Sonic is in for a busy time over the coming months. Yesterday’s unveiling of Sonic Rivals 2 came just a few months after Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games was first announced, and according to a SEGA press release distributed today, gaming’s favourite insect-eating mammal will soon be able to add an RPG for the Nintendo DS to his CV, which also includes numerous platformers, racers, pinball games, party games, and puzzlers. Not quite Mario-esque in its breadth, but he’s getting there.

Think a Sonic RPG sounds peculiar? Then the news that BioWare will be in charge of development duties only boosts the strangeness of the enterprise.

Yes, that BioWare.

The very same chaps who coded some of the world's best-selling and critically-acclaimed RPGs, including the Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights series, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, and who are currently slaving away on the splendid-looking Mass Effect. Sonic represents quite a change of direction for the BioWare gents, but a nice coup there nonetheless, SEGA. And don’t they know it:

"BioWare is one of the hottest names in RPG development in the world," said Simon Jeffery, President and COO at SEGA’s American arm. "Everyone at SEGA has huge confidence that Sonic is in the safest of hands, and that BioWare can create the ultimate handheld RPG experience for gamers of all ages."

Greg Zeschuk, president of BioWare, returned the love. "We’re thrilled to be working with SEGA on Sonic, one of the industry’s most enduring and compelling icons," he gushed, before letting BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka have a go on the adoration microphone: "As huge fans of Sonic ourselves, we’re committed to delivering a truly amazing story-driven experience within the Sonic universe, focusing on capturing the character’s broad appeal and placing him in a completely original adventure."

The (unnamed) game is supposedly being readied for a 2008 release, which makes us think: is hoping for a showing at this year's E3 Media & Business Summit in July merely wishful thinking on our part? Let’s hope not.