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"Screw This Game" - Sonic Origins Modder Halts Development On Massive Patch

Bullet Club

Bullet Club

Banned

"Screw This Game" - Sonic Origins Modder Halts Development On Massive Patch​


"It’s become way clearer that this game is absolute shit"

While Sonic Origins offers a convenient way to play the hedgehog's most celebrated 16-bit outings on modern consoles, many veterans fans haven't been satisfied with the quality of the versions included in the collection. The game boasts various enhancements such as widescreen support and new gameplay modes, but also introduces errors, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and behaviours that some die-hard Sonic fans aren't happy about.

The latest dissatisfied voice from the Sonic fan community is that of Xanman, creator of BetterOrigins, a mod for the PC version of the game which aimed to fix various errors and improve the overall quality (thanks, TheGamer).

However, having gone through the game's files, Xanman has decided to halt work on the mod entirely. "Hey, so we decided to stop the development of this project," Xanman wrote on the mod's GameBanana page:

"After really digging into the files for this game, it's become way clearer that this game is absolute s***. We've fixed enough where the game is a bit more serviceable but really, especially without scripts, there's not a whole lot we can 'fix' without just redoing sprites."
Click to expand...
"MAYBE I'll come back to this in the future, when script editing becomes a thing. But for now, screw this game."
Click to expand...

It's not just the fan community that has voiced its dissatisfaction with the final product. Headcannon's Simon Thornley, who worked on the Sonic 3 & Knuckles part of the collection, took to Twitter recently to voice his frustrations, and also provide partial explanations as to how these issues arose.

For a better idea of the types of issues the BetterOrigins mod fixed, here's a list of patch notes from Update 1.5 as per the mod's GameBanana Updates page:

Adjustment - Sonic 1 Palette issues have been fixed
Improvement - CD's title screen has been cleaned up and use the full resolution beta assets as a base
Bugfix - Sonic 2 bosses actually flash properly
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Life icons are accurate
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Elemental Shields use correct sprites
Bugfix - Sonic 2 - Fixes a color error in some of Tails' sprites having incorrect transparent pixels
Bugfix - Sonic 2 - Fixes a color error in some of Knuckles' sprites making the black a dark green
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Sprites from S3 use S1 blacks
Improvement - Sonic 2 - Eggman's sprites have been corrected
Bugfix - Sonic 2 - Monitors don't have 2 grey pixels on their screens anymore
Improvement - Casino Night flippers are corrected
Improvement - Casino Night star blocks have been corrected
Improvement - Casino Night visuals are fixed (it was very broken)
Bugfix - Metropolis has proper palette cycle
Improvement - Wing Fortress has proper transparency
Bugfix - All Wing Fortress tiles use their proper palette
Improvement - The Wing Fortress threadmill use its original palette
Improvement - Oil Ocean's palette cycle is correct
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Life text & HUD was touched up
Improvement - Sonic 2 - Spinning signpost frames now all use full color range
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Spinning signpost frames properly use S2 signposts as a base
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Monitors' bottom part is the same on both sides
Adjustment - Casino Night's colored bumpers don't flash anymore
Addition - Oil Ocean now use purple instead of green
Improvement - Oil Ocean oil is properly affected by gravity (it doesn't go up anymore smh)
Improvement - Metropolis has more logical palette on some tiles
Improvement - Death Egg Robot looks slightly more like the original
Addition - Ending now has a limited palette
Bugfix - The Carnival Night barrel's green pixels has been fixed

We called the game "a fine collection for new fans, less so for the hardcore Sonic crowd" in our 7/10 review of the Switch version. While it functions well enough for more casual fans just dipping their toe into Sonic's original 16-bit catalogue, it's clear that many believe these vintage platformers deserved more care and attention — especially with these being the nominal 'ultimate' versions of the games, according to Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka.

Source: Nintendo Life
 
anthony2690

anthony2690

Member
I personally really enjoyed the collection and didn't think it was bad at all, could've been a little cheaper or had a retail version. (Personal gripes)

I didn't seem to have any issues either, that being said it's funny how nostalgia works, I went back and looked at the sonic 2 bonus stages in a comparison and didn't even realise they were done up/WAY SMOOTHER in origins, in my mind it was just how I remembered amusingly.

