Comment # 2

@Ken Balough
@SEGA

Tell him about the Metacritic score of Episode II!

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-ii

Give you a hint….
…real close to Sonic Unleashed.

Posted by The Useful on May 23rd, 2012 at 10:44 am

Comment # 4

“Iizuka-san will be one of our judges for the costume contest”

….Nooooo pressure there.

Posted by Coconuts on May 23rd, 2012 at 11:44 am

Comment # 6

It nice to see that Iizuka is coming to Sonic Boom again this year, but I still wish I can go, but I has no money.

Posted by Dubba814 on May 23rd, 2012 at 5:52 pm

Comment # 8

Someone give me Iizuka’s autograph. Plzkthanx

Posted by John on May 23rd, 2012 at 9:47 pm

Comment # 10

#9 Rude much?

Naka isn’t perfect, he and Iizuka both worked together on titles great and not-so-great through Sonic’s years. I’d say since Iizuka started being a producer (or at least credited as one) things have gone in a more positive direction.

Besides, Naka was there last year for both Summer of Sonic and Sonic Boom, chances are he’ll be back again.

Posted by Coconuts on May 23rd, 2012 at 10:45 pm

Comment # 12

Because Naka had such a hand on the development before he left? (If he had a say, I’m pretty sure Sonic 06 wouldn’t have happened the way it did…or at all.)

According to the rest of his record though (as in the rest of the games he worked on before becoming acknowledged as a Director / Producer)- his work shows within the game design that people enjoyed (I’m assuming on a very general basis).

That including:
- Sonic 3 & Knuckles
- Nights into Dreams
- Sonic Adventure
- Sonic Adventure 2

(Not to ignore other titles he’s been more than just a “special thanks” credit.)

I honestly feel kinda bad for the guy. It seems like he’s had less of a say in building the games than he used to as a game designer.

But from the looks of things, it seems like Iizuka was one of the following:
- The only one that would take up the reigns to head Sonic Team.
- The only one that was trusted for the job.

I mean seriously, he’s only been truly head of Sonic Team for 2 years this year.

If Iizuka was the best candidate that they had after Naka left, and it took him a good 4 years before becoming head of Sonic Team, I can only imagine how irritating it must’ve been to work through the games during that time.

I mean seriously, he didn’t direct or produce most of the games that people complain about (except Shadow the Hedgehog…he was alll over that.)

Sonic 06:
- Shun Nakamura Director/Lead Game Design/Game Story
- Kiyoko Yoshimura & Shiro Maekawa (Game Script)

Sonic Unleashed:
- Akinori Nishiyama (Producer)
- Takao Hirabayashi (Lead Planner/Night Time Level Designer)

Sonic and the Secret Rings:
- Yojiro Ogawa (producer and director)
- Morio Kishimoto (lead game designer)

Sonic and the Black Knight:
- Tetsu Katano (producer/director)
- Morio Kishimoto (lead game design)

Sonic Colors:
- Morio Kishimoto (director/lead game designer)

I’ll be honest, I look to enjoy Sonic games as much as I can. But seriously, people act like he had a say in all the games and that it’s all his fault.

Posted by Blaze on May 24th, 2012 at 10:08 pm