Difference between revisions of "Sonic Team"

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| founded= 1996
 
| founded= 1996
 
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| tseries=
 
 
| mergedwith= [[United Game Artists]] (2003), [[Sega Sports Design R&D Dept.]] (2008)
 
| mergedwith= [[United Game Artists]] (2003), [[Sega Sports Design R&D Dept.]] (2008)
 
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| headquarters=[[wikipedia:Japan|Japan]]
 
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'''Sonic Team''' (ソニックチーム) is a long-standing [[Sega]] brand name typically associated with the ''[[Sonic The Hedgehog]]'' franchise.
  
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'''Sonic Team''' (ソニックチーム) is a label and production team for Sega's development and supervision of the ''[[Sonic The Hedgehog]]'' franchise. It first became used for the original staff of the first ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' game. It became a consistent name in 1996, with the release of the non-Sonic game, ''[[NiGHTS Into Dreams]]''. Since then Sonic Team existed with the corporate division names of [[Sega CS3]], [[Sega Software R&D Dept. 8]], [[Global Entertainment R&D]] and currently [[Sega CS2 (2008-current)|Sega CS2]]. It was it's own standalone division and subsdiary from July of 2001 up to April of 2005. This page compiles all games from these entities, regardless if they have Sonic Team branding or not.
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The original "Sonic Team", formed by programmer [[Yuji Naka]] and artist [[Naoto Oshima]], came into being when developing [[Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive)|the first ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' game]] and was a colloquial term for describing the people involved with said games' development. After Naka moved to the United States to produce ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' at [[Sega Technical Institute]], the term was relegated exclusively to Japanese game packaging, but returned to screens in 1996 when it became a trading name for the newly established [[Sega CS3]] and its first product, ''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]''.
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While the Sonic Team name has since stuck, the team members and corporate structure has changed radically in the intervening years, with the Sonic Team name being used for products developed on both sides of the Pacific. The brand has been used to describe [[Sega CS3]], [[Sega Software R&D Dept. 8]], a separate [[Sonic Team (company)|Sonic Team company]], [[Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 1]] and [[Sega CS2 (2008-current)|the 2008 Sega CS2]]. There was also briefly a [[Sonic Team USA]].
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All of these companies have fulfilled the same basic role; to manage the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' franchise, be it directly developing new games, or overseeing external ''Sonic'' development. Naka and Oshima's desire to make other types of games in the 1990s and early 2000s also means Sonic Team is the face of other Sega properties, including ''NiGHTS'', ''[[Burning Rangers]]'', ''[[ChuChu Rocket]]'', ''[[Samba de Amigo]]'', ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'', ''[[Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg]]'' and following the demise of [[Compile]], ''[[Puyo Puyo]]''.
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<!--
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label and production team for Sega's development and supervision of the ''[[Sonic The Hedgehog]]'' franchise. It first became used for the original staff of the first ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' game. It became a consistent name in 1996, with the release of the non-Sonic game, ''[[NiGHTS Into Dreams]]''. Since then Sonic Team existed with the corporate division names of [[Sega CS3]], [[Sega Software R&D Dept. 8]], [[Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 1]] and currently [[Sega CS2 (2008-current)|Sega CS2]]. It was it's own standalone division and subsidiary from July of 2000 up to April of 2005. This page compiles all games from these entities, regardless if they have Sonic Team branding or not.
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Due to ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' being mainly popular in North America and Europe, it is in much more communication with overseas subsidiaries [[Sega of America]] and [[Sega Europe]] than other development studios of Sega of Japan. Sonic Team existed as an entity outside of Japan for three times, 1991 to 1994, 1999 to 2008 and finally most recently from 2015 onwards.-->
  
 
==Current members==
 
==Current members==
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{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
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*[[Eigo Kasahara]]
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*[[Eitaro Toyoda]]
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*[[Hideaki Moriya]]
 
*[[Hiroshi Miyamoto]]
 
*[[Hiroshi Miyamoto]]
 
*[[Kazuyuki Hoshino]]
 
*[[Kazuyuki Hoshino]]
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*[[Kejiro Murimoto]]
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*[[Kenjiro Morimoto]]
 
*[[Morio Kishimoto]]
 
*[[Morio Kishimoto]]
 
*[[Outa Sano]]
 
*[[Outa Sano]]
 
*[[Sachiko Kawamura]]
 
*[[Sachiko Kawamura]]
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*[[Shinkichi Tanahashi]]
 
*[[Shun Nakamura]]
 
*[[Shun Nakamura]]
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*[[Takeshi Sakakibara]]
 
*[[Takao Hirabayashi]]
 
*[[Takao Hirabayashi]]
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*[[Takashi Iizuka]]
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*[[Takashi Iizuka]] (Head of Studio)
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*[[Yoshitaka Kawabata]]
 
*[[Tetsu Katano]]
 
*[[Tetsu Katano]]
 
*[[Takumi Yoshinaga]]
 
*[[Takumi Yoshinaga]]
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*[[Yoshitaka Miura]]
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*[[Yuji Uekawa]]
 
|cols=4}}
 
|cols=4}}
  
 
==Former members==
 
==Former members==
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{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
*[[Akinori Nishiyama]]
 
*[[Akinori Nishiyama]]
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*[[Akio Setsumasa]]
 
