Years upon years of gradually working your way into Sega. Most likely, through QA - although, as it's quite apparent, Sega doesn't give much of a rat's ass for QA. Still, should you manage to get through the QA and get yourself a real job in there, it's a matter of making your way up the ranks to somebody reasonably well-respected in the company. Not an easy task, as in the cutthroat business of video games, people are PROBABLY fired left and right - I mean, it's probably not TOO common, but it's a rough job. Anyway, once you get to the point that Sonic Team might actually give something you say a second glance, THEN you can start pitching your ideas.

That's the only way I can really think of. If you're serious about it, be aware that this isn't going to be an easy task.

Oh, sure, you COULD just e-mail them your idea, but trust me, they won't care. At all. Hell, I think I e-mailed them once concerning the flaws of Heroes and I got nothing back. And, going by Shadow, they didn't take anything I said to heart. Not that I had really expected them to...

In fact, DON'T e-mail them your idea. If you do, they are not allowed to use it, so they won't have to pay you. At least if you leave it be, they might make something somewhat similar to your game possibly one day.

So, to sum it up...I pretty much could not get an idea to them unless I were their right hand man.
While understandable from a business standpoint, that seems rather harsh toward the fans, especially those with well thought out ideas.

And about the e-mailing the idea to them...
1. How would I do that in the first place? I don't know the address.
2. I wouldn't just hand over my idea without proper documents first. I know how all that goes at least.

It's not harsh. It's not the fans prerogative to be able to submit ideas. Just enjoy the product without feeling the need to shape it as well.

Also, emailing an idea is a little more direct than just "here's an idea, sign my documents and give me cash" - you submit the idea and they won't use it, simple as that, even if it's just "Why don't you make a game where Shadow learns to sing?"

Well, there is ONE other way... make the majority of the Sonic fanbase support your idea. Seemed to work for Shadow fangirls who were all "OMG SHADOW IS SO KOOL LETZ MAEK A GAEM WERE U GO N2 HIZ PAST AND ITZ ALL ANGSTY AND AWESOME AND GUNS 2". Seems to work for the massive prepubescent fanbase who want every character in the entire franchise to star in the game, and have crappy dialog every inch of the way. Seems to work for the people who apparently love bad games. Seems to work for Jeremy Parish, who insists the franchise isn't going fast, leading to them making each installment needlessly faster and making it overall impossible to play (only to have Parish again lament that it's "not fast").

I thought that Shadow was the result of them posting a poll to test our reactions?

And that particular poll was run and set-up by Sega and only guaged fan reaction rather than asked them what they thought (choice of 4, who deserves their own game: Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Eggman).

Posting the idea in public forum does make it illegal for Sega to use it if they see it (they are liable to be sued for stealing your idea, a "I promise I wont" is not legally binding), and due to plausablility of them seeing it, posting on this forum or anywhere else which is public enough to have eyes from above, is a guarantee that it wont happen.

Basically... joining the company, as Shads suggested and making it yourself as a fanproject (as far as I know, Sega aren't an evil organisation who shut those down), you ain't got no way but sharing the idea with people for your own personal amusement, knowing it'll never happen.

I know it's not the place of the fans to give ideas or say how to make the game, but that doesn't mean ideas can't be thought of. I spoke of documents meaning it would give them rights to the game, I couldn't sue, etc. Also, I wouldn't be doing it and say "give me money."
In fact, I wouldn't say anything about money...if you can believe that.

I've been watching the series since the original Sonic and lately it seems to have gone downhill slightly. My idea involves getting back to the roots and would be good for both fans and the company. Anything I would get from it would just be a perk.
And no, I don't say this thinking I know everything about games and fans...I just feel that it is really a good idea.

I suppose if the only ways to get a game to them are make a deal with the devil or spend years trying for what probably could never be done...I'll have to stick to wishful thinking.

People have been calling for a return to the roots for eons. Sonic Team likes to pitch every game they make as such as a result, even though none of them really are such.

...

You know what? I think I discovered why the series sucks now. I sent them a point-by-point list of what they shouldn't do, and now they can't do any of my suggestions out of fears that I'll sue them. I'm so sorry guys - I'm the reason the series sucks now. ;_;

Also, the "return to roots" fancry is what gave birth to Sonic Heroes. Then Sonic the Hedgehog (360/PS3) which was an attempt to go back without the gimmick.

Since Sonic Heroes, every time the series has gone wrong, I blame fan outcry. Whatever we say we want, they do (in a stupid fashion) and screw us over.

Let's just be thankful when we said "Don't screw with Dimps design, Sonic Rush was perfect", they MOSTLY listened.

Mostly.

[font face=times new roman color=orange size=3]Seems like that happens with most game companies when they listen to the masses...they screw up trying.
Though I take the 'getting back to the roots' to a more literal since for the series, not just using familiar characters or levels.

Anyway, points made.
Even though I didn't get a direct answer to my question aside from 'join them,' thanks for the replies and input.

And to Shadow Hog's last post...as funny as that sounds, it actually seems probable, heh.

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Even though I didn't get a direct answer to my question aside from 'join them,' thanks for the replies and input.

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Anywhere else you would've been torn a new one and asked to kindly GTFO.

You should be thankful.

That was a bit rude...
Being nice and saying 'thanks' isn't being thankful enough for you?
I have asked similar questions in other places and, interestingly enough, wasn't 'torn a new one,' nor was I told/asked to leave.

Rude or not, it's a stone-cold fact. You must be very fortunate to not have run in to the common internet a-hole in your travels.

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Being nice and saying 'thanks' isn't being thankful enough for you?

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Don't misinterpret. I acknowledged your thanks.

It was a little blunt, but he's right - ask this in pretty much any other Sonic community and you'd have gotten a bunch of "shut the @#%$ up you n00b" comments. >_>

Funny how the Sonic community at large has gotten so... "mature"?

Quote:

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Funny how the Sonic community at large has gotten so... "mature"?

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I blame the failing quality of the games and the poor schmoes who still buy them. They either become jaded or apologetic.

This raises a new question.
Exactly why do most places/people say to 'screw off' when asked a simple question such as mine?

John Gabriel's Greater Internet ****wad Theory

~Tobe

Well, this isn't really the place to be philosophizing on why Internet Tough Guys feel the need to demoralize and destroy the naive and innocent...

Suffice it to say, even a simple question can become an annoying nuisance after hearing it uttered several dozen times. Because, you see, it's very likely that question or some variation of it had already been asked and answered several times over.

Valid point, and while I am aware that such questions are probably asked by others over time, I still like to ask in the off chance that someone will answer without a raised fist.
And yes, I am also aware of the places listed in your link as well as the wild odds of actually getting into 'the biz.'

Indirectly related to all this, does Sonic Team have an english site?
I just realized I have only ever seen the japanese site when I did searches and it's just a tad hard for me to navigate.
(Not stupid, just slow with some details)

You can make your own game! Tis Easy! All you need is a 3D modeler a programmer some artists a QA tester a level designer a sound quality musician and some pizza.

And a makeover. An extreme one.