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Yeah, so this backstory was apparently written by Sega of Japan back during development of the first game and subsequently translated by the Sega Technical Institute, and it easily beats the Sonic Bible as the weirdest ex-canon origin for Sonic. Though, to be honest, I don't hate the idea of It's weird and a lot is left unexplained, but it doesn't technically contradict the game canon, So until Sega makes an official game origin, this is the closest we'll get to a true origin for Sonic.

So I was combing the Japanese corner of the internets, when I came across something amazing on a Japanese blog. The blogger had been posting pictures she took at various small arcades she had been to, and look what she saw: AMAZING. A 1991-era redemption machine, with adorable SegaSonic artwork! I love the design on this. There's Sonic, Eggman, and a few Flickies, with rings in the background. And, in a baffling twist, it was made by Konami. I don't know what this machine does, but there were many similar ones with different characters in the G-Baoa-go arcade where it was found. It appears to work like a roulette wheel. Hopefully someone with a better knowledge of Japanese arcades can fill us in. I'm amazed that stuff like this has managed to fly under the radar for 20 years. I suppose not many were made. Cool, huh?

I'm trying to start a fan-driven campaign to get an official SegaSonic the Hedgehog port for the Nintendo DS consoles. In case you didn't know, SegaSonic the Hedgehog was an arcade game which had a very limited release, mainly in Sega Worlds and Japanese arcades. The game has an isometric viewpoint, like in Sonic 3D Blast, and was controlled with a trackball and a single button for jumping. In the game, Sonic, Ray the Flying Squirrel, and Mighty the Armadillo are captured by Dr. Eggman and are forced to escape his trap-filled island, grabbing rings along the way. This game is so special and important to Sonic history, and we can't let it be forgotten. It was the first to feature voice acting for the characters, and the first appearances for the "forgotten" characters, Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel (who hasn't been seen since). It's pretty fun too, which is why it's a shame that so many can't play it. Sonic Team actually wanted to include the game in Sonic Gems Collection, but was unable to properly emulate the trackball control scheme with a control stick. Without a trackball, it's impossible to play properly. Now, thanks to the Nintendo DS, a virtual trackball can be properly emulated and manipulated on the touchscreen, a technique that has been used successfully in several other DS games, like Looney Toons Galactic Taz Ball, and The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road. Translation of the in-game text would be wonderful, and a replication of the arcade version's multiplayer capabilities via Wi-Fi might also be possible. If ported to the 3DS, even the illusion of depth can be included! The technology is here, and the time couldn't be better as we celebrate Sonic's 20th Anniversary. The inclusion of Ray and Mighty posters in Sonic Generations' City Escape proves that Sonic Team still remembers the game. Whether it's an unlockable in a future Sonic game, part of a compilation, or even a standalone downloadable title, we need to tell SEGA that we want a DS port of SegaSonic the Hedgehog! Because really, who doesn't? I've started a Facebook page for the campaign. Here's where you come in: you need to like the page, and tell all your friends, too. If enough of us speak up, SEGA will listen. Also, feel free to copy my new sig if you like. Use it proudly on the forums you frequent, and include a link to the campaign page. Before you know it, we just might have a proper, official port worthy of such a great game.