Sonic Mania (August 15th 2017, Christian Whitehead, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch) - The New Classic

[Your Vest Friend]

Just now, Jango said:

So you're saying he made that animation AT Studio Yotta, and was probably asked by them to remove it, since he doesn't work with them anymore, but SEGA is still their client. That means Studio Yotta are the ones making Mania's animations, but without Max if your though is correct.

For the most part, although I think he did do work on them (otherwise he wouldn't put it up as part of his resume), but he wasn't responsible for any stage beyond the stage he put up so he didn't need to be there through the entire process of animation. For all we know they're still being refined as we speak. 

Of  course, this mostly amounts to postulation at this time, the only concrete thing we have is that he's no longer with Studio Yotta. 

[JosepHenry]

Wait, so the guy got fired?!

Did the worst really happend?

[expansivelovestories]

25 minutes ago, Tracker_TD said:

This game is primarily being made for the people who will get what they're going for, though. It makes perfect sense, innit. 

Also what Depression Kong said, aye

Ah   These are relieving posts to read!  I had been trying to come up with an alternative explanation for the animation so to not be disappointed if it is actually not in the game.  The sequences in Sonic CD especially the credits are among the best experiences of seeing Sonic in motion and they do really fit there.  New work in a similar style, and that will include Tails and Knuckles, will be incredible!!

[YuTwo]

So I was rereading the Sonic Retro article about the charity stream and I just now realized that they credited Tyson Hesse as not only a cartoonist but as an animator as well.

I wasn't even aware that Tyson had done animations as I only knew about him from the Mega Drive comics. 

Look what I found in his tweets:

I'm going to enter speculation mode again and say that maybe either Tyson is helping in providing his design to the animation studio and that's why there so similar in comparison or the animation studio was just inspired and based there design on his.

After all Tyson's Sonic is the most recent design that is based off of the CD/OVA one.

 

[Ajavalo]

Take a look at this tweet by our quasi-official Japanese translator SonicJPNews and the rest of the thread:

It's cool to read from Iizuka himself that "the Green Hill Zone has been played hundred times already *lol*"

Do you know what would be even cooler? If they make a fourth wall joke abut GHZ in Sonic Forces' story. It's been hinted by Nakamura already lol!

[Psychicmoose103]

21 minutes ago, BlueParadox said:

Hey guys, this is kinda off-topic, but a new Classic Sonic fangame called "Sonic Time Twisted" just got released today! So for those of you who can't wait for Sonic Mania, here's something that will keep you busy while you wait for the game

 

 

I thought this game was releasing the 19th! Sweet!

[Maxtiis]

Lately it seems that Tyson Hesse's method of drawing Classic Sonic is starting to become the standard design for him. I've heard that Sonic Mega Drive was well loved by many of the staff at Sega of America so I wouldn't be surprised if they decided that should be the way he's portrayed in Western developed media from now on. 

[D.K.]

34 minutes ago, BlueParadox said:

Hey guys, this is kinda off-topic, but a new Classic Sonic fangame called "Sonic Time Twisted" just got released today! So for those of you who can't wait for Sonic Mania, here's something that will keep you busy while you wait for the game

 

 

 Good taste.

[Chris Knopps]

2 hours ago, Ajavalo said:

It's cool to read from Iizuka himself that "the Green Hill Zone has been played hundred times already *lol*"

Do you know what would be even cooler? If they make a fourth wall joke abut GHZ in Sonic Forces' story. It's been hinted by Nakamura already lol!

Huh...

Well, if nothing else this statement coming from him of all people does help to signify the point of putting Green Hill behind the company is fast approaching.

If the top of the top is feeling "Been there, done that" now then it does bode well for future titles.

[Jango]

Imagine if it's LITERALLY a dialog. Classic Sonic speaking (hopefully he will this time...) to Modern and co.:

"- So, I was running through Green Hill for the hundred time....."

 

And the level is actually like, a minute long or so.

[Tenko]

I don't know about the rest of you, but watching that Mania animation and having read Mega Drive, as well as having seen Sonic CD's opening and ending countless times...I would watch the hell out of a classic style old school animated series if one existed.

Heck it could even be in that Mickey Mouse Shorts format, or even have no speaking lines at all with it just being all pantomime by the characters and it would be a blast to watch if done in the expressive style that Tyson draws the classic characters in the comics.

Personally I have always enjoyed fluid classic style animation to the often chunky 3D stuff that seems to be used a lot in modern kids TV animation. Even Sonic Boom is a little to stiff for my liking. Sure it can look fantastic with big movie budgets like Pixar for example, and even when done right by video game companies like Blizzard and yes even Sonic Team at times, but as far as TV series go they seem to go for less frames of animation to produce it cheaper and it ends up looking quite stiff compared to the good stuff. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the end result for Mania will look like.

[Psychicmoose103]

So, I was debating if I wanted to buy a switch pro controller for Mania, and somebody was selling one for really cheap. His name is "John Doster" 

Im not even joking haha.

Anyways, I hope we get confirmation on a physical release and release date. It's the one thing holding me away from collectors edition. If a physical release gets put in the collectors edition, or it's only in the collectors edition, I'm gonna get it. but if it is available to buy from stores, I'll probably not get one. What about you guys?

[Sega DogTagz]

Too late for me to choose. I already slapped down the money for a collectors edition on day 1. I'll get whatever ships with that.

