The History of Sonic the Hedgehog: Birth of an Icon! Sega 30th Anniversary Retrospective Documentary

[@GTV-Japan]

Happy birthday Sonic! What was your favorite entry in the series? Please share your favorite Sonic memories below!

[@EvaFull]

Always have a soft spot for 1 & 2 because I remember when they both were a BRAND NEW thing with MASSIVE HYPE behind each one individually. Crazy it’s been 30 years & counting as of 2021.

[@coconut4219]

So far, a tie between S&K and Mania Plus. S&K for nostalgic reasons mostly but also Mania Plus for being an overall excellent game.

[@arioca]

I still remember when I first saw Sonic as a keychain in the arcade game Red Mobile, and was intrigued by it. My favorite game in the series is still the original Sonic the Hedgehog. I rented the game back in '91 and was immediately blown away by the game's fast gameplay, colorful & bright graphics, the character's edgy design/personality, and amazing soundtrack. I later bought the game and took my Genesis to a friend's house who had an Amiga 500 computer that was known for its amazing graphics and even him, his brothers and cousins were in awe of the game. It's really hard to explain and express to a younger audience how fresh this game was in the early 90s; you did a great job with this video.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks! The original always has a special place for me too but Sonic 2 I’d say is my favorite

[@OneUponADime]

I was the right age during this time and by god it was fun. Sonic 3d Blast holds a special spot in my heart, I was a Sega nut by then but where I lived Saturns were impossible to find. A friend had one though with 3D Blast and VF2. Good times...

[@JohnWlol]

My fondest Sonic memory was my mom letting me skip school the day Sonic 3 came out. I remember going to the video store and just seeing this giant wall of Sonic 3 boxes

[@GTV-Japan]

That’s awesome! I thought it was strange it wasn’t on a weekend but that 2 days probably didn’t matter. Thanks for watching 🦔

[@gymreaper1728]

Sega’s graphics became trash around the release of that sor 3 & sonic & knuckles..I hated sega then & now Nintendo was the champ lol.

[@kingkazma3246]

Best mom!

[@DefinitelyReagan]

@@gymreaper1728 This is probably the number one dumbest comment I have ever read. Wow. That's actually impressive.

[@ls190v2]

How kind!

[@VierthalerStudios]

I hit one of the worst depressions of my entire life in high school because I was severely bullied for my stuttering. So badly, that I would refuse to talk. I got back into Sonic because of the nostalgia my sophomore year and I used Sonic as a coping mechanism for my depression. Because Sonic made me think of my happy childhood instead of the pain I was dealing with. I downloaded Sonic on my iPod touch at that time and Sonic helped me deal with my depression. I will always appreciate Sonic for that.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks for sharing your story. Glad to hear Sonic was helpful and important to you🦔🦔

[@VierthalerStudios]

@@GTV-Japan You’re welcome ☺️

[@thepatriot2603]

That little blue hedgehog still helps me to this day deal with depression and hard-hitting life and I’m 33 years old. I’ve liked Sonic since I was five years old and hopefully if I ever have kids I’ll introduce them to Sonic!!

[@InsomniumX]

A huevo valedoresssss a huevo valedores de mamey pinches carnales pinches valedores locos que locos están. Es un BACILON de mamey pinches carnales pinches valedores pinches GUAUGUAU WOILOLOLOLOLOI A HUEVO CON LA COLA DE MAMEY Y EL AGUA DE LIMÓN Y LA CABEZA DE MAMEY Y LA COLA DE PUERCO 🐷🐖🐷🐖🐷🐖 A HUEVO DIJE A HUEVO CON CHORIZO Y ADEMÁS SE VE QUE NO SE VE NADA PONGANSE BIEN VERTAS PORQUE ES UN BACILON DE MAMEY

[@harrytaylorjr2770]

Sonic was my very first game in 91. I really was never interested in Mario back then he just seemed mid. But when i saw Sonic i thought he was the coolest hero ever even went as far trying to run faster than my friends and saying im as fast as Sonic. And till this day and im 42yrs old Sonic is still number 1 in my heart now and forever❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@GTV-Japan]

Awesome!! 🦔

[@elfiebranford9330]

This channel has become my latest obsession, and after binging almost all of the previous videos, it feels so good to get a brand new one today~!! ^w^ Also, so hard to believe that it's already been 30 years since the Blue Blur blast processed into our hearts.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thank you! And you’ve been around a while so I’m glad to see you back again! 🦔

[@CarletonTorpin]

This is a visual historical reference document. I love watching it on a big screen in 4K because you always use high-resolution supporting imagery and graphics. I know these videos require many tens or hundreds of hours of effort, and I absolutely appreciate the work you put in.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I appreciate that. Actually I just have a MacBook so I can’t actually see it in 4K but I always try to deliver the best quality. Thanks for the support and thanks for watching!!🦔

[@TheCheat420]

@@GTV-Japan I'll second that all your videos look awesome on the big screen.

[@GTV-Japan]

Honestly I don’t have a tv except for the 19 inch wood grain so maybe I need to invest in something new

[@CarletonTorpin]

Treat ‘yo self! :D I recommend the 24” iMac M1. I’ve been using one to edit 4K in Final Cut Pro and it keeps up nicely.

[@GTV-Japan]

Well I was on an older but not “old” 15” mbp that died on me making this video! Got the 13” m1 to replace it. Wanted to see what the next 16” was but it’s not out yet!

[@calebland6246]

It's interesting to look back and see how quickly Sega rose and fell. In only 5 years Sega was already on the decline and got pushed out by the playstation. Microsoft and Sony which were the "newcomers" have been around many times as long as Sega was a big player, but Sega still has so much nostalgia power.

