posted January 14, 2006 06:56 PM            

Needless to say, after working so hard and trying to coordinate a team atmosphere, this lack of "departmental coordination" came at the wrong time for me. To top that off, I hated this cover with a passion. Cutesy, poor posing, nothing dramatic, no energy (no fire!). So, I drafted the following letter:

This is the quick concept sketch designed to help direct the cover artist's efforts in making something more "extreme" and suitable for Sonic Xtreme:

posted January 14, 2006 07:08 PM              

I like your sketch better^^ Very anime-esque in some ways. Much more energetic.

posted January 14, 2006 08:48 PM            

Cause the "Sonic X-treme" cover art was also used by SEGA for Sonic 3D in some countries btw

I've also wondered why the cover looked so dull

posted January 14, 2006 11:06 PM              

Any idea on what the deal was with the logo, or why it was changed?

posted January 16, 2006 02:48 AM              

And would be better if Sega let the game team make the instruction manual and boxes than another departament... normally they´re awful! The story of Knuckles Chaotix for 32X in the manual is completly different and Tempo 32X box scaries me... ^^;

Also, you have the back of X-Treme box?

posted January 18, 2006 03:04 PM            

Keith - Thanks, mang - Anime is something that prompted me studying Japanese back in high school... I *love* A NI ME!!! Well, I think marketing is essential to help any product succeed, it's when marketing dictates what the product should be that problems arise. That boxart is an example, and as I wrote in my email to the marketing art director, I was not happy how it came about. In the end, it didn't even matter (lol), but it's not winning the race that's important to me so much as the ride there...

SANiK - Thanks, SANiK! Now can you program that image to come to life???

Soda - I'm glad you dig it. That giant white line is the fart Tails launched in all the excitement. lol ...okay, maybe it is smoke as Exabyte256 mentions...

Elmatto - Thanks, mang. OMG I saw one of those too! Isn't that CRAZY to see ads for things that don't exist??? lol

Rlan - Ah yes... the Secret Ultra Turbo addition... with the changed title font. I don't know why there were multiple versions - and if I had any of those promo renders, I would have long-since burned them. lol (sowwy)

Exabyte256 - Thanks, that's exactly what I was hoping for... instead of that dopey, limp, expressionless, totally posed rendering without shadows (look at his hands!) piece of... history. And DING DING - you are correct in your assumption! Youuuuu wiiinnnnnnn 5 Gold Stars!

VBcoder - Yes indeedy, I drew it. I'm glad it evokes those things... that was the intent (and it's a very high praise - thank you!)

ICEknight - Thanks amigo. I did look through the style guide, but it was not the Japanese style, so I didn't pay attention to it Roger Hector, our boss, did understand the Japanese style much more than I would have expected, which helped support me in my efforts. But he was also the one to try and push naming the game "Sonic Blue Streak" (which I promptly told him evoked images of dirty Smurf diapers!) ...I don't have any copies of it, though, unfortunately.

Adamis - Wow, if it looks anything like that, I'm very flattered. I'll have to share some of my failed Sonic drawings... then we can all laugh together! lol

Yuski - Well thank you, I'm glad you dig it so much! If only... you know? I definitely agree that the game team should have time scheduled for manual contents - text and illustrations. I never designed the back of the box, but it would have most-likely had a bunch of text, screenshots and legal mumbo jumbo... exciting, huh???

Dreadknux - A "bloody" soap opera in every sense of the word, indeed. I'm so glad sharing this stuff that's been dormant for so many years is interesting to you and the others. It really makes the work worth it!

H Hog - Awww - well I'll be sharin' quite a lot more stuff!!! Keep your bananas pealed for more!

posted January 18, 2006 07:04 PM              

[edited January 18, 2006 by Elmatto]

posted January 18, 2006 08:37 PM              

quote:

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Originally posted by kurisu:
Keith - Thanks, mang - Anime is something that prompted me studying Japanese back in high school... I *love* A NI ME!!! Well, I think marketing is essential to help any product succeed, it's when marketing dictates what the product should be that problems arise. That boxart is an example, and as I wrote in my email to the marketing art director, I was not happy how it came about. In the end, it didn't even matter (lol), but it's not winning the race that's important to me so much as the ride there...

