Nagoshi-San And Osaki-San

I was just looking around for random stuff and I stumble upon more Nagoshi stuff.  Look, I don't 100% know who's "responsible" for the Daytona series.  Nagoshi owns AM4 or Amusement Vision.  However, AM2 was responsible for making Daytona 1/2 and Scud Race, athough Yu Suzuki (AM2 guy) didn't really have anything to do with it.  It kind of sucks that every time you read about Nagoshi, you hear Yakuza and Super Monkey Ball...nothing on Daytona (or even F-Zero even).  But whatever, I've already posted that old interview he gave back in '04 and how lukewarm he was about Daytona games so now you know.  Here's some links:

Toshihiro Nagoshi's blog - Translated for you.  Read the left, likes drinking.  Need any more proof he's an alcoholic?  Most of the posts are "thank you's" and "I did this or that thing," kind of like Twitter.  I guess if you want to dig in and read further, go ahead and tell me what you find.

Toshihiro Nagoshi's book on...making video games and doing good in the neighborhood - Japanese book so I can't read it, fantastic.  Something about inspiring game developers and stuff.  At least it mentions Daytona USA in the description although I really don't know what the book's about.  Translate it for me, please?

Toshihiro Nagoshi some speech thing - Crappy English translation. Briefly goes over Grand Theft Auto and how he doesn't like how immoral it is...also talks about how he was poor and graduated from art school.  A bit long-winded and the translation doesn't help make it more understandable.

Toshihiro Nagoshi Wikipedia - Mostly links to interviews.  Credits him as "Special Thanks" in Daytona USA, but I don't believe that.  I believe he was the producer of these games.  But how much involvement he had with those games I really don't know.

But I'm gonna say this.  I think there's someone who's more involved in Daytona than Nagoshi.  His name is Makoto Osaki.  He's this dude in the glasses who was the director of Daytona USA 2.  As a matter of fact, I have these interviews from him where he spills his guts on the game and demonstrates more enthusiasm on the games than Nagoshi ever did.  Not only that, but I believe Osaki also worked on OutRun 2...so who's the Sega racing mastermind...?

This is an old pic on my computer that I believe was back in '94 or around the release of Daytona 1.  This is the AM2 team.  Osaki is the guy with the glasses in the upper-left corner.  Nagoshi's in the bottom center with the big-ass forehead.  Notice how "normal" Nagoshi looks in this pic.

And more Osaki stuff:

From the Daytona 2 study guide on my Photobucket.  Click on the pics to enlarge them.

Daytona 2 Staff Roll: Nagoshi is producer, Osaki is Director.  Oh and how about this:



Some interview, this one in English.  Click to enlarge.

So I think it's really interesting that we almost got an Egyptian course...in Daytona USA 2?  HA that would've been cool, but they did away with that because it's too Scud Race-ish.  But really, why is it that Osaki traveled around, got his hands dirty, and discussed everything but not Nagoshi?  Where is he?  Hitting up the bars and tanning salons again?

Makoto Osaki Kikizo Interview - Kikizo is a good site since they've got lots of interviews with Sega people, plus they really, really liked OutRun 2.  But anyway, there's little info about Osaki out there...not even a Wikipedia page.  This interview's mostly about Virtua Fighter so you lost me there.  But at page four or five, he deviates to other stuff...like check this out:

Kikizo: So, do you still enjoy first-person shooters...

Osaki: Yes. YES. [laughs]

Kikizo: ...and what have you been playing recently?

Osaki: I've been playing Call of Duty 4, actually. Our clan is really strong, one of the best in Japan! We're definitely one of the best 4, at least. [laughs] I really like Battlefield: Bad Company, as well. I've been playing them all on my Xbox 360.

Kikizo: So are you looking forward to Gears of War 2?

Osaki: I can't play that one at home, though. There's kids in the house! It's way too violent! Maybe after they go to sleep.

HAHA, that's pretty cool.  This guy's my kind of guy...raising his kids, playing fighting games, etc.  Just wish he talked more about Sega racers, but not really.
 
So is this guy responsible for Sega racing goodness?  I don't know.  Like I said, I can't be sure who's responsible for what.  I just wonder who's gonna get the ball rolling on another Sega racer...if there ever is another one, of course.  Let me know more if something comes up.  I got lost in this post so it's mostly informative.  So adios.