Sonic Team

Sonic Team logo.

One of SEGA's most loved creatives, Sonic Team took their name from their phenomenally successful Sonic the Hedgehog series. They were formerly Sega AM8 and were established in 1990, though no games were released under that title.

The original head of the development team was Yuji Naka, producer and visionary; under his leadership they have realized some of the most greatest games of all time, however most of the original team have now left and the division is seen as but as shadow of what it once was. For a time Yuji Naka was known as "YU2", with Yu Suzuki of Sega AM2 fame being "YU1".

The creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, Naoto Ohshima, left Sonic Team in 1999 to form his own studio, Artoon. Hirokazu Yasuhara another developer key to Sonic's success, left Sonic Team in 2002, and moved to Naughty Dog. Yuji Naka left Sonic Team to form his own studio, Prope in 2006.

Sonic Team had a North American branch named Sonic Team USA. It was situated in San Francisco, California from 1999 to 2008 and was headded by former Sonic designer Takashi Iizuka. Sonic Team USA has since been merged back into the Japanese division, and Iizuka was promoted as head, where he remains until this day.

The Sonic Team has also worked on television series adaptations of one of their most popular games they've developed and the basis of the name for the development team, Sonic.

Sonic Team is one of the few research and development divisions within Sega that has not seen a significant overhaul in recent years. They have been merged with other departments however, such as United Game Artists in 2003, and obtained the assets of Compile's Puyo Puyo series when they went bust in 2002. There was also a brief period in the early 1990s where many of Sonic Team's staff moved over to Sega Technical Institute in the US. In recent times, Sonic Team have been known to collaborate with other development teams, such as Dimps, Smilebit and even Nintendo.

Softography

• Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
• Sonic Eraser (1991)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) (also with Sega Technical Institute)
• Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993)
• Sonic Spinball (1993) (also with Sega Technical Institute)
• SegaSonic the Hedgehog (1993) (also with Hitmaker)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) (also with Sega Technical Institute)
• Sonic & Knuckles (1994) (also with Sega Technical Institute)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (1994) (also with Sega Technical Institute)
• Sonic Crackers (1994) (Cancelled But Replaced to Make Knuckles' Chaotix)
• Knuckles' Chaotix (1995)
• Ristar (1995)
• Sonic Xtreme (1996) (also with Sega Technical Institute But Cancelled)
• Sonic the Fighters (1996) (Replace Made By Sega AM2)
• NiGHTS into Dreams (1996)
• Christmas NiGHTS (1996)
• Sonic 3D Blast (1996) (also with Traveller's Tales)
• Sonic Jam (1997)
• Sonic R (1997) (also with Traveller's Tales)
• Burning Rangers (1998)
• Sonic Adventure (1998)
• Sonic Adventure International (1998)
• Air Nights (1998) (Cancelled but replaced to make NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams)
• ChuChu Rocket! (1999)
• Samba de Amigo (2000)
• Samba de Amigo Ver.2000 (2000)
• Sonic Shuffle (2000)
• Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure (2000) (also with Dimps)
• Phantasy Star Online (2000)
• Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 (2001)
• Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
• Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (2002)
• Sonic Mega Collection (2002)
• Sonic Advance (2002) (also with Dimps)
• Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II (2002)
• Sonic X (TV Animation) (2003) (Japan Only Until Episode 52 and other countries Until all Episode. but Nouth Korea and South Korea was Not launched.)
• Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut (2003)
• Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Plus (2003)
• Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution (2003)
• Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (2003)
• Sonic Advance 2 (2003) (also with Dimps)
• Sonic Pinball Party (2003)
• Sonic Battle (2004)
• Sonic Heroes (2004)
• Sonic Mega Collection Plus (2004)
• Sonic DS (2004) (Cancelled but replaced to make Sonic Rush)
• Sonic Advance 3 (2004) (also with Dimps)
• Feel the Magic XY/XX (2004)
• Sega Superstars (2004)
• Astro Boy (2004)
• Puyo Pop Fever (2004)
• Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst (2004)
• Phantasy Star Online Episode 4 (2005)
• Puyo Puyo Fever 2 (2005)
• The Rub Rabbits! (2005)
• Sonic Gems Collection (2005)
• Sonic Rush (2005) (also with Dimps)
• Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)
• Fifth Phantom Saga (2005) (Cancelled)
• Sonic Riders (2006)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
• Sonic Rivals (2006) (Replace Made By Backbone Entertainment)
• Phantasy Star Universe (2006)
• Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007) (also with Now Production But Party Mode Only)
• Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus (2007)
• Sonic Rush Adventure (2007) (also with Dimps)
• Sonic Rivals 2 (2007) (Replace Made By Backbone Entertainment)
• NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (2007)
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007) (also with Sega Sports Design R&D Dept. and Nintendo)
• Puyo Puyo 15th Anniversary (2007)
• The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (2007) (also with Sega WOW)
• Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008)
• Sega Superstars Tennis (2008) (Replace Made By Sumo Digital)
• Phantasy Star Portable (2008) (also with Alfa System)
• Night of the Werehog (Short 3D Animation) (2008)
• Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008) (Replace Made By BioWare)
• Sonic Unleashed (2008) (also with Dimps But Only Wii & PS2 Version)
• Sonic and the Black Knight (2009)
• Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection (2009) (Replace Made By Backbone Entertainment)
• Puyo Puyo 7 (2009) (also with H. A. N. D.)
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2009) (also with Sega Sports Design R&D Dept. and Nintendo)