Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:11, 5 July 2022

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 1991 platform game released by Sega in June 1991. The first installment in the series of the same name, it would prove to be a massive success in the West, bolstering sales of the Mega Drive (Genesis in North America) and establishing it as a serious rival to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

History[edit]

Electronic Gaming Monthly
🇺🇸 September 1991

"Behind the Screens" feature on the game's development and release

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
   |platforms = '''Sega Mega Drive/Genesis (original)'''
   |date = <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">'''June 23, 1991 (official release date)'''
-<div class="mw-collapsible-content">June 11, 1991 {{Flag-US}} (unofficial)<ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/paAgJy9q1dA/m/PrIxZ_2uKZYJ This Usenet thread], dated June 12, 1991, mentions that some people in the USA had managed to obtain and play a copy of the game as early as the previous day.</ref><br>June 23, 1991 {{Flag-US}} (official)<br>June 24, 1991 {{Flag-UK}}<br>June 1991 {{Flag-EU}}<br>July 26, 1991 {{Flag-JP}}<ref>At least two different magazine ads - [[:File:Sonic 1 MD Japanese print ad from Beep MegaDrive July 1991.pdf|one that ran in ''Beep! MegaDrive'']] and [[:File:Sonic 1 MD Japanese print ad from Mega Drive Fan August 1991.pdf|one that ran in ''Mega Drive Fan'']] - provide this release date for the game.</ref><ref>Sega of Japan mentions this date on two separate web pages: [https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html their game history] and [https://vc.sega.jp/vc_sonic their page for the game's Wii Virtual Console release].</ref></div></div>
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">June 11, 1991 {{Flag-US}} (unofficial)<ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/CgIpSUHEe3k "SONIC the Hedgehog (Genesis) is out!"] (rec.games.video post from June 11, 1991)</ref><ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/paAgJy9q1dA/m/PrIxZ_2uKZYJ This Usenet thread], dated June 12, 1991, mentions that some people in the USA had managed to obtain and play a copy of the game as early as the previous day.</ref><br>June 23, 1991 {{Flag-US}} (official)<br>June 24, 1991 {{Flag-UK}}<br>June 1991 {{Flag-EU}}<br>July 26, 1991 {{Flag-JP}}<ref>At least two different magazine ads - [[:File:Sonic 1 MD Japanese print ad from Beep MegaDrive July 1991.pdf|one that ran in ''Beep! MegaDrive'']] and [[:File:Sonic 1 MD Japanese print ad from Mega Drive Fan August 1991.pdf|one that ran in ''Mega Drive Fan'']] - provide this release date for the game.</ref><ref>Sega of Japan mentions this date on two separate web pages: [https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html their game history] and [https://vc.sega.jp/vc_sonic their page for the game's Wii Virtual Console release].</ref><ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/6Uel2TQ03iI "New Mega Drive/Genesis releases (MD Fan, Beep! MD June issue)"] (rec.games.video post from June 5, 1991)</ref></div></div>
   |wikipedia = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(1991_video_game)
   |mobygames = https://www.mobygames.com/game/sonic-the-hedgehog
@@ Line 689: / Line 689: @@
 == Forum posts ==
-=== Usenet ===
+=== Usenet (rec.games.video) ===
-* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/paAgJy9q1dA/m/PrIxZ_2uKZYJ "Sonic 'Hog News Wanted" (a user solicits opinions on the game, with details indicating some people had received it prior to the official American release date; June 12, 1991)]
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/vtEl1NU7xiU "more on MD Fan and Beep! MD"] - Sir Han J. Lee summarizes upcoming games seen in two Japanese magazines, including ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (August 9, 1990)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/mQXp4xEhb8Q "SEGA NEWS -part 3"] - Sir Han J. Lee updates their list of upcoming Mega Drive games, once again including ''Sonic the Hedgehog''; one of the replies comments on the notion that it's "SEGA's answer to Mario and Bonk" (November 5, 1990)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/CR6w1esS0yU "Lynx Shanghai, more CES game news"] -
