27 replies to this topic

[bwrosas]

 

 

 

9/9/2013 : 9 AM

 

Let's face facts, no matter what any of the creative staff does on the Sonic comic book at Archie comics.  No one is truly satisfied.  And there is a number of reasons as to why.  

 

 

1) You can't do a story arc, no matter how long it could be, without invoking one fanbase because you don't feature their favorite characters or the characters they feel are more established.  It's a true fact.  Over the past two years, you've had the Saturday morning fans be enraged because the stories were focusing more on the game characters.  But on the other hand, you have the game fans enraged with the upcoming Countdown To Chaos arc and in previous issues of the past were the Saturday morning/comic cast were featured more prominently then the game cast.  So no matter what this creative staff does, unless they can find a way to balance things out, it's always going to be a no-win situation.

 

2) Relationships, more importantly romantic relationships, always seem to be the center of controversy, because one fanbase wants Sonic to be with either Amy or Blaze, or Rouge, or even as crazy as it sounds, Elise. While the other fanbase wants Sonic to be together and stay together with Sally.  And thus is the reason why when Sonic is placed into what many have dubbed and noticed as a temporary relationship (boyfriend/girlfriend) with Sally.  You have the game fanbase totally ticked off at the fact that once again, Sonic/Sally are together as an item, even if it's only temporary.  But on the flip side, when someone like Ian Flynn shows/teases hints of possibly Sonic/Amy or any other game girl with Sonic in the comics, you have the Saturday morning/comic fanbase totally ticked off as well as if it was the other way around.  Which is why relationships for Sonic to be in, in the comic are not featured as much as they used to be.  

But you see, what game core fans just don't understand or refuse to understand and overlook, is the fact that Sally is the default choice.  As much as fans want Sonic to be with Amy or maybe even Blaze, they have to understand that because they appear in the games with Sonic, that it would detract from what each other's personality is about.  When it comes to Amy, they want Sonic to be in a steady and official relationship with her that no matter what other media focuses on Sonic, that they have to acknowledge Sonic and Amy as the official couple.  But again that detracts away from the personality that Sega had given Sonic and that is a personality of being a free spirit and not being held down by anything.  Which is why when the Saturday morning cartoon and the comics pair him up with Sally, Sega never really says any thing, because they understand, especially with the help of their representatives that get acknowledged in the credits on the first page of the comics, that pairing Sonic with Sally will not detract away from his personality that they have established for him, because,  a) she's not an in game character, yet. , even though she's part of the franchise, her relationship with Sonic, is the kind of relationship that can be turned on for as long as it needs to be and turned off for as long as it needs to be.

 

You take a look at Nintendo for example, you can't tell me that the people at Nintendo don't realize that the fans have acknowledged Mario/Peach and Luigi/Daisy as two individual couples, because they have.  The only difference is they don't shove it in our faces.  Because they know, that if they were to come out and officially acknowledge those 4 as individual boyfriend/girlfriend couples, that it would detract from what made the characters famous in the first place.  Which is why they don't/haven't come out and officially acknowledged it yet.  Thus is the reason why Sega has yet and probably never will come out and acknowledge Sonic and Amy or even Sonic and Blaze as official boyfriend/girlfriend couples, is because it would detract away from not only Sonic's established personality of being a free spirit, it would also detract away from the personalities that have been established with Amy and Blaze.

Which again is the reason, even if one does not want to acknowledge it, Sally is the default girlfriend/love instrest of Sonic in the Archie comic books.

 

3) When one creates or announces that they're going to be doing a long story arc, you have one side that supports them and you have another side that believes it's a big mistake.

When Ian did his long story arc which officially began in 225, and with a few interruptions/crossovers notwithstanding, officially ended in 252.  There were some fans that felt he did the best job he could and that he was trying to give us something different and refreshing.  On the flipside, you have some that believe that it was entirely a waste of time.  That all he was doing was padding on and padding on and padding on, without no real conclusion insight.  

And as much as Ian would like to come out and has come out to try to explain the reasoning behind what's going on and even going as far as to admit that the near 25 issue (not counting worlds collide crossover) was even too long for his taste, it seems no matter how you feel about the guy or anyone else that would attempt to do an epic story arc for a very established comic, that there will always be a division amongst the fan's.

 

4) Finally, we have the redesigns.  As I've mentioned in my monthly opinions video for this month, it's not the first time that the Saturday morning cast has been redesigned.  You take a look back in 1993 and 1994, as well as you take a look at the original Sonic miniseries comic and the first official 14 issues, and then later on down the line, starting with back stories in issues 17 and 18 as well as in the 48 page comic book special, Sonic In Your Face, as well as down the line in the mid-to late 80s issues with a certain half cybernetic Bunnie and even afterwords in issue 134, we have seen the characters go through a number of redesigns.  True, some of the redesigns have been just adding new clothing or making one's hair longer, but we have seen our share of redesigns, even if they were small tweaks here and there.

