Kensuke Tanabe

Kensuke Tanabe (田邊 賢輔, Tanabe Kensuke, born January 26, 1963 in Ikeda, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese video game designer and producer working for Nintendo. After he had graduated from the Visual Concept Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts, he decided to enter the video game industry, and joined Nintendo in April 1986. At first, Tanabe was part of the Entertainment Analysis and Development division. He directed the platform games Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic and Super Mario Bros. 2, and worked on the scripts for the action-adventures The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. In 2003, Tanabe switched to the Software Planning and Development division, where he became the manager of Production Group No. 3. In recent years, he has become a producer, and has managed the development of first party Nintendo video games, such as the first-person adventure Metroid Prime.

Contents

• GameView Paper Mario Color Splash Sales Figures and Kensuke Tanabe Interview
• nc us gdc 2011 interview with kensuke tanabe
• Works
• References

Works

Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic (1987) — Director, Course Designer

Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) — Director, Course Designer

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) — Scenario Writer

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (1993) — Scenario Writer

Stunt Race FX (1994) — Map Designer

Kirby's Dream Course (1994) — Map Designer

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) — Special Thanks

Kirby's Dream Land 2 (1995) — Map Designer

Kirby's Block Ball (1995) — Supervisor

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995) — Special Thanks

Super Mario RPG (1996) — Screenplay Advisor

Pilotwings 64 (1996) — Special Thanks

Kirby Super Star (1996) — Advisor

BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge (1996) — Original Design

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) — Scenario Writer

Super Smash Bros. (1999) — Special Thanks

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2000) — Assistant Manager

Pikmin (2002) — Special Thanks

Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite! (2002) — Advisor

Metroid Prime (2002) — Co-Producer

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (2004) — Producer

Metroid Prime: Hunters (2006) — Producer

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007) — Producer

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) — Producer

Excitebots: Trick Racing (2009) — Producer

Aura-Aura Climber (2010) — Associate Producer

Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010) — Producer

Dillon's Rolling Western (2012) - Producer

Paper Mario: Sticker Star (2012) - Producer

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (2013) — Producer

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014) — Producer

Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (2015) — Producer

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (2015) — Supervisor

Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge (2016) — Producer

Metroid Prime: Federation Force (2016) — Producer

Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016) — Producer

Metroid Prime 4 (TBA) — Producer