Difference between revisions of "Takashi Iizuka"

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[[File:photos_iizuka.jpg|right|frame|Takashi Iizuka]]
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{{PersonBob
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'''Takashi Iizuka''' (飯塚 隆) is a key producer, director and designer within [[Sonic Team]]. Early in his career, he worked directly under [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]] as a senior game designer on ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]'', and quickly progressed to direct ''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]'' and supervise development of ''[[Sonic R]]''. In 1999, he is credited as the driving force behind ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', the franchise's third adventure in the third dimension, as it had been his idea to create a role-playing game featuring Sonic.
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| image=TakashiIizuka.png
 +
| birthplace=[[wikipedia:Kawaguchi, Saitama|Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan]]
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| dob=1970-03-16
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| dod=
 +
| employment={{Employment
 +
| company=[[Sega Enterprises, Ltd.|Sega Enterprises]]
 +
| divisions=[[Sega CS1]]{{ref|https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2018/05/04/veteran-sega-developers-reveal-their-favourite-mega-drive-classics/}}
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| start=1992{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401085637/http://sega.jp/segavoice/vol21/}}
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| end=1993
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}}
 +
{{Employment
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| company=[[Sega of America]]
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| divisions=[[Sega Technical Institute]]
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| start=1993
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| end=1994
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}}
 +
{{Employment
 +
| company=[[Sega Enterprises, Ltd.|Sega Enterprises]]
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| divisions=[[Sega CS]], [[Sega CS3 (1996-1999)|Sega CS3]]
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| start=1994
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| end=
 +
}}
 +
{{Employment
 +
| company=[[Sonic Team USA]]{{magref|dori|2001-03|37}}{{ref|https://browniehideout.wordpress.com/2023/07/28/naka-yuuji-is-also-present-interview-with-sonic-heroes-director-iizuka-takashi/}}
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| start=
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| end=2004
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}}
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{{Employment
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| company=[[Sega of America]]
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| divisions=[[Sega Studios USA]]
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| start=2004
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| end=2008
 +
}}
 +
{{Employment
 +
| company=[[Sega Corporation (2000-2015)|Sega]]
 +
| divisions=[[Sega CS2 (2008-current)|Sega CS2]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231021180050/https://www.4gamer.net/games/131/G013139/20111227008/}}
 +
| start=2008
 +
| end=2015
 +
}}
 +
{{Employment
 +
| company=[[Sega Games]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20151108002730/http://shg.sega.jp/news1510.html}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230419204709/https://app.famitsu.com/20171010_1150637/}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20190517013800/https://www.4gamer.net/games/421/G042175/20190415016/}}
 +
| start=2015
 +
| end=2020
 +
}}
 +
{{Employment
 +
| company=[[Sega of America]]
 +
| divisions=[[Sonic Studio]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230609174513/https://tailschannel.com/sonic-the-hedgehog/sega-hopes-to-meet-fans-desires-for-sonics-30th-anniversary/}}, [[Sonic Team USA (2023)|Sonic Team USA]]{{ref|https://note.com/beep21/n/n6c043a1e1d10}}
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| start=2020
 +
}}
 +
| role=Designer, Director, Producer
 +
| education=[[wikipedia:Tokyo Denki University|Tokyo Denki University]] (1988-1992)
 +
}}
 +
{{stub}}'''Takashi Iizuka''' (飯塚 隆) is a Japanese video game developer and [[Sonic Team]] and [[Sonic Studio]] designer, director, and producer, known as one of the key heads of the [[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]] franchise's modern incarnation.
 +
 
 +
==Career==
 +
{{PAGENAME}} is a key producer, director and designer within [[Sonic Team]]. Joining Sega in 1992 as a planner, he worked directly under [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]] as a senior game designer on ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]'', and quickly progressed to be the main design of ''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]'' and supervise development of ''[[Sonic R]]''. In 1998, he is credited as the driving force behind ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', the franchise's third adventure in the third dimension, as it had been his idea to create a role-playing game featuring Sonic.
 +
 
 +
After the success of ''Sonic Adventure'', Iizuka headed to America, where he and a few other members of Sonic Team began work on such games as ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' and ''[[NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams]]''. Iizuka continued as head of this department, known as [[Sega Studios USA]], until 2008, when it was disbanded, and team members, including Iizuka were absorbed back into the Japanese division. After Akinori Nishiyama's departure from the head of Sonic Team chair, Sega would eventually settle with Iizuka as a main producer on the Sonic series, starting with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I & Sonic Colors. Thus, he became the Sonic Series Producer/head of Sonic Team.
  
