tomonobu-itagaki
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Itagaki has only nice things to say about Team Ninja's Metroid project
Being away from Tecmo seems to have done wonders for Tomonobu Itagaki's attitude. In an E3 interview with 1UP's James Mielke, the former Team Ninja head said he was "very honored and pleased to be of service" in response to the suggestion that Ninja Blade was a close imitation of Ninja Gaiden. He admitted he was "pretty tired" of making games featuring super-unrealistic women. He even went so far as to praise Tekken 6 director Katsuhiro Harada, only hating on Tekken when pressed.And rather than harbor hard feelings against his former Team Ninja colleagues who stayed on with Tecmo, Itagaki offered well wishes to the team and its Metroid: Other M project. He called Yoshio Sakamoto, Nintendo's producer on the game, "a veteran I really respect," and suggested that Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi "will learn a lot working with him. I hope Team Ninja works hard in making a good game." We like Nice Itagaki! The only ire was reserved for Bayonetta. "If I made a similar game as a game I made in the company I quit," he said about Platinum's Hideki Kamiya, "people would say, 'What an idiot, can't he make anything else?' Well, that is more or less the opinion I have for, uh, that Bayo-something game."
Tomonobu Itagaki returns with new team, new game, same badass attitude
During a recent interview with 1UP, ex-Tecmo employee and leather lover Tomonobu Itagaki (along with comrades Hiroaki Matsui, Katsunori Ehara, and Yoshifuru Okamoto) iterated that he is returning to gaming, and will be backed up by a brand new team on a project for a future game. Unfortunately, we won't see anything on this new game at next week's E3, although Itagaki did confirm he would be in attendance.The new company is tentatively called "Tokyo Vikings" (how ... appropriate) and is largely comprised of ex-Team Ninja staff, including a majority of the folks who worked on Ninja Gaiden 2. Surprisingly, his new team even managed to snag some key character designers from Virtua Fighter 5.Itagaki was overall pretty tight-lipped about the new team and its mystery project, but did confirm that it wouldn't be a fighting game, as Itagaki is sure he's hit the ceiling there with Dead or Alive 4. He wouldn't comment on whether it would be an Xbox 360 exclusive, or heading to other consoles such as the PS3, but his past affiliations with Microsoft might suggest a likely path for his future games.
Itagaki says PS3 development easier than Famicom
According to former Tecmo employee and Team Ninja leader Tomonobu Itagaki (Dead or Alive series, Ninja Gaiden Sigma), developing for the PS3 is easy-peasy. "I don't think that developing for the PS3 is hard at all. It was much harder developing for the Famicom," Itagaki told 1UP. "It's true. I mean, give someone who's developing for the PS3 a Famicom and see if they can make a game for it. They won't be able to. Yeah, that'll prove it. We'll bet a drink on it."For the longest time now, developers have been struggling with getting a hang of the PS3 hardware; for Itagaki, it's apparently nothing more than shooting the breeze on a Tuesday. So Itagaki-san, want to develop again for the PS3 and show these fools how it's done? It's been a while hasn't it?
Tecmo president resigns for 'personal reasons'
Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda pulled a Mr. Hudsucker (minus the dying) and has left the company citing personal reasons. GI.biz reports his sword will be taken up by chairman of the board Yahuharu Kakihara as of Sept. 1.Yasuda's personal reasons for leaving Tecmo might have something to do with the lawsuit brought by Ninja Gaiden's leather aficionado developer, Tomonobu Itagaki. Tecmo took a hit to its stock following Itagaki's departure (and subsequent fallout), so this changing of the guard might be a sign that the company is ready to clean up the mess and move on.
Tecmo fires back, says details of lawsuit are 'inaccurate'
Much like a war that rages on for centuries, the struggle between Tomonobu Itagaki and his almost-former (July 1) employer, Tecmo, continues. The latest volley in this exchange between parties shows Tecmo bashing the lawsuit, claiming the details are "inaccurate."Within the statement, Tecmo is quick to point out that all of Team Ninja's employees aren't following their leader and quitting. Tecmo also says that all 300 employees aren't filing lawsuits against the company.For the rest from Tecmo's official statement, we suggest you head past the post break.
