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Acknowledges Sonic's Always Been for Kids

It is one thing for the ongoing debate concerning a Sonic fan versus a “true” fan, and the typical split between older veterans and new generation Sonic lovers, to run its course through independent venues. It is quite another when it is addressed through official Sega channels.

Today, Sega Europe employee Kevin Eva, under his ArchangelUK handle on the Sonic City Blognik, tried to level the playing field between fans old and new, in a push for peace between the two factions. But in doing so, he called seasoned Sonic veterans who put down the new generation “elitist.”

“I'm talking about that rather annoying spectre that haunts the Sonic Community at times,” Eva wrote, “Namely the ‘we're better than they are’ types of Sonic fan. Specifically in the case of (Project) Needlemouse we're talking about dreaded elistist fan.”

Eva, framing his case around two comments with two different opinions–one referencing “true” fans, one not–he made the case that the opinions of older Sonic fans are no less relevant than the younger ones. In doing so, he affirmed that Sonic a franchise meant for children first, now and in the past:

Now the vast majority of old school fans are awesome, absoluetly S-Rank superstars – BUT there are those out there that believe that all Sonic games should be for them. Needlemouse may well be going in a classic direction, how much so you'll have to wait and see – but just because it is it doesn't give older fans the right to shun, put down or shout down the younger fans.
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I'm getting a bit weary of these elitist “real fan” type of comments, let's ignore the comments about not liking Unleashed, because thats their opinion of the game – which they're entitled to. Its the start and end of this particular paragraph I'd like to address.
Firstly, Sonic has always been a game with kids at their heart. We've all grown up over the last 18 years, Sonic's focus overall has not really shifted in that time. Yes Needlemouse is (from what we know so far) angled towards the classic, but the statement that “Children have no business playing Sonic” is utter DURR HURR I AM FUCKING RETARDED of the highest order. Especially if you have an email address with your year of birth in it showing you'd've been five or six when Sonic 1 came out.
Guys, newer fans like the Sonic X-generation fan or even fans who became Sonic fans with Unleashed are entitled to their opinions – even about Needlemouse. There are fans out there who like Unleashed, and Shadow The Hedgehog and Riders and even Sonic 06. Likewise there are some fans that like Amy, some fans like Big, some Sonic fans don't even care that much about Sonic as a character and there are those that don't think the originals games were all that hot.
Just because they're younger, it doesn't mean your opinion is better (it doesn't mean its worse either) and that they don't know anything, and saying they are aren't isn't exactly display the sort of maturity 18 years should've accumulated.

Though posted on an official Sega blog, it's unclear whether this can be interpreted as an official Sega stance, moreso than a personal opinion. That noted, it is the first time such rhetoric has been relayed on official channels by an official Sega employee. We should also note that Eva runs Sonic Wrecks, and if solely his opinion, could just as easily have made it known there.

The intent to bridge divisions and bring fans together is admirable, but Eva's words, if official and if taken to heart, could do more harm than good. Veteran fans–even those not guilty of the aforementioned actions–have long felt scorned with Sega's more obvious push in recent years to market Sonic toward children. Further, if the next Sonic is a download-only affair for XBOX Live and PSN, as has been hinted at, it would be those veterans, able to easily purchase the game, who hold the key to Project Needlemouse's success. Should Sega show any wavering of confidence in those veterans, they in turn could lose confidence in Needlemouse's direction, and that could under these circumstances seriously damage the game's chance at commercial success.

Further veteran alienation remains a big risk, especially in the name of quelling fan in-fighting, and especially since we barely know more about Project Needlemouse than we did four months ago. Do you think such a risk is worth it? Tell us in the comments section.