AWAKENING NEWSLETTER (04/12/2025)
INTRODUCTION
Well, here it is. The first newsletter for AWAKENING. Before anything else, I'd like to thank everyone for being patient with AWAKENING thus far, it's a lot more appreciated than one may think. As I've stated before, the intention is to publish newsletters following a roughly quarterly basis, for the purpose of not keeping people too in the dark regarding the general status of the project's progress. I'd also like to clarify some things before moving along...
- People keep asking me, so I'm going to state this once again; yes, absolutely anyone can use 2017X for any and all projects, no exceptions. This includes FNF mods, Roblox games, and more. This is a Sonic fan creation we're talking about, and frankly, I see going out of my way to enforce any restrictions on anyone to be an unnecessary chore that's not going to be important in the grand scheme of things.
- In regards to 2017X/Subterfuge jokes, I've been seeing a lot less of them recently, but you already know the deal with my thoughts on them. There's no need to comment under every post that may mildly remind you of either with the intent of repeating widespread jokes. If people are going along with said jokes, then it's fine, but otherwise, kindly drop it. I can't exactly force anyone into do anything, nor would I ever wish to enforce my will upon others, so this is just a manner of basic respect.
- No, we are not seeking anymore hands on deck at the moment, and we're currently perfectly fine as is. If we ever find that we need more people, then I will be personally contacting people who I'm interested in working with us, for whatever the reason may be. The only exception to this would be if I ever did a public casting call for voice actors.
One last thing, this particular newsletter will be on the shorter side of things, as the purpose of this one is to both introduce how these newsletters will work and what you can generally expect from AWAKENING. However, you can expect future newsletters to be much more substantial. With all that out of the way, let's begin.
WHAT IS "SONIC(.EXE:) AWAKENING"?
AWAKENING is an overhaul take on the Sonic.exe creepypasta by JC; specifically, its official 2017 remake. It would not be correct to call this a traditional retake like how SONIC 2011/(2011)X is of the original 2011 canon, as it does not aim to be an improved retelling of the original work its based on. Rather, this project aims to rework the prominent elements of the original story to create an improved reimagining. If you've read the original 2017 story (although a reading of it is not at all required to understand AWAKENING), then you may be able to recognize the aspects from that story which have been reworked and re-implemented into this refined canon. Lastly, this project is not limited to one particular form of medium, although what specific ones we'll be utilizing will be someone for people to discover for themselves as parts of the project release. Even in a worst case scenario, I could always just write out the story myself in a traditional fashion similar to the original, so I'm not concerned about AWAKENING not releasing in any capacity.
THE STORY
As stated previously, this is not a faithful remake of the original, even if we still intend on adapting notable elements from it in some capacity. You can expect these fresh plots to be character-driven narratives with an emphasis on environmental story-telling. If you're familiar with the current premise of the main antagonist, then you probably already have a rough idea on what the plots revolve around and how our characters may adapt or react to the absurd circumstances that they've been thrust into.
THE ART
The art direction for AWAKENING paints an abstract, yet grim world populated by equally grim-looking inhabitants. Since emphasis is being placed on the cosmic horror side of things, then you can expect to find the world within to... not exactly be the most comprehensibly sound.
I had previously mentioned that "Sonic" would be receiving a bit of a redesign. Don't worry, it's not something that's entirely different or unfamiliar, just an interpretation of the idea behind the character that we feel suits both the premise and the general direction more. The redesign for his base form has been finalized, and is currently being modeled, although don't expect the model to be shown off until it has a modeled environment to go alongside it for render showcases. It's important to note that the game isn't Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) or any other existing Sonic game in particular, although it does lean towards the 2000s Sonic titles, so expect the general aesthetic to be based off that. Below is a first glimpse into this canon's worldbuilding:
THE MUSIC
With the focus placed on a 3D, 2000s-styled Sonic title, then the music will not be confined to Genesis instrumentation/sound fonts. This opens up a whole world of possibilities for in the music department with incredible potential; even the inclusion of vocals in some tracks isn't out of the question. With the environmental story-telling in mind, you can expect plenty of ambient tracks to hammer down on the tone of the areas, as well as some intensity here and there for crucial situations and moments throughout the story. If there is one promise we can make, it's that this experimental soundtrack will not disappoint, and it will be exciting to unleash new music and motifs associated with the character that isn't tied to just Subterfuge.
WRAP UP
Well, that should be all for now. Next newsletter should be around Late July/Early August, but keep in mind that any news to do with AWAKENING won't be limited solely to the newsletters, it's just simply that they're the instances in which I'm guaranteed to share further progress and information regarding the project. Also note that I'm a pretty big fan of shadow-dropping.
By the way, did you know that Persona 3 Reload received a demo release a few days ago? Now you can try this game out for free! Here's a link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3358440/Persona_3_Reload_Demo/