Studio 128
From Sega Retro
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| Studio 128 Division of Sega Enterprises | ||
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| Founded: 1986[1] | ||
Headquarters:
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1986 198x
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Studio 128 (スタジオ128) was a Sega of Japan video game development group which began as a special team within Sega R&D 1.[1] Led by Hisashi Suzuki, the small studio was where programmer Yu Suzuki created arcade classics such as Out Run, After Burner and Power Drift.
Only three games are known to reference the group's existence - in the introductions of After Burner and After Burner II, players take off from an aircraft carrier labeled 128, and in Dynamite Dux, the first stage features a warehouse in the background labeled 128.
History
Studio 128 was founded in 1986, following the release of OutRun, with some of that game's main developers, Yu Suzuki, Satoshi Mifune and Hiroshi Kawaguchi[2]. Located about a five minute walk from Sega of Japan’s main offices, Studio 128 was manned by five to ten employees which worked on Sega's cutting-edge Taikan games. Much of its work was kept a secret from the rest of the company. Reportedly, even president Hayao Nakayama was once blocked from entering on one occasion[2][3] (much to his dissatisfaction).
Studio 128 was not directly credited in any of their games, making it difficult to discern its history. It is known however to have become Sega R&D 8 prior to the release of GP Rider in 1990; Sega R&D 8 would eventually become the more publically-known Sega AM2 in the early 1990s.
Softography
X Board
- After Burner II (1987)
- After Burner (1987)
Y Board
- Power Drift (1988)
- Power Drift (unreleased)
Staff members
References
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