Takashi Iizuka

Rumor: Takashi Iizuka says Sonic Team not developing rumored ‘Sonic Mach 2’ game

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Oh boy, it seems the rumors posted about a new Sonic game in development being titled ‘Sonic Mach 2‘ are coming true. The Sonic Mach 2 rumors started when Orbot’s German voice actor listed the unannounced project on his online portfolio. Since the Sonic fanbase its an excited bunch, instead of waiting for its eventual reveal, Sonic Stadium forum members started messaging Takashi Iizuka on his personal Facebook account. Here is the conversation he had with one user:

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Thanks for spilling some of the beans Mr. Iizuka, I’m sure your going to get a stern talking to (unless he is trolling users of course). So let’s say the game does exist but isn’t being developed by Sonic Team. What does that mean? Probably means its not the next big Sonic the Hedgehog game. It might even be a new game developed by SEGA’s newly acquired mobile developer Demiurge Studios or even another mobile title by Hardlight. But is it a little too early for another Sonic mobile game, seeing as Sonic Runners hasn’t even been released world wide?

What do you guys think? Tell us in the comments, you think Iizuka is trolling?

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Summer of Sonic 2013 – Takashi Iizuka Interview

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Over the past few years the Sonic series has hit a bit of a renaissance, with Colours and Generations achieving relative success critically as well as commercially. Typically, just as this turnaround is achieved, the newest game shows signs of radical change to the 3D Sonic formula that had finally gained acceptance. Sonic Lost World’s new design is the kind of decision that means it’s always interesting to chat to Takashi Iizuka, the man at the top of Sonic Team today and the public face of the team. He’s always cheery and approachable, but you can never quite predict the answers you’ll get from him. Read on to find out Iizuka’s take on the limitations of Sonic’s previous 3D outings, what inspired the new design of Sonic Lost World and his view of differences between working in the USA and Japan!

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Summer of Sonic 2013 – The Metal Sonic Edition

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That time of year is upon us once again – Summer of Sonic, the Sonic the Hedgehog fan convention in the UK, held its 6th show this weekend just gone; back in London again following a brief visit to Brighton last year. This year the event boasted as guests Takashi Iizuka, Jun Senoue, and Kazuyuki Hoshino; with a playable build of the upcoming new title Sonic Lost World available. So let’s dive in, shall we?

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Takashi Iizuka explains why Sonic Lost World is Nintendo exclusive

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There have been a lot of theories flying around online as to why Sonic Lost World is a Nintendo exclusive. Some say that Nintendo came to SEGA, offered them a pay check for exclusivity, and that before then the game was supposed to come out on all platforms. So what does Takashi Iizuka say when asked the question in the Official Nintendo Magazine?

“The Wii U hadn’t been revealed when development began for Sonic Lost World, so we were working on a PC version in order to see what kind of platformer we could make. Then, when we tried to think about which platform would be best for this game, we chose Nintendo.” – Takashi Iizuka, head of Sonic Team

So there you have it, straight from Takashi himself. Though, I assume people with their own theories will brush this off and say it isn’t true. If it is or isn’t true, who cares, Sonic Lost World is coming exclusively to Wii U (and 3DS) this fall. Though, I would really like a PC version to be released, that would mean it’s still ‘console exclusive’.

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Sonic Adventure 2 and Pepsi

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I saw this posted on Twitter by @IizukaTakashi. This is a quite an amazing revelation. Sonic Adventure 2 was inspired by a Pepsi game! Can you believe that Iizuka-san was inspried by Pepsi…?

In case you didn’t realize it yet, I’m not being serious. I wanted to share this video because i found it amazing, regardless of which game was made first, or if it’s even an official Pepsi game.

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Sonic Lost World: 3DS version gets online multiplayer, Wii U does not

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In an interview with Nintendo News Report, Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka confirms that Sonic Lost World will have online multiplayer on the 3DS, but not on the Wii U.

“We’ll have different multiplayer modes on both Wii U and 3DS. On the Wii U, there’s booth cooperative and versus multiplayer. In cooperative play, Sonic will be using the Wii U GamePad and someone can be supporting Sonic in co-op with the Wii Remote. In versus mode, one player will be playing on the TV screen and the other player will be racing using the GamePad so you don’t have to have split screen. You both have your own screen and can race each other. The Wii U multiplayer is not on the Internet. It’s basically everyone sitting on the same couch. The 3DS for the first time we’re having 4-player versus racing over Wi-Fi and the Internet.” – Takashi Iizuka

Pretty intersting. What are your guys thoughts on the lack of online multiplayer on the console version? Does this effect your purchase? Do you even care about multiplayer in a Sonic game?

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Sonic Team gives Hell Yeah! their approval

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Arkedo Studios, the French developer behind the upcoming digital title Hell Yeah! had a meeting with two main members of Sonic Team, where they played the game and told them what they thought about it. One of the guys was the infamous and lovable Takashi Iizuka.

“They said, not a lot sucks, but you should pay attention to what happens when you’re jumping, the stop and go, the inertia you have when you’re jumping on platforms. You should add this little thing, this little thing… We said, hey yeah, it’s much better. Thank you very much. That’s the craftsmanship. Those guys, they are bright yellow, they glow. Okay, this guy knows what he’s talking about. We loved it.”

Yeah, there are now developers asking Sonic Team what they think about their platforming game. I consider this to be a positive step and I’m glad that Arkedo Studios is so open to feedback. I think this is something that more developers need to do. If something is broken, fix it. Make a great game! Hit the jump to hear more quotes on what they thought!