 

[Knuggles]

On 4/14/2017 at 0:53 PM, Zippo said:

https://studioyotta.com

Sorry if I'm a bit late on this but I have some thoughts regarding the possibility of Sonic CD styled animation cutscenes for Sonic Mania

So Studio Yotta considers itself an internet-based animation studio and if you look at their website you can see the majority of their works are online-based.

On 4/14/2017 at 1:34 PM, TailsMania said:

 

This is why I think it could possibly be just for an online PV for Sonic Mania

That and because Sonic Mania has been confirmed to have Sonic 3&K styled cutscenes by Christian Whitehead

It might not be it but I think it could be a possibility

[Chris Knopps]

1 hour ago, Knuggles said:

Sorry if I'm a bit late on this but I have some thoughts regarding the possibility of Sonic CD styled animation cutscenes for Sonic Mania

So Studio Yotta considers itself an internet-based animation studio and if you look at their website you can see the majority of their works are online-based.

This is why I think it could possibly be just for an online PV for Sonic Mania

That and because Sonic Mania has been confirmed to have Sonic 3&K styled cutscenes by Christian Whitehead

It might not be it but I think it could be a possibility

There will likely be an animated opening and ending, with sprite-based scenes in-game.

Edit

...Gonna be licking my TV screen...

[Blue Blood]

I've got the PS4 Collectors Edition on pre-order, because the Switch version isn't coming to Europe and I'm not wasting time and money importing it. I'll just download the Switch version, or pick up a physical copy if one materialises. I plan on picking up the regular steam version as well at some point. 

[FReaK]

I pre ordered the PS4 CE and will get the steam version the night it comes out so I don't have to wait until the delivery guy comes.

[Tenko]

I have the PC CE on pre-order, mainly due to not having any of the other consoles it's on. Planing on getting a Switch and PS4 at some point in tge near future tho and will support Mania as much as I can by buying it again on those consoles. I really hope it gets all the attention and the sales to match that it deserves, as this is shaping up to be an amazing work of care and love and so much attention to detail. 

[CleverSonicUsername]

I have the CE on preorder, which should arrive day one. I own a Switch and I'm considering getting it for that too, just so I can dink around in it on the go, but I dunno. There's no real d-pad on that thing and playing sidescrollers with an analog stick is gross.

[Blue Blood]

5 minutes ago, CleverSonicUsername said:

I have the CE on preorder, which should arrive day one. I own a Switch and I'm considering getting it for that too, just so I can dink around in it on the go, but I dunno. There's no real d-pad on that thing and playing sidescrollers with an analog stick is gross.

I've never had this issue, personally speaking. Analogue sticks are fine for 2D games. The issue only really arises when a game demands a lot if use of the Y-axis or otherwise precise inputs, but Sonic games don't and I've never even had an issue with the spindash or rolling. It's a pretty widespread concern though for all 2D games, so I'm not trying to discredit you here. 

Have you played any 2D games with the Switch's arrow buttons? They work surprisingly well - much better than I had expected them to. The other alternative is the Pro Controller if you've got cash to splash. It's my go-to for the Switch and recommend it infinitely over the Joy-Con Grip. 

Playing Mania in handheld mode an immediate sell for me. I've always been more comfortable playing just about any game at all on a device held in my hands without the big screen. Come release day, I'll be curled up in bed or sprawled out on the sofa, lost in my own little world of Sonic Mania. 

[CleverSonicUsername]

Just now, Blue Blood said:

I've never had this issue, personally speaking. Analogue sticks are fine for 2D games. The issue only really arises when a game demands a lot if use of the Y-axis or otherwise precise inputs, but Sonic games don't and I've never even had an issue with the spindash or rolling. It's a pretty widespread concern though for all 2D games, so I'm not trying to discredit you here. 

Have you played any 2D games with the Switch's arrow buttons? They work surprisingly well - much better than I had expected them to. The other alternative is the Pro Controller if you've got cash to splash. It's my go-to for the Switch and recommend it infinitely over the Joy-Con Grip. 

Playing Mania in handheld mode an immediate sell for me. I've always been more comfortable playing just about any game at all on a device held in my hands without the big screen. Come release day, I'll be curled up in bed or sprawled out on the sofa, lost in my own little world of Sonic Mania. 

I'm just very picky about these things and need a good D-pad. I plan to go through mania with my USB six-button.

[molul]

Talking about controllers, it might be about time to flood 8bitdo's forums asking for a Genesis bluetooth controller  to play Sonic Mania properly

[CleverSonicUsername]

2 minutes ago, molul said:

Talking about controllers, it might be about time to flood 8bitdo's forums asking for a Genesis bluetooth controller  to play Sonic Mania properly

If you're willing to settle on a USB controller, Hyperkin's six button is dead on with how I remember the genuine thing feeling. Buttons have about the same give as my three button genesis controller, really good weight to it.

[Mark1]

I know that this has been discussed already. But man I love this art style so much, probably my favourite design of all the different takes in the series. 

Would love to see this become the norm for Classic era games in the future. 

Summer feels too far away...

[molul]

6 hours ago, CleverSonicUsername said:

If you're willing to settle on a USB controller, Hyperkin's six button is dead on with how I remember the genuine thing feeling. Buttons have about the same give as my three button genesis controller, really good weight to it.

Thanks I heard bad reviews about that pad, so I got a genesis to usb adapter, which surprisingly works with my Nvidia shield tablet. So cool! But if 8bitdo made a bluetooth one, that would rock, because their pads are awesome.