Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Hirokazu Yasuhara has officially joined the ranks of Nintendo, Sega’s old business rival in the 90’s, settling into NoA’s Nintendo Software Technology branch. While both Nintendo and Yasuhara have indeed confirmed the move, no details as to what is Yasuhara’s new role have been revealed yet.
To Sonic and Sega fans, Yasuhara is best recognized for creating Sonic the Hedgehog alongside Yuji Naka and Naoto Ōshima, working within SEGA as director, designer, and game planner for the Genesis and Saturn entries of the series. While he is known for his work from Sonic 1 through Sonic R, his portfolio also extends to other popular games such as Naughty Dog’s Jak and Daxter and Uncharted franchises, as well as the Pacman 30th Anniversary arcade game for Namco-Bandai.
Source: Gamasutra
Imagine…now Nintendo’s games may actually look better because of this.Poor Sonic,though!He’ll miss Yashura!
Sega needs more fellas like him. Nintendo just got another awesome developer.
this is an big shock to me Why he go to nintendo Sega needs more ppl
Because Sega’s in a financial crisis maybe?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Yes.
I might sound like a complete 90’s kid saying this, but a part of me is seriously screaming “TRAITOR!!!!!” at this news…
I instantly thought the same thing!
me too
This….is……AAAAAAMAZING
Apparently, some of you are forgetting that the video game industry is a business first and foremost…
Spoken for truth.
It is a business after all, and being Sega’s recent actions lately, it was a good move.
How come I got this strange feeling that we’ll be seeing more Sonic games in a Nintendo system in the future?
I’m getting the feeling Nintendo is going to own Sonic eventually ^^’
I’m really happy to hear this,he’s a great game designer. 🙂
Oh for the love of…. this is not a big deal people.
Yasuhara has looong cut his ties to SEGA and Sonic years ago. In truth, I see it as Nintendo hiring the guy who create awesome level design in Uncharted the director of Pacman Championship. Imagine what set pieces he can do in a game like say…Zelda. Or a trippy F-Zero game…YES!
Was his level design really THAT good? :O
Oh, and the comment above me = win.
Have you played Uncharted? He’s part of the reason why it plays so much like a movie. He’s a good director and designer.
Weird how Nintendo Power just had an interview with him.
I was thinking that as well. Another good developer for Ninty.
This goes well with the rumors that Sega is restructuring NST into a top tier studio. Yasuhara was being absolutely wasted at Namco, so I’m glad to see he’s somewhere where he can actually operate.
This is fantastic news.
Sad if you were around playing games in the golden era, but awesome that he has found a great home.
Why did Sonic’s 3 creators had to leave, that Iizuka really wanted to rule like Fidel Castro.
NOOO why’d you leave us. *cries*