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OK KO! brings all of Cartoon Network into the Rabbidsverse ⊟

You may recall my unimpeachable, very important scholarly work of tracing all the Nintendo/Ubisoft character crossovers in Mario vs. Rabbids into a single universe, which unified everything from Monster Hunter to TMNT to Assassin’s Creed to Galaxian. I really thought that article was longer when I wrote it -- maybe I’m due for an expanded version of this critical research... but I can break it down. 

Basically, thanks to Mario vs. Rabbids, everything in an Ubisoft game crosses over with everything that’s been in Super Smash Bros., which then crosses over with everything that’s been in Street Fighter or Pac-Man or Marvel Comics or any other branch that brushed any other franchise involved in this series.

And now Smash Bros. character Sonic (who, through various cameos and appearances in games like Sega Superstars Tennis, crosses over with Space Channel 5, Super Monkey Ball, Shenmue, Alex Kidd, and other Sega franchises) is in OK KO, establishing a link between our greater Rabbidsverse and this extremely great, beautifully animated cartoon.

OK KO is also a crossover nexus, having run an event literally called “Crossover Nexus” that brought every Cartoon Network series into continuity with OK KO. So now Steven Universe shares a reality with Mario, among other things. Teen Titans Go! is in there, making another connection to DC Comics.

Teen Titans Go! also crossed over with Powerpuff Girls, which means that Powerpuff Girls villain Ace is in our universe. Which means that real-life/cartoon band Gorillaz, who canonically featured Ace as a member, is in the Rabbidsverse too. 

It looks like a really fun episode too! Watch it August 4 at 4:45pm ET on new video game universe hub Cartoon Network.

Thanks to Solid Pupper for alerting me to this development!

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Sega Ages is here on Switch ⊟

The first two Sega Ages releases are out on Switch today: Sonic the Hedgehog and Lightening Force (the Western name for Thunder Force IV, which I guess someone thought wasn’t as good as... Lightening Force). These are not the Sega Genesis Classics collection that was also announced for Switch -- these are individual $8 eShop games ported and, of course, improved by M2.

Sonic “adds new features like Drop Dash, as well as the console premiere of the legendary Mega Play arcade version!” while Lightening Force “ mixes in a new STYX mode that lets you pilot the ship from its predecessor, plus a KIDS mode for newcomers and rankings for the shmup elite!”

You know who KIDS mode sounds great for? Kids!

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Sonic Adventure soundtracks on vinyl ⊟

This winter, Brave Wave will issue separate vinyl soundtracks for Sonic Adventures 1 and 2, allowing those of us who haven’t played them for a bit to get refreshed on super sweet riffs and weird Knuckles raps.

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There’s a Sega store too ⊟

Atlus launched its store, then its, uh, corporation-mate Sega followed, with Sonic, Genesis, and for some reason The Revenge of Shinobi-specific collections. I do not mind wearing a Golden Axe t-shirt at all.

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Preorder Sonic Forces to Sonically Force other Sega franchises into the game ⊟ 

Costume parts that let you dress your Sonic OC in the style of Jet Set Radio, Nights, Super Monkey Ball, Puyo Puyo, and even Persona 5 characters are included with preorders of the new game.

You’ll even be able to dress up your controller. Is this the first preorder skin for the Joy-Con? (It’s also available for PS4 and Xbone).

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You can import those Sonic shoes ⊟ 

I don’t know if Sonic’s shoes translate to my personal style (since I wear clothes and I’m not covered in blue fur) but they sure do look cool. NCSX has these Sonic the Hedgehog Anippon sneakers available for preorder, at $68.90 per pair. Enjoy figuring out Japanese shoe sizes!

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Here’s the new Sonic game ⊟

Sonic Forces is coming out on PS4, Xbone, Switch, and PC this holiday. Sega actually showed off this footage at a Sonic panel at SXSW, right here in my hometown, but I had absolutely no idea it was happening until the day of. Man, I can’t run downtown on a dime like that! I need to watch SXSW events more closely.

Like, did you know the Rez synaesthesia suit was there? I didn’t until like an hour before. 

Anyway.

