Very nice! I look forward to see what they'll have in development (hopefully very soon) and that they're still open to working with Sega (and vice versa).
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Christian Whitehead (and other Sonic Mania devs) create new studio 'Evening Star'
- Thread starter Blue Lou
- Start date
Yeah, that logo needs a redesign. While obviously not nearly as bad, it has the same "feel" to it as some other Sonic-adjacent logos, which is not a good thing.
While the logos of Mania were made by PagodaWest Games, Headcannon and Christian Whitehead (And Hyperkinetic on Mania Plus), there were a whole bunch of people, like Hunter and Brad, who were massive parts of the game, but were effectively contractors on the bottom line. This is effectively bringing them under a true studio banner, along with Dave (Hyperkinetic's original CEO) and Tom Fry (Pagoda West's original Art Directer and Co-Founder) which helps all the people under it.
Doesn't mean they're not working on other stuff either, Whitehead has been working in part on Freedom Planet 2's 2D Framework. As a collective they can come on for Mania 2, or they can go make whatever they want, really.
Doesn't mean they're not working on other stuff either, Whitehead has been working in part on Freedom Planet 2's 2D Framework. As a collective they can come on for Mania 2, or they can go make whatever they want, really.
Evening should be orange and purple and Star should be white and gray. Also just simplify the overall look of the logo and it might be decent. Current version ain't so hot.
Xbox Game Studios has entered the chat
Holy fuck what is that monstrosityYeah, that logo needs a redesign. While obviously not nearly as bad, it has the same "feel" to it as some other Sonic-adjacent logos, which is not a good thing.
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if this were 20 years ago i would hope to hear a sick midi rendition of evening star from knuckles chaotix playing on their site
either way, really excited for whatever this team makes next. more sonic would of course be very welcome, but i have no doubt they could make something cool all their own as well.
either way, really excited for whatever this team makes next. more sonic would of course be very welcome, but i have no doubt they could make something cool all their own as well.
If Sega's suits were smarter, they'd buy them out and christen these guys as the new Sonic Team.
Going by the description of what sort of studio Evening Star is on its website, I have my doubts that they'd want to be only making Sonic games forever.
Which, you know, fair.
I'm guessing we'll see a new IP first then another classic Sonic game. Not sure why people assume that this means there's not gonna be a Mania successor.
If SEGA were smart they would snap this studio up ASAP, individually they have proven their salt.
Sonic Retro alerted me that the Evening Star track was also used in the ill-fated prototype Sonic 4 on the Megadrive Sonic Crackers. And we know how the Mania team love their obscure Sonic references. Could this mean Sonic Mania's successor is a true sequel with all-original levels? One can dream.
SXSW will probably confirm if Sega's working with them - and thus may confirm this theory. Guess we'll see then.
SXSW will probably confirm if Sega's working with them - and thus may confirm this theory. Guess we'll see then.
That's actually what I was thinking. In theory, it should be easier to contract them for Sonic Mania 2.
Not until Evening Star can prove they can resurrect Billy Hatcher, too.
If it was any other collective, I'd make a joke about reaching, but it's Whitehead & crew. These are the guys that snuck in the exact buzzing from the disastrous Sonic Mania reveal stream into the game itself after beating a TV Studio level. It's weird to permanently name your company after a one-time tease fr a new game, but I'd buy it being an intentional Sonic Crackers nod.
Why are folks in this thread interpreting this announcement as "confirmed: Christian Whitehead isn't doing Sonic Mania 2"?
Yes, they have their own studio now but couldn't SEGA now hire this studio to make the next game similar to SORA working on Smash Bros Wii U and Ultimate?
Yes, they have their own studio now but couldn't SEGA now hire this studio to make the next game similar to SORA working on Smash Bros Wii U and Ultimate?
Shit Ken Penders, isn't he the dude that tried to sue Sega for the rights to all the shitty characters in the sonic comics? LolYeah, that logo needs a redesign. While obviously not nearly as bad, it has the same "feel" to it as some other Sonic-adjacent logos, which is not a good thing.
