The sound comes from Sonic the Hedgehog, first released by Sega in 1991 for the Genesis. Gold rings are scattered through every level and protect Sonic from losing a life when hit, so players hear this chime hundreds of times in a single playthrough. Its familiarity made it a staple of gaming culture beyond the series, appearing in fan videos, remixes, and meme edits as a universal signal for collecting an item or gaining a small reward.