Yuji Naka Discusses Sega Departure, New Studio

December 31, 2008 by admin
Filed under: PSP News

After being one of the most important people involved in Sega’s success (including creating such classic games as Sonic the Hedgehog and NiGHTS Into Dreams), Yuji Naka decided to leave Sega in 2006 to form his own studio, Prope. But why leave the company he was so influential in forming? In an extended version of an interview with Game Developer Magazine back at the Tokyo Game Show (reprinted via Gamasutra), Naka gave a simple answer: He wanted to go back to being more directly involved in game development.

“The game industry has a very short history behind it, and as a result, the more games you make, the further you work your way up the company ladder, until you become one of the heads of the whole outfit. Once that happens, you start running out of time to actually make games,” Naka explained. “It’s better to keep yourself directly involved with the actual game process, you know? Directors are pretty high up the job ladder in the movie industry, but they’re still involved with every aspect of the film they’re working on; they’re still making movies their entire careers. The game industry isn’t quite like that, and I think that’s a lost opportunity for a lot of people.

“So, at the age of 40, I convinced Sega to let me build a company — since it’s Sega that’s behind the company, they’re the one publishing the games,” Naka continued. “Really, if you’re a game creator, no matter how high a position you have in the industry, you need to keep creating. It’s better for the industry, and it’s more fun for everybody involved.”

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