Difference between revisions of "Chris Tang"

From Sega Retro

m
m (inline)
 
(12 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
 
| dob=1976{{ref|https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/}}{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}
 
| dob=1976{{ref|https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/}}{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}
 
| dod=
 
| dod=
−
| company=[[Tengen]]{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}, [[Capcom]]{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}, Hitsparks Games{{ref|https://gdconf.com/news/attend-gdc-behind-scenes-look-classic-tetris-world-championship}}
+
| employment={{Employment
 +
| company=[[Tengen]]{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}
 +
| start=1990{{ref|https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/}}
 +
| end=199x
 +
| notsega=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{Employment
 +
| company=[[Capcom|Capcom Japan]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20220508122923/https://www.crunchbase.com/person/chris-tang}}{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}
 +
| notsega=yes
 +
}}
 +
{{Employment
 +
| company=Hitsparks Games{{ref|https://gdconf.com/news/attend-gdc-behind-scenes-look-classic-tetris-world-championship}}
 +
| notsega=yes
 +
}}
 
| role=Designer, Translator, Voice actor{{ref|https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}}
 
| role=Designer, Translator, Voice actor{{ref|https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}}
 
| education=
 
| education=
−
}}{{stub}}'''Christopher Ryu Tang''', often known as simply '''Chris Tang''', is an American video game designer and former [[Tengen]] and [[Capcom]] designer, translator, and voice actor. Notable for his involvement in the design of the [[Sega Mega Drive]] games ''[[Gauntlet IV]]'' and ''[[Rampart]]''{{ref|https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}}{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}, and for winning [[Sega of America]]'s ''[[Rock the Rock]]'' competition{{ref|https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/}}{{ref|https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}}, Tang remains active in the video game industry and is currently developing the upcoming rail shooter ''Strike Blazinger''.{{ref|https://www.strikeblazinger.com}}
+
| twitter=strikeharbinger
 +
}}'''Christopher Ryu Tang''', often known as simply '''Chris Tang''', is an American video game designer and former [[Tengen]] and [[Capcom]] designer, translator, and voice actor. Notable for his involvement in the design of the [[Sega Mega Drive]] games ''[[Gauntlet IV]]'' and ''[[Rampart]]''{{ref|https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}}{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}, and for winning [[Sega of America]]'s [[Rock the Rock]] competition{{ref|https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/}}{{ref|https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}}, Tang remains active in the video game industry and is currently developing the upcoming rail shooter ''Strike Blazinger''.{{ref|https://www.strikeblazinger.com}}
  
 
Tang also commentates a number of gaming competitions, and is the originator of the meme [https://tetrisinterest.com/boom-tetris-for-jeff/ Boom Tetris for Jeff].{{ref|https://tetrisinterest.com/boom-tetris-for-jeff/}}
 
Tang also commentates a number of gaming competitions, and is the originator of the meme [https://tetrisinterest.com/boom-tetris-for-jeff/ Boom Tetris for Jeff].{{ref|https://tetrisinterest.com/boom-tetris-for-jeff/}}
  
−
==History==
+
==Career==
−
[[File:ChrisTang check.png|thumb|right|300px|Tang being awarded his $25,000 check for winning [[Sega of America]]'s ''[[Rock the Rock]]'' competition.]]
+
Born in 1976{{ref|https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/}}{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}} in [[wikipedia:Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu, Hawaii]]{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}, {{PAGENAME}} has always had an affinity for video games. When the [[wikipedia:Nintendo World Championships|Nintendo World Championships]] arrived in his native state, he joined the competition and was eventually crowned Hawaii State Champion. After moving to [[wikipedia:California|California]], he would also become the 1990 Los Angeles City Champion{{ref|https://fan.guru/c/gameonexpo/guest/5d49b3742b3d1b001754ca3d}} - something he attributes to helping get him into the industry.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230518102523/https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}}
−
Chris Tang began working at [[Tengen]] in 1990{{ref|https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/}}, when he was only 14 years of age.{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}
 
  
−
===''Gauntlet IV''===
+
[[File:ChrisTang SuperMarioBros.png|thumb|left|240px|From a young age, Tang immersed himself in his passion for games.]]
−
{{MainArticle|Gauntlet IV}}
+
Chris Tang began his employment at [[Tengen]] in 1990{{ref|https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/}}, when he was only 14 years of age{{ref|http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/}}, and worked on a number of the company's popular games. Particularly, his involvement in ''[[Gauntlet IV]]'' was one of the first times a passionate American gamer had direct influence on the production of a Japanese-developed title. As with the later ''[[Rampart]]'', Tang's involvement was specifically highlighted in the game's Japanese manuals as a novel and fascinating collaboration between an American gamer and a Japanese development team.
−
Chris Tang's involvement in the 1993 [[Sega Mega Drive]] game ''[[Gauntlet IV]]'' was one of the first times a passionate video game fan had direct influence on the production of a Japanese-developed title. While he had already developed a notable history in the game industry, Tang was still a relative outsider with little formal experience.
 
