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vgdensetsu.bsky.social
VGDensetsu
@vgdensetsu.bsky.social
8.4K followers 860 following 1.8K posts
Hi! I talk about video games (History, illustrations, graphic design, cancelled games, sales figures, etc.)
By @domauffret.bsky.social
http://vgdensetsu.net/
https://www.patreon.com/vgdensetsu
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vgdensetsu.bsky.social
There are now over 500 profiles in my website's database. Over the past few months, I have spent a lot of time researching some of the big names in the field of illustration and chara design:
vgdensetsu.net/designers/
Akihiro YAMADA / 山田章博 Ano Shimizu / ANO清水 Ayami KOJIMA / 小島文美 Haruhiko MIKIMOTO / 美樹本晴彦 Katsuya TERADA / 寺田克也 Ken SUGIMORI / 杉森建 Nobuteru YUUKI / 結城信輝 Ryūichirō KUTSUZAWA / 沓澤龍一郎 Satoshi URUSHIHARA / うるし原智志 / 漆原智志 Shinichi MORIOKA / 森岡 慎一 / もりおか しんいち Tomoharu SAITŌ / 斎藤智晴 Yoh YOSHINARI / 吉成曜 Yoshitoh ASARI / 浅利 義遠 / あさりよしとお Yukihisa FUJITA / ふじたゆきひさ etc.
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
I have just added a gallery of illustrations dedicated to the Populous series.
vgdensetsu.net/populousgall...
Populous box art by David John Rowe Populous: The Beginning box art by Katsuya Terada Populous II box art by Toshiyaki Kato Populous DS box illustrated by Yocky
December 1, 2025 at 10:50 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
While numerous interviews have been conducted about Sonic 1, half of its developers have rarely been asked about it. Among them is the graphic designer Jina Ishiwatari, who said this in 1997, the year she left Sega:
‘I was in my first year with the company when I started working on Sonic, and I got alopecia areata (editor’s note: hair loss in one or more areas of the scalp) because I kept getting my work on my backgrounds rejected, no matter what I drew.’
December 1, 2025 at 10:41 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
In 1989, Naoto Ohshima and Kotaro Hayashida began working on what would become Sonic the Hedgehog. Here is their story.
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodama10
Dispo en VF
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodamav...
Screenshot from a development version of Sonic 1, showing an early version of Labyrinth Zone.
December 1, 2025 at 6:38 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Hironobu Sakaguchi, George Lucas, and Yoshinori Kitase. Sakaguchi wanted to create a Star Wars MMORPG.
xcancel.com/auuo/status/...
Hironobu Sakaguchi, George Lucas, and Yoshinori Kitase
November 30, 2025 at 7:26 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Photo taken during the development of Final Fantasy VII, via Hironobu Sakaguchi.
xcancel.com/auuo/status/...
A dozen men in an open-plan office with computers
November 28, 2025 at 8:33 PM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Street Fighter 2010 rejected cover proposal by Greg Winters:
comics.ha.com/itm/video-ga...
pencil sketch of a man/cyborg in armor shooting at a creature in the background
November 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
While researching this article, I looked at several Japanese companies to find points of comparison. Here is an example of what I found on SNK.
In the early 90s, new SNK recruits were put through their paces before even taking up their positions at the company. Two former developers hired in 1991 and 1992 respectively reported that training took place in Nara under Spartan conditions. The group of just under 50 new recruits had to spend 3 days and 2 nights looking after each other in what seemed more like a test of physical and mental endurance than a team-building exercise, wearing prison uniforms and going on long night walks, armed with a map and onigiri, not forgetting to write a letter of thanks to the company president every evening. Several people dropped out during the course, while almost half of the new recruits quit within the first year, according to one of the developers.
November 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
The working conditions at Sega and in the video game industry in Japan, from 1980 to ~nowadays (with sections on Capcom, SNK, Nintendo, etc.).
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodama9
Dispo en VF
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodamavf9
Screenshot from the 1984 movie Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer, showing a broken clock with no hands.
November 24, 2025 at 6:38 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
According to planner Tomichin, Iron Man is not featured in Marvel Vs Capcom 1 because Capcom was unable to obtain the rights to the character (it seems that Acclaim held the exclusive rights at the time). He was therefore replaced by War Machine.
xcancel.com/tommy_tin/st...
Cover of the PS1 game Iron Man / X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal, published by Acclaim in 1996. Also available for DOS, Saturn, Game Boy and Game Gear.
November 22, 2025 at 7:44 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
While employed at Naxat, Yoshiharu Takaoka (Coryoon) worked on Sleeping Overlord, an action RPG for the Super Famicom that was never completed.
xcancel.com/freeman_HAL/...
