TheRedStranger

Okay you guys. This is where you get to chat about some of your favorite experiences from the Dreamcast era where Sonic fully transitioned into 3D. Come tell your fellow fans why and what you liked during this pivotal point in Sonic history. I'll start first: What was your favorite out of all the Dreamcast era games and why?

Dang...

You are getting a sense of shape and contour quicker than most. You might be a little heavy handed on your sketching process. Try to watch out for your hand pressure in the early sketching stage. Don't be afraid to clean up the smears and start layering in some shading/coloring as well. Hey, F07E, how long have you been drawing, bud? I am trying to get people to start drawing with me day by day, a sketch a day to build up their skill with each other. Would you be interested in that? You can say I got decent enough experience to help anyone starting out. It would also help me out in the long run too.

Even the core of the earth? Anartica? Detroit?! But where to first?

I would prefer not to take up the tasteless language of the very people we are protesting against. We have to be more high-brow than them... This should be a problem solving thread rather than a grouse thread... After all, you can't end negativity with negativity. Now, what would be the clear solution to this problem? Personally I know haters will hate. Like bacteria, once a womb opens...infection will enter. It happens even Zelda, Mario, Mega-Man and Resident Evil. Sometimes certain aspects of Sonic become "safe-hate" due to some bad missteps which are quickly over-grandized by gaming "journalism" and social media. The "Sonic downfall" narrative is perfect clickbait for sites like Kotaku as it has a strong Brand name that evokes strongly long-developed emotions across their targeted demographic. In turn such "journalism" has lead to a well fabricated narrative and platform where one can easylt cull the heard to listen to one's voice. In other words, it is the perfect demagog fuel for the subscriber-hungry attention seeker to bandwagon. SEGA though made the monster. It cut and stabbed Sonic and let those wounds fester. SEGA does little to sway the media monster. SEGA frankly cares more about the Japanese Pachinko market, merchandise, and royalties via IP-lending to actually overcome their sociocentric marketing to rekindle the sales and high quality product SoA pushed for in the 1990's. Their prime demographic is very different than they realize nowadays. Most of us are actually in the 20-40 range now but were mainly marketing a game for preteen kids rather than appealing to a broader age range. They need to actually do what Sony has done and create a strong localization team in the West with increased autonomy within both Europe and America, much like they had in the 1990's with Tom Kalinski. Want to disinfect Sonic's wounds? Push SoJ's sociocetric agendas out the window and reestablish a more appealing vision to the European and American market.

If money, time, and your own personal situation was suddenly a non-issue, where would go adventure/vacation to and why?

It's best to think your ideas through, yes.

You're welcome. Any more issues let me know.

My bad, bud. I got confused. Two thoughts going in my head at once. You gave me one a while back as well. XP Anyways, what are your thoughts?

Batman and his millions of merchandise revenue would like to have a word with you. XP http://bensbargains.net/thecheckout/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/batman_tin_lunchbox.jpg Art and thus character writing is a reflection and celebration on the human condition. If you have character who cannot be sad or emotionally diverse, you do not have a relatable character. As a person who has workshopped, professionally edited, and has a bit of experience writing wise, my analysis of these characters would be indeed truly biting. In a market full of exciting characters like Nathan Drake, Commander Shepherd, GlaDoS, and the colorful active characters of TF2, I would say Segasonic depictions (the games) of Sonic's friends are rather insulting to the aging and age-diverse fan base who are familiar with characters integral to Sonic plot lines (a lover and leader in Sally, a rival in Knuckles, and a tragic doppelgänger in Shadow, ect.) All these characters have fundamental independent motivations apart from Sonic with which he has to interact. They also have developed and changed as dynamic characters with reasonable narrative arcs. "Useless" though is a very vague term. I would argue that when it comes to thematic depth and their potential for plot movement, they are indeed severely hamstringed by SEGA in the games. Generations is an excellent example (though the game play is reasonably fun). All the characters are reduced to plot-coupons to cash in to progress through the "story." They have no external motivations outside of Sonic. At the end we see them as merely an obnoxious multi-colored cheerleading squad. One other issue I'd point out is that constant reboots are destroying the potential of the games developing character's narrative arcs. Blaze has a lot of potential for example, yet SEGA has rehashed her as a sudden toe-along for Silver and a carbon copy of Knuckles when comes to a vague series of magical Mcguffins. Blaze, a feline regal with pyromancy, is a character begging for more of an arc, backstory, and more diverse series of evolving motivations. Sadly most plots reduce her as a cutesy lavender colored puppet to slog around for a collectathon. I think many of these characters deserve more depth rather than breadth. We have a glut of characters in many Sonic narratives in which we simply don't get enough time to enjoy and spend time with them. Sonic rescues them, speeds by them, and they cheer his praises. Rinse and repeat. Instead, we need games that have them more integral to the plot. Dare I say, we should be able to play them? Dare I say, they should have their own spin-off games? I do... I would be careful not to abuse the word "arrogant" when talking of others positions on the matter. I would instead focus on their arguments prima facia. I would also not blame them for events beyond their control when it comes to legality and SEGA's business practices. To do so makes one's position sound like it's both a Straw Man Argument and an Argumentum Ad Homenum. If these detractors make the argument that these characters are useless to the plot simply reply: blame SEGA and the way they write Sonic; they have turned Sonic into a sacred cow who can't get a scratch on him. It's not the fault of the supporting characters' existences but their plot mandated insignificance compared to a now angelified Sonic. Remember, SEGA looks at Sonic in a way we don't. We grew up with him; they peddle him. To SEGA he is a brand, not a character. To them he is no different than a blue ball in a themed pachinko game. That's a huge issue in the Japanese market nowadays (think Konami vs Hideo). Sonkx is the mascot for SEGA, so having him fail, learn, or have a need to grow makes these artless executives fear for potential damage to their companies cash cow and overall "cool" image. Ironically, this is what hurts the Sonic Franchise's creative potential worse than any lawsuit. ___ For when you all are writing: If you all wish to improve in your character writing and really make these characters shine on you own work, don't be afraid to embrace Sonic's flaws and his need for help! Screw the mandates, you as an original writer are not bound to them. Go at it! If you need help reconstructing your favorite characters and giving them limelight, here is a great book from Reader's digest: Character's Emotion. an Viewpoint, by Nancy Kress. If you want to make it better; best do it yourself. ___ You just gave me an idea for a Thread, Nemisis.