*[[Hirokazu Yasuhara]]
 
*[[Hirokazu Yasuhara]]
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*[[Makoto Suzuki]]
 
*[[Masahiro Kumono]]
 
*[[Masahiro Kumono]]
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*[[Mika Okada]]
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*[[Motomu Hayashi]]
 
*[[Naoto Ohshima]]
 
*[[Naoto Ohshima]]
 
*[[Satoshi Sakai]]
 
*[[Satoshi Sakai]]
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*[[Shinobu Toyoda]]
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*[[Shiro Maekawa]]
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*[[Takahiro Hamano]]
 
*[[Takao Miyoshi]]
 
*[[Takao Miyoshi]]
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*[[Takashi Iizuka]]
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*[[Takumi Miyake]]
 
*[[Takashi Yuda]]
 
*[[Takashi Yuda]]
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*[[Osamu Ohashi]]
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*[[Yasushi Yamaguchi]]
 
*[[Yojiro Ogawa]]
 
*[[Yojiro Ogawa]]
 
*[[Yoshihisa Hashimoto]]
 
*[[Yoshihisa Hashimoto]]
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==History==
 
==History==
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===Sega Consumer R&D era===
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===[[Sega CS|Sega Consumer R&D]]/Sonic Team presents era===
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Back in 1990, Sega had a company wide contest to propose different ideas for a new Sega mascot game. Among the many developers who presented proposals were [[Naoto Ohshima]] and [[Yuji Naka]]. Having previously worked on the ''[[Phantasy Star]]'' series together, the two set off to create the concept that would evolve into the original ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. With Ohshima creating the [[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog|title character]] and Naka working on the engine, rookie designer [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]] was brought on to create the level designs after the project was approved by the company. In addition to programming, Yuji Naka was also the Project Manager of the now Sonic Team, having already several producer credits on his name beforehand. Through the many [[sonic:Game Development:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|twists and turns of development]], the game was finally set to be released.
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In the late eighties, there was an atmosphere at Sega that they needed to create a striking game that can compete against games like Super Mario Bros.. Senior game designer and Alex Kidd creator [[Kotaro Hayashida]] discussed this among executives, and eventually set up the project for ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]''.{{ref|Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works - Kotaro Hayashida Interview}}
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[[Naoto Ohshima]] who had six designer credits, and [[Yuji Naka]], who had eleven programmer credits, presented proposals to Sega. The two set off to create the concept that would evolve into the original ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. With Ohshima creating the [[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog|title character]] and Naka working on the engine, level designer [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]] was brought in round out the project. Through the many [[sonic:Game Development:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|twists and turns of development]], the game was finally set to be released.
  
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With the title becoming an international success, Naka decided in order to get better feedback from the western market, he joined the American based [[Sega Technical Institute]], headed by [[Mark Cerny]]. Coming to America along with Yasuhara (who had been scheduled to become a part of STI before ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' had begun development), the pair would go on to continue the main line of ''Sonic'' titles. Though no longer in the game's credits, the Sonic Team moniker would live on the Japanese packaging for ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'', ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 3|Sonic 3]]'', ''[[sonic:Sonic & Knuckles|Sonic & Knuckles]]'', and the Ohshima-led ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog CD|Sonic CD]]'' developed in Japan.
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With the title becoming an international success, Naka joined the American based [[Sega Technical Institute]], headed by [[Mark Cerny]]. Coming to America along with Yasuhara (who had been scheduled to become a part of STI before ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' had begun development), the pair would go on to continue the main line of ''Sonic'' titles. Though no longer in the game's credits, the Sonic Team moniker would live on the Japanese packaging for ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'', ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 3|Sonic 3]]'', ''[[sonic:Sonic & Knuckles|Sonic & Knuckles]]'', and the Ohshima-led ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog CD|Sonic CD]]'' developed in Japan. By this time Sonic Team was not an official division, however.
  
 
===Sega Consumer R&D3 era===
 
===Sega Consumer R&D3 era===
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After the completion of ''Sonic & Knuckles'', Yasuhara chose to remain in America, while Naka returned to Sega of Japan, heading up his own new division, [[Sega CS3]]. Once there, he teamed back up with Ohshima, the two resurrecting the Sonic Team moniker to work on two new projects, ''[[NiGHTS Into Dreams]]'' and ''[[Burning Rangers]]''.  Naka planned to deliver a Sonic game for the Sega Saturn, however development of ''NiGHTS'' took longer than expected. To compensate he and much of his team travelled to the UK, to assist Travellers Tales on ''[[sonic:Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island|Flickies' Island]]'' and ''[[sonic:Sonic R|Sonic R]]''.{{ref|http://soahcity.com/uploads/2016/06/67979-.png}} Though Yasuhara would remain with the company until 2002, working on different projects, ''Sonic R'' would be the last Sonic Team-related production Yasuhara had any direct involvement with, eventually departing to work for game studio Naughty Dog.
  