Tecmo hits Itagaki with gag order
Man, things are crazy at Tecmo. Itagaki leaves (and sues), then Tecmo responds (and stocks plummet), then just about everyone at Tecmo sues their employer. Now, Tecmo has dropped a suppression order on Tomonobu, which would prohibit him from making any other public statements about what's going down.The thing was filed on June 10th and seeks to prohibit Itagaki from: Talking about, destroying or leaking any Tecmo secrets concerning software, development or marketing Making false or misleading statements regarding Tecmo's business practices or other games Saying anything to defame Tecmo Making public statements about Tecmo in any way, as well as accepting media invitations to discuss Tecmo while still employed (July 1st) [Via Joystiq]
Tecmo attempts to quiet Itagaki, denies exodus rumors
In an effort to quell widespread rumors surrounding the business practices of the company, Tecmo has filed an injunction against former Team Ninja lead Tomonobu Itagaki. Filed in a Tokyo District Court, the injunction places a four-point gag order on Itagaki, effectively removing his opinion from the public forum beyond his existing comments on the matter against Tecmo. The provisional disposition prohibits: Disclosing or leaking information regarding Tecmo's game software, sales, development or any other company secrets Using newspapers, magazines and the internet to criticize company software and company employees Obstructing the company's business through slanderous remarks to third parties Interviews regarding Tecmo or discuss the company and its practices to the press In a statement made today, Tecmo has vehemently denied recent reports that dozens of Team Ninja employees have resigned in the wake of Itagaki's announcement and a lawsuit has been filed against the company on behalf of its 300 employees. Calling the reports "groundless" and "inaccurate," Tecmo has asked the media to approach the situation with a fair and balanced view. We'll update the story as details emerge, however, as proven by the injunction against Itagaki it looks like Tecmo would like to silence anyone who could shed light on the situation.[via Talking About Games & Joystiq]
All Tecmo employees sue Tecmo
We thought it was bad when Tomonobu Itagaki left Tecmo, but little did we know it was about to get much, much worse. As rumored over the weekend, employees of the company are suing for unpaid bonuses. Well, it's not exactly the same as the weekend rumor, which said the lawsuit would come from three dozen or so higher ups. No, apparently the lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all 300 of the company's employees. A Famitsu article on the subject also says the suit complains of employees not getting holiday and overtime pay that they are owed.So, in short, Tecmo is eating itself. You may now carry on with your day.[Via X3F]
Tecmo possibly facing Obliteration
After Itagaki decided to leave due to unpaid bonuses, it looked as though things might just end with that. Then came the rumor that around three dozen employees would follow suit. Now it seems like Tecmo has been dismembered and is just waiting for the inevitable OT. A lawsuit was filed in Tokyo District Court just yesterday on behalf of all 300 of Tecmo's remaining employees, and according to one translation claims that "Tecmo has falsified documents and accounting procedures in regards to employment statuses, overtime pay and various lapses in employment standards when filing documents for labor inspections." Additionally, a Famitsu article on the same topic also notes that employees were not getting their overtime pay, nor were they well-compensated for working on public holidays. The Google Translation of the original Japanese story is a bit dry and difficult to follow (as is to be expected from a computer translation) but specific words such as "forge" and "impersonation" hint at the kind of trouble Tecmo could be facing before this is all over.Whatever happens, we just hope that the talent from Tecmo's various projects all end up alright and get the compensation they deserve. We're certainly no experts, but from what we hear, Japanese game devs (heck, game devs in general) are run pretty ragged and really do deserve their bonuses ...[Via NeoGAF]
Rumor: Up to three dozen Team Ninja members leave with Itagaki, AND file lawsuits
Wait, you mean there's actually a rumor today that didn't come from the infamous survey? Yup, indeed there is. This one comes to us from the good folks over at 1up who have been keeping their collective ears to the ground for just this purpose. Apparently, when Tomonobu Itagaki left Tecmo for not receiving his bonus, key members of the team realized just how badly they'd been shafted, and left as well. So now the word is that they've all filed individual lawsuits of their own in response to not receiving their bonuses either. If Microsoft was smart they'd grab all these guys and give them a studio and game right away. Or maybe (despite what time and space may have to say about it) they already have ...
Rumor: Three dozen Team Ninja devs leaving with Itagaki, suing Tecmo
Losing one of your company's most recognizable figureheads, especially one whose name is so closely associated with most of your best-selling properties, is bound to put a damper on things around the office. However, that last statement assumes that there are still people in the office -- 1UP recently printed a rumor that as many as three dozen Team Ninja higher-ups could be leaving the company following Tomonobu Itagaki's resignation, and will sue Tecmo to gain unpaid bonuses for the games they've completed (much like the class-action suit Itagaki planned to file against the company following his departure).1UP's source for the rumor was the ever-present "word on the street", though that's likely just rumorese for "we have an inside source". Whoever it may be, we doubt it's the same hopeful Tecmo higher-up who recently assured the public that Team Ninja was going to be just fine, as losing your poster boy, a heartbreaking amount of stock market value, and supposedly, a healthy portion of your workforce in such a short period of time would surely make any game developer feel anything but.
Introducing the Ninja Gaiden II page
Ladies and gentlmen, fanboys and girls, Xbox 360 Fanboy presents the Ninja Gaiden II page. This is our first page dedicated to a single game (you may have seen similar pages on Joystiq). On the page you will find all the major Ninja Gaiden II news stories, every Ninja Gaiden II screenshot, and all the Ninja Gaiden II features compiled into a single, bookmark-friendly page. The page will be updated as time goes on to include other features and stories as well (including an upcoming episode of Points>Life). This is only the first dedicated game page on X3F. Expect more to show up in the future. With major 360 exclusives right around the corner (Gears of War 2, Fable 2), there's plenty to cover.For all things Ninja Gaiden II, check out the page right now.
