Masao Yoshimoto

Masao Yoshimoto
Company(ies): Sega of Japan, Sega Sammy Creation
Role(s): Engineer, General Manager
Education: Kindai University

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Masao Yoshimoto (吉本 昌男) is a Japanese engineer and developer. He joined Sega on 2nd April 1987, and held supervisory general manager roles at AM4, Mechatro, and Sega Sammy Creation during his career at the company, all making him a chief member of amusement machine design. His notable works included the R360, as well as cabinets for many of Sega's biggest arcade hits.

Following several retrospective interviews looking back on his achievements during 2020, Yoshimoto retired from Sega in February 2021. He received a 1:12 scale mini R360 as a parting gift from his colleagues.

Production history

Games

• Thunder Blade (X Board; 1987) — Cabinet Engineer
• Galaxy Force (Y Board; 1988) — Mechanical Engineers
• Super Monaco GP (X Board; 1989) — Mechanical Engineers
• Rad Mobile (System 32; 1991) — Mechanic Design by
• Rail Chase (Y Board; 1991) — Cabinet Engineer
• Virtua Formula (Model 1; 1993) — Mechanical Design
• Sega Rally Championship (Model 2; 1995) — Mechanical Engineer
• Rail Chase 2 (Model 2; 1995) — Mechanical Designers
• Manx TT Super Bike (Model 2; 1995) — Mechanical Superviser
• Sega Touring Car Championship (Model 2; 1996) — Mechanical Supervisor
• WaveRunner (Model 2; 1996) — Mechanical Design (as M.Yoshimoto)
• Scud Race (Model 3; 1996) — Cabinet Engineers
• Top Skater (Model 2; 1997) — mechanical supervisor
• Le Mans 24 (Model 3; 1997) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Scud Race Plus (Model 3; 1997) — Cabinet Engineers
• Sega Rally 2 (Model 3; 1998) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge (Model 3; 1998) — Product Supervisor
• Dirt Devils (Model 3; 1998) — Product Supervisor
• Daytona USA 2: Power Edition (Model 3; 1998) — Product Supervisor
• Sega Rally 2 (Dreamcast; 1999) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Crazy Taxi (NAOMI; 1999) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Airline Pilots (NAOMI Multiboard; 1999) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Ring Out 4x4 (NAOMI; 1999) — Producers
• Jambo! Safari (NAOMI; 1999) — mechanical supervisor
• Samba de Amigo (NAOMI; 1999) — Material Supervisor
• Kasei Channel Mars TV (NAOMI; 1999) — Mechanical Supervisor
• NASCAR Arcade (Hikaru; 2000) — Cabinet Design
• Confidential Mission (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2000) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Samba de Amigo Ver.2000 (NAOMI; 2000) — Material Supervisor
• Planet Harriers (Hikaru; 2000) — Mechanical supervisor
• WaveRunner GP (NAOMI; 2001) — Adviser
• Air Trix (Hikaru; 2001) — Cabinet Supervisors
• Wild Riders (NAOMI 2; 2001) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Crackin' DJ Part 2 (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2001) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Monkey Ball (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2001) — Mechatronics
• Beach Spikers: Virtua Beach Volleyball (NAOMI 2 GD-ROM; 2001) — Cabinet
• Virtua Fighter 4 (NAOMI 2; 2001) — Cabinet Design
• Initial D: Arcade Stage (NAOMI 2 GD-ROM; 2002) — Cabinet Design
• The Maze of the Kings (NAOMI GD-ROM; 2002) — Mechanical Supervisor
• Soul Surfer (NAOMI 2; 2002) — Director
• Initial D: Arcade Stage Ver. 2 (NAOMI 2 GD-ROM; 2002) — 筐体デザイン (as 吉本 昌男)
• Virtua Cop 3 (Chihiro; 2003) — Supervisor
• Sega Rally Championship (PlayStation 2; 2006) — Mechanical Engineer
• OutRun 2 SP SDX (Lindbergh; 2006) — Product Supervisor
• StarHorse Progress Returns (NAOMI; 2009) — Special Thanks
• Sega Golden Gun (RingWide; 2010) — Producer
• StarHorse 3 Season I: A New Legend Begins (RingEdge 2; 2011) — Special Thanks
• StarHorse 3 Season II: Blaze of Glory (RingEdge 2; 2013) — Special Thanks
• Showdown (Europa-R; 2015) — Special Thanks

Videos

• CGMV Sega Rally Championship 1995 (VHS; 1995) — Mechanical Engineers (courtesy of AM#4)

Hardware

• R360 (Mid-size attraction; 1990) — Mechanical Engineers

Photographs

Main article: Photos of Masao Yoshimoto

External links

• Video Game Storytellers Part 19: Sega's genes, passed down to the next generation by the development team of the ultimate sensory game cabinet, R360. interview with Fumio Kurokawa at 4Gamer.net (Japanese)
• Sega 60th Anniversary Special Interview. Arcade developers such as the legendary chassis R360 and "Virtua Fighter" tell a lot of development secrets! interview with Famitsu at famitsu.com (Japanese)