More free stuff! And it’s Friday – Free Stuff … Friday! This week we have a fun collection of prizes, we return with a video, and we have a special guest! As you might have heard, we have a new community manager in the halls of SEGA – Kate! Prizes, details, Kate and Julian – all below in the video, enjoy!

On the Block

1. Sonic Headphones & Awesome Neon Sonic Shirt! The headphones! They are back and they are still awesome. Even more awesome – we have one of the coolest shirts we’ve seen in a while – it’s a hit amongst our team. Neon. Sonic. Lacking in awesome or wanting to boost your overall awesome – look no further!

2. The House of the Dead Overkill – Wii Press kit! It’s coming to PlayStation 3 next week, so we have some House of the Dead goodies to pass out in the form of a fake VHS video cassette. This outdated technology once was used to show moving pictures! Inside we have one post card and one shirt, as well as the special cassette box.

3. Happy Tree Friends Wacky Wobbler! This prize is a throwback to our Happy Tree Friends downloadable title and is pretty cool. Featuring character Flippy in full wobble format it is also signed by Ken Pontac, writer on the Happy Tree Friends series! A true collectible!

4. Sonic Boom Shirt, Sonic CD Lanyard, Sonic Generations Buttons, and Sega Bag! Wow, big prize pack here for a big Sonic fan! The Sonic Boom shirts and Sonic Generations buttons were passed out only at our Sonic Boom event, the Sonic CD Lanyard and SEGA bag was a special giveaway at our Penny Arcade Expo event. Sonic Boom shirt is available in Small, Medium, and Large

5. Sonic Mini Figures Classic Collectors Set! Also a hit from previous giveaways! This pack includes all your favorites including Sonic, Super Sonic, Knuckles, Amy, and more!

6. Aliens Infestation Lenticular Print & Frame! This Aliens Infestation lenticular celebrates the 2D pixel art from WayForward. Featuring a battle between alien and colonial marine – this piece is a pretty unique giveaway that we made to promote the recent Nintendo DS game.

How it Works

1. You must be following us on Twitter to be eligible. (If you don’t have a Twitter account, you can create one by going to http://www.twitter.com and click the green “get started — join!” button in the center of the page.)

2. At random times on Friday, we will announce the prize we are giving away, a word or phrase, and what number of response you need to be to win. Send us a direct message (DM) via Twitter and be that number to win the prize. (@ replies do not count as entries!)

Example:

We tweet “GIVEAWAY: Sonic T-shirt, size L. Be the 15th person to DM “Sonic Adventure” to win!”

You see this, and want to win it, so you send us a direct message that says “Sonic Adventure”. If you are the 15th person to do so, you are the winner!

Quotation marks do not matter, capitalization does not matter, but spelling does matter!

3. All followers are eligible to win all prizes, unless a restriction is noted. Restrictions are usually due to the prize being region-locked. For example, US games that won’t work on UK gaming systems. There may also be age restrictions due to the rating of the game.

4. We will announce the winner on our Twitter feed once eligibility is confirmed.

How to Send Direct Messages on Twitter

Due to a change in our account status with Twitter, you should be able to send us direct messages without us following you.

There are a few ways to send us a Direct Message on Twitter. The easiest way is to go to our Twitter page and select “message” under the “Actions” heading in the side bar. If you do not see “message”, this means that we are not following you. Please send a message to @sega to let us know, and we will follow you. When you click “message” you will be taken to a window where you can type a message and press send.

You may also select the “direct messages” tab from your Twitter homepage, and select SEGA from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. Again, if you don’t see our name there, it’s probably because we’re not following you. Let us know, and we’ll follow you.

There are also many Twitter clients that you can use instead of using the website. These include TweetDeck, Twitteriffic, Tweetie, and Twhirl. Each of these programs works differently, so you’ll want to figure out how to send a direct message on the program you use. If you want to send us a test message, we’ll let you know if we received it or not.

One of the great things we had at the Sonic Boom event were photo booths scattered throughout the venue. These were there for people to gather friends and make photo postcards that they could upload to their Facebook and Twitter, or email to friends. They were also placed on our Sonic Facebook page. You can see all of the photo booth shenanigans here, and I’ve culled some of the best photos and placed them on our Flickr. I’ve placed some of my favorites below. Whether you were there as press, SEGA employees, or Sonic fans (or all of the above), it sure looks like everyone had fun.

