Some game cartridges from the 16-bit era shipped with backup chips. These allowed players save their progress. But they were expensive relative to a software-only alternative, session passwords.
In addition to being cheaper, session passwords could be shared. Players eagerly subscribed to game magazines that printed them. And in the 90s, having a notebook full of Sega Genesis codes was a good way to increase your status on the playground.
It’s a very special episode this week, as Team Sonic Weekly discuss the news and various Sonic-related issues.
Can you believe that despite being a video game icon for 35 years, the Sonic the Hedgehog series has never had a full size pinball machine? SEGA actually came close. In 1994, SEGA purchased Data East Pinball Inc. and established SEGA Pinball, which was subsequently sold in 1999 to become Stern Pinball. However, even with SEGA being in the pinball industry at the peak of Sonic’s popularity, they never once thought to release a Sonic pinball machine. Fast forward to 2026, the year of Sonic’s 35th anniversary, and thanks to Chicagoland-based Jersey Jack Pinball it has finally happened! Sonic has a pinball machine.
This week, we discuss the various times Sonic has come back from the brink.
It’s your favorite podcast, back in podcast form! We’re back! We catch up on the news and with each other.
Smash your head into a Prize Block because on this episode of SEGA Talk we’re transforming into Kid Chameleon! How did this ambitious platformer come to be? Which teen heartthrob did they base the hero on? And what legacy – if any – did this game leave behind? Find out on this transformative episode of SEGA Talk!
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Put on your detective badge, step into the neon-lit streets of Kamurocho, and get ready to trade your heat actions for courtroom objections as we dive into the boldest spin-off Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has ever produced: Judgment. This isn’t just “Yakuza with a lawyer.” This is a game that traded Kazuma Kiryu for Takuya Kimura, swapped organized crime for legal suspense, and asked whether the Dragon Engine could tell a whole new kind of story. Find out on this episode of SEGA TALK!
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SEGA is heading to Gamescom 2026 in a big way, giving attendees the chance to go hands-on with some of its biggest upcoming releases. From August 26–30, fans visiting Hall 7 at Cologne’s Koelnmesse can experience an immersive SEGA booth packed with playable demos, themed photo opportunities, on-stage challenges, and exclusive merchandise giveaways. Five upcoming titles will be featured, each with its own dedicated booth area designed to showcase the game in a unique and memorable way.
On this SEGA Talk we return to the world of Virtua Fighter with a look back at the second game in the series! What did Virtua Fighter 2 do to improve on the winning formula of the first game? How did it expand on the characters and lore of the Virtua Fighter world? What is the best modern way to play the game? Knuckle up and find out on SEGA Talk!
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Put on your red sneakers, grab a chili dog, and get ready to travel through time as we dive into one of the most ambitious, innovative, and misunderstood entries in the Sonic franchise: Sonic CD for the Sega CD. This isn’t just “Sonic with CDs.” This is the game that introduced Metal Sonic, gave us Amy Rose, dared to ask “what if Sonic could change the future?” find out on this episode of SEGA TALK!
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As Sonic is about to turn 35, the Swingin’ Report Show LIVE turns the clock back to Sonic’s 10th anniversary which saw the release of Sonic Adventure 2! Joining in to share their memories are Sonic Retro head honcho/Sonic Weekly host David the Lurker, as well as friend of the show and video game music composer Steve aka ap0c!
We’re back, and so is Crazy Taxi but not without controversy! Also, Tupac is alive and well and in an upcoming SEGA game and Sonic is turning 250 years old next week!
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On this SEGA Talk, we celebrate 30 years of Sonic the Fighters with a look back at the AM2 developed arcade classic that threw Virtua Fighter, Fighting Vipers and Sonic the Hedgehog into a blender! How did this oddball title come to be? What legacy has left on the Sonic series? Which fighter is our spirit animal? Find out on this episode of SEGA Talk!
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Support us on Patreon! Get early access, have your memories read on the show, select the games we talk about!
To my surprise, a Limited Run Games item I pre-ordered months ago shipped and it was something I was very excited to get my hands on. Sold for $34.99 back in August 2025, the Jet Set Radio Pots plush was a stuffed version of the GG’s pet pup! Check out the unboxing video above for a quick look and comparison to the promoted version and the in-game model!
It’s Season 5, Episode 27 and we’re taking a few weeks off… we’ll be back sometime around June 23rd, probably. In this very special episode, Altsynth returns to discuss the new crossover in Sonic Rumble, and dole out awards for “The Halvsies” — our first semi-annual mid-season awards of 2026. And, in the end, we finally reveal the shocking truth of Chili Dogs behind the Tasty Freeze!