Image: SEGA

There's immoderate incredibly bittersweet quality coming retired of Japan contiguous - with Sega confirming the legendary crippled developer Rieko Kodama passed distant earlier this twelvemonth successful May astatine the property of 59. No different details person been shared retired of respect for her family's privacy. SEGA shaper Yosuke Oskunari revealed Kodama publically acknowledged this aft a memorial connection for her was discovered successful the credits of the Mega Drive Mini 2:

Kodama was 1 of the archetypal females successful video crippled improvement to marque a sanction for herself, and was often associated with Sega's role-playing games. She's besides been formally recognised arsenic a pioneer of the industry - with her vocation successful crippled improvement spanning much than 3 decades.

Rieko Kodama started retired astatine Sega successful 1984 arsenic a graphic decorator - moving connected games similar Champion Boxing, Alex Kidd, Altered Beast and Sonic the Hedgehog, and went connected to go a manager and shaper for bid similar Phantasy Star and Skies of Arcadia. In much caller years, she was the pb shaper connected the Sega Ages line.

On behalf of the full assemblage present astatine Nintendo Life, our thoughts spell retired to Kodama's family, friends, and colleagues during this hard time.

[source ign.com]