Difference between revisions of "Masayuki Nagao"

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'''Masayuki "N.Gee" Nagao''' (長尾 優進) is a music composer, sound designer, keyboardist and lyricist born in 1964 that joined [[Sega]] in December 1991 when the company he worked for (then known as [[Santos]]) was acquired by [[Sega]] and renamed [[Megasoft]]. He usually worked alongside [[Hirofumi Murasaki]] and [[Morihiko Akiyama]], who continued to work with him following the acquisition. Nagao was later employed by Opus Corp. following his work on ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' and other titles.
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'''Masayuki "N.Gee" Nagao''' (長尾 優進) is a music composer, sound designer, keyboardist and lyricist born in 1964. He was previously employed by [[Santos]] and [[Sega]]. Notable games include ''[[Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master]]'', the ''[[Sonic Drift]]'' duology and ''[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine]]''. He is also well-known for his sound programming and music arrangements in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''.
  
 
While working at Sega, {{PAGENAME}} married 章子 on April 24, 1993.{{magref|harmony|122|27}} Pianist [[Hiroshi Kubota]] and bassist Kazuhi Oosumi (大角 一飛) played at the wedding.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230831112422/http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html#0000}}
 
While working at Sega, {{PAGENAME}} married 章子 on April 24, 1993.{{magref|harmony|122|27}} Pianist [[Hiroshi Kubota]] and bassist Kazuhi Oosumi (大角 一飛) played at the wedding.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230831112422/http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html#0000}}
  
Nagao has also written music and performed outside of video games, including writing the English lyrics for the song "RAIN" by 4ROCKAMBOS. He has since left Sega and has most recently worked on the "Evolution" game series published by Ignition Entertainment for the PSP handheld game system.
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==Career==
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===Santos to Sega===
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{{PAGENAME}} began work at [[Santos]], creating the ending music for ''[[Battle Golfer Yui]]''.{{ref|https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%95%B7%E5%B0%BE%E5%84%AA%E9%80%B2}} He joined [[Sega]] in December 1991 when Santos was acquired by [[Sega]] and renamed [[Megasoft]],{{intref|Interview: Hirofumi Murasaki (2002-04-17) by Sega.jp}} shortly before the release of ''[[Toki: Going Ape Spit]]'', which saw him collaborating with [[Hirofumi Murasaki]] and [[Morihiko Akiyama]], who continued to work with him following the acquisition, Nagao serving as the team's producer. Megasoft's earliest known assignment was to arrange music, through Nagao, and create sound effects, through Akiyama, for ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'', though this did not pan out as expected.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230901135159/https://twitter.com/MasaNagao/status/1697607972283904124}}
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As Megasoft ceased development and trickled out releases such as ''[[Shinobi III]]'' and ''[[Aa Harimanada]]'', Nagao found a voice distinct from the others working on [[Game Gear]], originally with Megasoft's ''[[Doraemon Noranosuke no Yabou]]'' and ''Aa Harimanada'', but afterwards with the ''[[:category:Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' franchise and several licensed games. During this period, he was a producer at [[Sega CS3 Sound]],{{magref|harmony|122|27}} the department responsible for all internally-developed [[Mega Drive]] and Game Gear soundtracks.{{ref|https://twitter.com/MasaNagao/status/1697956673963634733}} Frequent co-workers in included [[Haruyo Oguro]] and [[Saori Kobayashi]].
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===Post-Sega===
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Nagao was later employed by Opus Corp. following his work on ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' and other titles. While at Opus, his most noteworthy title was the 2000 [[PlayStation]] game ''Utauta-uh: Seirei Songs''. He also met Opus sound designer and guitarist Tomoo Yamaguchi, who became one of his best friends for decades,{{ref|https://twitter.com/MasaNagao/status/1697953565279686882}} He has since worked with Nagao on some of his major video games after Sega, the [[Taito]] ''Evolution'' game series of published by [[Marvelous Interactive]] for the [[PSP]] handheld game system, which sees Nagao credited just for music, such as the song "Tears of the Planet", but also game design and story.{{ref|http://raido.moe/staff/psp/psp_space_invaders_galaxy_beat.html}}{{ref|1=https://www.mobygames.com/game/25929/bubble-bobble-evolution/credits/psp/?autoplatform=true}}{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805190533/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=62953&tab=credits}} Another of Nagao's best friends, Hiroya Someno, was a fellow game designer, manager and musician on these projects.{{ref|https://twitter.com/MasaNagao/status/1697954773079933151}} Nagao also collaborated with developer Vanilla  on the game ''Zoo Mania 3D'' for the [[3DS]].{{ref|https://www.mobygames.com/game/99284/zoo-mania-3d/credits/3ds/?autoplatform=true}}{{ref|https://twitter.com/MasaNagao/status/1697955835761340807}}
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{{PAGENAME}} has also written music and performed outside of video games, including writing the English lyrics for the song "RAIN" by 4ROCKAMBOS{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230902142823/https://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/605290027//}} and co-producing the album ''Saeri Home Made'', which featured both Tomoo Yamaguchi and Hidya Someone in some fashion.{{ref|http://saeri.club/2022/05/10/new%e3%82%a2%e3%83%ab%e3%83%90%e3%83%a0%e3%80%8esaeri-home-made%e3%80%8f%e7%b5%b6%e8%b3%9b%e7%99%ba%e5%a3%b2%e4%b8%ad%e3%81%a7%e3%81%99%e3%81%a3%e2%9c%a8/}}
  
