Old post but here are my notes from the SDCC panel just a few hours ago. They talked about the Super Emeralds.
Sonic Mania Panel
1 - 1 year anniversary of Mania Announcement trailer today.
2 - First meeting in 2016. Sonic Discovery was the original title.
3 - Iizuka writes Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, S&K on a board and then Sonic Mania.
4 - "By the Mania for the Mania" is something Iizuka kept saying.
5 - 2nd story revision. What has Eggman been up to after 3&K? He falls into depression, no will to fight Sonic, goes back to base in pajamas. What happened to all the Badniks after he left? Then 3 words, Hard Boiled Heavies.
4 - Length longer than 1, 2, 3 and K. Comparable to 3&K, and with more game modes. They think we will be happy with the length.
5 - Keep records of favorite bugs. (I forgot why I typed this, I know they kept records of their favorite bugs and showed us a few, hilarious, not sure if we can)
6 - Special stage - Sonic 1 back ground, looks like CD with 3&K spheres. Get blue spheres, go faster, catch UFO. Get emerald.
7 - Rings increase timer to catch UFO.
8 - true to how Saturn would render 3D.
9 - Dimension heist music. I like it! Going to grow on people. YouTube soon.
10 - Has Sprite cut scenes between stages 3&K style.
11 - Animated short, full animation for the opening of the game. Like CD. aug 14th release.
12 - I got this amazing classic style game manual! Some goons walked out early and missed it! That'll learn em! This thing is nice!
13 - Only this weekend can you preorder the special addition clear vinal of the sound track.
14 - No Super Emeralds. Iizuka felt like they would have to keep 1 upping themselves after that so they decided to go back to Super and just cap it there.