This page includes the details of every event that will be taking place at this year’s Summer of Sonic convention. Use this information to plan your day and take advantage of as many of the cool activities going on.
Doors will open at 10:00, and the convention officially kicks off at 11:00 at the Main Stage area, giving you plenty of time to enter the venue and prepare for the day’s events. Summer of Sonic 2013 will finish at 19:00.
A programme of the main events will also appear on your official Summer of Sonic Programme Guide, given to all attendees upon entry, so you don’t need to print this page off.
Please be aware that, as this is a public and publicised event, you may be filmed and/or photographed during the day.
====MAIN STAGE====
NEVER MIND THE BUZZBOMBERS
Main Stage, 12:00 – 12:30
Never Mind the Buzzbombers once again returns to Summer of Sonic! Two lucky audience members will be given the chance to win prizes whilst hanging out with some of the Sonic scene’s coolest celebrities! Rory ‘Roareye’ Joscelyne and Adam ‘T-Bird’ Tuff will do across a universe of Sonic-themed challenges with special guests Jun Senoue from Sonic Team and Tim Spencer from Sumo Digital.
THE MEGADRIVE BAND LIVE PERFORMANCE
Main Stage, 13:00 – 13:45
The Megadrive Band will be taking the main stage by storm this year as our midday musical act! Expect a repertoire of songs from yesteryear including an array of Sonic tunes we’ve come to know, along with many other Megadrive classics. If you’re into your retro, you’ll not want to miss this!
KAZUYUKI HOSHINO Q&A
Main Stage, 14:15 – 14:45
Metal Sonic and Amy Rose creator Hoshino-san will be appearing on the main stage to answer some of your questions about his many years as a character designer at SEGA. Learn everything you wanted to know about the creation of the worlds and characters of the Sonic the Hedgehog and NiGHTS franchises!
MORE DETAILS [Question submissions are now closed]
TAKASHI IIZUKA Q&A
Main Stage, 15:15 – 15:45
The Head of Sonic Team Takashi Iizuka will be joining us again on stage to learn more about the franchise we all love. Fans can ask their most burning questions to Iizuka-san, as well as gain insight into past and future Sonic games.
MORE DETAILS [Question submissions are now closed]
COSPLAY CONTEST
ENTRY: Cosplay Desk, 11:30 – 14:30
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED: Main Stage, 16:00
FINAL: Main Stage, 16:30 – 17:00
Those who have a passion for cosplay will be able to show off their creations at the Summer of Sonic event! Not only will you have an opportunity to impress other event-goers, there are prizes to be won for the best costumes on the day! To enter, head to the Cosplay Desk where we can take your name down and take a photo of your costume. After entries close at 14:30, the judges will look at all entrants and select the final ten to be judged on stage!
MAIN STAGE FAN ANIMATIONS
BoozermaN: ???
Sonic Paradox: 11:30
Frobman – In Brief: 13:45
?????: 15:45
The Summer of Sonic is once again proud to present a collection of fan animations at this year’s event! BoozermaN has once again returned to create a special animation to open our show, and Frobman, the creator of Sonic in Brief, will be bringing some new chapters in the saga. Sonic Paradox will be continuing their musical adventure through Sonic Heroes with Metropolis Mayhem. Look out for some surprise animations too!
JAM WITH JUN LIVE!
Main Stage, 18:00 – 19:00
Closing the show this year will be legendary Sonic sound director Jun Senoue, who will be playing hits from Sonic’s huge back catalogue of catchy game music. Following the success of last year’s Jam with Jun, Senoue-san will once again be accompanied on stage by two of the community’s most talented singers, Susie Brown and Daniele Narducci, to perform a number of vocal tracks.
====ZONES====
COMICS ZONE
Meet Nigel Dobbyn, Nigel Kitching and Ferran Rodriguez
Experience Sonic the Comic: Online
Comic fans rejoice! We have an entire zone at Summer of Sonic where you can chill out and revisit the stories and art of Sonic the Comic! Nigel Kitching (writer, artist), Ferran Rodriguez (artist) and Nigel Dobbyn (artist) will be available at points throughout the day to meet for chatting to about the industry and their time with the series. You can also meet the guys behind the Sonic the Comic: Online and join in the 20th anniversary celebrations of STC.
