Yuji Naka
Yuji Naka (中 裕司, Naka Yuji) is a Japanese video game programmer, designer, and producer. He is best known as the former head of Sonic Team, where he was the lead programmer of the original Sonic the Hedgehog series of games on the Sega Genesis. In 2006, he created Prope, an independent game company. In January 2018, he joined Square Enix.
Yuji Naka | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Naka in 2015 | |
| Born | 17 September 1965
(aged 60) Hirakata, Osaka, Japan |
| Other names | YU2 |
| Occupation | Game designer, producer, programmer |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Employer | Square Enix |
Notable work | Sonic the Hedgehog series |
Career
Naka learned how to program by copying and debugging video game code printed in magazines. The experience made him want to study assemblers and practice writing code during his school classes.[1] After graduating high school, Naka decided to skip university and stay in his home town.[2]
Around 1983, Naka saw that Sega was looking for programming assistants. He decided to apply.[3] After a short interview,[3] he started working for Sega in April 1984.[4] His first task was designing maps and checking floppy disks for a game called Road Runner for the SF-7000. Naka can't remember if the game was ever released.[4] His first major project was a game called Girl's Garden. He and Hiroshi Kawaguchi created it together as part of their training process.[3]
Production history
Yuji Naka Media
Naka during the 2008 Tokyo Game Show
References
- ↑ Szczepaniak, John. Before They Were Famouos. Retro Gamer (35)Imagine Publishing. p. 74.
- ↑ Horowitz, Ken. Sega Stars: Yuji Naka. Sega-16 (22 June 2005). Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Making of OutRun (29 April 2016)NowGamer. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 名作アルバム - 『ガールズガーデン』 (in ja). Sega. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ↑ Naka, Yuji. Yuji Naka / 中 裕司 on Twitter: "[iPhone PROPE Ltd.started to distribute the game "Legend of Coin" for iOS & Android at 12 December,2017. An epic story like none ever seen before in a coin game.Over 200 monsters to train and summon!"]. Retrieved 12 December 2017.