Yuji Naka

Yuji Naka (中 裕司, Naka Yūji, born September 17, 1965) 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
Naka in 2015
Born (1965-09-17) September 17, 1965
Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
Other namesYU2
Occupation(s)Game designer, producer, programmer
Years active1984–present
EmployerSquare Enix
Notable workSonic 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
Year Game Role
1984Girl's GardenGame designer, programmer
1986Spy vs. Spy (Master System port)Programmer
Black Belt
1987Phantasy Star
1989Phantasy Star II
Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Genesis port)
1991Sonic the Hedgehog
1992Sonic the Hedgehog 2
1994Sonic the Hedgehog 3Programmer, producer
Sonic & Knuckles
1996Nights into Dreams
1998Burning RangersProducer
Sonic Adventure
1999ChuChu Rocket!Director, producer
2000Samba de AmigoProducer
Phantasy Star Online
2001Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Advance
2002Sonic Advance 2Director, producer
2003Sonic Pinball PartyProducer
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Sonic Battle
Sonic Heroes
2004Sonic Advance 3
Puyo Pop Fever
2005Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
Shadow the Hedgehog
Sonic Rush
Puyo Pop Fever 2General producer
2006Sonic RidersExecutive producer
Phantasy Star Universe
2008Let's TapProducer
2009Ivy the Kiwi?
2011Fishing Resort
2013StreetPass Mansion / Monster Manor
2014Hi-sCoool! SeHa GirlsVoice acting ("Center-sensei")
2015Rodea the Sky Soldier (original Wii version)Producer
StreetPass Fishing / Ultimate Angler
2016StreetPass Chef / Feed Mii
2017Legend of Coin[5]

References
  1. Szczepaniak, John. "Before They Were Famouos". Retro Gamer (35). Imagine Publishing: 74.
  2. Horowitz, Ken (22 June 2005). "Sega Stars: Yuji Naka". Sega-16. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  3. "The Making of OutRun". NowGamer. 29 April 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  4. "名作アルバム - 『ガールズガーデン』". Sega (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  5. 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!"". Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2017.

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