#Sonic Hacking Contest 2023

[sonichedgeblog]

'Sonic Forces Rewritten' (Forces Mod) by Sanojavi512 Re-writes the entire script to improve characterization and fix plot holes. https://shc.zone/entries/expo2023/848

[thesonicstadium]

You probably aren't surprised, as it happens every year. But still, it's reassuring to see that, indeed, it's happening. So, the Sonic Hacking Contest is returning for another year. If you're not familiar with the event, it's where Sonic fans can showcase their Sonic game mods and hacks. Content can be submitted to the Contest division, where they will be evaluated by judges and in the running for trophies. If that's not appealing, then or the Expo division

So, what has changed this year? Not that much. There are 2 major changes this year, however! The first one is that Sonic 3 AIR has received some more representation on the 2D PC judging team this year, something that, unfortunately, wasn't the case last year.

The second major change is the introduction of entry limits. A user can submit no more than 3 entries to the Contest, but a team can still submit as many as they want. It is also being encouraged to merge multiple entries into a single one when possible, and for participants to send a message to the Contest's staff if the limit is difficult for them to stick to.

And of course, the Contest Week dates were confirmed too! There was a little debate on changing the October time frame, but it was ultimately decided to stick to it. So, for this year, the Contest Week will be held from October 16th through 21st.

Via Twitter

[hazelspooder]

I am pleased to announce that Agent Stone in Sonic 3 A.I.R. will be making an appearance at Sonic Hacking Contest 2023! It won't be the full version as we may need more time to cook in regards to what we have planned. However, I can guarantee that it'll certainly hold everybody over until then, as this version will be jam-packed with several new bosses, features, palettes, music, and so on! Let's take a look at a few things, shall we?

Eh? That doesn't appear to be Stone, though it certainly has his color scheme....

Yikes! Whose idea was it to put legs on this Gapsule!?

Y'all may have seen this already, but what about when Knuckles makes his way here?

...hey, who broke the door off????

What a coward, hiding behind the lava! Come out and face me!

Hey wh-what the heck are you doing he-

Stone's sprites got a major revamp thanks to MiaCDi! In addition, several new palettes have been added, plus an option to randomize the palette used!

A brand new boss theme now plays whenever you fight Stone in any Act 2, composed by @cartoonsanimate22!

Miscellaneous new additions and changes include both 3D Blast music options being merged into one option, some minor tweaks, fixes, and refinements, and Stone being added to the No Way screen.

I also have a backstory put into place that explains how he made his way to Angel Island, met and teamed up with Dr. Robotnik (& Knuckles, begrudgingly), and why he's out for revenge on Knuckles after the Death Egg's inevitable destruction. Consider it an alternate timeline of S3K's events, if you will.

That's all I'll share for now, there's a few more things I haven't shown yet, but I hope it'll be worth the wait! See ya soon!

[segadriven]

We finish the week’s Sonic Hacking Contest 2023 coverage with a look at Klonoa Gameplay Mod by Sora-yx!

[hiroshima-forever]

Coming Tomorrow at SHC!

My friend, iCloudius, is releasing the Extra Slot Characters for the Sonic Hacking Contest 2023 event tomorrow! Go check out the trailer (I helped direct it)

Pay attention near the end... Maybe you'll find something special?

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond!: Nature of Alternate Universes

In this post, I'll discuss the nature of each alternate universe and how they all differ from each other, and our world, in their own ways.

So, aside from the obvious point that there's always a variant of Sonic, one of his accomplices or another counterpart, as the lead hero of a universe, there's quite a few differences between worlds. For beginners, Dimension MP-2021's universe varies quite a lot from our own in these ways:

There are alternate universe equivalents to real-life products we use consistently. Chaos Cola is the main swap-in for Coca-Cola in most universes, though: in MP-2021, this is "Rola-Cola", it is "Chaos Soda" in CR-2017 and NS-2021, and "Crackin' Coke" in NM-1973.

G.U.N. has a presence in a few universes, though its presence in MP-2021 is instead cited as "S.I.G.U." (South Island Guardian Units). Likewise, MeteorTech, not owned by Robotnik in this universe, is dubbed Comet-Innovation.

As mentioned in the SEGANet post, YouTube is cited as "SEGATube" for SEGA universes (and any linked to them), and is better managed and less prone to allowing bots to cause people trouble.

TV idents are NOT treated as an afterthought in the SEGA universes, and brands are put as a core focus rather than simplicity. For instance, the UKTV Yesterday and W idents are more memorable in these cases.

In MP-2021, Tumblr is still dubbed Tumblelogs. Between universes, the whole Twitter/X name choice varies; for more peaceful areas, it's just Twitter, and in more run-down places like Moebius and New Yolk, it's X. However, in odd cases, they've decided to run with BOTH, dubbing it "TwiXter".

