“Naka had a reputation for being a difficult interview when he was still at Sega, but I had never seen him as aloof during my time with him—he had always been eager and willing to answer my questions.
He was a creative type. He loved programming, relishing the ability to create entire worlds and realities from scratch through the simple act of entering words and commands into a computer. I respected him greatly, and I think he could see that I understood his underlying passion.
I was escorted by a spokesperson to Yuji Naka’s office several floors up. When we walked in, he smiled.
‘Ah, it’s you.’”
Y'all have to read this piece in the Atlantic: “A Quest for the Secret Origins of Lost Video-Game Levels” by Heidi Kemps. It’s about meeting Yuji Naka (repeatedly), about software piracy, and about her own history of fandom, and it’s the best thing I’ve read in ages.
I don’t want to say too much more about the contents of the story. Just do me a personal favor and go read it.
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