I've never been much of a Sonic fan, but ...

... that isn't keeping me from coveting the custom-painted Dreamcast controller seen in the photo below.

Of course, I'm a fan of pretty much everything artist OSKUNK creates, so what else is new, right?



I wonder if he also made a Dreamcast system that continues the theme? If so, he isn't yet willing to show it off.

In the meantime, let's ogle OSKUNK's controller (I mean that literally, not figuratively)--and afterward maybe go play a Dreamcast game or two.

Sonic Game Gear

I really shouldn't be allowed to have a credit card.

I say that because if I weren't in possession of a credit card, I wouldn't be able to buy any of the games and systems that, like so many shiny objects, catch my attention (seemingly out of the blue), blossom into full-blown obsessions and then quickly dissipate as soon as another compelling game or system comes into view.

The last such "shiny object" to grab my eye, you may remember, was the WonderSwan. Although I'm still keen on picking up one of these Bandai-made handhelds (especially since I've already bought a few WonderSwan games--more on that soon), I'd be lying if I said I was as interested in it as I was when I wrote this post.

As for what prompted my interest in this peculiar, Japan-only portable to wane a bit (just a bit): Sega's Game Gear.

I'm not entirely sure why I've currently got Game Gear on the brain, but I have a feeling it can be blamed on this recent review over at Red Parsley and this one over at VG Junk.

Regardless, I'm spending way too much time thinking about the Game Gear right now. I even spent some time searching Flickr for images of Sega's brick-like handheld over the weekend. That's when I came across the Sonic the Hedgehog-branded Game Gear seen below:



Said system was created by none other than the artist who calls himself OSKUNK, of course.

I think my favorite part of this OSKUNK creation is how the reflections on Dr. Robotnick's (or Dr. Eggman's, if that's how you roll) sunglass lenses double as labels for the portable's I and II buttons.

As much as I love this expertly customized piece of tech, I'd chuck it to the curb like a piece of stale bread if OSKUNK offered up a Game Gear with Pengo characters painted on it. And that system would be tossed out in favor of one branded with characters from the coolest GG title ever created (according to moi): Magical Puzzle Popils.

Anyway, should you want to see more of OSKUNK's work (and why wouldn't you?), feel free to head over to his blog, Custom Art, or his Flickr photostream at your earliest convenience.

See also: Previous OSKUNK-centric posts

Sonic, Sonic, Sonic!!!

I just realized that all three of today's posts are Sonic-related. Sorry about that.

For the next few days (if not weeks), this site will be a ...

... Sonic-free zone :)

(Fake) rumor of the week: Sonic will be playable in Super Mario Galaxy 2

British gaming mag (or is it rag?) NGamer shared a few WTF-ish rumors related to Super Mario Galaxy 2 via Twitter yesterday.

The first: "We've just had some shocking news from an inside source at Nintendo: Sonic will be a playable character in Mario Galaxy 2! Wha?"

The second: "More teasing from our insider: Sonic levels will be in 'Green Hill Galaxy'. Matthew's nearly in tears (of despair)."

My reaction to said rumors:

(Image stolen from this NeoGAF thread.)

Surprise, surprise: Sega's Project Needlemouse = Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Last September, Sega of America's Associate Brand Manager Ken Ballough let it slip that the company was working on a game with the rather cheeky codename of Project Needlemouse.

Honestly, he should have just admitted his colleagues were working on a new Sonic the Hedgehog game, as any Sega fan worth his or her salt knows that designer Naoto Ōshima's original name for Sonic was Mr. Needlemouse.

Anyway, a few days ago the folks at Sega finally told the world what it already knew: That Project Needlemouse is in fact Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

That's not to say the announcement was free of surprises. One of them: The game will be released as a digital download (for the 360, PS3 and Wii). Another: It will be episodic--with the first episode expected to hit the PlayStation Store, WiiWare and XBLA this summer. (Rumor has it the title will hit the iPhone as well.)

A teaser trailer for the title can be found here, while more info can be found here and here.