iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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The Hidden Palace @handle.invalid · 20/09/2026

A really cool find from Discord member gageiro: A custom Mega CD BIOS made especially for Sonic Team's creative director Kazuyuki Hoshino! Check it out in action below!

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Browsing through the 1997 issues of Famitsu and found this photo of Sonic Canball at Shinjuku Joypolis, along with a bunch of butts. The only previously known location for this was Yokohama Joypolis. Sonic Canball, I mean. The butts are everywhere. everywhere

Photo of a bunch of grown-ass people playing Sonic Canball, a can alley carnival-type game, at Shinjuku Joypolis in late 1996. From the February 21, 1997 issue of Famitsu, page 149.

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Sonic the Comic Rescan Project @stcscans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Huge milestone for the Sonic The Comic Rescan Project. We now have a complete run of high resolution scans complete from Issue 1 to Issue 184! This completes the original story run of STC. All downloadable in various resolutions from the STC Scans website. stcscans.zone

Issue 1 and Issue 184 of Sonic The Comic

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Sonic the Comic Rescan Project @stcscans.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Issue 1 of Sonic The Poster Mag has been scanned at 600 DPI and is available on the Internet Archive. It will be added to the STC Scans website soon. archive.org/details/soni...

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VGDensetsu @vgdensetsu.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Sonic Adventure concept art by Kazuyuki Hoshino x.com/KazuyukiHosh...

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Not surprisingly, Yasushi Yamaguchi was not a fan of Tails' 1993 cartoon colors: xcancel.com/judy_totoya/...

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The Sonic Stadium ✪ Sonic the Hedgehog News & Community @sonicstadium.org · 24/08/2026

BREAKING: Concept art for Sage and the Koco have been released via the October issue of Nintendo Dream. The magazine is running a feature on #SonicFrontiers ahead of the release of Sonic Frontiers Super Deluxe for Switch 2 in Japan. #SonicNews You can check them out below:

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GDRI @gdri.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Master System Dynamite Dux has leftover data from Reggie Jackson Baseball and World Games. tcrf.net/Dynamite_Dux...

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Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik @hatethathedgehog.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

"tails get me my arm and leg extenders i don't look like enough of a dipshit to be in the AI slop game"

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Christian Whitehead @cfwhitehead.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

It is now 9 years since Sonic Mania came out 😱... another trivia nugget: at one point we had a screen that showed you the animals that were inside the Heavies giving them their personalities! It didn't make the cut (maybe didn't comply with brand guidelines or there wasn't enough time IDK)

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Sonic The Wereblog @sonichedgeblog.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

One of the model sheets for Robotnik, drawn by Milton Knight, for 'Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog'.

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

In this 1997 E3 vid recently posted at VGHF you can hear an early version of Super Sonic Racing playing in the Sonic R demo. I’ve never heard this before. I think it’s TJ Davis? But it’s not the version we hear in the final game. Sonic R footage starts at about 48:35

archive.gamehistory.org

Electronic Entertainment Expo 1997, "Sony, Sega, etc." [Hi8]

View Electronic Entertainment Expo 1997, "Sony, Sega, etc." [Hi8] in the Video Game History Foundation Library – Digital Archive.

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Ares Arcadia @aresarcadia.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

My buddy @greengibbon.bsky.social translated this Dreamcast Fan 2000/02 Skies of Arcadia interview for me 1.5 years ago, although I didn't know where to publish it. I've since given it a home to the Skies of Arcadia miraheze wiki, check it out! skiesofarcadia.miraheze.org/wiki/Dreamca...

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Hinagiku Kigurashi @hinagiku.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Happy 35th Anniversary Sonic the Hedgehog~ I'm a little late, I've been working on this lego build for most of the year. If you like this piece please share~ Details follow~ @sonic-official.bsky.social @ianflynnbkc.bsky.social #sonic #sonicthehedgehog #sonic35thanniversery #sonic35

The mural in Sonic & Knuckles Hidden Palace Zone made out of legos~

Closer shot of the left half of the lego mural~

A picture of the mural with a Sonic the Hedgehog plushie sitting on it.

