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Classic Sonic Director Leaves Namco Bandai, Joins Nintendo Subsidiary

by Alex Culafi - April 9, 2012, 2:45 am EDT
Total comments: 7 Source: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/168016/Sonic_th...

The designer was also known for design on three of the four Uncharted games.

Hirokazu Yasuhara has assumed a new role at Nintendo Software Technology (NST) after leaving Namco Bandai one month ago, as reported by Yasuhara's LinkedIn profile.

As Yasuhara has begun working for NST recently, no word currently exists on what exactly he is working on. NST is known for games like Wave Race: Blue Storm, Metroid Prime Hunters, the Mario vs. Donkey Kong franchise, as well as several DSiware titles (like Aura-Aura Climber).

Yasuhara is originally well-known as director of many of the original Sonic the Hedgehog titles as well as a major designer for Sega and Namco Bandai. More recently, he was known for design on the main series of Uncharted games along with 2010's Pac-Man Party.

Talkback

ChariblazeApril 09, 2012

NST. Huh.

leahsdadApril 09, 2012

I read this a few days ago somewhere, but all they said was that he was working at NOA, which made little to no sense whatsoever.  NST makes a lot more sense.  Interestingly enough, he was the featured interview in last month's Nintendo Power.  It was a good interview, but he wasn't working on any new games releasing on a Nintendo platform anytime soon, so it made me kinda scratch my head and wonder why in the world he was in that month's issue. 
Though I wouldn't read too much into that connection, since Nintendo Power hasn't been officially affiliated with NOA or NCL for years.  Funny coincidence nonetheless.  Guess he'll have to move up to Redmond (or is NST in Seattle?).  Apparently from the NP interview, he lives in the SF Bay area, loves living in the US in general, been living here since Sonic 2 or 3? 

GoldenPhoenixApril 09, 2012

Quote from: leahsdad

I read this a few days ago somewhere, but all they said was that he was working at NOA, which made little to no sense whatsoever.  NST makes a lot more sense.  Interestingly enough, he was the featured interview in last month's Nintendo Power.  It was a good interview, but he wasn't working on any new games releasing on a Nintendo platform anytime soon, so it made me kinda scratch my head and wonder why in the world he was in that month's issue. 
Though I wouldn't read too much into that connection, since Nintendo Power hasn't been officially affiliated with NOA or NCL for years.  Funny coincidence nonetheless.  Guess he'll have to move up to Redmond (or is NST in Seattle?).  Apparently from the NP interview, he lives in the SF Bay area, loves living in the US in general, been living here since Sonic 2 or 3? 

They're in Redmond from what I understand. Just read what he has done since Sonic, he has a really impressive resume working on games like the Uncharted Triliogy, and Jak series with Naught Dog. Maybe Nintendo is going to have NST do some larger scope games which would be wonderful. Also he could possibly assist with development with other games from various Nintendo divisions similar to what Miyamoto did with Retro on Metroid Prime, which was via something like skype.

BeautifulShyApril 09, 2012

Yeah I read this on Gamasutra on the 4th and it is interesting and kinda funny when you think about it. In any case this could bring some more direction to NST and their titles which are solid. It could just make them really really good.

TJ SpykeApril 09, 2012

Quote from: leahsdad

I read this a few days ago somewhere, but all they said was that he was working at NOA, which made little to no sense whatsoever.  NST makes a lot more sense.

LOL, it was reported here (in the Wii forum) several days ago that he was gonna be going to NST and it led to some discussions as to what that meant because NST hasn't really done much besides the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games for awhile.

tendoboy1984April 09, 2012

A little late, aren't we NWR? I found out about this on GoNintendo days ago. RMC (GoNintendo's creator and editor) always seems to get the inside scoop before anyone else.

motangApril 09, 2012

Wornder what he will be working on. Hopefully something big caliber like he did at Naughty Dog.  ;D

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