The man answerable for the most effective online game soundtrack ever is technically nonetheless at Sega, regardless of simply retiring.
While lots of people could not know his title, avid gamers of a sure age will already be large followers of Hiroshi Kawaguchi. He’s the composer answerable for the music in Sega arcade sport OutRun, aka the most effective online game soundtrack ever made.
Although his most distinguished work comes from 80s period video games like OutRun, Space Harrier, After Burner, and Fantasy Zone, Kawaguchi has remained part of Sega ever since, even contributing music to trendy video games like Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble and Sonic X Shadow Generations.
After 41 years on the firm, it wasn’t too shocking to be taught Kawaguchi had retired, after turning 60 this previous April. What is shocking although, is that Sega instantly employed him again.
The official X account for Sega Sound Team (which collectively refers to all of the musicians and composers employed at Sega) broke the information on April 30, asserting Kawaguchi’s retirement alongside a photograph of him receiving a letter of appreciation from Sega.
However, the identical submit acknowledged that he’ll proceed to work at Sega in his ‘second kind.’ Kawaguchi corroborated this himself through his personal X account earlier right this moment.
‘Starting right this moment, I will likely be rehired as a brand new worker at Sega,’ says Kawaguchi, whereas sharing a photograph of his original employment letter from 41 years in the past and joking that he didn’t obtain a brand new one.
As for why that is taking place, Time Extension theorises that it’s to do with Japan’s steady employment system. Per Japanese legislation, corporations need to set necessary retirement ages. The minimal is 60 years previous, which is how previous Kawaguchi is now.
However, corporations are technically allowed to maintain on employees who attain retirement age by successfully rehiring them underneath completely different phrases. This means Kawaguchi will most likely proceed in the identical or comparable position that he’s at all times had.
Hopefully, he’ll stick round lengthy sufficient to do music for a brand new OutRun sport. There hasn’t been a brand new entry since 2009’s OutRun Online Arcade, a digital solely title you possibly can’t even play anymore, after it was delisted from the Xbox and PlayStation shops.
Sega’s curiosity in revisiting dormant franchises, like Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi, has us hopeful {that a} new OutRun sport might occur. If not, he ought to no less than get to contribute to the OutRun film that’s been greenlit.
Said film is only one of many movie tasks Sega has introduced, which incorporates motion pictures for Space Channel 5, Shinobi, Streets Of Rage, House Of The Dead, Comix Zone, and even Eternal Champions.
None of them have launch dates, although, except for a fourth Sonic The Hedgehog film that’s locked in for March 19, 2027.
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