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

The July 10 release date is probably a myth (can't find any source for it), but this is a game I'd love to know more about. How, who, why. There should be no debate about the worst Sonic game ever because this is clearly it. Also, PC aside, Sonic's first appearance on a non-Sega console

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Hey, your favorite Saturn game turns 30 today Don't worry, here's a smattering of facts to take your mind off your own mortality: 🧵 #1: Yes, NiGHTS is canonically agender. Naoto Ōshima explains: “[NiGHTS] is a master of the dream world and so is neither male or female. Hence the ambiguous design.”

Japanese cover of NiGHTS on Saturn. From Segaretro.org

Photo of some key members of the NiGHTS team. From left: character designer Naoto Ōshima, producer Yūji Naka, sound designer Tomoko Sasaki, and programmer Takuya Matsumoto. On the far right is Takao Miyoshi, who was a designer on Christmas NiGHTS but doesn’t seem to have been involved in the original game (I believe he was working on Sonic 3D Blast at the time). Photo from the January 1997 issue of Hyper Saturn, page 82.

Photo of lead game designer Takashi Iizuka. From the September 25, 1998 issue of Sega Saturn Magazine, page 46.

Render of NiGHTS with the agender pride flag in the background

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VGDensetsu @vgdensetsu.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Based on an idea used in Rad Mobile, Sonic appeared in Sega SuperCoaster, a simulator running on the AS-1 system that underwent a location test (in 1991, according to Kenji Sasaki) but was ultimately never released. xcancel.com/sasappo/stat... segaretro.org/Sega_SuperCo...

a screenshot showing a floating screen with 2 Sonic

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VGDensetsu @vgdensetsu.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

If you’d like to get your hands on some concept art for Sonic 2 or the cancelled Mega Drive game B-Bomb, graphic designer Tom Payne has put items from his archive up for auction. The images should be available soon (though you can already find scans elsewhere online). www.ha.com/c/search/res...

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

One of Taku Makino's original Sonic models was on display at the fan meet-up in Tokyo on Sunday. Apparently according to the info card it was restored by Makino himself? www.4gamer.net/games/797/G0...

Photo of a restored original Sonic model on display at the Sonic fan meet-up in Tokyo on Sunday.

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

And here we go, coincidentally in time for Sonic's 35th bday, the entire Sonic 1 development timeline—or at least our best understanding of it—in three bite-size chunks. I've already talked about 1988-1990 in detail in earlier posts, so let's take a look at 1991 and the final lead-up to release 🧵

Graphic showing the development timeline of Sonic 1 from 1988-1989

Graphic showing the development timeline of Sonic 1 in 1990

Graphic showing the development timeline of Sonic 1 in 1991

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Sonic the Comic the Podcast @sonicpodcast.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

The STCTP community has recently begun an initiative to FINALLY produce new hi-res scans of Fleetway's Sonic the Comic, straight from the original issues, complete with ALL the pages, including ads, compos, pin-ups and more! Check them out, and join up if you want to help contribute! stcscans.zone

stcscans.zone

Sonic the Comic Rescan Project | High-Quality Fleetway STC Scans

Download high-resolution, complete 600 DPI scans of Fleetway's Sonic the Comic. The ultimate STC archive for fans, preserving every issue and special.

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

The official Sonic twitter account posted a new official drawing of Honey the Cat (first one ever, I think?) and Honey designer Masahiro Sugiyama is celebrating and it's kind of adorable xcancel.com/NCC_1701_D_A...

Screenshot of Masahiro Sugiyama's twitter post. It says "Today is a good day! Let's raise a toast!" along with emoji of a party popper and two wine glasses toasting. Under the post are a couple of Sonic the Fighters style low-poly 3D models of Honey the Cat that I assume he made himself

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GDRI @gdri.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Even as late as 2003, on the series Sonic X, Sega didn't provide reference materials, so mechanical designer Yasuhiro Moriki had to look at printouts of game screens. x.com/c10NMvp84p79...