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After the completion of ''Sonic & Knuckles'', Yasuhara chose to remain in America, while Naka returned to Sega of Japan, heading up his own new division, [[Sega CS3]]. Once there, he teamed back up with Ohshima, the two resurrecting the Sonic Team moniker to work on two new projects, ''[[NiGHTS Into Dreams]]'' and ''[[Burning Rangers]]''. The only Sonic-related output was the compilation ''[[sonic:Sonic Jam|Sonic Jam]]'', along with some supervised work on ''[[sonic:Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island|Flickies' Island]]'' and ''[[sonic:Sonic R|Sonic R]]''. Though Yasuhara he would remain with the company until 2002, working on different Sega Europe projects, ''Sonic R'' would be the last Sonic Team-related production Yasuhara had any direct involvement with, eventually departing to work for game studio Naughty Dog.
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The first fully 3D ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' title, ''[[sonic:Sonic Adventure|Sonic Adventure]]'' would become one of the flagship video games for the new [[Sega Dreamcast]]. It was also the last title Ohshima had any involvement with, leaving the company to co-found the studio [[Artoon]]. Sonic Adventure signalized a new era for Sonic Team, with Yuji Naka no longer leading the programming and having neither Oshima or Yasuhara directing. Takashi Iizuka, who worked on ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]'' succeeded Yasuhara in directing and leading the design. [[Kazuyuki Hoshino]], visual designer of ''[[Sonic CD]]'' and ''[[Knuckles Chaotix]]'', succeeded Oshima in determining the look of the franchise. On the programming side, 1992 hire [[Tetsu Katano]] was brought in as the lead engineer from then on.
  
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In the twilight moments of the 32-bit era, Sonic Team decided to return to the Sonic franchise to create the first fully 3D ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' title. Though initial development began on [[Sega Saturn]] hardware, ''[[sonic:Sonic Adventure|Sonic Adventure]]'' would instead become one of the flagship video games for the new [[Sega Dreamcast]]. It was also the last title Ohshima had any involvement with, leaving the company to co-found the studio [[Artoon]]. Sonic Adventure signalized a new era for Sonic Team, with Yuji Naka no longer leading the programming and having neither Oshima or Yasuhara directing. Takashi Iizuka, who worked on ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]'' succeeded Yasuhara in directing and leading the design. [[Kazuyuki Hoshino]], designer of Amy and Metal Sonic, succeeded Oshima in determining the look of the franchise. On the programming side, 1995 hire [[Tetsu Katano]] was brought in as the lead engineer from then on.
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===Sega Software #8/Sonic Team Co., Ltd. era===
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Around the time Sega became a platform agnostic developer and publisher, Sega Chairman [[Isao Okawa]], had a request to develop a fully online game for the Sega Dreamcast. Sonic Team was the only team to have free staff at the time. So they took on the project and made strides with action puzzler ''[[Chu Chu Rocket]]'' and then the entire ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' franchise. ''[[Samba De Amigo]]'' was also a successfull project for the arcade market, as it was always Yuji Naka's desire to develop an arcade game for Sega. Altough Sonic Team Japan had developed an action platformer in-house during that period, with ''[[Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg]]''. In October of 2003, Sega decided to consolidate their in-house development teams. Sonic Team Japan gained members who worked on the ''[[Space Channel 5]]'' and ''[[Roommania #203]]'' games. Those developers would go on to create several games. Such as the PlayStation 2 [[Astro Boy]] game, as well as the reboot of the [[:category:Puyo Puyo|''Puyo Puyo'' series]], ''[[Puyo Pop Fever]]''. For handhelds, they developed the ''[[Feel the Magic XY/XX]]'' and ''[[The Rub Rabbits!]]'' games.
  
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===Sega Software #8/Sonic Team era===
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[[Sonic Team USA]] was established to further develop 3D Sonic games. Headed by Takashi Iizuka, it had only 11 members of the then 120 man strong Sonic Adventure development team.{{ref|1=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/11/09/where-sonic-went-wrong.aspx?PostPageIndex=2}} Though their first official assignment was making sure ''Sonic Adventure'' was ready for a western release, the real reason they came into existence was the 2001's ''[[sonic:Sonic Adventure 2|Sonic Adventure 2]]'' and Sonic Team's first multiplatform title, ''[[:sonic:Sonic Heroes|Sonic Heroes]]''.
  
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In Japan, Sonic Team made strides in online gaming with ''[[Chu Chu Rocket]]'' and ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]''. ''[[Samba De Amigo]]'' was also a successfull project for the arcade market. Other non-Sonic projects would inlclude ''[[Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg]]'' and further entires into the ''[[:category:Phantasy Star|Phantasy Star]]'' franchise. Sonic Team USA, headed by Takashi Iizuka, on the other hand, focused primarily on Sonic. Though their first official assignment was making sure ''Sonic Adventure'' was ready for a western release, the real reason they came into existence was the 2001's ''[[sonic:Sonic Adventure 2|Sonic Adventure 2]]'' and Sonic Team's first multiplatform title, ''[[:sonic:Sonic Heroes|Sonic Heroes]]''. It was also around this time that Sonic Team began their long-term partnership with [[Dimps]], who worked to create ''[[sonic:Sonic Pocket Adventure|Sonic Pocket Adventure]]'', and become involved in nearly every handheld Sonic title that would follow. Long time Sega employee, [[Akinori Nishiyama]] would manage that relationship working as a Director since ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' onwards.
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It was also around this time that Sonic Team began their long-term partnership with [[Dimps]], who worked to create ''[[sonic:Sonic Pocket Adventure|Sonic Pocket Adventure]]'', and become involved in nearly every handheld Sonic title that would follow. Long time Sega employee, [[Akinori Nishiyama]] would manage that relationship working as a director since ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' onwards.
  
