Sega confirms a handful of new Sonic news for early next year, as well as a positive response to Colours...

Sega's vice president of sales and marketing Alan Pritchard recently chatted to Game Informer about all things Sonic, and unsurprisingly it seems the franchise is as alive and kicking as ever.

While Pritchard initially admitted the company may have been guilty of "too much Sonic" in past years, he seemed proud of recent efforts to reform the series, with the "very well [reviewed]" Sonic 4: Episode 1, Sonic Free Riders, which was "really about being a part of the launch of Kinect", and the Wii and DS exclusive Sonic Colours.

With Colours in particular, Sega are notably pleased:

"[Colours] is our pure Sonic gaming experience. That's had some high scores. It's also the highest pre-selling pure Sonic title we've had ever. That's a good indication. With the quality of the game, we're confident of that. That's our pure platforming Sonic."

As for the future of the franchise, Pritchard points to the early months of 2011 for some major announcements.

"We have some announcements in the early part of next year that will further support and add to this strategy. There will be two of three big Sonic announcements in the early part of next calendar year."

Which direction would you like Sonic to take next? Drop a comment below...