Sega and THQ released a joint press release today announcing that Sonic Battle would be released during January of 2004. The release also indicated that a third installment in the Sonic Advance series would be released for the Gameboy Advance before the end of the upcoming year.
Click below for the full-text of the releaseCALABASAS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 1, 2003–THQ Inc. and Sega Corporation today announced a co-publishing agreement through which the companies will release two new Nintendo(R) Game Boy Advance adventures based on one of the biggest videogame icons of all time, Sonic the Hedgehog(R). The games are scheduled to ship in North, Central and South America in the first half of 2004. The companies previously released two other Sonic-branded games for the Game Boy Advance that boast combined sales of approximately a million units.
Sonic Battle, the first title planned for release under the agreement, is scheduled to release in North America in January 2004. Coinciding with Sega’s new Sonic Heroes console release, Sonic Battle will benefit from Sega’s multi-million dollar Sonic Heroes marketing campaign. The companies are also scheduled to release Sonic Advance 3 in 2004.
“Sega’s uncompromising approach to design innovation and game quality have captivated audiences of all ages across every viable gaming platform since Sonic debuted on the SEGA Genesis(TM) in 1991,” said Brian Farrell, President and CEO, THQ. “We look forward to delivering two compelling new Sonic adventures to handheld gamers in 2004.”
“With THQ’s handheld publishing expertise, we have had tremendous success leveraging the Sonic brand on the Game Boy Advance platform,” said Hide Irie, President and COO, Sega of America, SEGA Corporation. “Sonic Battle and Sonic Advance 3 are poised to be strong performers in the expanding Game Boy Advance marketplace.”
The Sonic The Hedgehog series began in 1991 with the release of “Sonic The Hedgehog(R)” on SEGA Genesis(TM). The game quickly became a global hit. Over the years, Sonic The Hedgehog has been featured in more than 11 games on multiple SEGA gaming platforms including SEGA Genesis, SEGA Game Gear(TM), Pico(TM), SEGA Saturn(TM) and SEGA Dreamcast(TM). Most recently, the series continued with “Sonic Adventure 2 Battle” for Nintendo GameCube and “Sonic Advance” for GameBoy Advance, the first titles to utilize the Nintendo GameCube/GameBoy Advance Link Cable. In just over 10 years, Sonic The Hedgehog has become one of the most beloved and recognized video game characters of all time and the series has sold over 32 million units worldwide.
Source: Planet Gamecube