But when it comes to these new redesigns, which are being introduced in the 20th anniversary year of the comic, once again we have an overall fan base divided.  Because you have some that like it, and you have some that don't care for it.  Me, I'm fine with it.  Because honestly, I don't think it's the redesigns that a lot of fans are worried about, it's more or less what the personalities of the characters of going to be like.  Basically will they still be the same?  Will they be different?  Or will they be tweaked in some areas?  You see, that honestly is what I feel fan's who don't like the redesigns all really worried about.  Because let's be honest, we all know that those that don't like the redesigns, they will get over them in time, it's more or less of what the personalities of going to be like.  Now Ian has said each character will be who they are.  For example, Sally will be Sally, or Antoine will be Antoine, Bunnie will be Bunnie, etc..., So for right now as much as people may not want to believe Ian Flynn, we have to take him at his word. Now true, they may, and I say this as a slight possibility, they may tweak just a bit of the personalities on the characters, so that newer fans can relate to them.  But like I said, it's a slight possibility.

 

 

Overall, no matter how one looks at it, there's no satisfying the overall fan base.  The only way it can be satisfied as I mentioned earlier is to find a way to balance everything out.  But even then, even if it's a smooth ride from then on, you may and probably still will have a divided fan base no matter what.

 

And that's all I have to say about that.  God bless and take care.

 

 

9/9/2013 : 9:52 AM

[LogiTeeka]

Truer words have never been spoken. Well... they have, but not as well spoken as this.

 

As I always say: "A fanbase is like life-support. It keeps you alive, yet it slowly kills ya."

[TheRedStranger]

Truer words have never been spoken. Well... they have, but not as well spoken as this.

 

As I always say: "A fanbase is like life-support. It keeps you alive, yet it slowly kills ya."

 

Possibility One: Why not just divide the continuities and capitalize on them seperately - Sonic Canon A, Sonic Canon B? If it is too conflated let their be some mitosis, It could be profitable. Fans complain, well , we should look in the mirror, it's our fualt for the lack reconcilation.

 

 Two: Your second option is to somehow comprimise. But you gotta have some for of sacrifice for both sides on that. Fan input should indeed be heeded by some form of carefully selected representation.

 

 Three: And your third is to just give some writing room to the fans, let the fans have space where they illustrate a posted fan story every month or so. Make it a contest. Or give them the oppurtunity to  have their own miniseries via a competition. I am sure there is away to cull in your fanbase more and more if you just listen to them.

 

 Honestly I would do all three.

[Prince ByTor]

If Sega would only unify all the continuities and not split them like they have for the last 20 years. They should go ahead and canonize the American SatAM/Archie universe, give it recognition by putting their elements it into games. Until they do this the Sonic franchise will continue being fractured; in the end it is not the fans' fault but Sega where I lay the blame.

 

 

 

Truer words have never been spoken. Well... they have, but not as well spoken as this.

 

As I always say: "A fanbase is like life-support. It keeps you alive, yet it slowly kills ya."

 

Possibility One: Why not just divide the continuities and capitalize on them seperately - Sonic Canon A, Sonic Canon B? If it is too conflated let their be some mitosis, It could be profitable. Fans complain, well , we should look in the mirror, it's our fualt for the lack reconcilation.

 

 Two: Your second option is to somehow comprimise. But you gotta have some for of sacrifice for both sides on that. Fan input should indeed be heeded by some form of carefully selected representation.

 

 Three: And your third is to just give some writing room to the fans, let the fans have space where they illustrate a posted fan story every month or so. Make it a contest. Or give them the oppurtunity to  have their own miniseries via a competition. I am sure there is away to cull in your fanbase more and more if you just listen to them.

 

 Honestly I would do all three.

 

 

That's a good idea too; separate them. Make a American SatAM continuity Sonic comic and a game one and the two shall never meet. The problem is what would happen if the Game universe comic had poor sales? Do you think Sega would still let the one be only SatAM? No. They are too interested in using the comic as advertisement for their crappy, mundane, cookie-cutter games that have no plot, period. So, for those of us who like the American continuity will continue taking it in the shorts every time a new game comes out. We'll have another interruption in the storyline and they'll just go on making more and more two dimensional characters to further overcrowd an already crowded cast.

Sorry for the rant.

[TheRedStranger]

If Sega would only unify all the continuities and not split them like they have for the last 20 years. They should go ahead and canonize the American SatAM/Archie universe, give it recognition by putting their elements it into games. Until they do this the Sonic franchise will continue being fractured; in the end it is not the fans' fault but Sega where I lay the blame.

 

 

 

Truer words have never been spoken. Well... they have, but not as well spoken as this.

 

As I always say: "A fanbase is like life-support. It keeps you alive, yet it slowly kills ya."