[@GTV-Japan]

Yep it’s interesting to think about! I remember that very few people had faith in PlayStation until it was finally released. A lot of people I know felt that it would be like the 3do. Filled with FMV games but with a billion dollars behind it. Meaning you can’t ignore it. In the end I think it all worked out for the best. Sony and others spends money building hardware and Sega appears on everything. Thank you for watching 🦔

[@navigatingel6104]

Heard of "Sonic Mania" and the new "Drop Dash" mechanic? SEGA would still be alive if they put this in Sonic 2

[@mickael486]

@@navigatingel6104 If you're interested in how Sega was doomed to fail, I highly recommend the Console Wars documentary. Sega's leader in Japan was downright horrible.

[@GTV-Japan]

His flawed thinking was based on the common strategy implemented in japan where you make something high quality and overcharge for it but because it’s made in japan people buy it up then that money makes it to employees in the form of bonuses that are used to buy other overpriced things made in japan so that those industries can then send its employment base out to buy the next round of things made in japan the next year.

[@mickael486]

@@GTV-Japan Interesting. There's a segment in Console Wars about how he said no to working with Silicon Graphics and then they went to Nintendo to make Donkey Kong Country and eventually the N64.

[@Leoj305]

Sonic is my favorite VG character and series. Particularly, the Genesis releases. Thank you, once again, for these excellently put together and informative documentaries.

[@GTV-Japan]

You’re welcome! Get a blue cake ready for tomorrow!! 🦔

[@ModernVintageTV0]

They had a big battle in the 90's And now Sega and Nintendo are buddies. Happy 30th Sonic!

[@GTV-Japan]

The way it should be! Thanks for watching 🦔

[@sozaj]

Or Friendly Rivals.

[@Foxxy999]

Great documentary. I feel like unless you were there in 1991 it's hard to convey just how perfectly Sonic seemed to be timed to be just the thing everyone was looking for. I'm not even sure what to compare it to.. Wii Bowling maybe? I was an SNES kid but even I knew Sonic was impossible to ignore.

[@GTV-Japan]

Yeah exactly. Even though Sonic 1 is an awesome game the marketing push that helped wouldn’t have worked except for a million things lining up at once. It had to be 91. 90 would be too early and 92 too late and the snes had to be delayed, the price cut, gen X getting older and the culture changing and of course the long shadow cast by Mario as a challenge to take on. That scenario can never be repeated ever again. Thanks for watching as always!! 🦔

[@_sparrowhawk]

How so? We ignore him now. The real genius move Sega made was allowing blood in a Genesis game aimed at teens, but other than that, the company's pretty much gone.

[@JustAnotherGamer1005]

@@_sparrowhawk Like he said, you had to be there. Really doesn't have anything the current state Sonic is in right now. Sega made a lot of bad decisions afterwards, which put an end to their days as a console manufacturer. And the over saturation of games these days, as made it tough for all 'mascots' of gaming. Sonic games may have gone downhill the last decade or so (with some exceptions like Generations for example), but Sonic himself is still an icon, especially to those who grew up with it.

[@GTV-Japan]

Sounds like a lot of mainstream KZbinr talking points (haha no offense) I don’t focus on those things and more on the experience each game delivers. Sega freeing itself from its own hardware was the greatest thing it could do! It was a good thing!!!!!! Now someone else fronts that cost and they can make games for everyone. I can only pray Nintendo does the same thing too someday

[@JustAnotherGamer1005]

@@GTV-Japan It's good you focus on the games themselves, without all the (social media) competition surrounding it. Makes you remember what the games were to you on a personal level, instead of the validation of a group.

[@Pupppeteer]

"this new game and character had to thread the needle" was that a reference to one of sonics early prototype names lol.

[@GTV-Japan]

Hate to admit it but no. It’s just an expression I use a lot Ohh. Yeah yah I totally meant that!

[@Pupppeteer]

@@GTV-Japan haha even when gtv isn't on point.. gtv is on point!

[@GTV-Japan]

You know it

[@RabbitEarsCh]

That name, "Mr. Needlemouse", is an american invention and a mistranslation of what he was called, which was Mr. "Harinezumi", which in full is just..."hedgehog". This is so pervasive that even the Sega 60th anniversary test had it as an answer, but Naka-san himself confirmed it was always just Mr. Hedgehog (so, Mr. Harinezumi). Though, he did so after getting a question wrong on the very game he programmed...

[@GTV-Japan]

You know the inside track!

[@Waifu4Life]

30 years of Sonic, god I'm old 😥

[@GTV-Japan]

Embrace your age! 🦔

[@cyclops8238]

@@GTV-Japan I'm 21 now and the first game I ever played was the original Sonic the hedgehog but it was on Sonic mega collection for the GameCube. Still loved it to death though.

[@GTV-Japan]

A lot of people have said the same thing

[@InsomniumX]

A huevo HUEEEEVO huevito huevote pinche huevote todo hinchado y un BACILON tranquilo está todo tranquilito este BACILON dije y además es de mamey pinches carnales pinches carnales pinches carnales pinches carnales pinches carnales pinches bacilon BACILON dije y además es de mamey pinches valedores locos de mamey

[@InsomniumX]

​@@GTV-Japana hueeeeeevo a hueeeeeevo es un huevo negro de cristal y yo también lo quiero ver si nos vemos mañana en la noche de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de la comida y agua de mamey pinches carnales pinches carnales pinches bacilon de valedores a ver cómo le hago con los niños 🚸🚸🚸🚸🚸 que se quedaron con la vacuna de mamey pinches bacilon BACILON dije y además es de mamey pinches carnales sino que no se si sea viernes y domingo y además es de mamey pinches carnales sino que no se si sea viernes y domingo y además es de mamey pinches carnales sino que no se si sea viernes y domingo y además

[@buckroger6456]

A full hour about sonic?! I'm all down for this.

[@GTV-Japan]

Tuck in! I hope you enjoy it!🦔

[@lhfirex]

It's crazy to think that this series got me into the Genesis. I owe a lot of great gaming memories to this game purely for all the other classics I got introduced to on the Genesis. Wouldn't have happened if I didn't want to get a Genesis to play Sonic!

