Ever wondered what would have happened if Yuju Naka - former head of Sonic Team and one of the driving forces behind the success of the iconic blue speedster - had made the move over to Nintendo? Well, turns out that could have easily been reality. In a recent interview, Naka-san (who joined Square Enix back in January) revealed that he hoped Nintendo would reach out once his time with Sega had come to an end:
Interviewer: This may open an old wound for you, but… (laughs) You quit Sega right after you made Sonic, correct?
Naka: Yeah.
Interviewer: And I heard that you actually approached Nintendo after you quit…?
Naka: When I was driving back to my home in Osaka from Tokyo, I decided to stop by Nintendo’s headquarters in Kyoto. I actually wanted to see how long it would take for me to commute from Osaka to Nintendo’s offices. (laughs) However, when I stopped my car in their parking lot, a security guard came out and started eyeing me suspiciously. I got scared and decided to just go home. (laughs) If that security guard hadn’t been there, who knows how different my future might have been…! (laughs)
Naka: While I was reading those books, I got a call from a third-party developer asking if I would come work for them. But the truth is, I was holding out for a call from Nintendo.
Interviewer: Oh, really?! (laughs)
Naka: The reason I thought that is, a few months before I quit Sega, I heard a story about another programmer from a big gaming company who had quit his job, and was then called by Nintendo. I was like, “Wow, that could happen to me too!” (laughs) So when I quit Sega I had this faint hope that I’d be getting a call… but it never came. (laughs) It was sad.
What do you think Naka-san would have gone on to do if he had joined Nintendo way back when? Share your thoughts with us below...
[source shmuplations.com]
Comments 47
That's disappointing because Yuju Naka is a very talented video game programmer, Naka did great work on the Sega Genesis and Sega Saturn.
Awww, sounds like he's a bit of a shy guy!
Oh wow, that's kinda sad. He should have just been more assertive. And kicked that Security Guards A**. I mean that's how Reggie got his job.
Nintendo could really use someone with his talent these days.
Umm.. he should've called Nintendo and given his resume. That's usually how it works.
@Prizm He was an EX Sega Employee........IN THE 90'S!!! Not to mention the very creator of Nintendos Rival Mascot. The only position they would have available is having his head mounted on a stick in the parking lot.
Everyone knows if you cannot defeat Nintendo's Security Guard in bare-fisted combat, you're not allowed to enter their headquarters for employment.
That's weird. Yûji Naka continued in Sega until 2006. I don't know why they say he quit after Sonic.
Mario could have ran a lot faster if this guy worked for Nintendo.
Another Nintendo blunder. Second only to "Work with Philips instead of Sony"
@patbacknitro18 - Nah, he would've been a big score for Nintendo. An ex-competitor that knows the gaming business, knew the ins and outs of Sega which could give Nintendo an advantage, had cutting-edge programming knowledge, etc. He would've been a prime pickup.
So an over enthusiastic security guard ruined a real life "what if" moment.
Maybe he should've called Nintendo himself?
Just saying...
@Prizm To be fair, Nintendo didn't really need an advantage over Sega. Sega kind of destroyed themselves without Nintendo needing to do much.
But it is sad he never got to work for Nintendo, could have been great to see what he could have come up with in collaboration with the other minds at Nintendo. Alas, he now works for Square Enix so his games now have a guaranteed 10 year development life cycle
@Moroboshi876 Because after Sonic 1 he was meant to leave SEGA but got called back to work on Sonic 2, I guess after not getting a call from Nintendo helped in his return back then.
Should try giving them a call, would be awesome to see his talent in Nintendo games. I believe the reason why he left SEGA in the end, after having so much freedom in the Saturn era (he barely made Sonic Jam's Sonic World, all the main finished projects he done for the Saturn were non Sonic games, Nights, Burning rangers ) he was tied to Sonic games only, when you see Shigeru Miyamoto making alot of new ips then just working Super Mario.
Since imo often Yoshi's games have been disappointing after the masterpiece that was Yoshi's island SNes maybe Yuji Naka could have helped making better Yoshi's games.
Or maybe he could have done a better job in making the typical Wii casual games more appealing for real gamers too (games like Wii music or Wii sports were not that interesting).