Successfully sued. He managed to get the rights to his characters and completely kill the Archie Sonic comics, which is why IDW publishes the Sonic comics now.
I can. Archie never copied their contract with Penders & lost the original, so they couldn't refute his bold claims in court. It's that simple.
Thankfully SEGA had enough ammunition on their side to counter his "Evil Sonic is my own original character" claim.
Pictured: Evil Sonic. Also Evil Tails & Evil Sally, plus their "good" counterparts. Robotnik's right, though, I can't tell the difference between the good guys & the bad!
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks, what a gigantic fuck up.I can. Archie never copied their contract with Penders & lost the original, so they couldn't refute his bold claims in court. It's that simple.
Thankfully SEGA had enough ammunition on their side to counter his "Evil Sonic is my own original character" claim.
Pictured: Evil Sonic. Also Evil Tails & Evil Sally, plus their "good" counterparts. Robotnik's right, though, I can't tell the difference between the good guys & the bad!
Man, that evil character shit is such b.s glad he didn't get away with that huge reach. A character in a different costume isn't a new character.
It doesn't.
Sega can outsource Evening Star just the same they outsourced the same group of people individually like they did for the first Sonic Mania.
The only difference in this case which makes things easier is, now they can subcontract to Evening Star the company as a whole instead of individual contracts split up of many people.
Oh look, it's Original the Character.I can. Archie never copied their contract with Penders & lost the original, so they couldn't refute his bold claims in court. It's that simple.
Thankfully SEGA had enough ammunition on their side to counter his "Evil Sonic is my own original character" claim.
Pictured: Evil Sonic. Also Evil Tails & Evil Sally, plus their "good" counterparts. Robotnik's right, though, I can't tell the difference between the good guys & the bad!
I hope Evening Star makes a game out of him!
I am certain this actually makes a followup to Sonic Mania a lot more likely honestly. Working with a dozen or whatever random designers was likely a logistics nightmare.
I would prefer they make their own original IP in the meantime before returning to Sonic though. I also hope that if they return to Sonic that it is not a Mania 2. I rather see them make a new one from the ground up or perhaps look into remaking something like Triple Trouble or Chaotix.
I would prefer they make their own original IP in the meantime before returning to Sonic though. I also hope that if they return to Sonic that it is not a Mania 2. I rather see them make a new one from the ground up or perhaps look into remaking something like Triple Trouble or Chaotix.
No way that's real.... what is even that abomination...Yeah, that logo needs a redesign. While obviously not nearly as bad, it has the same "feel" to it as some other Sonic-adjacent logos, which is not a good thing.
This doesn't change the fact that Mania 2 probably won't happen unless it's made directly by Sonic Team. And you don't want that.
Knowing him he's more than content just working under his own brand and doing his own projects, though I imagine he'd gladly team up with Evening Star for another SEGA-funded Sonic game again no problem.
The most important part of this news that people aren't processing: Simon Thomley, the father of the Sonic Hacking scene and undisputed king of Sonic knowledge, didn't leave Headcannon for this.
They were flexing so hard on Sonic Team Sega wouldn't allow them to do Mania 2. Don't worry guys, well get Sonic Mania 2 from Sonic Team instead. I hope Sega knows what its doing.
I looks forward to what the team does next. I'm all for a 2D Sonic clone that can compete with Freedom Planet and the like.
Great news! Nice to see Christian Whitehead finally get to found a studio of his own; instead of having to do everything adhoc.
I'm expecting great things to come from this!
That's what surprised me the most. I was expecting to see him there...
Suppose it's always possible that he might join them later, or might work with them as a freelancer. Perhaps he just values his independence too much to join them as staff?
I'm expecting great things to come from this!
That's what surprised me the most. I was expecting to see him there...
Suppose it's always possible that he might join them later, or might work with them as a freelancer. Perhaps he just values his independence too much to join them as staff?