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After the success of '''Sonic Adventure''', Iizuka headed to America, where he and a few other members of Sonic Team began work on such games as ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' and ''[[NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams]]''. Iizuka continued as head of this department, known as [[Sega Studio USA]], until 2008, when it was disbanded, and team members, including Iizuka were absorbed back into the Japanese division. Thus, he became the head of [[Sonic Team]].
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On April 1, 2023, Iizuka became the newly elected executive officer/Sonic Creative Officer at [[Sega of America]].{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230308134624/https://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20230228_jinji_e_final.pdf}}
  
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==Production History==
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==Production history==
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{{multicol|
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{{ProductionHistory|Takashi Iizuka|Iiz|飯塚 隆|飯塚隆}}
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* ''[[Golden Axe III]]'' (1993)  — Planner (as '''Iiz''')
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' (1994) — Senior Game Designer
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* ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Senior Game Designer
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[[Category:Use ProductionHistory template]]
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Senior Game Designer
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* ''[[Sonic X]]'' (2003) — Supervisor
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* ''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]'' (1996) — Lead Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Christmas NiGHTS]]'' (1996) — Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1996) — Game Concept Design (SOJ) (Sega)
 
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* ''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'' (Saturn and PC Versions) (1996/1997) — Game Concept Design (SOJ) (Sega), Saturn Version Enhancement Design (SOJ) (Sega), Game Designer (SOJ) (Special Stage Development)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Jam]]'' (1997) — Director
 
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* ''[[Sonic R]]'' (Saturn Version) (1997) — Game Design Director (Sega Enterprises Ltd.)
 
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* ''[[Sonic R]]'' (PC Version) (1998) — Game Design Director (Sega Enterprises Ltd.) (Sega), Special Thanks to (Sega)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998) — Director, Character game designer, Field designer, "Chaos" game designer
 
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* ''[[ChuChu Rocket!]]'' (Dreamcast Version) (1999) — Product Support (Sega of America)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' (2001) — Director, Field Designer, Enemy Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]'' (2001) — Director, Field Designer, Enemy Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' (2001) — Special Thanks (Sega of America)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' (2002) — Special Thanks (Compiled Under The Supervision of SONICTEAM, LTD.)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' (2003) — Mission Mode Game Designer (Sonic Adventure DX Staff), Director (Sonic Adventure Original Staff), Character Game Designer (Sonic Adventure Original Staff), Field Designer (Sonic Adventure Original Staff), "Chaos" Game Designer (Sonic Adventure Original Staff)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'' (2003) — Director, Level Designer, CG Movie Director
 
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* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' (2004) — Special Thanks (Sega Corporation)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]'' (2005) — Special Thanks (Sega Corporation)
 
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* ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' (2005) — Director, Lead Game Designer, Level Designer, Scenario Writer, Movie Supervisor
 
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* ''[[Sonic Riders]]'' (2006) — Recording Coordinator
 
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (2006) — Special Thanks, Special Thanks (Sega of America, Inc.)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Rivals]]'' (2006) — Project Director, Concept Design & Scenario [NOTE: Also Producer]
 
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* ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' (2007) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' (2007) — General Producer
 
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* ''[[Sonic Rivals 2]]'' (2007) — Project Director (Sega of America), Concept Design & Scenario Writer (Sega of America) [NOTE: Also Producer]
 
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* ''[[NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams]]'' (2007) — Director, Producer, Lead Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity]]'' (2008) — Recording Coordinator
 
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* ''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]'' (PS2 Version) (2008) — Supervisor
 
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* ''[[Sega Superstars Tennis]]'' (2008) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sega Superstars Tennis]]'' (DS Version) (2008) — Sega Studio USA (Special Thanks)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' (2008) — Sonic Character Supervisor
 
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* ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' (Xbox 360 & PS3 Versions) (2008) — Level Design Special Thanks, Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' (2009) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Puyo Puyo 7]]'' (2009) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]'' (Wii Version) (2009) — Director, Game Designer (Game Design Section)
 
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* ''[[Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing]]'' (2010) — CS2 R&D (Sega Japan)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Free Riders]]'' (2010) — Scenario Supervisor, Sonic Character Supervisor
 
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I]]'' (2010) — Producer
 
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* ''[[Puyo Puyo 20th Anniversary]]'' (2011) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sonic Generations]]'' (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC Versions) (2011) — Producer (Sonic Generations Development Team)
 
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* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games]]'' (2011/2012) — Sonic Character Supervisor
 
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* ''[[Sonic Generations (3DS)|Sonic Generations]]'' (3DS Version) (2011) —  Producer
 
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II]]'' (2012) — Producer
 
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* ''[[Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed]]'' (2012) — CS2 R&D (Sega Corporation)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Lost World]]'' (2013) — Producer
 
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* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]'' (2013) — Sonic Character Supervisor (Sega Development Team)
 
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* ''[[Puyo Puyo Tetris]]'' (2014) — Project Support
 
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* ''[[Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed|Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Original Soundtrack]]'' (2014) — Supervisor
 
