On Thursday, we did an interview with the project manager on Sonic Free Riders, David Allen. It’s a short interview, but it may give you some insight on the game.
My main question to ask on this, is this an all new Riders game, or is this a Kinect adaption of a previous Riders title?
There are some elements and some stages from the previous games, but obviously, controlling the game and some of the content is different.
What’s the newest additions to this game besides the control scheme?
That’s a very good question. I don’t think I can answer that right now unfortunately.
Will there be any new characters in this game that haven’t been in previous Riders games?
Only the same characters from the previous games.
Are the mechanics similar to the previous games or all they all new?
It does take elements from both of them of course, but with the Kinect, it’s a completely different ballgame.
When’s the game due out??
We haven’t set a date yet, but it will be in time for Holiday 2010.
That makes four Sonic games for this Christmas.
(Laughs) We’re keeping real busy, yea. Busy year. We haven’t set a date because we had to wait for Microsoft to settle their dates out for Kinect.
How long has this game been in production?
I don’t know the answer to that unfortunately, because I’m new to this project and have only been on it for two weeks.
Will the game have online multiplayer?
It will have multiplayer yes. I can’t say how many it will accommodate right now.
Will it be a retail release?
Yes, it will be a packaged product.
Okay guys, I’m officially confused. Wasn’t it announced as an Arcade title? I wonder which it is?
Uhm..
No one ever said it was an arcade title.
It was just some stupid rumor.
Retail release? Now it’s worth getting Kinect.
I LOVED the first Sonic Riders. So much fun. But Zero Gravity controlled so badly it was practically unplayable. I sincerely hope they’re able to utilise the new control scheme to deliver at least industry-standard graphics, (another appalling thing about Zero Gravity,) and usable playability. Traditional controller support would be nice too.
@Ben unfortunately controller support is out of the question,
And another thing i wonder what the story will be about this time! the riders series is good cause it doesnt
revolve around the sonic characters its new characters and u find out about their past at the same time as them its good!
Will there be any new characters in this game that haven’t been in previous Riders games?
Only the same characters from the previous games.
Souuu, no chaotix again?
Ahh man no new characters…i like seeing all the new characters and playing as them in riders…..
Retail? My interest went up a little.
Wow… This interview provided zero information… Well it was just stuff we either already knew or expected from this lazy franchise.
Great interview Jason and yes it also adds to the confusion of how the game is being released.
@ Cephrien
The Xbox.com product page went up the other day and lists the game as an Xbox Live Arcade title complete with Xbox Live Arcade style ‘box art’ and the official Xbox forum staff put the games sub forum in the Xbox Live Arcade section of the forum –
http://www.sonicstadium.org/news/juicy-new-sonic-free-riders-info-at-xbox-com
There have been some retailers listing it on their sites though since the games announcement with temporary retail style box art, so the whole thing is very confusing indeed.
Scratch that, Xbox.com have edited the box art from an Xbox Live Arcade style to a retail style but the game is still listed as an Xbox Live Arcade game.
“Xbox LIVE Arcade on Xbox 360
This title is only available to Xbox 360® owners with an Xbox LIVE® Silver or Gold membership, through download from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.”
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/sonicfreeriders/
Xbox.com needs to make up their mind… Anyway, this is good info for me and my 20GB HDD (spent 50 dollars on 20 GB used at gamestop… seriously…) I really hope that this game has a story though since I’m paying out the ass for Kinect just so I can play this game… because I’m that big of a Sonic fan.
still more conflicting information if sega says itll be packaged then itll be packaged i believe sega, or maybe u can download it or buy it
I’m guessing that by no new characters, it means no “New” characters.
The core cast will be there ie. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Eggman, Jet, Storm, Wave with extra’s likely to appear as they have in previous games.
Despite how much i want to play this, there’s no chance i’m paying for Kinect just for one game, as that’s pretty much what I did for the Wii, although games have come out since…
Wow, this was dissapointing. This is on no fault of Jason but David Allen and how little he could answer the questions. True, he may actually know little about certain aspects of the game but it’s not very reassuring all the same.
And reusing the first games levels? Kinda like how the first Rider’s pretty much reskinned levels and served them up again. This is not encouraging.
@crap: Chaotix? I wouldn’t want them in solely because of their God-Awful voices, but I’m surprised they’re not adding ay new characters to the mix when they have s o many to choose from.
@ProjectZuel: Well, maybe if they had more than 16 levels this time, recycling some won’t be so bad, like Mario Kart for the DS or Wii. I’d gladly play Splash Canyon or Aquatic Capitol again, I loved those.
The first Sonic Riders was fun, Zero Gravity handled horribly on the Wii, but I got the PS2 version as well and it was actually very fun. Once again, bummed I can’t get the third Riders. :C
So… no hope of Werehog in the new riders? *sad face*
aw i really am saddened at the fact there will be no new characters D: if only you guys could find a voice for marine and shade then mabey they could be in the game …. just an idea~ and also im starting to miss the chaotix :I seeing as ive only seen vector recently in the sonic & mario at the olympics games. espio and charmy need more loveeeeeee but anyway good luck to ya’ll 😀
sonic ftww
Wait… Four new games for christmas?
Sonic Colours
Sonic 4
Sonic Free Riders
and… Adventure 1 for Xbox?