I absolutely loved replaying sonic 2 and was pleasantly surprised by the new mystic cave level when I thought I had died, absolutely loved it.

& Sonic 3 & knuckles is still a wonderful game, I still don't like the ghost level, always disliked that one as a child, as it use to scare me :( lol

But I've beat these two games hundreds of times since childhood. :)

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Last edited:
Morrie’s wig shop

Morrie’s wig shop

Banned
What makes a person a Sonic vet lol. If I played sonic 1, Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 on release for the Genesis many moons ago does that make me a vet lol.

So that means these modders clamoring for a ‘100%’ Sonic game means they are all Sonic vets sitting in their 40s and 50s crying about the color display on the spinning sign, do I have this correct?
 
nikeboy94

nikeboy94

Member
Man, it's crazy how all this is unfolding. When I learned that SEGA was leading development on Origins instead of Taxman/Stealth, I had a feeling the game would have a few issues but never expected it to be this bad. It's a shame he's stopped working on this Mod because it doesn't look like SEGA gives a F on fixing any of these problems. But at the same time, I can't blame him if the game is in a sorry state.
 
Last edited:
ManaByte

ManaByte

Gold Member
Back in the day EverQuest's code was such a mess they would being in outside devs who would look at it and ask "This game runs?"
 
Alan Wake

Alan Wake

Member
I enjoyed Sonic Origins, I'll be back to play it for years to come, probably. The biggest issue is that some of the best tunes in Sonic 3 & Knuckles have been replaced. But that was inevitable. Still a bummer.
 
names are for friends

names are for friends

Member
Morrie’s wig shop said:
What makes a person a Sonic vet lol. If I played sonic 1, Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 on release for the Genesis many moons ago does that make me a vet lol.

So that means these modders clamoring for a ‘100%’ Sonic game means they are all Sonic vets sitting in their 40s and 50s crying about the color display on the spinning sign, do I have this correct?
Click to expand...
They probably at least expected it to be as good as the fan ports that had been released previously and could be played simply and legally in widescreen. That seems like a reasonable expectation.
 
L

lostinblue

Banned
anthony2690 said:
I personally really enjoyed the collection and didn't think it was bad at all, could've been a little cheaper or had a retail version. (Personal gripes)

I didn't seem to have any issues either, that being said it's funny how nostalgia works, I went back and looked at the sonic 2 bonus stages in a comparison and didn't even realise they were done up/WAY SMOOTHER in origins, in my mind it was just how I remembered amusingly.
Click to expand...
The issue is not whether or not the games are good (they are) or playable (they are), it's how you can screw up porting classics such as this and not making them to be definite versions while claiming they are.

They fixed a lot but seems like there's a lot they can't without doing a huge roundabout. I totally get that they think that the game shouldn't have been released like this even if it's not a cyberpunk 2077 level of disaster.
 
Saber

Saber

Member
Morrie’s wig shop said:
Wait, they already had someone lined up to fix this during release? As in someone was on the payroll?
Click to expand...

My point that it wasn't necessary a bug fix from outside to fix the crap that Sega made. As far I know, Taxman versions of classics are pretty much fine.

ResilientBanana said:
This explains why Headcannon clarified their involvement as just an engine developer.
Click to expand...

Headcanons own fault for starting this "carrying Taxman touch" stupid post on Twitter only to backfire, posting tweet after tweet to either clarify or get out of the line of fire.
 
Spukc

Spukc

always chasing the next thrill
what a fucking man child..
shut the fuck up don't work on it
instead of ranting online legit.. shut the hell up move on.

such a fucking sonic fan.

the game is a 7 as of right now and i played it all 5 games in one go back to back.. the mission mode was great fun..
yes it has issues but none of the insane hyperbole bullshit the sanic special forces fanbase has.,
 
Soodanim

Soodanim

Member
RNG said:
Yes.

Also check out Sonic Forever, Sonic 2 Absolute, and Sonic CD Decompilation:
teamforeveronline.wixsite.com

The home of Team Forever: S1F & S2A available for download now!