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/gStVPrE-HXQ "I played the Super Famicom"] - in a mostly unrelated thread, Dave Taylor proclaims that ''Sonic'' "will be HOT HOT HOT" based on its showing at that year's Winter CES (January 14, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/FKFCCppPDjg "Turbo Grafx Dying?????"] - a reply to this thread mentions ''Sonic'' as an "expected standout" based on the 1991 Winter CES (March 8, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/_w3Oh_R2_kk "Ces"] - Eric Glover discusses the games and consoles on offer at CES, including a claim that "Sonic ***NUKED*** anything I saw, heard, wished was on the Super Famicon ''[sic]'' that day" (June 11, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/CgIpSUHEe3k "SONIC the Hedgehog (Genesis) is out!"] - a short thread praising the game that confirms that it was released in portions of California on June 11, 1991 (the day the OP was posted)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/paAgJy9q1dA "Sonic 'Hog News Wanted"] - a user solicits opinions on the game, with details indicating some people had received it prior to the official American release date (June 12, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/pu23bbxBenA "Sonic"] - a short thread with a reply claiming that the game sold out in portions of Washington (June 13, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/fnADozgopUk "Move over Mario, SONIC is here!!!"] - Ken Clarke's first impressions of the game are glowing, going so far as to say that it trumps every ''Mario'' game available at the time (June 13, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/C1UJ-EOmt90 "Sonic The Hedgehog"] - Lee Thompson notes that the game released in Seattle, Washington that day and opens a discussion about its merits (June 14, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/FprxdyKKtlI "Sonic and Star Control..."] - before asking a question about ''[[Star Control]]'', Gregory Legowski expresses his fondness for ''Sonic'' and claims it's "a hit with my entire apartment building!" (June 17, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/qXVYJ6JB4zA "Sonic Mania"] - Han Lee mentions that the game was "sold out practically everywhere," to the point where Electronic Boutique set up a wait list to purchase it (June 18, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/MdMyzrFa4sw "Star Control Review wanted (plus some misc. stuff!)"] - Larry J Brackney deviates from the main purpose of the thread to offer some thoughts on ''Sonic'' (June 18, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/opC0szfylSM "Can't find Sonic; Help!"] - Dylan Ginsburg can't find the game anywhere around Washington, D.C. and requests help, only to find it at a Babbage's less than a day later (June 18, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/jES9Msn7GAc "What's the big deal with Sonic?"] - Doug Quarnstrom questions the hype surrounding the game; two others explain why they love it so much (June 19, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/ZyV7S4xSa3U "Sonic impressions"] - a moderately positive but skeptical review of the game, with a considerable amount of debate afterward (June 21, 1991)
+** [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/8jJE4nWzefU A portion of the thread missing from the above link]
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/pEzwh2DnRgk "Mario -vs- Sonic"] - a debate comparing ''Sonic'' to the [[Super Mario Bros.|first]] and [[Super Mario Bros. 3|third]] ''Mario'' games, primarily (circa June 29, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/SjMxV7d1bYo "Sonic - Labyrinth Act 3"] - Steve Jonke asks for advice on handling the titular level's boss, then expresses fondness for the zone as a whole (July 31, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/f0R3cJ--G2Y "flashing dot on lynx"] - a thread which derails into sharing impressions on contemporary games, ''Sonic'' included (August 18, 1991)
+* [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/rWVWC0ZwG9o "Post Sonic Blues ... what to do..."] - a reply to an older thread that explains the level select cheat and mentions that their friends are addicted to the game (circa September 17, 1991)
 == References ==

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:11, 5 July 2022

History[edit]

Previews[edit]

Magazine covers[edit]

Features[edit]

Reader letters[edit]

Advertising[edit]

Reviews[edit]

Miscellaneous[edit]

Forum posts[edit]

Usenet (rec.games.video)[edit]

References[edit]