| FastFeet Media (FFM) was founded on October the 23rd 2003 by Graham ‘FastFeet’ Seward. FFM started out as a new way to get Sonic the Hedgehog related files out to the community. But what started out as a simple website has grown from its roots into something huge, and is now the world’s number one resource for SEGA and Sonic the Hedgehog media.
At FastFeet Media we are all huge fans of Sonic the Hedgehog and SEGA as a whole, as such our goal is to provide the most useful media resource for fans of SEGA and Sonic the Hedgehog anywhere on the web. We do this by providing a unique Downloads service, in-house video content (SEGASonic:TV), we also showcase Videos and Music from videos games old and new. We also have a mature and enthusiastic community in our Forums.
Here’s a little history about FastFeet Media, including awards and major events we’ve been a part of. |
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| FastFeet Media was created in the first place when Graham decided his online nickname would be ‘FastFeet’. A simple nickname taken from the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog has ‘Fast’ ‘Feet’, so when it was time to name the website FastFeet Media fitted naturally, mainly due to the fact that the website and everything that was part of it was all on his PC at the time – therefore it’s FastFeet’s Media really.
The original site started off with all kinds of different things for visitors to use on the website such as the C.I.G (Cool Image Gallery), the first FastFeet Media forums on Proboards and the file of the week as a couple of examples. The website was run directly from FastFeet’s PC from day one and allowed downloads from the FTP Server on the computer. However after a short while it was quite obvious that the website was limited technically so a better server was required which could handle more traffic and provide 24/7 services too. So the adventure began… |
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| As the year progressed FFM continued core activities such as providing more downloadable content and building a mature community. But towards the summer FFM was given the opportunity to join the Sonic Stadium Network (TSS NET) by Svend ‘Dreadknux’ Joscelyne. Naturally FFM accepted and effectively became the media division of TSS NET.
Main services from FastFeet Media developed into FTP based downloads primarily, Bit Torrent downloads became available shortly after the move. Later in the year things really started to happen with SEGASonic:Radio (part of TSS NET) being handed to FFM to run until new staff were appointed.
Innovation struck again with the idea to provide a videogame TV show that was Sonic centric, and it wasn’t long until ‘SEGASonic:TV’ was born. The show premiered its first and second episodes with the latest news, reviews, features and community videos to form a well rounded show delivered for the web and this is back before YouTube hit the big time. |
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| By now FastFeet Media was well established in the Sonic community, downloads were plentiful and were all conformed to a standard. Since 2003 the website had seen many changes through 3 different versions, with the site being slightly modified to form version 4.0. Finally a completely new design appeared in mid-2005 where the site took on a far darker approach. But media was still being served up as usual with a flash header allowing visitors to navigate and play SEGASonic:Radio on any area of the site. |
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[AWARD]
Newcomer website Sonic Cage Dome (SCD) invited community members to play in their first online tournament. The game: Sonic the Hedgehog 2, using skill (and a bit of lucky lag perhaps!) FastFeet finished 1st.
By now FastFeet Media had its own forum in the Sonic Stadium Message Board (SSMB), today though that forum has since been deleted since FFM became independent. Whilst SEGASonic:TV released its third and fourth episodes to great critical acclaim, a new idea started to be developed right at the very end of the year… |
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| The year started with the release of the fifth episode of SEGASonic:TV of series 1, the idea that began to develop was a project known as ‘Black Dwarf’ a new idea that combined sci-fi with Sonic the Hedgehog for a 3D animated series. 2006 was certainly the year for the Sonic the Hedgehog community as SEGA Europe started to work hand in hand with the Sonic community, bringing the industry and fans closer than ever before.
[AWARD]
A review of FastFeet Media 6 was written by Miles Attacca. Unfortunately his website no longer exists, but this certainly gives you a good idea of what FastFeet Media was all about.
During the summer of 2006 TSS NET created the Summer of Sonic (SoS) website to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 15th birthday which was a great success for the community. SEGASonic:TV ended up in some of the submissions, with episode 5 of the series released on New Year’s Day.
[AWARD]
Although it wasn’t exactly the most prestigious awards event in the community, the Sonic & Shadow Site awards took place for the first time at the end of 2005. With the community voting FastFeet Media as ‘Best Content’, ‘Best Media Site’ and ‘Most Improved Site’ of 2005!