This might actually be my favorite photo of the entire night.

All of these folks are SEGA employees! (L-R) Cindy, Greg, David, and Jerusha. Cindy and Jerusha work in our legal department, Greg works in our media lab, and David works in PR. This might also be my favorite photo of the night.

The Eggbot from the Needlemouse musical performance.

You’ll recognize Cindy and Jerusha from a few photos ago, but I wanted to point out that guy on the right… that’s William Mapother, who you may know from his character Ethan on LOST.

More SEGA employees! The guy on the left is Jon, who works in our publishing department. And you’ve already met Cindy.

This is Gregory, our graffiti artist. Which is why he has paint on his hands!

That ham on the left there is Derrek, who works for SEGA as a brand manager.

Speaking of hamming it up, that’s Dreadknux!

One of our surprise guests got in on the photo booth as well… it’s Yuji Naka!

Your SEGA of America community team… that’s Kellie on the left and Julian/ClumsyOrchid on the right.

That’s Jen, the Director of Creative Services at SEGA. She and her team made all of the signs, wall art, t-shirts, buttons, Sonic cut outs, and more for the event.

These are the performers for Needlemouse: The Musical!

I couldn’t decide which of those photos I liked better, so I included them both. That’s T-Bird on the left, and Aaron/RubyEclipse on the right.

Thanks again to everyone who came to Sonic Boom! You can still send your photos to us at communityteam@sega.com!

A huge thanks again to all the fans, press, SEGA folks, and friends who came to Sonic Boom last night. It was amazing to meet so many of you, and to re-connect with some old friends. We’ve already seen some photos and videos on Twitter, but we want to see them all. Send us all your pix and video, including those from the photo booths at the event, to communityteam@sega.com!

The first people in the door went straight for the Sonic Generations game kiosks, which I suppose isn’t really a surprise. There were a lot of happy faces as people played Green Hill Zone as both Classic and Modern Sonic over and over again.

Club Nokia is actually a concert venue, so there was a huge stage on one side, and this swanky bar on the other side. The lights changed color with the music, and really gave a great feel to the place.

We had lots of swag available for the event, including these great Sonic Generations pins.

As we showed you earlier, we also had these great t-shirts for everyone. I’ve seen a couple people wearing them on the E3 show floor today!

We had lots of stuff to do at the event, including some fun photo/video booths! These seemed to be super popular, and we can’t wait to see all your photos! (Remember, send them to communityteam@sega.com!)

One of the other cool things we made were these Sonic Generations coasters for the bar. There were two versions — both had the Sonic Generations logo on one side, and half had Classic Sonic (seen here) and the other had Modern Sonic.

After an hour or so of playing, it was time to get the stage show started. This is a backstage photo of Iizuka-san, Naka-san, and Senoue-san chatting just before they went up to the stage.

Aaron Webber (better known to some of you as RubyEclipse), Assistant Brand Manager for Sonic the Hedgehog, was our host for the evening. He brought Iizuka-san on stage to address the fans and talk about Sonic Generations.

Soon it was time for our first musical performance, Crush 40. We knew a lot of fans wanted to see them perform, and this is one of the little secrets we held back from you. They were really great, and the it was cool to see many people dancing and singing along. After they performed, we had the winners of Sonic’s 19th Birthday video contest perform their winning entry, “Needlemouse: The Musical”, live on stage.

We also had a best-dressed fan competition to highlight the awesome and dedicated fans that came to the event dressed in costume. There’s some amazing work that goes into these costumes and we always love to see them!

In between stage events, we had Gregory, a well-known street artist in LA, come and make this graffiti piece live on stage.

Toward the end of the event, Naka-san came back on stage along with Sonic’s 20th anniversary cake and Sonic himself! The crowd sang Happy Birthday to Sonic, and then it was time for a special surprise. We recorded everyone at the event saying “Happy Birthday Sonic” in unison, and that will appear in Sonic Generations. All of the fans who attended the event will get their voices in the game!

As the event ended, I walked backstage to get a behind-the-scenes view. Iizuka-san said a few words, Gregory presented his artwork to Naka-san, and the entire crowd did the old SEGA start-up sound to end the night in true SEGA style.

We’ve got these photos and more on our Flickr set, and will be adding more soon! Send your photos to communityteam@sega.com!

Thanks again to everyone who attended! We had an amazing time, and hope you did too.

