The GHZ
@theghz.bsky.social
Learnings from the hadalpelagic depths of Sonic history, served with a side of Drano cookies.
Since 1997!
Since 1997!
While we're on the subject of Tails Adventure.
This.
The Carnival Night barrel? Baby stuff. I figured that out after a day. But Pori-Pori Mountain 2?
Literal years.
This.
The Carnival Night barrel? Baby stuff. I figured that out after a day. But Pori-Pori Mountain 2?
Literal years.
September 26, 2025 at 11:38 PM
While we're on the subject of Tails Adventure.
This.
The Carnival Night barrel? Baby stuff. I figured that out after a day. But Pori-Pori Mountain 2?
Literal years.
This.
The Carnival Night barrel? Baby stuff. I figured that out after a day. But Pori-Pori Mountain 2?
Literal years.
Shin'ichi Higashi explains, after 30 years, why Battle Kukku XVI aka Speedy is wearing a diaper: it's, um, actually meant to be armor. So is his pointy green helmet. His feathers are yellow.
I feel like there's a certain subset of a certain subset of fans who will be disappointed by this revelation
I feel like there's a certain subset of a certain subset of fans who will be disappointed by this revelation
September 23, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Shin'ichi Higashi explains, after 30 years, why Battle Kukku XVI aka Speedy is wearing a diaper: it's, um, actually meant to be armor. So is his pointy green helmet. His feathers are yellow.
I feel like there's a certain subset of a certain subset of fans who will be disappointed by this revelation
I feel like there's a certain subset of a certain subset of fans who will be disappointed by this revelation
Update: here’s a color photo of the Poko model from an ad that was running in 1992 issues of Amusement Sangyō. The photo isn’t dated, but it was taken at the Oga Shopping Center in Akita.
Maybe Act did make a few of these? Or was this just Poko’s last stand before being converted?
Maybe Act did make a few of these? Or was this just Poko’s last stand before being converted?
July 28, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Update: here’s a color photo of the Poko model from an ad that was running in 1992 issues of Amusement Sangyō. The photo isn’t dated, but it was taken at the Oga Shopping Center in Akita.
Maybe Act did make a few of these? Or was this just Poko’s last stand before being converted?
Maybe Act did make a few of these? Or was this just Poko’s last stand before being converted?
Sonic no Magical Train is a repainted version of an earlier ride, Poko no Magical Train (1989). You can see in the pictures it has the exact same shape and dimensions.
As far as I know, these kinds of attractions were made to order (not mass produced), so it is very likely the selfsame machine.
As far as I know, these kinds of attractions were made to order (not mass produced), so it is very likely the selfsame machine.
July 28, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Sonic no Magical Train is a repainted version of an earlier ride, Poko no Magical Train (1989). You can see in the pictures it has the exact same shape and dimensions.
As far as I know, these kinds of attractions were made to order (not mass produced), so it is very likely the selfsame machine.
As far as I know, these kinds of attractions were made to order (not mass produced), so it is very likely the selfsame machine.
As the illustrator, Kudō himself was originally going to do the design but couldn’t crack it, so he asked Miyake to do it.
He doesn’t know what the character’s official name is, but he and the programmers called it “Devil Sonic” after Devil Gundam from G Gundam.
I see the resemblance
He doesn’t know what the character’s official name is, but he and the programmers called it “Devil Sonic” after Devil Gundam from G Gundam.
I see the resemblance
July 13, 2025 at 2:00 AM
As the illustrator, Kudō himself was originally going to do the design but couldn’t crack it, so he asked Miyake to do it.
He doesn’t know what the character’s official name is, but he and the programmers called it “Devil Sonic” after Devil Gundam from G Gundam.
I see the resemblance
He doesn’t know what the character’s official name is, but he and the programmers called it “Devil Sonic” after Devil Gundam from G Gundam.
I see the resemblance
Ryō Kudō just twooted some info about the big red Metal Sonic boss from Chaotix: x.com/rin_kotou/st...
It was designed by lead artist Takumi Miyake and rendered in Strata 3D before being converted to the Mega Drive palette and fine-tuned by hand. 1/4
It was designed by lead artist Takumi Miyake and rendered in Strata 3D before being converted to the Mega Drive palette and fine-tuned by hand. 1/4
July 13, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Ryō Kudō just twooted some info about the big red Metal Sonic boss from Chaotix: x.com/rin_kotou/st...
