Christian Whitehead facts for kids

Christian Whitehead, also known as The Taxman, is an Australian video game programmer and designer. He is famous for updating older Sonic the Hedgehog games for modern devices. He also led the creation of a new Sonic game called Sonic Mania. In late 2018, Christian helped start a game company called Evening Star. Their first game, Penny's Big Breakaway, came out in early 2024.

Christian Whitehead's Career

Christian Whitehead started as a freelance 3D animator in 2006. Since 2009, he has focused on making video games. He began by creating fan-made games based on the Sonic the Hedgehog series. One of his first was Retro Sonic in 2007. This game was special because it felt very much like a real Sonic game. It was not just a change to an existing game.

Working with Sega

In 2009, Sega asked fans for ideas to bring their games to iOS (Apple devices). Christian showed them a video of Sonic CD running on an iPhone. He used his own special game engine, called the "Retro Engine". He spent about a year convincing Sega to let him create this new version.

The Sonic CD game was released in 2011 for many platforms. These included Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, iPhone, and Android. His work was so good that Sega asked him to update two more classic games. He worked with another developer, Simon "Stealth" Thomley, to remaster Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for mobile phones.

New Games and Studios

Christian and Simon also showed a video for a possible Sonic the Hedgehog 3 update in 2014. However, Sega did not approve this project. In 2015, Christian worked on his first non-Sonic game, Freedom Planet 2.

In 2017, Christian, along with Headcannon and PagodaWest Games, created a brand-new Sonic game. This game was called Sonic Mania. It was a big hit with fans. In 2018, Sonic Mania was re-released as Sonic Mania Plus. This version added more content to the game. Christian also helped with Sonic Origins, a collection of classic Sonic games. He updated the engine used for these remasters.

In late 2018, Christian and other developers from Sonic Mania started their own company. It is called Evening Star. Christian is the creative director and lead engine architect there. In 2022, Evening Star partnered with Private Division to publish their games. Their first game, Penny's Big Breakaway, came out in 2024.

The Retro Engine

The Retro Engine is a special tool Christian Whitehead created to make two-dimensional (2D) games. It is perfect for games that look like those from older consoles. These include systems like the Sega Saturn, Sega Genesis, or the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The engine is great at handling graphics and colors for 2D games. It also supports wider screens and online features.

Christian first made the Retro Engine for his fan game Retro Sonic in 2007. He then used it for the updated versions of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. These games were released for mobile devices in 2013. The engine was also used for Sonic Mania and its extra content, Sonic Mania Plus.

Christian planned to create a new engine called the Star Engine. This new engine would be for 3D games. He used it for Penny's Big Breakaway. Sega also used the Retro Engine for their game collection Sonic Origins in 2022. This collection included updated versions of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Christian updated the engine for this release.

Christian Whitehead's Works

See also

In Spanish: Christian Whitehead para niños