 

Possibility One: Why not just divide the continuities and capitalize on them seperately - Sonic Canon A, Sonic Canon B? If it is too conflated let their be some mitosis, It could be profitable. Fans complain, well , we should look in the mirror, it's our fualt for the lack reconcilation.

 

 Two: Your second option is to somehow comprimise. But you gotta have some for of sacrifice for both sides on that. Fan input should indeed be heeded by some form of carefully selected representation.

 

 Three: And your third is to just give some writing room to the fans, let the fans have space where they illustrate a posted fan story every month or so. Make it a contest. Or give them the oppurtunity to  have their own miniseries via a competition. I am sure there is away to cull in your fanbase more and more if you just listen to them.

 

 Honestly I would do all three.

 

 

That's a good idea too; separate them. Make a American SatAM continuity Sonic comic and a game one and the two shall never meet. The problem is what would happen if the Game universe comic had poor sales? Do you think Sega would still let the one be only SatAM? No. They are too interested in using the comic as advertisement for their crappy, mundane, cookie-cutter games that have no plot, period. So, for those of us who like the American continuity will continue taking it in the shorts every time a new game comes out. We'll have another interruption in the storyline and they'll just go on making more and more two dimensional characters to further overcrowd an already crowded cast.

Sorry for the rant.

 

 I feel these hypothetical American Canon games would quickly overshadow the current ones if done well (and seeing the story quality of the games as of late, that wouldn't be hard). A whole new type of Sonic series would get a lot of coverage in the first place. If it is pulled off real well you would have consumer soverignty in your favor and a money-hungry SEGA by throat.  The tables could turn.

 

Also if works like Sea3on keep being pumped out of decent enough quality and quantity you could easily have SEGA on the edge. Here they are with a market oppurtunity and the fans are just producing their own fresh work to please themselves. Your market suffers unless you appeal to what these writers are appealing to, a story - a series of reasons and plot points that drive the gameplay and make it meaningful.

 

I think the most capable and creative of the fandom should start visualizing themselves in a constant but passive-agressive competition with SEGA and manipulate their intrests for profit towards a direction of story quality and aquiring a solution (or series of solutons) to the above problem. Ironically we should be doing what they did with Nintendo, undercutting their market share with more punchy and guttsy work than a sacharrine italian plumber that repeatedly saves a codependant bimbo than saving multi-colored mcguffins and racing against squaky two-dimensional hawkmen. 'Sega did what Nintendidn't' and got around 65% of the market in the mid-90's. And that stopped the monopoly on games, forcing Nintendo into producing better quality work (eg. a mediocre Zelda 2 vs an amazing A Link The Past). Maybe if a few rise up to make something amazing (Se3on and other possible works like it) these fans will become what Segain't. And that will force Sega's hand. 

[Prince ByTor]

 

 I feel these hypothetical American Canon games would quickly overshadow the current ones if done well (and seeing the story quality of the games as of late, that wouldn't be hard). A whole new type of Sonic series would get a lot of coverage in the first place. If it is pulled off real well you would have consumer soverignty in your favor and a money-hungry SEGA by throat.  The tables could turn.

 

Also if works like Sea3on keep being pumped out of decent enough quality and quantity you could easily have SEGA on the edge. Here they are with a market oppurtunity and the fans are just producing their own fresh work to please themselves. Your market suffers unless you appeal to what these writers are appealing to, a story - a series of reasons and plot points that drive the gameplay and make it meaningful.

 

I think the most capable and creative of the fandom should start visualizing themselves in a constant but passive-agressive competition with SEGA and manipulate their intrests for profit towards a direction of story quality and aquiring a solution (or series of solutons) to the above problem. Ironically we should be doing what they did with Nintendo, undercutting their market share with more punchy and guttsy work than a sacharrine italian plumber that repeatedly saves a codependant bimbo than saving multi-colored mcguffins and racing against squaky two-dimensional hawkmen. 'Sega did what Nintendidn't' and got around 65% of the market in the mid-90's. And that stopped the monopoly on games, forcing Nintendo into producing better quality work (eg. a mediocre Zelda 2 vs an amazing A Link The Past). Maybe if a few rise up to make something amazing (Se3on and other possible works like it) these fans will become what Segain't. And that will force Sega's hand. 

 

 

I really don't know who the heck is running Sega, but they've been incompetent ever since they hamstrung Sega of America. According to what I've read Sega of Japan was jealous of SOA, so they basically started to micro-manage SOA. Here you have the Sonic franchise, which was Sega's attempt to get a foothold in the U.S. market, so they make this red, white, and blue Hedgehog (after a few stupid other ideas) and tell SOA to do their stuff. And did they ever; they completely fixed the details and made him exactly what would sell in America. We get awesome games, SatAM, and different comic books, they had it all. And then what does SOJ do? They say essentially "us here in Japan know better than you do over there in America" and basically turn an awesome franchise into a mediocre one. I don't think Sega could do any worse if their competitors ran the company; what a bunch a pillocks.