[@Real1Gaming]

An hour of goodness to help me stop thinking about how freaking hot it is in Sweden today. Thank you!

[@GTV-Japan]

You’re welcome! In Japan the endless rain is keeping the heat down! 🦔

[@GTV-Japan]

Stay out of sun! 🍹

[@Unquestionable]

Was a great treat to help me get halfway through my extra long work week.

[@MrBallerinakaka]

Another Sweds Here! I Hope You Are Your Day Getting Better In Sweden!

[@DlcEnergy]

Up here in Britain we're either showerin' or cookin'. lol

[@RabbitEarsCh]

Thank you so much for including the details of the Dreams Come True tour promoting Sonic. I've been curious about that for years and details have been so scant for so long. Thank you for digging deep into old magazines and setting the record straight. Even after 15 years of me digging deep into all things related to Sonic's development, I still learned quite a bit today thanks to this video. Great work!

[@GTV-Japan]

Youre welcome! Sadly I could not find a photo of the Sonic tour bus, though the interview sections of Beep and MD fan really fill in the backdrop that was going on before release.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

I didn't even know that a popular band member had worked on Sonic 1. I had heard about the Sonic 3 / Michael Jackson thing, though.

[@DontCallMeScooterrr]

I will never forget looking at that very first screenshot of Sonic I saw in EGM (at about 17:15) over and over, and knowing I HAD to have it just based on that. That pic, the page layout, colors, are all still etched into my brain after all these years. Great video as always, thanks!

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I’m glad you liked it! I know what you mean. I used to love the previews in egm🦔

[@DontCallMeScooterrr]

@@GTV-Japan My vivid memory probably has something to do with reading the same mag cover to cover dozens of times until the next issue! I'm actually looking through a scan of EGM 13 right now thanks to your video haha

[@GTV-Japan]

Yeah it was kind of nice to have only a few pages each month. Appreciated it more and often went back to it

[@totalprocall6894]

Sonic 1 had probably the most iconic music in videogames ever...games like streets of rage 2/street fighter 2 had the BEST music, but that sega intro voice and the stage music was probably the most memorable thing from the era. The only tragedy is the downward tragectory of sonic after the 16bit era...the developers simply couldn't replicate the magic of the first 2 games in particular.

[@GTV-Japan]

Star Light Zone!! Dan da da daaan…💫

[@chrissantiago603]

I swear I watch stories I already know just to see how this channel covers them. Excellent as always.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I’m glad you liked it

[@mikaeki5245]

GTV Japan is easily the most underrated channel in KZbin. So glad to find this channel. Thank you!

[@GTV-Japan]

You’re welcome! Keep it underground 👍🏻

[@executionerdan1652]

I played Sonic The Hedgehog all the way through earlier today and now watching this video. ROLL ON the next 30 years for Sonic.

[@GTV-Japan]

Awesome! Thanks for watching 🦔!

[@pdthorn]

It’s time to go fast and, like Sonic 2, keep replaying this stage of GTV Japan

[@GTV-Japan]

Chemical Zone! Greatest music of all time 🦔

[@Hutch2Much]

i love the way you cut to the ads!! this is such a wonderful video. keep up the great work!!

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I’m glad you liked it 🦔

[@shaynemac]

Another fantastic episode of GTV. Can’t beat these videos for research and supplementary materials. Top notch!

[@GTV-Japan]

I found a Japanese book that features pages and pages of material straight from Hayao at Sega, it will lead to many more videos

[@kellymountain]

this feels like it was ripped from TV or something with the "Now airing on GTV!!" intermissions and also this is really good

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I’m glad you liked it. 👍 I do all my videos this way so why not check out over 100 back episodes 🦔

[@noaht2005]

I noticed that too. It’s pretty neat and creative

[@GTV-Japan]

@noaht2005 that’s great to hear! A lot of people hated it. “This is KZbin not tv!” They said

[@noaht2005]

@@GTV-Japan if they don’t like it, they can just skip it 🤷‍♂️. It’s not like an actual advert, it’s just a neat way to make your channel stand out. If ever forget this channel’s name, I’ll at least remember it as ‘the awesome gaming history channel with the ad breaks’

[@GTV-Japan]

@noaht2005 haha thanks. But no! GTV is best watched without skipping. Like old time TV just leave it on let it run! 📺

[@heyhonpuds]

Fantastic stuff GTV. You continue to excel. Also, I never knew the exact amount of time Sonic could stay underwater for 18 seconds. That's the kind of tiny detail I love.

[@GTV-Japan]

I counted in the game! I also thought it was interesting how the timer on super Mario games was often short but sonic gave you 10 minutes. I left some of that stuff out but the contrasts are pretty interesting. Oh and now I think I’ll disappear for 6 months and take 4 credits of water color painting at the local community college

[@D0ctorCool]

S-tier content and production value! How many hours in the making was this?

[@GTV-Japan]

I didn’t keep track of hours but I write the script in January while on work breaks, recorded it in March and edited it in may. Maybe 30 hours all together? It’s hard to measure time because you break could be 10 minutes or an hour so I just worked on it as much as I could in those spaces. Thank you for watching 🦔

[@CheeseBlaster]

Thank you so much for posting this. You're definetly one of my top 3 channels in youtube, and seeing you covering Sonic made my day

[@GTV-Japan]

My pleasure!

[@lupeayala3125]

Awesome vid, Thanx! I remember getting a Sega Genesis with Sonic as the pack in for Christmas. It was hidden behind a dresser. It was a great surprise! It reminds me now of how Ralphie found his rifle hidden away in A Christmas Story and how excited he was! Thats the same feeling I had. Still got that same Genesis and Sonic game btw... Great memories!!!👍🍻🍻🍻

[@GTV-Japan]

That’s awesome!! I had a genesis already so I actually paid for the game. I wanted to use my own Xmas unboxing home movies but since it was altered beast, it didn’t fit. Unfortunately. Thanks for sharing your memories!🦔

[@skins4thewin]

I can't tell you how much of a welcome treat Sonic Mania was after years & years of ho hum 3D entries. Man I love that game!

