Final bit of correspondance with Craig Stitt. We have confirmation here that Craig had no input with the 2012 version of Hidden Palace:
Hello Laura!
It's been a bit crazy here, although I'm slowly healing. I may repeat myself here if I did in fact write you a letter bout this before...
Unfortunately I know next to nothing about the programming side of things with Sonic. And Naka kept things pretty close to the vest, so I don't know if there is any significance to the numbers. I would guess there is, but what it is, I don't have any idea.
It's been SO long since I last played 'my' version of HPZ that I can't be specific about changes to the level, enemies, music. The background I really can't say what did and did not change, except the addition of the 'Boss/Organ room' at the end. As I said, that was not on the map given me, so I never created any art for it. And 'why and organ' I have no idea. I'm going to guess that there were some changes to the layout, but all the pipe/slide/tunnel art is original. They may have moved a few things around (but I don't know), but as I said, the only thing I KNOW is new (as far as the background) is the Boss Room.
I do know that many (all?) of the enemies are different... but I do not know if what was in the level I played 20+ years ago were just 'place holder' enemies (this would be my best guess, since that was a very common practice, to put an enemy that was already done in as a 'place holder' until the 'real' enemies or obstacles were ready.
Yes, the levels that you attached the images of are the ones I remember. They were done my an artist by the name Brenda Ross (now married). And boy oh boy was she PISSED when her levels got cut AFTER she had then completed. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about what 'plans' there were for these levels. I barely knew what plans they had for the levels I worked on.
I had NO idea, much less any communication prior (or since) the re-release of Sonic 2 and the inclusion of HPZ. I've been contacted by people such as yourself and other Sonic fans, but nobody from SEGA.
Their may or may not have been plans for HPZ and cut scenes or whatever... but I was not involved with any of that.
When I was at Insomniac, we use to have the office right next to Naughty Dog (and yes, there really was a 'naughty dog'. Beautiful black Lab (I think) that came to the office every day) For the first several years years, Naughty Dog and Insomniac were almost 'Sister Companies'. We shared technology, we were both working with Mark Cerny as our Producer/Game Designer. As far as I am concerned, those were the 'Golden Days' of Insomniac.
I've since lost touch with most of the people at Insomniac and almost everyone at Naught Dog. I also have not kept up on the various Sonic games. To be honest, by the time I left Insomniac, I was pretty burned out games, and really have not played much at all since then. To be honest, I don't even have a system of any kind hooked up right now. Although I do play a lot of chess with a friend.
One interesting thing, that took me by surprise, was just a few days ago I participated in a 'Career Day' at one of the local Jr Highs. (a friend who is a teacher there asked if I would be interested). I use to do this kind of thing all the time, but it's been years since I've done anything like it, so I was nervous, but really looking forward to it. (although I almost had to cancel because of my shoulder, but luckily I was 'healed enough' to be able to do it).
The big surprise was the kids response when they found out what games I had worked on. I knew most of the kids would be about 12-14 years old.... so, about the time I STOPPED making games, they would have been just about the age to start playing video games. I figured their parents would be more interested and excited in the games I had worked on.
But much to my surprise, a lot of the kids said their favorite games were the first Spyro games, and the first Ratchet & Clank games. And they were very proud of the fact that they had the original Genesis and PS1 and PS2. So they were actually very excited to meet me, and actually knew the games I had worked on. Wasn't really expecting that.
Well, I had better run. Any more questions, feel free to ask. I'm sure more 'stories' of that time will come to me, but unfortunately I really did not ever know much of the technical stuff from my days at SEGA. I knew a little more when I moved down to work for Insomniac (smaller, all American team). At first I was part of everything... then as the company grew, my job description, became more and more focused, and in time more and more limited. Instead of being a voice in a room with 4 guys, I was one voice in a room with 165+ people.
Later
-Craig
I think that's everything we can squeeze out of him 
He's been very generous and friendly. It's nice to know that someone who worked on games like Sonic and Spyro can be so great!
winterhell 
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