Sega delays Sonic's unleashing in Japan [update]

by Ross Miller { Nov 11th 2008 at 12:15AM }

Sega has announced that the Japanese-bound Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Sonic World Adventure, better known elsewhere as Sonic Unle- wait, why is he a werewolf?, has been delayed until Spring 2009. According to the game's website (translation via our friends at Siliconera), the delay is to "further improve the quality of the game." The Wii version is purportedly still on track for December 18.

Not to worry, North American gamers, your Sonic experience won't be delayed or hampered by pesky quality improvements. Sonic Unleashed is coming out here next week.

Update: Sega has released a new statement (via CVG) clarifying that the delay is for marketing purposes only.

Tags: delay, japan, quality, sega, sonic, sonic-unleashed, why-werewolves

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Reiniku @ Nov 11th 2008 12:28AM

Oh... joy?

Pedobear @ Nov 11th 2008 12:29AM

I don't get it.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 11th 2008 12:52AM

I love that Darth Pedo bear avatar. Not sure if it was yours or not.

On Topic:

This game needs to be delayed until at least February to garner any interest from me.

Chase @ Nov 11th 2008 2:22PM

A Pedobear game would be better than Sonic Teen Wolf. Heck, a Teen Wolf game would be better than Sonic Teen Wolf.

Aly Hawana @ Nov 11th 2008 12:41AM

This could either be good, or bad for US and EU markets......

Neil @ Nov 11th 2008 3:30PM

It's not like that many people were expecting a quality product with Sonic Unleashed. :P

Aly Hawana @ Nov 11th 2008 4:14PM

I certainly am though. I'm quite enthusiastic that Sonic can come out of the rut it was in back in 2006. But this certainly strikes me as odd to push back the Japanese version and yet the American versions are prepped up and ready to go.

The Wii version is understandable that it's set to go since the build is different than that of the PS3/360 build.

Kspraydad @ Nov 11th 2008 12:43AM

There are certain words you just never expect to hear in the same sentance...

Like Sonic and Quality.

Sonic...sucking since SA2

[.sm0ke.] @ Nov 11th 2008 1:12AM

Ha ha! It's funny cuz it's true!

And that's what I came in here to say...

DCBlack @ Nov 11th 2008 1:22AM

I'd say it's been bad since 3D Blast, but that's just me...

Giroro @ Nov 11th 2008 3:08AM

I don't know about the sonic timeline, but Sonic CD (is that what it's actually called) was the only one I liked, mostly because it worked on my computer.

Abscissa @ Nov 11th 2008 7:04AM

Sonic CD was *awesome*. That and Sonic 2 have always been my favorites.

Ranus Studios @ Nov 11th 2008 12:53AM

NOTHING ABOUT THIS GAME MAKES ANY SENSE.

Foetoid @ Nov 11th 2008 1:00AM

What doesnt make sense to me, is they're not fixing the Wii version. So either it's already good and doesn't need fixing, or they can't be stuffed fixing the game for the Wii, following the usual trend of shitty 3rd party releases.

Mr.Ironic @ Nov 11th 2008 5:46AM

Because the wii version will be different. I t has it's own development.

Fact is all games come out 'early' in America and then get the bug fixs by the time they come out in Europe. People complain about this, but really I can't se it any other way than you guys getting the betas and we the finished product...and even then it still got bugs in.

Ender @ Nov 11th 2008 1:01AM

Whats a werewofl? It sounds delicious.

Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 11th 2008 1:13AM

mmmm, wofl

rTwelve @ Nov 11th 2008 1:29AM

werewofls and vmaopires oh my!

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Nov 11th 2008 5:32AM

THEY HAVE FEELINGS TOO

DCBlack @ Nov 11th 2008 1:24AM

I see a bunch of different release dates (and prices for that matter, even the 360 and PS3 prices are different in some places) for the US, so I'll believe it when I see it on shelves...

Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 11th 2008 1:28AM

Current release dates and prices

Wii - 11/18, $49.99

PS2 - 11/18, $39.99

360 - 11/24, $49.99

PS3 - 12/12, $59.99

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Nov 11th 2008 10:52AM

"360 - 11/24, $49.99

PS3 - 12/12, $59.99"

wtf? well that just made my decision real easy. i prefer playing games on my PS3 because of the controller but damn that if it comes out 2+ weeks earlier and is $10 cheaper on 360. i wonder why that is actually?

