Whereas Nintendo guards its characters and properties to an almost fanatical degree, Sega has always been a little more laid-back.
This may explain why there are about 30 different origin stories for Sonic The Hedgehog and his assorted hangers-on - appearing across a variety of media - and why so many Sonic The Hedgehog games are terrible. And why there's a film coming out featuring a creepy, buff, version of Sonic who looks like he could crack a bull's sternum with his bare hands.
Here are 10 examples of how Sega allowed others to run rampant with what remains its most valuable franchise.
This may explain why there are about 30 different origin stories for Sonic The Hedgehog and his assorted hangers-on - appearing across a variety of media - and why so many Sonic The Hedgehog games are terrible. And why there's a film coming out featuring a creepy, buff, version of Sonic who looks like he could crack a bull's sternum with his bare hands.
Here are 10 examples of how Sega allowed others to run rampant with what remains its most valuable franchise.
SONIC IS NOT SONIC'S REAL NAME
According to the former writer of the Archie Comics Sonic series, Ken Penders, the full name of Sonic is Sonic Ogilvie Maurice The Hedgehog. Maurice - Sonic's middle name in this version of the character's story - is inherited from his father, Bongo (Maurice).
Notably, Ogilvie syndrome is a medical condition characterized by massive dilatation of the colon.
Notably, Ogilvie syndrome is a medical condition characterized by massive dilatation of the colon.
KEN PENDERS SUED SEGA
Archie Comics' Sonic writer Ken Penders attempted to sue Sega, Electronic Arts and their subsidiary Bioware, after ideas he created for the comics allegedly appeared in the game Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Further muddying the waters, Penders had apparently been approached to contribute to the game.
Honked the lawsuit: “The Infringing Game bears a substantial similarity to the Works, because the total concept and feel is similar, if not identical, between the story and characters in the Infringing Game and the Penders’ Works, and because Sega has created a genuine documented confusion in the marketplace as to Penders’ actual involvement with the Infringing Game."
Unfortunately for the writer, the case was dismissed by a judge, but to be on the safe side, any characters and concepts created by Penders were removed from the Archie Comics series. So abrupt was the rewriting that new dialogue was replaced - sometimes mid-sentence - in a completely different font.
Honked the lawsuit: “The Infringing Game bears a substantial similarity to the Works, because the total concept and feel is similar, if not identical, between the story and characters in the Infringing Game and the Penders’ Works, and because Sega has created a genuine documented confusion in the marketplace as to Penders’ actual involvement with the Infringing Game."
Unfortunately for the writer, the case was dismissed by a judge, but to be on the safe side, any characters and concepts created by Penders were removed from the Archie Comics series. So abrupt was the rewriting that new dialogue was replaced - sometimes mid-sentence - in a completely different font.
DOCTOR ROBOTNIK ISN'T DOCTOR ROBOTNIK'S REAL NAME
According to the Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series, Doctor Robotnik's real name is "Julian". According to Sonic The Comic, and other versions of the characters' origin tale, it was Ovi Kintobor.
SONIC THE COMIC WAS EDITED BY THARG
The UK's very own Sonic The Comic was initially edited by one Richard Burton - who created the comic's fictional editor Megadroid (a robot comprised of Mega Drive parts) - and later Andy Diggle. Both men had, at one point, been the person behind 2000AD's own green-skinned alien editor, Tharg The Mighty. According to Wikipedia, Tharg is depicted as an "authoritarian egotist".
Borag thungg!
Borag thungg!
YOU COULD BUY SONIC'S SHOES
Unlike Sonic's original sneakers - inspired by the buckled footwear sported by the dead alleged pervert Michael Jackson - the hi-speed shoes Sonic wears in Sonic Adventure 2 are based upon a real-life brand of trainers from Soap Footwear, that you could actually buy.
Apparently, they had a plastic concavity in the middle of the sole, which would allow the wearer to grind on objects such as pipes, ledges and handrails - much as Sonic has been depicted doing so in many of his games. So ubiquitous among "grinders" did the sneakers become, that the act has become known as "soaping", and people who do it are "soapers".
Thus, it will come as a surprise to nobody that Sonic is a "soaper"...
