Sonic The Hedgehog
4 years ago A classic video game character is a definite rarity. Sonic the Hedgehog was one of Sega’s biggest achievements, and I have fond memories of playing on Sonic late at night at my uncle’s house when I was around seven. I discovered an interesting article on Sonic at 1up.com.
If there ever were an example of the power of a likeable character coupled with strong marketing, this would be it. When the game industry gets it right, it really gets it right (see Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, or Pokemon). It starts with a fun game and becomes T-shirts, hats, lunchboxes, sneakers, cartoon shows, and eventually even breakfast cereals. A good character, with the right marketing behind it, is capable of more than just massive sales; it’s capable of a revolution.
The year was 1990 and Nintendo was king of the world. It had a platform, the NES, firmly entrenched in 25 percent of all U.S. homes. It had yearly gross sales in the billions, and usurped Toyota as Japan’s most successful company. It released Super Mario 3, the best selling video game ever, which grossed more than $500 million in America alone. (By entertainment industry standards, this was second only to the revenue generated by the movie E.T.). Nintendo was unstoppable.
Just for a moment, try to put yourself in the shoes of Hayao Nakayama, then president of Sega. Nintendo’s NES had essentially just trounced the Sega Master System console in every territory except Europe (where Nintendo has never been strong) and, for some reason, Brazil. Nakayama knew that his only chance was to release the next generation Sega Genesis as early as possible before Nintendo came along with its Super Nintendo. Counting on Sega’s dominance in the arcade market, the Genesis was essentially a scaled-down version of its arcade hardware, making it easy for Sega to port several of its classics there.
But well aware that Sega couldn’t steal mindshare with arcade classics alone, Nakayama posed a challenge to his entire company: come up with a mascot for the company, one that could star in a game that would show off the power of its new system and sell over a million units. Nakayama wanted a universally-recognized character that could personify his company. He wanted a character that was to Sega what Mickey Mouse was to Disney. He wanted a character that would put Sega ahead of Nintendo.
He got exactly that.
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June 14th, 2005 at 10:49 pm
I LOVE Sonic! :). I wish the move still was at TV. After 9 years i found him
June 14th, 2005 at 10:54 pm
Me again i just want to say….PLEASE be so known like a long time ago! >.
June 15th, 2005 at 4:02 pm
If i had 1 wish to say i sould say thise.
( I wish Sonic is the most faimus character
and Sega roul the world!)
June 15th, 2005 at 4:03 pm
1 more question… Is Sonic not the mascot for Sega anymore?
June 17th, 2005 at 8:49 am
I like SEGA best anyway although it is game like GTA San Andreas, Conter Strike and World of Warcraft. Because SEGA and Sonic was real fun thise game’s now isn’t so funny as the old game. Sonic was something. Sonic was fmaimus with he’s game, magazine and other stuff. It is not the game’s now.
June 17th, 2005 at 8:50 am
Now it is just the “GAME¬¥¬¥ but not so faimus as the old!
June 17th, 2005 at 8:56 am
SEGA was Sonic and he’s friend’s home ground for ever. It was SEGA as did Sonic so faimus. I think he is the biggest character. Sonic can’t be so faimus without SEGA.
June 17th, 2005 at 8:57 am
As with Playstation or Nintendo or X-BOX.
June 17th, 2005 at 9:01 am
How can we mabye at some choise get back SEGA and the Hedgehog? Dont, know but mabye with advertising?
June 17th, 2005 at 9:35 am
I wish we was in the year 1990.The old movie’s is great but the new they have change Sonic and Dr.Robotnik to much
Why can we not try to get SEGA back. I think that will be so good then.They did get so much money at all stuff with Sonic, so why not now?
June 17th, 2005 at 9:37 am
I remember that the cartoon was soooo good. Every child love’d it.
June 17th, 2005 at 9:40 am
Many people will love it now too, and like a old memory.
June 17th, 2005 at 9:45 am
It is no game for kid’s anymore. Sonic was a game as the hole family could play, everyone in the family like’d it.
June 17th, 2005 at 9:46 am
Now it is game as just is war, war and war.
June 19th, 2005 at 7:28 pm
WOW!!! I was looking at www.SEGA.com and it’s stand (SEGA europe to open German office April 2005)
June 19th, 2005 at 7:29 pm
but no plan’s to make a new SEGA
July 2nd, 2005 at 10:18 am
I think SEGA dont understand that we want SEGA the consolle back! But now they have the mascott to PS2 Xbox and gamecube. They need SEGA’s consolle so ther game’s can be faimus…
November 25th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
i also like sonic, who is your favorite character???
July 16th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
I am Sonic`s number 1 fan!!!!! I love the programme Sonic X. I have 3 favorites. Sonic, Tails and Jet. I also love the game Soni Rider!!!!!!!