Naka interview: 2D/3D game design, gaming hardware

Post by **big_smile** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:27 am

Naka’s New Zealand Natter
Naka interview: 2D/3D game design, gaming hardware

New Zealand netzine Gameplanet recently interviewed Yuji Naka during his visit to Australia in December. The brief interview doesn’t offer any tangible details on Sonic Team’s future titles, but instead explores Naka’s thoughts on 2D and 3D game design, the character of Sonic and the hardware features of current and future consoles:

Sonic, although going through some subtle changes, has basically endured largely unchanged. Do you think the character has maintained the same level of appeal throughout the years and why?
I will be happy if Sonic is loved by users for a long time like Disney's Mickey Mouse is. As far as I'm concerned, I believe the reason why Sonic is still highly popular is greatly due to his attitude and actions.

You have taken fans through many worlds and challenges and it must be difficult for you to come with new ones for each release. Is there one inspiration or influence for these worlds?
Basically, because I am developing titles in big groups, I create something new as I check with team members.

Sonic still seems more at home in 2D worlds. What have been the main challenges in working with 3D and what do you see as strengths and weaknesses of 2D versus 3D for this type of game?
Not limited to Sonic but games as a whole, I feel 2D ones are more comprehensible and attractive. This is because, even though they say '3D' games, the screen is actually flat and it is hard to have a clue about distance, which is one weak point of 3D. That said, at the same time, it is possible to achieve more interesting expressions with 3D, so I want to create titles both in 2D and 3D in the future.

Do you think Sonic is still seen as Sega's mascot?
If so, it would be great, but as Sega keeps creating new characters, it can be possible that a new mascot will appear that may replace Sonic. But Sonic will keep on running for Sega forever.

What does Sonic mean to you and what kind of limitations do you put on the way the character can be presented?
He is truly a "good boy" to me. Although there is no specific restriction…, or rather, his actions are impossible to expect even for me, so it is difficult to keep him at bay. Sonic will continue to exist as Sonic, I guess.

Sonic games have long used music in a different way to something like a Super Mario game, which has always used non-vocal, theme-based music. Where do you see the trend of popular music in games leading gaming and do you see Sonic games as an originator or this practice? Does Sonic stand to gain from this trend in the future?
We sometimes employ music with vocals…, and as we also bring various genres in, we would like to continue to offer music that suits each game. I would be happy if our music will lead trends some day.

What are some new things we can expect to see in future Sonic titles?
Well, let me see…, I have no idea yet… Shall I ask Sonic?

Do you see Sonic being involved in more non-platforming games in the future?
Yes, because Sonic has a broad range of fields he excels at, he will take challenge at all sorts of things in the future, I suppose.

Can you outline what games you are currently working on and for which platforms?
As most immediate projects, I can list Astro Boy, Sonic Mega Collection Plus, and, moreover, Project Rub and a Sonic title for Nintendo DS. Also we are thinking about a new title for PSP, too. As for the rest, what I am looking forward to is Phantasy Star Universe. Concerning this title, its platform(s) has not been determined yet.

How has your experience with the platforms you have used to date affected your hardware choices for the next generation of consoles and handhelds? What kind of features do you find most exciting for next generation Sonic games?
The fact that we have new hardware means that, for example, the graphic drawing performance progresses or that input device increases, but how to create 'fun' as a game does not change. However, with new console models like Nintendo DS that use exactly totally new input methods, as I can some up with new ideas that seem immeasurable with the past experience, it is very exciting as a developer. I am confident that also next Sonic will run through the world more speedily.

Martin Caie, who goes by the simple moniker of ‘M’, was responsible for the questions.

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:36 am

This is because, even though they say '3D' games, the screen is actually flat and it is hard to have a clue about distance, which is one weak point of 3D.

Bullshit. And pretty irrelevant to why the 3D Sonic games suck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:13 am

Why must Yuji Naka mostly sound a bit stupid in interviews. I know some of it may be the translation but things like "Asking Sonic" make me cringe for him.

PSMad · Post by **PSMad** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:18 am

That was me by the way

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:52 pm

That's not nearly as bad as the McDonalds plugs he does sometimes.

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:52 pm

That was me, by the way.

Post by **Segaholic2** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:59 pm

Stop doing that!

