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Rieko Kodama, the pioneer of Sega masterpieces such as Phantasy Star and Arcadia Sky, has passed away.
The rumors started when a tribute to Kodama was noticed in the Mega Drive Mini 2 credits. Sega producer Yosuke Oskunari responded that Kodama had passed away when asked if that was the message’s intended meaning.
Sega has since confirmed that Kodama died in May, but could not share details out of respect for her family’s privacy.
game industry pioneer
“I don’t know if it’s Sega’s corporate culture, but I’ve never felt disadvantaged because I’m a woman. I’ve worked in various games related to game development for over 30 years, but since I joined Sega, I’ve never had a problem with men. I’ve been treated the same way,” Kodama said in an interview.
Kodama, known as Phoenix Her Rie in her early work, entered the games industry in the mid-1980s, where she worked as a graphic designer and later as a producer and director. Her credits include Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and The Skies of Arcadia, but she is best known for her work as one of the creative leads on the Phantasy Star series and was the director of Phantasy Star IV. I am a director.
In another interview, she observed that it wasn’t all that uncommon for women to play games, and that girls were often drawn to her RPGs. One, Phantasy Star, stood out as her one of the few games with a female protagonist.
“I’m a woman, so when I make games, I try not to portray them as just male fantasy her characters, people who need to be saved. I like to create female characters that both men and women can relate to. But in games for women, there are more and more strong-willed women,” Kodama said at the time.
Kodama continued to be active in the gaming industry until the 2010s, working on games such as 7th Dragon and Sega Ages. She left her legacy as one of the most important developers in gaming history and her 35-year career in the industry has inspired many women.