[@executor45]

Seeing a new GTV upload gives me the same feeling as waking up Saturday morning to watch cartoons as a kid! Can't wait!!

[@GTV-Japan]

Better get some sonic cereal! 🦔

[@retrobution1262]

You said you were digging to the center of the earth and you weren't kidding! I was primarily a nintendo kid but was always looking over the fence...nearly all my friends at school had master systems and we'd swap gaming stories from both sides every lunchtime. Like you said, having that rivalry just gave us more reason to love the medium of gaming. When I used to go and see my dad in Melbourne, he'd give me money to go and play games in the local video ezy. I always picked the Mega Drive because it was the only place I could experience a 16 bit sonic game. Those memories will always be with me. Years later on the Gamecube I was overjoyed to find and pick up sonic adventure 1 and 2 and was so happy to see the two rivals finally working together. The underdog rose to sit side by side together with the best, and that is an inspiration to all us underdogs out in the world :) Thanks for an amazing video mate

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks but there’s more digging to be done!! It’s cool to hear about down under where Sega ruled supreme 🦔

[@Unquestionable]

Still very vividly recall playing Sonic for the first time about a month before the SNES launched. While I wasn't converted completely from my Nintendo fandom I was definitely impressed and gained even more respect for Sega. While the advertisements they were putting out at the time definitely brought in a larger audience I remember being slightly suspicious as if they were overcompensating but in hindsight think it was the right move.

[@GTV-Japan]

Tom Kalinske knew his stuff. That’s all I can say. But it’s amazing how it was an effort by all hands from design programming marketing and then just the perfect timing. It’s a time that can never be repeated ever again! Thanks for watching as always!🦔

[@Superdimensional]

A true time I can see why Sonic won the award at CES, but in hindsight and 30 years later, we enjoy a play through of SMW much more.

[@GTV-Japan]

Well there hadn’t been a sonic 2 yet either.

[@Superdimensional]

@@GTV-Japan I’d rather play SMW over any Sonic game today

[@GTV-Japan]

Well that’s fine

[@RewindArcade]

Really enjoyed this man, great work! Especially loved learning about what the rest of Sonic Team worked on and where they ended up. The story illustrations were really cool too, reminded me of some of the Gaming Historian’s stuff. Look forward to what you cover next!

[@GTV-Japan]

Dez is a great artist! I recommend seeing his webcomic which is beautifully drawn and funny!

[@Dez26]

Thank you! ^^ I agree that I might have emulated a bit too much of his channel's art subconsciously. But it's a good format for this type of thing. I'm glad you like. =D

[@pharaohosam]

This is so well-done. Gives me everything I wanted, all of the visual Sonic goodness, the sweet, sweet sounds of nostalgia with those Sonic tracks in the background, and of course the fascinating chronicling and info I didn't know.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks! In November I’ll be bringing it again with sonic 2!! 🦔 🦊

[@pharaohosam]

@@GTV-Japan looking forward to it!

[@pikachu0Z]

Sonic 2 was the first video game I ever played, good times!

[@GTV-Japan]

Awesome! I love sonic 1 but 2 is the peak of the 16 bit era for sure🦔

[@pikachu0Z]

@@GTV-Japan They sure are, also at the time I loved Mickey Mouse, but Sonic slowly took mine attention especially when the two cartoon shows came out.

[@GTV-Japan]

I thought it was a great sign of sega’s success but for me I was too old to get into those cartoons when they came out

[@Mahoneyyay]

With the retro commercials in between, This channel is slowly becoming my favourite gaming channel

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I appreciate that!

[@ash2dvst]

I recently discovered your channel, binged hard, and subscribed. Appreciate all your hard work and personal insights in these vids. Looking forward to Manga-mania 4, brother!

[@GTV-Japan]

Welcome aboard! I will start on Hogan 4 in a few weeks. Expect it mid august!

[@superlink235]

Your channel provides extremely high quality, well produced content. Underrated 10/10. I love what you do, and your narration is top notch.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I really appreciate the kind words! 🦔🦔🦔

[@TBoneTony]

"As you can see, Hedgehogs in the other world are nothing like what they are on Earth. They aren't blue and they don't run fast." - Uncle from Another World.

[@nintony2994]

?

[@GTV-Japan]

It’s an anime about a guy in his 40s who wakes up one day in modern times but only talks about the 90s and Sega. People often call me the uncle from another world as well because, well, for me I have no idea about modern western culture after 2000 either

[@SDChargers93]

Greatest Memory was playing sonic for the 1st time on a original Sega Gen 1 for my birthday. It was a present from my uncle and by that time I was a bit older and can play it a lot better than when I was super young (maybe 6-7) But it was legendary experience and stayed up most the night to beat it. It’s my fondest memory of Sonic 1. From there I kinda jumped around (due to financial reasons) played Sonic and Knuckles then Sonic Heros then Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 , then eventually walked backwards and play Sonic 3D blast and Sonic 3. This is probably showing my age but between 2003-2007 I played a lot of Genesis , GameCube , N64 and SNES. Being from a small town and really had no interest in newer games besides Metal Gear, Splinter Cell and John Madden, that’s all I played was Sonic and Mario. Just experiencing all the generations at one time in the store was a amazing experience as well. Kinda going off into a tangent but Sonic 1 has a huge spot in my heart.

