Goodies from the 1990s SEGA websites!

Sega of Japan did at one point have an archive section, <a href="http://sega.jp/archive/" target="_blank">http://sega.jp/archive/</a>, however that part seems to have died. It has four sections known to have survived:

<ul><li><a href="http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/" target="_blank">http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/</a>
Sega hardware archive, with (almost) complete release history of every Sega console between the original SG-1000 and the Saturn, but only of games released in Japan</li><li><a href="http://sega.jp/archive/album/" target="_blank">http://sega.jp/archive/album/</a>
Various interviews - Sega Album(?) series</li><li><a href="http://sega.jp/archive/creators/" target="_blank">http://sega.jp/archive/creators/</a>
Various interviews - Sega Creators Note series</li><li><a href="http://sega.jp/archive/segavoice/" target="_blank">http://sega.jp/archive/segavoice/</a>
Various interviews - Sega Voice series</li></ul>

All the interviews are in Japanese, if you can translate them, <a href="http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=23687" target="_blank">please help!</a>

Are there any more archives? Google isn't returning any...

 

As you can see, it barely works, but I still think this might just be awesome.

<img src="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3232/clock1.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9499/clock2h.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

Holy crap... I actually remember going to that Sonic hype site with Schoolhouse and 3D Blast.

Man, that makes me feel old. xD

 

<!--quoteo(post=561568:date=Feb 22 2011, 11:09 PM:name=Andlabs)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andlabs @ Feb 22 2011, 11:09 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=561568"><img src="public/style_images/retro/snapback.png"></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Are there any more archives? Google isn't returning any...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The Dreamcast has a page of its own:
Hardware
<a href="http://sega.jp/dc/hard/" target="_blank">http://sega.jp/dc/hard/</a>
Games:
<a href="http://sega.jp/cgi-bin/csgame.cgi?hw=10" target="_blank">http://sega.jp/cgi-bin/csgame.cgi?hw=10</a>


There's also their announcement page (since 1998).
<a href="http://sega.jp/corp/release/2010/" target="_blank">http://sega.jp/corp/release/2010/</a>

<!--quoteo(post=561578:date=Feb 22 2011, 11:30 PM:name=HarrisonJ)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HarrisonJ @ Feb 22 2011, 11:30 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=561578"><img src="public/style_images/retro/snapback.png"></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->As you can see, it barely works, but I still think this might just be awesome.

<a href="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3232/clock1.png" target="_blank">http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3232/clock1.png</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

So worth it for the artwork alone.

 

<!--quoteo(post=561565:date=Feb 22 2011, 06:02 PM:name=SonikkuForever)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SonikkuForever @ Feb 22 2011, 06:02 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=561565"><img src="public/style_images/retro/snapback.png"></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Well, I had a day off yesterday, so I spent it digging through <a href="http://waybackmachine.org/19970605140355*/http://www.sega.com/" target="_blank">archived Sega websites from 1996-1997.</a> I found some neat online games, rare artwork, and staff interviews! Here's some of the best stuff:
<a href="http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19970605150708/http://www.sega.com/features/allsonic/creator/" target="_blank">An interview with Yuji Naka.</a> Someone probably already has this somewhere, but it's worth reading. The other stuff on that section of the site is interesting as well. There's a biography of Sonic which is essentially the UK origins story, with Kintobor and the ROCC.
<a href="http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19970605150532/http://www.sega.com/features/sonic3d/" target="_blank">"Blue is Back", a special section of the site dedicated to the 6 new Sonic games to be released.</a> Sonic's Schoolhouse was hyped more than I expected, and the picture of the box for the game that's on the website is a prototype.
<a href="http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19961224093731/http://www.sega.co.jp/nights/sonic/esonic.html" target="_blank">The Lair of Sonic Team. Definitely worth a visit.</a> Make sure to visit the downloads section (files are in an old format, but you can open them with WinZip).
Here's a working copy of an old Shockwave recreation of the special stages from the Genesis version of Sonic 3D Blast. Mega-rare! I'd love to somehow get it out of the website to preserve it, but I don't know how to do such things. I'm sure someone here can do it, though, <a href="http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19970408074758/http://www.sega.com/gameroom/sonic/sonic.dcr" target="_blank">so here's the link.</a>

I eventually worked my way over to the Japanese Sega site. I'm a huge fan of artwork, and I found tons of stuff. I love the little Sonic icons! Unfortunately, I can't link directly to the images, so <a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1BYUXCX7" target="_blank">here's a zip file containing the stuff I hoarded off the websites.</a> It's mostly pictures, but there's some other stuff too, like game demos, videos, and desktop clocks.
Well, that's about it. I encourage you to explore the archives, particularly the Japanese site. It's like a time machine. Who knows what's in there? And just to warn you, the US site repeatedly screams SEGA! at you to the point of annoyance. Happy digging!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Thank you soooooo much for this, you are awesome! I'm also a retro Sonic rare artwork collector / hunter. All those images are awesome and I'm loving some of the rare goodies, I really want those Sonic sneakers and the Happy Meal toys I still totally have, in fact Sonic is on top of my TV right now lol. That Sonic clock picture is just amazing, I never saw that picture ever, forget the clock the picture alone makes me happy. Totally thinking of turning that into my desktop picture now. These finds truly made my evening no lie lol, I love the official retro artwork especially the Japanese official art and the cute little Sonic doodles.

