Masao Yoshimoto
From Sega Retro
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| Masao Yoshimoto |
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| Employment history: Sega Enterprises (1987-04-02[1] – )
Divisions:
Divisions:
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| Role(s): Engineer, General Manager |
| Education: Kindai University[1] |
| Twitter: @yoshimoto105 |
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Masao Yoshimoto (吉本 昌男) is a Japanese engineer and developer. He joined Sega on 2nd April 1987,[1] and held supervisory general manager roles at AM4, Mechatro, and Sega Sammy Creation during his career at the company, all making him a chief member of amusement machine design. His notable works included the R360, as well as cabinets for many of Sega's biggest arcade hits.[3] Following several retrospective interviews looking back on his achievements during 2020, Yoshimoto retired from Sega in February 2021. He received a 1:12 scale mini R360 as a parting gift from his colleagues.[4]
Contents
Production history
Games
- Thunder Blade (X Board; 1987) — Cabinet Engineer
- Galaxy Force (Y Board; 1988) — Mechanical Engineers
- Super Monaco GP (X Board; 1989) — Mechanical Engineers
- Rad Mobile (System 32; 1990) — Mechanic Design by
- Rail Chase (Y Board; 1991) — Cabinet Engineer
- Virtua Formula (Model 1; 1993) — Mechanical Design
- Sega Rally Championship (Model 2; 1995) — Mechanical Engineer
- Rail Chase 2 (Model 2; 1995) — Mechanical Designers
- Manx TT Super Bike (Model 2; 1995) — Mechanical Superviser
- Sega Touring Car Championship (Model 2; 1996) — Mechanical Supervisor
- WaveRunner (Model 2; 1996) — Mechanical Design (as M.Yoshimoto)
- Scud Race (Model 3; 1996) — Cabinet Engineers
- Top Skater (Model 2; 1997) — mechanical supervisor
- Le Mans 24 (Model 3; 1997) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Scud Race Plus (Model 3; 1997) — Cabinet Engineers
- Sega Rally 2 (Model 3; 1998) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge (Model 3; 1998) — Product Supervisor
- The Ocean Hunter (Model 3; 1998) — Special Thanks
- Dirt Devils (Model 3; 1998) — Product Supervisor
- Daytona USA 2: Power Edition (Model 3; 1998) — Product Supervisor
- Sega Rally 2 (Dreamcast; 1999) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Crazy Taxi (NAOMI; 1999) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Airline Pilots (NAOMI Multiboard; 1999) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Ring Out 4x4 (NAOMI; 1999) — Producers
- Jambo! Safari (NAOMI; 1999) — mechanical supervisor
- Samba de Amigo (NAOMI; 1999) — Material Supervisor
- Kasei Channel Mars TV (NAOMI; 1999) — Mechanical Supervisor
- NASCAR Arcade (Hikaru; 2000) — Cabinet Design
- Confidential Mission (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2000) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Samba de Amigo Ver.2000 (NAOMI; 2000) — Material Supervisor
- Planet Harriers (Hikaru; 2000) — Mechanical supervisor
- WaveRunner GP (NAOMI; 2001) — Adviser
- Air Trix (Hikaru; 2001) — Cabinet Supervisors
- Wild Riders (NAOMI 2; 2001) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Crackin' DJ Part 2 (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2001) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Monkey Ball (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2001) — Mechatronics
- Beach Spikers: Virtua Beach Volleyball (NAOMI 2 GD-ROM; 2001) — Cabinet
- Virtua Fighter 4 (NAOMI 2; 2001) — Cabinet Design
- Shootout Pool (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2002) — Production Supervisor[5]
- Initial D: Arcade Stage (NAOMI 2 GD-ROM; 2002) — Cabinet Design
- The Maze of the Kings (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2002) — Mechanical Supervisor
- Soul Surfer (NAOMI 2; 2002) — Director
- Initial D: Arcade Stage Ver. 2 (NAOMI 2 GD-ROM; 2002) — 筐体デザイン (as 吉本 昌男)
- Virtua Cop 3 (Chihiro; 2003) — Supervisor
- Sega Rally Championship (PlayStation 2; 2006) — Mechanical Engineer
- OutRun 2 SP SDX (Lindbergh; 2006) — Product Supervisor
- StarHorse Progress Returns (NAOMI; 2009) — Special Thanks
- Sega Golden Gun (RingWide; 2010) — 制作人 (as 吉本昌男)
- Sega Golden Gun (RingWide; 2010) — Producer
- StarHorse 3 Season I: A New Legend Begins (RingEdge 2; 2011) — Special Thanks
- StarHorse 3 Season II: Blaze of Glory (RingEdge 2; 2013) — Special Thanks
- Showdown (Europa-R; 2015) — Special Thanks
Videos
- CGMV Sega Rally Championship 1995 (VHS; 1995) — Mechanical Engineers (courtesy of AM#4)
Hardware
- R360 (Mid-size attraction; 1990) — Mechanical Engineers
Magazine articles
- Main article: Masao Yoshimoto/Magazine articles.
Photographs
- Main article: Photos of Masao Yoshimoto
External links
- Video Game Storytellers Part 19: Sega's genes, passed down to the next generation by the development team of the ultimate sensory game cabinet, R360. interview with Fumio Kurokawa at 4Gamer.net (Japanese)
- Sega 60th Anniversary Special Interview. Arcade developers such as the legendary chassis R360 and "Virtua Fighter" tell a lot of development secrets! interview with Famitsu at famitsu.com (Japanese)