[@GTV-Japan]

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing your memories

[@mightyfilm]

I can certainly speak from experience that I was of the "one of the one system or the other" childhood, which gives me a weird personal history with the character. Sure, if you had parents with enough money you could have BOTH a Nintendo and a Genesis, and my cousin and my friend both seemed to have both, which are the only two places I was able to play Genesis at the time. Anyway, I was a BIG Mario kid when I was little, and frankly the marketing of Sonic basically taking Mario down instead of just building Sonic up turned me off of the character when he first appeared. But what made me love Sonic was the fact he had those cartoon series and comic books. Sure, Mario had those things too, and I loved them as well, Sonic just had a better media presentation. Look at how long that Archie comic series lasted vs. Mario and Nintendo's short lived Valiant comics line. And Sega, at least at the time, embraced Sonic's media presence when Nintendo saw theirs as essentially a commercial they didn't need to care about and nothing more. But because I enjoyed both franchises beyond the games, I learned that even if you only have an NES, you certainly don't have to chose between the two, you just enjoy them differently.

[@GTV-Japan]

That’s a great perspective!!🦔

[@dottiesttoast]

I can't believe how far we have come. Happy birthday Sonic! Great video!

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks and don’t forget to celebrate on Wednesday! 🦔

[@dottiesttoast]

@@GTV-Japan Don't worry! I would never forget!

[@EvaFull]

Happy Birthday 🎂 to SONIC!!!!!!! Can’t believe it’s been 30 years as of 2021. Damn am I getting old 😂 😂

[@GTV-Japan]

Embrace your age!🦔

[@sozaj]

I actually met Tom Kalinsky and Al Nilsen at a Retro Gaming Expo, some years ago. What Al Nilsen said matches up - especially in regards to getting rid of the rock band and Madonna ("We don't want any crossbreeding going on here" he said. XD).

[@GTV-Japan]

Such insensitive language!!

[@sozaj]

@@GTV-Japan (well, it wasn't exactly biologically sound, lol)

[@GTV-Japan]

All I can say that with such phobic rhetoric he must surely be a product of his time! Ugh I need a safe space!

[@sozaj]

@@GTV-Japan 😅

[@Bubsy_Mods]

Your documentaries are amazing! The detail, research, editing, footage, nostalgia, everything is great! Do you have a team doing all of this? Or are you doing this one man army? If you are, how the heck are you doing it mate😳

[@GTV-Japan]

I am a one man band. I too if that I do all my video making on the train going back and forth to work and home, or in lunch breaks. The only thing done at home is the voice recording. So basically I pull out the MacBook every time I have 10 minutes free to try and finish up more and more. Im not a big time “full time” KZbinr with unlimited time or money to make videos. I will say tho for this one my good friend Dez did the artwork. Thanks for watching 🦔

[@Bubsy_Mods]

@@GTV-Japan Job well done sir👍 It is people like you that deserves millions of subscribers for their hard work and dedication. And I have to admit these video game moments do bring back great nostalgia. There was a time we had EGMS and huddled around in arcades chilled and talked about games and compete with one another. It was indeed the good ol days.

[@GTV-Japan]

Yeah I lived for those days and we appreciated it more I think because we didn’t have a constant 24/7 stream of info like we do now

[@Bubsy_Mods]

@@GTV-Japan lol you're absolutely right 😊

[@GTV-Japan]

It was perfect. Just enough news to understand everything and then put it away get back to what you need to do and then come back next month

[@nyguesswho]

Dude you really make some of the best stuff on KZbin. Thanks for sticking around.

[@GTV-Japan]

The way I set up my schedule to make videos means I can do it till I’m at least 70! Thanks for the support!

[@nyguesswho]

@@GTV-Japan ah! Thanks so much for replying!!! I’m glad to hear that! I’m recovering from some nasty work injuries/spine surgery right now, and you were the first channel I thought of to watch to get me through the recovery process. Your content means a lot to me, thanks again.

[@GTV-Japan]

@nyguesswho aw I’m sorry to hear that. Feel better soon 🍺

[@nyguesswho]

@@GTV-Japan thanks man!

[@kiiseanrobinson5084]

I'm new to the sonic community, so this really helped me learn about the series.

[@GTV-Japan]

Great! I hope you learned a lot. I don’t know if you seen my channel before but this is actually the second part of a video that covered 1991 in depth. The first half was about super Mario world so if you have time check it out and a whole lot of videos on my channel handle topics in the same way. Thanks for watching 🦔

[@LordGrim1313]

The real reason the NES did so well is they monopolized the American market. They signed all developers to exclusive deals forbidding them from developing on other consoles and they bought up all the marketing to make sure American gamers didn't even know about the master system. They spent so much money on it that it most countries outside of the US and Japan you couldn't even get an NES. So in a lot of countries the Master System was the no. 1 console. In the end the NES had the most global sales this is true but it isn't an accurate description of the global gaming scene.

[@GTV-Japan]

Very true!

[@_sparrowhawk]

It's true. Game developers do all the hard work, so porting a game to a new system is a bit of work, but it's what everyone wants to do. It's too bad Sega didn't get the ball rolling before Nintendo, they they would be the ones signing those devious contracts and so on.

[@GTV-Japan]

For the sg 1000 Sega licensed games but developed them in house kind of like what Atari did so I’m not too sure about that. But yeah shoulda coulda woulda for sure

[@JustAnotherGamer1005]

I don't know. Over here we had the choice of both the NES and Master System. We also didn't have such great marketing campaigns over here. You basically only knew about them if you were actually into gaming. I only knew of the existence of consoles when a friend of mine a couple of houses down the road, got one for Christmas or birthday.

[@LordGrim1313]

@@JustAnotherGamer1005 I don't know where "over hear" is but all the Europeans Ive met grew up on Sega as I myself did in the states because the SNES was sold out so I had to make do. Look up the sales yourself if you like.

[@jhsounds]

Heh. "Power adapter." "Outlet." I get it.

[@GTV-Japan]

I love wordplay!

