Why the Sonic Fanbase is Terribly Horrifying

The reason for this post is mainly because I am a Sonic fan, and, without a doubt, the Sonic fanbase is a prime example of how criticism just isn't understood. Not a prime example for the internet for several reasons, but still a great example to show why the internet has ruined criticism. The idea of face to face communication has been destroyed, with people opting to use the net to attack someone who has an idea or has created something they clearly do not like.

The best example lies in the release of a Sonic fan film sequel and a one minute teaser for another "possible" animated Sonic fan film. To give a taste of the reception of the sequel, the fanbase, demonstrating the ignorance of not understanding how difficult and costly it can be to produce a "good" (by present standards) independent film, tore it to shreds. On one hand, I agree with the base, as the film was not a good film, much less a good Sonic "thing". I have yet to actually watch it, but from the sounds of it, it sounds messy. In this sense, I cannot criticize it, as I have not seen it. From what I have read, however, the fan base takes it to the extreme and makes fun of the whole cast and crew in that movie, totally tearing the director to pieces.

As for the animated proposal, after a long year of promises and anecdotes, Richard Kuta (the director of the project) finally released a one minute animated piece that, to be honest, wasn't very good. The issues surrounding the whole thing, production wise, made it understandable why it was terrible -- animation was outsourced to a foreign company who could not speak fluent English (native language of Kuta), so there were great communication problems. On top of that, it was literally animated in Flash, with an After Effects filter thrown on.

Regardless, it took less than 48 hours for the fanbase to notice all the things wrong with it and repeat them repetitively. Supposedly, people sent death threats (trolls?) and that's what has inspired me to go on a long rant about this whole issue. Kuta's earlier drafts of his script were leaked mere weeks before this reveal, and people were quick to rip into that. I didn't read the script, but I can't imagine going into it and coming out feeling the need to tell everyone what was so dumb and stupid and pointless about it. You can't really go into that and expect the best Hollywood-caliber script possible. Instead, people were talking about pacing, dialogue, character development, and plot structure, as if a thousand dramatists had crawled out of the walls.

The biggest point of contention for both of these big projects is that "they didn't understand the subject material and frequently proved that." What baffles me is how these supposed "leaders" of the fanbase know everything and have the right to tell people that their offshoots and ideas are wrong and not good because of that.

What this effectively does is frighten off possible members (and all their ideas, too) from attempting to join any discussions. How do I know this? Because I've been on that fence for years now, and I just can't imagine attempting to socialize with these people. I'd be afraid that no one would care or listen to anything I have to say, or they would tell me that my opinions and ideas are wrong and to just leave them at the door. Hell, I've been in situations like that with them. I've never seen such a level of negative energy collect in one place before, and it doesn't help when the big players continue to spread and infect the negativity. It encourages those potential newcomers to join their ranks to be accepted, which is mighty appealing to someone in that situation.

I think it's a case where the entire group has lost their sense of humor, humility, and passion. I'm sure a large part of that is because of the terrible Sonic games that have come out, but what's the point of hating something you used to love to the point where you can't approach it with rose-tinted glasses, but rather hatred and spite? There's a fine, thin line these people are drawing between the fanbase and the "anti-fanbase," and it's culminating in a total disaster. It all has the smell of "I never got over that one horrible Sonic game," and I can't believe how grudge-centric these people are, over a series of video games, an activity that is meant to be entertainment and not a political campaign.

And here I am, glad to not be a part of it! How good it feels to be positive!