It was designed by lead artist Takumi Miyake and rendered in Strata 3D before being converted to the Mega Drive palette and fine-tuned by hand. 1/4
It was designed by lead artist Takumi Miyake and rendered in Strata 3D before being converted to the Mega Drive palette and fine-tuned by hand. 1/4
…with Williams’ drivers Prost and Hill finishing the season in first and third, respectively (Senna and McLaren came in 2nd)
So who can blame McLaren for trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet hog love.
I guess Sega's brand management team will nix any more derpy-face Sonics on the car, tho
So who can blame McLaren for trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet hog love.
I guess Sega's brand management team will nix any more derpy-face Sonics on the car, tho
July 2, 2025 at 11:54 AM
…with Williams’ drivers Prost and Hill finishing the season in first and third, respectively (Senna and McLaren came in 2nd)
So who can blame McLaren for trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet hog love.
I guess Sega's brand management team will nix any more derpy-face Sonics on the car, tho
So who can blame McLaren for trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet hog love.
I guess Sega's brand management team will nix any more derpy-face Sonics on the car, tho
He was awarded a dummy Sonic trophy for a photo op—it was swapped out for a real, Sonic-less trophy after the cameras went down and can now be found on display at the McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England.
So all in all the whole stunt was a big win for Sega's marketing team…
So all in all the whole stunt was a big win for Sega's marketing team…
July 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
He was awarded a dummy Sonic trophy for a photo op—it was swapped out for a real, Sonic-less trophy after the cameras went down and can now be found on display at the McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England.
So all in all the whole stunt was a big win for Sega's marketing team…
So all in all the whole stunt was a big win for Sega's marketing team…
It was sponsored by Sega and had Sonic all over, but F1 fans remember it for a different reason.
I only just learned this, but the GP winner Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren) had the single most legendary run of his legendary career—his first lap in particular is known as his “lap of the gods.”
I only just learned this, but the GP winner Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren) had the single most legendary run of his legendary career—his first lap in particular is known as his “lap of the gods.”
July 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
It was sponsored by Sega and had Sonic all over, but F1 fans remember it for a different reason.
I only just learned this, but the GP winner Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren) had the single most legendary run of his legendary career—his first lap in particular is known as his “lap of the gods.”
I only just learned this, but the GP winner Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren) had the single most legendary run of his legendary career—his first lap in particular is known as his “lap of the gods.”
The whole thing was very Sonicy. He was on the car and helmets, and the racing suits worn by drivers Alain Prost and Damon Hill were Sonic-inspired right down to the red boots.
The highlight was the third GP of the season, held on a rainy April 11 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
The highlight was the third GP of the season, held on a rainy April 11 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
July 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
The whole thing was very Sonicy. He was on the car and helmets, and the racing suits worn by drivers Alain Prost and Damon Hill were Sonic-inspired right down to the red boots.
The highlight was the third GP of the season, held on a rainy April 11 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
The highlight was the third GP of the season, held on a rainy April 11 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
…and when it was announced, a certain subset of game journalists in JP lost their shit. Them Shōwa boys love their cars.
There was even a whole story about it in the Shōgakukan manga that was running at the time, complete with a guest appearance by driver Alain Prost and his very gaikokujin schnozz
There was even a whole story about it in the Shōgakukan manga that was running at the time, complete with a guest appearance by driver Alain Prost and his very gaikokujin schnozz
July 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
…and when it was announced, a certain subset of game journalists in JP lost their shit. Them Shōwa boys love their cars.
There was even a whole story about it in the Shōgakukan manga that was running at the time, complete with a guest appearance by driver Alain Prost and his very gaikokujin schnozz
There was even a whole story about it in the Shōgakukan manga that was running at the time, complete with a guest appearance by driver Alain Prost and his very gaikokujin schnozz
Sonic’s all chummy with F1 team McLaren now, and I guess neither one wants to talk about that hot fling he had with rival Williams 32 years ago
But I got the dirts. I got ALL the dirts.
Sega was one of the sponsors of the Williams team for the 1993 F1 season, and apparently it was a big-ass deal 🧵
But I got the dirts. I got ALL the dirts.
Sega was one of the sponsors of the Williams team for the 1993 F1 season, and apparently it was a big-ass deal 🧵
July 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Sonic’s all chummy with F1 team McLaren now, and I guess neither one wants to talk about that hot fling he had with rival Williams 32 years ago
But I got the dirts. I got ALL the dirts.
Sega was one of the sponsors of the Williams team for the 1993 F1 season, and apparently it was a big-ass deal 🧵
But I got the dirts. I got ALL the dirts.