[@bemasaberwyn55]

I find it interesting that Sonic wasn't able to jump to 3D as easily as Mario did. And that Sonic lost his native console, something his rival hasn't had happen

[@GTV-Japan]

Yeah that’s something to think about

[@bemasaberwyn55]

@@GTV-Japan I guess that's what happens when 2 teams set out on separate paths

[@GTV-Japan]

@@bemasaberwyn55 yeah I guess

[@Fellipe2k5]

I'll watch tomorrow morning having my coffee. Thank you so much for closing the week with “chave de ouro” (golden key)

[@GTV-Japan]

No problem! Take your time! 🦔

[@markus1a1]

Really appreciate all the work you put into your videos. The stuff you dig up is amazing - thank you

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks for your support. I’m working on the season finale for next week so I hope to see you there.

[@arioca]

Another fantastic lengthy video with lots of interesting information! Potato chip shortage happened back in '88 as well? I thought that was an Amicoo exclusive 😂

[@GTV-Japan]

You’d have to ask Timmy Tallamico about that one! I was weighing how much Nintendo stuff I should include even though it’s a Sega video but it’s clear you have to start here. Because the mountain to climb was so high you can’t ignore it. Also have to tie in as many of my older vids as possible and there’s a ton of callbacks in this one. Mmm potato chips! 🦔

[@protospy9597]

Maybe Victor would also know? Maybe Papa Pete?

[@Illstatefishing]

The music is so memorable that I don’t think I’ll ever stop getting the urge to listen to it as the years go by

[@GTV-Japan]

Same here and Sonic 2 as well

[@jaycenteno8385]

This was such a great nostalgic look back at how it all began! :)

[@GTV-Japan]

Yea!! Its a shame it can never be repeated, but wonderful that we could live it!

[@jaycenteno8385]

@@GTV-Japan Very true! Ill treasure those memories for the rest of my days. Thanks for the refresher course! :D

[@GTV-Japan]

Of course! Anytime! I had a lot of material left over and some of that will go into the next video. Next weekend The rest will cover sonic 2s day next year

[@jaycenteno8385]

@@GTV-Japan Alright! Looking forward to that! :) I was wondering if you planned on covering that too, glad to know you will.

[@friendlyninja5048]

I've been watching since the Super Mario Bros. Traffic Safety episode video. Every video feels like a labor of love and professional in quality. Of all the videos on gaming history which I've seen, this channel's are some of the most well-researched. Well done!

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I really appreciate that!! I’m working on the big finale for the year right now. Another Sega game!

[@EnterHacker]

Looking good. I’m definitely a Sonic fan. Nostalgic. I’m watching with Japanese subtitles. Well I think it’s in the video. Super Mario 3 was also badass at the time.

[@GTV-Japan]

The subtitles are the real deal. No auto translate! 🦔

[@pcprinciple3774]

This was better than any history lesson I had at school

[@GTV-Japan]

A+++!

[@daniellechuga7414]

GTV thanks for this video, once again you rock! 🤟🤟

[@GTV-Japan]

Thank you!🦔

[@GameEscape]

Great work. This is the best retro gaming channel on KZbin!

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks for the kind words and support! 🦔

[@daniellechuga7414]

What a video... It's wonderful.

[@paulc1657]

Brings back so many childhood memories

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks for watching! 🦔

[@KokoroNoSama]

Sonics got some collaborations coming up. He'll be in Shin Megami Tensei Dx2 and the Fist of the Northstar Revive later this month. Technically since he's in megaten, Sonic is considered a demon! As always love your vids. A+ quality and flavor. 💙

[@GTV-Japan]

That’s awesome! I’m sure I won’t have time to enjoy those ha ha ha 😢

[@KokoroNoSama]

@@GTV-Japan Relatable. I think I'll be looking forward to the move highlight and event story vids.

[@GTV-Japan]

Yeah. What I need to do is hire someone to play games for me ha

[@Hynotama]

Amazing video. It really tickled my nostalgia bone. Thank you for the effort and dedication you put into it. Guess Sega could learn a thing or two from you.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks! Just wait till get to phantasy star 4! I hope Sega is watching 🦔

[@Hynotama]

@@GTV-Japan you know, I was just thinking... all those idiots who say things like "Sonic was never good", don't realize how much Sonic has changed the industry with his mere appearance. And the fact that Sega of today is trying to turn Sonic into blue Mario and appeal to Mario's players is just sad, considering that Sonic's birth and success was possible precisely because Sonic tried to be not Mario. Well, I suppose there's worse things that can happen to a franchise. It took Assassin's Creed like what? 5 years to go down the drain? Compared to that Sonic really went strong for a while.

[@GTV-Japan]

Well for me I don’t follow any news or trends so I’m unaware of anything. And I just play what I like. It’s better that way!

[@napoleonfeanor]

My first sonic game was Sonic Adventure and I loved it so after it, I tried Maga Drive Sonic games on emulation and it just didn't click with me. The fast gameplay with getting suddenly stopped by touching something I could often not react to in time was just frustrating for the 12/13 old me in 99-01. Growing up in rural Germany,, Nintendo was the natural choice and since buddies of my older brother had an adapter for Murican games, I even played FF6 although my English was mediocre at best during SNES times and learned through games and listening in on my mom asking my bro his English vocabularies.At age 12-14, it was good enough to enjoy fan translation of Jp games. Interestingly, non-Sonic platformers like Ristar were enjoyable for me.

[@GTV-Japan]

That’s interesting to hear! Thanks for sharing your memories 🦔

[@leroyvisiongames2294]

Fun fact: the final boss of Space Harrier was actually named after Hayao Nakayama. It’s name is “Haya-Oh” and was originally exclusive to the home console ports (the arcade version lacked a true final boss and just ended after 8 rematches with previous bosses), but the arcade version was eventually retrofitted with the Haya-Oh boss fight when it was released in emulated form as part of the Sega Ages line.

[@GTV-Japan]

It’s like Yars’ Revenge all over again!

[@Pupppeteer]

This has so much interesting information as expected from your content. But do you think the traditions like you mentioned how in Japan they get paid bonuses regularly and would use that money for why games cost so much still have an impact today with Nintendo as their new games never drop in price lol.

