Christian Whitehead: Difference between revisions
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== Career == |
== Career == |
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In 2006, Whitehead worked as a freelance 3D animator with the company Kine Graffiti. Since 2009, he became focused on game development, developing various [[fangame]]s based on the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series.<ref name="derstandard">{{cite web|url=http://derstandard.at/2000011074333/Lieblingsspiele-neugemacht-Die-bewundernswerte-Kunst-der-Fan-Remakes|title=Lieblingsspiele 2.0: Die bewundernswerte Kunst der Fan-Remakes|author=Rainer Sigl|publisher=[[Der Standard]]|language=de|date=February 1, 2015}}</ref> In 2009, Whitehead produced a |
In 2006, Whitehead worked as a freelance 3D animator with the company Kine Graffiti. Since 2009, he became focused on game development, developing various [[fangame]]s based on the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series.<ref name="derstandard">{{cite web|url=http://derstandard.at/2000011074333/Lieblingsspiele-neugemacht-Die-bewundernswerte-Kunst-der-Fan-Remakes|title=Lieblingsspiele 2.0: Die bewundernswerte Kunst der Fan-Remakes|author=Rainer Sigl|publisher=[[Der Standard]]|language=de|date=February 1, 2015}}</ref> In 2009, Whitehead produced a proof-of-concept video of ''[[Sonic CD]]'' running on an [[iPhone]] using his own custom engine, the "[[Retro Engine]]".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hodapp|first1=Eli|title=Christian Whitehead On 'Sonic CD' and His Retro Engine|url=http://toucharcade.com/2009/07/29/christian-whitehead-on-sonic-cd-and-his-retro-engine/|accessdate=23 July 2016|work=TouchArcade|date=29 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="History">{{cite news|last1=Nelson|first1=Jared|title=Hey Sega! This 'Sonic 3 & Knuckles' iOS Port Needs to Happen|url=http://toucharcade.com/2014/10/19/sonic-3-knuckles-ios-port/|accessdate=23 July 2016|work=TouchArcade|date=19 October 2014}}</ref> While Sega did not initially approve this version, and Whitehead's website and demo video were taken down due to a [[cease and desist]] order, Sega eventually changed their mind regarding it, and officially released the port for [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[iPhone]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] two years later.<ref name="EuroGrev">{{cite web|last1=Parkin|first1=Simon|title=Sonic CD Review|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-12-21-sonic-cd-review|website=[[Eurogamer]]|accessdate=21 April 2017|date=22 December 2011|quote=However, after a few weeks, Whitehead's website was taken offline, as was the YouTube video he released to show off his work. It seemed as though Sega's lawyers had issued a cease-and-desist and ordered his work to be scrapped.}}</ref> His port was so successful that he was later commissioned to port ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' to mobile devices.<ref name="History" /> Although he released another proof-of-concept video for ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' in 2014, Sega did not approve the project.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mawson|first1=Chris|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Remastered Interview with Christian 'The Taxman' Whitehead|url=http://powerupgaming.co.uk/2015/04/02/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-remastered-interview/|accessdate=23 July 2016|work=Power Up Gaming|date=2 April 2015}}</ref> In 2015, it was announced that Whitehead would be involved in his first non-Sonic game, ''[[Freedom Planet 2]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Oliver|first1=Tristan|title=Taxman on Board for Freedom Planet 2 Development|url=http://www.tssznews.com/2015/12/25/taxman-on-board-for-freedom-planet-2-development/|accessdate=23 July 2016|work=TSSZ News|date=25 December 2015}}</ref> In 2016, it was announced that Whitehead, in collaboration with Headcannon and PagodaWest Games, would be developing their own original title in the series, titled ''[[Sonic Mania]]'', which released in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Byford|first1=Sam|title=Could Sonic Mania be the best Sonic the Hedgehog game since the Genesis?|url=http://www.theverge.com/2016/7/23/12262006/sonic-mania-announced-ps4-pc-xbox-one|accessdate=23 July 2016|work=The Verge|date=23 July 2016}}</ref> |
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== Works == |
== Works == |
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Revision as of 20:56, 21 August 2017
Christian Whitehead | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | Taxman |
| Occupation | Game programmer |
| Known for | Working on games in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series |
Christian Whitehead, better known by his alias Taxman,[1] is an Australian independent video game programmer and designer.[2] He is most recognised for his work creating updated ports of early games in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series, as well as being the project lead of an original title in the series, titled Sonic Mania.
Career
In 2006, Whitehead worked as a freelance 3D animator with the company Kine Graffiti. Since 2009, he became focused on game development, developing various fangames based on the Sonic the Hedgehog series.[3] In 2009, Whitehead produced a proof-of-concept video of Sonic CD running on an iPhone using his own custom engine, the "Retro Engine".[4][5] While Sega did not initially approve this version, and Whitehead's website and demo video were taken down due to a cease and desist order, Sega eventually changed their mind regarding it, and officially released the port for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, iPhone and Android two years later.[6] His port was so successful that he was later commissioned to port Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to mobile devices.[5] Although he released another proof-of-concept video for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 2014, Sega did not approve the project.[7] In 2015, it was announced that Whitehead would be involved in his first non-Sonic game, Freedom Planet 2.[8] In 2016, it was announced that Whitehead, in collaboration with Headcannon and PagodaWest Games, would be developing their own original title in the series, titled Sonic Mania, which released in 2017.[9]
Works
- Retro Sonic[10] (original game) - Windows PC
- Sonic XG[11] (original game) - Windows PC
- Sonic Nexus[12] (original game) - Windows PC
- Retro Sonic Nexus[13] (original game) - Windows PC
- Sonic CD (reprogrammed game) - Android, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows PC, iOS, Windows Mobile (2011)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (reprogrammed game) - iOS, Android (2013)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (reprogrammed game) - iOS, Android, Windows Mobile (2013)
- Sonic Mania - PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Windows PC (2017)
- Freedom Planet 2 - game engine programmer (2018)
References
- ^ Mawson, Chris (12 January 2015). "Fans Launch Campaign for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Mobile Release". Power Up Gaming. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ "Sonic Fans Campaign For the Release of Sonic 3 Remastered | mxdwn Games". games.mxdwn.com. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ Rainer Sigl (February 1, 2015). "Lieblingsspiele 2.0: Die bewundernswerte Kunst der Fan-Remakes" (in German). Der Standard.
- ^ Hodapp, Eli (29 July 2009). "Christian Whitehead On 'Sonic CD' and His Retro Engine". TouchArcade. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ a b Nelson, Jared (19 October 2014). "Hey Sega! This 'Sonic 3 & Knuckles' iOS Port Needs to Happen". TouchArcade. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ Parkin, Simon (22 December 2011). "Sonic CD Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
However, after a few weeks, Whitehead's website was taken offline, as was the YouTube video he released to show off his work. It seemed as though Sega's lawyers had issued a cease-and-desist and ordered his work to be scrapped.
- ^ Mawson, Chris (2 April 2015). "Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Remastered Interview with Christian 'The Taxman' Whitehead". Power Up Gaming. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ Oliver, Tristan (25 December 2015). "Taxman on Board for Freedom Planet 2 Development". TSSZ News. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ Byford, Sam (23 July 2016). "Could Sonic Mania be the best Sonic the Hedgehog game since the Genesis?". The Verge. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ http://info.sonicretro.org/Retro_Sonic_Nexus
- ^ http://info.sonicretro.org/Retro_Sonic_Nexus
- ^ http://info.sonicretro.org/Retro_Sonic_Nexus
- ^ http://info.sonicretro.org/Retro_Sonic_Nexus