From: reala@sonic-cult.org [mailto:reala@sonic-cult.org] Sent: 01 April 2004 07:54 To: Howard-VyseC@soe.sega.co.uk Subject: ATTN: Clare Howard-Vyse To whom it may concern You are not aware of me, or maybe you are. Who knows. My name is Reala, and I run a very large website called Sonic CulT. (http://www.sonic-cult.org/) Recently, Sega has been plagued with leaks right and left. I'm well aware of this, because I'm in the middle of it 90% of the time. (As a webmaster/fan, I try to be first to bring information to the masses) These leaks are annoying, as we're both aware, and sometimes they go a little too far. Mainly your issue with Sonic Advance 3 ending up on the internet in ROM format months before release. My issue isn't so much piracy, it's more or less my irritation with the complete lack of respect for companies who spend quite a bit on development. Just to end up with a few 16 year olds releasing the game under some lame enigmatic group name. I'm well aware that piracy is going to be a constant thorn in your side; and it's probably not going away for a while, if ever. However, at the same time I am also well aware how a buggy pre-release in the alpha/beta/whatever stages of development can cause a negative opinion to be created before the game is even released. While you may not be able to stop piracy, it is possible to stop these people who are leaking materials. I wish to lend a hand as a fan, one who is so devoted he has Sonic tattooed on his back. (http://www.sonic-cult.org/!trash/TATTOO3.jpg) I have gathered quite a load of material trying to track this person(s) down. I haven't pinpointed the exact person, I have made a huge dent in the process of tracking them. I'm more then willing to compile and forward what I've obtained thus far with you, as THQ has seemed rather uninterested in the whole ordeal. (I'm unsure if THQ publishes on your side of the Atlantic, so that may be why) I'm not asking for anything in return, I honestly just want this to not happen anymore. Leaks = lack of funding, lack of funding = lack of good games. And in your case lack of a job ;) Please contact me if you're interested in what I've dug up, and I'll begin work on compiling information in a somewhat readable format. --Reala ---Sonic Fan since 1991. ps. I'm well aware you won't be able to provide me with an answer until you've spoken it over with your peers, but please return an email to let me know you've received this letter, as it was an incredible pain for me to track you down. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Matsumoto, Kuniyo, SOE To: reala@sonic-cult.org Subject: Sonic Advance 3 code Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 17:46:56 +0100 Dear Reala, It come to our attention that in the site called "sonic-online", "Flame_The_Hedgehog"(user) connected the link to the folder in your server. The site & forum's adress is : http://www.sonic-online.com/community/index.php?showtopic=525 The link is made to : http://www.sonic-cult.org/!trash/sa3/SonicAdvance3.rar Could you delete all the Sonic Advance3 from your server? Many thanks, Kuniyo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: reala@sonic-cult.org [mailto:reala@sonic-cult.org] Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 7:50 AM To: MatsumotoK@soe.sega.co.uk Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code Dear Kuniyo, I'm sorry, I don't understand your phrasing. What is "all", do you mean all roms or all materials or images. I'd also like to not have my previous email, which is attached to this, ignored. Thank you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Matsumoto, Kuniyo, SOE To: reala@sonic-cult.org Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 10:55:51 +0100 Dear Reala. Please delete Sonic Advance 3 code. And as for your previous mail, personally I would like to see if you don't mind. Many thanks, Kuniyo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: reala@sonic-cult.org [mailto:reala@sonic-cult.org] Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 5:20 PM To: MatsumotoK@soe.sega.co.uk Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code I have codes up?? I never posted codes, maybe you think of another site? double check, I am unsure. