Difference between revisions of "Hirokazu Yasuhara"

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[[Image:yasuhara.jpg|thumb|right|Hirokazu Yasuhara's corporate photo from Naughty Dog.]]
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:''Not to be confused with [[Yas|Yasuhiro "Yas" Takagi]].''
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Another pivotal name in the early years of [[Sonic]], '''Hirokazu Yasuhara''' was the original game and level designer. He was probably the most actively involved in the early development of the series, and remained one of the chief map designers all the way through [[Sonic R]] in 1997. He even had a hand in the design of the shelved [[Sonic X-treme]]. In 2002, Yasuhara left Sega where, according to [[Yuji Naka]], he had become "useless," and joined At Naughty Dog, where he has since worked on Jak 2.
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{{stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (安原 広和) was game and level designer for Sega. He remained the chief map designer for the early ''[[:Category:Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' games all the way through ''[[Sonic R]]'' in 1997, and the shelved ''[[Sonic X-treme]]''. He continued to give his design expertise to Sega of America projects, such as the 2001 [[Floigan Bros.]]. Between ''Sonic R'' and ''Flogain Bros.'' he got money from Sega of Japan to be involved in Disney rides and attractions.
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In 2002, Yasuhara left Sega and joined fellow former members of the [[Sega Technical Institute]] at Naughty Dog, where he worked on the ''Jak & Daxter'' series as well as the first installment of ''Uncharted''.
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In 2008, Yasuhara departed Naughty Dog to take up a job at Namco-Bandai America, where he worked on ''Pac-Man Party'', which released in 2010.
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In 2012, Yasuhara was hired by Nintendo Software Technology Corporation, a US-based division of the [[Nintendo|company of the same name]] best known for developing the ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' games.
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He has worked with the Education team of Unity Technology Japan to create game-design educational materials since 2016.
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
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"I was opposed to [Sega's] decision to create games that use 'Sonic-something' so that they can sell it easily. I wanted to make good games, not any games that used the Sonic character in a haphazard way."
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"I was opposed to [Sega's] decision to create games that use 'Sonic-something' so that they can sell it easily. I wanted to make good games, not any games that used the Sonic character in a haphazard way."<br> - ''Yasuhara on his work on the [[Traveller's Tales]]-developed Sonic titles''
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==Production history==
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{{multicol|
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{{ProductionHistory|Hirokazu Yasuhara|Hirokazu Yasuhara (Carol Yas)|Carol|Carol Yas|安原 広和}}
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* ''[[Altered Beast]]'' (Arcade version) (1988) — credit unknown
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1991) — Game Plan (as '''Carol Yas''')
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* ''[[Fatal Labyrinth]]'' (1991) — Planner (as '''Carol''')
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1992) — Game Planner (as '''Hirokazu Yasuhara (Carol Yas)'''), Object Placement
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* ''[[Sonic Spinball]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1993) — A Special Bow to [NOTE: Manual credit]
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' (1994) — Director, Lead Game Designer
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* ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Director, Lead Game Designer
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* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Director, Lead Game Designer
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* ''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'' (Mega Drive Version) (1996) — Playfield Design (SOJ) (Sega)
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* ''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'' (Saturn and PC Versions) (1996/1997) — Playfield Design (SOJ) (Sega)
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* ''[[Sonic X-treme]]'' (Canceled) — Head Designer
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* ''[[Sonic R]]'' (Saturn Version) (1997) — Map Design Director (Sega of America Inc.)
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* ''[[Sonic R]]'' (PC Version) (1998) — Map design director (Sega of America Inc.) (Sega), Map design director (Sega Enterprises Ltd.) (Sega)
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* ''[[Sega Smash Pack 2]]'' (2000) — Special Thanks
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* ''[[Floigan Brothers: Episode 1]]'' (2001) — Game Designer (Visual Concepts Credits)
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* ''Jak II'' (2003) —  Game Designer
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* ''Jak 3'' (2004) — Game Designer
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* ''Jak X: Combat Racing'' (2005) — Game Designer
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* ''Uncharted: Drake's Fortune'' (2007) — Game Designer (Naughty Dog)
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* ''Afro Samurai'' (2009) — Special Thanks (Namco Bandai Games America Inc.)
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* ''Pac-Man Party'' (2010) — Senior Game Designer (Namco Bandai Games America, Inc.)
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* ''Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move'' (2013) — Game Designer (Nintendo Software Technology)
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}}
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==Interview==
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*[[sonic:Hirokazu Yasuhara interview by Gamasutra (August 25, 2008)|Hirokazu Yasuhara interview by Gamasutra (August 25, 2008)]]
  
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==Production History==
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==External links==
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*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (1991) — Director(Game Planner)
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* [http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/168016/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_cocreator_Hirokazu_Yasuhara_joins_Nintendo.php Sonic the Hedgehog Cocreator Hirokazu Yasuhara joins Nintendo]
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*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' (1992) — Director(Game Planner), Object Placement
 