 
===Global Entertainment R&D1 era===
 
===Global Entertainment R&D1 era===
 +
In April of 2005, Sega decided to move their development studios back into the structure before July of 2000, with unbranded R&D studios. The core development Sonic Team group was stationed at Global Entertainment R&D1, headed by [[Akinori Nishiyama]], while the ''Phantasy Star'' team spunned of off into [[Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 3]] headed by [[Takao Miyoshi]]. [[Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 2]] also existed, but was a continuation of [[Sega Wow]], previously Overworks. Yuji Naka was asked to oversee all three of those departments, eventually becoming dissatisfied with the position of having almost no hands-on development. So he decided to leave Sega to form the company Prope in May of 2006. Prope had financial backing by Sega, which lead to  Sega publishing the first two games of the studio, ''[[Let's Tap]]'' and ''[[Let's Catch]]''.
  
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In October of 2003, Sega decided to consolidate their in-house development teams. Sonic Team Japan gained members who worked on the ''[[Space Channel 5]]'' and ''[[Roommania #203]]'' games. Those developers would go on to create several games. Such as the PlayStation 2 [[Astro Boy]] game, the multiplattform ''[[:sonic:Sonic Riders|Sonic Riders]]'' series, as well as the reboot of the [[:category:Puyo Puyo|''Puyo Puyo'' series]], ''[[Puyo Pop Fever]]''. The many sequels it received have remained Japan exclusive. For handhelds, they developed the ''[[Feel the Magic XY/XX]]'' and ''[[The Rub Rabbits!]]'' games, as well as two entries in the Sega edutainment series ''[[:category:Naruhodo|Naruhodo]]'', aimed at a Japanese audience.  
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The teams behind the ''Puyo Puyo'' and ''Rub Rabbits games'' continued to develop games mainly for the Japanese audience, with the many ''Puyo Puyo'' sequels, as well as three entries in the Sega edutainment series ''[[:category:Naruhodo|Naruhodo]]''.  
  
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Yuji Naka moved higher and higher within the corporate ladder of Sega, eventually becoming dissatisfied with the position of having almost no hands-on development. So he decided to leave Sega to form the company Prope in May of 2006. Prope had financial backing by Sega, which lead to  Sega publishing the first two games of the studio, ''[[Let's Tap]]'' and ''[[Let's Catch]]''. [[Akinori Nishiyama]] who last directed [[:sonic:Sonic Rush|Sonic Rush]], would replace Yuji Naka as the studio head during this period.
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Sonic Team USA (eventually renamed Sega Studio USA in 2004), developed further games with ''[[:sonic:Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams]]'' along with supervising ''[[Sonic Rivals]]'' and ''[[Sonic Rivals 2]]''. Sonic Team in Japan returned to developing entries for the ''Sonic'' franchise. They developed the ''[[Sonic Riders]]'' games, ''[[:sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 game)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2006]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic and the Secret Rings|Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic Unleashed|Sonic Unleashed]]'' and ''[[:sonic:Sonic and the Black Knights|Sonic and the Black Knight]]''.  
  
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Sonic Team USA (eventually renamed Sega Studio USA in 2004), developed further games with ''[[:sonic:Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams]]''. Sonic Team in Japan returned to developing mainstream entries into the ''Sonic'' franchise. They developed ''[[:sonic:Sonic The Hedgehog 2006|Sonic the Hedgehog 2006]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic and the Secret Rings|Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic Unleashed|Sonic Unleashed]]'' and ''[[:sonic:Sonic and the Black Knights|Sonic and the Black Knight]]''.  
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The Sonic games received negative to middling reviews, particulary it was ''Sonic 06'' that received a wide negative reception. Meanwhile ''Sonic Unleashed'' and ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'' were better received, providing templates for future Sonic games.  
  
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All of these games received negative to middling reviews, particulary it was ''Sonic 06'' that received a wide negative reception. Meanwhile ''Sonic Unleashed'' and ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'' were better received, providing templates for future Sonic games. Main complaints from critics drive back from gameplay methods being acceptable in the early 2000's, but not anymore.
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Akinori Nishiyama and Takashi Iizuka referred to tight deadlines, as well in Iizukas case, too little resources, on the less than stellar reception of these titles.
  
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Akinori Nishiyama and Takashi Iizuka referred to tight deadlines, as well in Iizukas case, too little resources, on the less than stellar reception of these titles.
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In 2006, Yuji Naka, the last original member of Sonic Team, left the company during the development of ''Sonic 06'' to form his own development studio [[Prope]].
  
 
===Sega Consumer R&D2 era===
 
===Sega Consumer R&D2 era===
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In May 2008, Sega GE1 was renamed Consumer R&D2. Sega Studio USA moved back into Sonic Team Japan and Takashi Iizuka was made the head of the operation. Since, Sonic Team developed ''[[:sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4|Sonic the Hedgehog 4]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic Colors|Sonic Colors]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic Generations|Sonic Generations]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic Lost World|Sonic Lost World]]'', and is currently developing ''[[:sonic:Sonic Forces|Sonic Forces]]''.
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While previously ''[[:sonic:Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' was co-developed with [[Sega Sports Design R&D Dept.]], following games were solely developed within CS2 or Sonic Team since the dissolvence of Sports Design after the first game.
  
