'Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games' Hands-On Preview with Video

Sonic is coming to the App Store soon to compete with other Sega characters in four Olympic events. The only two we're able to discuss in this preview are curling and snowboard cross, although it doesn't take much imagination to guess what the other two events might be.

Curling is a team game where two teams of four players take turns sliding polished stones down a stretch of ice towards a target. Two sweepers walk in front of the stone sweeping the ice to change its direction and speed. It seems that curling has gained a curious amount of popularity in recent winter games, but if you haven't heard of it before I recommend reading the Wikipedia entry, as it downright crazy how complicated such a seemingly simple game can be.

The curling game is controlled by drawing on the screen to determine the direction and strength of your throw, and then swiping back and forth to sweep. The second event is snowboard cross, which is a short and simple snowboarding race with four characters racing at once. Snowboard cross is controlled with tilt controls, and you need to tilt to steer and land properly off of jumps.

Both games can be seen in our gameplay video:

Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is coming in early 2010.

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MrMister

Woah! For a second there I thought something officially Nintendo was on the app store!... then I saw the title was missing something...
MrMister

Woah! For a second there I thought something officially Nintendo was on the app store!... then I saw the title was missing something...
http://musicgamespickles.blogspot.com/ Robert M.

Where's Mario!!? Haha (I know Nintendo would never allow it!)
http://musicgamespickles.blogspot.com/ Robert M.

Where's Mario!!? Haha (I know Nintendo would never allow it!)
RPS13

Come on Sega, you know we're all dying for Sonic CD for the iDevice platform.
RPS13

Come on Sega, you know we're all dying for Sonic CD for the iDevice platform.
Steverd

Curling????
You've gotta to be kinding? No one in America even likes or knows what it is. Not sure how they ever call that a sport either. That's like calling Skee-Ball a sport..

But the other sports look very nice.
Steverd

Curling????
You've gotta to be kinding? No one in America even likes or knows what it is. Not sure how they ever call that a sport either. That's like calling Skee-Ball a sport..

But the other sports look very nice.
snowy2004

Oooo...

Big Olympic and Sonic fan. I hope there's some hockey...
snowy2004

Oooo...

Big Olympic and Sonic fan. I hope there's some hockey...
snowy2004

Weird... Since when did America become the World?

The game seems to be well known in Canada (You know? Where the Olympics are going to be?).
snowy2004

Weird... Since when did America become the World?

The game seems to be well known in Canada (You know? Where the Olympics are going to be?).
coconutbowling

I think there should be ice skating and feature Steven Colbert.
coconutbowling

I think there should be ice skating and feature Steven Colbert.
Simon

Only 4 games? Come on...they can do better than that!
Simon

Only 4 games? Come on...they can do better than that!
SalsaMD

"Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games features four different events : snowboard cross, curling, skeleton, and figure skating. These can be played individually, in a tournament spanning all four, or against friends via local multiplayer." -STP
SalsaMD

"Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games features four different events : snowboard cross, curling, skeleton, and figure skating. These can be played individually, in a tournament spanning all four, or against friends via local multiplayer." -STP
mrcc

no thankd. will pass
mrcc

no thankd. will pass
Steverd

It just seems of all of the great Olympic games, they pick curling??

Curling over: Ski Jump? Hockey? Bob Sled? Luge?
OK you get the idea!
I LOVE the Ski Jump!
Steverd

It just seems of all of the great Olympic games, they pick curling??

Curling over: Ski Jump? Hockey? Bob Sled? Luge?
OK you get the idea!
I LOVE the Ski Jump!
Bruce

Typical 'Murricans...
"What is curling?"...

Sheesh!
Bruce

Typical 'Murricans...
"What is curling?"...

Sheesh!
Mike

SONIC CD!!!! MAKE IT!!!
Mike

SONIC CD!!!! MAKE IT!!!
Capone

They could at least port the DS-Version (without Nintendo characters). This one is a joke. Epic fail, SEGA!
Capone

They could at least port the DS-Version (without Nintendo characters). This one is a joke. Epic fail, SEGA!
Rob

I'm pretty sure the last time there was a good game with Sonic in it was in the 16-bit era, doubt this one will change that.
Rob

I'm pretty sure the last time there was a good game with Sonic in it was in the 16-bit era, doubt this one will change that.
Jatyu

Have you tried Sonic Rush on the DS, it had some of the best gameplay in a sonic game for a while. The gameplay was the only good thing however.
Jatyu

Have you tried Sonic Rush on the DS, it had some of the best gameplay in a sonic game for a while. The gameplay was the only good thing however.
http://www.obamanetwork.eu Yoshi 256

No Mario, too bad Nintendo doesn't want to see him on the iPhone (although they had Philips let make Mario games for the CDi in the past).
http://www.obamanetwork.eu Yoshi 256

No Mario, too bad Nintendo doesn't want to see him on the iPhone (although they had Philips let make Mario games for the CDi in the past).
poesmij

cdi rules^^

glad to see mario isnt in here,
i hate the bastard
poesmij

cdi rules^^

glad to see mario isnt in here,
i hate the bastard
Marcel

Wow. Instead of starting to make cheesy sports games for the iPhone they should rather finish Shenmue 3. Shenmue 1 & 2 are the only games that are bearable from Sega so far.
Marcel

Wow. Instead of starting to make cheesy sports games for the iPhone they should rather finish Shenmue 3. Shenmue 1 & 2 are the only games that are bearable from Sega so far.
bob

Crazy Taxi and Chu Chu rocket more like it, would be so well suited.
bob

Crazy Taxi and Chu Chu rocket more like it, would be so well suited.
Tim

come on SEGA! Throw us a friggin' bone here! Give us Sonic CD or an exclusive Sonic game... OR SOMETHIN'!

