Disenfranchised “Anti-Sonic Retro Federation” Threatens More Disruption

By
Tristan Oliver
– August 18, 2009

Sonic RetroAdministrator: “Nothing to Worry About”

Quick on the heels of two successful attacks on Sonic Retro and the subsequent rebuilding effort of its damaged wiki by much of the Sonic research community, there continues to surface some evidence that there are some who will continue to push for not simply a wounded Retro, but a completely obliterated one.

Late last week, TSSZ News received a couple of news tips concerning the alleged formation of a rogue group.  The group, calling itself the Anti-Sonic Retro Federation, claims to be fifty strong, with a team of five leaders.  What’s their purpose?  According to the ARF’s established website, “We are a group of disgruntled Retro forum members who wish to overthrow or destroy Sonic Retro.”

That can’t be good.

The alleged group and its website calls for all Retro administrators, including Scarred Sun, Tweaker, Xkeeper, Hivebrain, and newly appointed admin GerbilSoft to relinquish their leadership roles on Retro, and turn them over to others.  The alleged group is also calling for all the site’s “misfits”–those who have been banned from the website’s forums for various reasons–to have their membership reinstated.

“If (administrators) do not step down and pass power on to someone else,” the website reads, “We shall reveal every last bit of data.”

The term “alleged” is being used liberally for a reason–you have to wonder if the ARF is nothing more than words, or an outright hoax.  But the ARF website claims that Shibunoa, the person thought to be responsible for the major attacks on Retro, was a now deposed sixth team leader.  That attack, in the website’s words was only “45% successful” by their assessment.

So, if it’s legit, what else could they do?  What data could they unleash?

TSSZ News spoke to Sonic Retro forum administrator Tweaker on the matter, and while he thinks the ARF is legitimate, he doesn’t think it poses any threat to Sonic Retro.

“There really is nothing to worry about,” Tweaker said.  “I don’t think it’s a hoax, per se–just something [...] that will never amount to anything.”

Tweaker told TSSZ News at least one member aligning himself with the ARF attempted a wave of intimidation and harassment via Sonic Retro’s IRC channel recently, which was not successful.

So far, the alleged group is threatening to release a beta copy of something called The S Factor.  It is the only data the ARF has specifically threatened to release.

“The S Factor is a ROM hack,” Tweaker told TSSZ News.  “It hasn’t been released yet; the only thing available was an apparently-widespread private build of the game.”

It’s because of those circumstances, explains Tweaker, that downplays the severity of any rogue release.

“If the guy actually releases a hack beta, big whoop–the same build of S Factor has already been leaked.”

Whether this leak alone is the extent of the ARF’s threat is not clear.  Indeed, the extent of the group and its capabilities–and whether the whole thing isn’t a large scale joke isn’t completely clear, either.  Still, the alleged group gave Sonic Retro a week to comply with their demands.  That was last Thursday.

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