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In May 2008, Sega reschuffled it's development teams again. So the oppurtunity came to revitalize the Sonic Team development enviorment. Sega Studio USA and Sonic Team Japan were merged back together into a single entity, and Takashi Iizuka was made the head of the operation. In addition developer reshuffling created an enviorment which allowed the CS2 division to better focus on Sonic projects. ''Phantasy Star'' with their associated developers were moved out of Sonic Team, with Akinori Nishiyama going to [[Sega CS3 (2008-current)|Sega CS3]]. In trade, Sonic Team (or CS2) now has members of the dissolved [[Sega Sports Design R&D Dept.]] who developed ''[[:sonic:Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'', which became a bi-yearly series. Since then, Sonic Team developed ''[[:sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4|Sonic the Hedgehog 4]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic Colors|Sonic Colors]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic Generations|Sonic Generations]]'', ''[[:sonic:Sonic Lost World|Sonic Lost World]]'', and is currently developing ''[[:sonic:Sonic Forces|Sonic Forces]]''. All of these games would departure from the philosphy found in console games since ''Sonic Adventure'', by having a "back to basics" approach, resembling more of the original Mega Drive games.
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Following the poor reception of the ''[[Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric]]'' game, Sonic Team once again established a office within Sega of America. However it does not have a development team like before, but mainly serves to better supervise western Sonic projects.
  
 
==Softography==
 
==Softography==
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{{multicol|
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{{CompanyHistoryAll|Sonic Team}}
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===[[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]]===
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (1991)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' (1992) (with [[Sega Technical Institute]])
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 3|Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' (1994)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic & Knuckles|Sonic & Knuckles]]''  (1994)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island|Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'' (1996) (with [[Traveller's Tales]])
 
−
 
 
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===[[Sega Mega CD|Mega CD]]===
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog CD|Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' (1993)
 
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===[[Sega Saturn|Saturn]]===
 
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*''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[Christmas NiGHTS]]'' (1996)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island|Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'' (1996) (with Traveller's Tales)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Jam|Sonic Jam]]'' (1997)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic R|Sonic R]]'' (1997) (with Traveller's Tales)
 
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*''[[Burning Rangers]]'' (1998)
 
−
 
 
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===[[Sega Dreamcast|Dreamcast]]===
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Adventure|Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Adventure International|Sonic Adventure International]]'' (1998) (as Sonic Team USA)
 
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*''[[ChuChu Rocket!]]'' (1999)
 
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*''[[Samba de Amigo]]'' (2000)
 
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*''[[Samba de Amigo Ver. 2000]]'' (2000)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Shuffle|Sonic Shuffle]]'' (2000) (with [[Hudson]])
 
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*''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' (2000)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Adventure 2|Sonic Adventure 2]]'' (2001) (as Sonic Team USA)
 
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*''[[Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2]]'' (2001)
 
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*''[[Puyo Pop Fever]]'' (2004)
 
−
 
 
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===[[Sega NAOMI|NAOMI]]===
 
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*''[[Samba de Amigo]]'' (2000)
 
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*''[[Samba de Amigo Ver. 2000]]'' (2000)
 
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*''[[Puyo Pop Fever]]'' (2003)
 
−
 
 
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===[[Neo Geo Pocket Color]]===
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure|Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure]]'' (2000) (with Dimps)
 
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===[[Game Boy Advance]]===
 
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*''[[ChuChu Rocket!]]'' (2001)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Advance|Sonic Advance]]'' (2002)  (with Dimps)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Advance 2|Sonic Advance 2]]'' (2003)  (with Dimps)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Pinball Party|Sonic Pinball Party]]'' (2003) (with [[Jupiter]])
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Battle|Sonic Battle]]'' (2004)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Advance 3|Sonic Advance 3]]'' (2004) (with Dimps)
 
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===[[N-Gage]]===
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic N|Sonic N]]'' (2003)  (with Dimps)
 
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===[[PlayStation 2]]===
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Heroes|Sonic Heroes]]'' (2003) (as Sonic Team USA)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Mega Collection Plus|Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' (2004)
 
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*''[[Sega Superstars]]'' (2004)
 
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*''[[Astro Boy]]'' (2004)
 
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*''[[Puyo Pop Fever]]'' (2004)
 
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*''[[sonic:Sonic Gems Collection|Sonic Gems Collection]]'' (2005)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' (2005) (as Sega Studios USA)
 
−
*''[[Puyo Puyo Fever 2]]'' (2005)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Riders|Sonic Riders]]'' (2006) (with Now Production]])
 
−
*''[[Phantasy Star Universe]]'' (2006)
 
−
*''[[Puyo Puyo!]]'' (2007)
 
−
*''[[Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus]]'' (2007)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity|Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity]]'' (2008)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Unleashed|Sonic Unleashed]]'' (2008) (with Dimps)
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Nintendo DS]]===
 
−
* ''[[Feel the Magic: XY/XX]]'' (2004)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Pop Fever]]'' (2004)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Pop Fever 2]]'' (2005)
 
−
*''[[The Rub Rabbits!]]'' (2005)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Rush|Sonic Rush]]'' (2005) (with Dimps)
 