Most users of iDevices are in the 20-35 year range. We don't want "My Little Pony" games, "Hello Kitty Island Adventure" games, or "Sonic has a happy Winter" games!

And yes, the Sonic games on DS and GBA were fan-frickin-tastic. Give us somethin like that.

tim
Tim

come on SEGA! Throw us a friggin' bone here! Give us Sonic CD or an exclusive Sonic game... OR SOMETHIN'!

Most users of iDevices are in the 20-35 year range. We don't want "My Little Pony" games, "Hello Kitty Island Adventure" games, or "Sonic has a happy Winter" games!

And yes, the Sonic games on DS and GBA were fan-frickin-tastic. Give us somethin like that.

tim
Oliver

Four events? FOUR?!?!! Is this a joke? Wii-version offers 20.
Oliver

Four events? FOUR?!?!! Is this a joke? Wii-version offers 20.
spiffyone

I have a feeling they're cooking up either a platform specific Sonic platforming action game, or revving up a port of the Gameloft developed Sonic Unleashed Mobile game that hit cell phones earlier in the year. The latter is more likely, as that game already utilizes touch controls.

There's a vid of the Gameloft developed game here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hToyP7sby_U
spiffyone

I have a feeling they're cooking up either a platform specific Sonic platforming action game, or revving up a port of the Gameloft developed Sonic Unleashed Mobile game that hit cell phones earlier in the year. The latter is more likely, as that game already utilizes touch controls.

There's a vid of the Gameloft developed game here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hToyP7sby_U
Shane

If Capcom released Power Stone, my head would explode.
Shane

If Capcom released Power Stone, my head would explode.
Shane

Wii = $50 = 20 events.

iPhone = $10 = 4 events.

1/5 the price (or less) = 1/5 the events.
Shane

Wii = $50 = 20 events.

iPhone = $10 = 4 events.

1/5 the price (or less) = 1/5 the events.
Tim

Hopefully they do not just port that game. Java games suck.
Tim

Hopefully they do not just port that game. Java games suck.
http://terrychay.com/ terry chay

My guess is they chose curling because it is being held in Canada this year (as a homage).

Besides, it's not exactly tapping on some touchscreen == aerobic exercise. Who really cares what sport they chose as long as the gameplay is fun.
http://terrychay.com/ terry chay

My guess is they chose curling because it is being held in Canada this year (as a homage).

Besides, it's not exactly tapping on some touchscreen == aerobic exercise. Who really cares what sport they chose as long as the gameplay is fun.
A.A. Fussy

Could this be a port of a mobile version? (heard there was a Sonic at the Summer games mobile phone version).

Of course-while Sega features both Sonic and Mario and Sega/Nintendo characters in the DS/Wii versions, the iPhone version only features Sonic and Sega ones (likely as Nintendo would object to seeing Mario on something ther than their consoles).
A.A. Fussy

Could this be a port of a mobile version? (heard there was a Sonic at the Summer games mobile phone version).

Of course-while Sega features both Sonic and Mario and Sega/Nintendo characters in the DS/Wii versions, the iPhone version only features Sonic and Sega ones (likely as Nintendo would object to seeing Mario on something ther than their consoles).
AJ

Sonic Adventure anyone? I remember SEGA boasting that the chipset of the iPhone was almost if not on par with Dreamcast's GPU. So with that said...where the heck is a port of Sonic Adventure? Would be nice to have running on a 3GS perhaps? (crossing my fingers)
AJ

Sonic Adventure anyone? I remember SEGA boasting that the chipset of the iPhone was almost if not on par with Dreamcast's GPU. So with that said...where the heck is a port of Sonic Adventure? Would be nice to have running on a 3GS perhaps? (crossing my fingers)
http://peterhirschberg.com Peter Hirschberg

>Since when did America become the World?

I would say since things like this: http://metrics.admob.com/2009/07/june-2009-mobile-metrics-report/

Don't get all pissy and territorial, people. That's what animals do. Nobody said America was the World. Its all about demographics, sales, and target audiences.
http://peterhirschberg.com Peter Hirschberg

>Since when did America become the World?

I would say since things like this: http://metrics.admob.com/2009/07/june-2009-mobile-metrics-report/

Don't get all pissy and territorial, people. That's what animals do. Nobody said America was the World. Its all about demographics, sales, and target audiences.
manaman

I like curling and I'm from the ol' US of A.
manaman

I like curling and I'm from the ol' US of A.