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I hear that! If we were to place too much value on victory, we'd be unhappy way too much!

Anime is so great, I think, as an art form. It's all about energy and emotion and less about how 'realistic' something looks. Or that's how I see it anyway. It's also kinda playful sometimes, I think. My favorite anime and manga series are those that take themselves only half seriously or are just fun stories. Like My Neighbor Totoro and the like. They have good solid stories, but they're fun at the same time. Not just fun story-wise, but visually.

posted January 20, 2006 09:10 PM              

quote:

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Originally posted by kurisu:
[b]ICEknight - Thanks amigo. I did look through the style guide, but it was not the Japanese style, so I didn't pay attention to it Roger Hector, our boss, did understand the Japanese style much more than I would have expected, which helped support me in my efforts. But he was also the one to try and push naming the game "Sonic Blue Streak" (which I promptly told him evoked images of dirty Smurf diapers!) ...I don't have any copies of it, though, unfortunately.[/B]

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Mr. Senn, did you see the difference between the American Sonic drawings and the Japanese Sonic drawings?
I have always hated the American style Sonic. Who was responsible for it? I understand why Naka took Sonic back to Japan and redesigned him.

Like you did with the box art (hating it so much and making a big deal out of it), I spent a few hours in Illustrator to show how much I hate the American boxart drawn Sonic. Enjoy

*The devil-ears Sonic is used in Sonic 2 boxart outside of Japan, as well as a lot of Game Gear Sonic games.

posted January 20, 2006 10:11 PM              

quote:

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Originally posted by SANiK:
[b]LOst - The Japanese have done worse to Sonic:

[edited January 20, 2006 by SANiK][/B]

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Well, sure the shiness on the 3D model is too much. But I like the 2D shine.

posted January 21, 2006 10:52 AM              

The sonic cd design brings out all the familiarities we love about Sonic.

The new design has more definition and color to it, but it screams "XTREEEEEEEEEEEEME" and annoying.

posted January 21, 2006 01:20 PM            

Keith - What I enjoy most about anime in general is the fusion of maturity, sophistication and playfulness. You'll have this cute little teeny tiny cutie who just makes you want to squeeze her until she explodes... and then right beside her this massive, powerful and AWESOME-looking mech... then mix in some intriguing villians, the boss's of which don't just die some lame death... and interesting effects... and throw in some humor and you got it baby YEAH!

BTW, I haven't watched television on my own TV since I moved in September 11th, 2001! Not that the day's events had anything to do with it, but it did mark the end of my TV-viewing days. Now I just watch DVD's

LOst - Well welcome to the party! I completely agree with everything you shared. The differences are as plain as night and day... the shapes, proportions, posing, expressions... UGH! And OMG you did such a WONDERFUL job of making the SHE TEA version in Illustrator!!! lmao ...I laughed even more interpretting it as "FAT and LOST"... (not tying the latter as an adjective to you, mind you) - but it's pretty apropos, isn't it?

In regards to the Uekawa-san poses... I think those are definitely designed to push the "extreme" theme... whereas the Tiara ones focus more on "normal" posing to convey her character. The "extreme" theme is sort of an interesting blanket of electricity that's been applied to give birth to the current generation of Sonic. Hmm, interesting.

SANiK - lol - I think it's the GERMANS doing justice to the JAPANESE in this WWF version! (kidding aside, I kind of like these... I prefer Classic Sonic, but I can see the appeal of this stuff.)