−
* ''[[Nounenrei Nou-Stress Kei Atama Scan]]'' (2006)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo!]]'' (2007)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Rush Adventure|Sonic Rush Adventure]]'' (2007) (with Dimps)
 
−
* ''[[Onsei Kanjou Sokuteiki: Kokoro Scan]]'' (2007)
 
−
* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]'' (2009)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo 7]]'' (2009)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Colours|Sonic Colours]]'' (2010) (with Dimps)
 
−
* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]'' (2011)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo!!]]'' (2011)
 
−
 
 
−
===[[PlayStation Portable]]===
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Pop Fever]]'' (2004)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Pop Fever 2]]'' (2005)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo!]]'' (2007)
 
−
*''[[Phantasy Star Portable]]'' (2008) (with [[Sega CS3 (2008-current)|Sega CS3]] and Alfa System)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo 7]]'' (2009)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo!!]]'' (2011)
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Xbox 360]]===
 
−
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (2006)
 
−
*''[[Phantasy Star Universe]]'' (2006)
 
−
*''[[Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus]]'' (2007)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Unleashed|Sonic Unleashed]]'' (2008)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I]]'' (2010) (with Dimps)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic  Free Riders|Sonic  Free Riders]]'' (2010)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Generations|Sonic Generations]]'' (2011)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II]]'' (2012) (with Dimps)
 
  
−
===[[Nintendo Wii|Wii]]===
+
[[Category:Use CompanyHistoryAll template]]
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic and the Secret Rings|Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' (2007) (with Now Production)
 
−
*''[[NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams]]'' (2007) (as Sega Studios USA)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo!]]'' (2007)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity|Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity]]'' (2008)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Unleashed|Sonic Unleashed]]'' (2008) (with Dimps)
 
−
* ''[[The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return]]'' (2008) (with [[Sega AM1 (2005-current)|Sega AM1]])
 
−
* ''[[sonic:Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]''  (2009)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo 7]]'' (2009)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic and the Black Knight|Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' (2009)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Colours|Sonic Colours]]'' (2010)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1]]'' (2010) (with Dimps)
 
−
* ''[[sonic:Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games|Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]'' (2011)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo!!]]'' (2011)
 
  
−
===[[PlayStation 3]]===
+
===[[Wii]]===
−
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (2006)
+
*''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' (2007) (with [[Sega Sports Design R&D Dept.]])
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Unleashed|Sonic Unleashed]]'' (2008)
+
* ''[[The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return]]'' (2008) (with [[Sega AM1 (2005-2011)|Sega AM1]])
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I]]'' (2010) (with Dimps)
+
*''[[Wacky World of Sports]]'' (2010) (with Tabot)
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Generations|Sonic Generations]]'' (2011)  
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II]]'' (2012) (with Dimps)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris]]'' (2014)
 
  
 
=== [[Nintendo 3DS]] ===
 
=== [[Nintendo 3DS]] ===
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo!! 20th Anniversary]]'' (2011)
 
−
* ''[[Sonic Generations]]'' (2011) (with [[Dimps]])
 
−
* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]'' (2012)
 
 
* ''[[Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure]]'' (2012) (with xeen)
 
* ''[[Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure]]'' (2012) (with xeen)
−
* ''[[Sonic Lost World]]'' (2013) (with [[Dimps]])
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris]]'' (2014)
 
−
* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]'' (2016)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo Chronicle]]'' (2016)
 
  
 
=== [[PlayStation Vita]] ===
 
=== [[PlayStation Vita]] ===
 
* ''[[Uta Kumi 575]]'' (2014)
 
* ''[[Uta Kumi 575]]'' (2014)
−
 
−
===[[Xbox One]]===
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris]]'' (2014)
 
−
* ''[[Sonic Forces]]'' (2017)
 
−
 
−
===[[PlayStation 4]]===
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris]]'' (2014)
 
−
* ''[[Sonic Forces]]'' (2017)
 
−
 
−
===[[Wii U]]===
 
−
* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]'' (2013)
 
−
* ''[[Sonic Lost World]]'' (2013)
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris]]'' (2014)
 
−
* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]'' (2016)
 
−
 
−
===[[Nintendo Switch]]===
 
−
* ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris|Puyo Puyo Tetris S]]'' (2017)
 
−
* ''[[Sonic Forces]]'' (2017)
 
−
 
−
===[[iOS]]===
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I]]'' (2010) (with Dimps)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II]]'' (2012) (with Dimps)
 
−
* ''[[Rhythm Thief & the Paris Caper]]'' (2014)
 
−
* ''[[Uta Kumi 575]]'' (2014)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Runners|Sonic Runners]]'' (2015)
 
−
 
−
===Android===
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1]]'' (2010) (with Dimps)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II|Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II]]'' (2012) (w/Dimps)
 
−
* ''[[Rhythm Thief & the Paris Caper]]'' (2014)
 
−
* ''[[Uta Kumi 575]]'' (2014)
 
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic Runners|Sonic Runners]]'' (2015)
 
  
 
===Canceled Titles===
 
===Canceled Titles===
 
*''[[Air NiGHTS]]'' (1998)
 
*''[[Air NiGHTS]]'' (1998)
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic DS|Sonic DS]]'' (2004)
+
*''[[Sonic DS]]'' (2004)
−
*''[[Fifth Phantom Saga]]'' (2005)
 
