Jason Todd Not Included

[pierski]

I came up with the idea for this comic. And when I did I thought "Man, this should be pretty easy to put together." In fact, it really didn't take me hardly anytime to do the pencil sketches... and there in lines the problem. After that I thought, "I've got some free time. Why not try coloring it like the regular Sonic the Hedgehog artwork?" Bad idea. It wound up taking forever! Even though I like the final results, its not something I would want to do again.

As we learned two weeks ago, Sonic the Hedgehog is going to be in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Fifteen years ago, this would have been the greatest video game match up ever. Now, its just sort of cool.

Let's jump back to July of '06 when I predicted that Sonic would be in Brawl. I was right. But I also said that Pac-Man would be in the game as well. Hasn't happened yet, but I still stand by that prediction too. Want to know why? Go back to my Super Smashed Bros. Brawl comic and read the news.

Lastly, but not leastly. Chris Simmons, the brilliant webcomic creator of Digital Unrest and fellow member of Gamers Pair of Dice, is celebrating the two year anniversary of Digital Unrest. On top of that, I was honored by being invited to do a guest strip for said event. So head on ever there and check the guest strip out. And while you're there, hit the archives as well. You'll seriously be glad you did.

[elvor]

First!

Great comic.

[Ento]

Tails deserves death. Nothing can forgive them for giving super-fast Sonic a slow-ass partner.

[Dynmitrave]

I don't think Namco is close enough with Nintendo for Pac-Man to be in Smash Bros. Sega, definitely. Throughout the 80's Sega and Nintendo had rival respect for each other as they both kept each other on their toes. Every piece of Sega- and Nintendo-created hardware was a well-built gaming machine for its time. Since Sega's hardware collapse, Nintendo did the best job of taking her in and continuing respect for her as a third-party game publisher. Sega has made it abundantly (and explicitly) clear that she favors Nintendo in this generation of gaming.

Namco, however, seems to be favoring Sony lately. Since she is a third-party publisher she is still open to the highest bidder and will continue to make games for Nintendo and Microsoft, but a lot of exclusive titles are still held only by Sony, for instance, Time Crisis will never exist on a Nintendo or Microsoft machine because it's still published and contracted by Sony.

It's therefore not a huge surprise that Sonic is showing up in Smash Bros., but I really have my doubts that Namco and Nintendo are close enough for Pac-Man to be welcomed to the Brawl.

[gigbot23]

I'm with pierski on this one.
If Pac-Man's in Mario Kart Arcade GP then why not in Brawl?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Kart_Arcade_GP

But since it's all speculation for now, might as well make a wild guess.
I'm gonna go with SHION from Xenosaga series.

[pierski]

Here's a list of projects that Nintendo and Namco have worked on together: Donkey Konga (GameCube), Donkey Konga 2 (GameCube), Donkey Konga 3: Tabe-houdai! Haru Mogitate 50 Kyoku (GameCube), Pac-Man Vs. (GameCube), Soul Calibur 2 (GameCube), Star Fox Assault (GameCube), Mario Kart Arcade GP (arcade), Triforce Board

I know there's more, but this alone shows a closer bond between Namco and Nintendo than Nintendo and Sega. As far as licensed properties Sega handled F-Zero, but Namco had Donkey Kong and Star Fox as well as other joint efforts. I still stand by my assumption until the inevitable time that I am proven either right or wrong.

[pierski]

Sega has made it abundantly (and explicitly) clear that she favors Nintendo in this generation of gaming.

On more thing...

“I am a little concerned about the creative depth of the Wii pool. I’m not sure if they will top out in 2008 or 2007,” said Scott Steinberg, VP of marketing for the U.S. unit of Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. “The Wii will start to look really dated in a couple years when developers get more value from the 360 and learn more and more about the PlayStation 3.”

[source]

[Valentine]

i predict an army of yiffers will attack this site. as u killed their precious tails

[Dynmitrave]

Well hey, I've been wrong before. I've only been speculating on what I know about the industry. You definitely pay closer attention than I so I'm not gonna doubt ya. Only time will tell, and I am quickly realizing the obvious fact that if Konami is working on a first-party Nintendo jam, why not Namco?

[adriskrayzee]

Heh kudos for the comic.
As for the characters I want, I am still waiting for Shadow the Hedgehog and Dixie Kong, I noticed they are giving us three characters or more of each series (3 from FE, 4 from Pokemon, 3 from Kirby, I can't think of more at the moment)

[Barrett]

Tails deserves death. Nothing can forgive them for giving super-fast Sonic a slow-ass partner.

Silence. Tails is awesome.