 

*edit*

You're definitely right, it's up to us fans to run with the flag; SEGAin't gonna do it. That's why I support Sea3on!

[LogiTeeka]

I really don't know who the heck is running Sega, but they've been incompetent ever since they hamstrung Sega of America. According to what I've read Sega of Japan was jealous of SOA, so they basically started to micro-manage SOA. Here you have the Sonic franchise, which was Sega's attempt to get a foothold in the U.S. market, so they make this red, white, and blue Hedgehog (after a few stupid other ideas) and tell SOA to do their stuff. And did they ever; they completely fixed the details and made him exactly what would sell in America. We get awesome games, SatAM, and different comic books, they had it all. And then what does SOJ do? They say essentially "us here in Japan know better than you do over there in America" and basically turn an awesome franchise into a mediocre one. I don't think Sega could do any worse if their competitors ran the company; what a bunch a pillocks.

 

The reasons why, I heard, was because communications between them werent that good (and one of the SoA executives possibly being racist). SoA did create a few games for the series, but that all ended when "Sonic X-Treme" entered the picture. The game was a hell of a production to make (some developers fell gravely ill from exhaustion), and the game was ultimately cancelled when it failed to impress its superiors. It was then decided that things would be easier for SoJ to develop the games instead, while SoA simply promoted them.

 

How ironic that their latest game closely resembles this tragic disaster.

[TheRedStranger]

 

 

 I feel these hypothetical American Canon games would quickly overshadow the current ones if done well (and seeing the story quality of the games as of late, that wouldn't be hard). A whole new type of Sonic series would get a lot of coverage in the first place. If it is pulled off real well you would have consumer soverignty in your favor and a money-hungry SEGA by throat.  The tables could turn.

 

Also if works like Sea3on keep being pumped out of decent enough quality and quantity you could easily have SEGA on the edge. Here they are with a market oppurtunity and the fans are just producing their own fresh work to please themselves. Your market suffers unless you appeal to what these writers are appealing to, a story - a series of reasons and plot points that drive the gameplay and make it meaningful.

 

I think the most capable and creative of the fandom should start visualizing themselves in a constant but passive-agressive competition with SEGA and manipulate their intrests for profit towards a direction of story quality and aquiring a solution (or series of solutons) to the above problem. Ironically we should be doing what they did with Nintendo, undercutting their market share with more punchy and guttsy work than a sacharrine italian plumber that repeatedly saves a codependant bimbo than saving multi-colored mcguffins and racing against squaky two-dimensional hawkmen. 'Sega did what Nintendidn't' and got around 65% of the market in the mid-90's. And that stopped the monopoly on games, forcing Nintendo into producing better quality work (eg. a mediocre Zelda 2 vs an amazing A Link The Past). Maybe if a few rise up to make something amazing (Se3on and other possible works like it) these fans will become what Segain't. And that will force Sega's hand. 

 

 

I really don't know who the heck is running Sega, but they've been incompetent ever since they hamstrung Sega of America. According to what I've read Sega of Japan was jealous of SOA, so they basically started to micro-manage SOA. Here you have the Sonic franchise, which was Sega's attempt to get a foothold in the U.S. market, so they make this red, white, and blue Hedgehog (after a few stupid other ideas) and tell SOA to do their stuff. And did they ever; they completely fixed the details and made him exactly what would sell in America. We get awesome games, SatAM, and different comic books, they had it all. And then what does SOJ do? They say essentially "us here in Japan know better than you do over there in America" and basically turn an awesome franchise into a mediocre one. I don't think Sega could do any worse if their competitors ran the company; what a bunch a pillocks.

 

*edit*

You're definitely right, it's up to us fans to run with the flag; SEGAin't gonna do it. That's why I support Sea3on!

 

 

 Majority of the stock in the company is owned by one fellow called Sammy I do believe. He's rather notorious throughout the fandom. When people petitioned to get Ryan Drummond back on board as Sonic, the creative director for the company (who was a fan like us) sprung on the oppurtunity.  Through a series of interviews and meets with long distances traveled and time and money spent, the fans almost got what they wanted. But this one guy (dropped the ball right in front of God and everyone. Right when the fans were most hyped to see the return of Drummond as Sonic this cheapskate continually refused to pay Drummond's union-fee. And ruined everything. 

 

It gets worse. The fee was measly, but under investigation he allegedly had been spending company money on 5-star hotels, steak diners, all the while doing their bussiness talks. Drummond and SEGA get their pockets drained and the fans get let down. 

 

 Top it off. Craig did the job for "donuts and coffee money". Unfair for him too.

