For SEGA and Sonic Team, a lot of the focus this month has been on Sonic Frontiers. However, there is just a couple of days until the release of Sonic Origins. Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles are all included in the collection, but other 2D titles are not.
Takashi Iizuka, head of Sonic Team, was asked about porting other 2D Sonic games in an interview with Nintendo Life. Iizuka replied by saying that “Sonic Origins was focused on the main series of classic games, so there were no plans to include other titles. At this point there aren’t any plans to port other titles, but I’d like to consider it when we see the reaction after Sonic Origins releases”.
Seeing how the greedy pricing and confusing DLC chart will keep most people from buying an otherwise excellent collection of classic games, I suppose getting a rerelease of the Advance games is officially off the table. That’s unfortunate.
“Seeing how the greedy pricing”
There isn’t really a way to know if this is the case with the information we have.
To a customer, we grade these things in a vacuum. Are roms of 4-5 old games worth $40? Its judged on its individual merits. We’re only comparing it to other things insofar as we see what other similar rom compilations cost us.
To a business, no expense is in a vacuum. Its all relative. The question isn’t “what is a compilation of 4-5 roms worth”. The question is, “how much money could we make by putting these employees on a different project instead?” “What else could we do with this money we’re spending on new art assets and advertising?”
Under that calculus, it could very well work out that even though 4-5 roms are “worth” $20, it would not be worth Sega’s time to make them for $20 compared to them making whatever other thing they were considering making when they greenlit the project. If that’s the case, it isn’t “greedy” to charge more, that’s just the reality of how much the compilation costs to make it happen at all in the first place. The choice then becomes, do we want the game to exist at all?
“I suppose getting a rerelease of the Advance games is officially off the table. That’s unfortunate.”
They’re only off the table if people don’t want them enough. If you refuse all forms of premium pricing, less popular games like Sonic Advance are always, always going to lose out in project selection to games that make more money. High prices aren’t simply annoying obstacles that gets in the way, they’re a tool to getting things that you want that are otherwise difficult to have. If a small but dedicated group of fans wanted Sonic Advance games, but the general population didn’t, being willing to accept high prices is how you make those hd remasters happen anyway. If you call them greedy for attempting to make the project work despite little demand, they aren’t going to repent their greed and give their annual profits to charity, but they will stop greenlighting less in-demand projects.
Or in the case of Konami, just make Pachinko machines.
Considering the crazy pricing scheme for DLC and how far they were willing to nickel and dime us for every little thing, it seems a bit funny that they couldn’t find a way to fund licensing for the original Sonic 3&K soundtrack. I know it’s not a deal breaker for everybody and most will argue (in somewhat bad faith IMO) that new players won’t know what they’re missing, but it personally turned me off from buying this collection and I’m sure I’m not the only one
That’s literally what I want and also include chaos Garden
Not planning on getting it since I have played these games in the past from another Sonic collection. But, I hope newer and old Sonic fans enjoys this wonderful game in Sonic’s history.
These games exist:
What SEGA shouldn’t have discounted in Origins:
-Sonic 2 (8-bit)
-SegaSonic Arcade
-Sonic Chaos
Other classic era Sonic games:
-Sonic Triple Trouble
-Sonic Labyrinth
-Knuckles Chaotix
-Tails Skypatrol
-Tails Adventure
-Sonic Blast a.k.a. G-Sonic
-Sonic Drift 1 & 2
This is my desperate attempt to spread awareness, since I’m surrounded by casuals who do not see an issue here, and that disturbs me.
I’m sure as hell not buying it for $40.
Maybe when it’s on sale for $20 or so.
I know most rich people are.