This super drive mini 2 — A vintage collectible console with a lot of Sega Classic – just released to the public. However, waiting for eager fans of the classic isn’t just a trip down memory lane.Display a commemorative message on the staff credits screen in the console Kodama RikoSEGA’s longtime producer, recently passed away.
Out of respect for the storied developer family, the general public didn’t know Kodama’s status until this news was discovered. A staple of games like Phantasy Star, Skies of Arcadia, 7th Dragon, and more, Kodama is a major figure in the video game industry.
Nick Thorpe of Retro Gamer Mag spotted this on Twitter and revealed it publicly, along with other interesting details about the console. It was this post that prompted users to confirm information via the platform with SEGA producer Yosuke Okunari, who responded: “As you understand. We respect her.”
Finally, the staff’s thanks include a commemorative message to Kodama Riko. She started out as an artist on games such as Alex Kidd In Miracle World, Phantasy Star, and Sonic The Hedgehog, and is a producer on Skies Of Arcadia, 7th Dragon, and more recently, the Switch Sega Ages games. pic.twitter.com/v6xk8oUNYO
— Nick Thorpe (@HKT3030) October 26, 2022
Kodama is a pioneer in the industry. Back in 2019, she talked about her proudest moment, talking about her involvement with the SEGA Ages and Mega Drive Mini projects, saying: “I really enjoy seeing or reading about fans’ experiences with past SEGA games, or having them come Find me to speak at trade shows. Even today, these experiences make me very happy about using the Mega Drive.”
As someone who had such an impact on the Mega Drive generation of gaming, and who SEGA pushed to bring their retro collection to modern consoles and dedicated retro systems, there’s probably no better place to honor her than the Mega Drive Mini 2. As a system designed to bring players back to the golden age of SEGA, it would be more than fitting to include her permanently.