Sega was one of the sponsors of the Williams team for the 1993 F1 season, and apparently it was a big-ass deal 🧵
Picked up this new Sonic manga nobody is talking about just to see. It’s mainly about this kid who gets a magic sword. Sonic is pretty ancillary to the whole thing, could easily have been Pikachu or anyone else BUT
I'm happy they're letting him interact with humans again. That's kind of a big deal
I'm happy they're letting him interact with humans again. That's kind of a big deal
June 15, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Picked up this new Sonic manga nobody is talking about just to see. It’s mainly about this kid who gets a magic sword. Sonic is pretty ancillary to the whole thing, could easily have been Pikachu or anyone else BUT
I'm happy they're letting him interact with humans again. That's kind of a big deal
I'm happy they're letting him interact with humans again. That's kind of a big deal
When you’re worried about how to spell Casinopolis and you put way too much faith in your electronic Japanese-English dictionary.
June 6, 2025 at 10:34 AM
When you’re worried about how to spell Casinopolis and you put way too much faith in your electronic Japanese-English dictionary.
These test games were made by small groups of only a few new staffers—just like Eraser. It was made by Takao Miyoshi, Shirō Kinemura, Masaru Setsumaru, and an unknown programmer credited as Op#1.
It was the debut game of the former three at least, who all seem to have joined Sega in 1991.
It was the debut game of the former three at least, who all seem to have joined Sega in 1991.
May 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM
These test games were made by small groups of only a few new staffers—just like Eraser. It was made by Takao Miyoshi, Shirō Kinemura, Masaru Setsumaru, and an unknown programmer credited as Op#1.
It was the debut game of the former three at least, who all seem to have joined Sega in 1991.
It was the debut game of the former three at least, who all seem to have joined Sega in 1991.
The Mega Modem launched exclusively in Japan on November 3, 1990—about two weeks behind schedule—and with it Sega's digital distribution service, Game Toshokan (Game Library). 800 yen a month plus dialing fees to access a meager collection of some pretty barebones minigames.
May 29, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The Mega Modem launched exclusively in Japan on November 3, 1990—about two weeks behind schedule—and with it Sega's digital distribution service, Game Toshokan (Game Library). 800 yen a month plus dialing fees to access a meager collection of some pretty barebones minigames.
First of all, Flicky aside, it was the first digitally distributed Sonic game, and this was at a time when nobody except uber nerds even knew what the internet was.
Which may explain why nobody bought the thing you needed to play it, the Mega Modem.
Which may explain why nobody bought the thing you needed to play it, the Mega Modem.
May 29, 2025 at 10:20 AM
First of all, Flicky aside, it was the first digitally distributed Sonic game, and this was at a time when nobody except uber nerds even knew what the internet was.
Which may explain why nobody bought the thing you needed to play it, the Mega Modem.
Which may explain why nobody bought the thing you needed to play it, the Mega Modem.
You like Sonic Eraser?
Of course you don't. It is objectively bad. Granted, that's a class of Sonic game that has long since outnumbered every other category. But at the time it was still a novelty, and to be fair it has a good excuse to suck.
You should care about it because... 🧵
Of course you don't. It is objectively bad. Granted, that's a class of Sonic game that has long since outnumbered every other category. But at the time it was still a novelty, and to be fair it has a good excuse to suck.
You should care about it because... 🧵
May 29, 2025 at 10:20 AM
You like Sonic Eraser?
Of course you don't. It is objectively bad. Granted, that's a class of Sonic game that has long since outnumbered every other category. But at the time it was still a novelty, and to be fair it has a good excuse to suck.
You should care about it because... 🧵
Of course you don't. It is objectively bad. Granted, that's a class of Sonic game that has long since outnumbered every other category. But at the time it was still a novelty, and to be fair it has a good excuse to suck.
You should care about it because... 🧵
Bitty interview with Naoto Ōshima (still incognito as Big Island) and Sega CS1 GM Makoto Oshitani from the Dec. 1991 issue of MD Fan.
Mostly fluff, but still a fascinating peek at the exact juncture at which the first Sonic sequel split into two separate projects.
Let's dig into the juicy bits 🧵
Mostly fluff, but still a fascinating peek at the exact juncture at which the first Sonic sequel split into two separate projects.
Let's dig into the juicy bits 🧵
May 2, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Bitty interview with Naoto Ōshima (still incognito as Big Island) and Sega CS1 GM Makoto Oshitani from the Dec. 1991 issue of MD Fan.
Mostly fluff, but still a fascinating peek at the exact juncture at which the first Sonic sequel split into two separate projects.
Let's dig into the juicy bits 🧵
Mostly fluff, but still a fascinating peek at the exact juncture at which the first Sonic sequel split into two separate projects.
