TOKYO — The co-creator of classic video game
series Sonic the
Hedgehog has been arrested for alleged insider trading,
according to public prosecutors in Tokyo.
اضافة اعلان
Yuji Naka, a 57-year-old programmer known for making
Sonic and other major titles at Japanese game firm Sega, was arrested on
Friday, a prosecution document obtained by AFP said.
His alleged misdeed took place nearly three years
ago, when Naka was an employee at “Final Fantasy” creator Square Enix, the
Tokyo District Prosecutors Office document said.
Naka is accused of buying shares in another game
company, Aiming, when he knew they were going to release a new title jointly
developed with Square Enix.
He purchased 10,000 shares in Aiming for 2.8 million
yen ($20,000) in January 2020, according to the document, and the new game was
announced the following month.
Prosecutors on Thursday arrested two other former
Square Enix employees, also for alleged insider trading linked to Aiming.
Naka was not immediately reachable for comment, but
his fans expressed surprise and disappointment on social media.
“Please tell me this isn’t true. He brought Sonic to
life... I’m so sad,” one Twitter user wrote.
“He worked on many great games. So disappointing,”
said another.
On the website of the game studio that Naka founded
called Prope, the programmer said he wanted to create “games that surprise and
entertain children around the world”.
Read more Odd and Bizarre
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
