Sonic! Software Planning

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Sonic! Software Planning
Founded: 1991
Defunct: 1998
T-series code: T-331
Merged into: Camelot Software Planning
Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Sonic Co. was a development studio established in 1991 by Hiroyuki Takahashi, who had previously been a producer with Enix and had helped Kan Naitoh establish Climax Entertainment in 1990.

The company was established with an investment from Sega, and took its name from Sega's most popular mascot Sonic the Hedgehog. For most of its existence, Sonic handled programming and design internally, while sound and graphics were outsourced to other companies such as Climax Entertainment, and later Camelot Software Planning. Under Sega's direction, the company was responsible for the Shining Force franchise for its entire existence.

In 1994, Hiroyuki Takahashi's brother Shugo Takahashi established Camelot Software Planning, and the two companies would work together on nearly all of Sonic's development projects. In 1998, after production on Shining Force III was completed, Sonic was merged into Camelot, with Hiroyuki Takahashi taking over as Camelot's director.

Softography

Mega Drive

• Shining in the Darkness (1991)
• Shining Force (1992)
• Shining Force II (1993)

Mega-CD

• Shining Force CD (1995)

Game Gear

• Shining Force Gaiden (1992)
• Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya (1994)
• Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict (1995)

Saturn

• Shining Wisdom (1996)
• Shining the Holy Ark (1997)
• Shining Force III (with Camelot Software Planning, 1997)
• Shining Force III Scenario 2 (with Camelot Software Planning, 1998)
• Shining Force III Scenario 3 (with Camelot Software Planning, 1998)
• Shining Force III Premium Disc (1998)

Magazine articles

Main article: Sonic! Software Planning/Magazine articles.