The Blue Man Group is the Green Man Group in MP-2021.

O2 is instead H2O in that same universe, same with T-Mobile being S-Mobile and EE being "GG".

As discussed in my MP-2021 post, most areas in that dimension are all on one island, with only Angel Island and the Death Egg separate from it. Most other dimensions instead have a whole vast world around them.

OMT!Tails, when SAGE (Sonic Amateur Games Expo) and SHC (Sonic Hacking Contest) are mentioned off-handedly by CR!Sonic, doesn't know what either is, since he has PAX and Trinoc*coN respectively in his universe.

Fast food restaurants McDonald's and Burger King are instead dubbed "McLovely's" and "Burger Monarchy" respectively in MP-2021.

Pop culture as OMT!Tails knows it is vastly different compared to other worlds; in his universe, there's a marble-run comedy starring Chris Pratt called Don't Lose Your Marbles, the sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Toon Platoon) actually managed to release in MP-2021, and Zootopia got its own sequel, subtitled "Furrious Unity".

The Planet Hollywood restaurant and resort chain is instead dubbed "Planet Staroak" in MP-2021, with the "Staroak" location off-island being the heart of the area's film industry.

Other changes for other set universes include:

Errorverse (EV-2019)

The more classic cartoons in the Errorverse went their own way from companies like Disney and Warner Bros., and expanded Toontown into a full-blown Toontopia where any classic cartoon can live and flourish.

The age rating badge in the Errorverse is outright PEGI instead of the ESRB.

Fazbear Entertainment underwent new management in the Errorverse after the Pizzaplex disaster and changed its ways with new pizzerias without trying to cover up what happened.

The BBC in the Errorverse is instead the GBC (Global Broadcasting Corporation), having its own library of TV channels and radio stations.

Dimension ELE-2023

Like Elemental, this universe splits different people by their different elements, with Sonic hailing from water (despite, ironically, it being his worst fear) and Amy Rose hailing from fire.

Miscellaneous

All dimensions comprising mainly of 2D artwork (with or without toon physics; anime-based works and animated storybooks count) all class as "Tooniverses". The main ones are Mr. Needlemouse's dimension, BK!Amy's Camelot, the three classic Sonic cartoons and Sonic X.

Likewise, any live-action Sonic content (like the Movie universe) also counts as a separate Tooniverse.

[gbatemp-net]

ICYMI: Sonic Hacking Contest 2023 officially starts off its contest week https://gbatemp.net/threads/sonic-hacking-contest-2023-officially-starts-off-its-contest-week.641801/

[sonichedgeblog]

'Sonic Adventure 2: Resynced Demo 2' (SA2 Mod) by HedgeWedge Resyncs the game with the English audio! Fixed lines going over each other too. https://shc.zone/entries/expo2023/890

[sonichedgeblog]

'Modern SA2: The Trial v2' (SA2 Mod) by MentorDex & Hoppy Introduces many new animations, fixes, level design imrpovements, to bring the game into a new design! https://shc.zone/entries/expo2023/908

[sonichedgeblog]

'Sonic Megamix Mania' (Mania Mod) by Team Megamix Mania Faithful remake of the classic ROM hack, and a brand new set of megamixed levels! https://shc.zone/entries/contest2023/906

[sonichedgeblog]

'Bad Apple!! in Sonic 1' (Hack) by Ralakimus Shadow art on top of Sonic 1, using the 32X! https://shc.zone/entries/expo2023/871

[sonichedgeblog]

'Hellfire Saga' (Hack) by Red Miso Studios Now fully complete! Play this Castlevania and GnG inspired Sonic game with 10 acts and 15 mini-bosses~ https://shc.zone/entries/contest2023/916

[sonichedgeblog]

'Jet Set Sonic' (SADX Mod) by Sora-yx Gives Sonic a 'Jet Set Radio' design, and allows you to tag specific spots in stages! https://shc.zone/entries/contest2023/898

[sonichedgeblog]

'Sonic Unleashed: Reimagined' (Unleashed Mod) by Starlight Overhauls every stage with reimagined stage themes and adds 11 new characters! https://shc.zone/entries/contest2023/875

[sonichedgeblog]

'Klonoa Gameplay Mod' (SADX Mod) by Sora-yx Wahoo! Adds Klonoa to the game! https://shc.zone/entries/contest2023/870

[sonichedgeblog]

'Mighty, Ray, & Amy' (S3Air Mod) by iCloudius Play as Mighty, Ray, or Amy without replacing any of the main cast! https://shc.zone/entries/contest2023/893