−
|cols=3}}
 
  
 
==Filmography==
 
==Filmography==
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog (anime)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (Anime, OVA, Japan) (1996)
+
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (Anime, OVA, Japan) (1996)
−
*''[[sonic:Sonic X|Sonic X]]'' (Anime, TV Series, Japan) (2003)
+
*''[[Sonic X]]'' (Anime, TV Series, Japan) (2003)
−
*''[[sonic:Night of the Werehog|Night of the Werehog]]'' (Short 3D Animation) (2008)
+
*''[[Night of the Werehog]]'' (Short 3D Animation) (2008)
 +
*''[[Sonic Boom]]'' (TV Series, USA and France) (2014)
 +
 
 +
==Photographs==
 +
:''Main article: [[:Category:Photos of {{PAGENAME}}|Photos of {{PAGENAME}}]]
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
−
*[http://www.sonicteam.com Sonic Team] official website
+
*[http://www.sonicteam.com Official website]
 +
*''[https://sonicretro.org/2011/06/23/once-upon-a-time-or-twenty-years-ago/ Once Upon A Time (Or Thirty Years Ago)]'' article by David the Lurker at [https://sonicretro.org/ Sonic Retro]
 +
*''[https://sonicretro.org/2021/06/23/once-upon-a-time-or-thirty-years-ago/ Once Upon A Time (Or Thirty Years Ago)]'' article by David the Lurker at [https://sonicretro.org/ Sonic Retro]
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
  
 
{{clear}}
 
{{clear}}
 
{{SoJ}}
 
{{SoJ}}

Latest revision as of 15:35, 13 September 2024

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Sonicteam.svg
Sonic Team
Founded: 1996
Merged with: United Game Artists (2003), Sega Sports Design R&D Dept. (2008)
Headquarters:
Japan

Sonic Team (ソニックチーム) is a long-standing Sega brand name typically associated with the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise.

The original "Sonic Team", formed by programmer Yuji Naka and artist Naoto Oshima, came into being when developing the first Sonic the Hedgehog game and was a colloquial term for describing the people involved with said games' development. After Naka moved to the United States to produce Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at Sega Technical Institute, the term was relegated exclusively to Japanese game packaging, but returned to screens in 1996 when it became a trading name for the newly established Sega CS3 and its first product, NiGHTS into Dreams.

While the Sonic Team name has since stuck, the team members and corporate structure has changed radically in the intervening years, with the Sonic Team name being used for products developed on both sides of the Pacific. The brand has been used to describe Sega CS3, Sega Software R&D Dept. 8, a separate Sonic Team company, Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 1 and the 2008 Sega CS2. There was also briefly a Sonic Team USA.

All of these companies have fulfilled the same basic role; to manage the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, be it directly developing new games, or overseeing external Sonic development. Naka and Oshima's desire to make other types of games in the 1990s and early 2000s also means Sonic Team is the face of other Sega properties, including NiGHTS, Burning Rangers, ChuChu Rocket, Samba de Amigo, Phantasy Star Online, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg and following the demise of Compile, Puyo Puyo.


Current members

Former members

History

Sega Consumer R&D/Sonic Team presents era

In the late eighties, there was an atmosphere at Sega that they needed to create a striking game that can compete against games like Super Mario Bros.. Senior game designer and Alex Kidd creator Kotaro Hayashida discussed this among executives, and eventually set up the project for Sonic the Hedgehog.[1]

Naoto Ohshima who had six designer credits, and Yuji Naka, who had eleven programmer credits, presented proposals to Sega. The two set off to create the concept that would evolve into the original Sonic the Hedgehog. With Ohshima creating the title character and Naka working on the engine, level designer Hirokazu Yasuhara was brought in round out the project. Through the many twists and turns of development, the game was finally set to be released.

With the title becoming an international success, Naka joined the American based Sega Technical Institute, headed by Mark Cerny. Coming to America along with Yasuhara (who had been scheduled to become a part of STI before Sonic the Hedgehog had begun development), the pair would go on to continue the main line of Sonic titles. Though no longer in the game's credits, the Sonic Team moniker would live on the Japanese packaging for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and the Ohshima-led Sonic CD developed in Japan. By this time Sonic Team was not an official division, however.

Sega Consumer R&D3 era

After the completion of Sonic & Knuckles, Yasuhara chose to remain in America, while Naka returned to Sega of Japan, heading up his own new division, Sega CS3. Once there, he teamed back up with Ohshima, the two resurrecting the Sonic Team moniker to work on two new projects, NiGHTS Into Dreams and Burning Rangers. Naka planned to deliver a Sonic game for the Sega Saturn, however development of NiGHTS took longer than expected. To compensate he and much of his team travelled to the UK, to assist Travellers Tales on Flickies' Island and Sonic R.[2] Though Yasuhara would remain with the company until 2002, working on different projects, Sonic R would be the last Sonic Team-related production Yasuhara had any direct involvement with, eventually departing to work for game studio Naughty Dog.

