Sega Games – European Schedule Best in a Long Time
Shadow, Sonic, Monkeys and more…
Sega Europe has revealed what is its most promising release schedule in a long while, with several major releases slated for the twilight of 2005.
The full list reads:
Perhaps the most interesting of the listed games is Shadow the Hedgehog, the dark alter ego of Sonic. The game was not particularly well received when it was debuted last year, though there has been a turn in fans’ perception over time. This will be the first full scale spin-off (!) title from the Sonic franchise and should, if successful, pave the way for Big the Cat, Cream the Rabbit and more.
SPOnG believes that the negative reaction to Shadow perhaps stemmed from him taking precedence over some other Sonic characters who were better liked by Sega’s loyal if slightly insane fanbase. "We're trying to capture a new type of audience, but we're not trying to throw away Sonic," said Takashi Iizuka of Sega Studios America. "We're trying to expand his world to a broader user audience." Time will tell...
Speaking of Sonic, the inaugural DS Hedgehog platformer is on the way. Sonic Rush has basked in acclaim across the board, with everyone from Satoru Iwata to the lowly editors of IGN enjoying Sonic Team’s latest DS offering.
The full list reads:
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (PlayStation 2, Xbox) - 26th Aug 2005
Virtua Tennis: World Tour (PSP) - 1st Sept 2005
World Snooker Challenge 2005 (PSP) - 1st Sept 2005
Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion (PC) - 30th Sept 2005
Sonic Gems Collection (PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube) - 30th Sept 2005
Spartan: Total Warrior (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube) - 7th Oct 2005
SEGA Classics Collection (PlayStation 2) - 28th Oct 2005
Football Manager 2006 (PC, Mac) - 4th Nov 2005
Condemned (Xbox 360) - Xbox 360 Launch title
Sonic Rush (Nintendo DS) - 25th Nov 2005
Shadow The Hedgehog (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube) - 25th Nov 2005
Virtua Tennis: World Tour (PSP) - 1st Sept 2005
World Snooker Challenge 2005 (PSP) - 1st Sept 2005
Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion (PC) - 30th Sept 2005
Sonic Gems Collection (PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube) - 30th Sept 2005
Spartan: Total Warrior (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube) - 7th Oct 2005
SEGA Classics Collection (PlayStation 2) - 28th Oct 2005
Football Manager 2006 (PC, Mac) - 4th Nov 2005
Condemned (Xbox 360) - Xbox 360 Launch title
Sonic Rush (Nintendo DS) - 25th Nov 2005
Shadow The Hedgehog (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube) - 25th Nov 2005
Perhaps the most interesting of the listed games is Shadow the Hedgehog, the dark alter ego of Sonic. The game was not particularly well received when it was debuted last year, though there has been a turn in fans’ perception over time. This will be the first full scale spin-off (!) title from the Sonic franchise and should, if successful, pave the way for Big the Cat, Cream the Rabbit and more.
SPOnG believes that the negative reaction to Shadow perhaps stemmed from him taking precedence over some other Sonic characters who were better liked by Sega’s loyal if slightly insane fanbase. "We're trying to capture a new type of audience, but we're not trying to throw away Sonic," said Takashi Iizuka of Sega Studios America. "We're trying to expand his world to a broader user audience." Time will tell...
Speaking of Sonic, the inaugural DS Hedgehog platformer is on the way. Sonic Rush has basked in acclaim across the board, with everyone from Satoru Iwata to the lowly editors of IGN enjoying Sonic Team’s latest DS offering.
Companies:
SEGA
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Comments
Joji 18 Aug 2005 16:24
1/3
Indeed Sonic Rush looks spicy enough. The rest of the list ain't too bad.
We'd like to see more classic titles return but Sammy have plans to feed us what they think we want. Perhaps if they done a little more market research they find out what we want to play outside of japan.
Not a bad selection though.
We'd like to see more classic titles return but Sammy have plans to feed us what they think we want. Perhaps if they done a little more market research they find out what we want to play outside of japan.
Not a bad selection though.
NiktheGreek 18 Aug 2005 18:16
2/3
This will be the first full scale spin-off (!) title from the Sonic franchise
Are you sure?
Joji wrote:
We'd like to see more classic titles return but Sammy have plans to feed us what they think we want. Perhaps if they done a little more market research they find out what we want to play outside of japan.
Ah, but there's the catch. They have found out what people want to play outside of Japan, hence the inclusion of World Snooker Challenge, Spartan, Football Manager and Condemned.
Unfortunately, they maybe haven't quite grasped what traditional Sega fans outside of Japan would like to see. Equally unfortunately, it looks like that kind of person is becoming increasingly irrelevant in today's market. Still, as one of those I'll say that the line-up looks promising.
One nagging thing remains - Gunstar Future Heroes remains an "Autumn" release. Firm date please, Sega!
TigerUppercut 19 Aug 2005 09:23
3/3
NiktheGreek wrote:
Unfortunately, they maybe haven't quite grasped what traditional Sega fans outside of Japan would like to see. Equally unfortunately, it looks like that kind of person is becoming increasingly irrelevant in today's market. Still, as one of those I'll say that the line-up looks promising.
Sega has no idea about its fans in Europe full stop. It's like we don't exist. In fact, I think they'd rather we didn't so they could get on with becoming a little EA.