Masahiro Sakurai: Difference between revisions
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{{LLquote|It was tough for me to see that every time I made a new game, people automatically assumed that a sequel was coming. Even if it's a sequel, lots of people have to give their all to make a game, but some people think the sequel process happens naturally.|[[Masahiro Sakurai]]|[http://www.nindori.com Nintendo Dream], August 26, [[2003]]}} | {{LLquote|It was tough for me to see that every time I made a new game, people automatically assumed that a sequel was coming. Even if it's a sequel, lots of people have to give their all to make a game, but some people think the sequel process happens naturally.|[[Masahiro Sakurai]]|[http://www.nindori.com Nintendo Dream], August 26, [[2003]]}} | ||
'''Masahiro Sakurai''' video game director and former [[HAL Laboratory]] employee. He is most famous for his creation of the ''[[wikipedia:Kirby (series)|Kirby]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' series. Nintendo's HAL Laboratory hired Masahiro when he was nineteen years old in 1991.<ref>[http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=982 N-Sider Media: Masahiro Sakurai Personnel Profile]. Accessed 1-23-08.</ref> In 2003, he left Nintendo to pursue a career in freelance game design. | '''Masahiro Sakurai''' video game director and former [[HAL Laboratory]] employee. He is most famous for his creation of the ''[[wikipedia:Kirby (series)|Kirby]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' series. Nintendo's HAL Laboratory hired Masahiro when he was nineteen years old in 1991.<ref name="Nsider">[http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=982 N-Sider Media: Masahiro Sakurai Personnel Profile]. Accessed 1-23-08.</ref> In [[2003]], he left Nintendo to pursue a career in freelance game design. | ||
==Employment by Nintendo== | ==Original Employment by Nintendo== | ||
In 1991, Masahiro was hired by HAL Laboratory. A year later, he created and directed his first title, ''[[wikipedia:Kirby's Dream Land|Kirby's Dream Land]]'' using his character [[Kirby]] as the protagonist.<ref | In 1991, Masahiro was hired by HAL Laboratory. A year later, he created and directed his first title, ''[[wikipedia:Kirby's Dream Land|Kirby's Dream Land]]'' using his character [[Kirby]] as the protagonist.<ref name="Nsider"/> This title can be considered Sakurai's breakthrough. Eventually, he and [[Satoru Iwata]], who was still an employee of HAL at the time, worked together to create the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' title. After the success of this game, Sakurai was asked to develop its sequel, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''.<ref>[http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol1_page1.jsp Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Vol.1, pg. 1]. Accessed 1-23-08.</ref> | ||
After completing this title and ''[[wikipedia:Kirby Air Ride|Kirby Air Ride]]'', Masahiro left Nintendo on August 5, | After completing this title and ''[[wikipedia:Kirby Air Ride|Kirby Air Ride]]'', Masahiro left Nintendo on August 5, 2003, later citing Nintendo's desire for sequels as the reason for his departure. He had grown tired of being asked to create the next ''Kirby'' or ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' title and longed to have more creative freedom. He later coined the term, "sequelization" to describe the problem he saw not only within Nintendo, but throughout the video game industry.<ref name="Nindori">[http://www.nindori.com/ Nintendo Dream] August 26, 2003.</ref> | ||
==Continued Involvement== | ==Continued Involvement== | ||
After leaving [[HAL Laboratory]], Sakurai created [[Sora Ltd.]]. He stated that the reason he became a freelance game developer was that he felt bogged down by working with the same people with the same characters.<ref | After leaving [[HAL Laboratory]], Sakurai created [[Sora Ltd.]]. He stated that the reason he became a freelance game developer was that he felt bogged down by working with the same people with the same characters.<ref name="Nindori"/> | ||
At E3 2005, Iwata, now president of Nintendo, revealed that his company was planning a new ''Super Smash Bros.'' title which was later named ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''. According to Iwata, the press read too far into this announcement, going so far as to ask Masahiro if he would develop the title. | At [[wikipedia:E3|E3]] [[2005]], Iwata, now president of Nintendo, revealed that his company was planning a new ''Super Smash Bros.'' title which was later named ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''. According to Iwata, the press read too far into this announcement, going so far as to ask Masahiro if he would develop the title. Masahiro was shocked, but Iwata invited his former employee to his hotel room to clarify the situation. Satoru said that he expected the new ''Super Smash Bros.'' to be a port of ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' with added [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] features unless Masahiro would be involved. Sakurai later admitted that this served as a kind of threat to him. However, Sakurai had come to E3 looking for new ideas, so he decided to take the opportunity.<ref>[http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol1_page2.jsp Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Vol.1, pg. 2]. Accessed 1-23-08.</ref> | ||
