Sega/Summary

Background : Sega was originally founded in 1940 as "Standard Games" in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company was then moved to Tokyo, Japan by Raymond Lemaire and Richard Stewart as a means of distributing coin-operated games and was renamed "Service Games". In later years the company would become "Sega" (an abbreviation for "SErvice GAmes"), its current identity. Sega would soon become an immediate competitor to Nintendo right after they started manufacturing video game consoles (such as the Genesis, Sega Master System, etc.) and came up with their own iconic mascot Sonic the Hedgehog). As of today, Sega is still active.  Note : There are over 100 different variants of this logo, all of which are covered by the Sega Logo Project, but it has always retained the same basic design.

1st Logo (1980s-1989)

Logo : On a black background we see a prototypical version of the Sega logo (thinner than the current one in white with ablue outline and with still shines on the "S" and "A"). COMPUTER SOFTWARE is beneath in the same color with "© 1989" inred and yellow below. "PROGRAM LOADING..." is on the very bottom of the logo in the same color as the first two texts. FX/SFX : None. Music/Sounds : The intro of a game or none.

Availability : Ultra rare. Seen on earlier games released by the company.

Scare Factor : None.

2nd Logo(1988-1998) Logo : We see the Sega logo in it's futuristic font (which is in blue and contains many white stripes around it, for those who don't know) on a black background. On most games, the color changes in shades of blue.

Variants : FX/SFX : Just the changing color.
 * On its early days since until 1991, the Registered trademark symbol "®" symbol was used.
 * On Cool Spot, Spot is seen jumping through the SEGA Logo.
 * Starting in around late 1990, the "TM" symbol replaces the Registered trademark "®" symbol".
 * On some Game Gear titles, the logo is plain blue and takes place on the blue background.
 * On X-Men, the logo zooms away from the screen. Plus the logo always changing colors.

Music/Sounds : None or the opening theme of the game. But on games produced by Infogrames (except for The Smurfs 2), the "SEEEEEGA!" jingle can be heard.

Availability : Common. Seen on most games for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Also appears on some games for the Sega Game Gear (and the Sega 32X attachment for the Genesis/Mega Drive). Some of the only games not to use this logo were Sega Master System games and every Electronic Arts game for Sega Genesis (including EA Sports games as well). But one EA Genesis game that contains the logo is Shaq Fu, while Baku Baku Animals, Bonkers Wax Up!, Daffy Duck in Hollywood, Double Dragon, Lemmings, Sonic Blast, Streets of Rage, Ultimate Soccer and Virtua Fighter Animation were the only Sega Master System games that contain the logo. The logo can be also seen on EA Game Gear games. However, this logo is retained when starting up a Genesis game on the Wii Virtual Console.

Scare Factor : None.

3rd Logo (1994- )

Logo : On a white or black background, we have the Sega logo with the words "PRESENTED BY" in small lettering above.

FX/SFX : The logo fading-in and fading-out.

Music/Sounds : Usually none.

Music/Sounds Variants :
 * Sonic Mega Collection, Sonic Gems Collection and Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit use the "SEEEEEGA!" jingle.
 * The Hatsune Miku: Project Diva series has Miku Hatsune (a real-life PC singing synthethizer software) singing "SEEEEEGA!".
 * K-On! Houkago Live!! has the "SEEEEEGA!" yell performed by K-On! protagonist Yui Hirasawa (voiced by Aki Toyosaki).

Availability : Very common. It's seen on virtually all Sega games from the 32X up until 2006 (although Saturn games do not use the logo as an opening logo, as the Saturn's boot screen contains the Sega symbol. Instead, the logo is seen after the game's intro sequence or demo mode) Seen on such games likeSonic Adventure/DX, Sonic Adventure 2/Battle, Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, 'Virtua Cop and among other Sega developed games for the GameCube, Wii, PlayStation 2 and 3, and Xbox/Xbox 360.

Scare Factor : None.

4th Logo (2006- )

Logo : On a black background, several trails of different colored lights move across the screen at a rapid pace, which come together and form the Sega logo.