The home of Team Forever, the folks behind the Sonic the Hedgehog Forever and Sonic 2 Absolute fan projects.
teamforeveronline.wixsite.com teamforeveronline.wixsite.com
github.com

GitHub - RSDKModding/RSDKv3-Decompilation: A Full Decompilation of Sonic CD (2011) & Retro Engine (v3)

A Full Decompilation of Sonic CD (2011) & Retro Engine (v3) - GitHub - RSDKModding/RSDKv3-Decompilation: A Full Decompilation of Sonic CD (2011) & Retro Engine (v3)
github.com github.com

Boom there's your collection in widescreen.
Click to expand...
Cross thread quote, because why pay for an inferior version that people can't/won't patch when you can adapt versions that exist?
Sonic 1, 2, 3, and CD all have decent working PC versions out there.


Edit:
Additionally, to turn Sonic 3 A.I.R into Sonic 3 Complete for the definitive Sonic 3 experience, here's a compiled list of mods: https://gamebanana.com/threads/218660
 
Last edited:
Needlecrash

Needlecrash

Member
Bullet Club said:

"Screw This Game" - Sonic Origins Modder Halts Development On Massive Patch​


"It’s become way clearer that this game is absolute shit"

While Sonic Origins offers a convenient way to play the hedgehog's most celebrated 16-bit outings on modern consoles, many veterans fans haven't been satisfied with the quality of the versions included in the collection. The game boasts various enhancements such as widescreen support and new gameplay modes, but also introduces errors, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and behaviours that some die-hard Sonic fans aren't happy about.

The latest dissatisfied voice from the Sonic fan community is that of Xanman, creator of BetterOrigins, a mod for the PC version of the game which aimed to fix various errors and improve the overall quality (thanks, TheGamer).

However, having gone through the game's files, Xanman has decided to halt work on the mod entirely. "Hey, so we decided to stop the development of this project," Xanman wrote on the mod's GameBanana page:




It's not just the fan community that has voiced its dissatisfaction with the final product. Headcannon's Simon Thornley, who worked on the Sonic 3 & Knuckles part of the collection, took to Twitter recently to voice his frustrations, and also provide partial explanations as to how these issues arose.

For a better idea of the types of issues the BetterOrigins mod fixed, here's a list of patch notes from Update 1.5 as per the mod's GameBanana Updates page:

Adjustment - Sonic 1 Palette issues have been fixed
Improvement - CD's title screen has been cleaned up and use the full resolution beta assets as a base
Bugfix - Sonic 2 bosses actually flash properly
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Life icons are accurate
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Elemental Shields use correct sprites
Bugfix - Sonic 2 - Fixes a color error in some of Tails' sprites having incorrect transparent pixels
Bugfix - Sonic 2 - Fixes a color error in some of Knuckles' sprites making the black a dark green
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Sprites from S3 use S1 blacks
Improvement - Sonic 2 - Eggman's sprites have been corrected
Bugfix - Sonic 2 - Monitors don't have 2 grey pixels on their screens anymore
Improvement - Casino Night flippers are corrected
Improvement - Casino Night star blocks have been corrected
Improvement - Casino Night visuals are fixed (it was very broken)
Bugfix - Metropolis has proper palette cycle
Improvement - Wing Fortress has proper transparency
Bugfix - All Wing Fortress tiles use their proper palette
Improvement - The Wing Fortress threadmill use its original palette
Improvement - Oil Ocean's palette cycle is correct
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Life text & HUD was touched up
Improvement - Sonic 2 - Spinning signpost frames now all use full color range
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Spinning signpost frames properly use S2 signposts as a base
Adjustment - Sonic 2 - Monitors' bottom part is the same on both sides
Adjustment - Casino Night's colored bumpers don't flash anymore
Addition - Oil Ocean now use purple instead of green
Improvement - Oil Ocean oil is properly affected by gravity (it doesn't go up anymore smh)
Improvement - Metropolis has more logical palette on some tiles
Improvement - Death Egg Robot looks slightly more like the original
Addition - Ending now has a limited palette
Bugfix - The Carnival Night barrel's green pixels has been fixed

We called the game "a fine collection for new fans, less so for the hardcore Sonic crowd" in our 7/10 review of the Switch version. While it functions well enough for more casual fans just dipping their toe into Sonic's original 16-bit catalogue, it's clear that many believe these vintage platformers deserved more care and attention — especially with these being the nominal 'ultimate' versions of the games, according to Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka.

