This is the game a lot of traditional Sonic fans are looking forward to. Taking cues from the classic Sega Mega Drive titles, and taking place immediately after the events in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 promises to be a faithful blast to the past while incorporating new abilities and gimmicks that helped make each 2D adventure fresh.

Planned for an Autumn release on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, WiiWare and the Apple App Store, be the first to see just why everyone’s gearing up for Sonic’s return to 2D form.

Dimps and Sonic Team take the blue blur to the next level in Sonic Colours, an intergalactic adventure that sees the hedgehog hero rescue the sentient Wisp aliens from the clutches of the villainous Dr. Eggman. Taking the best parts of the daytime racing stages and nighttime platforming elements of Sonic Unleashed and fusing them into one, this is Sonic’s most refined title yet.

Exclusive on Wii and Nintendo DS, Sonic Colours hits store shelves in Winter 2010. You will be the very first people to play the game ahead of its exciting release. Both the Wii and DS versions will be available for you to play.

Think you’re the fastest on Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing? Well, now you can put your money where your mouth is, at the official ASR World Championships – taking place only at the Summer of Sonic 2010. Sonic fans from around the world are attending this year’s convention, all with a penchant for speed. Can you take on the best and claim victory?

Qualifiers will be set on the Lost Palace stage, Time Trial. Be the fastest within the qualifying time (1:04:00 – subject to change depending on overall skill level) to be in with a chance of getting into the Knockout rounds – the top 32 racers will then take part in one-on-one races on a level of our choosing (3 Laps, Catch-Up OFF, AI Difficulty MEDIUM) until we are left with four challengers. The top four will then race for the ultimate prize – the title of World Champion along with a trophy to go with it.

Terms and Conditions of competition available on the day.
Times are subject to change on the day, owing to overrunning;
11:00 – 13:30 – Round 1: Qualifiers
14:00 – 15:00 – Round 2: Knockout
15:30 – 16:30 – Four-player Final / Semi-finals, two-player Final

As is the tradition with past Summer of Sonic conventions, there will be art tables present for you to sit down and draw your favourite Sonic characters at your leisure. Use this time to make friends with those sitting next to you before moving onto other areas. During the day, there will be an art contest in the form of Dobbyn’s Challenge – draw a piece of artwork within specification at the event to be in with a chance to win some special prizes!

Sonic the Comic writer and artist Nigel Dobbyn will be available to speak with and sign various items, but at this year’s Summer of Sonic he is kindly going one step further in offering personal art sessions to help fans with specific areas of artwork. Four 30-minute sessions are available to book your interest in during the day, with a maximum of six people per session. Places will go very quickly and we cannot guarantee a space for everyone – you can book a slot at the Comics Zone.

Fans of the 1990s Sonic the Comic or US Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog will be pleased to know that our Comics Zone is back in full force! Not only will you get to see artist Nigel Dobbyn at various points throughout the day, but there will be comics to trade, detailed information on each of the comics (and the cartoons – some of which tie in quite nicely with the books) and much more besides. The Comics Zone will be situated right next to the Art Zone during the day.

Want to show off a drawing you made at the Summer of Sonic 2010? Give it to one of our Staff members and they will give it pride of place on the Fan Artwork Display – a showcase of the wonderful talent and creativity that our visitors can get when inspired by Sonic the Hedgehog. Some contest entries will be posted on here as well – if you recognise a drawing, why not find the person who made it and say hello?

We’re doing things a little differently this year – instead of simply showcasing a number of fan artists on a wall, you will actually get to meet some of the community’s most popular fan artists face to face! Right at the Comics Zone, you can expect to find the people responsible for the excellent fan-made Sonic the Comic Online continuation – along with the friendly Elson ‘Darkspeeds’ Wong, who has created his own original comic titled The Grand Ashworth Fortune, and NightsIntoDreams.com‘s Lynne ‘TRiPPY’ Triplett who will be showcasing original works from Imagni Studios. They’re all lovely people – come along and say hello!

Sonic has been on absolutely every single product imaginable since his 1991 Mega Drive release. CDs, figurines, toothbrushes, stationary, stickers, bags… you can see just a small selection of some of that merchandise from the past and present in our merchandise cabinets. These collectibles were kindly donated by various members of the Sonic community to display in these cabinets throughout the day, so please admire them with respect.

Just like the bonus features on Sega Saturn compilation release Sonic Jam, the Hall of Fame serves as a short list of information regarding different aspects of the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. From his appearance in the games, to the characters, to the community’s creativity in various different forms of media.

We love our Sonic community, and this montage of snapshots from many different fansites just proves it! Take a gander at the number of homemade websites and online creations that have been made simply by being inspired by the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Can you find your website in there? If not, let us know and we’ll be sure to add it to the wall for next time!

What would a Sonic convention be without the star of the show turning up to say hello? If you’ve ever wanted your photo taken with the world’s fastest superhero, then keep an eye out for the blue streak and catch him for a snap! The friendly hedgehog is always happy to meet his most avid fans!

Times to meet Sonic:
12:00 – 13:00
14:30 – 15:30
16:30 – 17:30

The lovable, silent merchant Wentos travels from far and wide to exchange goods for solid gold rings. After his business boomed at the Summer of Sonic convention last year, he returns to the 2010 event to offer some more goodies – at a price of course. Wentos may not talk much, but he’s always accompanied by his little Chao puppet friend, who can sometimes be too talkative for his own good. Meet Wentos early in the morning and see what he has in store for you.

“I’ve heard good things about your convention and require your detective services – and I can pay HANDSOMELY. But first I must test your abilities. Here is your mission, I want to test your investigation skills with a little scavenger hunt. What fantastic scheme have I got for you? Find Ten Hermit Crabs. They will tell you what you need to do on the day….”

The Summer of Sonic is all about meeting friends, but we love to give you something a little extra too! While stocks last, you will receive a free drawstring bag upon entering the venue, which will contain a Free Comic Book Day edition of Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog book, a Summer of Sonic lanyard, a First 4 Figures Metal Sonic figurine, free entry to a prize draw to win a large limited edition Super Sonic model with LED lights, and a Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing themed door hanger. And our warm greetings, obviously. Enjoy the convention!

The rockalicious duo that is Crush 40 will be enjoying the Summer of Sonic convention throughout the whole day, but there will be a special chance for attendees to say hello and get items signed by Jun Senoue and Johnny Gioeli. Head to the signing table, near the Shop Stop on the upper tier of the venue, between 15:00 and 16:30 for your chance to talk to the legends behind some of your favourite Sonic the Hedgehog soundtracks! Please note that there may be signing restrictions in place.