I think he could have done something particularly good for Nintendo in one of those cases, maybe both.
I'm happy it didn't happen,because then Rodea the sky soldier wouldn't exist.I wished for a sequel or port on Switch,but Naka left Prope to join Square-Enix.
@LuckyLand He did make some casual Wii games with Prope, his company.One of them needed the game's cardboard box to be played,a Labo precursor.
I know its says SEGA on the boxart,but they just published it.
Possibly a missed opportunity.
Now, if they could get Yu Suzuki. . . .
@Prizm Again, IN THE 90'S!!! When Nintendo and Sega were bathing in each other blood as they rode their death horses through the family gaming market. Each publisher had to carefully choose their side as it could be the very death of them. To have hired the very creator of what jumpstarted Sega's legacy would have brought dishonor upon all of Nintendo and all those who brutally died during the 90's gaming war. Rest in Peace LJN
@Randomname19
Couldn't you just use any flat surface?
@patbacknitro18 I don't think that Nintendo is worried about Sonic these days...
@ReshiramZekrom I know. Its Bubsy The Bobcat they must fear now -_-
If it's any consolation, Naka Sama, I bought all the games you and Prope released for the Wii.
In my opinion, Nintendo should have bought you guys when you released Let's Tap, if not already when you pitched it. Perhapd the most brilliant thing I played on Wii.
@TommyTLG
Nah, it required a surface that would reverberate even at light touch. It came with two suitable boxes itself, and really, anything like a board game box lid of cerepack could be used.
This is why it pays to be assertive in life. Not advice I live by personally, but sitting around waiting for someone to call you doesn't get you far.
@Yasaal You might want to look more into that. Sony had is issues as well.
Interesting story
That security guard knew he was from Sega. He was probably all "You look like you're a bit lost, pal. You're on the wrong side of town..." and wearing a black leather jacket. At least, that's how I'm picturing the encounter in my head.
@Randomname19 I never played that game, but will always remember it for its catchy theme song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCVLSN-GcNY
It remains unknown to this day how that security guard suspected the vehicle might contain a spy from Sega.
@patbacknitro18 No, changing the allegiance of a top figure from the rival organization into their own would have granted them prestige. There's a very Shogunate mentality in Japanese corporate culture.
He tried but didn't try hard enough.
@AlphaElite Same here.
Don't blame the guard, there was that time a missile nearly destroyed the SEGA HQ till Segata Sanshiro managed to grab, turn it around into space and nearly give his life to save the company....
I have a feeling we might have had one more epic IP if this man was allowed to give his insight into some of Nintendo's creations. Thanks for making Sonic, Naka-san.
I feel a bit sorry for Naka-san, seeing where Sonic is today compared to where it was during the Sega Genesis era.
Aw, I feel him.
@Yasaal Sounds more like a Yuji Naka blunder to me. He should have put himself forward. You don't get anything in this world by sitting back hoping you'll get a call.
Naka’s work on the Saturn with NiGHTS (the best game Sega have ever made) and Burning Rangers (an absolute classic which nearly nobody played) rivals Miyamoto and his work on the N64. A game designed by both of them would be something truly special. Maybe one day, especially as I have a feeling a retired Miyamoto will be a lot like a retired Hayao Miyazaki.
@AlanJones84 You are giving Nintendo far too much credit and being far too defensive right now lol. They could always use more.
He could've outrun the guard, but he hit a tiny hill and lost all his momentum.
@westman98 He was around up until mid-way through 06's development when he bailed (which arguably had an impact on that game's development), so he's not entirely blameless.
@Orpheus79V
I guess I feel slightly less sorry then.
He could have learned a lot with Nintendo.
The interview also mentions that he found Sonic Underground to be damaging to the character's image, I totally agree and it's too bad it feels like it's happening all over again with Boom.
Naka really needs to work with SEGA again and help Sonic to become great again!
@samuelvictor don't forget Rodea! I honestly prefer it over Billy Hatcher. I've only caught one episode of Underground and seeing Sonic singing was enough to know it wasn't for me.
And most of my hate for Boom is simply that I don't want to see that kind of humor coming from Sonic characters. Though they're barely Sonic characters.
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