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* ''[[sonic:Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS|Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' (2014) — Supervisor (Original Games)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric]]'' (2014) — Character Supervisor (Sonic Team) (Sega of Japan) (Sega)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal]]'' (2014) — Character Supervisor (Sega of Japan CS2) (Sega of Japan)
 
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* ''[[sonic:Super Smash Bros. for Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' (2014) — Supervisor (Original Games)
 
−
}}
 
  
 
==Interviews==
 
==Interviews==
−
* [[sonic:Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka interview by Sega Score (December 12, 2003)|Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka interview by Sega Score (December 12, 2003)]]
+
{{mirror}}
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* [[sonic:Takashi Iizuka interview by EGM (February 3, 2004)|Takashi Iizuka interview by EGM (February 3, 2004)]]
+
* [[sonic:Yuji Naka and {{PAGENAME}} interview by Sega Score (December 12, 2003)|Yuji Naka and {{PAGENAME}} interview by Sega Score (December 12, 2003)]]
−
* [[sonic:Takashi Iizuka interview by GMR (February 10, 2004)|Takashi Iizuka interview by GMR (February 10, 2004)]]
+
* [[sonic:{{PAGENAME}} interview by EGM (February 3, 2004)|{{PAGENAME}} interview by EGM (February 3, 2004)]]
−
* [[sonic:Takashi Iizuka and Ethan Einhorn interview by 1UP (March 22, 2005)|Takashi Iizuka and Ethan Einhorn interview by 1UP (March 22, 2005)]]
+
* [[sonic:{{PAGENAME}} interview by GMR (February 10, 2004)|{{PAGENAME}} interview by GMR (February 10, 2004)]]
−
* [[sonic:Takashi Iizuka interview by Digital Chumps (September 3, 2010)|Takashi Iizuka interview by Digital Chumps (September 3, 2010)]]
+
* [[sonic:{{PAGENAME}} and Ethan Einhorn interview by 1UP (March 22, 2005)|{{PAGENAME}} and Ethan Einhorn interview by 1UP (March 22, 2005)]]
−
* [[sonic:Takashi Iizuka interview by Danny Russell (September 17, 2010)|Takashi Iizuka interview by Danny Russell (September 17, 2010)]]
+
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080401085637/http://sega.jp/segavoice/vol21/ ''SEGA VOICE'' interview (December 15, 2005)]
−
* [[sonic:Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka interview for Sonic Heroes website|Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka interview for Sonic Heroes website]]
+
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120129145444/http://sega.jp/segavoice/vol73/ ''SEGA VOICE'' interview (December 13, 2007)]
 +
* [http://digitalchumps.com/2010/09/03/interview-sonic-teams-takashi-iizuka/ {{PAGENAME}} interview by Digital Chumps (September 3, 2010)]
 +
* [http://ready-up.net/2010/09/17/danny-tgs-day-2/ {{PAGENAME}} interview by Danny Russell (September 17, 2010)]
 +
* [[sonic:Yuji Naka and {{PAGENAME}} interview for Sonic Heroes website|Yuji Naka and {{PAGENAME}} interview for Sonic Heroes website]]
 +
* [https://www.famitsu.com/news/201606/24107383.html Legendary Sonic Team creators reveal the truth of Sonic the Hedgehog's birth, success and rebirth on his 25th anniversary (June 24, 2016)] [[https://browniehideout.wordpress.com/2022/07/22/the-legendary-creators-of-sonic-team-reveal-the-truth-about-the-birth-success-and-rebirth-of-sonic-the-hedgehog-on-its-25th-anniversary-a-permanent-edition-filled-with-prized-secret-materials/ Translated]]
 +
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKgfzcghU0M ''Sonic the Hedgehog Lead Reflects on SEGA's Road to the Dreamcast'' by Game Informer (April 8, 2024)]
 +
 
 +
==Photographs==
 +
:''Main article: [[:Category:Photos of {{PAGENAME}}|Photos of {{PAGENAME}}]]
  
−
[[Category:Sonic Team Developers|Iizuka, Takashi]]
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==References==
 +
<references/>

Latest revision as of 01:57, 9 April 2024

TakashiIizuka.png
Takashi Iizuka
Place of birth: Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
Date of birth: 1970-03-16 (age 54)
Employment history:
Sega Enterprises (1992[1] – 1993)
Divisions:
Sega of America (1993 – 1994)
Divisions:
Sega Enterprises (1994 – )
Divisions:
Sega of America (2004 – 2008)
Divisions:
Sega (2008 – 2015)
Divisions:
Sega Games[6][7][8] (2015 – 2020)
Sega of America (2020 – )
Divisions:
Role(s): Designer, Director, Producer
Education: Tokyo Denki University (1988-1992)

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Takashi Iizuka (飯塚 隆) is a Japanese video game developer and Sonic Team and Sonic Studio designer, director, and producer, known as one of the key heads of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise's modern incarnation.

