Marketing Research

For those of you who do not know, I'm currently making some major alterations to the engine in a Sonic 1 disassembly, it's almost as ready as I need it, and I have a very huge sprite sheet of improved Sonic 1 sprites with smoother animation which I plan to patch to it. The reason for me doing this is that, I plan to create a major hack of some kind on top of it, I mean major as in, turning it into a new Sonic game, but without going too mad (I don't plan to spend my entire life on it).


However, I don't know what makes you all tick, sometimes I get lucky (See Pana Der Hejhog), sometimes I don't (see Sonic 1 50hz faster edition), but to do this properly, I want to get deep into your thoughts with a serious effect, what are you looking to see in a new Sonic Mega Drive/Genesis game?


Before anyone jumps the waggon and says this is an ideas thread, in one frame of mind, yes you are right, but not in the same context, ideas threads are often created by those showing their ideas but not in action, and may never actually get to the stage of making them practical, not to mention that most of the time the ideas are either stupid or cliché, and the thread is only built around a conversation over "their" ideas and nothing more, hence why we trash them.


Let's think of this as a community gathering of ideas, a provided marketing research of what the scene is interested in, this opens up room for more conversation. Of course, you are not fourced to share your ideas at all, if you would like to keep them to yourself, then that is entirely your business and no disrespect to you. As most of you will have a lot of creative ideas, this will leave a lot of open room for multiple future hacks, and I think it would be great for those looking to make a hack, who are interested in knowing what people would like to see, will find it here.


Hell play our cards right, we may end up with hacks congenial to us as a community rather than just the directors, like we usually keep getting.


I would like to further ask that you don't be silly with your ideas, be honest, be straight, otherwise the thread will fill up with a load of crap, and will have to be deleted, I don't want to have to do that.

 

this is rather broad and I'm wanting a little clarification. Do you mean "in general" -- ie, applying to any difference / alteration (style of levels, level design, enemy ideas, plot ideas, gimmicks, new moves / other engine alterations)?


If so, I've always been a fan of the sonic cd level design -- exploration intense if desired, but can be completed rapidly as well. I always thought another scd style time travel game would be fun (although labour intensive and impractical on an individual level).


A level with the water on the ceiling as opposed to the floor was an idea I had for an HPZ rehash years ago.


I dunno.. I guess I don't have much original =P I just really like Sonic CD <.<;;

 

Well, "In general" yes, the list you've provided of types of ideas is definately what would contribute to the marketing, but also whole hack ideas too, like a major gimmick of a hack to base itself around.


As long as the idea isn't overly stupid as hell and that it can be taken seriously, anything should be fine. This is just giving people insite into your desires of a hack, or stuff within hacks.


EDIT: you know, I forgot to share my idea(s).


I personally like seeing hacks that contain content that is just simply "clean", that functions without bugs, and works itself very professionally. It's like, I'm a sucker for main menus that present the hack in a way that Sonic games never have done in the Mega Drive/Genesis series. it's like an awesome "welcome" to the game.


I also like the idea of playing characters that are given a certain "power" that even though isn't invincible, is something that makes you feel pretty powerful when playing with it, for example, when playing on Super Mario 64 with the wing cap, I often get this very awesome feeling of having that fast flying power. Another example might be rayman, when you're given the ability to run and fly, on the right levels you can pick up some major speed and flight, and even though it isn't invincible, it gives me a great feeling of power and control. Along with responsibility of practice and timing...

 

I'm going to jump straight in with my own personal ideas here... this may take a while.


Layouts: One of the fundamental parts of a Sonic game, in my opinion. Layouts should be challenging in areas but rewarding. There should be multiple paths that reward the player for skill but don't force you take a path or die. Later levels are allowed this in places, but very infrequent.


Moveset: Usually a hot topic to discuss but here goes. I think that 2D gameplay benefits from a simplistic approach. Sonic 1 had rolling and jumping, Sonic 2 added a spindash, Sonic CD added peel-out and Sonic 3 added insta-shield (and shield moves, if you want to be specific). The moveset doesn't have to be complicated and many levels can be built around a simplistic one. It's how those moves are used which makes the gameplay fun. (I personally prefer the peel-out and insta-shield)


Bosses: I like big bosses. Sounds wrong, I know, but it's true. Sandopolis 2 had a clever one that was challenging and looked visually impressive. Death Egg (both Sonic 2 and 3K) had amazing bosses that were both big and challenging, which is a bonus in my book. If it looks awesome and is fun to battle, you have a winner on your hands.


Visuals: The classics strived to go above and beyond the last every time. If you can pull off something that looks amazing, and still retains that Sonic feel, then power to you. Visual effects and pushing the limits of the Megadrive are things that I love to see.