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Matsumoto, Kuniyo, SOE To: reala@sonic-cult.org Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 17:25:24 +0100 Hi Reala, No you did not posted the codes. But there is a code in your server. But someone did publicized the link in the other forum. In fact, if you click this, the code is downloadable. http://www.sonic-cult.org/!trash/sa3/SonicAdvance3.rar As you can see, the link is to "sonic-cult". Could you delete the code in this folder ? Many thanks, Kuniyo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Reply To: reala@sonic-cult.org To: Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 16:55:56 -0400 CC: I'm still not understanding. I went there, but there is no code. Try www.gamefaqs.com for codes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Martin, Elliott, SOE To: reala@sonic-cult.org Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 11:27:18 +0100 CC: Matsumoto, Kuniyo, SOE Hi Reala, I have been invited to step into this email conversation to try and clear up the confusion that has arisen between Kuniyo and yourself. Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your original email and your efforts to aid SEGA Europe in tackling Internet piracy; Kuniyo and I welcome any information you have on any leaked or pirated SEGA games. I am sorry that no-one replied to your original email sooner, but as I am sure you can appreciate there are many departments involved in tracing these leaked ROMs and the staff involved are very busy. I can promise that if you email Kuniyo and myself directly in future then we will give you a much quicker response. I myself have been quite closely involved in helping to track the leaked Sonic Advance 3 ROMs on the Internet, but unfortunately I cannot find every instance of it as that is impossible. However, through the combined efforts of people within SEGA Europe and SEGA Japan we believe we have managed to target most of the major GBA ROM sites which people visit. As Kuniyo tried to explain in her email, we came across a link given by someone on a forum (http://www.sonic-online.com/community/index.php?showtopic=525 ) that actually links to a copy of the ROM on your very own web site, "sonic-cult.org". If you check this link, http://www.sonic-cult.org/!trash/sa3/SonicAdvance3.rar, you will find that it is indeed a copy of the leaked BETA ROM. Therefore we ask that you honour your intentions of helping to stop piracy and remove the offending file (and any other copies of it) from your server(s). I hope this has cleared up the confusion and both Kuniyo and I look forward to conversing with you more in the future. Many thanks and best regards, Elliott Martin. Elliott Martin Technical Producer SEGA Europe Tel : +44 (0)20 8996 4445 Fax : +44 (0)20 8996 4562 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: reala@sonic-cult.org [mailto:reala@sonic-cult.org] Sent: 15 April 2004 13:11 To: MartinE@soe.sega.co.uk Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,duh. Ok, I get it now. Nah, feel free to download that file at that URL, you won't find Sonic Advance 3. I's actually a homebrewn demo rom made with a very basic set of GBA development tools. Check it yourself. As for the tracking thing, I'm not speaking about tracking down sites hosting it, I'm speaking of tracking down the actual person who leaked it. If you want that info let me know. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Martin, Elliott, SOE To: reala@sonic-cult.org Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 13:58:03 +0100 CC: Matsumoto, Kuniyo, SOE Hi Reala, I would like to stress that I HAVE downloaded the file at the link I gave to you and I HAVE played it and it IS a functioning copy of Sonic Advance 3. Therefore I again ask that you remove this file from your web server. Even if it is a "homebrew" Sonic demo that has been modified in some way, this is still illegal if you are using code or assets extracted from the Sonic Advance 3 ROM. With regards to your info on the source of the SA3 leak, I would very much appreciate it if you could send everything you have to me, thanks. Kind regards, Elliott. Elliott Martin Technical Producer SEGA Europe Tel : +44 (0)20 8996 4445 Fax : +44 (0)20 8996 4562 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: reala@sonic-cult.org [mailto:reala@sonic-cult.org] Sent: 16 April 2004 07:52 To: MartinE@soe.sega.co.uk Cc: Howard-VyseC@soe.sega.co.uk; MatsumotoK@soe.sega.co.uk Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code And here you go. I'm sure you weren't expecting the level of detail I went through to create this, and I hope you appriciate it. It was a lot of hard work. Please, would you be kind enought to at least let me know when you get this document? --Reala From: Martin, Elliott, SOE To: reala@sonic-cult.org Subject: RE: Sonic Advance 3 code Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 17:01:21 +0100 Hi Reala, I got your file, many thanks. I will be in touch with you again sometime soon (possibly not until early next week)... Regards, Elliott.