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Somehow I managed to miss this news for half a year, but Hiroshi Kubota, aka Jimita, sound programmer on Sonic 1, passed away last year. He also worked on Sonic 2 and was in the special thanks of Sonic CD. So we've now lost 2 of the original seven members of Sonic Team xcancel.com/k_namickey/s...

Hiroshi Kubota circa 1994, from the April 1994 issue of Harmony, page 12.

Screenshot of the Sonic 1 closing credits showing "Jimita" (Hiroshi Kubota) and "Macky" (Yukifumi Makino) sharing a credit for "sound program"

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Sonic The Wereblog @sonichedgeblog.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

A previously unknown early screenshot of the original 'Sonic The Hedgehog' has been unearthed by Black Squirrel over on Sonic Retro! Here it shows an early iteration of the Buzz Bomber with a visor style for it's head, early totem heads, and Sonic yet to be jumping in a ball!

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

New Sonic sketches from Ōshima xcancel.com/NaotoOhshima...

xcancel.com

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Mike Maynard @skullpiratemike.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

To be fair, I did feel a little betrayed when I first found out that my favourite Sonic CD song actually came from somewhere else, but then I realised actually it doesn't matter, and now there are just two songs that I really like using that melody www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPtg...

youtube.com

Shakatak - Walk the Walk

YouTube video by vvygintas

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Can't believe this went under the radar for so long. I am increasingly of the opinion that Jun Senoue should not be allowed to compose music unless the genre is butt rock and he has a guitar in his hands. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr-6... www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c5M...

youtube.com

The True Origin Of Sonic 3D Blast (and Adventure) Soundtrack. KORG Auto Accompaniment Templates

YouTube video by Good Morning (KX3Project)

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Sonic The Wereblog @sonichedgeblog.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

During the ending of 'SEGASonic The Hedgehog', big unique sprites of the cast are shown through a logo for the game, but not completely. We've extracted the GIFs to show what the full animation looks like.

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Timeline of Sonic 1 development, PART 3 Bitty recap: Sonic is shown for the first time at the Tokyo Toy Show, held from June 7-10, 1990. By this point, his design is finalized, and the core team of Naoto Ōshima, Yūji Naka, Hirokazu Yasuhara, Jina Ishiwatari (and maybe Rieko Kodama) is in place.

Mid or late Summer 1990: Naoto Ōshima takes a personal trip to New York and solicits opinions from passerby in Central Park about some of the character designs he had come up with during the Sonic creation process

Late summer or early fall 1990 (probably): Sega instructs all artists to submit an idea for a corporate mascot character

October 1990: Sega is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange

November 7, 1990: Dreams Come True kicks off their “Wonder 3” tour

November 21, 1990: The Super Famicom is launched along with Super Mario World

December 7, 1990: Sega files its first trademark applications for Sonic

Sonic 1 on display at Tokyo Toy Show in June, 1990

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Sonic the Hedgehog @sonic-official.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Get a load of this early concept art for Sonic Adventure we found in our archives!

Sonic Adventure concept art featuring Sonic overlooking a very windy valley

Sonic Adventure concept art featuring a waterfall and temple area

Sonic Adventure concept art featuring Sonic jumping along the treetops towards a shrine in the Mystic Ruins

Sonic Adventure concept art. Sonic is going weeeeee on a zipline!

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Timeline of Sonic 1 development, part 2 Bitty recap: In summer or fall of 1989, after the July reveal of Mario World, Naoto Ōshima pitches his first og game, Twins Special, outlining the ways he plans to outdo the new Mario. His pitch falls flat, but Yūji Naka joins him and helps get things moving.

Image 0: Timeline of Sonic 1 development, part 2: First half of 1990.
Fall/Winter 1989 – March 1990: Hirokazu Yasuhara joins the team. Gameplay and character design are hashed out.
March 27, 1990: Naoto Ōshima makes his second formal pitch for the project. Sonic’s design seems to be mostly nailed down, but he doesn’t have a name yet.
April – June 1990: Sonic’s design is finalized and he is given his name. Jina Ishiwatari joins the team. Rieko Kodama may have joined around this time as well, or a little later.
June 7-10, 1990: Sonic is shown publicly for the first time at the Tokyo Toy Show in Chiba.