 

 I suspect SEGA's board of directors are senile, disconnected from their product and sub-culture that consumes it,  or just inept bussiness men. First rule of making a bussiness is to "plug the holes" at the bottom of your metaphorical customer bucket. You gotta retain your consumers as well as expand your numbers. If it's just a constant wash through you will only maintain or most likely loose profit over time. Moral of your story: your fans are like your daily vitamins to your bussiness they help it grow big 'n' strong, or a lack of them will give it rickets.

[TheRedStranger]

 

I really don't know who the heck is running Sega, but they've been incompetent ever since they hamstrung Sega of America. According to what I've read Sega of Japan was jealous of SOA, so they basically started to micro-manage SOA. Here you have the Sonic franchise, which was Sega's attempt to get a foothold in the U.S. market, so they make this red, white, and blue Hedgehog (after a few stupid other ideas) and tell SOA to do their stuff. And did they ever; they completely fixed the details and made him exactly what would sell in America. We get awesome games, SatAM, and different comic books, they had it all. And then what does SOJ do? They say essentially "us here in Japan know better than you do over there in America" and basically turn an awesome franchise into a mediocre one. I don't think Sega could do any worse if their competitors ran the company; what a bunch a pillocks.

 

The reasons why, I heard, was because communications between them werent that good (and one of the SoA executives possibly being racist). SoA did create a few games for the series, but that all ended when "Sonic X-Treme" entered the picture. The game was a hell of a production to make (some developers fell gravely ill from exhaustion), and the game was ultimately cancelled when it failed to impress its superiors. It was then decided that things would be easier for SoJ to develop the games instead, while SoA simply promoted them.

 

How ironic that their latest game closely resembles this tragic disaster.

 

 

 Bad thing is that SOJ didn't listen to Tom Kalinski and his razor and blades model which got them as far as it did in the first place. SOJ was so focued on outdoing their competion's hardware to make quality games. SOA couldn't really make Extreme all that Extreme in the first place, they were console hopping to much. Third party developers hated them for this. Meanwhile, people were buying consoles like the CD then the 32X just to have replaced a year later with The Saturn and Then The Dream Cast.! Meanwhile Nintendo did it right. They waited and top the 16 bit golden age with a bang and jumped straight into 64 bit system (ignoring the Virtual Boy, which unlike SEGA would have done, tanked it before it could drag them down into the red ink).   

 

 Racism...oh man. Gotta here more about this. I thought the console wars were dramatic as it is... If this story gets any more heated then we will have a corporate Game of Thrones on Our Hands  .

[Mike Arcade]

No One Is Truly Satisfied, you don't say? Now when it comes to the Sonic Fanbase as a whole that is a complete understatement! Considering everything that has been said so far, this is my kinda topic.

 

1. There are seriously fans who are complaining that the new story arc will feature the SatAM Cast more then the Game Cast? I don't even know how to respond that. Honestly I don't mind which cast is shown more just as long as they are well written I've got no problems. I will say that seeing the SatAM Cast more in the main comic is a good thing though, I did like the Story Arc that started in 225 and how they featured the Game Cast more often back then but like I've (and Ian himself) said before it lasted too long. I did miss seeing those characters near the end but hey now they're back! I appreciate both casts and hope to see as many of both as possible, but for now having the SatAM Cast in the comics more for right now is good, if people want to see more of the game cast well there is Sonic Universe you know.

2. The Relationship thing has ripped apart the whole fanbase and is one of the sole reasons why it can suck. Now let me be clear though, in a SatAM/Archie setting it makes sense that Sonic and Sally are together, that's how it was and it can be on and off till the end of time, no one in that section of the fanbase would complain about that especially since a lot of SatAM/Archie fans worship Sally as a God.  Now as an all rounded Fan of the series who's mainly into the games, Sonic and Sal in SatAM and Archie makes a LOT of sense to me, just so we can clarify that. Other then that there is no real official couples in any other media, I mean we have love interests (who other then Elise I have no real complains over) and all so whatever on that. You could argue Sonic and Amy in Sonic X and STC (the latter in that series makes sense) and for those series fine by me. Everything else and when it comes to fan pairings I leave it be. I've seen some that make sense and those that don't, but screw it if you think that is better then fine. The PROBLEM however is that people obsess with it way, WAY TOO MUCH. Seriously fans who complain about this subject should calm the hell down, no one should say so and so is The Master Race of coupling and screw all who disagree. Sega is NOT EVER going to have Sonic and Amy together officially, the only one that can say otherwise is Sega themselves. Those fans that want whoever together with Sonic in the Comic obviously don't know the background of the series and SatAM. I am just tired of this shit again and AGAIN, in fact I joke to myself that Sega will make a game character that is THE PERFECT MATCH for Sonic only for her to be even more free spirited then him and run off just to show the fans how silly this shit really is, I would pay top dollar to see that happen.

