every car needs 400bhp and AWD and can't figure out why the Camry sells like mad.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

This argument is completely baseless. Where is the evidence that a new 2D HD installment of a major series wouldn't sell well?

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King of Fighters!

Granted, it's a bad sequel in most terms, but they did some insane shit with the animation and going through redrawing it all for HD. Folks say BlazBlu is more bang for your buck resolution-wise, but animates terribly. All said though no one but old school gamers or animation prudes give a shit between their differences. If at the end of the day a game gives the experience people are looking for, it'll do well.

So the real issue isn't if a 2D HD game will sell well (although I don't think BlazBlu or KoF are lighting up retail charts) - it's substance from two angles. One, what are developers willing/interested in doing? Two, what is the audience willing/interested in trying? My guess is a 2D HD revival of the old Sonic spirit will only appeal to those still holding a candle for the mascot. He's had numerous failed games market-wise, critically, and among the fans. Devs have switched in and out, and none of their design decisions seem consistent.

On the bright side, if there's any way to service the franchise, this has the most promise. At least visually - I've yet to hear a fan who felt the 3D ones were better than the 2D originals. Although it'll be a matter of substance (level design, gameplay, pace, et al) that determines if it's any good.

I really hope they go with Gonzo for the animation. Those guys handled Wario Land: Shake It! really well.

I thought IG did Shake?

Just curious, anyone have any idea how the Sonic games sell on XBLA?

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Originally Posted by Bojack

You mean the trend of giving us new shit to play at a cost that makes the limited sales worth it to the developer?

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I think I get what you mean. That the cost of drawing/animating something in HD is pretty high in comparison to hijacking old sprites and working them into a new game? Thus in doing so, you can reasonably turn a good profit from a $10 game filled with rehashed work? And that a game with stunning new 2D would need to cost more to recoup its cost PLUS factor in that only a niche base will buy it anyway?