Interesting, Since he Posed for this Photo at the Sega Booth
What may otherwise be a footnote to other gamers in an interview with Yuji Naka published by Joystiq Monday may be of news to Sonic fans. That’s because, at least as of the time of the interview, Mr. Naka indicated he hadn’t played any of the new Sonic titles on the floor of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, including the hedgehog’s alleged return to form, Sonic the Hedgehog 4.
Joystiq’s JC Fletcher asked Mr. Naka if he played any of the trio of new titles Sega had on display in their booth. At that point, he didn’t But if you find that tantamount to a snub on the franchise he helped create, this was Mr. Naka’s response:
I haven’t played them, but I did check them out. I saw this little girl playing Sonic 4, and she was having a lot of fun. I think that’s what I as a game creator want to see, is kids really having fun playing games. It’s sort of hard to watch other people playing your work, especially little kids, but that was really refreshing.
The response is interesting for two reasons: First, as far as anyone’s aware, children under 17 aren’t allowed on the show floor. Second, it isn’t like Mr. Naka had no time to stop by Sega booth. He did, and the story graphic we have above, published through his Twitter account, demonstrates that. Mr. Naka picked up one of the Dreamcast revival T-shirts Sega staff were giving away. He posed for the photo next to a kiosk for the XBOX Live/PSN re-release of Sonic Adventure. With that in mind, it is possible that Mr. Naka did play the latest incarnations of his own work later in the show, but why he chose the Adventure kiosk over the Sonic 4 setup is anybody’s guess (though there is a photo of him closer to that area of Sega’s booth.)
The core of the Joystiq interview focused on Ivy the Kiwi?, the Wii and DS platformer being released by XSEED later this Summer. But Mr. Naka also touched on the next Prope work, that action based title he’s hinted at for so long:
There were two other big action games that we were working on for three years. Unfortunately, that became a no-go, and that won’t see the light of day. Actually, we’re working on another title right now, and that one is an action game that involves something to do with the sky, with a new character. [....] It is to a point that you can play it, and some of our people are showing a glimpse of it to other people in the background.
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Obviously Naka played Adventure because it is better than Colors.
Children under 17 aren’t allowed on the show floor…some children under 17 aren’t really children. Some children under 17 who are actually teenagers know how to game the system to get into things they’re not supposed be in. Some children under 17 who are teenagers can easily pass for twelve years old. Get my drift?
Either that or she’s the luckiest girl in the world. Hey, gotta love a kid who appreciates the classics. :3
Oh no not Naka again and that guess who’s back shirt and that creepy smile of his is so taunting
/inb4 “HE DIDNDDT’ PLAY IT BECAUSE IT SUCKS AHAHAHA”
Kinda odd though. I would have thought he would at least have given Sonic 4 a go, but I guess someone with his credentials might be able to play it at SEGA without too much trouble if he wanted.
Well I kinda understand.
It’s not like Akira Toriyama wants to watch another episode of Dragon Ball Z.
It’s not like Hideo Kojima wants to make yet another Metal Gear Solid game.
After awhile it just gets so mundane. It’s only natural to want to move on to something different.
He didn’t play it yet and won’t till release because he wants to look at the series from the point of view as an outside consumer rather than developer now.
@Mike: I can see your point. After all it is as Mr. Naka said: As a game developer it is more satisfying to see your work being used by others then yourself.
Would have been nice if any of the original team had any feedback for 4, would have been nice if they brought in enough money-trucks to have gotten them to design it.
It’s anime like Hayao Miyazaki movie another Ponyo.
Some girls look young, or maybe he was talking about a girl that was just literally little. Who knows.
kids @ E3????
Stupid “He di’n't play it ‘cos it sux” comments aside, this new action game of his sounds very interesting…
Totally buying Ivy the Kiwi when it comes out. =D
of course he didnt play it when he checked Sonic 4 he knew that the game was shit and if he really saw that little girl having fun while playing he obviously missed the point that this game is actually being directed more to the retro fanbase the kiddies can have sonic colors(not that i dont like Colors they actually put more work into colors the sonic 4) but i want sonic 4 to be as perfect as possible
And my guess is if Hirokazu Yasuhara played sonic 4 he would laugh at the level design and would say “what amatuers” hahahhaha
I’d wish naka would make one last sonic game and wear that “guess who’s back shirt” but its his decision not to.