Sega Hotline: 1-900-200-SEGA

Did anyone ever call the SEGA hotline back in the day? 1-900-200-SEGA. I never called it myself due to the fact that it was .95 cents a minute recorded and $1.50 a minute Live, too expensive for me then! Anyone call it looking for hints way back when the internet didn't really exist for a plethora of cheat codes and walkthroughs?

What was it like?

http://web.archive.org/web/199612200...mages/fire.gif

Learn more SEGA game secrets
from the masters. Call Now.
US: 1-900-200 SEGA $.95/min (recorded), $1.50/min (live).
Must be 18 or have parental permission.
TDD Phone required. Sega of America
Canada: 1-900-451-5252 $1.50/min (recorded/live)

Believe it or not, we got a hotline in Brazil. It was free most of its life span (Tec Toy became greedy (read broken) after 1994 or something) and, as a kid, I liked that.

Basically, you had a menu with the available games that you could choose using the phone numbers and you got a couple of cheats and tricks available for the one you chose. You also could talk to a person about the difficult you were having with a game in a specific point... I don't know exactly how they used to do that (to find the answer), but it was helpful to me and they were quick enough to give you the answers in a few seconds.

I called once. Landstalker had just come out, and near the end of the game, I got stuck. Called, and they told me that their game councillors hadn't got that far in the game yet :/ (they apparently only played the final versions so that they wouldn't tell someone who to get by a part that wasn't in the final game, which meant that they got the games around the same time retail did) They did offer to call back when their people finished the game. In fact, the next day, Sega did call me back to make sure I didn't still need help (I'd figured out where I was stuck, and proceeded to finish the game). Still, I was impressed by the decent customer service.

I could never use the service bc it was so expensive! I was a little kid so my parents wouldn't pay for that.

I did write to Nintendo Power when I was even younger. I was playing Blaster Master (which is awesome) and I was stuck at the giant crab boss. They wrote me back but really they weren't helpful. They just told me to dodge his attacks and keep shooting him. lol Later I realized the only way I ever beat him, using FULL GUN POWER (to shoot across the whole screen) and staying at back, facing front and walking side to side, dodging its bubbles and shooting the hell out of it...

I used to call the toll free hotline all the time. I believe that it was 1-800-USA-SEGA. They actually had a lot of accurate info about the status of game releases.

So, the question is, is anyone willing to gamble their phone bill as to if the phone lines are still active and owned by Sega? ;)

I never could afford the 95 cent a minute fee, so I toughed it out and figured the games out on my own.

Yeah, 1-800-USA-SEGA was the original Sega hotline. The services available through that phone number varied over the years: from game tips, live help, parts and service info, release dates etc. For the early years there were live game counselors there if you didn't get a busy signal! Those phones lines were jammed back when Phantasy Star was a current release. (Which is why; I have no doubt, Sega included the "hint book" with PSII) Years later when I called for Landstalker they took my address and sent me a printed version of the guide their counselors used. I also later purchased from eBay an exact same style guide for Shining the Holy Ark, which the seller said he got by calling Sega.

Oddly, at some point the 1-800-USA-SEGA number was in service concurrently with the 1-900 number. Initially Sega stopped offering game tips on the 1-800 number, but at some point in the Saturn's life they started once again offering game help on the toll-free 1-800 number.

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Originally Posted by xelement5x

So, the question is, is anyone willing to gamble their phone bill as to if the phone lines are still active and owned by Sega? ;)

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I'm pretty sure its a sex line now. Anyways I never called that shit my pops would beat my ass if I did. I just mailed Sega and they would send me a nice book of hints for free.

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Originally Posted by Da_Shocker

I'm pretty sure its a sex line now. Anyways I never called that shit my pops would beat my ass if I did. I just mailed Sega and they would send me a nice book of hints for free.

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Agreed, I'm sure you could call just about any old 1-800 or 1-900 number from the days of phone gaming tips and it'll be a weirdo sex line.

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Originally Posted by Baloo

Agreed, I'm sure you could call just about any old 1-800 or 1-900 number from the days of phone gaming tips and it'll be a weirdo sex line.