[@GTV-Japan]

Yes. Exactly! Though the bubble is long over, some people still get 1 bonus a year. Not me. I’m poor! But like I said in 2013 the Wii was still 19800¥ and still selling! Hard to believe. The pricing plans also apply to TVs, rice cookers etc. you can’t get a bargain in Japan and people spend whatever the price is without blinking! There are price cuts now but that only happens when a new model or slim or S comes out. So technically each version keeps the same price for as long as it’s on sale. 2ds xl or whatever is still the same price it was when it was new even though it’s discontinued and stores just keep the price till eventually they’re all gone. Thanks for watching friend! 🦔

[@Pupppeteer]

@@GTV-Japan damn!!! I could not be Japanese I over think every purchase. This is absolutely interesting how different cultures approach spending and the economy. I would genuinely love to know more about things like that that western culture might not think much of.

[@GTV-Japan]

Oh I got a million of them

[@themarcosoma]

Tomorrow is a holiday day off, so I had to catch on the Gtv marathon. Kind of sad im almost at the end, but man, what a ride I've had with your videos!!

[@GTV-Japan]

Awesome! I’m working on more so it won’t be long until you’ll have more to see

[@themarcosoma]

@@GTV-Japan Looking fwd to it!! Cheers buddy!

[@GTV-Japan]

I’m getting hit with a lot of “real life” problems. Work and etc. not complaining but that has to come first. But the new videos are coming along

[@themarcosoma]

@@GTV-Japan Totally understand, Sometimes life "attack" and we have to solve it. Take your time to solve them. But if you need any help with mixing/master audio I can help you.

[@GTV-Japan]

Well actually that would be awesome! Because cutting audio takes the longest time. But I can’t ask for that. And I think it would ruin the fun of seeing the episodes for you

[@hellman9655]

I'm looking forward to the upcoming release of Sonic Origins that will feature true 16:9 widescreen. Sonic's speed and small crt screens in 4:3 made sonic +2 annoying at times. I prefer Sonic 1 for this reason.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions!🦔

[@contrapassose7en]

As always, you deliver awesome content with very high production value. I also always learn something new, even on a subject "done to death" like this one. As a kid, I only had an NES and nothing else until I got a PS1 in highschool. Still, I had experience playing both SNES and GEN at other people houses. Mostly, I remember fondly my time playing Genesis at my aunt's house on lunchbreak (she lived near school). Dynamite Headdy, Rocket Knight Adventure and Sonic 2 were my favs. I replayed the first few stages of those games and some others a ton. Never finished them at that time though, but it made me a SEGA fan for life.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks I’m glad you liked the video

[@kennymetz187]

Wow, wow. Gaming historian step aside.

[@protospy9597]

GTV doesn’t make less than 2 hours of content total each year and beg for Patreon money. He’s the real Gaming Historian!

[@GTV-Japan]

Thank you! I appreciate the comments! I’ve always live by the motto of “don’t be the next X Y or Z, be the first you” however. Anyway like always the videos are great fun to make during lunch breaks and train rides home. So great comments like all the ones I received today make it worth it 🦔

[@Pan_Z]

@@protospy9597 This comment's a comical coincidence because I just watched both GTV and Gaming Historian's Super Mario Bros 3 videos recently. They're both good, both similar in structure, and both have a section discussing the methods Nintendo used to hype up Mario 3 in America. Both bring up the film The Wizard, a film that prominently featured Mario 3. In the GTV video, there's just a couple sentences acknowledging the film. GTV then discusses some in-game details & secrets of Mario 3 not in the Gaming Historian video. In Gaming Historian's video, for whatever reason he dedicates 5-minutes to the Wizard. Goes over the plot, the characters, the critical reception. It's all pointless filler only tangentially related to Super Mario Bros 3. I don't have much of a point, other than it's strange Gaming Historian is so popular when he's not even the best at what he does.

[@GTV-Japan]

I can’t comment on something I didn’t make but I usually go light on copyrighted clips to avoid trouble but what was the wizard but an announcement for Mario 3? Actually in September/October 18 when I was making that one I had to stop because I had too much going on at work. Way too much. So it’s kind of unfinished. But anyway if you watch the Mario 3, Mario world and this video you can see they connect and kind of make a trilogy. At least that was the plan!

[@skins4thewin]

I like the trees in the foreground of the Sonic demo! Too bad we didn't get those in the final product.

[@kjdempsey]

Team Sega

[@GTV-Japan]

Bleed blue

[@KenzGamesCollection]

I absolutely loved this video, definitely one of your best videos. It’s so great looking back on how Sega took on Nintendo and won and gave a such an iconic character that’s has his fair share of hits and misses over the years. I’ll watch your Sonic 8 bit video next

[@GTV-Japan]

It was meant to be the marquee video for that year! But eventually all the big sonic releases will get coverage 🦔

[@jamessnedeker4799]

I stumbled upon this at work while procrastinating. Probably wouldn't have paid too much attention except for the You Cant Do That on Televisionesque introduction. Now I'm waiting to go home to watch the rest of this.

[@GTV-Japan]

I see you’re a man of culture too. Thanks for taking time out to watch

[@pidgeo5]

Congrats on getting a call out on NintendoLife! Love the channel and hope it gets more love!

[@GTV-Japan]

Oh? Well hmm I didn’t know that what a great surprise to wake up to! 🦔

[@Charles-qx6yz]

Thanks for making this an hour long, currently using this for a school assignment :)

[@GTV-Japan]

Oh! That’s awesome! I hope you get an A!

[@HeIsTheBluesCat]

Happy 30th to the blue speedster!

[@GTV-Japan]

Celebrate!🦔

[@ericrenaud1733]

Man do I love that Sonic music in the background. Such a great soundtrack the game had

[@GTV-Japan]

Starlight zone is my favorite! I can listen to that forever 💫

[@Diwasho]

21:49 Oh, is that where Sonic Team got the idea for Death Egg in the sequels? It's so wild to see it in a Sonic 1 promo, even in Sonic 2 it still didn't have an outer design, just the name and some interiors. It's funny to think about how a big part of Sonic's games was inspired by Sonic's own commercial.

