SEGA has revealed that the reason behind Sonic Unleashed's Japanese delay has nothing to do with improving the game's quality for its Japanese release, but as a result of sales strategies and manufacturing schedules.

Speaking to Eurogamer, SEGA stated "Some fans have become concerned that there will be a difference in quality between the version of the game released in Japan and the version released outside of Japan. This is not the case and we apologise for this misunderstanding."

"The difference in the international release dates is based on the sales strategy and the manufacturing schedule. There will be no quality difference between the North American/European/Asia release and the Japanese version. Please be assured we are doing our best to deliver a top quality experience to people all over the globe."
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Something strange is going on with Sonic Unleashed, better known as Sonic World Adventure in Japan. Instead of coming out on December 18th Sonic Unleashed won't be released on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 in Japan until spring 2009. The official Sonic World Adventure page explains the extra time will be used to further improve the quality of the game. Meanwhile, the Wii version isn't affected and the Night of the Werehog T-shirt in Sega's Winter campaign is still valid.

But, wait a minute Sonic Unleashed is scheduled to ship on every console under the sun, including the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, next week in North America.

So, is Sega USA going to announce a last minute delay? Or is Sega Japan getting a retooled version of Sonic Unleashed?

Images courtesy of Sega.
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The french achievements website SuccesFull.fr have revealed the 50 achievements for the upcoming Sonic's game.

The list contains 50 achievements and they will reward you with 1000 points.

Sonic Unleashed will be available on November 24th.
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The new gameplay footage, uploaded by NeoGAF, shows some impressively speedy gameplay coupled with a lot of "Ha!" and "Go!" outbursts spoken by Sonic as he collects coins. It's unclear if the repetitive dialog is exclusive to the Japanese version of the game, but at least the game looks fun.
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In North America and Europe Sonic Unleashed is exploding on every viable console on the market with a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 2 version that Japan isn't getting. Sega of Japan plans to release Sonic: World Adventure (renamed to better fit Sonic's journey around the Earth and downplay the Werehog thing?) only on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. The PlayStation 2 port will be completed before Sonic: World Adventure launches in Japan so this begs the question why is Sega passing on it? It's not like Sega Japan is abandoning the PlayStation 2 entirely. Thunderforce VI comes out on Thursday in Japan and unless Sega has anything secretly planned it will be the final PlayStation 2 game published by Sega in the region.
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Ripten highlights three new Sonic Unleashed stages with video and descriptions of each.

"Sega has just sent us over two new trailers for their upcoming Sonic Unleashed title. The next-gen trailer showcases Sonic making his way through both day and night versions of Shamar, a sand filled backdrop, complete with ancient buildings and an Arabian beat.

Those concerned that the music may cause Sonic to suffer the same fate as Sackboy can rest easy. This Middle Eastern number is purely instrumental. No lyrics FTW!

In addition to the next-gen stage, the second trailer highlights two levels for the Wii titled Spagonia (openly influenced by European architecture) and Apatos (one feta cheese crumb away from being Greece)."
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What do the fans of the Blue Hegdehog think?
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Gamershell.com writes "TSSZ News is reporting that Brazil is a playable level Sonic Unleashed, the next installment in the multi-million selling franchise in the works at Sonic Team."
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WARNING CONTAINS SPOILERS...

TalkPlayStation.com writes:"Sonic Unleashed is an upcoming video game and is the next game in the Sonic series. The game is due to be released in November. Here's some details on the game.

Sonic and his Werehog self will be the only playable characters. You can unlock a super form for both variations of Sonic. Eggman will be the main villain from start to finish, he's not totally in control towards the end but suddenly turns the tables. In previous games he loses control of the situation at the very last moment."

More when you click through.
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ThatVideoGameBlog:

"I would love to tell you that from what I saw of Sonic Unleashed that I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this was going to be the game that brought back Sonic from the hellish hole he's been digging himself into ever since Sonic Adventure 2. I'd love to do that but I just can't, because from what I saw the game looks like it could be totally amazing or an even lower level of suck than Sonic has ever hit before. The level demonstrated for the press was a Grecian city (all the levels will be loosely based on actual world locations) that didn't have name yet and we got to see both gameplay modes the game will feature: day and night."

More after the jump
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Console Monster writes: "The conferences may have come to an end, but new content is still being added to the Xbox Live Marketplace. Here is the full list for Thursday 17th July 2008:

Name: MS Briefing - Gears of War 2 Announcement
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions except Germany

Name: E3 MS Briefing - Resident Evil 5 Announcement
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions except Germany

Name: E3 2008 MS Briefing - LIPS Announcement
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions..."
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The upcoming Sonic Unleashed for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and PS2 is seen by many fans as Sega Sonic Team's return to classic console gaming. VGB confirms the day we can find out for certain is on its release date on November 11th, 2008.
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Sega has unveiled their upcoming line-up through the first quarter of 2009.

The biggest thing to mention here is a release date for Sonic the Hedgehog's next grand adventure, Sonic Unleashed. It'll be shipped to stores this November on the PS3, 360, Wii and PS2. Sonic Chronicles, the DS-only RPG being developed at BioWare, will arrive two months earlier in September.

Other big names include Golden Axe Riders for the PS3/360 and a follow-up to 2005's Yakuza for the PS2, both due in September. Gearbox's Aliens: Colonial Marines, a game we've seen nothing of since its announcement in February, will be out in the first quarter of next year.
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Sega has unveiled a whole bunch of release dates for its upcoming line-up, including Sonic Unleashed, Aliens: Colonial Marines and Space Siege.The, dare we say, promising-looking Sonic Unleashed has been given a strong November date, while Aliens FPS Colonial Marines has unfortunately slipped into 2009. Golden Axe: Beast Rider, if anyone cares, hits shelves in September.Chris Taylor's Space Siege has also been branded with a ... » Read More

Sega have annouced the game release line up for the rest of the year and into Q1 2009. Sonic Unleashed which was recently annouced has been given a release date of November 2008.
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Some who unfortunately played through the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Sonic the Hedgehog not only sat through awful gameplay, but disturbing scenes as well. Oddly enough, one of these scenes actually involved Sonic kissing a human woman. Yeah, odd indeed. However, Sega promises that with Sonic Unleashed, Sonic will not be making out with any humans. Thank God.
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May 15, 2008 - Sonic the Hedgehog fans have survived for too long on a diet of mediocre sequels with clumsy controls and broken cameras -- a selection of games conducted to a catastrophic symphony with 2006's PS3 / Xbox 360 title Sonic the Hedgehog. But there is finally a light at the end of the long tunnel, and it's a bright one. At its Gamer's Day event in San Francisco on Wednesday, SEGA showed off an updated demo of Sonic Unleashed, a project powered by a proprietary new 3D engine, a great sense of style and uncharacteristic polish for the formerly slumbering series. Having watched SEGA reps zip through two beautiful looking stages filled with classic 2D-esque loops and corkscrews in addition to fully 3D cities, we can optimistically state that Sonic is finally back
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Nidzumi writes: Apparently the most recent issue of Nintendo Power is reporting that the upcoming Sonic Unleashed title will be developed by the same team that created the critically acclaimed Sonic Rush.
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Just recently, Kombo brought you word from new Sonic Team Producer Yoshihisa Hashimoto, via Play Magazine, about how the team is aiming to outdo themselves in everything that Sonic has been a part of to date, and that includes the Genesis titles. Now, they bring you even more details from the Play interview.
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The stakes are high for Sonic and the team which bears his name, as Sonic Unleashed will have to be something truly special in order to keep up with the rest of the market.
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