Variants :
 * On Alpha Protocol, a red streak runs through the formed logo, coloring it golden.
 * On The Conduit, we see several circles adjusting around the pyramid with an eye sign above. They match and form "SEGA", which shines and reveals as a regular logo. The announcer is heard as well.
 * On Iron Man for PSP, a blue spot lights on and creates blocks which form the computerized Sega logo.
 * There's an early variation of the logo after it's fully formed the words "Presented by" appears on top of the logo.

FX/SFX : The trails of light along with flashes and the forming of the Sega logo.

Music/Sounds : A synth whooshing while the logo forms, followed by a male announcer saying the company name. Availability : Used along with the previous logo, mainly for external publishing. Seen on several games such as Sonic games like Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors, and Sonic Generations, The Incredible Hulk, Alpha Protocol, The Club, Iron Man, Valkyria Chronicles, Valkyria Chronicles II, and The House of the Dead 4.

Scare Factor : Low, bordering on medium. The logo appears out of nowhere and may startle unexpecting viewers.

_______________________________________________________________

Sega CD Start Screen (1992-1995)

Logo : On a black background, we see Sonic shaking his index finger in the air, next to the Sega logo. sparks fly from Sonic and onto the Sega logo, and there is a light blue copyright underneath.

FX/SFX : The rings flying from Sonic.

Music/Sounds : The ring power-up sound effect is heard twice, then a fuzzy synth-piano version of the "SEEEEEGA!" jingle is heard.

Availability : This is seen on American Sega CD models when they are finished loading after putting a game inside (such as Sonic CD and Snatcher).

Scare Factor : None to low.

_______________________________________________________________

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991, 2012) Logo : On a white background, we see the Sega logo via the appear/disappear wipe effect. The Sega logo then fully fades into view.

Variant : On the Game Gear version of said title, we see Sonic jumping to the right making the Sega logo appear and the wipe effect. Then he jumps back to the left and does his pose.

FX/SFX : The wipe effect. Sonic jumping on the Game Gear version.

Music/Sounds : A choir singing "SEEEEEEEEGAAAAAAAA!" after the logo forms.

Availability : Originally seen on Sonic The Hedgehog on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Game Gear. The "Genesis" version was retained on Sonic Mega Collection for the Nintendo Game Cube and both versions retained on Sonic Mega Collection Plus for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The Game Gear version can also be seen on Sonic Adventure DX on the PC and Nintendo Game Cube. Currently, the logo is retained on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (known asSega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection outside USA) for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, downloadable versions of the game for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, WiiWare, Steam and iOS.

Scare Factor : Low to medium; the sudden loud chorus and startling appearance may unnerve some, but it's a favorite among the gaming crowd. The "SEEEEGA!" jingle might, oddly enough, become stuck in your head!

_______________________________________________________________

Sonic The Hedgehog 2/Sonic for Game Gear(1992-1997)

Logo : On a white background, we see Sonic from the left of the screen, in super speed (that's what Sonic is known for obviously) leaving a blue trail behind. Then he returns back to the left, leaving another trail behind. The trails form the Sega logo.

Variants :
 * On the 8-bit version of said title, it's a still logo. It also appears on Sonic Chaos (known as Sonic & Tails in Japan), Coca-Cola Kid (only in Japan) andTails' Adventure for Game Gear as well.
 * On Sonic Triple Trouble (known as Sonic & Tails 2 in Japan), the logo fades in from the white screen. Plus Sonic runs to the left then runs to the right like in Sonic 2 for Genesis, except the trails don't appear. After that, the Sega choir is heard.
 * On Sonic Blast and two non-Sonic titles, (Virtua Fighter Animation and The Lost World: Jurassic Park) the logo has a blue outline. On the latter variant, the background is blue-green.

FX/SFX : The trails forming "SEGA". Sometimes a still logo.

Music/Sounds : Same as the last logo but the pitch is a bit higher.