Light Speed · Post by **Light Speed** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 1:38 pm

Well considering chris is the only one using the Guest thing you might as well turn it off. Maybe if non-forum posters wanted to comment it'd matter, but none do. Especially since our comments usually stray way far away from the newspost rather quickly.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 2:26 pm

BOOBIES

SHAKA-SHAKA-BOOM

SHAKA-SHAKA BOOM

Frieza2000 · Post by **Frieza2000** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 3:25 pm

Why must Yuji Naka mostly sound a bit stupid in interviews.

Probably because he is.

Anyway, I'd be happy with a 2d Sonic game on a console. Then maybe they could spend more time and money on level design, music, and story and less on graphics.

Spazz · Post by **Spazz** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 3:26 pm

Segaholic2 wrote:Stop doing that!

I say ya ban 'em!

PSMad · Post by **PSMad** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 5:36 pm

lol, cheers. At least mine was by mistake. Promise it won't happen again... hopefully...

Anyway, back to Yuji naka's horrid interview

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 6:11 pm

Wow. What a thoroughly useless post. The only thing more useless would be a post pointing out said uselessness...
Oh God, what have I done!?

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:30 pm

The only use any of these posts have is to print out and wipe your ass with so you can grin with satisfaction as you drag other people's ideas through shit.

muke · Post by **muke** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:06 pm

chriscaffee wrote:
This is because, even though they say '3D' games, the screen is actually flat and it is hard to have a clue about distance, which is one weak point of 3D.
Bullshit. And pretty irrelevant to why the 3D Sonic games suck.

He helped hault production on the only good 3D Sonic, X-Treme, so he could put his crappy 3D Blast out instead, or just to spite the Americans with better ideas. Sonic's only 3D limitation is/was Yuji, 'nuff said.

muke · Post by **muke** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:09 pm

Baba O'Reily wrote:Wow. What a thoroughly useless post. The only thing more useless would be a post pointing out said uselessness...
Oh God, what have I done!?

Or one that said "buump"
EDIT:Would've been funnier if I posted this a few days later, sorry

Double-S- · Post by **Double-S-** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 1:23 am

muke wrote:He helped hault production on the only good 3D Sonic, X-Treme, so he could put his crappy 3D Blast out instead, or just to spite the Americans with better ideas. Sonic's only 3D limitation is/was Yuji, 'nuff said.

Sonic X-Treme did not look that great. Depth perception was nearly non-existant.

Sonic 3D Blast was Traveller's Tales.

muke wrote:
Baba O'Reily wrote:Wow. What a thoroughly useless post. The only thing more useless would be a post pointing out said uselessness...
Oh God, what have I done!?
Or one that said "buump"
EDIT:Would've been funnier if I posted this a few days later, sorry

No, it wouldn't've.

Post by **Segaholic2** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:09 pm

muke wrote:He helped hault production on the only good 3D Sonic, X-Treme, so he could put his crappy 3D Blast out instead, or just to spite the Americans with better ideas. Sonic's only 3D limitation is/was Yuji, 'nuff said.

So you've actually played through X-Treme and can testify to its greatness and superiority through personal experience?

Oh, you haven't? Then shut the hell up.

j-man · Post by **j-man** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:48 pm

Owned.

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:02 pm

Metal Sonic didn't look like the dillweed he did in Heroes.

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 3:13 pm

muke wrote: He helped hault production on the only good 3D Sonic, X-Treme, so he could put his crappy 3D Blast out instead, or just to spite the Americans with better ideas. Sonic's only 3D limitation is/was Yuji, 'nuff said.

Post by **Delphine** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 3:56 pm

Are those little plastic trucks? If so, brill.

j-man · Post by **j-man** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 4:01 pm

I'd have thought the fact the forklift operator has no facial features (or arms, apparently) would have clued you in, Del, not to mention those beautifully crafted "sheet" mountains.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 4:02 pm

So you've actually played through X-Treme and can testify to its greatness and superiority through personal experience?

You gotta admit he was right about Blast being crappy, though.

Post by **Delphine** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 7:31 pm

j-man wrote:I'd have thought the fact the forklift operator has no facial features (or arms, apparently) would have clued you in, Del, not to mention those beautifully crafted "sheet" mountains.

Well, I didn't look that closely. I was looking at the forum between kicking ass in RE4 and having a snack.