  
−
As with the later ''[[Rampart]]'', Tang's involvement was specifically highlighted in the game's Japanese manuals as a novel and fascinating collaboration between an American gamer and a Japanese development team.
+
Tang was also intimately involved in the development of the ''[[Primal Rage]]'' series, working on the first game and serving as a primary game designer on the infamously-cancelled ''[[wikipedia:Primal Rage II|Primal Rage II]]''.{{ref|https://fan.guru/c/gameonexpo/guest/5d49b3742b3d1b001754ca3d}} After his time with Tengen, Tang moved to [[Capcom|Capcom Japan]], where he would work on a number of popular arcade fighting games (like ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes]]''). Following Capcom, he would work on the ''Transformers'' franchise with Genazea/BAM and the ''Tetris'' franchise for [[Bullet Proof Software]].
  
−
===''Rock the Rock''===
+
Tang's experience with the ''Tetris'' franchise and his outspoken passion for the game eventually saw him become the host of the Tetris World Championships in 2010{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230518102523/https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}} - a role he still serves to this day. In 2016, Tang was invited to join the U.S. National Video Game Team, and in 2017 was inducted into the International Video Game Hall Of Fame.{{ref|https://fan.guru/c/gameonexpo/guest/5d49b3742b3d1b001754ca3d}}
 +
 
 +
{{PAGENAME}}'s accomplishments and visibility, particularly by winning the 1994 competition [[Rock the Rock]], resulted in him becoming a minor celebrity within the game industry. He occasionally cameos in film and television, such as an appearance in ''[[wikipedia:Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters|Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters]]'', and is even seen cosplaying in ''[[wikipedia:Entourage (American TV series)|Entourage]]''.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230518102523/https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}} In his personal life, Tang is a professional cosplayer with over 40 cosplay awards.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230518102523/https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang}}
 +
 
 +
===Rock the Rock===
 +
[[File:ChrisTang check.png|thumb|right|300px|Tang being awarded his $25,000 check for winning [[Sega of America]]'s [[Rock the Rock]].]]
 
{{MainArticle|Rock the Rock}}
 
{{MainArticle|Rock the Rock}}
 +
Tang is also known for his participation in the October 1994 ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' competition [[Rock the Rock]]. After winning the local [[wikipedia:San Francisco, California|San Francisco, California]] invitational tournament, he was invited to compete with 54 other contestants in the main tournament - held in the city's famous [[wikipedia:Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary|Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary]].{{magref|sv|22|6}} After achieving the second-highest ring score of any contestant, Tang and co-finalist Mark Guinane proceeded to the final match.
 +
 +
Placed in a specially-designed head to head kiosk, the two were again tasked with collecting as many rings as possible, with Tang beating his rival by a margin of 30 rings to win the tournament.{{fileref|ChrisTang RocktheRock win.png}} Later that day, in a special [[Sega of America]] press conference, he was awarded with $25,000 in the form of a large novelty check presented by [[Tom Kalinske]]{{fileref|ChrisTang check.png}}, and every product the company made for the next two years.{{ref|1=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umO2dFzDTLc}}
  
 
==Production history==
 
==Production history==
−
{{multicol|
 
 
{{ProductionHistory|Chris Tang|Chris Ryu Tang|Christopher Tang}}
 
{{ProductionHistory|Chris Tang|Chris Ryu Tang|Christopher Tang}}
−
}}
 
  
 
==Interviews==
 
==Interviews==
 
{{InterviewList|Chris Tang|Christopher Tang}}
 
{{InterviewList|Chris Tang|Christopher Tang}}
−
 
−
==Images==
 
−
<gallery>
 
−
ChrisTang Nintendocompetition.png|A young Tang at a [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] competition.
 
−
ChrisTang SuperMarioBros.png|A young Tang at a [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] competition.
 
−
ChrisTang NWC.png|A young Tang with his [[wikipedia:Nintendo World Championships|Nintendo World Championships]] trophy.
 
−
ChrisTang arcade win.png|Tang winning a ''[[wikipedia:Street Fighter Alpha 2|Street Fighter Alpha 2]]'' match.
 
−
ChrisTang GauntletIV MD manual.png|Tang's credit for producing ''[[Gauntlet IV]]'''s instruction manual.
 
−
ChrisTang Rampart MD JP manual.png|A section from ''[[Rampart]]'''s Japanese manual, detailing Tang's involvement.
 
−
</gallery>
 
−
===''Rock the Rock''===
 
−
<gallery>
 
−
ChrisTang RocktheRockinterview.png|Tang in a brief pre-competition interview.
 
−
ChrisTang RocktheRock.png|Tang practicing for the competition.
 
−
ChrisTang RocktheRock B.png|Tang with the competition's hosts.
 
−
ChrisTang RocktheRock win.png|Tang winning the competition.
 
−
ChrisTang check.png|Tang being awarded his $25,000 check.
 
−
ChrisTang check B.jpg|Tang being awarded his $25,000 check.
 