Career

Takashi Iizuka is a key producer, director and designer within Sonic Team. Joining Sega in 1992 as a planner, he worked directly under Hirokazu Yasuhara as a senior game designer on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, and quickly progressed to be the main design of NiGHTS into Dreams and supervise development of Sonic R. In 1998, he is credited as the driving force behind Sonic Adventure, the franchise's third adventure in the third dimension, as it had been his idea to create a role-playing game featuring Sonic.

After the success of Sonic Adventure, Iizuka headed to America, where he and a few other members of Sonic Team began work on such games as Sonic Adventure 2 and NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. Iizuka continued as head of this department, known as Sega Studios USA, until 2008, when it was disbanded, and team members, including Iizuka were absorbed back into the Japanese division. After Akinori Nishiyama's departure from the head of Sonic Team chair, Sega would eventually settle with Iizuka as a main producer on the Sonic series, starting with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I & Sonic Colors. Thus, he became the Sonic Series Producer/head of Sonic Team.

On April 1, 2023, Iizuka became the newly elected executive officer/Sonic Creative Officer at Sega of America.[11]

Production history

Games

Videos

Music

Books

Interviews

 Some or all of the following content should be mirrored on Sega Retro (or Retro CDN).

Photographs

Main article: Photos of Takashi Iizuka

References

  1. ↑ http://sega.jp/segavoice/vol21/ (Wayback Machine: 2008-04-01 08:56)
  2. ↑ https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2018/05/04/veteran-sega-developers-reveal-their-favourite-mega-drive-classics/
  3. ↑ Dorimaga, "2001-03 (2001-06-22)" (JP; 2001-06-08), page 37
  4. ↑ https://browniehideout.wordpress.com/2023/07/28/naka-yuuji-is-also-present-interview-with-sonic-heroes-director-iizuka-takashi/
  5. ↑ https://www.4gamer.net/games/131/G013139/20111227008/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-10-21 18:00)
  6. ↑ http://shg.sega.jp/news1510.html (Wayback Machine: 2015-11-08 00:27)
  7. ↑ https://app.famitsu.com/20171010_1150637/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-04-19 20:47)
  8. ↑ https://www.4gamer.net/games/421/G042175/20190415016/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-05-17 01:38)
  9. ↑ https://tailschannel.com/sonic-the-hedgehog/sega-hopes-to-meet-fans-desires-for-sonics-30th-anniversary/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-06-09 17:45)
  10. ↑ https://note.com/beep21/n/n6c043a1e1d10
  11. ↑ https://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/pdf/release/20230228_jinji_e_final.pdf (Wayback Machine: 2023-03-08 13:46)
  12. ↑ File:Golden Axe III MD credits.pdf
  13. ↑ File:Sonic & Knuckles MD credits.pdf
  14. ↑ File:NiGHTS into Dreams Saturn credits.pdf
  15. ↑ File:Sonic 3D Blast MD credits.pdf
  16. ↑ File:Sonic Jam Saturn credits.pdf
  17. ↑ File:Sonic R Saturn credits.pdf
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 File:Sonic 3D Blast Saturn credits.pdf
  19. ↑ File:ChuChu Rocket! GBA credits.pdf
  20. ↑ File:Sonic Advance GBA credits.pdf
  21. ↑ File:SonicMegaCollection GC US Credits.pdf
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 File:SonicRivals2 PSP US manual.pdf, page 23
  23. ↑ File:CutsUnleashed CD JP front.pdf, page 3
  24. ↑ File:MDSA2OST poster1.pdf, page 1
  25. ↑ File:SA2OST CD US booklet.pdf, page 10
  26. ↑ File:TripleThreat CD JP booklet.pdf, page 2
  27. ↑ File:CompleteTrinity CD JP booklet.pdf, page 8
  28. ↑ File:LostandFound CD JP booklet.pdf, page 6
  29. ↑ File:TrueBlue CD JP booklet.pdf, page 5
  30. ↑ File:FacetoFaith CD JP booklet.pdf, page 11
  31. ↑ File:TalesofKnighthood CD JP booklet.pdf, page 10
  32. ↑ File:TrueColorsTray.jpg
  33. ↑ File:VividSound CD JP booklet.pdf, page 18
  34. ↑ File:SonicCD OST Tray.jpg
  35. ↑ File:Live! CD JP booklet.pdf, page 15
  36. ↑ File:SLWOSTWB CD JP booklet.pdf, page 22
  37. ↑ File:SonicAdventureMusicExperience CD JP Box Tokyo.jpg
  38. ↑ File:SMPOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 3
  39. ↑ File:MaximumOverdrive CD JP inlay front.jpg
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