As we venture into 2009, we here at Shacknews though it would be prudent to reflect not just on the past year, but on the variety of crazy commercials Sega has produced.

In the past we've examined the evolution of Nintendo commercials--now it's time to gape at the insanity of Sega ads.

Oh sure, there's been plenty of Sega strangeness lately, but nothing that compares to its previous work. With screaming dead squirrels, spleen-bursting games and Marky Mark to choose from, we've compiled a wide-ranging list of our favorites.

A Christmas Story (link to this video)
Sega Japan reveals the awful truth about Santa Claus. Kids? Not happy.

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20 Spleen-Bursting Games (link to this video)
Towards the end of this one, you'll start to hear a little voice that asks what's happening. Don't worry, that's actually part of the commercial.

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Joypolis (link to this video)
Joypolis is a Japanese amusement park that has a few rides inpired by Sega games. What any of that has do with this ad, no one really knows.

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Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (link to this video)
Welcome to the next level. With a Sega CD, you can make your own music videos for Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. It plays audio CDs too!

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Theater of the Eye (link to this video)
Yes, Sega used a poop joke to sell the Sega Saturn. Really!

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Turn the page for more classic Sega craziness.