Just a reminder guys, the next installment to the popular episodic series is here. You can buy Episode 2 on PSN, XBLA, and PC for about $15. iOS version available on the 17th, and Android and Windows Phone versions available in June and July respectively. And remember, if you purchase both episodes on the same system you can play through Episode Metal, A secret add-on that lets players blast through redesigned stages of the 4 zones from Episode One, as Metal Sonic. Episode One was pretty neat, will you guys be picking up the sequel?

Get excited for this one guys! As recently announced by SEGA on their blog, the team has opened up a contest whereas fans can get their art feautred in the Jet Set Radio themed stage in All-Stars Racing Transformed. While JSR fanart is what SEGA will primarially go over, any SEGA-related fan-art will be considered. We’ve got some awesome artists here in the forums, if you’re interested in entering just head on over to the link above for full details and submission requirements. Be sure to check out Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed when it hits stores later this year.

The sequel to Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing has been officially announced this morning…and it looks like someone has been playing Mario Kart 7!  Here’s the trailer:

See? Mario Kart 7! To be fair, though, Sega has acknowledged the similarities and is claiming that it will feel different. Aside from the new Flying and boating mechanics, there are also new characters, tracks, and even a story mode. It has been confirmed for release this holiday season, and it appears to be the big Sonic game or the second half of the year. It is coming to PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita, and Nintendo 3DS, with console exclusives for each. It can also be assumed that Steam will get it eventually, and a Wii U version is being speculated.

So, how excited are you? Do you think this is original, or just Sega milking the Mario Kart formula?

Tyler

Here is a news post about the fan community…Sonic 2 HD, an ambitious high definition Sonic 2 remake, has been canceled, just weeks after the Alpha release. For those of you who are not aware of this project, or its history, allow me to fill you in. The Sonic 2 HD project was started in early 2008, with a tech demo released later that year. Information poured out slowly for some time, with only some screenshots, a trailer, and some wallpaper being released over the years. March 27th of this year, however, saw the Alpha release of the game, a demo containing Emerald Hill zone. The game was initially well received, and the fans waited for more. However, the game was almost immediately cast into controversy. Right away, modders began to complain due to the restrictions in the code, prohibiting people from tinkering with the engine. As if that wasn’t enough, anti-virus software began to target it as a threat, which led to the REAL controversy. In early April it was reported that a dangerous keylogger (A trojan) was in the game, and the internet became alive with warnings to delete the demo and double check all secure data on their computer. Needless to say, this wasn’t good press for the Sonic 2 HD team. As it turned out, the keylogger wasn’t dangerous at all, it was used to store data relating to the game. However, in light of all the bad press, the team began to lose members. Allegedly, one of the members even took the code of the game with him, refusing to share it with the remaining team. That leads us to today, where the team officially announced that they were closing down the project. It should be noted, however, that they do claim that this decision was made months ago. I’s hard to deny, though, that this announcement could not have come at a worse time.

Four years, a lot of hype, and it ends in shambles. On a personal note, I hope that one day someone continues this project, and creates something truly wonderful. If you haven’t checked out the demo, you can download it from their official site,  as well as viewing some screenshots and getting some wallpaper. http://s2hd.com/

So, what do you think about the project? Are you sad it ended? Do you hope that this one day gets finished? What did you think about the demo?

Tyler

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #239

“‘Heroes,’ Part One. It’s Team Freedom vs. Team Metal! Elias Acorn may no longer be king, but he’s still a symbol of hope in Dr. Eggman’s eyes – and that just won’t do! As Dr. Eggman launches a two-pronged assault, Sonic and Team Fighters must save Elias from a deadly assassin – his own sister! Featuring a brand new painted cover by Greg Horn!”

SONIC UNIVERSE #42

“‘Unsung Heroes,’ Part Two. When Sonic is away, the Secret Freedom Fighters make evil pay! Deep under the city, in the scar left by the Battle Bird Armada, the evil wizard Ixis Naugus is shaping the earth to his whim. Elias, the deposed king, must lead his squad of Secret Freedom Fighters to find out what’s going on! But with Naugus able to control the stones and shadows, will Elias’ team emerge alive?”

SONIC SUPER SPECIAL MAGAZINE #4

“Sonic Super Special Magazine is back – to the future! The first ever Sonic comic magazine in Archie history, packed with over 100 pages of comics, news and features, will spotlight the complete ‘Mobius: 25 Years Later’ epic! Sonic’s complete futuristic adventure is collected in its entirety and available for the first time in one place in this deluxe, magazine-sized, quarterly collection! Also featured is an exclusive interview with Sonic superstar artist Ben Bates, and the new Sonic Time Line, which features more new art from fan-favorite artist Tracy Yardley!”

SONIC UNIVERSE TPB VOL 03 KNUCKLES RETURNS

“Enter the Sonic Universe alongside Knuckles the Echidna! Rad Red is hot on the trail of his arch-nemesis, Dr. Finitevus. What he finds, however, is an ever-deepening mystery! But before he can investigate further, the newest Dark Egg Legion chapter attacks! To save Angel Island, Knuckles must team up with the Downunda Freedom Fighters – as well as Dr. Finitevus? New faces, new twists and surprises abound, and you cannot miss the thunderous showdown at the end! Collects the entire ‘Knuckles Returns’ storyline from Sonic Universe #9-12.”

About a week ago a trailer was released on Gamespot. Sega of America officially released that trailer yesterday, along with some prices. The cost is the same as Episode 1, about fifteen dollars for Xbox Live, PS3, and Steam. No word yet about the cost for mobile devices, but you can expect them to cost about the same as Episode 1 when it launched. At the end of the trailer is release dates as well as a little extra surprise…

That’s right…Episode Metal, free DLC if you own both Episode 1 and 2. Sorry, Wiiware users, you will miss out on this one. Episode Metal lets you play as Metal Sonic in reworked Episode 1 stages, and serves a prequel telling the player the story of Metal Sonic repairing himself after Sonic CD. Not much, but hey, it’s free DLC.

Also, several of the release dates were confirmed for North America. Here they Are again:

PSN: May 5th

XBox Live Arcade: May 6th

PC and Apple: May

Android: June

Windows Phone: July

On a final note, Episode 2 may very well be the final episode, depending on how well received Episode 2 is. What do you think? Do you want there to be more episodes?

Have you ever been interested in helping FUS out?  Do you follow the Sonic News base quite frequently?  Are you good at reporting?  Then WE need YOU!

Okay so normally I just go looking on the forums, find someone I think can do the job and give it to them.  This time however I want to go through a bit of a resume process.

Right now we are still in the process of trying to get our news section up and fully running with constant updates on everything Sonic, SEGA, or whatever related.   Due to staffing limits and stretching the rope pretty tight over everyone’s workload..I’m in need of another reporter or possibly 2 to keep our News section running smoothly.

So if you are a person who follows the Sonic news world and figure you can become a good reporter please Email me at Paul@Sonicsatam.com      Give a brief description of yourself in the Sonic community, and any other material that you think is relevant.

Cheers,

Paul