Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most common questions asked about the Sonic Studio fan game.
General
What is Sonic Studio?
Sonic Studio is a fan celebration of momentum-based 2D Sonic. It's a toy, a level editor in which you will be able to create whatever classic Sonic layout your heart desires, by creating terrain out of vector shapes, and placing objects which can be manipulated in realtime.
Created by one person in their spare time for fun, and featuring the talents of 2 musicians and 1 UI designer. More information.
Where's the Download?
It's not out yet, it's still in heavy development since 2017 - Things take time when it's in spare time.
It'll be out when it's ready. Check out the progress page for information on how far along it is.
Downloads or updates surrounding a release will be made here and on Twitter @SonicStudioProj
What is Sonic Studio created in?
GameMaker Studio 2
Sonic Studio is a fan celebration of momentum-based 2D Sonic. It's a toy, a level editor in which you will be able to create whatever classic Sonic layout your heart desires, by creating terrain out of vector shapes, and placing objects which can be manipulated in realtime.
Created by one person in their spare time for fun, and featuring the talents of 2 musicians and 1 UI designer. More information.
Where's the Download?
It's not out yet, it's still in heavy development since 2017 - Things take time when it's in spare time.
It'll be out when it's ready. Check out the progress page for information on how far along it is.
Downloads or updates surrounding a release will be made here and on Twitter @SonicStudioProj
What is Sonic Studio created in?
GameMaker Studio 2
Progress
When did Sonic Studio begin development?
Sonic Studio in this form began life in late 2017, but became a full on project in 2018.
How often do you work on it?
Sonic Studio is a fan game, a hobby, and earns no money. It's developed by one person (a busy person!). So, naturally, it's only worked on in free time outside of other hobbies and other more important endeavours and obligations. Some weeks, there is a chance to work on it each day, and some weeks there is no time to work on it at all. But it's still chuggin' along because I enjoy it so much!
When is the release date?
There is not one! No way to know how long the rest of the project will take, as available time to work on it fluctuates heavily.
Sonic Studio in this form began life in late 2017, but became a full on project in 2018.
How often do you work on it?
Sonic Studio is a fan game, a hobby, and earns no money. It's developed by one person (a busy person!). So, naturally, it's only worked on in free time outside of other hobbies and other more important endeavours and obligations. Some weeks, there is a chance to work on it each day, and some weeks there is no time to work on it at all. But it's still chuggin' along because I enjoy it so much!
When is the release date?
There is not one! No way to know how long the rest of the project will take, as available time to work on it fluctuates heavily.
Features
What Zones are included?
There are currently 11 initial planned zones (though, you might want to count it as 12... or 13... you'll see). At least 1 zone from every main classic Sonic game (1,2,3,K,CD) is included. However, at least initially, not every zone from any of these games is included.
World/Game/Story Creator?
Currently, the focus for development and of any plans is on the single standalone stage creation. Not ruling it out post-release!
Import custom sprites or tile sets?
Unfortunately this is not currently planned as a feature for Sonic Studio.
Sonic Studio does not use traditional tile sets to create and display zones - each zone theme in Sonic Studio is painstakingly bespoke due to the nature of the terrain editing works. Because of this, custom art and music is being lovingly crafted for each included theme, and there will be other simple visual options at your disposal.
How does Stage sharing work?
You will be able to copy your stage to a (large) string of text, and paste that wherever to share. You can then copy someone else's stage as text and paste directly into the game to begin playing that stage.
There will be other methods for basic sharing too.
Will there be built-in online Stage sharing?
That's certainly the goal, but it's possible to see an initial release without it.
Is everything that's been shown everything that there is?
Not at all, you have not seen half of it!
Will Sonic Studio have controller support?
Yes!
There are currently 11 initial planned zones (though, you might want to count it as 12... or 13... you'll see). At least 1 zone from every main classic Sonic game (1,2,3,K,CD) is included. However, at least initially, not every zone from any of these games is included.
World/Game/Story Creator?
Currently, the focus for development and of any plans is on the single standalone stage creation. Not ruling it out post-release!
Import custom sprites or tile sets?
Unfortunately this is not currently planned as a feature for Sonic Studio.
Sonic Studio does not use traditional tile sets to create and display zones - each zone theme in Sonic Studio is painstakingly bespoke due to the nature of the terrain editing works. Because of this, custom art and music is being lovingly crafted for each included theme, and there will be other simple visual options at your disposal.
How does Stage sharing work?
You will be able to copy your stage to a (large) string of text, and paste that wherever to share. You can then copy someone else's stage as text and paste directly into the game to begin playing that stage.
There will be other methods for basic sharing too.
Will there be built-in online Stage sharing?
That's certainly the goal, but it's possible to see an initial release without it.
Is everything that's been shown everything that there is?
Not at all, you have not seen half of it!
Will Sonic Studio have controller support?
Yes!
Gameplay
Which characters are included?
Currently: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles.
Will there be Clear Conditions?
Still toying with specific things. Even if not in the traditional sense like In SMM, there will definitely be ways to set up scenarios where conditions need to be met to clear stages, such as ring count for example, just using ingame elements.
Can I create bosses?
Absolutely, you will be able to create bosses and modify them in quite a few ways.
Will I be able to fully remake Sonic 1 or others?
The goal of Sonic Studio is not to add every single little object you might find in it's included zones. Any object added to Sonic Studio is intended to be useful in general stage construction.
That said, you'll certainly be able to get close.
Currently: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles.
Will there be Clear Conditions?
Still toying with specific things. Even if not in the traditional sense like In SMM, there will definitely be ways to set up scenarios where conditions need to be met to clear stages, such as ring count for example, just using ingame elements.
Can I create bosses?
Absolutely, you will be able to create bosses and modify them in quite a few ways.
Will I be able to fully remake Sonic 1 or others?
The goal of Sonic Studio is not to add every single little object you might find in it's included zones. Any object added to Sonic Studio is intended to be useful in general stage construction.
That said, you'll certainly be able to get close.