Yuji Naka leaves SEGA like what
 

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?op...=2515&Itemid=2

He is reforming Smilebit and Team Andromeda. Why lie.

Sonic franchise goin' down the drain ARRRGGGHHH

put him in Kingdom Hearts while he still has dignity.

It's been going down the drain for a while, and is unlikely to stop now that he's left. Some folks are saying he's going to work with Mistwalker now.

So between 2001 and now, has Yuji Naka been zoning out or something? If so, that would perfectly explain the post Dreamcast Sonice Games...

Then this could be the greatest news I've heard in recent memory. Sadly, I doubt even this would bring about a Panzer Dragoon Saga 2. Still, I wouldn't be too worried even if he does "leave", he'll probably just do what the Mikagami guy (or whatever his name was) did when he was angry at Capcom and just join another studio that happens to be under their supervision.

"Yuji Naka Set to Quit Sega?

Sources close to Sega say that the company's inspirational creative designer Yuji Naka may be set to quit the company."

Doesn't look like the article is sure of this, although personally I don't care one way or the other as Sega's quality has been on such a downward slide anyway.

You see, the only reason I had faith in this new Sonic the Hedgehog game for Xbox 360 was because Naka was directing the game. If he's leaving, then I'm done with Sonic Team for keeps. Shadow the Hedgehog destroyed any faith I have in them to work alone. The only Sega games I will now buy come from Yu Suzuki alone. Other than that, bye Sega.

I hope so, because Jet Set Radio: Future needs a sequel.

And even if it sucks, at least we'll know the music will be worth it.

Okay, we need to give this guy a medal. JSRF frikking really needs a sequel.
Bah, even if Yuji DID stop, I wouldn't cry. Almost every Sonic game released during the last couple of years was terrible. Perhaps this is the time to put Sonic to sleep.

Maybe someone will make a good Sonic game now.
=(

Dunno about you guys but I say that Naka leaving may actually mean that we get good games from Sonic Team afterwards.

I somewhat agree with evilboris. I'm now anticipating "New Sonic the Hedgehog" in, what Infernal Monkey described as, spewish box art. Ready? Set. Go!

Speaking of art, I hope that Yuji Uekawa quits too. His art is fucking horrible. And they already messed up not just Sonic but Puyo Puyo too with it.

Sonic games have been so cruddy that I'm happy to accept some changes. There's not much worse Sonic games can go, it pretty much can only get better.

I honestly don't know what to think.

Sonic Rush was one of the best Sonic games since the Genesis days, but then Shadow the Hedgehog sucked.

Sonic Rush was a fun little experience.

Shadow the hedgehog however wasn't. But most of the Sonic fans who played it thought it was heaven-sent.

Either way, I don't know if I really care if Yuji quits.

Sonic Team didn't make Sonic Rush. It was outsourced. Also, Naka directed Sonic the Hedgehog 2, 3, Knuckles, and Sonic Adventure. After that, Takashi Iizuka took command. For the record, Iizuka is the director of SA2, Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Sonic Riders. Naka had some imput on Sonic Adventure 2, but that was the extent of it. Notice the decent in quality with each game as Naka had less and less to do with the series and Takashi was given more directorial reign? Takashi Iizuka was given Sonic to handle because Naka cared more about catering to Phantasy Star since he actually created that. For the record, Naka didn't create Sonic. He just takes credit for it. Naoto Oshima (talented artist and director who created Sonic CD and left Sega shortly after Sonic Adventure due to lack of credit for his creations) created Sonic, but that's no insult to Naka's directorial talent. Point is, if Naka leaves, Takashi Iizuka probobly gets full reign of Sonic Team. In that case, you can kiss hopes of ever getting another quality Sonic game goodbye for keeps.

Face it, Sonic is now given about the respect of a licensed children's mascot when it comes to gaming. If this new Sonic game might be Naka's last work, then I will retire from Sonic the Hedgehog after it's completion. It's not worth the time and money to play games from Takashi Iizuka.