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SEGA has no plans on releasing another Sonic 4 episode title

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According to DigitalSpy, SEGA has told them that they are not planning to release any more episodes to the Sonic 4 franchise. Seems that it might end with Sonic 4: Episode 2. Who said a bold statement like that? Who else besides the one and only Takashi Iizuka.

“We are looking forward to hearing the feedback from the users for Episode 2, but we are currently not planning to release another episode. We just want to see how the users accept this episode.” –  Takashi Iizuka, Producer.

Is it good that SEGA is ending the Sonic 4 episodes or do you want a 3rd episode added with Knuckles?

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Sega of America “Re-Imagining a beloved IP” According to a Job Ad

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According to an ad for a new executive producer, it looks like one of Sega’s IP’s will be getting a reboot. With Iizuka’s confusing talks about “a new standard for Modern Sonic”, I worry that it may be our favorite blue Hedgehog again. Just when he’s making good ground and Modern Sonic’s finally finding his feet. We’ll probably know more in 2012 I’m sure. Until then, start biting those fingernails.

 

[Source: Gamerzines]

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Takashi Iizuka wants to reinvent Sonic for 2012

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Takashi Iizuka says some of the weirdest things. Everyone seems to be excited for Sonic Generations and its getting good reviews. The future looks bright for the Sonic, but Iizuka thinks of Sonic Generations as a book end to modern and classic Sonic. Wants to reinvent him for 2012.

“I would like to make a new standard Sonic, a modern Sonic if you will, in 2012 and beyond. There have been a lot of Sonic titles in the past, and I think, at this point, there’s a pretty good idea of what a Sonic game should be like — a fun, frenetic action game. As I said, I feel the need to surprise the fans in new and innovative ways, but I don’t want to do anything to depart from that style. The color powers in Colors are a good example of that.” – Takashi Iizuka

So are you guys ready for a fresh new Sonic or do you think Sonic Team can further fix modern Sonic to make him better?

[Via: Destructoid]

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Takashi Iizuka confirms Sonic 4: Episode 2

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The guys over at Siliconera had a chance to ask Iizuka if Sonic Team is planning a follow up to Sonic 4: Episode 1, in which he responded:

“We named Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, so there will be an episode 2. Since this year is the 20th anniversary of Sonic we wanted to focus on Sonic Generations. We don’t have a release date or anything.But, we can tell you it will be in the near future.”” – Takashi Iizuka

Near future? Iizuka and his love for time traveling plots. In all seriousness, it seems that Sonic Generations is getting the physics for cassic Sonic right. Would be interested if the physics being used in Generations will be used in Episode 2.

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E3: Sonic Generations Q&A With Takashi Iizuka

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(NOTE: Because this is a Q&A with questions taken from staff from both Sonic Stadium and Segabits, this article will be posted on both sites simultaneously.)

On the Tuesday afternoon of E3, Alex (nuckles87) and I got the privilege of seeing the first new footage of City Escape from Sonic Generations played by Takashi Iizuka himself. Seeing little classic Sonic going through the famous SA2 level was a thrill. We saw as the large GUN truck made every attempt possible to run down the roly-poly hedgehog as two new remixes of “Escape from the City” played through both levels. As he played through he told some interesting tidbits, including the fact that outside of Green Hill zone, all stages on the 3DS will be different from the HD versions and will have levels based on the portable versions of Sonic’s games. Also, voice overs will be done for all nationalities. Not just Japanese and English. He quit the last level as the GUN truck with it’s giant sawblades ran over modern Sonic as he ran out of boost. Here, our Q&A commenced.

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Takashi Iizuka tells us his Sonic 4 secrets

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CVG is running a article where they ask game producers for their secrets on how they create the types of games they do. Well, one of these producers asked a question was our favorite Takashi Iizuka, he shares his secrets on creating a 2D platformer like Sonic 4.

“I think there are various kinds of 2D platformer and each one of them focuses on different game elements. In the case of Sonic games, I put a premium on the game tempo of the stage.

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Shadow the Hedgehog was aimed at US market

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Takashi Iizuka’s masterpiece Shadow the Hedghog wasn’t received too well by critics, mostly because the game, well sucked. But now he explains why the game was the way it was…

“After Sonic Adventure, we had two studios, in the US and Japan. The Japanese Studio was to develop a Sonic game in the standard style, and the US studio was to develop something different which could contribute to the Sonic franchise. That background generated the Shadow game as he appeared from Sonic Adventure. We wanted to offer other game systems to attract a different audience from traditional Sonic fans. In the US, first and third-person shooters were popular and we decided to go with a character who could work with them.”

I honestly assumed that Shadow the Hedgehog was just ‘Sonic Team’ trying to put out a product like Ratchet and Clank or Jak & Dexter. Too bad the concept wasn’t why the game was bashed…

[Source:ONM]

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Yuji Naka, Naoto Oshima and Takashi Iizuka hanging out

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Those god damn hooligans. They are up to no good, with their blue spikes and their loud rock n’ roll music. Actually these photos where posted by Yuji Naka on his twitter, who was ‘chillaxing’ with Naoto Oshima (original designer for Sonic) and Takashi Iizuka (current boss over at Sonic Team).

Can you imagine what they talked about? Whatever it is, I hope its all three getting together for a game. Takashi Iizuka most likely has great ideas that evolve Shadow and aliens.

[Via: Sonic Stadium]

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