Tonight is the big night, Sonic fans! Here are some last minute reminders and details for you.

Sonic Boom
Club Nokia
800 West Olympic Blvd #335
Los Angeles CA
Doors open at 6pm, stage show starts at 7pm, event ends at 10pm
Food & Drink available for purchase at the show

Getting In
* If you have tickets, please remember to print them out and bring them with you! If you don’t have your ticket, you will have to wait in the general admission (non-tickets) line.
* We are not accepting any more name changes to tickets. If you have a last-minute change up of name, just bring the original tickets with you along with your ID.
* We strongly suggest that ticket holders arrive no later than 7pm so they don’t miss any of the stage show!
* If you don’t have a ticket, don’t despair! We will have a general admission line for people without tickets and we will let as many people in as we can. If you don’t have a ticket and want the best chance of getting in, I would suggest that you get to the venue early.
* Whether you have a ticket or not, please have your ID handy so we can check your over/under 21 status for alcohol purchases.
* Per Club Nokia policies, all bags are subject to inspection and you will need to pass through a metal detector when entering the club.

At the Event
* We will be showing your tweets at the event! Use the hashtag #SegaE3 to see your tweet show up on the monitor.
* We will have food and drink available for purchase. If you are over 21 with ID, you will also be able to purchase alcohol at the event.
* We will have several gaming stations set up for you to play Green Hill Zone of Sonic Generations as both Modern and Classic Sonic.
* We will have a photo booth for you to capture photo memories with your friends, and upload them straight to Facebook.
* We will have a video crew to capture your favorite Sonic memories and birthday messages for Sonic.
* We will have a live performance of the Needlemouse musical that won Sonic’s 19th birthday contest last year, along with other special guests.
* We’ll have birthday cupcakes!
* We will have t-shirts and other goodies for ticket holders. Items for non-ticket holders are on a first come, first served basis.
* You are welcome (and encouraged!) to bring your cameras, video cameras, and more. Tweet us a photo using the #SegaE3 hashtag!

After the Event
* Continue to use the #SegaE3 hashtag to tweet about the event!
* We want to see your photos, videos, and more! You can send them to communityteam@sega.com
* Look for photos, videos, and updates on the blog!

We are demoing games and blogging from the show floor today, but if you have any questions you can leave a comment here, send us a tweet to @sega, or email communityteam@sega.com and we’ll do our best to answer. See you tonight!

It’s well-known that the SEGA Community team loves to eat. (So much that we’ve talked about starting a food category right here on the blog!) And one of the questions we’ve been asked a lot this week is about the food that will be available for sale at Sonic Boom. Would we let you down? I think not. So if you want something to eat during the event, here’s what will be for sale.

All of the items below are $9 each:

Shaved Roast Beef w/ Aged Cheddar & Horseradish on Sour Dough Baguette

Fresh Roasted Turkey Sandwich w/ Gruyere Cheese w/ Mustard Aioli on Croissant

Organic Mixed Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Chinois Chicken Salad

Spicy Tuna Tartar in a Sesame Miso Cone

Orders of Chipotle Chicken Wings with Ranch Dressing (on the side)

Kobe Sliders

Sandwich Wraps

All of the items below are $3 each:

Pretzels

Popcorn

Potato Chips

Sounds pretty yum to me! We’re looking forward to seeing you in Los Angeles in just a few days. Don’t forget to use the #SegaE3 hashtag to discuss (and follow discussion of) everything SEGA at E3.

E3 is just a few days away ( #SegaE3 ), and we’re excited to announce our roster of titles to be shown! We will have more than 13 new games across all major platforms, including several games in stunning stereoscopic 3D, support for PlayStation Move for the PlayStation 3, Kinect for the Xbox 360, and Nintendo 3DS. The lineup spans multiple genres and includes adaptations of blockbuster film franchises, an original squad-based shooter from the creative mind of some of SEGA’s most popular franchises, the first “M-rated” game on Kinect, AAA digital titles, an all-new title from critically acclaimed developer PlatinumGames, and many more!

Also, as you probably know by now, we’ll celebrate this year’s 20^th birthday of Sonic the Hedgehog with Sonic Boom,  featuring Sonic Generations™ on Wednesday, June 8^th, 6PM PST at the Club NOKIA in Downtown Los Angeles.

