Rumor: Yuji Naka set to leave Sega
Yuji Naka,
the original programmer behind Sonic the Hedgehog and arguably the most influential man at Sega (next to Yu
Suzuki, of course), is rumored to be leaving Sega.Citing sources "close to Sega," Next Generation claims that the influential leader "is planning to set up his own studio." If true, this action would mirror those of other game industry greats such as Tetsuya Mizuguchi (who founded Q Entertainment) and Hironobu Sakaguchi (who started Mistwalker).
Unfortunately, this kind of rumor is difficult to confirm as you don't know for sure whether someone's leaving a developer until he's actually gone. With all the organizational changes at the company, however (especially since Sammy bought Sega), such a move wouldn't be too surprising. We just hope the next-gen sequels to Sonic are in good hands.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ry @ Mar 18th 2006 10:02PM
Hell, since Sonic Adventure came out, the best sonic games to be released were the outsourced Gameboy Advance/NDS versions. If Naka's not doing sonic, maybe we'll actually get a good title for home platforms, finally. Been waiting for one since Sonic 3 and Sonic CD back when I was 14...
Jago @ Mar 18th 2006 10:15PM
This isn't entirely surprising...as much of an influcence he was in the 90's and at SEGA, I'm sure he wants to do his own projects without getting SEGAs approval first.
Brody Brooks @ Mar 18th 2006 10:18PM
Yuji Naka is a great figure, being behind the concept and implimentation of the original Sonic games, and the Sonic games of recent times.
I hate to say it, but the games in the Sonic franchise have been under par, or at par. If someone else comes along to pick up the torch for the franchise, maybe it's a good thing. Maybe Sonic will go back to being a fast-paced side-scroller where it shone (and still shines as the case is with Sonic Rush on the DS).
LuckyTurner @ Mar 18th 2006 11:10PM
While I've enjoyed them over the years (especially the Genesis iterations), to hell with the Sonic franchise... WHAT ABOUT MY HOPES FOR A NEW "NiGHTS" GAME?!?! It's been nearly 10 years since the first installment and I'm still holding onto the impossible hope that we'll see this as a possible killer app for Revolution at E3 this year.
Flight and stunts via gyroscopic remote would be sweet. Admit it.
Jago @ Mar 18th 2006 11:32PM
Ok...I've asked this question numerous times but will SOMEONE tell me what is so "great" about the NiGHTS?
Yes I have played...I have a Saturn, NiGHTS (and the Christmas version) AND the 3D controller...and to tell you the truth it isn't THAT great. Infact I would rather play Crash Bandicot instead (but ultimately I would rather play SM64 since it is superior our of the 3 :-)
Eric @ Mar 19th 2006 12:19AM
Am I the only one that thinks that Sonic games do not translate very well into 3D? I loved them when they were 2D side scrollers, and Sonic CD was one of a few games I enjoyed on my Sega CD(which funny enough had a 3D-ish element in a mini game to get rubies).
Later, they decided to try sonic in 3D(because everyone figured it would be a good idea...even I gave the idea some thought, "hey wouldn't it be cool if it was in 3D"?) and low and behold, the Sonic franchise turned to crap!
I'm not sure if the next gen systems, with their graphics and physics capabilities, can make it a household name again.
And I actually agree with Jago in questioning everyone's fanboyishness towards NiGHTS. It would be interesting to see it translated into next gen, but it wouldn't make me choose one console over another, thats for sure.
LuckyTurner @ Mar 19th 2006 12:38AM
To answer a few questions, as far as gameplay goes "NiGHTS" was a fairly simplistic 'relay race' sort of game design. I think the one element that really hooked a great number of gamers was imaginative character design and 'flow' of the gameplay...
A lot of the elements had been done before in other games. And to be fair, "NiGHTS" is little more than a "Time Trial" game with flying dream creatures. But the character design and simple gameplay made for a cohesive experience.
And let's not level charges "Fanboy-ism" so quickly folks! Damn... :-)
Jago @ Mar 19th 2006 12:48AM
I wouldn't say I am questioning everyones "fanboyishness" Eric...it was an honest question b/c I hear so many people saying how "great" the game is and I've seen it on numerous lists for "Games that deserve a sequel."
As for the character design in NiGHTS...I think we can agree to disagree b/c I don't think they were "THAT" imaginative.
Oh well...
LuckyTurner @ Mar 19th 2006 1:16AM
Fair enough. :-)
In any event, I do hope that Yuji sticks with Sega. He's a creative mind responsible for a great number of beloved projects/properties and I'd love to see him continue to do so with Sega.
The U @ Mar 19th 2006 2:41AM
sega is ass now, whether or not the takeover or the dreamcast death is the cause of it can be debated. Sega is a shell of the glory days now, and the only reason they havent faded into oblivion this generation is because of their name.
Why waste talent at such a place. Good luck to Yuji Naka in anything he wishes to do in the future, but Sega is dead..
sonic @ Mar 19th 2006 3:13AM
I hope he doesnt leave but i cant force him to. Hopefully we will get a new, original sonic{sa2b is the only good 3d one} game for the revo
striderhayasa @ Mar 19th 2006 4:18AM
No #6 you're no alone in that regard. Sonic has never translated well in 3D. A painful reminder of this is Sonic on DS. After playing that you can clearly see how flawed Sonic is in 3D.
Unlike Shigeru Miyamoto, Yuji Naka has been working on Sonic games for years. The success of those games overall have been ok at best. I'm sure there are other ideas that Yuji Naja has in mind but said ideas are not necessarily something Sega would want to develop. He just doesn't have the same pull as Miyamoto does at Nintendo for example. So what should he do? Start his own company. I'd love to see what Yuji Naka would do with complete creative freedom. Hell, Q entertainment gave us Lumines and Meteos, both excellent titles.
Good luck to Yuji Naka if the rumors are true.
Sean DL @ Mar 19th 2006 1:43PM
Like I said in the Katamari post, here's to Miyamoto gaming freedom for all those in the gaming industry.
It does the industry good when creativity isn't under dictation of stockholders.
Yes we can continue having Madden, but you need a balance, or it becomes boring.