A brand new version of FastFeet Media emerged due to the fact that most visitors didn’t like the way that version 5 was put together. FastFeet Media 6 had the first ever FFM launch party featuring a SEGASonic:Radio special broadcast, but also featured a new member system created by Ian ‘B’man’ Bennett featuring member data, skins and plenty of other dynamic features made available throughout future versions too. |
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| By 2007 FastFeet Media had continued to grow to the point where it had become a network within TSS NET! What was supposedly the ultimate version of FFM was released; codenamed FastFeet Media: Evolution because of the constant development of the website and its ability to evolve. |
| FastFeet Media Studios arrived accompanying the new website, grouping all of FFM’s in-house projects together showing off SEGASonic:TV and Black Dwarf. The FastFeet Media Center also had its beta test later in the year for visitors to try, displaying streaming media from 1000’s of the downloads from the FTP Hub.
2007 was also a very good year for community events – April saw the first get together of Sonic fans in April with a second meeting in London during September at an event dubbed ‘Birdcon‘. FastFeet Media were also invited to SEGA Europe to play test Sonic & Mario at the Olympic Games, not only was it a fantastic day but it was filmed especially for a SEGASonic:TV special released between series 1 and 2.
[AWARD]
This year FastFeet Media was nominated in the Sonic Wrecks Awards (SWA) for best resource eventually beating off the competition to win. Another trophy in the cabinet!
Discussions with TSS NET around the summer had meant that a joint decision was made for FFM to become independent from TSS NET. Reasons for this included the fact that FFM had expanded beyond TSS NET and that the two sites would be covering several different areas. A brand new site was planned and developed over the next 6 months, offering everything FFM had built since day one to provide not only the ultimate Sonic, but SEGA media resource on the web too. In the meantime the FastFeet Media blog was made available to keep everyone updated during development. |
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| In comparison to other years 2008 was a slow year for FastFeet Media. Still adjusting to the move to the new domain of www.fastfeetmedia.net the website was being redeveloped to see what mould would fit it best, so if anything 2008 was the year for experimentation. Versions 8 & 9 of the website were produced on a new Wordpress platform which produced mixed results. The right balance of multimedia and web standards was required to produce the ultimate Sega and Sonic the Hedgehog media website.
Personal circumstances made it difficult for FastFeet to continue producing the site, to add to this several staff were removed due to their inactivity. With less staff there was less content being produced and as a result a few cuts had to be made; Black Dwarf was put on hiatus until further notice and SEGASonic:TV was on hold too.
But 2008 was a very special year for FastFeet Media and the Sonic community as a whole. The worlds very first Sonic the Hedgehog convention (Summer of Sonic) was held in Covent Garden, London. The idea was created by none other than Svend Joscelene (Founder of The Sonic Stadium), assisted by Kevin Eva (Sonic Wrecks) and supported by Sega themselves. With a fantastic turnout of over 200 people and much to do and explore on the day the convention was a huge success and returned in 2009.
FastFeet Media were called on hand to assist on stage during the day and to primarily show the audience the very best of Sonic the Hedgehog music. All music played on the day was taken from FastFeet Media’s very own FTP Hub downloads archive. |
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| Quality over quantity was the order of the year. With downloads being FastFeet Medias speciality the year was spent ensuring that downloads across the website were of top quality. Which meant audio files being properly tagged with album artwork and video files being rendered to the best quality possible.
FastFeet Media tried a few new things in 2009 too with the start of the ‘Text Request’ service for events, FFM were asked to DJ at the Insert Coin Arcade Expo in Northampton alongside RadioSEGA. FastFeet Media were also invited back to Summer of Sonic 2009, DJ-ing to an audience of over 500 people in person and thousands over the internet.
With a summer of events behind the site, the year wrapped up into a close with one more redesign, this time to tweak the existing layout of version 9. But as far as things go at FFM if anythings changed it’s a new version; version 10 transitioned over during December 2009 into January 2010. This time showcasing 5 dedicated areas: FastFeet Media, Downloads, Music, Video and Community (Forums).
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