The first fully 3D Sonic the Hedgehog title, Sonic Adventure would become one of the flagship video games for the new Sega Dreamcast. It was also the last title Ohshima had any involvement with, leaving the company to co-found the studio Artoon. Sonic Adventure signalized a new era for Sonic Team, with Yuji Naka no longer leading the programming and having neither Oshima or Yasuhara directing. Takashi Iizuka, who worked on Sonic 3 & Knuckles succeeded Yasuhara in directing and leading the design. Kazuyuki Hoshino, visual designer of Sonic CD and Knuckles Chaotix, succeeded Oshima in determining the look of the franchise. On the programming side, 1992 hire Tetsu Katano was brought in as the lead engineer from then on.

Sega Software #8/Sonic Team Co., Ltd. era

Around the time Sega became a platform agnostic developer and publisher, Sega Chairman Isao Okawa, had a request to develop a fully online game for the Sega Dreamcast. Sonic Team was the only team to have free staff at the time. So they took on the project and made strides with action puzzler Chu Chu Rocket and then the entire Phantasy Star Online franchise. Samba De Amigo was also a successfull project for the arcade market, as it was always Yuji Naka's desire to develop an arcade game for Sega. Altough Sonic Team Japan had developed an action platformer in-house during that period, with Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg. In October of 2003, Sega decided to consolidate their in-house development teams. Sonic Team Japan gained members who worked on the Space Channel 5 and Roommania #203 games. Those developers would go on to create several games. Such as the PlayStation 2 Astro Boy game, as well as the reboot of the Puyo Puyo series, Puyo Pop Fever. For handhelds, they developed the Feel the Magic XY/XX and The Rub Rabbits! games.

Sonic Team USA was established to further develop 3D Sonic games. Headed by Takashi Iizuka, it had only 11 members of the then 120 man strong Sonic Adventure development team.[3] Though their first official assignment was making sure Sonic Adventure was ready for a western release, the real reason they came into existence was the 2001's Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Team's first multiplatform title, Sonic Heroes.

It was also around this time that Sonic Team began their long-term partnership with Dimps, who worked to create Sonic Pocket Adventure, and become involved in nearly every handheld Sonic title that would follow. Long time Sega employee, Akinori Nishiyama would manage that relationship working as a director since Sonic Advance onwards.

Global Entertainment R&D1 era

In April of 2005, Sega decided to move their development studios back into the structure before July of 2000, with unbranded R&D studios. The core development Sonic Team group was stationed at Global Entertainment R&D1, headed by Akinori Nishiyama, while the Phantasy Star team spunned of off into Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 3 headed by Takao Miyoshi. Global Entertainment R&D Dept. 2 also existed, but was a continuation of Sega Wow, previously Overworks. Yuji Naka was asked to oversee all three of those departments, eventually becoming dissatisfied with the position of having almost no hands-on development. So he decided to leave Sega to form the company Prope in May of 2006. Prope had financial backing by Sega, which lead to Sega publishing the first two games of the studio, Let's Tap and Let's Catch.

The teams behind the Puyo Puyo and Rub Rabbits games continued to develop games mainly for the Japanese audience, with the many Puyo Puyo sequels, as well as three entries in the Sega edutainment series Naruhodo.

Sonic Team USA (eventually renamed Sega Studio USA in 2004), developed further games with Shadow the Hedgehog and NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams along with supervising Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2. Sonic Team in Japan returned to developing entries for the Sonic franchise. They developed the Sonic Riders games, Sonic the Hedgehog 2006, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sonic Unleashed and Sonic and the Black Knight.

The Sonic games received negative to middling reviews, particulary it was Sonic 06 that received a wide negative reception. Meanwhile Sonic Unleashed and Sonic and the Secret Rings were better received, providing templates for future Sonic games.

Akinori Nishiyama and Takashi Iizuka referred to tight deadlines, as well in Iizukas case, too little resources, on the less than stellar reception of these titles.

In 2006, Yuji Naka, the last original member of Sonic Team, left the company during the development of Sonic 06 to form his own development studio Prope.

Sega Consumer R&D2 era

In May 2008, Sega GE1 was renamed Consumer R&D2. Sega Studio USA moved back into Sonic Team Japan and Takashi Iizuka was made the head of the operation. Since, Sonic Team developed Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, Sonic Lost World, and is currently developing Sonic Forces.

While previously Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was co-developed with Sega Sports Design R&D Dept., following games were solely developed within CS2 or Sonic Team since the dissolvence of Sports Design after the first game.

Following the poor reception of the Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric game, Sonic Team once again established a office within Sega of America. However it does not have a development team like before, but mainly serves to better supervise western Sonic projects.

Softography

Mega Drive

Mega-CD

Saturn

Game Boy Advance

PlayStation 2

GameCube

Xbox

Nintendo DS

PlayStation Portable

Xbox 360

PlayStation 3

Wii

Nintendo 3DS

PlayStation Vita

Wii U

PlayStation 4

Xbox One

PlayStation Now

Nintendo Switch

PlayStation 5

Windows PC

Steam

Android

iOS

Wii

Nintendo 3DS

PlayStation Vita

Canceled Titles

Filmography

Photographs

Main article: Photos of Sonic Team

External links

References

  1. ↑ [Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works - Kotaro Hayashida Interview Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works - Kotaro Hayashida Interview]
  2. ↑ http://soahcity.com/uploads/2016/06/67979-.png
  3. ↑ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/11/09/where-sonic-went-wrong.aspx?PostPageIndex=2


Timeline of Sega of Japan research and development divisions








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