We’ll be posting lots of blogs, Facebook updates, and tweets during the show! We want to hear what you think, so please use the hashtag #SegaE3 for tweets about all of our E3 activity, including our games, our booth, and Sonic Boom!

The list of titles in display at SEGA’s E3 booth (South Exhibit Hall, Booth 2023) includes among others:

Aliens: Colonial Marines

Aliens: Colonial Marines  (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC) – Launch Date: Spring 2012

From the award-winning first-person shooter powerhouse Gearbox Software comes Aliens: Colonial Marines, the highly anticipated horror-based action FPS set in the Aliens universe with cooperative multiplayer at its core. Bringing new levels of bone-chilling suspense and adrenaline-filled action to the renowned franchise, the game pits players against the universe’s ultimate alien killing machines, the Xenomorphs, in claustrophobic environments guaranteed to produce horrifying shocks and surprises.

ANARCHY REIGNS

ANARCHY REIGNS  (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 ) – Launch Date: January 2012

ANARCHY REIGNS is the much anticipated next title from critically acclaimed developer PlatinumGames. With ANARCHY REIGNS, PlatinumGames will be using their hallmark creativity and technical excellence to challenge the boundaries of the conventional brawler genre by allowing multiple players to get involved in heavy-hitting action simultaneously. ANARCHY REIGNS incorporates a diverse range of multiplayer modes to provide players with different challenges, including a co-op survival mode and an all-out Battle Royal mode, where players can challenge others in a full-on fight for victory. Additionally, all modes will be available as offline single-player experiences as well. In the single player campaign mode, players can choose between Jack and Leo for different story experiences.

Binary Domain

Binary Domain (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) – Launch Date: Early 2012

Binary Domain is an original IP by Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator behind some of SEGA’s most well-known video game franchises, including the critically acclaimed Yakuza series. The atmospheric squad-based shooter puts players in the middle of a fast-paced and intense battle against hordes of deadly robots, and a secret that could threaten all mankind. Fighting upward through the derelict lower levels of 2080 Tokyo into the beautiful upper city, players control an international Special Forces squad, specializing in covert ops, which sets out to battle to the heart of the crisis.

Captain America: Super Soldier

Captain America: Super Soldier (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS) – Launch Date: (US) July 19; (EU) July, 15, 2011; 3DS in Fall 2011

Become Captain America, the ultimate Super-Soldier, in the darkest days of World War II as you face the Red Skull and his army in this epic third-person action adventure. Wield Captain America’s legendary shield to take out multiple enemies at once, deflect incoming fire back at your enemies, solve puzzles, and scale walls. Above all, hurl yourself shield-first into the fray, with the superior force of the world’s first Super-Soldier at your fingertips. Engage in devastating open combat and acrobatic platforming to infiltrate Hydra’s massive and mysterious castle complex and battle the infamous Iron Cross, the forces of Hydra, and a host of nefarious enemies serving the Red Skull in an all-new Captain America story and adventure.

CRUSH3D

CRUSH3D (Nintendo 3DS) – Launch Date: (US) September 6, (EU) September 9, 2011

Redesigned for Nintendo 3DS, CRUSH3D is the unique platform game that gives you the ability to change perspective from 2D to 3D as you try to solve brain-teasing puzzles. Built on the foundation of the award winning CRUSH, CRUSH3D features a host of exciting new features specifically designed for the Nintendo 3DS system, including new locations, characters and an intuitive hint system. Navigate across the surreal platforms of Danny’s mind by ‘crushing’ your way from a 2-dimensional to a 3-dimensional world and back again whenever you need to.

Guardian Heroes

Guardian Heroes (Xbox LIVE Arcade) – Launch Date: Late Summer 2011

Coming exclusively to Xbox LIVE® Arcade, get ready for more swords and sorcery than you can shake your magical staff at. An ancient evil threatens the world after years of peace. Step into the shoes of one of five mighty heroes; each with their own unique attacks and customizable stats. As you fight through forests, graveyards, castles and volcanoes, your every decision will decide the ultimate fate of the world. Do you have what it takes to be a Guardian Hero? Due out this summer, Guardian Heroes features Co-Op and Online play for you and your friends, multiple game modes, optimized graphics, and brand new achievements for Xbox LIVE.

