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SEGA Mega Drive Mini II features in memoriam to Rieko Kodama, aka Phoenix Rie (Phantasy Star, Sonic, SEGA AGES)

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Ashilyn

Ashilyn

Member
Oct 27, 2017
424
Holy shit, this is crushing to me

I'll reiterate what I wrote on Twitter just now:

I can't overstate how gutted I am with this news. She worked on, directed, and produced some of the most important games of my life I think most people these days will know her from producing Skies of Arcadia, or the 7th Dragon games, as well as producing the most recent Sega Ages games.

In my heart, she'll always be Phoenix Rie, the woman who shaped Phantasy Star's world, visual style, and characters.

Phantasy Star is the first game I ever remember playing, and it's visual style and the decision to make it a science fantasy story with a female lead, all of which she helped design, instilled in me a lifelong love of science fantasy that I still hold on to to this day. She also directed Phantasy Star IV, which to this day is still my favourite game of the 16 bit era, with a story and universe that once more impacted how I approach my own fiction, tabletop, & general writing. It is one of my favourite experiences ever, & I will never forget it.

Her accomplishments, of course, extend beyond that. She worked on Alex Kidd and Fantasy Zone II. She directed the Saturn Magic Knight Rayearth game, also a game I love and adore. And of course, there's Skies of Aracdia. Her accomplishments in the industry are innumerable. She helped advanced women in the industry immensely. She was incredibly talented, and she will forever hold a place in my heart as one of the creatives that shaped me. Rest in peace, Reiko.
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Piccoro

Piccoro

Member
Nov 20, 2017
7,123
She was a videogame legend.

RIP.

EDIT: I will be playing Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Phantasy Star 1 in her honour today.

Thank you for all the fun you've provided us, Rieko Kodama.
 
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Primus

Primus

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,870
Yeah this is an especially hard one for me, I was that weirdo who was into Phantasy Star instead of the Final Fantasy games as a kid, and her work on Sega games is pretty much my childhood. And the glorious Skies of Arcadia, cannot forget that.

I will raise Alis's sword in PSO2: NGS in her honor tonight.
 
theAllseeingEYE

theAllseeingEYE

Member
Apr 4, 2018
4,563
Vancouver, BC
Terrible news. RIP Reiko. You were an inspiration to us all. Truly one of the greatest game developers in our industry, and I am very saddened that I will never be able to play another new work from you.
 

cecilpaladin32

Member
Apr 24, 2018
3,612
RIP - very sad to hear and 59 is far too young. Skies of Arcadia left an indelible mark on me and is an all-time classic that I will always stan an every opportunity.
 
julian

julian

Member
Oct 27, 2017
16,891
I thought I missed some big news but they kept this silent for months. And I had no idea she directed Magic Knight Rayearth. I really enjoyed it, so much it got me to watch the show and read the manga. RIP
 
Dooble

Dooble

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,480
Huge bummer. She never got to make her dream game...

Oh!
(Kodama) I wanted to make an RPG or adventure game targeted at women. That was before mobile games got really popular, so it would have been a fairly niche product. But these days you can enjoy games on a smart phone that you already have, and some of them even have anime adaptations. The era of a lot of women having fun with games also has already arrived. But even so, I'd like to make something women would like that involves media outside of games, if I ever have a chance. Since I've worked mostly on nothing but titles targeting men up until now (Laughs)

What would you like to try doing that isn't related to work?

(Kodama) I'd like to try doing something I wanted to do when I was a young, but couldn't. I've always enjoyed history, so I'd still like to get more into that. I was thinking about doing that when I retired from game development.
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So many collagues worked with her, Hayashida, Ohba, Naka, Suzuki, Tanaka... heck Mark Cerny might have known her from the 80's. A Post-mortem down the road see,s good like with another Sega employee (Takeo Iwata), but it seems that the wish of the family was to keep it on the quiet side.

RIP
 
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ValKiryuSonicEX

ValKiryuSonicEX

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
2,267
News also broke in Japan via Famitsu:

www.famitsu.com

セガの小玉理恵子氏が逝去。『ファンタシースター』やメガドラ版『ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ』、Switch版『SEGA AGES』など手掛ける | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com

『ファンタシースター』や『ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ』（メガドラ版）などを手掛け、Switch版『SEGA AGES』ではプロデューサー兼ディレクターを担当した小玉理恵子氏が2022年5月9日（月）に逝去していることが判明した。享年59歳。
www.famitsu.com www.famitsu.com
 
kdoll08

kdoll08

Member
Oct 25, 2017
411
This saddened me to see the thread just now. I was a master system kid first growing up and Phantasy Star was my introduction to jrpg's. Skies of Arcadia and PSO were the best things I played on Dreamcast. She had such a history at Sega and 59 is too young. The world is a worse place with your absence.
 
