UPDATE: There's a screenshot going around that implies simultaneous cooperative multiplayer action. Hmm...

Following up from the rumors of a new Sonic the Hedgehog compilation release, Sega has officially announced the upcoming Sonic Classic Collection for the Nintendo DS in which Sega Genesis favorites Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic & Knuckles return for another encore along with the lock-in adventures that one would expect from such a gathering of these games in one place.  Here's some of the press release:

Sonic Classic Collection allows fans both old and new to speed through the much loved zones of the four original Mega Drive adventures, in a bid to collect the chaos emeralds and save the world. Optimized to take full advantage of the Nintendo DS system, Sonic Classic Collection will feature a new save anywhere feature, a first in this original series, meaning that the games can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime! Gamers will also be given the chance to expand their knowledge with a wealth of extras including video and collectible pictures that are sure to be fan favorites.

It seems that I was right about this collection intended mostly for younger gamers that missed last generation's Sonic Mega Collection, as the release specifically mentions "introducing some of the most influential Sonic titles to a whole new generation of gamers exclusively for the DS".  As an older gamer with plenty of existing Sonic options, this would be tempting as a rental or a bargain bin impulse buy just for the portability factor, but I can't see paying $30+ again for games that I already own in several formats.  Younger gamers, however, must play this one to see what the name and gameplay of Sonic the Hedgehog meant once upon a time.

By the way, they can get the Sonic & Knuckles lock-on to work on the Nintendo DS, but not for the Sony PlayStation 3 or Microsoft Xbox 360?