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 also employed at Opus Corp. at the time of games like ''[[Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master|Shinobi III]]'' and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''.
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| employment={{Employment
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| company=[[Santos]]
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{{Employment
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| company=[[Megasoft]]
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{{Employment
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| company=[[Sega of Japan]]
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| divisions=[[Sega CS3 Sound]]{{magref|harmony|122|27}}
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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]]''.
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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}}
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==Career==
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===Santos to Sega===
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{{PAGENAME}}'s earliest known work is at [[Santos]], where he created 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 now included [[Haruyo Oguro]] and [[Saori Kobayashi]].
  
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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===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 published by [[Marvelous Interactive]] for the [[PSP]] handheld game system, which sees Nagao credited not 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]] in 2011.{{ref|1=https://www.mobygames.com/game/99284/zoo-mania-3d/credits/3ds/?autoplatform=true}}{{ref|https://twitter.com/MasaNagao/status/1697955835761340807}}
  
He is not to be mistaken for [[Naofumi Hataya]], who was born in 1966 and joined Sega in 1990.
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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 Someno 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==
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==Production history==
* ''[[Toki: Going Ape Spit]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1991) — Sound (as '''Nagao''')
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{{ProductionHistory|Masayuki Nagao|Nagao|Kyuporiran|N.Gee|Nagao (N·Gee)|Nagao N.Gee|Nagao 'O' Gee|Nagao 'N' Gee|Nagao NG Masayuki|M.Nagao||きょぽりらんナガオ|長尾 優進|Nagao'N'Gee}}
* ''[[Battle Golfer Yui]]'' (1991)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1992) — Sound Assistant (as '''N.Gee''')
 
* ''[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1993) — Music and FX
 
* ''[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (8-bit)|Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine]]'' (Game Gear and Master System Versions) (1993/1994) — Sound Programmer (as '''Nagao 'N' Gee''')
 
* ''[[Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck]]'' (1993) — Sound Programmer (as '''Nagao 'O' Gee''')
 
* ''[[Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master|Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master]]'' (1993) — Music and Sound
 
* ''[[Jurassic Park (8-bit)|Jurassic Park]]'' (Game Gear and Master System Versions) (1993) — Sound Management (as '''N.Gee''')
 
* ''[[Aa Harimanada]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1993) — Sound (as '''Nagao [N.Gee]''')
 
* ''[[Sonic Chaos]]'' (1993) — Sound (as '''Nagao N.Gee''')
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' (1994) — Sega Sound Team
 
* ''[[Sonic Drift]]'' (1994) — Sound Creator (as '''N. Gee''')
 
* ''[[Torarete Tamaruka!?]]'' (1994) — Sound (as '''Nagao NG Masayuki''')
 
* ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Sega Sound Team
 
* ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Sega Sound Team
 
* ''[[Sonic Drift 2]]'' (1995) — Sound (as '''M. Nagao''')
 
* ''Utautau: Seirei-Songs'' (2000) — Music Director, Tune Creator, Lyric Creator
 
* ''Space Invaders Evolution'' (2005) — Story, Music
 
* ''Bubble Bobble Evolution'' (2006) — Direction
 
* ''Rainbow Islands Evolution'' (2007) — Story, Music
 
  
==Song Credits==
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==Song credits==
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Song credits}}
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[[Category:Old song credits]]
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
===''[[Battle Golfer Yui]]''===
 
===''[[Battle Golfer Yui]]''===
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===''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''===
 
===''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''===
* Hydrocity - Act 2 — Arrangement
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* Hydrocity Zone Act 2 — Music (with [[SEGA]]) & Arrangement
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* Lava Reef Zone Act 2 — Arrangement
  
 
===''[[Sonic Drift]]''===
 
===''[[Sonic Drift]]''===
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* Star Light — Music & Arrangement
 
* Star Light — Music & Arrangement
 
* Scrap Brain — Music & Arrangement
 
* Scrap Brain — Music & Arrangement
* Invincibility — Arrangement
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* Invincible — Arrangement
 
* Round Clear — Music & Arrangement
 
* Round Clear — Music & Arrangement
 
* GP Clear — Music & Arrangement
 
* GP Clear — Music & Arrangement
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}}
 
}}
  
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagao, Masayuki}}
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==References==
[[Category:Musicians]]
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<references/>

Latest revision as of 02:17, 13 October 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's earliest known work is at Santos, where he created 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 now 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 published by Marvelous Interactive for the PSP handheld game system, which sees Nagao credited not 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 in 2011.[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 Someno 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

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harmony, "1993 9-10" (JP; 1993-10-01), page 27
  2. http://jimita.com/profile/history1993.html#0000 (Wayback Machine: 2023-08-31 11:24)
  3. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%95%B7%E5%B0%BE%E5%84%AA%E9%80%B2
  4. Interview: Hirofumi Murasaki (2002-04-17) by Sega.jp
  5. @MasaNagao on Twitter (Wayback Machine: 2023-09-01 13:51)
  6. @MasaNagao on Twitter
  7. @MasaNagao on Twitter
  8. http://raido.moe/staff/psp/psp_space_invaders_galaxy_beat.html
  9. https://www.mobygames.com/game/25929/bubble-bobble-evolution/credits/psp/?autoplatform=true
  10. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=62953&tab=credits (Wayback Machine: 2014-08-05 19:05)
  11. @MasaNagao on Twitter
  12. https://www.mobygames.com/game/99284/zoo-mania-3d/credits/3ds/?autoplatform=true
  13. @MasaNagao on Twitter
  14. https://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/605290027// (Wayback Machine: 2023-09-02 14:28)
  15. 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/
  16. File:Toki MD credits.png
  17. File:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 MD credits.pdf
  18. 18.0 18.1 File:Jurassic Park SMS credits.pdf
  19. File:Aa Harimanada MD credits.pdf
  20. 20.0 20.1 File:Sonic Chaos SMS credits.pdf
  21. File:Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine MD credits.pdf
  22. 22.0 22.1 File:Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine SMS credits.pdf
  23. 23.0 23.1 File:Deep Duck Trouble GG credits.pdf
  24. File:Sonic Drift GG credits.pdf
  25. File:Sonic the Hedgehog 3 MD credits.pdf
  26. File:Sonic & Knuckles MD credits.pdf
  27. File:Sonic Drift 2 GG credits.pdf