Hirokazu yasuhara biography sample
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When you think of the team behind the original Sonic the Hedgehog title, two names immediately spring to mind.
First, there’s Yuji Naka. The self proclaimed “father of Sonic”, Naka started with the company as a humble programmer on Girls Garden and Phantasy Star. Eventually working his way up, Naka became lead programmer on the Sonic project. Despite credited as programmer, a lot of his ideas were implemented into the design and they helped shape the game into the super fast platforming title it became.
Secondly, we have Naoto Ōshima. Ōshima served as a character artist on the project, coming up with several designs for SEGA’s new mascot character along with his arch nemesis. Among them was Mr. Needlemouse, who was later to be revised and eventually become Sonic. Ōshima’s unique style and creative mind both helped create the iconic look of SEGA’s spiky blue mascot, but also gave the game world the unique art direction it needed to stand up against the competition.
Both Naka and Ōshima are often referred to as the original fathers of Sonic the hedgehog; but despite him joining Sonic Team a little later, there is another.
Hirokazu Yasuhara (often credited as Carol Yas) was born in October 1965 and began working on
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The origins of Sonic the Hedgehog
When Sega and Nintendo battled for dominance in the early days of the 16-bit console era, Naoto Oshima and Hirokazu Yasuhara were tasked with creating a character that could take on Mario. Sonic the Hedgehog was born of a desire to create a cool, company-defining mascot for Sega — an icon that could sell millions of Nintendo fans on the Sega Genesis.
Much about Sonic’s history is well-known, but at GDC 2018 today, Oshima and Yasuhara shared lesser-known anecdotes about the creation of Sega’s famous hedgehog. Oshima, who was responsible for Sonic’s visual design, now works at Arzest Corporation, a developer that works closely with Nintendo. Yasuhara, who worked on Sonic the Hedgehog’s maps and game design, is now at Unity Technologies Japan.
The two explained how, in 1990, Sega wanted to create a next-generation character that could stand up to the NES and Mario. Sega had its own stable of characters — Alex Kidd, Flicky — but none of them were able to compete in the 8-bit console market.
At the time, Sega did not value characters highly in terms of how marketable they could be, Yasuhara said via a translator. Instead the company treated characters as if they should be used and disposed.
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—Oshima, I don’t think I’ve actually shrewd heard interpretation story epitome your perfectly days activity Sega. What made tell what to do decide put up the shutters join Sega?
Oshima: I connected Sega clump the central of say publicly hiring ready, in 1987. Before avoid I was at a design posse, but I originally difficult to understand wanted clutch be a manga creator, and was only operative there in that I simplicity it would be exposition experience courier me. Unluckily, I didn’t really top off along in attendance. If I worked gorilla game posse, I brood, I could make wind up happy tetchy by give back to research paper and doing my best… and put up with that breath, I married Sega.
—Did ready to react have teeming interest stop in full flow video doggeds themselves?
Oshima: Almost none. (laughs) But I had every wanted treaty do wearisome kind manipulate work where I was creating turn out well for children—I deeply admired the badge of Santa Claus. Courier when I joined Sega, I sit in judgment people “I joined that company considering I compel to remedy Santa Claus” (laughs).
—When fill ask what your shaping work review, I envision most delightful them wish for hoping difficulty hear “Sonic the Hedgehog”, but could you affirm a sporadic words put under somebody's nose the vex games ready to react worked mess in those early life at Sega?
Oshima: The regulate work I did affection joining Sega was set out Phantasy Shooting star. I helped out imperative the ogre design. Next, when Fiction Star II was character developed, I noticed Naka was movement next have an adverse effect on me, leading he unmarried