Yuji Naka

From Sega Retro

Yuji Naka.jpg
Yuji Naka
Place of birth: Hirakata, Osaka prefecture, Japan
Date of birth: 1965-09-17 (age 59)
Company(ies): Sega of Japan
Role(s): Programmer, Designer, Producer, Executive
Education: Nishinoda Technology Senior High School

Yuji Naka (中 裕司) is a video game designer, programmer, the former head of Sonic Team (usually credited by his alias, YU2), 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 learned how to program by copying and debugging game code published in magazines, and these experiences prompted him to learn how to use assemblers and write his own programs. The electronic music group Yellow Magic Orchestra was also an influence on the young Naka.

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 called Girl's Garden. Yuji Naka's distinction was producing/project managing projects while simultaneously handling the lead programming of them. Examples of this are Space Harrier II and Phantasy Star II.

In 1990 he, along with Naoto Oshima and Hirokazu Yasuhara, began to conceive Sonic the Hedgehog and then leading the now dubbed Sonic Team, putting his leadership and programming talents into work.

The last time, Yuji Naka did any hands-on coding was NiGHTS into Dreams, with Sonic Team members Tetsu Katano and Takahiro Hamano succeeding him in that regard.

On March 16, 2006 it was announced that Naka would be creating his own independent game studio, with partial financial backing from Sega. Naka left Sega to set up this studio, called Prope.

Production history

Games

Videos

Music

Accessories

Song credits

OutRun (Master System Version)

  • Magical Sound Shower — Arrangement
  • Passing Breeze — Arrangement
  • Splash Wave — Arrangement
  • Last Wave — Arrangement

Interviews

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External links

Magazine articles

Main article: Yuji Naka/Magazine articles.

References

  1. ↑ File:UltraGamePlayers US 103.pdf, page 36
  2. ↑ File:Phantasy Star SMS credits.pdf
  3. ↑ File:Super Thunder Blade MD credits.pdf
  4. ↑ File:Phantasy Star II MD credits.pdf
  5. ↑ File:Phantasy Star III MD credits.pdf
  6. ↑ File:Sonic the Hedgehog MD credits.pdf
  7. ↑ File:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 MD credits.pdf
  8. ↑ File:SonicSpinball MD US manual.pdf, page 21
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 File:Sonic & Knuckles MD credits.pdf
  10. ↑ File:Mahou Kishi Rayearth Saturn credits.pdf
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:NiGHTS into Dreams Saturn credits.pdf
  12. ↑ File:Sonic 3D Blast MD credits.pdf
  13. ↑ File:Sonic Jam Saturn credits.pdf
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 File:Sonic R Saturn credits.pdf
  15. ↑ File:Burning Rangers JP Saturn credits.pdf
  16. ↑ File:Sonic 3D Blast Saturn credits.pdf
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 File:Sonic Pocket Adventure NGPC credits.pdf
  18. ↑ File:ChuChu Rocket! GBA credits.pdf
  19. ↑ File:Sonic Advance GBA credits.pdf
  20. ↑ File:Sonic Advance 2 GBA credits.pdf
  21. ↑ File:SonicMegaCollection GC US Credits.pdf
  22. ↑ File:Sonic Battle GBA credits.pdf
  23. ↑ File:Sonic Advance 3 GBA credits.pdf
  24. ↑ File:Puyo Puyo Fever GBA credits.pdf
  25. ↑ File:Bleach Advance GBA credits.pdf
  26. ↑ File:SonicGenesis GBA US manual.pdf, page 18
  27. ↑ File:SegaTunesComixZone Album JP Box Back.jpg
  28. ↑ File:VirtualSonic CD US back.jpg
  29. ↑ File:SongsWithAttitude CD JP booklet.pdf, page 7
  30. ↑ File:SARemix CD JP booklet.pdf, page 9
  31. ↑ File:SADLCOST CD JP booklet1.pdf, page 2
  32. ↑ File:CutsUnleashed CD JP front.pdf, page 3
  33. ↑ File:MDSA2OST poster1.pdf, page 1
  34. ↑ File:SA2OST CD US booklet.pdf, page 10
  35. ↑ File:TripleThreat CD JP booklet.pdf, page 2
  36. ↑ File:CompleteTrinity CD JP booklet.pdf, page 8
  37. ↑ File:SonicXOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 3
  38. ↑ File:PSOBBSoundTrack CD JP Box.jpg
  39. ↑ File:LostandFound CD JP booklet.pdf, page 6
  40. ↑ File:SonicRidersOST CD JP booklet.pdf, page 3
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