Also note that Sonic 2, 3, and Knuckles were co-created by Sega Technical Institute, who only have innovative and awesome games to take credit for - and according to what many former STI members said, Naka was an asshole...

It was also Naka who said that he wants Sonic to rival Pokemon. Thats why they made Sonic X, a crappy Gameboy Advance game per every bigger Gamecube title so you can unlock the rest of the game via linkup, a new unoriginal furry character per every game, repetitive storyline and character portrayals (how many times did Knuckles get tricked by Eggman?) and so on.

He and Uekawa also fucked up Puyo Puyo with the Fever vomit.

Well that basically confirms that all decent Sonic games post-1995 aren't coming from Sonic Team.

I kind of liked the GBA games, but it's nothing compared to the soundtrack and style which is Sonic Rush. The Megadrive titles which we saw, and Sonic CD, were great. But then it all went wrong with the Saturn, and it just went down from there.

I've been watching through Sonic X and it's okay, while a bit childish. Why Yuji thinks that Sonic's only competition was Pokemon totally confuses me. I mean, Pokemon. Not Mario or Crash Bandicoot here, Pokemon. What the hell? That's not what Sonic was competing against. Why can't there be a series which doesn't have some rival rubbish? It's all an attention seeking stunt anyway.

Edit: Wow, I should team up with Furby and we can win the Worst Spellers of the Year award.

Okay then, sing it with me

DOWN WITH IIZUKA

So what has the man been doing all this time? The Phantasy Star games have been few and far between (and hell, you can damn Naka just for the continued lack of a Phantasy Star 5), so if he hasn't been involved in the Sonic games all this time, what's he been up to besides drawing a check every month?

From all indications, not a single thing will change if Naka leaves.

Sonic games started sucking not because Izuka came but because they killed off Sega Technical Institute years before.

Sometimes I wonder, if Naka doesn't quit, would all sonic games still be going in their trashy direction?

The kids all love Shadow the Hedgehog and Riders, they probably would can Naka eventually if IIZuka was pulling in so many Kids with his Sonic games.

I know one thing though, A LOT of older Sonic fans will quit the series for good if Yuji leaves. Yuji Naka was the mustard seed of hope for some good Sonic games. If he goes then a lot of the older fanbase, and maybe even Sonic the Hedgehog, goes.

I can't help feeling a little happy >_>. It's like revenge on Sega for making me suffer through those horrid Sonic games.

Well it never seemed like he was doing much for the Sonic games like others have said, Although it would have been nice to see another 'real' Sonic Adventure game such as the first and second one (although the second one kind of took away the full adventure aspect).

Although Yuji Naka is Sega's Myomoto really, He's probably the best and most respected Developer there (Other then Yu-Sazuki), So not only for Sega would it be a downfall Sega fans would be let down in a way as well.

I'd be willing to bet that Yu Suzuki is much, much more respected than Yuji Naka. That man is a legend, while Naka is a hack.

I think it's time for Sega to bring some fresh blood to the Sonic games, since the last one I really enjoyed was Sonic Adventure 2. Perhaps even outsourcing them. A Sonic game made by Treasure might possibly be the best Sonic game ever, as I'm sure they could pull off the insane speed and gameplay needed for a great 3D Sonic game.

I mean, dammit Sega I shouldn't be only anticipating Virtua Fighter 5 and PSU from you guys! (On that note, buy VF5 to possibly drum up interest in Shenmue 3. Please God.)

Hopefully Naka's involvement in the next Sonic game could bode well for the game. Might as well go out with a bang as opposed to leaving a legacy that pisses everyone off. I just wish STI would come back, the work done on Sonic 2 & 3 was so spectacular, I'm confused why Sega hasn't called them back.

Can someone confirm this.

It's kind of sad, actually.

Regardless of whether Sonic has been a viable gaming platform since the twilight of the Genesis or not, this would be another nail in the coffin of my nostalgic "good old days" of gaming. It already seems like Sega releases next to nothing for the current crop of consoles. They may as well close up shop and call it a day.

