10 INSANE Video Game Risks (That Totally Paid Off)
4. Sega Gives Away Their System Seller
The Mega Drive got the head-start on Nintendo's 16-bit NES sequel and it was an impressive little machine but it lacked a true, eye-catching must-have game-changer. Thus, Sega went about creating a mascot. Thankfully for them it worked, as Sonic the Hedgehog proved to be extremely popular with those got to play the game before it's release in July 1991.
However, Sega of America made a pretty incredible decision a few months later to start including the game free with the console.
Previous Genesis systems had come with Altered Beast, a fine game but not on Sonic's level. Sonic was the title everyone was talking about. On the one hand, there was hesitance that they would lose money from consumers who would normally buy the console and the game. However, this proved to be fruitful as it instantly attracted more people who needed that extra bit of incentive.
In fact, to keep everyone happy, those who had bought a Mega Drive before Sonic's release could apply for a free copy of Sonic the Hedgehog - which only helped to make sure that the Blue Blur was the only character anyone was talking about in 1991.
The long-lasting positive effect of such a decision meant that more people were prepared and ready to make 1992's Sonic the Hedgehog 2 the fastest selling video game launch to that point in history.