Sonic Team
Sonic Team is a Japanese video game development division of Sega. Originally founded in 1990 as Sega AM8, this team was created specifically to work on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, which would become one of Sega's flagship series.
History
- Formation: In 1990, Sega decided to form a special team within their arcade division, known as Sega AM8, to focus solely on the development of a new mascot game to compete with Nintendo's Mario. This team was led by Yuji Naka, who would become one of the key figures in the Sonic franchise.
- Rebranding: After the success of the initial Sonic games, Sega AM8 was officially renamed to Sonic Team in 1991 to reflect its primary focus.
- Evolution: Over the years, Sonic Team expanded its scope to include not only Sonic games but also other titles for Sega's various consoles and arcade systems.
Notable Games
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) - The game that launched the franchise and introduced Sonic to the world.
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) - Introduced Tails and refined the gameplay mechanics.
- Sonic Adventure (1998) - Marked the transition to 3D gameplay.
- Nights into Dreams (1996) - Although not a Sonic game, it was developed by Sonic Team and is known for its unique gameplay mechanics.
Key Figures
- Yuji Naka - A programmer and designer, often credited with creating Sonic's gameplay mechanics.
- Naoto Ohshima - The original character designer for Sonic.
- Takashi Iizuka - Took over as head of Sonic Team in 2008 after Yuji Naka's departure.
Current Status
As of the last known update, Sonic Team continues to develop games for the Sonic franchise, ensuring its growth and adaptation to modern gaming platforms. They are also involved in remastering and remaking older Sonic titles, adapting them for new audiences.
External Links