Source: Nintendo Life
Click to expand...
Welp, Xanman trashed the page due to the publicity and him refusing to work on the game. That's that.
 
Fake

Fake

Member
Soodanim said:
Cross thread quote, because why pay for an inferior version that people can't/won't patch when you can adapt versions that exist?
Sonic 1, 2, 3, and CD all have decent working PC versions out there.
Click to expand...

Even Sonic CD on Xbox 360 works amazing fine. IDK how a team could screw something so simple.

If I reading some modders over Twitter correctly, the addition to the 'drop dash' ability was one of the main reasons for the countless bugs.
 
R

rkofan87

Gold Member
Soodanim said:
If you didn't read the OP, then it might be waste of time for anyone else to say the same thing as you might skip over that too. Come on mate, it's right there
Click to expand...
oh god i just read the patch notes if your a sonic super fan this is rape job wow forgive me.
ps not the mod but what the mod had to fix
 
Last edited:
Kiddo Cabbusses

Kiddo Cabbusses

Member
I wish I got a new thread on NeoGAF for every mod I canceled!

Seriously, what makes this thread worthy? There's already plenty of room to dunk on Sonic Origins without it.
 
C

crackajack

Member
I understand why people modded Vampire bloodlines, since the dev got dissolved, but modding an unfinished product seems very weird. Modders should work on expansions when it is a great game and not fix the job of paid proffessionals.
 
STARSBarry

STARSBarry

Gold Member
crackajack said:
I understand why people modded Vampire bloodlines, since the dev got dissolved, but modding an unfinished product seems very weird. Modders should work on expansions when it is a great game and not fix the job of paid proffessionals.
Click to expand...

Yet Bethesda games are some of the most popular for exactly this reason.

Eventually fans get so sick of it you just "FUCK IT! IL DO IT MYSELF!"
 
Lethal01

Lethal01

Member
Spukc said:
what a fucking man child..
shut the fuck up don't work on it
instead of ranting online legit.. shut the hell up move on.

such a fucking sonic fan.

the game is a 7 as of right now and i played it all 5 games in one go back to back.. the mission mode was great fun..
yes it has issues but none of the insane hyperbole bullshit the sanic special forces fanbase has.,
Click to expand...

Except then people keep messaging asking what happened, it's much more mature to just explain the situation and move on.
 
Holammer

Holammer

Member
ManaByte said:
Back in the day EverQuest's code was such a mess they would being in outside devs who would look at it and ask "This game runs?"
Click to expand...
I recall an article on an effort to rewrite the code for how resistances were handled and it was a complete trashfire held together with chewing gum and the power of prayer.
TF2 is famously full of "source spaghetti" too.
 
A.Romero

A.Romero

Member
Morrie’s wig shop said:
What makes a person a Sonic vet lol. If I played sonic 1, Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 on release for the Genesis many moons ago does that make me a vet lol.

So that means these modders clamoring for a ‘100%’ Sonic game means they are all Sonic vets sitting in their 40s and 50s crying about the color display on the spinning sign, do I have this correct?
Click to expand...
The term is cringy but I don't see anything wrong. Frustration regarding something you love is not age sensitive. They even tried to put in the work to make it perfect. It's commendable.
 
theclaw135

theclaw135

Banned
Morrie’s wig shop said:
What makes a person a Sonic vet lol. If I played sonic 1, Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 on release for the Genesis many moons ago does that make me a vet lol.

So that means these modders clamoring for a ‘100%’ Sonic game means they are all Sonic vets sitting in their 40s and 50s crying about the color display on the spinning sign, do I have this correct?
Click to expand...

People complain about 'paying for roms'. Then when Sega tosses them a bone by deciding to not emulate, they still complain.
 
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