Development began in 1990 when Sega ordered its developers to create a game featuring a mascot for the company. After considering a number of suggestions, the developers decided on a blue hedgehog and named themselves "Sonic Team" to match their character. "Sonic the Hedgehog", designed for fast gameplay, was influenced by games by "Super Mario" series creator Shigeru Miyamoto. "Sonic the Hedgehog" uses a novel technique that allows Sonic's sprite to roll along curved scenery, which originated in a tech demo created by programmer Yuji Naka. The music was composed by Masato Nakamura, songwriter of the J-pop band Dreams Come True.