House of the Dead: OVERKILL Extended Cut

House of the Dead: OVERKILL Extended Cut (PlayStation Move for PlayStation 3) – Launch Date: (US) October 25, (EU) October 28, 2011

The pulp-style reinvention of the classic light-gun shooter comes to the PlayStation 3 in this exclusive Extended Cut with an avalanche of new content including brand new levels, weapons, mutants and more. Experience the over-the-top, mutant blasting madness with your PlayStation Move motion controller for PS3 all in stunning 3D and re-mastered HD graphics.

Renegade Ops

Renegade Ops (Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network, PC digital download) – Launch Date: 2011

Created by Swedish developer Avalanche Studios, Renegade Ops will unleash unprecedented mayhem and exhilarating destruction. Players are sent behind enemy lines in a mobile commando unit to defeat Inferno, a madman intent on global domination. Defeat enemies across a range of stunning environments using a wide variety of vehicles and weapons, from dispersing electromagnetic shock waves to the deployment of a huge Gatling gun armed to the teeth. Players have the choice to fight alone in single-player mode, team up offline with two-player split screen or join the dynamic 4-player online co-op experience.

Rise of Nightmares

Rise of Nightmares (Kinect for Xbox 360) – Launch Date: TBA

Rise of Nightmares offers a spine-tingling horror experience unique to the massively successful Kinect. Using their whole body the player will experience fear and tension as never before in this first-person horror adventure. Fight off hordes of undead creatures and mad scientists in this uniquely horror themed adventure that sees players desperately searching for their kidnapped wife.

SEGA Rally Online Arcade

SEGA Rally Online Arcade (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) – Launch Date: Out Now on Xbox LIVE Arcade, Coming Soon on PlayStation Network)

When was the last time you enjoyed getting dragged through the mud? Race through five different types of terrain in more rally-bred vehicles than a baker can shake his dozen at – including the Ford Focus RS, the classic Lancia Delta Integrale and the ferocious Bowler Nemesis. Play through a slew of modes including Time Trials, Single Races, and Championship Events. Cut to the chase and face off online in a variety of 6 Player multiplayer racing events – isn’t it about time you showed your friends who’s numero uno?

Shinobi

Shinobi (Nintendo 3DS) – Launch Date:  September 2011

Shinobi for the Nintendo 3DS sees the eagerly anticipated return of the legendary Shinobi. We follow our hero, Jiro Musashi, through a wide variety of exotic locations as he battles his way past hordes of enemies using magical Ninja powers in this intense action-filled title. Shinobi will include some classic gameplay elements found in previous Shinobi titles, while introducing several exciting new features and experiences specifically designed to take advantage of the technology offered by the Nintendo 3DS system.

Sonic Generations

Sonic Generations (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS) – Launch Date: Holiday 2011

Delivering the definitive gaming experience for Sonic fans old and new and part of the celebrations for Sonic the Hedgehog’s 20th Anniversary, Sonic Generations sees Sonic the Hedgehog playable as both the much loved classic 1991 character, and the modern day video game hero he has become. In this exciting new fast paced adventure set across three defining eras from 20 years of Sonic the Hedgehog, you can now speed through some of the most iconic environments, playing as Classic Sonic in re-imagined 2D side scrolling levels, and as Modern Sonic in all new, stunning 3D levels.

Where to Find Us

SEGA will be located at BOOTH 2023 in the South Exhibit Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Sonic Boom is coming next week, and there will be a lot to see and do at the event! To help you get everywhere you need and want to go, we’ve created some signs to help you. Here are some of what you’ll see next week!

Finding the Event

Classic Sonic will help you find your way to the venue.

Ticket Holders

If you have a ticket, follow Modern Sonic to make sure you’re in the right line.

Non-Ticket Holders

If you don’t have a ticket, look for these signs with Amy on them to make sure you’re where you need to be.

Video Booth

Record your video message about your favorite Sonic memories nearby this sign.

T-Shirts

Find Tails to pick up your t-shirt!

More Information

For more information on the event, see our previous blog entry which has a whole bunch of details. You can keep up with all the latest info about the event  at http://www.sega.com/sonicboom.

We encourage you to tweet about Sonic Boom and all of our E3 happenings! Please use the hashtag #SegaE3 in your SEGA E3 and Sonic Boom related tweets.

Sonic fans! We are 1 week away from Sonic Boom in Los Angeles. Here’s everything you need to know about the event. Still have questions? Leave them in the comments and we’ll address them!

