If you’re sufficiently heavily invested in Sonic The Hedgehog, you might well have been aware of the Summer Of Sonic convention that ran from 2008 to 2013. The event became very popular during its original run, growing from 300 visitors to over 1,000 – in 2013, the initial allocation of 450 tickets was gone in six seconds. That’s in no small part due to the impressive range of activities on offer, as while the fans run the convention, official support from Sega has allowed for guests such as developers Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka, live musical performances from Crush 40, Julien-K and Bentley Jones and demos of upcoming games. In addition, the event has hosted Sonic comic authors and artists and fan creations.
After a couple of years on hiatus, the event has returned as a crowdfunded venture for 2016, with a Kickstarter campaign already 85% of the way to its £20,000 goal. Unlike in previous years, funding the campaign will be the only way to get a ticket for the event. Guests haven’t yet been announced, but costs will go towards goodie bags and prizes for attendees as well as transport, technical and security staff, equipment costs and guest expenses.
The event will take place on August 6th at the ILEC Conference Centre in Earls Court, London. Let us know if you’re going – you’re bound to see at least one member of Retro Gamer staff hanging around…