May 12^th, 2003 (12:00am) - SEGA today announced that it will deliver its top-selling franchise of all time -- Sonic the Hedgehog -- to the largest audience of gamers worldwide, launching four new Sonic the Hedgehog games on all next-generation console and handheld platforms this fiscal year. The highly-anticipated "Sonic Heroes," an all-new title in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, will debut on the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox. Additionally, building off the success of the Sonic franchise on Nintendo GameCube, SEGA will release "Sonic Adventure DX Director’s Cut" exclusively for Nintendo GameCube. Finally, Sonic will return to the Game Boy Advance with the release of "Sonic Pinball Party" and "Sonic Battle."

"Sonic The Hedgehog is one of the most popular video game characters of all time," said Shinobu Toyoda, executive vice president of content strategy and business development, SEGA of America, Inc. "Bringing Sonic The Hedgehog games to all next generation platforms provides SEGA with unprecedented potential for the franchise as the company builds to become a leading independent content publisher."

Debuting on PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, "Sonic Heroes" marks Sonic’s first simultaneous multi-platform launch in history, as well as his first-ever appearance on PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Sonic’s biggest adventure to date, "Sonic Heroes" introduces an innovative new squad-based game style, where players control a team of three characters, taking advantage of each member’s unique abilities and skills to thwart the plans of Sonic’s nemesis, the evil Dr. Eggman.

"Sonic Adventure DX Director’s Cut" is the definitive version of the blockbuster SEGA Dreamcast classic, featuring more than 50 bonus missions and enhanced graphics and audio to take full advantage of the Nintendo GameCube. "Sonic Pinball Party" delivers hours of on-the-go pinball fun with themed boards based on classic SONICTEAM games, including "Nights," "Samba de Amigo" and "Sonic The Hedgehog" for the Game Boy Advance. Also for Game Boy Advance, "Sonic Battle" delivers thrilling head-to-head battles between some of the best-known Sonic the Hedgehog characters, including Sonic, Tails and Amy Rose.

One of the most recognized and celebrated video game characters of all time, Sonic the Hedgehog has appeared in numerous video games across multiple console, handheld and wireless platforms over the past 10 years. Consistently a top-selling franchise, Sonic The Hedgehog continues to be a popular icon worldwide in 2003 and beyond. This summer, Sonic the Hedgehog will come alive in interactive electronic handheld games included in McDonald’s Happy Meals at participating McDonald’s restaurants throughout North America. Additionally, Sonic The Hedgehog will soon explode onto television in the all-new animated series Sonic X. Recently debuted in Japan and coming soon to North America, Sonic X features 52 exhilarating episodes including a new character named Christopher and exciting new adventures sure to captivate Sonic fans around the world. Finally, Sonic will debut on the Nokia N-Gage mobile game deck in "SonicN," a side-scrolling action game packed with the charms and characters of the Sonic series.