The Basics

When: Wednesday, June 8th 2011 from 6:00 pm until 10:00 PM

Where: Club Nokia – 800 West Olympic Blvd #335  Los Angeles CA. It is in the LA Live plaza, by ESPN zone. The escalator to Club Nokia is right next to Rock’n Fish restaurant. Club Nokia is on the 3rd floor.

Q: I’d love to come, but I live in Europe! Why can’t you guys host an event here, too?

A: You’re in luck! If you haven’t yet heard, fellow fans just like you, with sponsorship from SEGA, run a yearly event called Summer of Sonic! You can find out more about it here.

Tickets

We’ve given out approximately 1,000 tickets to the event, and they were all snapped up very quickly. Still want to come to the event, but didn’t get a ticket? Don’t despair… you can still come!

We will have two lines at the event — one for ticket holders, and one for non-ticket holders. We will be giving priority entrance to ticket holders. So at the beginning of the event, we will fill the venue to capacity with ticket holders. As the night goes on, some ticket holders may leave. When people leave, we’ll let more people in starting with ticket holders. If there are no ticket holders to let in, we will let in non-ticket holders. But we cannot guarantee that non-ticket holders will be able to get into the event. Make sense?

We urge ticket holders to arrive at the event no later than 7pm in order to ensure your entrance into the event and not miss a thing! And if you don’t have a ticket and want the best chance to get into the event, make sure you get there early to get in the front of the line!

What to Bring

Ticket Holders: You need to print your tickets and bring them with you. You should have received an email confirmation from Eventbrite that had your tickets attached as a PDF. Each person needs to have a ticket with their name on it, and we will be checking IDs at the door (so make sure you bring your ID, too!) to make sure the name on your ticket matches the name on your ID. If you need to change the name on your ticket, please email the details to us and we’ll sort it out.

Non-Ticket Holders: Please bring your ID so we can check your over/under 21 status.

Everyone: We recommend that you bring money for food, as there will be food and drinks (including alcohol, for those of you 21 and over) available for purchase at the event. We also encourage you to come dressed in your best SEGA or Sonic related costume! You are also welcome to bring your cameras, video cameras, phones, etc.

T-Shirts and other Giveaway Items

All ticket holders will receive a Sonic Boom t-shirt along with other cool items like Sonic hats and buttons. Sizes, as well as giveaway items for non-ticket holders, are on a first come first served basis. What do the shirts look like? Well…

Pretty cool, huh?

What’s Happening at the Event?

We don’t want to give all of our surprises away, but we do want to let you know of some awesome things to expect at Sonic Boom!

You’ll get to play Sonic Generations. We will have X360 and PS3 gaming stations set up around the venue so you can play! You’ll be the first group of fans that get to play the game, and we’re really excited to let you get your hands on it.

Tell us your Sonic memories. We’ll have a special booth set up with a video crew, so you can tell us your best memories of Sonic. You never know where that video will turn up…

Needlemouse: the Musical – LIVE! The US winners of Sonic’s 19th birthday contest will be there to perform their fantastic musical live on stage.

Cake! No lie… we’ll have cupcakes at the event to celebrate Sonic’s 20th anniversary.

Twitter! Tweet about the event (whether you’re there or not) using the #SegaE3 hashtag! We’re using this for all of our E3 shenanigans, including Sonic Boom. We’d also love to see your photos from the event. You can upload them to the Sonic Facebook page, send them to us on Twitter, or you can email them to us.

Questions?

I know that’s a lot of info to process, but we want to make sure everyone is prepared! If you still have questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer. We’re excited to see you all next week in LA!

Our first batches of passes for Sonic Boom went quickly, so if you were hoping to snag one, better get on this fast! We just put up 350 more passes to Sonic Boom on the Eventbrite ticket page.

[Update: All 350 tickets have SOLD OUT! Stay tuned, there will be more coming each day this week!]

What is Sonic Boom, you ask? Well, it’s an amazing event we’re having in June, where you can meet Sonic fans like yourself, meet the SEGA community team, play Sonic Generations, celebrate Sonic’s 20th birthday, and more! It’ s happening on Wednesday, June 8th from 6pm – 10pm at Club Nokia (800 West Olympic Blvd #335) in Los Angeles, CA. Be among the first fans to play Sonic Generations, see special Sonic guests and performances, get exclusive Generations collector’s merchandise, and more! If you come dressed as your favorite Sonic character, you could win extra prizes, too! Attendance is free and for all ages, but space is limited, to snag one of these passes to reserve your spot! See all the latest details and news at sega.com/sonicboom

FAQ

We’ve had a bunch of questions about this event already. Here are answers to the most commonly asked ones.