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Even more eShop sales y’all should know about ⊟

It has been an exhausting, wallet-draining weekend, but here, on the eve of the day we bring the word “Cyber” out of its hybernation, I have news of a couple more eShop deals worth notice.

First, CIRCLE Entertainment has five games on sale for a dollar each, including Fairune, The Legend of Dark Witch, Kami, Tappingo, and Witch & Hero. I can’t vouch for Kami and have barely touched Witch & Hero, but the other three are for sure worth a dollar each. The Fairune series is my jam.

Second, there are a lot of Sonic games on sale across Wii U and 3DS. Like, so many Sonics. Want some Sonics? Gotta go by November 29.

Well okay ⊟

Here’s the Sonic X Sanrio collection [via Miki800], including four plushes and four figurines (plus a gold Sonic) that I just don’t understand why I need so badly.

They were first shown at SDCC this year, and are now up for preorder.

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Humble Sonic 25th Anniversary bundle too ⊟

Yeah, two Humble posts in a row, but I’m justified in doing so because look at this t-shirt, y’all! Jon Kay killed it.

You also get a bunch of Sonic games or whatever.

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Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice out September 27 ⊟ 

It’s been delayed for a year! Maybe it’s going to be good! But really, I just wanted a news angle with which to point you to yesterday’s stream from SXSW Gaming, where Sega (plus special guest Yuji Naka) held what sounds like a really funny panel about the games.

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This is still pretty freaky ⊟ 

We’ve been doing these Mario & Sonic games since 2007, and it’s still weird to see screenshots from them.

Also weird, now that I think about it: these games have been around since 2007.

Okay, and while I’m thinking about it: it’s pretty odd that these games are actually three-franchise crossovers and not two, since Nintendo and Sega have the official Olympics license. Someone from the IOC probably has to play these things and approve all the nonsense Mushroom Kingdom sports for Olympic appropriateness.

Finally, it’s pretty weird that the release dates of the two versions of this game are so far apart: 3DS is out in two days, and Wii U is in June! Well, thanks for thinking about this stuff with me.

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This is the software from a Sonic popcorn machine ⊟

What are you working on in your spare time? For the person who uploaded this video, the latest project is getting the OS from a popcorn machine running in MAME. 

Above is a demonstration of SegaSonic Popcorn Shop (via @kiddocabbusses). In case you didn’t frequent one of these things (only ‘90s kids will get this popcorn machine!) here’s a video of the device. I can’t believe I get my popcorn from a regular microwave instead of playing a game. 

Questions: first, why does this thing have original sprites? Second, what’s up with Sega using “Segasonic” as his name in, like a few things? The arcade game, this machine, that soda that came out in Japan...

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3D Sonic 2 out October 8 ⊟

Gotta go to the eShop… very slowly! Because you have like a week and a half until the release of M2′s no-doubt lovely port of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, aka “the one with Tails in it” aka “I can’t really distinguish between my fuzzy memories of Sonic games anymore, so all I can tell you is that this one has Tails in it.”

This new version has an unlockable “Super Sonic Mode” that allows you to go Super Saiyan Sonic at any time!

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New Sonic Boom: A Sonic of Ice and Fire ⊟ 

Yooooooooo, THAT MUSIC. Maybe it’s the Hyper Portions soundtrack, but this new 3DS-exclusive joint, Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, seems kinda dope?

Developed by Sanzaru Games (also worked on the original 3DS Sonic Boom release), this will hit stores around the holiday season. Along with the fire and ice elements you see in the trailer, the game will have a Bot Racing mode that’s “about racing and speed, where a user will unlock character themed Bots to challenge friends on fast courses or tracks.” Hoping for more Hyper Potions?

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Print an Eggman moustache ⊟

If you’d like to adorn your face in the style of the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog villain Eggman, you can do that via the template here. You can also print out a Dr. Robotnik moustache here.

Then, I don’t know, try to buy beer?

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Gotta go fast, 'til the very end ⊟

It's been a while since we've had a great Sonic the Hedgehog comic on Tiny Cartridge. This one comes from SaltyBadBoy. The Sega mascot survived this crash, and went on to make Sonic Boom. His family was never seen again.

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