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The question then becomes: is it still Sega themed? A few good game to sex transition titles would be Phantasy Star, Nights, and Golden Axe: Beast Rider.

I called it once, the fellow I spoke to seemed to be from a country other than the US but was very pleasant. I don't remember why I called, but it was after I bought the 32X and was playing the hell out of Virtua Racing Deluxe. The fellow was very smug that Sega had just proven, again, that they were on the technological edge of gaming.

I won't forget that experience any more than the two hand written letters I have from a Sega representative named Karen from back in the Master System days. I was writing "scripts" for new games I wanted to see. I'm convinced some of Golden Axe the Revenge of Death Adder, including the title, was inspired by me. ;)

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Originally Posted by sheath

I called it once, the fellow I spoke to seemed to be from a country other than the US but was very pleasant. I don't remember why I called, but it was after I bought the 32X and was playing the hell out of Virtua Racing Deluxe. The fellow was very smug that Sega had just proven, again, that they were on the technological edge of gaming.

I won't forget that experience any more than the two hand written letters I have from a Sega representative named Karen from back in the Master System days. I was writing "scripts" for new games I wanted to see. I'm convinced some of Golden Axe the Revenge of Death Adder, including the title, was inspired by me. ;)

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That bit about the Master System letters sounds pretty awesome! Think we can get some scans?

Sure thing, I still have them of course, but I think there was something important missing or I would have posted them already. Maybe it was just my original letters that are missing. I'll dig through my memory box in the attic in the morning.

Just called a few of the numbers on the backs of SMS/Genesis games and manuals.

1-900-200-SEGA doesn't exist anymore
1-800-USA-SEGA is a recording telling you to go to their site
(415) 742-9300 doesn't exist anymore

In a couple manuals they list 1-800-872-7342 as the Canadian help number which is exactly the same as the 800 USA one.
No Sega sexlines here.

Okay, I found the letters I mentioned. I still have several pages on Revenge of Death Adder that I sent in later, but here is the initial correspondence.

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...ited_small.png

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...ited_small.png

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...ited_small.jpg

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...ited_small.jpg

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...1_p1_small.png

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...1_p2_small.png

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...ited_small.png

After seeing that, I would say sheath had a part in Revenge of Death Adder. ;) Thanks for posting!

Holy crap, sheath!

I wish we could contact Michael Jackson's lawyers or someone like that... Probably they would say that Sega was doing something wrong with that agreement and we could sue them. Instead of money, you could ask for a 32X and Sega CD port of YOUR game now!

Man, that letters are just pure awesomeness ("You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to sheath again.")...

I don't think my letters really affected the Revenge of Death Adder, I just finished scanning the rest of the letters, including the full breakdown of my version of the game. I'll post it within the hour.

That's why I mentioned people like MJ's lawyers... They do not need to have a strong proof to prove something, heheheh.
I was just kidding about that, 'cause I really miss a port of that game.

But, well, feels like the game title is just yours...

Yeah I have to say that's pretty awesome to have gotten a response from them. Especially when they say that they'll send the ideas to Japan for consideration.

Heh, yeah, I actually cringe when I read that greedy little bastard asking Sega for the rights to a game he could never make himself. :(

woah! thats crazy!!!

i have letters i sent to sega as well!!!!

ill upload them now....

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8...ttertosega.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8...ttertosega.jpg

Hahah, that is awesome! Wow.

I posted my Golden Axe II game description that ended up being returned to me in March of 1991. I'll share the game description itself here, but I also have a game description for Last Battle II as an answer for Street Fighter II, and two cover letters that show exactly how much of a fanboy I really was on the link above.

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...1991_small.png


http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...1991_small.png


http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/sites/...1991_small.png

^ "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to sheath again."

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Originally Posted by Cornholio857

^ "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to sheath again."

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Same here.

Well, get to work, slackers! ;)

There is a nice article by a guy who worked for the Sega hotline. It´s been online for years, a good read!

http://home.comcast.net/~flightsuit/sega.htm

^Rep given.

Oh, this thread just became the best one in months... Thanks everybody for the nice posts and valuable information.

EDIT: That guy was really a bully on the phone... Epic!