 

3. I don't mind long story arc's at all, but I will agree that the one started at 225 was a little too long, I don't blame Ian for this at all, once the lawsuit crap started kicking more into gear did his plans trip up and screw both parties for this happening to the comic. When it comes to Ian himself I have nothing but full support and trust in his work, at times it may not be perfect but it's still pretty good and at his best it's awesome. It was only because of this legal stuff did Ian have his first major misstep in the comic and it wasn't really his fault, I feel bad for the guy and the team, they really got cheated out (Especially in Endangered Species most of all). The fans can take it either way for all I care, I just hope nothing like this happens again in the future and may they use the characters however they want to their fullest extent.

 

4. I already talked about each of the SatAM designs in full detail so I'll keep it brief, other then Sally there isn't much of a difference in the new redesigns and most of them take more of a basis off of SatAM, and I don't mind Sally's new look either. Considering it's a "New" Universe there might be some very minor tweaks to the characters themselves BUT considering where the new Story Arc is going that's not going to be a problem guys. There's nothing else I can really say about them now, I like it and it's pretty cool.

 

I do like how you guys are thinking of ways on how to actually satisfy the Fanbase, I like Stranger's idea for a canon split thing going on there, don't know what you'd call it though. I did have a similar idea on showing a what if story in Sonic Universe showing how things would have turned out but it could be possible to make a whole comic out of it. Having some fan input would be good but considering the whole fanbase it would have to be HEAVILY regulated, I don't think I have to say why. I like the 3rd Option too but again, heavily regulated, I cannot stress that out enough. I don't think Sega has it out for the SatAM/Archie series as it is still being made today, but I can understand why they tend to breath on Archie's neck considering how the end of the last team's run went as well as some of their plans. Sega for the past few years have been playing it safe with the games and improving their Hedgehog Engine, to me it's all good but I do understand the need for a slightly more serious narrative, but considering how that went last time it's really obvious why they haven't done that in awhile. I understand completely and the new games have been awesome. That's not to say I don't want a Sonic Game that uses one of the other continuities, oh no I want that BAD. I don't think it will never happen but we are still a little far from getting such a thing especially after the legal trouble. Personally I always thought that if they are gonna make games based off of other series,for the Archie Comic it should be a Fighting Game first, with all the characters in the comic I can imagine a 2D Fighter from that.

[Prince ByTor]

 

 

I really don't know who the heck is running Sega, but they've been incompetent ever since they hamstrung Sega of America. According to what I've read Sega of Japan was jealous of SOA, so they basically started to micro-manage SOA. Here you have the Sonic franchise, which was Sega's attempt to get a foothold in the U.S. market, so they make this red, white, and blue Hedgehog (after a few stupid other ideas) and tell SOA to do their stuff. And did they ever; they completely fixed the details and made him exactly what would sell in America. We get awesome games, SatAM, and different comic books, they had it all. And then what does SOJ do? They say essentially "us here in Japan know better than you do over there in America" and basically turn an awesome franchise into a mediocre one. I don't think Sega could do any worse if their competitors ran the company; what a bunch a pillocks.

 

The reasons why, I heard, was because communications between them werent that good (and one of the SoA executives possibly being racist). SoA did create a few games for the series, but that all ended when "Sonic X-Treme" entered the picture. The game was a hell of a production to make (some developers fell gravely ill from exhaustion), and the game was ultimately cancelled when it failed to impress its superiors. It was then decided that things would be easier for SoJ to develop the games instead, while SoA simply promoted them.

 

How ironic that their latest game closely resembles this tragic disaster.

 

 

 Bad thing is that SOJ didn't listen to Tom Kalinski and his razor and blades model which got them as far as it did in the first place. SOJ was so focued on outdoing their competion's hardware to make quality games. SOA couldn't really make Extreme all that Extreme in the first place, they were console hopping to much. Third party developers hated them for this. Meanwhile, people were buying consoles like the CD then the 32X just to have replaced a year later with The Saturn and Then The Dream Cast.! Meanwhile Nintendo did it right. They waited and top the 16 bit golden age with a bang and jumped straight into 64 bit system (ignoring the Virtual Boy, which unlike SEGA would have done, tanked it before it could drag them down into the red ink).   

 

 Racism...oh man. Gotta here more about this. I thought the console wars were dramatic as it is... If this story gets any more heated then we will have a corporate Game of Thrones on Our Hands  .

 

 

You can read a lot about it here, but apparently it was Sega CEO Nakayama that liked the idea of "only Japanese making the decisions." Interestingly enough it was Sega Technical Institute in America who was responsible for Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic and Knuckles, and Sonic Spinball. After the whole Sonic X-Treme debacle where SoJ kept up their meddling, (sound familiar), that it moved fully to Japan.