 

Around the time Sonic R and Jam came out, they had a graphic up there that was Sonic's Silhouette that said 'Project Sonic.' I've been looking for that for ages... hoping someone saved it. Maybe I can find it on the wayback machine... I should've thought of that sooner.

Also, SonicGenesis89... does there exist a bigger version of your avatar?

 

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><img src="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3232/clock1.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
God damn it, <a href="http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=16993" target="_blank">I've been looking for that desktop clock</a> since forever!


EDIT: Just found it in the ZIP file. Thanks for recovering it!

 

Sorry for being so derpish but the Sonic CD case was never like this, was it?
<a href="http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19970605171502/http://www.sega.com/features/sonic3d/soniccd.html" target="_blank">Damn picture wouldn't load so here's the page instead.</a>

Wasn't that the old Xtreme artwork?

I haven't payed too much attention to Xtreme anymore.

EDIT: picture won't upload. Here's the link to box instead.

 

That's indeed Sonic Xtreme mockup boxart.

 

How did we all survive the 90's without bleeding profusely from our eyes?

LOL at "<b>F</b>antasy Star" in the Yuji interview, and at the blue arms on the Sonic Schoolhouse cover.

Also, I'm surprised to see that godawful backstory from the Sonic bible used as Sonic's biography. Tux the penguin teaches him to breathe underwater? What planet are we on, again?

 

I actually had Sonic Schoolhouse when I was younger. It's probably one of the weirdest purchases I ever forced my parents to get for me.

 

<!--quoteo(post=561756:date=Feb 23 2011, 03:05 AM:name=Kushami)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kushami @ Feb 23 2011, 03:05 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=561756"><img src="public/style_images/retro/snapback.png"></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Around the time Sonic R and Jam came out, they had a graphic up there that was Sonic's Silhouette that said 'Project Sonic.' I've been looking for that for ages... hoping someone saved it. Maybe I can find it on the wayback machine... I should've thought of that sooner.

Also, SonicGenesis89... does there exist a bigger version of your avatar?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Yes, this was a really rare and hard to find picture that I got lucky and found. I can't even find it anywhere on the net anymore so I am so glad I saved it. It was a picture on a monitor in Sonic X-treme. In one of the 3D model pictures, someone took it and made it larger and an actual sized image instead of being tiny on a monitor. The monitor was also in an angle so they even fixed the image so it wouldn't be. So its a little pixelated but its one of my favorite pictures because of the background. When I get better at digital coloring I plan to try and recreate this background and paint it and then put the Sonic and Amy picture in it or maybe even draw my own Sonic and Amy instead and use that. I just love Sonic and Amy Sonic CD cutscene style. :P

<img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/29276g5.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2mydh93.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

This might help you then:

<img src="http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6844/cddecor.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

Gasp! Omg where is this from? It looks awesome thank you so much. I never saw that picture before, was this picture made for that Sonic X-treme monitor? Or was this something made afterwards or by a fan? Either way its amazing thank you for showing me this, it has really made my afternoon. Lol I get so excited over retro Sonic official artwork its not even funny.

 

It's from an old french Sega magazine called "Megaforce". I had it when I was a kid. It was released on May 1993 I think and it announced Sonic CD, with a prototype version of the Sonic & Amy artwork (the skirt is pointy). It said that the picture showed "Sonic's world".

<img src="http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/3900/megaforce017page0101993.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

 

I knew it was from that Sonic Xtreme build, however... I didn't know that scan of the background existed, or the etymology of the texture being pulled from the game. Thanks so much guys!

Using that and the original Sonic + Amy art, I've reconstructed a good bit of the picture at a higher res.

<img src="http://www.twistygadget.com/stuff/sonic/soniccd_texture_restoration01.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Nowhere near perfect or 100% accurate, it does give us a good idea of what the actual full piece of artwork would've looked like.

One thing I noticed while doing this and lining up the high-res Sonic and Amy artwork is that the texture's aspect ratio in the cap you linked me is incorrect, and it's actually more wide than completely square.

 

Man, good old 90s, back when <I>nobody</I> could design websites. Or desktop clocks, for that matter. But they get bonus points for the artwork and the nostalgic feeling I get from using it now despite never having used it before.


This shit is awesome. I just LOVE digging around in archives to see old stuff!