−
</gallery>
 
  
 
==Photographs==
 
==Photographs==
Line 58: Line 57:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
{{multicol|
 
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
−
}}
 

Latest revision as of 12:39, 1 June 2023

ChrisTang.png
Chris Tang
Place of birth: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States[1]
Date of birth: 1976[2][1] (age 47-48)
Employment history:
Tengen[1] (1990[2] – 199x)
Hitsparks Games[4]
Role(s): Designer, Translator, Voice actor[5]
Twitter: @strikeharbinger

Christopher Ryu Tang, often known as simply Chris Tang, is an American video game designer and former Tengen and Capcom designer, translator, and voice actor. Notable for his involvement in the design of the Sega Mega Drive games Gauntlet IV and Rampart[5][1], and for winning Sega of America's Rock the Rock competition[2][5], Tang remains active in the video game industry and is currently developing the upcoming rail shooter Strike Blazinger.[6]

Tang also commentates a number of gaming competitions, and is the originator of the meme Boom Tetris for Jeff.[7]

Career

Born in 1976[2][1] in Honolulu, Hawaii[1], Chris Tang has always had an affinity for video games. When the Nintendo World Championships arrived in his native state, he joined the competition and was eventually crowned Hawaii State Champion. After moving to California, he would also become the 1990 Los Angeles City Champion[8] - something he attributes to helping get him into the industry.[9]

From a young age, Tang immersed himself in his passion for games.

Chris Tang began his employment at Tengen in 1990[2], when he was only 14 years of age[1], and worked on a number of the company's popular games. Particularly, his involvement in Gauntlet IV was one of the first times a passionate American gamer had direct influence on the production of a Japanese-developed title. As with the later Rampart, Tang's involvement was specifically highlighted in the game's Japanese manuals as a novel and fascinating collaboration between an American gamer and a Japanese development team.

Tang was also intimately involved in the development of the Primal Rage series, working on the first game and serving as a primary game designer on the infamously-cancelled Primal Rage II.[8] After his time with Tengen, Tang moved to Capcom Japan, where he would work on a number of popular arcade fighting games (like Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes). Following Capcom, he would work on the Transformers franchise with Genazea/BAM and the Tetris franchise for Bullet Proof Software.

Tang's experience with the Tetris franchise and his outspoken passion for the game eventually saw him become the host of the Tetris World Championships in 2010[9] - a role he still serves to this day. In 2016, Tang was invited to join the U.S. National Video Game Team, and in 2017 was inducted into the International Video Game Hall Of Fame.[8]

Chris Tang's accomplishments and visibility, particularly by winning the 1994 competition Rock the Rock, resulted in him becoming a minor celebrity within the game industry. He occasionally cameos in film and television, such as an appearance in Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters, and is even seen cosplaying in Entourage.[9] In his personal life, Tang is a professional cosplayer with over 40 cosplay awards.[9]

Rock the Rock

Tang being awarded his $25,000 check for winning Sega of America's Rock the Rock.
Main article: Rock the Rock.

Tang is also known for his participation in the October 1994 Sonic & Knuckles competition Rock the Rock. After winning the local San Francisco, California invitational tournament, he was invited to compete with 54 other contestants in the main tournament - held in the city's famous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.[10] After achieving the second-highest ring score of any contestant, Tang and co-finalist Mark Guinane proceeded to the final match.

Placed in a specially-designed head to head kiosk, the two were again tasked with collecting as many rings as possible, with Tang beating his rival by a margin of 30 rings to win the tournament.[11] Later that day, in a special Sega of America press conference, he was awarded with $25,000 in the form of a large novelty check presented by Tom Kalinske[12], and every product the company made for the next two years.[13]

Production history


Interviews

Photographs

Main article: Photos of Chris Tang

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 http://www.ivghof.info/classes/2016/chris-tang/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/esports-vs-chris-tang-steve-deluca-mba-pmp/
  3. ↑ https://www.crunchbase.com/person/chris-tang (Wayback Machine: 2022-05-08 12:29)
  4. ↑ https://gdconf.com/news/attend-gdc-behind-scenes-look-classic-tetris-world-championship
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang
  6. ↑ https://www.strikeblazinger.com
  7. ↑ https://tetrisinterest.com/boom-tetris-for-jeff/
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://fan.guru/c/gameonexpo/guest/5d49b3742b3d1b001754ca3d
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 https://fancons.com/guests/bio/1793/christophe-tang (Wayback Machine: 2023-05-18 10:25)
  10. ↑ Sega Visions, "December/January 1994/1995" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 6
  11. ↑ File:ChrisTang RocktheRock win.png
  12. ↑ File:ChrisTang check.png
  13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umO2dFzDTLc
  14. ↑ File:Gauntlet IV MD credits.pdf, page 2
  15. ↑ File:PocketF Saturn JP SSEnding.pdf
  16. ↑ File:Power Stone Dreamcast credits.pdf
  17. ↑ File:Street Fighter Alpha 3 DC arcade credits.pdf
  18. ↑ File:SFZ3 Saturn JP SSEnding.pdf
  19. ↑ File:Plasma Sword DC credits.pdf
  20. ↑ File:Street Fighter III 2nd Impact DC credits.pdf
  21. ↑ File:Street Fighter III 3rd Strike DC credits.pdf
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Chris_Tang&oldid=890847"