[TheRedStranger]

 

 

 

I really don't know who the heck is running Sega, but they've been incompetent ever since they hamstrung Sega of America. According to what I've read Sega of Japan was jealous of SOA, so they basically started to micro-manage SOA. Here you have the Sonic franchise, which was Sega's attempt to get a foothold in the U.S. market, so they make this red, white, and blue Hedgehog (after a few stupid other ideas) and tell SOA to do their stuff. And did they ever; they completely fixed the details and made him exactly what would sell in America. We get awesome games, SatAM, and different comic books, they had it all. And then what does SOJ do? They say essentially "us here in Japan know better than you do over there in America" and basically turn an awesome franchise into a mediocre one. I don't think Sega could do any worse if their competitors ran the company; what a bunch a pillocks.

 

The reasons why, I heard, was because communications between them werent that good (and one of the SoA executives possibly being racist). SoA did create a few games for the series, but that all ended when "Sonic X-Treme" entered the picture. The game was a hell of a production to make (some developers fell gravely ill from exhaustion), and the game was ultimately cancelled when it failed to impress its superiors. It was then decided that things would be easier for SoJ to develop the games instead, while SoA simply promoted them.

 

How ironic that their latest game closely resembles this tragic disaster.

 

 

 Bad thing is that SOJ didn't listen to Tom Kalinski and his razor and blades model which got them as far as it did in the first place. SOJ was so focued on outdoing their competion's hardware to make quality games. SOA couldn't really make Extreme all that Extreme in the first place, they were console hopping to much. Third party developers hated them for this. Meanwhile, people were buying consoles like the CD then the 32X just to have replaced a year later with The Saturn and Then The Dream Cast.! Meanwhile Nintendo did it right. They waited and top the 16 bit golden age with a bang and jumped straight into 64 bit system (ignoring the Virtual Boy, which unlike SEGA would have done, tanked it before it could drag them down into the red ink).   

 

 Racism...oh man. Gotta here more about this. I thought the console wars were dramatic as it is... If this story gets any more heated then we will have a corporate Game of Thrones on Our Hands  .

 

 

You can read a lot about it here, but apparently it was Sega CEO Nakayama that liked the idea of "only Japanese making the decisions." Interestingly enough it was Sega Technical Institute in America who was responsible for Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic and Knuckles, and Sonic Spinball. After the whole Sonic X-Treme debacle where SoJ kept up their meddling, (sound familiar), that it moved fully to Japan.

 

 

 One of the Japanese crew actually defected to SOA from what I heard that's why there is a split between Sonic CD and Sonic 2. SoA deserves more credit, it seems the true Sonic team we know and love was liquidized in 1998. SA and SA2 were good, but it was too late to save the company from bankruptcy. I still think if they trusted their fellows at SoA more Sonic's legacy would be ten fold what it is.

[RedAuthar]

 

 

That's a good idea too; separate them. Make a American SatAM continuity Sonic comic and a game one and the two shall never meet. 

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world. 

[LogiTeeka]

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 

Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?

 

If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

[Prince ByTor]

 

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 

Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?

 

If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

 

 

Like I said above in my first option, Sega needs to just canonize the American Universe. I agree, splitting it up would cause more problems than it would fix.

 

If Sega would only unify all the continuities and not split them like they have for the last 20 years. They should go ahead and canonize the American SatAM/Archie universe, give it recognition by putting their elements it into games. Until they do this the Sonic franchise will continue being fractured; in the end it is not the fans' fault but Sega where I lay the blame.

[RedAuthar]

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 
Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?
 
If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

I don't mean change the games, but rather mesh characters to fit in the SatAM or Archie world, and stop trying to update each time a game comes out.
Basically establish a canon and then edit the objects to fit that.

[TheRedStranger]

 

 

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 
Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?
 
If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

I don't mean change the games, but rather mesh characters to fit in the SatAM or Archie world, and stop trying to update each time a game comes out.
Basically establish a canon and then edit the objects to fit that.

 

 

This was my recommendation. To qoute Bruce Lee: absorb that which is useful. Use what works, what makes a dramatic and compelling story that screams Sonic, and make a game out of it.

[Prince ByTor]

 

 

 

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 
Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?
 
If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

I don't mean change the games, but rather mesh characters to fit in the SatAM or Archie world, and stop trying to update each time a game comes out.
Basically establish a canon and then edit the objects to fit that.

 

 

This was my recommendation. To qoute Bruce Lee: absorb that which is useful. Use what works, what makes a dramatic and compelling story that screams Sonic, and make a game out of it.

 

 

However, knowing Sega they would ignore what everyone asked for, which would mean getting rid of everything left in the games that is interesting, thus adding another split. Oi Vay!

[TheRedStranger]

 

 

 

 

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 
Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?
 
If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

I don't mean change the games, but rather mesh characters to fit in the SatAM or Archie world, and stop trying to update each time a game comes out.
Basically establish a canon and then edit the objects to fit that.

 

 

This was my recommendation. To qoute Bruce Lee: absorb that which is useful. Use what works, what makes a dramatic and compelling story that screams Sonic, and make a game out of it.