However, the traditional ''Super Smash Bros.'' team at HAL Labs was currently working on another project. Sakurai and Iwata decided that the best location for the project would be in Tokyo, specifically Takadanobaba. Sakurai moved there for the project. The development team, part of [[Game Arts]], was introduced to Masahiro by [[Shigeru Miyamoto]].<ref>[http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol1_page3.jsp Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Vol.1, pg. 3]. Accessed 1-23-08.</ref> Sakurai and his team of one hundred, also known as "The Studio," worked on the project, delaying it as necessary, until it was released in Japan on January 31, 2008<ref>[http://wii.ign.com/objects/748/748545.html IGN Wii Super Smash Bros. Brawl Game Profile]. Accessed 1-23-08</ref>. | However, the traditional ''Super Smash Bros.'' team at HAL Labs was currently working on another project. Sakurai and Iwata decided that the best location for the project would be in Tokyo, specifically Takadanobaba. Sakurai moved there for the project. The development team, part of [[Game Arts]], was introduced to Masahiro by [[Shigeru Miyamoto]].<ref>[http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol1_page3.jsp Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Vol.1, pg. 3]. Accessed 1-23-08.</ref> Sakurai and his team of one hundred, also known as "The Studio," worked on the project, delaying it as necessary, until it was released in Japan on January 31, 2008<ref>[http://wii.ign.com/objects/748/748545.html IGN Wii Super Smash Bros. Brawl Game Profile]. Accessed 1-23-08</ref>. | ||
Masahiro has not commented on his future | Masahiro has not commented on his future with Nintendo. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 19:34, April 10, 2008
Masahiro Sakurai video game director and former HAL Laboratory employee. He is most famous for his creation of the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series. Nintendo's HAL Laboratory hired Masahiro when he was nineteen years old in 1991.[1] In 2003, he left Nintendo to pursue a career in freelance game design.
Original Employment by Nintendo
In 1991, Masahiro was hired by HAL Laboratory. A year later, he created and directed his first title, Kirby's Dream Land using his character Kirby as the protagonist.[1] This title can be considered Sakurai's breakthrough. Eventually, he and Satoru Iwata, who was still an employee of HAL at the time, worked together to create the original Super Smash Bros. title. After the success of this game, Sakurai was asked to develop its sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee.[2]
After completing this title and Kirby Air Ride, Masahiro left Nintendo on August 5, 2003, later citing Nintendo's desire for sequels as the reason for his departure. He had grown tired of being asked to create the next Kirby or Super Smash Bros. title and longed to have more creative freedom. He later coined the term, "sequelization" to describe the problem he saw not only within Nintendo, but throughout the video game industry.[3]
Continued Involvement
After leaving HAL Laboratory, Sakurai created Sora Ltd.. He stated that the reason he became a freelance game developer was that he felt bogged down by working with the same people with the same characters.[3]
At E3 2005, Iwata, now president of Nintendo, revealed that his company was planning a new Super Smash Bros. title which was later named Super Smash Bros. Brawl. According to Iwata, the press read too far into this announcement, going so far as to ask Masahiro if he would develop the title. Masahiro was shocked, but Iwata invited his former employee to his hotel room to clarify the situation. Satoru said that he expected the new Super Smash Bros. to be a port of Super Smash Bros. Melee with added Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection features unless Masahiro would be involved. Sakurai later admitted that this served as a kind of threat to him. However, Sakurai had come to E3 looking for new ideas, so he decided to take the opportunity.[4]
However, the traditional Super Smash Bros. team at HAL Labs was currently working on another project. Sakurai and Iwata decided that the best location for the project would be in Tokyo, specifically Takadanobaba. Sakurai moved there for the project. The development team, part of Game Arts, was introduced to Masahiro by Shigeru Miyamoto.[5] Sakurai and his team of one hundred, also known as "The Studio," worked on the project, delaying it as necessary, until it was released in Japan on January 31, 2008[6].
Masahiro has not commented on his future with Nintendo.
References
- ^ a b N-Sider Media: Masahiro Sakurai Personnel Profile. Accessed 1-23-08.
- ^ Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Vol.1, pg. 1. Accessed 1-23-08.
- ^ a b Nintendo Dream August 26, 2003.
- ^ Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Vol.1, pg. 2. Accessed 1-23-08.
- ^ Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl Vol.1, pg. 3. Accessed 1-23-08.
- ^ IGN Wii Super Smash Bros. Brawl Game Profile. Accessed 1-23-08