"If you consider the demographic you're dealing with, you'll understand that this job was a prescription for misery: videogamers tend to be losers. They have no friends. They sit in their dark little rooms with the curtains closed, playing Mortal Kombat while the rest of us are out there having lives. From this demographic, there is a special sub-class: those who are too stupid to connect a Genesis to a television. These are the ones I dealt with."

"I felt like saying, "Listen, you little punk, let me get you alone in a jail cell for two minutes and I'll beat you until blood comes out of your ears." But I couldn't say that, because our calls were randomly monitored."

...

Pure gold.

Awesome letters guys! It should be written in Sega-16 canon that Sheath indeed came up with the idea for Golden Axe: Revenge of Death Adder, hahaha! Did you get a reply to your letter Mista_Ed? xD

I love that article about the Sega hotline, can't imagine what the other temp workers were like there!

Indeed, these letters were awesome.

It´s especially awesome how sheath asked about his share of the profits in the second letter.^^

Also of note is that while he typed his letters, what he got back was handwritten. You´d think that Sega would make their reply look more professional. :P

Besides, the reply from Sega has the "Now ther are no limits" slogan on it. Was this an old sheet? I mean, that slogan was used for the SMS afaik?

How very original that 3 out of 5 levels of Golden Axe II would have been the same as GA I, just with some graphical changes. I am sure Sega loved that kind of attitude from their customers, even ASKING for getting what needs little effort to do. :D

@Mista_Ed

You´re not making this up, are you? You actually wrote them THAT? :D


BTW, how comes you still have the letters, both of you? Did you copy them before sending or did Sega return letters?

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Originally Posted by 108 Stars

Indeed, these letters were awesome.

It´s especially awesome how sheath asked about his share of the profits in the second letter.^^

Also of note is that while he typed his letters, what he got back was handwritten. You´d think that Sega would make their reply look more professional. :P

Besides, the reply from Sega has the "Now ther are no limits" slogan on it. Was this an old sheet? I mean, that slogan was used for the SMS afaik?

How very original that 3 out of 5 levels of Golden Axe II would have been the same as GA I, just with some graphical changes. I am sure Sega loved that kind of attitude from their customers, even ASKING for getting what needs little effort to do. :D

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Yup, if I recall, my dad, who was an idiot, convinced me to not only demand a share but also copy all of my correspondence so I could claim rights later. I should also add that the only letters I ever wrote to a corporation were during my wee years while my parents still thought they could teach me how to get along with the world. After even Sega gave me the legal treatment, once they were big enough to you know have computers, I just couldn't see the point.

The hand written replies were from early 1989 before the Genesis launched. The later replies are from 1991 and onward. I am having a hard time pegging exact dates for these because I did not date my letters.

On the rehash sequel thing, yeah, I am ashamed to admit that not only did I invent Revenge of Death Adder, I also invented the level edit sequel. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 108 Stars

There is a nice article by a guy who worked for the Sega hotline. It´s been online for years, a good read!

http://home.comcast.net/~flightsuit/sega.htm

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Why do I have a feeling the person was making that up?

I've never called 1-800 or 1-900 numbers, but my copy of Golden Axe Warrior that i got off amazon a while ago came w/ a letter: Miscellaneous Hints i've read it a few times but never but used it to aid me in the game.

Absolutely awesome to read those letters and hear those stories. Thank you for sharing!

ummmm.....yeh......well.....

that letter was written by me last friday....

sorry - i was just amusing myself, and the joke seemed to go over some ppls heads....

lol

(ill get my coat!)

cheers! :) :)

My letters are either copies or were returned to me. The Golden Axe Revenge of Death Adder stuff was returned to me. I left the "rejection" letter on the web link, but basically Sega said they had ceased accepting outside ideas.

I called it once, and got yelled by my mom for doing so.

I called the EA hint line from a friend's house once; we rented Shadow of the Beast 1 or 2 and didn't know what the hell to do. What we got was a recording of a guy talking really really fast on how to beat the game; he rattled off every step in like 3 minutes time. We missed the info we needed, but called back with a tape recorded ready and recorded all the hints. Wish I still had that tape, I'd upload it...