From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, it seemed like only one character could be considered the superstar of gaming – Super Mario. By 1990, five games featured the character and his popularity was only growing. Nintendo might have felt that nothing could knock the Italian plumber off his throne. Enter Sonic the Hedgehog.
In its infancy, Sega was still a while off as a serious contender to Nintendo. While its console the Genesis was selling well, it was still exponentially outsold by Nintendo’s offerings. Sega needed a mascot to carry the company’s flag and make the product a must-buy.
Released in 1991, the first Sonic the Hedgehog game was an instant success, and the character was popular among children who saw him as an edgier and cooler option than other gaming characters, Mario included. The fast-paced gameplay was a big draw, too, as it was able to utilise the Sega Genesis’s faster processing power to reach sonic speeds across the screen.
The task of creating the design of Sonic fell to Naoto Ohshima, Jina Ishiwatari and Rieko Kodama. Ohshima decided on the two main components of the character – his distinctive blue colour and the fact that he would be a hedgehog and not another animal.
Speaking to The National at Animenia, Ohshima says: “At that time, there was a culture of ecology blooming all over the world. And the corporate colour of Sega is blue, so it was a wish that the sky would always be beautifully blue. Why is it a hedgehog? The hedgehog is perfect because Sonic’s characteristic is to curl up into a ball and roll to defeat enemies, and during that time, he is invincible.”
Sega devised an idea for a game where the lead character would morph into a ball, enabling them to move faster, gather collectables and attack enemies with ease. A hedgehog made perfect sense to Ohshima for this character. He adds: “To clearly convey the concept to everyone, the hedgehog was very suitable. Also, when running fast, a hedgehog looks like a shadow.”
The results were undeniable and Sonic was an instant hit with consumers and critics alike. The game scored highly with every gaming publication at the time, even winning Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards. Sales reflected its success, too. It was the bestselling game in the US for several months in 1991, outselling its rival Super Mario.
Sonic the Hedgehog became the bestselling game of 1991, shifting more than two million copies worldwide. It helped Sega generate a gross revenue of $1 billion in console sales, demonstrating just how popular the character had become in just a year.
That was just the beginning for Sonic and since then, there have been more than 90 games that feature the character, with some even teaming up with his once-industry competitor Super Mario.
Ohshima feels grateful to Sega and the fans for keeping Sonic as popular as ever, adding: “The one who has been protecting Sonic at Sega is Takashi Iizuka, who is the general manager of Sonic at Sega. And then there are the fans who have supported Sonic. I can only express my gratitude. Everyone at Sega is kind of like a friend to him. Their friendship is not ending.”
As is a trend in gaming, Sonic has also made his way onto the big screen in game-to-film adaptations. “There have been many films based on games before, but this time, the director was really great, and I think it’s very interesting," says Ohshima of the recent film adaptations directed by Jeff Fowler.
Fowler has now led two Sonic the Hedgehog films, with the third instalment coming later this year. The first was a major success, grossing more than $300 million in box office sales. The sequel took more than $400 million.
Despite designing a character that has gone on to become a phenomenon in gaming, one that is in the upper echelon of gaming characters, Ohshima still feels humble about it, saying: “I really don’t think it’s my power. It’s like having a child, and that child grows up wonderfully. That makes me very happy, but I didn’t raise it by myself. Everyone has raised it, so I want to thank everyone.”
Ohshima is not resting on his laurels though. These days, he is the president and chief operating officer of Arzest Corporation, a video game development company that has made several games including Balan Wonderworld and Hey! Pikmin. Despite his seniority, he promises fans that he will continue to create, even teasing a new character is coming from him soon.
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The five pillars of Islam
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
More on Quran memorisation:
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