The Awesomest

The Awesomest

Member
Mar 3, 2018
1,224
I wonder if it would be possible to request a thread title change to reflect the news of Kodama's passing, rather than just how it was mentioned in a cameo.
 
kdoll08

kdoll08

Member
Oct 25, 2017
411
Dooble

Dooble

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,480
kdoll08 said:
Excellent interview from famitsu from when she won the GDC Pioneer award in 2019

s.famitsu.com

GDC アワード パイオニア賞受賞記念インタビュー、セガゲームス 小玉理恵子氏がゲーム開発に刻んだ足跡を振り返る | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com

GDC アワードでパイオニア賞を受賞したセガ・ゲームス小玉理恵子氏にインタビューを実施。その足跡を振り返る。
s.famitsu.com s.famitsu.com
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Also has a full accurate list of her body of work

Champion Boxing (Designer)
Ninja Princess (Designer)
Quartet (Designer)
Alex Kidd's Miracle World (Designer)
Double Target Cynthia's Sleep (Designer)
Fantasy Zone II Opa Opa Tears (Designer)
Phantasy Star (Designer)
Beast King (Designer) )
Alex Kidd Castle in the Sky (Designer)
Phantasy Star II At the End of the Time of No Return (Designer)
Shadow Dancer The Secret of Shinobi (Designer)
Sonic the Hedgehog (Designer)
Phantasy Star Millennium End ni (Designer and Team Leader)
Magic Knight Rayearth (Director)
DEEP FEAR (Producer)
Eternal Arcadia (Producer)
Eternal Arcadia Legend (Producer)
Beast King -PROJECT ALTERED BEAST- (Producer)
Supervised by Dr. Kenichiro Motegi, Sony Computer Science Laboratories Brain A pleasant aha experience! (Producer)
Supervised by Dr. Kenichiro Motegi, Sony Computer Science Laboratories Pleasure in the brain Experience aha with everyone! (Producer)
Takashi Saito's Three Color Ballpoint Pen Masterpiece School (Producer)
Seventh Dragon (Producer)
7th Dragon 2020 (Producer)
7th Dragon 2020-II (Producer)
SEGA AGES (Nintendo Switch version Lead Producer and Director)
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Mark Cerny

Member
Oct 28, 2017
1
Dooble said:
Huge bummer. She never got to make her dream game...



So many collagues worked with her, Hayashida, Ohba, Naka, Suzuki, Tanaka... heck Mark Cerny might have known her from the 80's. A Post-mortem down the road see,s good like with another Sega employee (Takeo Iwata), but it seems that the wish of the family was to keep it on the quiet side.

RIP
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I did know her, we were both in the same giant Master System bullpen in Tokyo. She was amazing... and it was such a pleasure to watch her career over the years, so happy when the GDC presented her the Pioneer Award.

Had no idea she'd passed, always thought we'd have a chance to chat again. I'm crying now.
 
Tailzo

Tailzo

Fallen Guardian
Member
Oct 27, 2017
8,018
Rest in peace

She made incredible games. I have a lot of respect for what she achieved.
 
Hero

Hero

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,024
Mark Cerny said:
I did know her, we were both in the same giant Master System bullpen in Tokyo. She was amazing... and it was such a pleasure to watch her career over the years, so happy when the GDC presented her the Pioneer Award.

Had no idea she'd passed, always thought we'd have a chance to chat again. I'm crying now.
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Deepest condolences
 

Deleted member 10001

Banned
Jul 7, 2021
3,155
Mark Cerny said:
I did know her, we were both in the same giant Master System bullpen in Tokyo. She was amazing... and it was such a pleasure to watch her career over the years, so happy when the GDC presented her the Pioneer Award.

Had no idea she'd passed, always thought we'd have a chance to chat again. I'm crying now.
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My heartfelt condolences Mark.

Seven Force said:
Could've sworn she was an artist on Castle of Illusion too, but maybe I'm mistaken
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You're probably confusing her with Emiko Yamamoto.
 
entrydenied

entrydenied

The Fallen
Oct 26, 2017
7,670
Dooble said:
Huge bummer. She never got to make her dream game...



So many collagues worked with her, Hayashida, Ohba, Naka, Suzuki, Tanaka... heck Mark Cerny might have known her from the 80's. A Post-mortem down the road see,s good like with another Sega employee (Takeo Iwata), but it seems that the wish of the family was to keep it on the quiet side.

RIP
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It's unfortunate that she never got to make that game🙁She's still so young...

I had a Sega Genesis as a kid so Phantasy Star IV was the JRPG that made me love the genre. I think I'll give that game a replay soon, along with finishing PS1 on Switch.
 
ValKiryuSonicEX

ValKiryuSonicEX

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
2,267
Mark Cerny said:
I did know her, we were both in the same giant Master System bullpen in Tokyo. She was amazing... and it was such a pleasure to watch her career over the years, so happy when the GDC presented her the Pioneer Award.

Had no idea she'd passed, always thought we'd have a chance to chat again. I'm crying now.
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My deepest condolences as well Mark.
 
Paz

Paz

Member
Nov 1, 2017
2,165
Brisbane, Australia
Mark Cerny said:
I did know her, we were both in the same giant Master System bullpen in Tokyo. She was amazing... and it was such a pleasure to watch her career over the years, so happy when the GDC presented her the Pioneer Award.

Had no idea she'd passed, always thought we'd have a chance to chat again. I'm crying now.
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I'm so sorry.

Thank you for this comment, it has reminded me to reach out more and talk with old friends. I always think I'll have more time…
 
Chrono

Chrono

Teyvat Traveler
Member
Oct 25, 2017
21,321
I was excited for the Genesis Mini 2 release, have both the US and Japanese versions on their way from Amazon Japan. Then I read this. ;_;

What a Legend.

My condolences go out to her family and loved ones, she will most definitely be missed.
 

Hasan Ali Almaci

Member
Sep 12, 2018
657
I had an interview with her 18 years ago.

At the time people at Sega as well as herself seemed surprised because interview requests was for people like Naka, Nagoshi, Mizuguchi etcetera.

RIP legend
 
| TrusT |

| TrusT |

Member
Apr 19, 2020
1,916
Thank you Rieko.

FgDjZCAaAAAxiMG
 
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JamboGT

JamboGT

Vehicle Handling Designer
Verified
Oct 25, 2017
1,455
RIP and thanks for your games, loved many of the games she worked on.
 
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