 

 

However, knowing Sega they would ignore what everyone asked for, which would mean getting rid of everything left in the games that is interesting, thus adding another split. Oi Vay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 
Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?
 
If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

I don't mean change the games, but rather mesh characters to fit in the SatAM or Archie world, and stop trying to update each time a game comes out.
Basically establish a canon and then edit the objects to fit that.

 

 

This was my recommendation. To qoute Bruce Lee: absorb that which is useful. Use what works, what makes a dramatic and compelling story that screams Sonic, and make a game out of it.

 

 

However, knowing Sega they would ignore what everyone asked for, which would mean getting rid of everything left in the games that is interesting, thus adding another split. Oi Vay!

 

 

 Well even then SEGA is still a golddigger in search of profit. If we stick to our guns we might force reform in the company via the manipulation of our consumer soverignty on the outside. As for the inside, well, remember what I said about that creative consultant that was a fan...he almost made something amazing happen. People like that will flow into the company as people from our sub-culture grow up and grow outwards (eg. Ian Flynn was a fan-fic writer on works like Sonic Other M  before he wrote for Archie). Soon the aging and aloof executives of SEGA could be in up to their necks in young people that actually care about their product and craft personally. Video Game culture is now producing games not merely consuming them, the people who grew up with games are getting degrees and are conspiring together to make fresh new material (Project Zomboid, The Slender Games, Amnesia, Prenumbra, Bastion, the gambit is huge). We shall take them over from the inside out and force out unfaithful! We shall bring revolution! We shall create the first galatic video-game empire! 

 

 *Luagh manically, Darth Vader standing by his side with the Death Egg in the background.*

 

My gosh...I sound like an evil overlord planning to overthrow SEGA. Better be careful or I might start to building roboticizor in my basement.

[Prince ByTor]

 

 

 

 

 

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 
Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?
 
If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

I don't mean change the games, but rather mesh characters to fit in the SatAM or Archie world, and stop trying to update each time a game comes out.
Basically establish a canon and then edit the objects to fit that.

 

 

This was my recommendation. To qoute Bruce Lee: absorb that which is useful. Use what works, what makes a dramatic and compelling story that screams Sonic, and make a game out of it.

 

 

However, knowing Sega they would ignore what everyone asked for, which would mean getting rid of everything left in the games that is interesting, thus adding another split. Oi Vay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I disagree.  As much as I like SatAM, I am also a fan of the game series, and I think they have a common enough middle ground to meet upon. What they should do for an "American" Sonic comic, is stop trying to match the world to the games, and start changing the game elements to match their world.

 
Easier said than done. What changes in the games would you suggest to make the worlds mesh better?
 
If I had to guess, they should still call Eggman "Robotnik" and refer to Earth as "Mobius", right?

I don't mean change the games, but rather mesh characters to fit in the SatAM or Archie world, and stop trying to update each time a game comes out.
Basically establish a canon and then edit the objects to fit that.

 

 

This was my recommendation. To qoute Bruce Lee: absorb that which is useful. Use what works, what makes a dramatic and compelling story that screams Sonic, and make a game out of it.

 

 

However, knowing Sega they would ignore what everyone asked for, which would mean getting rid of everything left in the games that is interesting, thus adding another split. Oi Vay!

 

 

 Well even then SEGA is still a golddigger in search of profit. If we stick to our guns we might force reform in the company via the manipulation of our consumer soverignty on the outside. As for the inside, well, remember what I said about that creative consultant that was a fan...he almost made something amazing happen. People like that will flow into the company as people from our sub-culture grow up and grow outwards (eg. Ian Flynn was a fan-fic writer on works like Sonic Other M  before he wrote for Archie). Soon the aging and aloof executives of SEGA could be in up to their necks in young people that actually care about their product and craft personally. Video Game culture is now producing games not merely consuming them, the people who grew up with games are getting degrees and are conspiring together to make fresh new material (Project Zomboid, The Slender Games, Amnesia, Prenumbra, Bastion, the gambit is huge). We shall take them over from the inside out and force out unfaithful! We shall bring revolution! We shall create the first galatic video-game empire! 

 

 *Luagh manically, Darth Vader standing by his side with the Death Egg in the background.*

 

My gosh...I sound like an evil overlord planning to overthrow SEGA. Better be careful or I might start to building roboticizor in my basement.

 

 

You are right, we fans are the ones taking control, not just of the Sonic universe, but I've been seeing it happen with other franchises.

But Good Lord, can those in power at Sega take their "can I get a clue" vitamins? I mean, how stupid can stupid get? I swear, they could spend a trillion dollars on research and the big wigs would completely ignore the findings and, like a cage full of monkeys throw poo at the wall hoping that something sticks. Knowing Sega the monkeys would beat them, at poo throwing and making video games. Okay, now I'm just getting silly; is it after midnight, why yesh it is!