Sega announces mysterious "projects" for Sonic and Puyo Puyo's birthdays

This year marks two decades for venerable and eternal properties Sonic the Hedgehog and Puyo Puyo, and Sega intends to celebrate in style. All. Year. Long.

While coy on details, Sega has announced that 2011 will be marked by several "projects" relating to both franchises.

Sonic, the Japanese publisher's identifying mascot, was first launched in - you guessed it - 1991.

The Genesis or Mega Drive's killer app launched a series which has seen highs and lows, weathered Sega's hardware failures and re-emergence, and sold over 70 million units worldwide

The less-recognisable Puyo Puyo is a perennial puzzler, constantly delighting despite churning out seven reiterations on the same formula.

Copyright considerations saw the game's simple chaining match-four concept was re-skinned outside Japan as Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine and Kirby's Avalanche, among other clones, resulting in the loss of many of the franchise's memorable and eccentric enemy designs.

Both series are well worth a bit of celebrating, so keep an eye out over the coming months as Sega dribbles details on what's in store.

Thanks, Andriasang.