1/2
November 19, 2025 at 11:23 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Currently wondering if the illustrator of The Tower was inspired by Roger Rabbit.
Left: box art for the Tower (1994). Right: screenshot taken from Who framed Roger Rabbit. In both pics: A huge building seen from above, with clouds below.
November 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Since yesterday, there has been a debate on the other site concerning the origin of three characters: Yashiro (KOF 97), Haiji (Daraku Tenshi (1998)) and K' (KOF 99). Haiji's designer left SNK, leaving behind a drawing which, according to him and Mitsuo Kodama (art director of KOF 94 and DakaTen),
drawing of a character with short white hair, bare-chested, wearing gloves, taken from a doujinshi dedicated to Daraku Tenshi 3 characters : Yashiro, Haiji and K'
November 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
I didn't include this photo in my article due to a lack of information, but it is possible that these two portraits were drawn by Rieko Kodama for the winners of the contest held for the second episode.
Black and white photo of two drawn portraits representing Alis and Lutz/Noah from Phantasy Star 1.
November 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
In early 1988, Rieko Kodama and Chieko Aoki began working on Phantasy Star II, a game planned for release on the Mark III. But things did not go as planned. The story of the two Phantasy Star II:
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodama8
Dispo en VF
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodamavf8
Box art for the Japanese version of Phantasy Star II by Hitoshi Yoneda
November 17, 2025 at 6:39 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
For reference:
Yamazaki from KOF 97 and from CVS1 + Goenitz from KOF 96
Yamazaki from KOF 97 Yamazaki from CVS1 Goenitz from KOF 96
November 15, 2025 at 7:24 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
2 unused designs for Yamazaki from Capcom Vs SNK, via his graphic designer (who also did Birdie, Oro and Ingrid in other fighting games).
The first one was meant to be an EX costume (unfinished).
The second one (the Orochi costume) was meant to be used against Vice
xcancel.com/ome_yocan/st...
November 15, 2025 at 7:17 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Samsung was the official distributor of the Mega Drive in South Korea and had released Landstalker, among other titles. The game's ROM was the same as the Japanese version, but a booklet provided a Japanese-Korean translation.
xcancel.com/BEEP_SHOP/st...
cover of the booklet : a black and white version of the Japanese box art, with the Samsung logo in Korean. excerpt from the booklet
November 15, 2025 at 7:08 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
It seems so.
x.com/jironosuke99...
November 13, 2025 at 9:41 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Sprite sheets for the unreleased Famicom game Crystal Triangle / クリスタルトライアングル, drawn by Gen Sato / 佐藤元 (Suishō no Dragon).. He think the reason it was discontinued was because there was a dispute over whether the backup system should be password-based or battery-powered.
x.com/GENP37/statu...
Crystal Triangle sprite sheet. Gen Sato worked as as monster designer and graphic designer on the game Crystal Triangle sprite sheet. Gen Sato worked as as monster designer and graphic designer on the game
November 13, 2025 at 6:44 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
I wonder what happened to Hitoshi Sakimoto in the 2010s. After Dragon's Crown, he rarely worked as a composer (with the notable exception of 13 Sentinels), but since last year he has been (co-)composing the soundtracks for 4-5 games a year (to my delight).
vgmdb.net/artist/112
List of music albums released between 2023 and 2025 credited to Hitoshi Sakimoto. New games on which he worked as a composer are marked with a red line.
November 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Romancing Saga 3 30th anniversary illustration by Satoshi Kuramochi / 倉持諭 (Romancing SaGa Re Universe).
several of the game's characters around a table
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Kazuki Motoyama / 本山一城, author of several manga adaptations of Super Mario, has passed away according to his sister. He was 69 years old.
www.instagram.com/p/DPSXpYukhQd/
www.mariowiki.com/Kazuki_Motoy...
6 Mario mangas drawn by Kazuki Motoyama a 2023 photo of Kazuki Motoyama
November 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
In 1988, Sega prepared to launch the Mega Drive and sought to strengthen its position in the console market. This resulted in a change of tools, the launch of a newsletter -SPEC-, and a change in Rieko Kodama's career.
vgdensetsu.net/riekokodama7
Dispo en VF
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Photo taken during the Mega Drive press presentation in 1988
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 AM
vgdensetsu.bsky.social
Classic cyberpunk
ayachi0610.blog65.fc2.com/blog-entry-2...
screenshot taken from the Mac game MacPon, featuring an old lady wearing a VR headset, with a robotic hand and an old telephone
November 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM