Difference between revisions of "Takashi Iizuka"

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[[Image:photos_iizuka.jpg|right|frame|Takashi Iizuka]]
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{{PersonBob
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'''Takashi Iizuka''' 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
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| birthplace=[[wikipedia:Kawaguchi, Saitama|Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan]]
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| dob=1970-03-16
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| dod=
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| employment={{Employment
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| company=[[Sega Enterprises, Ltd.|Sega Enterprises]]
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| 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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}}
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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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}}
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{{Employment
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| 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=
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}}
 +
{{Employment
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| 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
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}}
 +
{{Employment
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| company=[[Sega Corporation (2000-2015)|Sega]]
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| divisions=[[Sega CS2 (2008-current)|Sega CS2]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20231021180050/https://www.4gamer.net/games/131/G013139/20111227008/}}
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| start=2008
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| end=2015
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}}
 +
{{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}}
 +
| 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.
  
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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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==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.
  
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==Production History==
+
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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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' (1994) — Senior Game Designer
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* ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Senior Game Designer
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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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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Senior Game Designer
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* ''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]'' (1996) — Lead Game Designer
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==Production history==
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* ''[[Christmas NiGHTS]]'' (1996) — Game Designer
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{{ProductionHistory|Takashi Iizuka|Iiz|飯塚 隆|飯塚隆}}
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* ''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'' (1996) — Game Concept Design, Special Design, Saturn Enhancements
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* ''[[Sonic Jam]]'' (1997) — Director
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* ''[[Sonic R]]'' (1997) — Game Design Director
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[[Category:Use ProductionHistory template]]
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1999) — Director, Character Game Designer, Chaos Game Designer, Field Designer
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* ''[[Sonic X]]'' (2003) — Supervisor
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* ''[[ChuChu Rocket!]]'' (2000) — Product Support (Sega of America)
 
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' (2001) — Director, Field Designer (Level Designer), Enemy Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' (2001) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]'' (2002) — Director, Field Designer (Level Designer), Enemy Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' (2002) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' (2003) — Mission Mode Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'' (2004) — Director, Level Designer, CG Movie Director
 
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* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' (2004) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]'' (2005) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' (2005) — Director, Lead Game Designer, Level Designer, Scenario Writer, CG 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
 
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* ''[[Sonic Rivals]]'' (2006) — Director, Concept Design, Scenario Writer, Producer
 
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* ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' (2007) — Special Thanks
 
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* ''[[Sonic Rivals 2]]'' (2007) — Director, Concept Design, Scenario Writer, Producer
 
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* ''[[NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams]]'' (2007) — Director, Producer, Lead Game Designer
 
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* ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' (2007) — General Producer
 
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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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* ''[[Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'' (2008) — Sonic Character Supervisor
 
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* ''[[Sonic Unleashed]] (PS3 & Xbox 360 Version)'' (2008) — Level Design 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]]'' (2009) — Director, Game Designer
 
  
 
==Interviews==
 
==Interviews==
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* [[Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka interview by Sega Score (December 12, 2003)]]
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{{mirror}}
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* [[Takashi Iizuka interview by EGM (February 3, 2004)]]
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* [[sonic:Yuji Naka and {{PAGENAME}} interview by Sega Score (December 12, 2003)|Yuji Naka and {{PAGENAME}} interview by Sega Score (December 12, 2003)]]
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* [[Takashi Iizuka interview by GMR (February 10, 2004)]]
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* [[sonic:{{PAGENAME}} interview by EGM (February 3, 2004)|{{PAGENAME}} interview by EGM (February 3, 2004)]]
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* [[Takashi Iizuka and Ethan Einhorn interview by 1UP (March 22, 2005)]]
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* [[sonic:{{PAGENAME}} interview by GMR (February 10, 2004)|{{PAGENAME}} interview by GMR (February 10, 2004)]]
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* [[Takashi Iizuka interview by Danny Russell (September 17, 2010)]]
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* [[sonic:{{PAGENAME}} and Ethan Einhorn interview by 1UP (March 22, 2005)|{{PAGENAME}} and Ethan Einhorn interview by 1UP (March 22, 2005)]]
−
* [[Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka interview for Sonic Heroes website]]
+
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080401085637/http://sega.jp/segavoice/vol21/ ''SEGA VOICE'' interview (December 15, 2005)]
 +
* [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}}]]
  
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[[Category:Developers]]
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==References==
 +
<references/>

Latest revision as of 02:57, 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 the Hedgehog 3 MD credits.pdf
  14. ↑ File:Sonic & Knuckles MD credits.pdf
  15. ↑ File:NiGHTS into Dreams Saturn credits.pdf
  16. ↑ File:Sonic 3D Blast MD credits.pdf
  17. ↑ File:Sonic Jam Saturn credits.pdf
  18. ↑ File:Sonic R Saturn credits.pdf
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 File:Sonic 3D Blast Saturn credits.pdf
  20. ↑ File:ChuChu Rocket! GBA credits.pdf
  21. ↑ File:Sonic Advance GBA credits.pdf
  22. ↑ File:SonicMegaCollection GC US Credits.pdf
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 File:SonicRivals2 PSP US manual.pdf, page 23
  24. ↑ File:CutsUnleashed CD JP front.pdf, page 3
  25. ↑ File:MDSA2OST poster1.pdf, page 1
  26. ↑ File:SA2OST CD US booklet.pdf, page 10
  27. ↑ File:TripleThreat CD JP booklet.pdf, page 2
  28. ↑ File:CompleteTrinity CD JP booklet.pdf, page 8
  29. ↑ File:LostandFound CD JP booklet.pdf, page 6
  30. ↑ File:TrueBlue CD JP booklet.pdf, page 5
  31. ↑ File:TalesofKnighthood CD JP booklet.pdf, page 10
  32. ↑ File:FacetoFaith CD JP booklet.pdf, page 11
  33. ↑ File:TrueColorsTray.jpg
  34. ↑ File:VividSound CD JP booklet.pdf, page 18
  35. ↑ File:SonicCD OST Tray.jpg
  36. ↑ File:Live! CD JP booklet.pdf, page 15
  37. ↑ File:SLWOSTWB CD JP booklet.pdf, page 22
  38. ↑ File:SonicAdventureMusicExperience CD JP Box Tokyo.jpg
  39. ↑ File:SMPOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 3
  40. ↑ File:MaximumOverdrive CD JP inlay front.jpg
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