Let's dig into the juicy bits 🧵
How long has it been since my last Segasonic Ball Pool post?
That’s a trick question.
We knew that the big Sonic in the ball pit makes a sound when you smack its eyes or invisi-nips with a ball, but WHAT sound? The October 1992 issue of Amusement Sangyō seems to have the answer: 🧵
That’s a trick question.
We knew that the big Sonic in the ball pit makes a sound when you smack its eyes or invisi-nips with a ball, but WHAT sound? The October 1992 issue of Amusement Sangyō seems to have the answer: 🧵
April 8, 2025 at 7:03 AM
How long has it been since my last Segasonic Ball Pool post?
That’s a trick question.
We knew that the big Sonic in the ball pit makes a sound when you smack its eyes or invisi-nips with a ball, but WHAT sound? The October 1992 issue of Amusement Sangyō seems to have the answer: 🧵
That’s a trick question.
We knew that the big Sonic in the ball pit makes a sound when you smack its eyes or invisi-nips with a ball, but WHAT sound? The October 1992 issue of Amusement Sangyō seems to have the answer: 🧵
The most recent version, Anpanman Popcorn Kōjō 3, was released in 2013 and is still supported.
But the most important thing you need to know about Segasonic Popcorn Shop is that it has the best Eggman running animation ever made.
But the most important thing you need to know about Segasonic Popcorn Shop is that it has the best Eggman running animation ever made.
March 20, 2025 at 3:33 AM
The most recent version, Anpanman Popcorn Kōjō 3, was released in 2013 and is still supported.
But the most important thing you need to know about Segasonic Popcorn Shop is that it has the best Eggman running animation ever made.
But the most important thing you need to know about Segasonic Popcorn Shop is that it has the best Eggman running animation ever made.
In 1999, Sega put out a third variant on the same hardware—Mickey & Donald Popcorn Factory—and continued providing maintenance and supply services for all three until the end of 2014.
While Sonic and Mickey got the boot, the Anpanman Popcorn Kōjō series lives on.
While Sonic and Mickey got the boot, the Anpanman Popcorn Kōjō series lives on.
March 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM
In 1999, Sega put out a third variant on the same hardware—Mickey & Donald Popcorn Factory—and continued providing maintenance and supply services for all three until the end of 2014.
While Sonic and Mickey got the boot, the Anpanman Popcorn Kōjō series lives on.
While Sonic and Mickey got the boot, the Anpanman Popcorn Kōjō series lives on.
Originally, the three popcorn flavors were salt, butter, and chili—and to be clear, “chili” in Japanese means chili sauce, not chili con carne—but by summer of 1994, curry seems to have replaced chili in both the Anpanman and Sonic versions.
March 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Originally, the three popcorn flavors were salt, butter, and chili—and to be clear, “chili” in Japanese means chili sauce, not chili con carne—but by summer of 1994, curry seems to have replaced chili in both the Anpanman and Sonic versions.
Both units use the same parts under the hood and cook popcorn in about 40 seconds.
They also feature similar, slightly interactive crank-turning “minigames” with no fail state, so you don’t have to worry about your popcorn getting ruined if you suck.
They also feature similar, slightly interactive crank-turning “minigames” with no fail state, so you don’t have to worry about your popcorn getting ruined if you suck.
March 20, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Both units use the same parts under the hood and cook popcorn in about 40 seconds.
They also feature similar, slightly interactive crank-turning “minigames” with no fail state, so you don’t have to worry about your popcorn getting ruined if you suck.
They also feature similar, slightly interactive crank-turning “minigames” with no fail state, so you don’t have to worry about your popcorn getting ruined if you suck.
It’s a variant of Soreike! Anpanman Popcorn Kōjō (Popcorn Factory), which was released about a year earlier in May ‘92.
Anpanman, of course, was and is the much bigger star in Japan, as ubiquitous and venerable as Sesame Street is in the West—though generally less concerned with being educational.
Anpanman, of course, was and is the much bigger star in Japan, as ubiquitous and venerable as Sesame Street is in the West—though generally less concerned with being educational.
March 20, 2025 at 3:30 AM
It’s a variant of Soreike! Anpanman Popcorn Kōjō (Popcorn Factory), which was released about a year earlier in May ‘92.
Anpanman, of course, was and is the much bigger star in Japan, as ubiquitous and venerable as Sesame Street is in the West—though generally less concerned with being educational.
Anpanman, of course, was and is the much bigger star in Japan, as ubiquitous and venerable as Sesame Street is in the West—though generally less concerned with being educational.