Sonic Retro

Note: This company is not affiliated with Sonic Team or Sega.

Background
Sonic Retro (formerly known as SSonicNET Database, Sonic the Hedgehog Information Treasury and the Sonic Retro Info Wiki) is a free content encyclopedia written collaboratively by contributors from around the world. It attempts to form a complete knowledge base for everything related to the classic Sonic the Hedgehog video games.

(2011?-)
Visuals: On a black background, we see the text "SONIC RETRO" in a Sonic font with a ring behind it with its Japanese translation below and the URL for the website. Next to it is the Master Emerald (as it appears in the scrapped Sonic the Hedgehog 2 level "Hidden Palace Zone"). Standing atop it is Sonic the Hedgehog, doing his iconic "finger wag" pose.

Variants: There are plenty of variants for each splash screen.
 * Sometimes, different Sonic characters (i.e. Miles "Tails" Prower or Knuckles the Echidna) can sometimes be seen standing on top of the Master Emerald.
 * Additionally, Tails can be seen standing alongside Sonic.
 * When Dr. Robotnik is seen on top of the Master Emerald, one of two events occurs:
 * Robotnik gets scared, jumps off the Emerald, and flees as he gets chased by Sonic, Tails, & Knuckles.
 * Sonic runs into view and pushes the Emerald off screen.
 * A variant exists where Dr. Robotnik flies in and takes the Master Emerald away (this is in reference to a cutscene in Sonic & Knuckles that plays after the Knuckles boss).
 * A variant exists where both Sonic and the Master Emerald are shown in their Sonic 3 & Knuckles designs. Another Sonic (this one shown in his design from the first game) runs into view, looks at the other Sonic, and taps his foot.
 * A variant exists where the logo is themed like the Sega Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog.
 * A variant exists where Knuckles runs into view and yells at Sonic.
 * A variant exists where Sonic looks to his left, jumps off the Emerald and flees as he gets chased by Amy Rose.
 * A variant exists where Sonic, Sonia, and Manic (from the DiC cartoon Sonic Underground) appear and play the song
 * A variant exists based off of the Nick Arcade (a game show taped at Nickelodeon Studios)/Simon Wai prototypes of Sonic 2, in which Sonic from that game comes speeding in, bumps on the Master Emerald, and sadly sits. down.

Technique: Sprite animation, done by Marc "Cinossu" Gordon.

Audio: A short remix of the boot up music from the Sega Master System (itself a remix of the main theme from Space Harrier) Audio Variants:
 * Sometimes the pitch is different.
 * On the Sega Master System themed start-up, the actual music is used.

Availability: Can be seen as a splash screen on most ROM hacks on the website (usually ones created by Marc).