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*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' (1994) — Director, Lead Game designer
 
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*''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Director, Lead Game designer
 
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*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]'' (1994) — Director, Lead Game designer
 
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*''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'' (1995) — Playfield Design, Saturn Enhancements
 
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*''[[Sonic Xtreme]]'' (1996) — Head Designer
 
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*''[[Sonic R]]'' (1997) — Map Design Director
 
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*''[[Sega Smash Pack 2]]'' (2000) — Special Thanks
 
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*''Floigan Brothers: Episode 1'' (2001) — Game Designer
 
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*''Jak 2'' (2003) — Game Designer
 
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*''Jak 3'' (2004) — Game Designer
 
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*''Jak X: Combat Racing'' (2005) — Game Designer
 
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*''Uncharted: Drake's Fortune'' (2007) — Game Designer
 
  
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[[Category:Developers]]
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==References==
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<references />

Revision as of 14:28, 27 January 2018

Not to be confused with Yasuhiro "Yas" Takagi.
Yasuhara.jpg
Hirokazu Yasuhara
Role(s): Designer, director

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Hirokazu Yasuhara (安原 広和) was game and level designer for Sega. He remained the chief map designer for the early Sonic the Hedgehog games all the way through Sonic R in 1997, and the shelved Sonic X-treme. He continued to give his design expertise to Sega of America projects, such as the 2001 Floigan Bros.. Between Sonic R and Flogain Bros. he got money from Sega of Japan to be involved in Disney rides and attractions.

In 2002, Yasuhara left Sega and joined fellow former members of the Sega Technical Institute at Naughty Dog, where he worked on the Jak & Daxter series as well as the first installment of Uncharted.

In 2008, Yasuhara departed Naughty Dog to take up a job at Namco-Bandai America, where he worked on Pac-Man Party, which released in 2010.

In 2012, Yasuhara was hired by Nintendo Software Technology Corporation, a US-based division of the company of the same name best known for developing the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games.

He has worked with the Education team of Unity Technology Japan to create game-design educational materials since 2016.

Quotes

"I was opposed to [Sega's] decision to create games that use 'Sonic-something' so that they can sell it easily. I wanted to make good games, not any games that used the Sonic character in a haphazard way."
- Yasuhara on his work on the Traveller's Tales-developed Sonic titles

Production history

Games

Videos

Music

  • Altered Beast (Arcade version) (1988) — credit unknown
  • Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive Version) (1991) — Game Plan (as Carol Yas)
  • Fatal Labyrinth (1991) — Planner (as Carol)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive Version) (1992) — Game Planner (as Hirokazu Yasuhara (Carol Yas)), Object Placement
  • Sonic Spinball (Mega Drive Version) (1993) — A Special Bow to [NOTE: Manual credit]
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) — Director, Lead Game Designer
  • Sonic & Knuckles (1994) — Director, Lead Game Designer
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (1994) — Director, Lead Game Designer
  • Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island (Mega Drive Version) (1996) — Playfield Design (SOJ) (Sega)
  • Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island (Saturn and PC Versions) (1996/1997) — Playfield Design (SOJ) (Sega)
  • Sonic X-treme (Canceled) — Head Designer
  • Sonic R (Saturn Version) (1997) — Map Design Director (Sega of America Inc.)
  • Sonic R (PC Version) (1998) — Map design director (Sega of America Inc.) (Sega), Map design director (Sega Enterprises Ltd.) (Sega)
  • Sega Smash Pack 2 (2000) — Special Thanks
  • Floigan Brothers: Episode 1 (2001) — Game Designer (Visual Concepts Credits)
  • Jak II (2003) — Game Designer
  • Jak 3 (2004) — Game Designer
  • Jak X: Combat Racing (2005) — Game Designer
  • Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007) — Game Designer (Naughty Dog)
  • Afro Samurai (2009) — Special Thanks (Namco Bandai Games America Inc.)
  • Pac-Man Party (2010) — Senior Game Designer (Namco Bandai Games America, Inc.)
  • Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move (2013) — Game Designer (Nintendo Software Technology)

Interview

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:Fatal Labyrinth MCD credits.pdf
  2. ↑ File:Sonic the Hedgehog MD credits.pdf
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 File:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 MD credits.pdf
  4. ↑ File:SonicSpinball MD US manual.pdf, page 21
  5. ↑ File:Pyramid Magic MCD credits.pdf
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 File:Sonic the Hedgehog 3 MD credits.pdf
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 File:Sonic & Knuckles MD credits.pdf
  8. ↑ File:Sonic 3D Blast MD credits.pdf
  9. ↑ File:Sonic R Saturn credits.pdf
  10. ↑ File:Sonic 3D Blast Saturn credits.pdf
  11. ↑ File:FloiganBrosDCUSManual.pdf, page 25
  12. ↑ File:SonicGenesis GBA US manual.pdf, page 18
  13. ↑ File:SegaTunesComixZone Album JP Box Back.jpg
  14. ↑ File:VirtualSonic CD US back.jpg
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