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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 services such as file sharing (FTP Hub), streaming media
(Media Center), member-generated content (Public Access) and 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 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.
[ See FastFeet Media 2.0 on Archive.org ]
[ See FastFeet Media 3.0 on Archive.org ]
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By now FastFeet Media was well established in the Sonic community, downloads were plentiful and were all conformed to a legal 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.
[AWARD]
Newcomer website Sonic Cage Dome (SCD) invited community members to play 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…
[ See FastFeet Media 4.0 on Archive.org ]
[ See FastFeet Media 5 on Archive.org ]
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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 at the time.
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.
[ See FastFeet Media 6 on Archive.org ]
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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.
[ See FastFeet Media: Evolution on Archive.org ]
[ See the FastFeet Media Blog on Archive.org ]
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By the start of 2008 roughly 60% of the site development was complete. The new vision included a website conforming to new web standards, providing better
services for the community and aimed to be a media heavy website designed for Web 2.0. What you see now is
the ultimate version of FastFeet Media, supporting SEGA, Sonic and the community in their endeavours for many years to come!
[ See FastFeet Media.NET on Archive.org ] (Coming Soon)
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| Who is your favourite Sonic character? |
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The Media Center is not yet available for public use, please keep checking back for updates!
The Public Access channel is not yet available for public use, please keep checking back for updates!
