Today, Sega of Japan released a duo of recent soundtracks to digital download platforms.

Both Sonic Rush’s Original Groove Rush soundtrack and Sonic Rush Adventure‘s OST are available via Amazon MP3 in Japan and iTunes where activated around the world.  The latter is the bonus track version, and contains the Surfin’ SRA Remix of A New Venture.

On iTunes in the US, at least, the soundtracks are available to purchase in whole for $9.99.  You can also grab tracks individually for 99 cents a piece.

The release continues a steady stream of digital re-releases of recent Sonic soundtracks by Sega.  There’s no indication what may be next.

Source: TSSZ News

It’s still Friday in most of the western world, but it is Saturday in Japan, and birthday festivities for Sonic the Hedgehog have already begun.

Case in point: The video you see below shows Jun Senoue and Johnny Gioeli of Crush 40, along with an after-party group from their March 31st performance, signing happy birthday to the blue dude.

It’s an ideal time for the group to belt it out; while Crush 40′s Facebook page is plugging a July 4th release for their new songs Sonic Youth, One of Those Days, and Rise Again, the tunes are actually already available in the West on iTunes for 99 cents a piece.  A proper Maxi Single CD will be released in Japan on August 1st.

Thanks to all who tipped us to various bits of information in this article.

Source: TSSZ News

A total of 140 tickets will be made available for the 2012 Summer of Sonic convention this Friday at 6PM British time, 1PM ET.

The announcement was made Sunday on the SOS website:

Just like the second wave, Groups will be limited to two people per ticket, and not four. This is so that children who will need to be accompanied by an adult to the convention can easily have a parent or guardian added to an application. You will be able to do this by clicking a “+” icon on your application form and adding the full name of the additional guest.

If you don’t have a ticket and want to go to the big event in Brighton, you will need very fast fingers.  The 200 deep second wave of tickets sold out in 48 seconds last month.  As before, tickets will be free.

 

Source: TSSZ News

A report from Sonic Stadium’s Adam Tuff notes a listing on the Japanese Amazon website for a physical CD ofSonic 4′s soundtrack to date.

According to the report, the OST will span 54 tracks, including 23 tunes from Episode I, 30 from Episode II, and a special bonus track.  The disc will go for just ¥1,890 or under $24, which is a little less than the normal going rate for an OST. It’s expected to release on August 1st.

An earlier announcement suggested we would see the soundtrack on iTunes, so for Western audiences at least, this is likely that.  But one has to wonder: With both episodes included in the compilation, does this shut out any hope of an Episode III?  Common sense would suggest that if Sega wanted to release a complete Sonic 4soundtrack, they would wait until development, in whole, is completed on the episodic series.  Of course, there is always the possibility that bonus track may be a peek into a next episode, though that seems unlikely at this point.  That all said, the album is known as the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I/II Original Soundtrack, and not simply S4.

If you’re interested in the physical disc, we’ll let you know when our merchant partners start taking pre-orders.

Source: TSSZ News