Photo of Naoto Ōshima with a giant Sonic plushie circa 1991. Shared by Ōshima on twitter

Tiny illegible scan of Ōshima’s original 22-page Twins Special proposal document. The final page has a screenshot of Super Mario World copied, evidently, from the August 18, 1989 issue of Famimaga. Shared on twitter by former Sega game designer Tetsuo Shin’yu

Yūji Naka with a costumed Sonic circa 1992. From note.com/beep21/n/n5336480dfcd0

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Sonic the Hedgehog @sonic-official.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

See him as he is, no longer afraid of anything. Sonic Heroes (2003)

Concept Art of Metal Overlord from Sonic Heroes (2003)

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Masahiro Sugiyama just posted his original sketch of Honey the Cat from 30 years ago xcancel.com/NCC_1701_D_A...

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Where do baby hedgehogs come from? Not from company mascot contests, despite what you’ve probably heard (tho that was a thing that happened, too). How did Sonic 1 REALLY come to be? Plotting the milestones on a timeline is hard because we have so few concrete dates, but let's connect some dots 🧵

Timeline of Sonic 1 development Part 1: 1988 - 1989

1988/10/05 – 06: The 26th AM Show is held in Tokyo. Yūji Naka sees Daimakaimura

1988/10/29: The Mega Drive is released in Japan

1988/11/21: Nintendo unveils the Super Famicom

1988/11 or 12: Naka begins working on the MD port of Daimakaimura

1989/05: The Daimakaimura MD master ROM is completed
1989, May or later: Naka begins working on Metal Lancer

1989/??: Naoto Ōshima meets Shigeru Miyamoto and is inspired to make a game to rival Mario

1989/07/28: Nintendo reveals Super Mario World under its working title of Mario 4

1989/08/03: Daimakaimura on MD is released

1989, after July: Ōshima formally proposes his Mario killer, Twins Special

Second half of 1989 (probably): Metal Lancer is scrapped

Second half of 1989 (probably): Naka joins Ōshima on the Twins Special project

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Does anyone know the original source of this video clip Naka posted a while back? He says it was taken in February 1990 and I'm trying to verify that www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRph...

youtube.com

Sonic the Hedgehog in early development; Sega R&D news footage from February 1990.

YouTube video by Yuji Naka Channel

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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

With David Rosen's death, bad information about Sega as a company is starting to re-emerge across the internet. I will try to give a very condensed version of the Sega corporate shenanigans here as to clear some of the air. 🧵

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Play History @playhistory.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

David Rosen, who helped create Sega and changed the coin-op industry forever, has passed away. www.replaymag.com/segas-dave-r... An absolute titan in video game history. May he rest in peace.

1996-12 Next Generation pg 8. David Rosen.

David Rosen and his wife Masako, circa 1980s.

1969-07 VT Music & Games pg 18. David Rosen.

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Sonic The Wereblog @sonichedgeblog.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

In the May 16, 1996 prototype of 'Sonic's Schoolhouse', Robotnik has a full body animation of him running around the school. In the final game he's in an Eggmobile.

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The Hidden Palace @handle.invalid · 26/12/2025

Merry Christmas! It's that special time of year again where we celebrate the holidays with yet another yuletide collection of prototypes! This time we have a couple of Sonic prototypes just for you courtesy of Santa and @lastminutecontinue.com! hiddenpalace.org/News/One_Bad... Enjoy!🎄🦔

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Puke is already a Halloween Name @puke.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Don't worry, I know why you sickos are here. Here is the Japanese TV commercial for the only gift that matters: a Sega Saturn with a copy of Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams #gaming #retro #sega 🎮

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The GHZ @theghz.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Sonic the Fighters character designer Masahiro Sugiyama explains that he snuck Honey the Cat into the game late in development without director Hiroshi Kataoka’s knowledge, but then they ran out of time. 1/3 xcancel.com/NCC_1701_D_A...

xcancel.com

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