Actually, let me ask anyone reading this: Imagine if you weren't a fan of anything Sonic and then just saw these designs... which would you prefer? Would you think "MONKEY SONIC" or "BALLOON HANDS?" Or would you think "RAD" and "EXTREEEME MAN" and "COOL?" Or something else?

posted January 21, 2006 01:38 PM              

If I’d have to pick a CGI style, then I’d go with that of ‘Shadow the Hedgehog’ (STH). This particular CGI has an organic feel not seen before in a Sonic game. The detail in the CGI cut scenes in STH is truly amazing, and really allowed the characters to come alive.

posted January 21, 2006 09:21 PM            

kurisu - Hmm... if I hadn't known Sonic at all... which design would I choose... hmm...

I'm pulled in by "cute" creatures (Pikachu for example) so I can definately say the chubby wubby classic Sonic wins again (yes I said chubby wubby damn it =P)

posted January 21, 2006 11:00 PM              

The original Japanese boxart as well as the Sonic CD cutscenes remain my favourite Sonic styles. (I bought a small Sonic cup off Ebay last year because it had the Japan-style Sonic 2 era art @_@)

Now, the Sonic Adventure style art is alright I guess. I like the colours and the work put into it, and it does make me think 'Cool' and 'Extreme', but I still like the classic Sonic. (Plus I hate drawing the new Sonic.)

And speaking of the American Sonic art, I didn't mind most of it so much, except for the cover art for Sonic Triple Trouble, which looked atrocious. But wtf were they thinking, giving him only four spikes? Oh and the way they made Tails look... ugh.

There was one American Sonic style that I did like, but there were only ever two images in that style... let's see if I can find them o_o

posted January 22, 2006 03:51 AM              

>>>

posted January 22, 2006 04:02 PM            

It's a perfect example of the "evolution of art"

(Note, the 'screwy spikes' on Sonic are actually in the original... don't think I errored at copying)

Not much, but enjoy:

posted January 22, 2006 04:13 PM              

quote:

---

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So Sonic Was made by a noob!
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ROFLMAO

posted January 23, 2006 10:33 PM            

darkshadow - That's groovy, man! Interested to try another color version of that same picture? If so... try one where there is strong lighting from below Sonic... and let's see what you come up with...

LOst - Ah... Sonic CD's anime... classic. Say, you sure are a powerhouse of knowledge, LOst. It's interesting for me... I don't know facts and people in history or things like that. I've never been good at memorizing things unless they really really interested me. As Arnold would say, "I lack discipline!" Good to see you do your homework...

SANiK - Oh yeah - cute and cutey all the way!!! ...and that HISTORICAL DOCUMENT you shared is AMAZING and BODACIOUS!!! I especially like the Darwinist approach to the non-development of his mouth, ears, hands and rest of his legs! I very much like the pupil size difference... this image evokes a feeling of warmth... on my ankle... hey wait - there's a hedgehog PEEING ON MY LEG! lol

Jan - Coolio to know your interests. Happen to find either of those two images of the American Sonic you mentioned? I wanna see!!!

posted January 24, 2006 01:07 AM              

quote:

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Originally posted by kurisu:
Jan - Coolio to know your interests. Happen to find either of those two images of the American Sonic you mentioned? I wanna see!!!

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Couldn't find em online so I scanned them

These seemed to be mostly used in Sonic-related ads in the early 90's. While he's still fat with only four spikes (not to mention his arms are too low), I love the colour I think he looks good in navy blue!

[edited January 24, 2006 by Jan]

posted January 24, 2006 04:19 PM              

quote:

---

Originally posted by kurisu:
[b]Psychobob - That look is cool and refreshing. I haven't seen the CGI in Shadow the Hedgehog yet. ...but I bet it's coolio!

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posted January 24, 2006 06:24 PM            

quote:

---

Like you did with the box art (hating it so much and making a big deal out of it), I spent a few hours in Illustrator to show how much I hate the American boxart drawn Sonic. Enjoy

*The devil-ears Sonic is used in Sonic 2 boxart outside of Japan, as well as a lot of Game Gear Sonic games.

---