As reported by Joystiq, Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed will have DLC; and after fans started requesting new characters on the game's forums, developer Sumo Digital's executive producer Steve Lycett issued the following challenge:

"I'll set you a challenge. Without any policing from the SUMO or SEGA crew, if you can all agree on three characters by the 1st of December and prove there is sufficient interest of at least 1000 unique people *per* character, I will present the result to SEGA. I can't promise anything will happen as a result, but since you're starting it...

Let's see if you can organise yourselves in the next few weeks to pull that off!"

Someone has indeed taken up that challenge, organizing a new forum page, making a list of candidates, and creating separate pages on Change.org for each of the characters eligible for DLC. As of this time, the top choices are Ryo Hazuki (Shenue), Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid/Project DIVA), and Segata Sanshiro (the Sega Saturn's fictional judo fighter mascot), each with well over 2500 votes. I'm personally rootin' for Ecco the Dolphin.

Of course, this poll doesn't guarantee anything: Lycett only promised to present these ideas to SEGA, not that they would be approved. But if this year of Mass Effect net-riots and Kickstarter crowd-funding has proved anything, it's the power of the consumer. If you want to join in, check out the forums here.

And for more news, stay tuned to DualShockers.com.