Here's a translation I made from some Spanish interview Shakidna posted at Sonic Cult:
C. Doriga wrote:We're almost running out of time, one last question: Are you going to include SEGA's mascot, Sonic The Hedgehog?
M. Sakurai wrote:Well... That's a tough question, I'll tell you that Sonic's already in the game, but we're still waiting for a last confirmation from SEGA. Due to the proximity of the game's release, SEGA's deadline to submit their confirmation is the 26th this month, and in that date the official site will be updated about the inclusion o not of SEGA's mascot in the game. I'm personally crossing my fingers.
Figured as much. Hope it works out; knowing Sega, if there's one thing they can do right, it's meeting a deadline. Even if that means that the games they put out are utterly pathetic because they refuse to be FLEXIBLE with said deadline. But even still.
It would be kind of hilarious if the negotiation process was taking so long that they had to start designing Sonic's character and moves before they even knew if his appearance would be authorized.
But where is this interview from? And why would it be in Spanish? I didn't think the Japanese used the expression "crossing my fingers."
If Sonic appears in Smash Bros, that means he is going to be present in the games' promotion and (presumably) help encourage sales.
Sega isn't going to go along with something like that unless Nintendo is willing to give them a big enough cut. And personally, I suspect that Sega will think Sonic's presence is worth more than Nintendo will want to pay. After all, Nintendo's going to sell a boatload of copies of this game either way... how much of that pie are they really going to feel obliged to share?
I think Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games shows a pretty good example of what it takes to satisfy both companies' accountants... perfect 50-50 billing (and I imagine, a straight 50-50 split of the profits), with each character being presented as an absolute equal and being given the exact same amount of space in every piece of advertising.
Of course, maybe I'm just pessimistic. Maybe they'll find a way to get Sonic in there after all. I guess we'll just have to wait for confirmation from something other than a fake article from an imaginary Mexican magazine.
Last edited by Esrever on Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I agree with Esrever, the 50-50 billing makes the most sense and is the main reason I don't think Sonic will show up in Brawl.
Additionally, if Sonic DOES end up being in Brawl, what does that leave Mario & Sonic at the Olympics with? Absolutely nothing. "HERE'S THE MASCOT MATCH-UP YOU'VE BEEN WAITING 15 YEARS FOR oh wait you could just buy Brawl instead."
Well...Konami's already set to see a cut from Snake's inclusion. So I guess it would come down to Sega's asking price, though didn't Sakurai say he was leaving room open for three third party entrants at most? I would think he'd have looked into the logistics already.
I doubt Sega would take any crippling hit in marketing M&SO. They're so bad at that field, they've developed the incredible skill of switching PR gears at a moment's notice (see: Sonic Next). And I mean, look at it. It's obviously Olympics Sim 2008 Kids Version, that should be enough to make the IOCC happy.
But the source for that interview -is- awfully shaky so we'll see what's what. Dread at Sonic Stadium says he's going to contact SoE on Monday about it.
Since Kojima apparently "begged" to have Snake included, I am going to assume that Nintendo didn't have to cough up much to include him. Unlike Sonic, Snake is a character whose future is still guided largely by an individual, rather than by a company's marketing department.
Come on, guys! Regardless of whether or not Sonic is in Smash Brothers, this article is completely fake. "Club Ventendo" doesn't even exist. We don't know any more about Sonic's possible appearance than we did months ago.
Well, in this scan of the alleged magazine, there's a screenshot of Samus in action that I don't recall seeing anywhere else. How do you explain that? Or have I just fallen behind?
