You probably thought that most of the Sonic Team Old Guard don’t really get on. Well, today Yuji Naka proved that this was not the case, as he posted photos on his Twitter account about an encounter with Sonic the Hedgehog designer Naoto Oshima! The artist, who left Sega shortly after Sonic Adventure to form Artoon, visited Naka’s PROPE studio and brought with him a little gift.
I think it’s fair to say we all want that picture. Yuji Naka then posted a Tweet with the following photo, adding that current Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka joined the pair for some dinner in a local grilled chicken restaurant. Beers in hand as well, it seems like. The Japanese work hard and dine hard as well, it seems.
This funky meeting of minds most likely served absolutely no purpose other than to have old friends sit down and have a few drinks – but no doubt the topic of Sonic will come up. We can just imagine Naka-san asking Iizuka how work is like, with Iizuka throwing his hands up and jovially exclaiming “oh you know, the same old. That crazy fanbase, eh?” followed by chuckles around the table.
All three developers have had a big hand in shaping Sonic into the gaming icon he is today – Naka-san programmed the original Sonic games, and led Sonic Team during the Dreamcast era, while Naoto Oshima designed the Sonic characters themselves. Takashi Iizuka, although he largely oversees development on modern Sonic titles, began his tenure at the studio working as a level designer for Sonic 3 and Knuckles, and was the lead game designer for NiGHTS into Dreams.
“Crazy fanbase” indeed.
YEs, it’s true. We are crazy.
I’m a little ashamed of that sometimes…
Me too.
But with that being said, it’s cool that these three Sonic creators can enjoy an evening out. I wonder if Naka asked Iizuka about Sonic 4.
Maybe they talked about Sonic Anniversary. It makes sense since they might put old and new levels in it.
I hope they all run around Tokyo dressed as “OH!-Shima”, “The Kiwi Kid” and “The Bizuka”…fighting crime and promoting their new titles. And getting drunk.
I dreamed I was there with them a week ago! This is all deja vu!
Nice to know they still get along.
Oh and T: GENIUS!!
LOL Dat fanbase.
This is the part where I would normally place a pic that says, Oh you.
Yes, the fanbase consists of 50% flamers, 49.5% die-hards, but there is that fine .5% that are just ultimately awesome. Like Damizean, T-Bird, Dreadknux, and all the guys over at Sonic Paradox.
Lol of course there’s beer. Yakitori restaurants are all about the beer and finger food.
Now if only some SEGA pros would invite me out to yakitori. Hmmm-mmm
Also I never figured out how the “I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT SONIC” people qualified as the “Fan” base lmfao
Aww… how cute.
Thanks for sharing this piece of news with us Dreadster!
It touches my heart to see stories like this, especially when it’s with regards to the Sonic franchise/community.
I’ve recently added Yuji Naka to my Facebook and I’ve been added as a friend – I was like, ‘Sweet as!’. I should draw him a picture too when I have spare time as a small way of saying thanks. ^^
I would give anything to hangout with Yuji Naka and Naoto Oshima. Name your price you guys, I know it will be worth it.
Sonic has the worst fans in the world. Only about 5 percent of the Sonic fans are cool.
Nothing like old friends meeting again for Dinner, some drinks, and a round of laughs.
lol, seems like Iizuka san really is aware of the fanbase for the series he works on.
@Chaosmaster8753
How can anyone not be aware?
I totally agree with you, Lanmanna.