Sega Promises Internet Fame for Supporting Sonic 4

[Tom Goldman]

Sega Promises Internet Fame for Supporting Sonic 4

Internet fame awaits those that must have Sonic on every device possible.

By mid-October, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 will be available on four different platforms: XBLA, PSN, WiiWare, and iOS. Fans of the Sonic titles from the Genesis days were probably planning to pick it up already, but likely on just one or two devices at most. On the other hand, if you want to go overboard and buy it on every platform, Sega is promising to post on the internet that it likes you.

As revealed on Sega's forums, the company will be offering three levels of loyalty bonuses to Episode 1 buyers. If you can prove that you've bought two or more versions of the game, Sega will provide an appropriate reward.

Purchasers of two versions will get their names posted on an MVP list within a "special sticky thread" on the Sega and Sonic 4 forums and websites. Those that buy it on three platforms will get the same, a shout-out on the Sega blogs and Sonic 4 website, a bucket of digital kittens [http://www.batcho.net/Kitten8.jpg] (Sega's horrifying kitten link, not mine), and placement in a "cool spot" elsewhere that is still to be revealed.

And if people really go crazy and buy Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and iPhone/iPad, they'll get all of the above and a special video shout-out from Sega employees that will be posted on YouTube and Sega's websites. So if you've got a spare $55 laying around, go for it.

I'm not one to criticize marketing tactics, but it feels odd that Sega is promoting what seems like needless spending by offering brief internet fame. I seriously doubt that Sonic fans need what is basically an identical version of the game on three separate consoles. At most, a console and a handheld device purchase makes sense. Still, we know there are going to be people buying all four versions just because of this promotion, and some of them may even be reading this sentence right now. I forgive you.

Source: Sega Forums [http://forums.sega.com/showthread.php?t=347080]

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[Loonerinoes]

Given that this is the fandom who decided to boycott newer Sonic games via buying the older ones...I'd say it's probable this tactic will actually work.

 

[AgentBJ09]

Well, if the game is good enough on the XBLA, I may buy it on the PSN also. My PS3 has a small library.

Still, the 'fame' part of this seems odd. Why not let fans who bought this game show off their Sonic game collection instead? That would be more fun.

 

[Diligent]

Why? Why pay money for the exact same thing more than once?

 

[Andronicus]

Huh. Well, whaddaya know, I don't have a Wii or an iPhone.

What a shame. [/sarcasm]

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Snip

Is it just me, or has Sega finally reliazed that their fans are way to into Sonic?

 

[Digikid]

Why? Why pay money for the exact same thing more than once?

" A Fool and his Money are soon Parted "

Pretty much says it all.

 

[Zing]

Yes because I care about internet fame. :\

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Given that this is the fandom who decided to boycott newer Sonic games via buying the older ones...I'd say it's probable this tactic will actually work.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Eric the Orange]

Why don't they just do a donate button and if you give the 40$ or whatever they'll do this for you. Cause this amounts to pretty much the same thing.

 

[mjc0961]

Well that's pretty stupid. Even buying two versions is stupid. Even if one is portable, it's still the same damn game, just even worse because of no buttons and tilt controls for special stages (from what I hear in reviews anyway).

Instead of this stupid crap, how about you release the rest of the game properly, SEGA? When you're about to release part 1 of an episodic game, you should not be giving interviews in which you admit you don't even know how many future episodes are coming yet. That screams "This is going to be like Half Life 2 Episode 3 and come out if we ever decide to finish it" and that is doing it wrong. Maybe if you ask nicely, Telltale will teach you how to do episodic gaming properly and then you won't have to resort to "Buy all four versions of the game and we'll thank you in video!" tactic for sales.

 

[Charli]

Fans of the Sonic titles from the Genesis days were probably planning to pick it up already, but likely on just one or two devices at most.

What? No. Most of us are sighing and shaking our heads realizing this is still going to flop.
I'm a huge Sonic 1 through S&K fan but this just isn't going to cut it, and I know it.

Unless someone else from that era comes up to me foamy mouthed and wide eyed claiming it is the little blue fuzz balls' second coming I can just gladly go on believing he's dead.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

Pointless waste of money, but at least it's a different take on marketing. I know it's purely financially motivated, but I'm oddly pleased by the angle.

I'll probably grab a single copy, considering the Sonic games basically started gaming for me, and I still replay them on occasion, but I'm not about to pay for the same thing over and over again.

Wish there was a PC version, I've grown accustomed to playing the Sonic games emulated.

 

[TLatshaw]

I hope anyone who would actually drop upward of $50 or more for multiple versions of the same game realizes this is still just Episode 1. If you're such a fan, why not save your money for, you know, the rest of the game?

 

[OldAccount]

Joey Keller. You now know my name. There, I have achieved the level of "fame" Saga promised me.

Thanks but I'm good with one copy of the same game.

 

[Archemetis]

This doesn't sound so much like:
'Buy three copies of our game and we'll revere you as an internet legend!'

As much as it sounds like:
'Buy three copies of our one game and we'll post your name on our website so that people can question/mock your mental and financial stability for buying the same game three times!'

At least that's how it sounds to me.
But, then again I am a huge cynic when it comes to the Internet.

 

[Sixties Spidey]

Achievement Unlocked: Sad Bastard.