Reiko Kodama, some of the vital builders within the historical past of each Sega and the broader role-playing style, has died on the age of 59.
As IGN report, she truly handed away again in Could, however her dying was not introduced publicly by the corporate on the time. Followers not too long ago found a tribute to Kodama within the credit part of the Mega Drive Mini 2, nevertheless, prompting Sega producer Yosuke Oskunari to substantiate the unhappy information.
Her contributions to Sega’s catalogue of basic titles and sequence was immense. Starting with the corporate in 1984, she would work on all the things from design to pixel artwork, and spent the her early profession on sequence like Alex Kidd and Fantasy Zone.
She was then the principal artist on the unique Phantasy Star, and would preserve engaged on the sequence by means of its sequels, rising to the function of director by the fourth sport.
Her different notable works embody Dreamcast basic Skies of Arcadia, which she once more led growth on, whereas she additionally contributed as an artist to video games like the primary two Sonic titles and Altered Beast.
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Kodama could also be greatest remembered, although, for her pioneering work as a outstanding lady in video games growth, for which she has been labelled “The First Girl of RPGs” (and certainly was awarded the Pioneer Award at GDC 2018), and leaves behind a legacy of characters and video games that had been designed for everybody, not simply historically male audiences.
“I normally don’t suppose to make video games strictly for a feminine viewers, myself, however I believe my RPGs appeal to a bigger feminine viewers”, she as soon as mentioned in an interview. “Violent, war-themed titles appear to draw an overwhelmingly male viewers. I believe if corporations need to get extra ladies to play their video games, they need to preserve this in thoughts.
