Yuji Naka

Yuji Naka

Yuji Naka, also known as YU2, is a video game designer, programmer, the former head of Sonic Team, and currently the head of the video game development company, Prope.

History

When Yuji Naka was 17 years old, he decided that he wanted to program video games. He owed this fascination to Ryuichi Sakamotos "Yellow Magic Orchestra" program, which allowed the composition of music on your computer.

Being a large fan of Namco, Yuji Naka aimed to work for them after he graduated from college. However, Namco only accepted work from university graduates, and thus Yuji Naka would not be eligible as he did not want to go to university.

He did however score a job at Sega as a programming assistant. His first release was a game for the SG-1000 Mark III called Girl's Garden, but his massive breakthrough wasn't far off. In 1990 Yuji Naka, along with Naoto Oshima and Hirokazu Yasuhara began work on the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Naka became a leading programmer for the newly founded "Sonic Team" which would be the team in control of most projects featuring Sega's mascot. After the completion of Sonic 2, he became the producer of Sonic Team.

On March 16, 2006 it was announced that Naka would be creating his own game studio, independant of Sega. Naka left Sega to set up this studio, called Prope, but has since come back as a consultant for various Sega Titles, including Sonic the Hedgehog titles.

Production History

• Girl's Garden — Lead Programmer
• Great Baseball — Programmer
• F-16 Fighting Falcon — Lead Programmer
• Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star) — Programmer
• Space Harrier (1985) — Lead Programmer
• Out Run - Lead Programmer
• Spy vs. Spy (1986) — Lead Programming
• Phantasy Star (1988) — Lead Programmer ("Muuu Yuji")
• Super Thunder Blade — Lead Programmer
• Phantasy Star II (1989) — Producer, Lead Programmer ("Muuu Yuji")
• Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (1990) — Special Thanks
• Dai Makai Mura (aka "Ghouls & Ghosts") (1990) — Lead Programmer
• Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) — Programmer, Project Manager
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) — Lead Programmer, Project Manager
• Sonic Spinball (1993) — A Special Bow to
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) — Producer, Lead Programmer
• Sonic & Knuckles (1994) — Producer, Lead Programmer
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (1994) — Producer, Lead Programmer
• NiGHTS into Dreams (1996) — Producer, Lead Programmer
• Christmas NiGHTS (1996) — Producer, Programmer
• Sonic 3D Blast (1996) — Advisor
• Sonic Jam (1997) — Producer
• Sonic R (1997) — General Producer, Supervisor
• Burning Rangers (1998) — Producer
• Sonic Adventure (1999) — Producer
• ChuChu Rocket! (2000) — Producer, Director
• Samba de Amigo (2000) — Producer
• Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure (2000) — Supervisor, Producer
• Samba de Amigo Ver.2000 (2000) — Producer
• Phantasy Star Online (2001) — Producer
• ChuChu Rocket! (GBA) (2001) — Producer, Director
• Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) — Producer
• Phantasy Star Online Ver.2 (2001) — Producer
• Sonic Advance (2002) — Producer
• Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (2002) — Producer
• Sonic Mega Collection (2002) — Producer
• Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 (2002) — Producer
• Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 Plus (2003) — Producer
• Sonic Advance 2 (2003) — Producer
• Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut (2003) — Producer
• Sonic Pinball Party (2003) — Producer
• Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (2003) — Producer
• Sonic Battle (2004) — Producer
• Sonic Heroes (2004) — Producer
• Sonic Advance 3 (2004) — Producer
• Feel the Magic XY/XX (2004) — Chief Producer
• Sonic Mega Collection Plus (2004) — Producer
• Puyo Pop Fever (GBA Version) (2004) — Producer
• Sonic Gems Collection (2005) — Chief Producer
• Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) — Producer
• Sonic Rush (2005) — Producer
• Sonic Riders (2006) — Executive Producer
• Phantasy Star Universe (2006) — Executive Producer
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) — Original Executive Producer
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007) — Original Executive Producer
• NiGHTS into Dreams (PS2 Version) (2008) — Special Thanks
• Let's Tap (2008) — Producer

Interviews

• Yuji Naka interview by Sega Visions (August/September 1992)
• Yuji Naka interview by Sega.com (December 20, 1996)
• Yuji Naka and Naoto Oshima interview by Hobby Consolas (Unknown Month, 1996)
• Yuji Naka and Naoto Oshima interview by Saturn Power (July 1997)
• Yuji Naka interview by Dreamcast Magazine (January 22, 1999)
• Yuji Naka interview by Gamefan (June 1999)
• Yuji Naka interview by Official Dreamcast Magazine (September 1999)
• Yuji Naka interview by Sega Saturn Magazine (October 8, 1998)
• Yuji Naka interview by Futuregamez (November 30, 1999)
• Yuji Naka interview by Edge (1999)
• Yuji Naka interview by IGN (February 1, 2001)
• Yuji Naka interview by Gamespot (February 2, 2001)
• Yuji Naka interview by Famitsu (April 19, 2001)
• Yuji Naka interview by Gamespot (July 3, 2001)
• Yuji Naka interview by Times (September 13, 2001)
• Yuji Naka interview by Sega.com (2001)
• Yuji Naka interview by Nintendo (February 12, 2002)
• Yuji Naka interview by XenGamers (July 17, 2002)
• Yuji Naka interview by Gamespot (September 30, 2002)
• Yuji Naka interview by Euro Gamer (May 23, 2003)
• Yuji Naka interview by CVG (May 27, 2003)
• Yuji Naka interview by Sega.com (June 14, 2003)
• Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka interview by Sega Score (December 12, 2003)
• Yuji Naka interview by Sega Europe (January 30, 2004)
• Yuji Naka interview by Sega.com (January 2004)
• Yuji Naka interview by Sega.com (February 2004)
• Yuji Naka interview by IGN (May 13, 2004)
• Yuji Naka interview by The Next Level (June 15, 2004)
• Yuji Naka interview by Kikizo (June 24, 2004)
• Yuji Naka interview by Gameplanet (December 7, 2004)
• Yuji Naka interview by GameSpy (September 2005)
• Yuji Naka interview by Kikizo (February 04, 2009)
• Yuji Naka interview by Nintendo Power (May 4, 2009)
• Yuji Naka interview by Gamautra (May 5, 2010)
• Yuji Naka interview by 1UP (June 25, 2010)
• Yuji Naka interview by NightsIntoDreams.Com (July 5th, 2010)
• Yuji Naka and Takashi Iizuka interview for Sonic Heroes website