Giroro @ Nov 11th 2008 3:06AM

Because the Wii version doesn't deserve improvements

Paulmichael @ Nov 11th 2008 3:10AM

Hey, you're right!

Paulmichael @ Nov 11th 2008 3:09AM

Were-waffle. I like it.

Abscissa @ Nov 11th 2008 7:05AM

Waffle? Where waffle?

Here waffle, waffle, waffle...

Damn, I'm hungry now.

Anticrawl @ Nov 11th 2008 3:15AM

Maybe they are delaying it because they realized "werehog" means half man half pig and not half hedgehog half wolf. Were means man not wolf.

Megadanxzero @ Nov 11th 2008 5:42AM

I'm glad someone else noticed this...

Kspraydad @ Nov 11th 2008 5:52AM

Pig?

Maybe they just need to program some lipstick?

Anticrawl @ Nov 11th 2008 6:29AM

Indeed, one would think in a multi-million dollar organization atleast one person would have stood up and stated, "Werehog... wait.. something doesn't seem right about Sonic becoming a 'Werehog'."

Abscissa @ Nov 11th 2008 7:05AM

Confirmed: They're changing it to "werebearhog".

More seriously though, has Sega themselves ever referred to it as "werehog"? I thought that was just something gamers dubbed it.

Anticrawl @ Nov 11th 2008 8:04AM

They have indeed dubbed him a "werehog." The very nice CG movie the Sega team made for Halloween proudly displayed "Sonic the Werehog" all over the screen, and if you visit their site they have character profiles and list Sonic's alter form as "Sonic the Werehog."

I can't imagine how a company could make such a gross oversight, it is upsetting and a bit pathetic.

t_m @ Nov 11th 2008 10:24AM

wait, so my tasty sounding Were-Waffle is actually a man-waffle???!

hvnlysoldr @ Nov 11th 2008 1:46PM

You got my hopes up to kill a manbearpig but werehog seems to be missing the bear part.

AnalogJunkie.com @ Nov 11th 2008 6:08AM

'Why is he a werewolf'?

Because the only way to make sonic more BA than he already is would be to turn him into a ferocious beast!

Obie @ Nov 11th 2008 6:47AM

BA? More like BS!

Zertoss @ Nov 11th 2008 9:36AM

I wonder if the Hedgewolf has multiple gears like the anime character who shares his stretchy powers.

GearSecond!! (Gamertag: xGearSecondx ) @ Nov 11th 2008 10:38AM

Someone called?

Sinister Rouge @ Nov 11th 2008 6:47AM

I'm buying Unleashed on Day One for 360. If it isn't good I will burn all my Sonic t-shirts. Might keep the Halloween costume though...

mj @ Nov 11th 2008 7:56AM

If you haven't burned them all by now... Why?

Abscissa @ Nov 11th 2008 7:05AM

As a NA gamer (Ha ha, I'm a "Not Applicable" gamer! Get it? Get it?...) and a Wii gamer, I'm very concerned about this. A non-rushed, non-buggy sonic game is the only way the sonic franchise is ever going to win me back. Especially if it insists on that werehog stuff. (Where hog? *There* hog! Ha ha! Ok, so it's really really late, and I'm tired.)

But then, if every copy came with a free delicious waffle...

YonGibbeynater @ Nov 11th 2008 8:03AM

Yeah, they should... reconsider... delaying it for, ohhh, let's say a couple years, you know, to make it Sonic Adventure 1 good.

samfish @ Nov 11th 2008 10:00AM

So delay it to make it bad, you're saying?

YonGibbeynater @ Nov 11th 2008 1:02PM

I liked the first 2 Sonic Adventure games. The later ones, not so much.

Mr Khan @ Nov 11th 2008 8:33AM

Strange

Probably pertains to the hedgehog engine, then, if the Wii version isn't affected, it's more of a technical problem

SEGA wouldn't treat the Wii version worse, as in all likelihood it will sell the best (historical precedent, not my pro-Wii bias speaking)

Matt @ Nov 11th 2008 8:55AM

He's not a werewolf, he's a werehog.

pangijn@ca.ibm.com @ Nov 11th 2008 9:29AM

Smooth move Sega. I used to be a hug fan back in the Genesis days. Look whats happened to the company that went toe to toe with Nintendo. Poor quality games that also tarnish previously revered titles (Golden Axe, Sonic).

And come on.....sonic as a werewolf!???? Sega has fallen. Hard.