Music/Sounds Variants :
 * On the Game Gear version (8-bit) and Sonic Game Gear titles, the pitch is normal.
 * On Virtua Fighter Animation and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, it's silent.

Availability : Common. Seen on Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (16-bit version) on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Game Gear (8-bit version)''. The 8-bit variant also appears on Sonic Chaos, Coca-Cola Kid (Which is only available in Japan), Sonic Triple Trouble, and Tails Adventure'' as well for Game Gear. The 16-bit version was later retained on Sonic Mega Collection and Sonic Mega Collection Plus while the 8-bit version, along with Sonic Triple Trouble and Tails Adventure are retained on Sonic Gems Collection for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. Sonic Chaos was also retained on Sonic Mega Collection Plus as well. The Sonic 2 version of the logo is currently retained in all downloadable releases of the said game, as well as Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection(known as Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection outside USA).

Scare Factor : Same as the last logo.

_______________________________________________________________

Sonic the Hedgehog 3/Sonic and Knuckles (1994)

Logo : Just the Sega logo fading in on a white background.

Variants :
 * On Sonic the Hedgehog 3, after the "SEEEEEEEEGAAAAAAAA!" yell, the background turns to black as a 3D Sonic runs onto the screen and crashes into the Sega logo, scattering the letters as the game title appears
 * On Sonic & Knuckles, after the "SEEEEEEEEGAAAAAAAA!" yell, the background turns to the Death Egg crash landing on Angel Island. The Sega logo shudders when the Death Egg crashes, and then wipes out to the left and right of the screen, bring in the game's title.

FX/SFX : The fade-in.

Music/Sounds : Same as the first logo, then the game's title music as the variant plays.

Availability : Uncommon. Seen on Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (a.k.a. Sonic 3 & Knuckles) for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Retained on Sonic Mega Collection and Sonic Mega Collection Plus and currently on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (known asSega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection outside USA) as well as all downloadable releases of Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Scare Factor : Same as the last logo.

_______________________________________________________________

Sonic Spinball (1993, 1994)

Logo : We see the Sega logo on a black background, but an airplane (the X-Tornado), with Miles "Tails" Prower riding it, and Sonic on the Tornado's wings.

Variant : For the same game, on the Game Gear, Sonic is on ball form, forming the Sega logo. Then does his waiting idle animation while the logo shimmers.

FX/SFX : The X-Tornado making the SEGA logo change color tones. Sonic in ball form forming the logo on Game Gear version.

Music/Sounds : A twinkling sound, followed by a synthesizer rendition of the "SEEEEEGAAAAAAAA!" jingle, and another twinkling sound. The Game Gear version uses a single 8-bit rendition of the jingle.

Availability : Same as before. The Genesis version is retained on Sonic Mega Collection and Sonic Mega Collection Plus. The Game Gear version is found on Sonic Gems Collection only for the PlayStation 2 (Only in Europe) and GameCube, as well as Sonic Adventure DX.

Scare Factor : None to low.

_______________________________________________________________

Sonic 3D Blast/Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island Variant (1996)

Logo:  On a royal blue background, we see the Sega logo drawing out, then it rotates horizontally as the background fades to white. Then the Sega logo flies out letter by letter as the background fades to black.

Variant : A prototype version of Sonic 3D Blast exists where the logo shatters like glass instead of performing the closing transition from the final.

FX/SFX : The SEGA logo drawing.

Music/Sounds : A male voice screaming "SEGA!", which is the same "SEGA!" scream from the commercials in the early '90s. Then a twinkling bell sound. In a prototype version of the game, the traditional "SEEEEEEEEGAAAAAAAA!" yell was used.

Availability : Uncommon. Seen on the Mega Drive/Genesis version of Sonic 3D Blast/Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island. The Saturn and PC versions didn't include this variant, unfortunately as it uses the still logo instead. Retained on Sonic Mega Collection and Sonic Mega Collection Plus and currently on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (known as Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection outside USA).

Scare Factor : Low to medium. It depends on what you think of that sudden screaming. Some, on the other hand, may find it very humorous.