The GHZ Forum

Mag: [introduction...] First, are you planning something special for Sonic's 15th birthday?

Naka: For the 15th birthday, we're making Sonic the Hedgehog for the next-gen machines, a "back-to-roots" game. Beside this, we have several projects, but I can't tell you more, just wait for official announcements.

[there's a question about goodies in France, I don't think it'll interest you]

Mag: Do you find it harder to make a game on actual consoles or on 8/16 bits generation? Are you nostalgic about that era?

Naka: Hard question! Old gaming machines and actual ones are very differents on material plan and the sowftwares evolved a lot. To be honest, it's harder for us to create a game on actual consoles, but in the same time there are more capacities and let us express what we want. On old machines, the interest was to see what we were able to do in spite of limitations, and it gives me nostalgia. About gameplay, old and new machines give interesting titles. Our goal is to create fun and nice-to-play games, whatever the machine is.

Mag: Why did you change your nick from MUUUU Yuji to YU2 during the time programmers in Japan were only called by their nicks? It became a game to guess the real persons names and fans are still wondering who Macky and Jimita are.

Naka: That's a question I never expected having to answer (laughs) It seems you're very well informed! I changed because I wanted a nick based on my name Yuji (Ji can be pronounced 2 in japanese) It was my nick on the reseau.

Mag: How did you feel during that great videogame era or during Sonic's development?

Naka: Sonic came out in 1991. It is that year when he officially came out to the audiance for the first time. Then I lived in san Francisco to create the second game, and I really felt how he would be popular.

Mag: Is it you who programmed Sonic's scrolling before the game's concept was choosen? What was the hardest part to program in Sonic?

Naka: Yes, we can say I decided about Sonic's orientation. Then the problem was to keep the scrolling speed whatever the circonstances are. It was a hard job, but very rewarding for a programmer.

Mag:Why is Sonic in Rad Mobile, in 1990? WerePeople working on the Sonic project working on it too?

Naka: When Sonic was established as Sega's mascot, another Sega studio asked the autorisation to include him in their titles. We imediatly accepted the idea, it would be funny if Sonic appears in every Sega game.

Mag: What are the Consumer Softwares divisions or people that worked on Sonic CD or Chaotix?

Naka: Sorry, these are confidential informations.

Mag: A Sonic game developped "en interne" by a Sega studio, like Segasonic or Fighters, is it still possible, or does Sonic Team want to supervise everything about the character?

Naka: ST supervises everything about Sonic. We don't limit the content of Sonic games but we have to do briefings and every necessary verifications to be sure that everything correspond to the spirit of the Sonic trademark.

Mag: Why isn't there hidden codes anymore, like Select Round or Debug Mode in newest Sonic games, in 2D? It was a nice idea in old games.

Naka: Actual games let you go to the round select or sound test. We don't need to hide them anymore.

Mag: Have you recieved comments from Akira Toriyama about Super Sonic? Why can he transform almost automatically?

Naka: Oh...(smile) we didn't recieve comments from him. And if Sonic got this power, it's a question of mastery.

Mag: With the mythology developped during all the games, can we hope for a Sonic RPG?

Naka: We are always looking for new ways for Sonic to express his talents.

Mag: Have you ever thought about a crossover Nights-Sonic or about an online version of Burning Rangers?

Naka: ST always asks themselves how to do the best for players and to improve our products. We can say we thought about every possibilities.

Mag: Choosing Hideki Naganuma for Sonic Rush OST is surprising, can you tell us more?

Naka: A friend let me hear a demo. The sound was so rich on rythmic plan, I immediatly thought it would give a renewal to Sonic's sound universe.

Mag: Is Shadow a hedgehog?

Naka: Yes, he is.

Mag: Communications about next gen Sonic let us see a wish to come back to roots. Is that the case?

Naka: As I already said, we called it "Sonic the Hedgehog", that already gives indications...

Mag: If it is the case, a new collaboration with Dreams Come True is possible, or will it be musicians of Wave Master who will do the soundtracks?

Naka: About musics, we still are at the negociations stade about that game.

Mag: Thanks [bla bla bla]

I heard it will be a one issue only, but it is very complete.

Light Speed wrote:

I heard it will be a one issue only, but it is very complete.

Ritz wrote:Good grief, a magazine based solely on Sonic? It couldn't possibly last very long.

Protodude wrote:Why all the confidentiality for Sonic CD/Chaotix? Is it really that big of a deal?

James McGeachie wrote:There's some pretty odd/stupid questions in that interview, mainly the Akira Toriyama and asking if Shadow is a hedgehog (what the fuck?) ones.

I find it interesting Naka had a role in Naganuma doing Rush's OST though, I figured he'd had next to no involvement in decisions made regarding Rush.

Esrever wrote:
I'd be pretty suspicious about that. In interviews, Naka seems to be happy to personally take credit for every single decision in every Sonic Team game ever. My personal favourite was when he was talking about his involvement in developing the flying mechanics for Astro Boy, a game that Sonic Team didn't absorb until production was nearly completed.

Dash wrote:

Esrever wrote:
I'd be pretty suspicious about that. In interviews, Naka seems to be happy to personally take credit for every single decision in every Sonic Team game ever. My personal favourite was when he was talking about his involvement in developing the flying mechanics for Astro Boy, a game that Sonic Team didn't absorb until production was nearly completed.

Shh! Don't give Segasonic/Nova some legitimate fuel.

Double-S- wrote:Sonic Xtreme looked like trash.