Apparently, they had a plastic concavity in the middle of the sole, which would allow the wearer to grind on objects such as pipes, ledges and handrails - much as Sonic has been depicted doing so in many of his games. So ubiquitous among "grinders" did the sneakers become, that the act has become known as "soaping", and people who do it are "soapers".
Thus, it will come as a surprise to nobody that Sonic is a "soaper"...
YOU COULD SPEND A NIGHT IN SONIC'S BED
Until 2016, the British theme park Alton Towers offered a hotel room themed to Sonic The Hedgehog. Upon entering the room, guests were greeted by the voice of Sonic - provided by video game voice actor Roger Craig Smith (the voice of Sonic since 2010, as well as Resident Evil's Chris Redfield, among others). Successfully completing a quiz on the in-room TV would unlock a drawer full of chocolate coins (sadly, not chocolate rings...), while the bathroom featured replica Choas Emeralds.
Unfortunately, the room was redecorated following the rebranding of the park's Sonic Spinball Whizzer ride in 2016. Its new theme? Diarrhoea.
Unfortunately, the room was redecorated following the rebranding of the park's Sonic Spinball Whizzer ride in 2016. Its new theme? Diarrhoea.
THERE WAS A SONIC THE HEDGEHOG THEME PARK
Sega Republic was an 76,000 sq ft indoor theme park and arcade set within the Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emerates. Though featuring several Sega characters, it was primarily branded around Sonic - who even appeared for photo opportunities via a man-in-a-costume.
The attraction featured several zones, including the Cyberpop Zone, Speed Zone and Redemption Zone (which was an area featuring the largest section of redemption games in Dubai, rather than somewhere you'd go to atone for your sins).
The license expired in 2017, and Sega Republic became a VR-themed attraction.
The attraction featured several zones, including the Cyberpop Zone, Speed Zone and Redemption Zone (which was an area featuring the largest section of redemption games in Dubai, rather than somewhere you'd go to atone for your sins).
The license expired in 2017, and Sega Republic became a VR-themed attraction.
SONIC IS A PLAYA
Sonic's creepy, inter-species, predilection for human women has been showcased across numerous media - lest we forget, this was established in early plans for the original Sonic game, when Yuji Naka wanted to give Sonic a human girlfriend called Madonna (based upon the real popstar called Madonna).
In the manga Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 1 Sonic is shown performing a rock concert, where his security detail - Sonic's Bodyguard Platoon - is comprised of several young women wearing animal ears and skimpy swimsuits.
In the manga Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 1 Sonic is shown performing a rock concert, where his security detail - Sonic's Bodyguard Platoon - is comprised of several young women wearing animal ears and skimpy swimsuits.
SONIC'S ORIGINAL ORIGIN STORY WAS REALLY WEIRD AND DEPRESSING
Sega's original draft of Sonic's origin story differed considerably from later versions. In the first draft, the pre-blue Sonic was an impoverished, bowling ball-sized hedgehog, called Sonny, who lived under a hedge in Nebraska. After pranking bowlers by pretending to be a bowling ball, Sonny learned to read and write by spying on human children.
He is taught the gift of human speech by the friendly Doctor Ovi Kintobor, using a machine called the "Lingua Scrambler'Um" (not a typo). Originally, Sonny and Kintobor were allies, searching for Chaos Emeralds that they hoped to use to reverse the effects of greenhouse gasses and "evil".
Tragically, a series of science experiments backfired, turning Sonny blue, and transforming Kintobor into the cruel Ivo Robotnik, when a "wave of radiation" washed over the earth, merging Kintobor with an egg he was eating.
Also, we learn that Sonic's dad is dead.
He is taught the gift of human speech by the friendly Doctor Ovi Kintobor, using a machine called the "Lingua Scrambler'Um" (not a typo). Originally, Sonny and Kintobor were allies, searching for Chaos Emeralds that they hoped to use to reverse the effects of greenhouse gasses and "evil".
Tragically, a series of science experiments backfired, turning Sonny blue, and transforming Kintobor into the cruel Ivo Robotnik, when a "wave of radiation" washed over the earth, merging Kintobor with an egg he was eating.
Also, we learn that Sonic's dad is dead.
SONIC IS BLUE DUE TO A TREADMILL EXPLOSION
Sonic ran so fast on a treadmill that it exploded and turned him blue.
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