GAMES ZONE
Sonic Lost World (WiiU, 3DS)
The latest Sonic the Hedgehog games are ready and waiting for you to play! An entire wall of our convention hall is dedicated to video games – the medium where it all began for the blue blur! We will have a number of consoles ready and waiting for eager attendees to try out Sonic Lost World, as well as a number of mobile devices to play some of the current portable Sonic titles.
SIGNING DESK ZONE
TAKASHI IIZUKA: 12:30 – 13:30
JUN SENOUE: 14:00 – 15:00
KAZUYUKI HOSHINO: 16:00 – 17:00
Our special guests will be spending some time meeting and greeting fans throughout the day – if you want an unforgettable experience, come along and say hello to the men behind some of your favourite Sonic memories. To make the day as comfortable and enjoyable as possible for everyone, there will be some rules applied to the Signing Desk. Please make sure you read these, linked below, so you are not disappointed on the day!
ART AREA ZONE
ART CONTEST: 11:00 – 15:00
CONTEST RESULTS: Main Stage, 17:15
ARTIST ALLEY: Thalia Evans, Amy Jeffries, Amr El-Wakeel
Sonic fans love to draw the blue blur almost as much as they like to play as him! Luckily we have loads of tables at Summer of Sonic 2012 so that you can sit down and scribble your favourite characters to your heart’s content. Some pens, pencils and paper will be provided but if you want to bring your own material that is fine!
There will be a special seating area for parents to chill out while you do your thing, too. An art contest will run throughout the day, and prizes will be handed out on stage to the best pieces of art in an Under-15s and Over-15s category. To enter, your art piece must be drawn from scratch at the Summer of Sonic convention on Saturday, and not prepared in advance.
SUMMER OF SONIC ART MASTERCLASS
Downstairs Art Room, 12:00 – 13:00 / 16:00
– 17:00
Nigel Dobbyn will be hosting two Art Masterclass sessions throughout the day. Nigel will be sharing their knowledge with a small group of keen fans looking to build on their skills, using past works and live tutorials. Each Masterclass will run for 60 minutes, with each session accommodating a limited number of people. Entry into the Masterclass will be done on a first-come, first served basis, so if you are keen to join this session, make your way to the queue well in advance – when spaces are all filled up we will put out a sign so you’re aware of any full booking.
MERCHANDISE STAND
Official Sonic Merchandise Stand
Insert Coin Clothing
You’ve enjoyed the convention, so why not take home a memento of the day so that you can treasure it forever? Official Sonic Merchandise will be available for purchase, including exclusive t-shirts, toys and other items. Some items will be things that you’ve always wanted but never had a chance to get until now; others will only be available at Summer of Sonic 2013. Be sure to also check out the new First4Figures prototype statues on display in the merchandise cabinet too!
SONIC APPEARANCES
09:45 / 11:00 / 12:30 / 14:00 /
16:00 / 17:00 / 18:15
15-minute appearances
Always wanted to meet Sonic the Hedgehog in person but only dreamed about it? Well, you’re in luck – the blue blur is never one to miss a party, and the Summer of Sonic is no exception! Keep an eye out for the spiny hero around the Main Hall at the above times – be quick and you might just get a photo and a hug from Sonic!
FOOD & DRINK
Lower Floor Cafe
The venue in Westminster includes a café on the lower floors, catering for those of you who would prefer to remain in the building throughout the day. The café will be offering a selection of snacks and beverages, hot and cold, including sandwiches, baguettes and burgers, hot pies and pastries, crisps, confectionary and cakes. Soft drinks and hot drinks are available.
No alcohol is permitted within the venue.
DISCLAIMER:
By entering the event premises, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction (the “Recordingâ€) to be used for any purposes, including but not limited to news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on web sites, or any other purpose by Sega, its officers and employees,  its affiliates, and representatives (“Sega Entitiesâ€). You hereby release the Sega Entities from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, publication and exploitation (commercial or otherwise) of the Recording.
By entering the event premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties, including but not limited to the benefits of any provision of law known as “moral rights” (including without limitation under Sections 77 to 85 inclusive of the UK Copyright Designs and Patents 1988 Act) or any similar laws of any jurisdiction, in connection with any use or exploitation of the Recording. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by Sega Entities.
You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the event.