[@GTV-Japan]

Well. Anything is possible!

[@jamesd4267]

I still love and play Sonic regularly. My son and I love it. The new game is highly anticipated with the free roaming method finally having a part for sonic! Can’t wait! Great video!

[@GTV-Japan]

It’s great to hear you can enjoy So ic with your son!

[@Bole_ZG]

One hour of GTV goodness, awesome!

[@MCastleberry1980]

I was a Nintendo kid, but I remember being at my neighbor's house the day they got a Genesis in '91. Prior to that, the only time I'd played one was at my cousin's back when Altered Beast was the pack in. Still remember us all sitting around, the TV being turned up too loud and "SEGA!" on the start up startled us lol I ended up getting a SNES, and we'd go back and forth to play stuff at my place and theirs, but man, it was a lot of fun playing Sonic for the first time, and me, my brother and my friends all taking turns.

[@GTV-Japan]

Great story! I remember something kind of the same and my neighbors and I had the snes and genesis side by side just in awe of how much better games got in such a short time, back then. Thanks for sharing 🦔🦔🦔

[@segaoldschoolsega925]

I’m getting hyped like back in the 90s all over again

[@GTV-Japan]

Awesome! Set the flux capacitor!

[@dylanjwicklund92]

See with sega they had the 16 bit system earlier which ment more time making games in 16 bit but Nintendo still out did them and were not out as long thats impressive

[@GTV-Japan]

How were they outdone?

[@uncledot1868]

Dude, I love your content! You deserve more subscribers!

[@GTV-Japan]

Thank you!🦔 I’m sure to break 30k soon

[@killingtime4444]

Gasp. I need to come back to this but im excited to sit down and relax to this later

[@GTV-Japan]

Please take your time! 🦔

[@renerios7319]

This channel is definitely underrated. Good work man, keep up the awesome videos! 😎👍

[@GTV-Japan]

I will! Thanks for watching 🦔

[@mrfitz2727]

I vividly remember being 6 years old and how awesome that Christmas was. My parents bought a genesis for my sister and I and just sunk hours into Sonic when we first started playing

[@GTV-Japan]

That’s awesome thanks for sharing 🦔

[@DougUnfunny]

Greg Martin who was the artist who did the U.S. box art. He has done many other box art for other companies and properties. Also if you grew up with TMNT vhs tapes you would have seen his work. Sadly he passed in 2013.

[@GTV-Japan]

Oh no. That’s sad to hear. 🕯

[@Prodmullefc]

I didn't even grow up with Sonic (since I was a nintendo loving weenie lel) but this video was beyond engrossing. The stuff about the character design was fascinating and the original concept art (the drawings that looked real japanese) were awesome looking. I know my comments must be monotonous by now, but thank you so much for all the work you pour into your videos! Even videos about games I wasn't all that into take on a whole new facet of interest.

[@GTV-Japan]

Actually this is quite a unique comment so don’t worry about it. Of course I take every comment to heart and use it as motivation in the future. Glad to hear you liked it. And it is pretty amazing how much hard work went in to it from all hands at Sega plus some lucky timing and what they managed to do in that timeframe. Thanks for watching as always! 🦔🦔🦔🦔

[@topherowlish]

I used to play Sonic 1 Demo station at Sears every time we would go. I could only play it a few minutes as I was use to a joystick rather than control pad. My parents wouldn't buy me a Genesis because we upgraded our PC but once Sonic 2 was added to the Model 2 system, I saved my money and bought it! I also remember Sonic 2 Chemical Plant Zone Act 1 as I was told my Grandpa had died that night while I was playing. It took me days to get there, so it was a shocking feeling to me. I always feel a sense of nostalgia of that moment when I get to that spot.

[@darktetsuya]

been a big sonic fan since the beginning! my fondest memory might be picking up sonic cd and finding it opens with a straight-up anime intro with theme music! definitely blew me away! great retrospective, looking forward to what's next!

[@GTV-Japan]

That was awesome! Before it was available die hard game fan printed a screenshot of each second of the animation it was so crazy to see

[@darktetsuya]

@@GTV-Japan right? I think I remember them also printing the lyrics to the opening (which of course were different in the Japanese version... personally I prefer the US intro, but JP OST... weird right?)

[@GTV-Japan]

I love the sonic boom song. That’s all

[@NoelComiX]

Been waiting for this! Sonic is my fav. video game character.

[@GTV-Japan]

I hope you enjoy it!!🦔

[@NoelComiX]

@@GTV-Japan it was great. Im still annoyed at the changes Sega of America made to the story.

[@GTV-Japan]

Me too. Except Madonna

[@NoelComiX]

@@GTV-Japan Madonna was the most egregious. I have several Madonna and Sonic fan arts on my channel lol.

[@GTV-Japan]

It’s actually very cool. One draft had a connection to Chuck Yeagers first sonic speed flight in 1947

[@anthonyfrench3169]

I think this is my second or third time watching this and the information and how it's presented always brings me back

[@GTV-Japan]

I appreciate that! I try to make videos that stand for all time so I love hearing that you can go back and enjoy it again ❤️

[@stormerbuzz352]

Sonic is the one I grew up with and just watching this made me nostalgic for those days.

[@GTV-Japan]

Thanks for watching 🦔

[@B33FY2011]

The hour of greatness! What an episode absolutely brilliant 👏

[@GTV-Japan]

Thank you for your continued support! 🦔

[@BrothaKyo]

This is actually one of my favorite Sonic 30th anniversary videos on here. So fantastic. Wishful thinking but perhaps down the line, Sonic 2 will get a glorious doc too????

[@GTV-Japan]

Ohhh yes. I guarantee it! Thanks for the support 🦊