Treasure Tails
From Sonic Retro
| Treasure Tails |
|---|
| System(s): Sega Mega Drive |
| Developer: Sega Technical Institute[1] |
| Development timeframe: 1992-12 to 1993-04[1] |
| Genre: Puzzle[1] |
| Number of players: 1 |
| State before cancellation: Partial |
Treasure Tails is an unreleased Sega Mega Drive puzzle platform game that was planned to have been developed by Sega Technical Institute.[2] Commissioned by Sega of America management for a potential Christmas 1994 release[1], it was never announced publicly and was ultimately cancelled.[3]
Contents
History
Development
| “ | "Ah yes, SEGA of America had asked STI for a Tails game, with a team that was going to be mostly if not all American. It was going to be an isometric platform puzzle/adventure game. I was the only artist and worked on it from Dec 1992 – April 1993. Tails Treasure was planned to be a short/simple game because SEGA wanted it for the next Christmas. I’m still looking over my notes to see who all worked on it and how long it lasted and who was programming and the game design. The game was ‘postponed’ because the those of us working on it were needed on other projects. I went on to Sonic Spinball." | „ |
| — Artist Craig Stitt[1] | ||
In December 1992, Sega of America's management requested that Sega Technical Institute begin development on a conceptual Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off game starring Miles "Tails" Prower, scheduled for a potential Christmas 1993 release.[1] Planned to be an isometric puzzle platform game with occasional fast-paced moments[4], it was in development for some months before being "properly" pitched to management in February 1993.[2] STI artist Craig Stitt recalls that, while the game was pitched (and seemingly cancelled[3]) in February 1993, development reportedly progressed to at least April before being officially cancelled, when the team was shifted over to work on the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball.[1]
Legacy
The project's existence became known on August 17, 2020 when the game's artist, Craig Stitt, posted development material for Astropede online, found in a 1995 video resume he had put together in preparation for leaving Sega Technical Institute.[3] The mockup stills were preserved via VHS transfer and posted online to a Sega group on Facebook.[2]
Stitt originally attributed the game's design to fellow STI staff member Bill Dunn[1]; however, he later corrected himself[2][4], and does not recall for whom he created the mockup images. He also confirmed the project was entirely unrelated to other Sonic titles like Knuckles' Chaotix, despite the two sharing a similar-looking tile, and that he does not have any further development material from the project.[4]
Production credits
- Artist: Craig Stitt[3]
- Source: Uncredited
Development material
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Interview: Craig Stitt (2020-08-29) by Damiano Gerli
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://retrofaith.net/sonic-game-lost-for-27-years/ (Wayback Machine: 2020-08-18 03:34)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 File:CraigStitt videoresume 1995.mp4
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOlHbBTF8eI
| Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems | |
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1991 Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Eraser 1992 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1993 Sonic the Hedgehog CD | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic Spinball 1994 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic & Knuckles 1995 Chaotix | Sonic Classics 1996 Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island |
| Unreleased Sonic the Hedgehog games |
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| Sonic X-treme incarnations |
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