*sigh* So much for the days when Sega and Nintendo could be counted on for dozens of titles a year (even if they weren't all classics material).

Yes, the glory days of Sega and the Sonic Team are over. But with the next gen Sonic game, there is hope. Hopefully Naka (as he says) will go back to the series' roots and make a game that's as good as the likes of the original Sonic.

Not sure if ya knew, but the original SEGA might be closer than we think. Apparently they're the ones that were pushing the classic games on the Rev.

Well said. Yu Suzuki created perhaps the most groundbreaking arcade games since the early eighties. Yuji Naka did what...? Coded Sonic 1 and Nights. And Phantasy Star. Wow. And according to people who worked with him, he was also an egoist asshole.

Also:
http://www.interactive.org/awards.php?halloffame

I see both Yu Suzuki and Shigeru Miyamoto in there... but not Naka, surprise, surprise.

I've heard that Shun Nakamura is going to replace Yuji Naka

*Probably a Dramatization*

Yuji Naka: "Everyone keeps blaming me for these Horrible Sonic games. If I quit then I can start a new life and play Phantasy Star Online for eternity!"

It's the perfect plan...

I also heard was the reason STI was not involved in Sonic anymore. Where has that gotten him?
He loves to do everything perfect, except pull a good team together and make a great game. Has it all been luck that Sonic Adventure 1&2 didn't suck?

I got this viole(n)t urge to resurrect this thread. Why, you ask? No, why I.....


Anyways, I wouldn't do this without reason. So here we are:

Sonic de Bushpig

Anyway, discuss this interesting turn of events!

So he gets to cherry pick from Sonic Team while he's at it? Why does this sound like cutting and running?

It does sort of sound like a potential for Sonic Team brain drain.

Then again, has Sonic Team amounted to much of anything since Burning Rangers? Sonic Adventure was okay but didn't really have the lasting power of the old games. Phantasy Star Online is good for some thrills but is wedded a bit too closely to the MMORPG format to have any long-term draw.

Still, does Sega make new games anymore? It's almost like they became an afterthought the minute they closed shop on the Dreamcast.

That website could use some work.

I'm just interested if he has any plans to make another NiGHTS game, since there's a fairly large fanbase for it. I know that rumors of a sequel have been denied by members of Sonic Team, but still. I hold out some hope.

Not too sure how I feel about this.

On one hand, I've respected Yuji Naka for years, mostly out of my fanboyish affection for Sonic the Hedgehog (which is currently on life-support). On the other, I haven't given most of the games Sonic Team's produced recently much thought. They just don't appeal to me anymore.

I'll be interested to see what he produces, but I'm not on the edge of my pillow in anticipation.

I wonder why people are even concerned with Yuji Naka really. Sonic the Hedgehog stopped being fun when it became the Dreamcast's "show the hardware off" bitch. Hasn't really been fun since.

Now the Sonic Advance line on the other hand, is great fun. They should take a page from Konami and realize that 2D Sonic is where it's at.

2D doesn't sell Playstations.

... and 3D doesn't sell Dreamcasts, need I remind you where that went?

Habeas Corpus dude; what proof of these accusations do you have?

What point are you making here? The Dreamcast tanked because of the same piss-poor marketing that sunk the Saturn. Sega's inability to crack Sony's fanbase was what killed them, as people passed over the Dreamcast and instead held out for the upcoming PS2.

2D doesn't sell Playstations. Ergo, Hell will freeze over before Sony will see a 2D Sonic game on the PS3. The DS is our last hope now.

The Dreamcast marketing was pretty agressive in itself. But they were up against DUDE PLAYSTATION TWO. And then DUDE METAL GEAR SOLID TWO. And a bunch of fake concept art showcasing absurd graphics which the Playstation 2 couldnt even do.

I'm glad Naka's gone as he hasn't really done much lately, outside of taking credit for the work of others. It really isn't that big of a deal, him being gone. Mizoguchi's departure was much more important, in my opinion.