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'Sonic' designer Yuji Naka joins Square Enix
Here's a game industry move you probably weren't expecting: Sonic the Hedgehog co-designer Yuji Naka has joined Square Enix. He'll continue to pursue game development, but he isn't exactly dropping many hints as to what's next. Naka wants to make an "enjoyable game," which sounds like a good goal to shoot for. It's not clear what will happen to his game studio, Prope, with the change in career path.
Yuji Naka -- life after SEGA and Sonic
Legendary game designer Yuji Naka left Team Sonic and SEGA last year to form his own company known as Prope. This guy created Sonic, NiGHTS, and my most ever-beloved and cherished Phantasy Star series. Except the third one, I think. That was someone else. At least, it had a majorly different development team. Anyway, that's not what we're going to ramble on about today. What has Naka and Prope been up to this past year?SEGA is supporting Naka and his new company, acting as a sort of partner. Naka admits that he's got about 26 people on staff right now, most with great experience, some straight outta school. They're not going to be particular about which console they develop for -- it all depends on the type of game they're creating. They'd like as many people as possible to enjoy their games, so expect multi-platform mayhem. No sequels, side-projects, or ports of classics -- everything is going to be original. And to quote Naka's slightly creepy, but well-meaning end on that subject: "We want to make works that have the power to fill the children of the world with dreams." Or fudge. Children are happy when filled with fudge, too. So what do you guys expect out of this team? Downloadable content, games for the younger crowd, or something new and artsy?
Rumorang: NiGHTS 2 spotted on game mag cover
Apparently, world exclusives just aren't what they used to be. Shortly after Official Nintendo Magazine teased readers with "world exclusive" information on a new game, only to backpedal once internet speculation deemed the game to be NiGHTS 2, comes this image of an upcoming issue of Swedish mag, Game Reactor. Their exclusive is right there on the cover -- the androgynous acrobat himself sporting a grand new costume. No mention of platform is made, though most online pundits point to Wii.The image, which was posted on the NeoGAF forums and the Game Reactor website, has since been replaced on the latter page with a version containing an empty outline of NiGHTS. Is that the official motif for teasing gamers with the sequel to a deeply loved Saturn classic? Caution requires us to continue labeling this as an unconfirmed rumor, but we think it's about time we changed our line of questioning.It's not a question of whether NiGHTS 2 exists now, but rather a question of how completely modern Sega (sans Yuji Naka) will mangle a cherished property. We say it in jest, but deep down, we can already picture an Afterburner clone, complete with fly-by shootings and bordello bombing runs.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Yuji Naka not involved in any new NiGHTS game
As dubious as we find this NiGHTS rumor, the community love for the game has kept it alive and kept gamers hopeful. However, the one man who could truly make a high quality NiGHTS game has no intentions of returning to the franchise.Speaking to CVG, Yuji Naka, the former leader of Sega's Sonic Team, has stated quite bluntly that "at present, I have no intentions" of revisiting any of his old Sega franchises, which includes Sonic and NiGHTS. Granted, Sega could make a new NiGHTS title without Naka, who left the company in May 2006 to form his own studio Prope. But the quality of Sonic Team's work has been questionable at best since his departure.If all these rumors lead to a NiGHTS virtual console release, then consider us excited. However, if Sega looks to add another entry in the series, then we hope the hype wears down (not likely) or that Sega gives this to a new studio. Considering recent releases, we're not sure a NiGHTS game from the Sonic Team will be capable of living up to the fanbase's high expectations.
Rumorang: Yuji Naka says no new NiGHTS (from him at least)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Rumorang_Yuji_Naka_says_No_New_NiGHTS_from_him_at_least'; Responding to the rumors about a new NiGHTS game on the Wii, Yuji Naka, formerly the head of Sonic Team, told CVG that even if such a thing exists, he's not a part of it, and has no plans to be. Naka recently left Sega to form his own studio called PROPE, so for him to rejoin Sega for a project so soon would be slightly unusual.The other major figure involved with NiGHTS is Naoto Oshima, who is now head of Artoon. If the two of them were to reunite to work on a NiGHTS game, then we'd really have something! But the fact that these two esteemed developers no longer work at Sega casts more doubt on the NiGHTS rumors, or at least makes them less exciting if true.
Brand new NiGHTS "confirmed" by SPOnG
We were a little doubtful that NiGHTS would actually come to Wii. Sure, the latest rumor shows some compelling evidence, but too often have Nintendo fans been burned by dubious anticipation. SPOnG, the gaming equivalent of the National Enquirer tabloid, has boldly "confirmed" that NiGHTS is, indeed, heading to Wii. If that didn't raise a red flag, their "anonymous insider" quote certainly did: "Yes, there is a new NiGHTS coming, and coming quite soon actually. It's a full game too, not a rehash of old NiGHTS for Virtual Console as some have said it might be lately. It's a whole new game."SPOnG notes that former Sega mastermind Yuji Naka is supposedly helming the project with his new company Prope. While the wise will cast a great shadow of doubt on anything SPOnG has to say, a glimmer of hope remains that the April exclusive reveal in Official Nintendo Magazine will be everything we've hoped for.
Yuji Naka confirmed to be leaving Sega to form Prope
Back in March, we heard rumblings that Sega stalwart Yuji Naka was planning to leave Sega to start his own studio. Today, that rumor's been confirmed. According to Next Generation, Naka's new company is called Prope, which means "'beside' and 'near' future." Prope's web site (not linked on Next Gen) apparently explains that the name was chosen "in the hopes of bringing game entertainment much closer to users, establishing closer ties between users and us, and creating near future entertainment." We're just happy that Naka is retaining some ties to his old corporate home thanks to a 10% contribution on Sega's part to prop up the emerging new independent studio (a concept which Sega seems to support with its developers). Unfortunately, as the firm "will commit to new IP," you shouldn't expect updates of Sega classic franchises from the old hand anytime soon. It will also be interesting to see who's guiding the new Sonic games as well. Prope will open for business on June 1st. [Thanks, Sense; via 8-bit Ninja] See also: Rumor: Yuji Naka set to leave Sega NiGHTS Into Dreams, onto Revolution? Next-gen Sonic to be "re-invented" for PS3 and Xbox 360
Rumor: Yuji Naka set to leave Sega
Yuji Naka, the original programmer behind Sonic the Hedgehog and arguably the most influential man at Sega (next to Yu Suzuki, of course), is rumored to be leaving Sega.Citing sources "close to Sega," Next Generation claims that the influential leader "is planning to set up his own studio." If true, this action would mirror those of other game industry greats such as Tetsuya Mizuguchi (who founded Q Entertainment) and Hironobu Sakaguchi (who started Mistwalker).Unfortunately, this kind of rumor is difficult to confirm as you don't know for sure whether someone's leaving a developer until he's actually gone. With all the organizational changes at the company, however (especially since Sammy bought Sega), such a move wouldn't be too surprising. We just hope the next-gen sequels to Sonic are in good hands.See also: Next-gen Sonic to be "re-invented" for PS3 and Xbox 360 Rumor: Sonic coming to Revolution DS: Sakaguchi & Co. working on new RPG Lumines sales top gold status
