Naofumi Hataya

From Sega Retro

Naofumi Hataya.jpg

Naofumi Hataya, born November 13 in Saitama, Japan, is a musician and composer working for Wave Master. He graduated from Rikkyo University, where he played in a band. Though Hataya did not want a career in music, he was looking to improve his skills, so he sought a job at a music-related company. In 1990, he took a job at SEGA, and the rest is history.

Aliases

Hataya is presumably frequently credited under the aliases Nao Chan, Hata, Hatabaw and N.H.. While there is no clear direct evidence that all these names are pseudonyms, various similarities can be noted between these names to link them together, as well as several motifs shared between many of the songs that these names are associated with also are found in Hataya's work.

For example, the chord progression and arrangement for Sky High Zone and Underground Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Game Gear shares similarities to music for the strategy game The Hybrid Front, the "REPLAY" music from the 32X version of Virtua Racing, and the "Chance" BGM from Chuu Kyuukai Miracle Nine; all of these games were composed by Hataya.

In addition, the music for the stage Ocean Palace in Sonic Heroes bears a melodic similarity to the theme song to Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which is credited to Nao Chan (which is a diminutive form of Naofumi, similar to how Jimmy and Jimbo are diminutives of James in English). It's also present in Sonic Chaos, despite he wasn't involved in that game's soundtrack. The Ocean Palace BGM is credited as being composed by Hataya, though it is performed by Jun Senoue.

He is not to be mistaken for Masayuki Nagao, an employee of Santos (before it was renamed Megasoft upon Sega's acquisition of the company in 1991; Hataya joined Sega in 1990), whose aliases include N. Gee and Nagao N. Gee.

Production History

Games credited under aliases have a star (*) next to them

Song Credits

Space Channel 5

  • Spaceport: Introducing Ulala!! - Arrangement
  • Morolina♥: The Elegant Coward - Composition
  • Asteroid Belt: Go! Go! "Astrobeat Jr." - Composition
  • Morolian's Base: Strange Path - Composition
  • Morolian's Base: Escape - Composition
  • Evila: Attack of the Perfect Reporter - Composition
  • Blank TV: Ulala Support Chant - Composition, Arrangement
  • Ending: Pala Paya ... Lounge Musique - Composition
  • Mexican Flyer (Remix) - Arrangement

Sonic Heroes

  • Stage 02 : Ocean Palace - Composition
  • System Screen : Select - Composition, Arrangement
  • Special Stage : Bonus Challenge - Composition, Arrangement
  • Stage 12 : Mystic Mansion - Composition, Arrangement

Sonic Colors

  • Area - Tropical Resort - Composition
  • Area - Terminal Velocity - Composition