No more Sonic, says series creator

“I want to create new things,” explains Yuji Naka, creator of Sonic the Hedgehog

Words: GamesRadarTylerNagata on July 9, 2010

Yuji Naka, former head of Sega’s Sonic Team and creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, doesn’t want to make a new Sonic title. “Right now, I want to create new things. Even if I had the opportunity to create some kind of new Sonic game, I think that’s best kept within Sega,” explained Naka in an interview with Siliconera.

Naka is currently the head of Prope, a game studio funded in part by Sega to support independent game creators. In the interview, Naka shares some insight as to how he goes about creating game characters. hinting that Prope’s next major game character will be based on an animal.

Above: Just so you don't get their smiles mixed up: Sonic the Hedgehog (left), Yuji Naka (right)

“When I create a game I think about how kids will enjoy it. So, that may be why I may have a tendency of using characters based on animal. Also, when I’m walking around in the day and I see an interesting animal I think about what kind of game I could create with them. I’m constantly thinking of those things,” says Naka.

When asked if he’s seen any interesting animals lately, Naka laughed, and said, “That I can’t answer. The reason why I can’t is because the game we’re developing is based on that animal I thought was interesting.”

Source: Siliconera via CVG

July 9, 2010

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Platforms:

Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS

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510BrotherPanda - July 12, 2010 7:53 a.m.

Did you know Sonic was suppose to be a rabbit? Anyways, it sounds like Naka is going to stick to his pro-furry guns. I think furries in games died out with the massive flood of "Sonic knockoffs" in the 90's: Aero, Zero, Bubsy, Awesome Possum... and later Spyro, Crash, and whatever else. I'm leaving Ratchet out of this because although some of his games were mediocre, the ideas in them as a cartoony 3rd person shooter/platformer/puzzler are alright. Besides, what is a Lombax to begin with? i think he's just an alien with a hairy body.
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sofaku - July 11, 2010 12:03 a.m.

this is really sad. i think about the countless hours i spent playing sonic2 on my genesis hoping my TV screen wont turn blue again, skipping meals staying up late, and ignoring friends. but then i remember the monstrosities that have been coming out of sonic lately and i realize its for the best. i wish they could have made one the way it used to be. a simple yet incredibly fun side scrolling platformer maybe featuring some old levels and some new characters.
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MediocreDinosaur - July 10, 2010 6:38 p.m.

Gah, this has just shown that there's next to no Sonic fans left. If Miyamoto suddenly announced he didn't want to make any more Mario games in favour of new characters, there would be a revolt. Sonic has proven time and time again that his games are crap, and his developer himself has finally noticed. Now he's going to whore out that ridiculous Kiwi game for the Wii, whatever it's called.
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shyfonzie - July 10, 2010 12:31 p.m.

Sure he is. We`ll see what he`s doing when they ask for the rent.
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axelgarcia1 - July 10, 2010 3:12 a.m.

Spitty the llama! Butts the baboon!
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BlindMarksman - July 10, 2010 3:02 a.m.

CH3BURASHKA already said what had to be said...
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DarkTone - July 10, 2010 1:09 a.m.

Oh its on! Mary the Prarrie Dog! Coming to a Wii near you!
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HotCyder - July 9, 2010 11:59 p.m.

The Yuji Naka school of Games Design: Set all in world objectives to the right of the player (front if it's 3D) GET READY FOR PULSE THE MOLLUSK!
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whiteknight1981 - July 9, 2010 10:51 p.m.

Make way for Slowpoke the Gila Monster!
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Cleanser247 - July 9, 2010 9:59 p.m.

Shame it's not as it used to be.
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waffledragon33 - July 9, 2010 9:25 p.m.

dont scare me like that again please
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db1331 - July 9, 2010 7:59 p.m.

Too bad he didn't have these same feelings years ago.
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Tygerclaws - July 9, 2010 7:58 p.m.

I can't wait to hate Honk the Goose and Piper the Faun. >.>
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CH3BURASHKA - July 9, 2010 7:53 p.m.

Well, I think it's for the best. It's pretty obvious Sonic doesn't have anything new to offer, resorting to HD Remixes and Galaxy rip-offs (if previews of Colors are any indication). I'm ready to see him go; maybe they can *really* bring him back in 20 years.
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Redeater - July 9, 2010 7:51 p.m.

no more sonic!
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d0x - July 9, 2010 7:50 p.m.

To hell with Sonic. I want Naka to give Phantasy Star Online the proper next gen treatment. Phantasty Star Universe was terrible. They changed waaay too much of the core gameplay and got rid of just about everything good like mags and telepipes!
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