Akinori Nishiyama

Akinori Nishiyama is a Sega employee that has been involved with the company since the Master System era and has undertaken a varitety of roles.

Nishiyama was originally a test player (usually credited by his alias, Works Nishi) based in the company's AM7 department, whose first title was the original Phantasy Star. For its sequel, however, he acted as Writer & Director (under another alias, Chiemushi) and would become a major contributor to the series' fourth installment.

Nishiyama retained his position as a scenario writer through the Saturn era with Magic Knight Rayearth, but later transferred to Sonic Team prior to the onset of the Dreamcast era. He then served once more as scenario writer for Sonic Adventure and reacquainted himself with the Phantasy Star series with Phantasy Star Online.

Beginning with Sonic Adventure 2, Nishiyama upheld more executive roles, as demonstrated by coordinating the Tiny Chao Garden in the game's revision. Though his direct role in console titles had diminished, he had more influence in the handheld market, where he served as Director for the majority of the Sonic the Hedgehog series titles released for Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS and Producer for the Puyo Puyo series titles released on the aforementioned systems.

Beginning with Sonic Gems Collection though, Nishiyama reemerged in the console market as Chief Producer. He continues to hold this title to this day.

Production History

• Phantasy Star (Master System Version) (1987) — Soft Check (as Works Nishi)
• Hoshi wo Sagashite... (1988) — Test Play (as Works Nishi)
• Ys: The Vanished Omens (Master System Version) (1988) — Check (as Works Nishi)
• Space Harrier II (Mega Drive Version) (1988) — Test Player (as Works Nishi)
• Phantasy Star II (1989) — Written and Directed by (as Chiemshi)
• Forgotten Worlds (Mega Drive Version) (1989) — Game Check (as Works Nishi)
• Sorcerian (Mega Drive Version) (1990) — Special Thanks (as Works Nishi)
• Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (1990) — Special Thanks (as Chiemushi)
• Panic! (1993) — Graphic Design
• Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (1993) — Script (as A.Nishiyama), Monster Graphic Design (as A.Nishiyama), System Plan (as A.Nishiyama), Mechanic Design (as A.Nishiyama), Map Design (as A.Nishiyama), Object Design (as A.Nishiyama), Font Design (as A.Nishiyama), Papet Event Plan (as A.Nishiyama)
• Magic Knight Rayearth (Saturn Version) (1995) — Game Design & Scenario (Japan Staff)
• Sonic Jam (1997) — Special Thanks
• Sonic Adventure (1998) — Story event director, Scenario writer
• ChuChu Rocket! (Dreamcast Version) (1999) — Puzzle Editing
• Sonic Shuffle (2000) — Supervisor (Sonic Team)
• Phantasy Star Online (2000) — City Designer, Quest Designer, Script Writer
• ChuChu Rocket! (GBA Version) (2001) — Normal Puzzles
• Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 (2001) — City Designer, Quest Designer, Script Writer
• Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) — Recording Coordinator (Japanese Character Voices), Product Support
• Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (2001) — Product Coordinator (Tiny Chao Garden), Recording Coordinator (Japanese Character Voices), Product Support
• Sonic Advance (2001) — Director
• Sonic Advance 2 (2002) — Director
• Sonic Pinball Party (2003) — Director
• Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut (2003) — Story Event Director (Sonic Adventure Original Staff), Scenario Writer (Sonic Adventure Original Staff)
• Sonic Heroes (2003) — Recording Coordinator, Product Support
• Sonic Advance 3 (2004) — Director
• Puyo Pop Fever (GBA Version) (2004) — Manager
• Sonic Gems Collection (2005) — Chief Producer
• Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) — Development Support
• Sonic Rush (2005) — Director
• Sonic Riders (2006) — Recording Coordinator
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) — Chief Producer
• Puyo Puyo 15th Anniversary (2006/2007) — Producer
• Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007) — Chief Producer
• Sonic Rush Adventure (2007) — Producer
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007) — General Producer
• Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008) — Recording Coordinator, Chief Producer
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) — Supervisor (Original Games)
• The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (2008) — Chief Producer
• Sega Superstars Tennis (2008) — Special Thanks
• Night of the Werehog (2008) — Special Thanks
• Sonic Unleashed (Wii and PS2 Versions) (2008) — Creative Producer
• Sonic Unleashed (Xbox 360 and PS3 Versions) (2008) — Producer
• Sonic and the Black Knight (2009) — Chief Producer
• Puyo Puyo 7 (2009) — Chief Producer
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2009) — Sonic Character Supervisor
• Phantasy Star Portable 2 (2009) — Special Thanks (Sega of Japan)
• Resonance of Fate (2010) — Chief Producer (Sega of Japan)
• Rise of Nightmares (2011) — Chief Producer
• Crush 3D (2012) — Special Thanks (Sega Corporate)