Group is currently reviewing your material.

Simply press the edit button at the bottom of the post. You don't have too worry to much about tags. All we expect is you to put the rating in the post at least. If you need help I can actually edit it for you as an Admin until you get the hang of it. Just tell me what to put in for you.

That's a very broad statement Arcan. Right now you statement is kinda naked in public. XP Can you share your reasoning behind this? Actually many plots with prophecies play off real well in literature, especially the ones that end ironically or give one a sense of dread and existential horror that melts down our more brittle modernist conceptions of the universe. Think of works like H.P Lovecraft's Cuthulu, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, Shakespar'a Julius Ceaser. Even scifi works like Minority Report make a great spin on world with precognition and 4th/5th dimensional patterns (what some call fate, destiny, or providence) and how it would impact us. All of these stories have plots of predicted omen and promise, are massively successful, and are subtextually rich in meaning and truly thought-provoking. If these writers can make prophecy as an element work, then the question stands strong. How can you make it work?

*Dun. Dun. DUNNN!* Try now. I edited the permissions. Somehow they were mysteriously offline for members. I have to where guests can't read it but can see the topic. XP Just to mess with their heads.

Currently I have been listening to Progressive Rock like Rush (Anthem, Workingman, Red-Barchetta.) Also going through New Retro Wave, a YouTube channel that has Neo-80's synthwave. Check it out: (second and third song are great).

Okay you guys. This is where you get to chat about some of your favorite experiences from the Classic games and why you liked certain elements from them. I'll start first: What was your favorite out of all the classic games and why?

Nice to have you, Mavrick. Currently we are mixing and mingling to know each other better so people start getting familiar with their fellow artists and their personal styles (all so better understand where their material is coming from). I would warmly welcome you to start talking and joining in on forum conversations, perhaps create your own threads! More your name is out in this community the better; the more its out there the more people will come to see your stuff! [Quick forum tip: Please give us your best "age rating" of your stuff (All ages - teen - low-end mature, ect.) Even better, give specific details tags like "all ages", "mild swearing,", ect. Better people keep such rules, the higher better their reputation score will be. ]

*Pushes glasses up close to nose.* Wait a sec... "Is that a Ken Penders creeper?"

So things are functioning properly I'm making this test forum. ---- I am getting some issues about "Mobile unfriendliness." Can all of you who have differing smartphones tell me how well the site works for you on your Android/Windows/OS phones?

I upgraded our Software. How is working?

I get self-concious about my old work too. Many artists do. There is this hilarious story where comic book great Alex Ross actually had journalist come to his house while he was rummaging through old stuff from his childhood in storage. The journalist found these little figurines of superheroes Ross cobbled together when he was five. Ross was livid about their shoddy craftsmanship. The journalist was fascinated. Artists connect to their works on a different level than those who get to see their prior works. We see the craftsmanship of older works for their craftsmanship rather than the ideas they evoked. We are mostly occupied with the messages as they are now.

Never heard of 'em.

*Flips on a wielding mask, kicks alight a blow-torch.,* "This is gonna take some work." ___ Well first you have to think of "Robotnik's" resource and design restraints. What does it take to make one of these "soliders?" My first knee-jerk reaction would be to say that they are incompetent designs that bore no actual progress to Robotnik's purposes. Coconuts was....well nuts (creating your own potential antagonists is the ultimate way to fail at your goals of domination). Scratch and Grounder are grossly, grossly incompetent.

I will see what I can do.

I see your point. I will bring it up with the guys and we consider it with a vote.