 
==Production history==
 
==Production history==

Revision as of 16:42, 2 September 2023

MasayukiNagao 1992.jpg
Masayuki Nagao
Employment history:
Divisions:
Role(s): Musician

Masayuki "N.Gee" Nagao (長尾 優進) is a music composer, sound designer, keyboardist and lyricist born in 1964. He was previously employed by Santos and Sega. Notable games include Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, the Sonic Drift duology and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. He is also well-known for his sound programming and music arrangements in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

While working at Sega, Masayuki Nagao married 章子 on April 24, 1993.[1] Pianist Hiroshi Kubota and bassist Kazuhi Oosumi (大角 一飛) played at the wedding.[2]

Career

Santos to Sega

Masayuki Nagao began work at Santos, creating the ending music for Battle Golfer Yui.[3] He joined Sega in December 1991 when Santos was acquired by Sega and renamed Megasoft,[4] shortly before the release of Toki: Going Ape Spit, which saw him collaborating with Hirofumi Murasaki and Morihiko Akiyama, who continued to work with him following the acquisition, Nagao serving as the team's producer. Megasoft's earliest known assignment was to arrange music, through Nagao, and create sound effects, through Akiyama, for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, though this did not pan out as expected.[5]

As Megasoft ceased development and trickled out releases such as Shinobi III and Aa Harimanada, Nagao found a voice distinct from the others working on Game Gear, originally with Megasoft's Doraemon Noranosuke no Yabou and Aa Harimanada, but afterwards with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and several licensed games. During this period, he was a producer at Sega CS3 Sound,[1] the department responsible for all internally-developed Mega Drive and Game Gear soundtracks.[6] Frequent co-workers in included Haruyo Oguro and Saori Kobayashi.

Post-Sega

Nagao was later employed by Opus Corp. following his work on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and other titles. While at Opus, his most noteworthy title was the 2000 PlayStation game Utauta-uh: Seirei Songs. He also met Opus sound designer and guitarist Tomoo Yamaguchi, who became one of his best friends for decades,[7] He has since worked with Nagao on some of his major video games after Sega, the Taito Evolution game series of published by Marvelous Interactive for the PSP handheld game system, which sees Nagao credited just for music, such as the song "Tears of the Planet", but also game design and story.[8][9][10] Another of Nagao's best friends, Hiroya Someno, was a fellow game designer, manager and musician on these projects.[11] Nagao also collaborated with developer Vanilla on the game Zoo Mania 3D for the 3DS.[12][13]

Masayuki Nagao has also written music and performed outside of video games, including writing the English lyrics for the song "RAIN" by 4ROCKAMBOS[14] and co-producing the album Saeri Home Made, which featured both Tomoo Yamaguchi and Hidya Someone in some fashion.[15]

Production history

Song credits

Main article: Masayuki Nagao/Song credits.

Battle Golfer Yui

  • Ending — Music & Arrangement

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

  • Shinobi (Opening) — Music & Arrangement

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

  • Hydrocity Zone Act 2 — Music (with SEGA) & Arrangement
  • Lava Reef Zone Act 2 — Arrangement

Sonic Drift

  • Title — Arrangement
  • Mode — Music & Arrangement
  • Select — Music & Arrangement
  • Round Start — Music & Arrangement
  • Green Hill — Music & Arrangement
  • Marble — Music & Arrangement
  • Spring Yard — Music & Arrangement
  • Labyrinth — Music & Arrangement
  • Star Light — Music & Arrangement
  • Scrap Brain — Music & Arrangement
  • Invincible — Arrangement
  • Round Clear — Music & Arrangement
  • GP Clear — Music & Arrangement
  • Staff Roll — Music & Arrangement

References