Following recent hiccups and internal setbacks, S2HD’s Project Leader Vincent has officially announced on the game’s Facebook page that there will be no more development on the project. This decision was in fact made over 2 months ago, but the team wanted to at least get the Alpha demo out for their dedicated supporters to enjoy. Read the full statement after the jump.
Last month we proudly showed off a demo of what we’ve accomplished with S2HD.
Needless to say, more work has been done on the game; unfortunately, the odds of this work every seeing the light of day is slim to none. We gave the project’s Lead Programmer, LOst, a week to provide us with a DRM free build of S2HD.
We’ve heard as much from him as you have, so it’s safe to assume that’s not going to happen. Given his complete lack of communication and cooperation, it falls upon to LOst to assume full responsibility for his actions as, up until the demo was released, the project’s leadership was unaware of both the DRM and the now infamous DirectInput bug. This was the last straw for us. He had ignored direct requests for the past two years, effectively holding the project ransom by refusing additional help or review on his private engine. If he didn’t think a piece of artwork matched his vision for the game, it was not included, or worse, was replaced by assets of his own creation. The same thing happened with the excellent multi-format sound engine our Tools Programmer Saxman created. Ultimately, LOst is no longer a part of the project.That’s the good news. The bad news for the project far outweighs it unfortunately. We cannot replace our lead programmer as LOst kept the source code for himself, making it impossible to the coded source material to be updated or used as a base for newer builds.
Additionally, two key staff members, scanline99 and Cerulean Nights (both of whom were chiefly responsible for the many animations, spritework, and overall polish seen in the demo) have resigned from the project to concentrate on independent works and careers. While we wish them the best in their endeavours, what this means to the project is that they will no longer be producing any artwork for it. Without them we are not able to guarantee the same level of quality seen in the alpha. At the moment, with ongoing careers and kids to look after, both myself and Canned Karma don’t anticipate that we’ll have a great deal of time to devote to S2HD either, which means we’re forced to announce thatSonic 2 HD is officially discontinued.
Certainly the DirectInput bug and the blogosphere fallout over it didn’t help matters, but by the time that had taken place we had already made the decision to discontinue the project almost two months ago, well ahead of the demo’s release. Internal conflicts between the project leadership and its main programmer which reached critical mass, and the only thing holding it together was the collective determination to put our frustrations aside and get a playable build into the hands of everyone who waited years for it.
Hopefully, another group in the Sonic community will pick up the torch and go forward with the vision we had over a year ago — not just creating a Sonic 2 remake, but creating entirely original content.
Thanks to everyone who supported the project, especially to the passionate classic Sonic fanbase.
The appreciation thousands of fans expressed to S2HD as a game made “by fans for fans”, represents a landmark where SEGA has to look at for a profitable use of the -highly demanded and beloved Classic franchise.-Vincent
Team S2HD
Project Leader
Hopefully another team of creative minds within the Sonic community will carry on the work that’s already been produced, but only time will tell.
Did you see this coming? How does the news make you feel? Let us know in the comments!
Fan-made remakes are never completed, so this surprises me not.
except sonic robo blast 2. that’s complete i think
But it’s not a remake 😛
Except Sonic Rebirth.
Yep, almost all the time.. there goes 3 years?
Sonic 2006 2d: Sonic’s story (Finished)
Humanity is a strange, strange place…
“Humanity” isn’t a place.
Very good premiere article, Swiss!
A sad sight, but it was to be expected..
WHAT?! D:
Not surprised.
Well, there’s always the original Sonic the Heghehog 2 to play =P
well that sucks… perhaps there will be another time.
between Super Mario bros Z and noe S2HD god whats next :’|
Well i don’t know if SMBZ is cancelled. alvin just let out the first scene to episode 9.
He announced on Newgrounds page that he is putting an end to the SMBZ series. It a shame really 🙁
http://alvin-earthworm.newgrounds.com/
hopefully that link works
I knew this would happen.
I was actually kind of expecting Sega to step in with a court order or something.
Generally how these things end, to be honest. But I think SEGA aren’t that uncool. Nintendo tend to be touchier. I remember when MFGG was shut down.
S2HD is CANNED?! first Super Mario Brothers Z and now THIS!
*gets my NERF tech target set out, gets the gun from it, loads it and points it at where my heart is*
theres nothing left to live for….
*pulls trigger, instantly killing myself*
Well i don’t know if SMBZ is cancelled. alvinartwork just let out the first scene to episode 9.
*my spirit*
he announced that he stopped spriting
*dissapears*
The project didnt really excite me much anyways…
playing the demo I was like…
I like the way the original title looks better anyways…
*Pours a 40.*
Oh well.
*Leaves.*
Since this isn’t going to be finished, I might as well just get rid of the Alpha demo *deletes demo*
I’d do the complete opposite – I would keep it as we may never have a full version again!
so is it safe to download the alpha? now that the keylogger is gone?
Sonic Robo Blast 2. That is all.
And what will say who said this “game” *cof*cof*cof* was better than Sonic 4?
Not exactly a big deal…
Just play Sonic 2 instead?
somone already has. one of the project i have been working on for a few months now is a HD version of Sonic 2. nothing to show, programing wise, yet but i do intend to finnish it as soon as posible. i guarentee you this. the version of sonic 2 im making will be finished.
Offff course it was.
What’s this? A fangame didn’t get finished? Perish the thought.
I…I don’t even know, completely, what S2HD is. However, it is sad that after all this time they had to discontinue. However, surely they could figure out the source code themselves…? I thought it was in the game :/
I’m no programmer, but yes, I can almost guarantee someone will pick up the pieces. It might even be SEGA themselves…Not likely, but it exists.
SMBZ now this, all coolness in the world of gaming seems to be dying….
why are programmer always such jerks? also i knew this would happen.
They’re used to dealing with computers, not people.
“Why are jerks always such jerks?”*
I really don’t think that has anything to do with what skills a person possess.
Well this is just perfect…
I really wanted to play that sucker !
Sarcasm
..sigh… Can’t fan projects ever get done? The Sonic community is very talented, but they do need to work on developing the REAL SUPER POWER OF TEAMWORK. Too many potentially great projects have been canned do to petty online squabbles.
I knew it. It was too good to be true. :/
I, for one, was happy with the hq4x filter plug-in for Kega Fusion, myself.
I’ve never been fond of these graphical modernisations, personally; the preservation of the artistic purity of the original content is something that I feel extremely strongly about.