This is not a complete history, definitely not. I hope that someday maybe I can write a full background history of SEGA and Sonic, complete with dates and such, but until such time here is a brief history of SEGASonic!

SEGA is a massive video game producing enterprise. It has actually undergone several changes since it's beginning, however. It's actual start was in 1952, a man named David Rose created the company known as "Rosen Enterprises." Rosen was in the US Air Force during WWII. After the war, he moved to Japan where he set up his company. In the beginning, his company imported instant photo booths and coin-op games. Both of these were a well liked by the populace. Rosen Enterprises began to move more towards it's coin op games. They soon went into a merger with a jukebox company known as Service Games. The merger created the company now known as SEGA. Rosen now had the means to produce his own devices, that is, with all the factories he acquired because of the merger. Having roots in arcade games, the newly dubbed SEGA began producing games for arcade consoles such as the Atari. SEGA produced games such as Frogger. Around this time, SEGA Enterprises was started in America. Shortly after, SEGA was sold to Japanese investors, thus becoming SEGA Enterprises Ltd.

SEGA's first system was an 8-bit video game console. This system was known as the "Mark III." Because of Nintendo's success with releasing the NES in America, SEGA decided to do the same with the Mark III. They renamed it the Master System and its technology was used for the Game Gear system later on.

After the Master System, SEGA decided to release a new console, one which would outdo NES sales. They created the SEGA Genesis. A 16 bit home video game console. The SEGA Genesis was released before the SNES, Nintendo's 16-bit system. Genesis was the main key to SEGA's success. Genesis beat both NES and SNES sales. It beat NES because it had a faster processor. "Blast Technology," the ability to already have another picture loaded before the current one is done, gave Genesis an advantage over the SNES. SEGA's major successes over Nintendo didn't come into play until they'd developed their mascot for SEGA. A small team, very small in fact, led by a young programmer named Yuji Naka, created a character completely different from any previously seen. Instead of the common "walk around and throw stuff" style character, a concept they attempted at first, but discarded later, they decided to use the Genesis' speed to SEGA's advantage. Thus, Sonic the hedgehog was created. Faster than the short plumber that was Nintendo's Mascot, Sonic was supposed to be the "Mickey Mouse" of SEGA. He turned out to be much more. After Yuji Naka had designed and programmed Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic became an instant success. Sonic's face began to appear everywhere, especially after Sonic 2 was released. SEGA Enterprises' (SEGA of America) commercials even played up the speed that the Genesis sported. Comparison slogans like "SEGA does what Nintendon't" began to appear. Commercials that compared the Genesis to the NES always played up the superior speed and cool look of the Genesis.

It's now the year 2005. The original SEGA was created 53 years ago. Since then, it has grown into a titan. Complete with a rise, fall, and return. After Genesis, SEGA created the 32x, an addon system to the Genesis to get it up to 32 bit graphics. SEGA CD soon arrived, another add on to the Genesis, also the first CD system to be released. Unfortunately, these both fell through, and while the SEGA Saturn had good sales, the games weren't as up to grade as the original Genesis games had been. After the Saturn, SEGA went back to its roots for a while and created many arcade games. In fact, lots of the current arcade and coin-op games are created by SEGA. In 2000, SEGA released the Dreamcast, a super advanced system capable of 128 bit graphics. This system was made to combat the soon to come systems from Sony and Nintendo. While the SEGA Saturn was the first system to be able to have a modem, the Dreamcast was the first system to come with a built in 56K modem. A CD burner, DVD player and other devices could be purchased for this amazing system. Unfortunately, it suffered from the same problem as the Saturn. A lack of good games as compared to other systems. Some of the best games for this system (that I now of) were Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Shuffle, Skies of Arcadia, and Jedi Power Battles. While there were others, they were few and far between. Sadly, SEGA had already started going down when they released the Saturn. After the lack of games for Dreamcast, SEGA went into financial troubles. They quit making systems and became a maker of games. Now with the freedom to sell games to any system, thus opening the horizons for Sonic & Co, they can exploit the varied technologies of systems like the coming PS3, Xbox 2, and Nintendo Revolution.

In recent times, Sonic has again gained popularity through things like the new Sonic TV series Sonic X and games such as Sonic Heroes and the Advance Series. A Sonic game is scheduled for the DS to appear later this year as well. It has even been announced that SEGA plans to release another game for Gamecube, hopefully by the end of this year.

Sonic has had a rather long haul. He's been running strong since Yuji Naka first wrote his programming in 1991. 14 years later, he still amazes fans both new and old with the same tactic, his amazing speed. Here's to you SEGA & Sonic. May the Sun shine on your face, the wind be at your back, and the sea carry you calmly.

NOTE: information found on different websites. If you believe some of my info is from your site and would like credit, E-mail me at WSonic87@hotmail.com and I will add a by line with your site and name.