Music: The music of the originals has a distinct style. I struggle to explain it but here goes: "The music is catchy, it stays with you. You hear it and know it is Sonic almost immediately. It portrays the environment and scenario and sets the mood of the current situation"


As you can see, most of this is a predictable answer from myself but if it's out there instead of in my head, then maybe it'll help somewhere.


There we go; that should cover it. If you have any questions about any of these, feel free to let me know.

 

You know something that never really gets touched? This kind of level.

So I made a very short post, I might add something to it later but still, you want an idea of something that's barely refreshed? There you go.

 

Act transitions?

 

The true Sonic 4 *shot*. But in all seriousness I would like the style that s3k had with act transitions, mini boss, impressive bosses, cutscenes, the sheilds and abilities for the characters. Completely new levels, with brand new art would be absolutely fantastic. Maybe not go exactly the same as S3k but using some of the ideas that worked and then apply another unique ideas as well.


Multiple routes in a layout is great also rather than hold right to win, adding a bit of challenge here and then(increases as you get further in the game) and no dead ends, unless you get a reward. Having remixed track of the first act for the 2nd act like s3k I would like to see more of that. Another Tails and Sonic styled boss would be interesting(the Marble Garden Boss). Making use of Sonic's speed everynow again by doing fast routes, maybe Tails only routes.(This is of course if Tails was in the game)


I think that will do for now, I may update it later.

 

So that probably explains why that signature with sonic spinning was there, to inform us about something. well in any case if you are making another dissasembly, then I say go with what Eduardo said and add act transitions. that would really give it a new game type of feel IMO but hey, it's your dissasembly not mine. also as to that sprite sheet you mentioned, any chance that all of us are going to see it soon?

 

No, not here, my hack isn't relevant to the point of this thread, I'll rephrase:


The point in this thread is to give those who are looking to make a hack, an idea of what people would like to see, it will help them to create a hack that gets praised and noticed, and it'll help us in the sense that we'll get the type of hacks we're looking to see. It helps everyone, and it furthers out community.

 

Erm... yes sir right away! (fucking hell!)


Aaanyway...


If you're looking to create a new game, but don't want to spend your whole life making it. You might be aware that I'm doing a project hybridizing the art in the classics to create assets for a potential Classic Sonic trilogy in one game type of thing (you can see the thread in creative works at Retro), if you're interested in working with that, I would be honored. Working hard on it right now as we speak, I'll be moving onto the first hybridized zone called "Mushroom Green Zone" which is a hybrid of Green, Emerald and Mushroom Hill Zone once the sprite sheets and objects are done.


In a nutshell, each zone would be a seamless hybrid of 3 compatible zones from each game, cleverly blended together to look like new zones. I.e. Green zones, space zones, fun zones, water zones, fast city zones, lava zones, base zones etc.


If you like the idea or not, whatever you DO decide to make, be sure that you put Pana in it. He would've been an awesome new (official) character!

 

No. He was a joke fan character, and pretty much a recolored sonic. If you want the smooth extra animation sprites, Markey said he is already going to use that.


Edit: On topic, there has to be at least one zone that stands out, that goes into new theme territory. That and/or combine existing themes together to make one surreal mashup.

 

A botanical garden on a moon base would be a pretty wacky idea.

 

There's always Perilous Paradise Zone, though it isn't a base on the moon nor in space, it sure looks like one.


There is also Crash Bandicoot 2's Night Fight, which is strongly implied to be on the space station (though not on the moon)


What I was thinking of when I made that comment was Sonic Classic 2's Casino/Cave hybrid.

 

Ideathread1111!11


I personally am intrigued by the lists of ideas in here, but nothing quite similar to my ideas....Which kind of makes me not want to share, for originality's sake

 

As I have expressed at http://sonicresearch...?showtopic=3040


Robotnik's creature capture was an awesome game that I personally enjoy playing:


In fact all three of your games that I have played (Pana Der Hejhog, jester challenge and creature capture) I would consider the best sonic hacks ever


There are several factors that make your games great and that includes


1: Originality


2: Always fun to play I can always count on having fun while playing this game


3: long game-play keeps me wanting to go on to the next level for a long time


4: Offers a challenge and I always fell like I have accomplished something

 

Can you speak in clear English please? If a sequel is to be made that is up to the hack creator, thank you.

 

Sorry about that I have fixed my post, I did not know what I was thinking when I posted that I even excluded his other games which are also the best sonic hacks. Again sorry about that.

 

I have played toons of hacks and I have to say all of them bored me... and that is because they are too bugged... only Pana (although it is a "demo hack"), Robotnik Creature Capture (it's the most original one I have played and very well done), and Megamix (it's too buged but it was great in it's day)... For a new hack, the best point for me is make it not bugged.

 

I have a silly idea.


If we can make Sonic slippery in an ice level (thanks Pana), why not a flying fortress level where speed is reduced and you struggle to speed up, stopping would just blow you away from the direction of the rotors. Normal speed is only accessible from inside the fortress.