Q: All the current passes are sold out, but I really want to attend! Will I still be able to get a ticket for the event in the future?

A: Yes. We’ve got a number of additional passes that we will be putting up for reservation soon, including through partnerships with Community and Press sites alike!  Our next batch of tickets will be going live soon. Keep watching the event ticket page and the blog to know when a new batch is live!

Q: Alright – I got a ticket! What does this get me at the event?

A: Your ticket is your pass into the halls of Sonic Boom, and is valid for you (and only you!) to attend. If you’d like to bring additional guests, like friends or family, we encourage it – just make sure you get passes for them, too!

Q: Will there be food and drink at the event?

A: Yes, there will be food and drink available for purchase. Lines may be long, so we’d also advise having a quick bite to eat before you come, just in case!

Q: Will you post more details about how to find the event, pictures, etc, in the future?

A: Yes – stay tuned!

Q: I’d love to come, but I live in Europe! Why can’t you guys host an event here, too?

A: You’re in luck! If you haven’t yet heard, fellow fans just like you, with sponsorship from SEGA, run a yearly event called Summer of Sonic! You can find out more about it here.

Q: When will we get to hear more about the special guests and surprises you have planned?

A: All in good time. As the weeks roll by and we get closer to the event on June 8th, you’ll be seeing a number of announcements about what you can expect at the event besides getting to play Sonic Generations. We won’t spoil all the surprises though – you’ll definitely want to be there!

Hey there Sonic fans,

In a word: wow!

We never expected to see such a fast response to our Sonic Boom event – in a matter of hours, all 500 early bird passes have completely SOLD OUT!

Worry not though, as even if you’re just now reading about this event for the first time, you’ll still have chances going forward to pick up tickets for you and your friends / family!

First, a quick Q&A about the event:

Sonic Boom Q&A #1 – The basics

Q: All the early bird passes are sold out, but I really want to attend! Will I still be able to get a ticket for the event in the future?

A: Yes. We’ve got a number of additional passes that we will be putting up for reservation soon, including through partnerships with Community and Press sites alike! (Gamespot, for example.) Our next batch of tickets will be going live soon!

Q: Alright – I got a ticket! What does this get me at the event?

A: Your ticket is your pass into the halls of Sonic Boom, and is valid for you (and only you!) to attend. If you’d like to bring additional guests, like friends or family, we encourage it – just make sure you get passes for them, too!

Q: Will there be food and drink at the event?

A: Yes, there will be food and drink available for purchase. Lines may be long, so we’d also advise having a quick bite to eat before you come, just in case!

Q: Will you post more details about how to find the event, pictures, etc, in the future?

A: Yes – stay tuned!

Q: I’d love to come, but I live in Europe! Why can’t you guys host an event here, too?

A: You’re in luck! If you haven’t yet heard, fellow fans just like you, with sponsorship from SEGA, run a yearly event called Summer of Sonic! You can find out more about it here.

Q: When will we get to hear more about the special guests and surprises you have planned?

A: All in good time. As the weeks roll by and we get closer to the event on June 8th, you’ll be seeing a number of announcements about what you can expect at the event besides getting to play Sonic Generations. We won’t spoil all the surprises though – you’ll definitely want to be there!

Sonic Boom – Spotlight #1: Gamespot, Sonic Retro, & Sonic Stadium

SEGA is teaming up with a number of gaming websites to give away a few handfuls of limited passes – today, Gamespot is among the first! The Gamespot community will get first dibs at 100 special passes that we’ve reserved exclusively for them.

In addition to Gamespot, two of the biggest Sonic Community sites out there, Sonic Retro and Sonic Stadium, also both have exclusive numbers of passes available for their members. How these sites choose to give out their passes is entirely up to them, but you can check them out to learn more about why these sites are among the most prominent in the Sonic community, and if any spots are left!

We hope you guys are excited for the event! With 500 passes already reserved, we’re all excited to just how big a boom we can make. If you didn’t get a pass today, we’ll be listing up additional passes soon, and as before, it’ll be first-come first-served!

More news tomorrow – we’ll see you then!