Tomonobu Itagaki: A Blood Splattered History
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Tomonobu_Itagaki_A_Blood_Splattered_History'; Now that Ninja Gaiden 2 developer Tomonobu Itagaki has departed from Tecmo and Team Ninja (and left a lawsuit in his stead), our friends at X3F have compiled a retrospective on Itagaki's career with the company. From his beginnings as a programmer for Tecmo Bowl, through Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden and all the way to his departure, everything is covered. Join us as we take a stroll through memory lane and examine the games, the controversies and the impending future of Tomonobu Itagaki. Click here, get educated.
Tecmo stock down on loss of Itagaki
It looks like the departure of Tomonobu Itagaki from Tecmo is doing more than upsetting fans of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive. It seems as though Itagaki's exit has worried Tecmo stockholders on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as well. According to GameSpot, shares in the company fell sharply on Wednesday upon the news. Upon closing on Tuesday, Tecmo's shares stood at ¥1,102 ($10.40). Shares fell to ¥985 ($9.30) upon opening Wednesday. The stock rose and fell throughout the day today, closing at ¥982 ($9.27). Ouch.It will be interesting to see if this trend continues without Itagaki at the helm of Team Ninja.
Tecmo responds to Itagaki, stock prices fall
Well, what did you expect when one of the most notable icons in the gaming industry decided to depart from his longtime employer practically out of nowhere? Certainly Itagaki and Tecmo's president, Yoshimi Yasuda, wouldn't just shake hands, agree to disagree and go their separate ways. There's money at stake here!And following Itagaki's departure, Tecmo has finally come out and said some things regarding the bad break-up. "The legal complaint is in regard to a claim to an incentive bonus linked to a past project," says the Tecmo press release. "The parties could not reach an amicable resolution to this matter, and Itagaki chose to seek a legal remedy. Tecmo will let the court decide the outcome of this case and will seek a true, fair, and quick resolution." For fans who are looking forward to other installments in Team Ninja's franchises, apparently Tecmo is still planning on producing those games, as the press release says that Team Ninja is "intact and, as a matter of fact, has several new projects already underway."Despite the company's commitment to supporting these franchises, many think Itagaki's departure will be a bad thing for Tecmo, as stock prices plummeted in the wake of the Team Ninja head's resignation. Taking a 10% loss in price, you can bet Tecmo is not happy about this whole fiasco. One thing Tecmo will undoubtedly be giddy about, however, is the new smoke-free offices and policy that dictates employees aren't allowed to get wasted on whiskey while on the job.Source - Tecmo fires back at ItagakiSource - Stocks plummet after Itagaki departure
Would You Rather ... Future Ninja Edition
In our continuing effort to bring you fresh and interesting content, X3F presents Would You Rather ... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. The point? If you had to choose one or the other, which would you go for?With his recent departure from Tecmo (well, technically he still works there until July 1), Tomonobu Itagaki has created the last Ninja Gaiden title of his career. It now appears to be obvious that his talk of Ninja Gaiden 2 being the last in the series stemmed from the knowledge of his future plans (aka quitting and suing parent company Tecmo). So, another Ninja Gaiden title is probably going to happen because franchises that make money don't disappear. The question is, do you think the folks at Team Ninja can do it without Itagaki?We're sure they can, but ... would you want them to? So this week in WUR--a new Ninja Gaiden hits stores without Itagaki. What do you do soldier? What do you do? (Shooting a hostage is not an option). Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.Last weeks WUR results can be find after the jump ... come in and check it out for free!
Tecmo responds to Itagaki's remarks and departure
After digesting what soon to be former Team Ninja member Tomonobu Itagaki had to say about their company and their president (it's Itagakigate!), Tecmo has taken the offensive.Denying any responsibility for unpaid bonuses that Itagaki claims they didn't pay him, Tecmo says that they do and continue to pay bonuses to their employees and believes that the bonus Itagaki specifically mentioned in his letter was one that was promised by previous company management. Tecmo also says that the allegations about Tecmo CEO Yoshimi Yasuda are pretty much baseless and are a product of "distortions" by Itagaki. All in all, Tecmo isn't happy that Itagaki decided to make this legal mess a public issue and complained about the fact that Itagaki is acting like he exclusively developed the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive properties. Like we said ... this is going to get U-G-L-Y.
A History of Violence: A Ninja Gaiden Retrospective
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/A_History_of_Violence_A_Ninja_Gaiden_Retrospective'; A little bird told us Ninja Gaiden II was coming out today. Actually, that bird was more like a note attached to a shuriken with a flower on it, but the message was all the same. In honor of the series milestone and in memory of the now-former Ninja Gaiden designer Tomonobu Itagaki, we present you with a series retrospective we're affectionately dubbing A History of Violence (hey, we thought it was clever). Click here and be educated.
Itagaki leaves Tecmo, sues them on the way out [update]
Well now, somebody pass us the box of Kleenex tissues. Apparently, we'll never get another Ninja Gaiden on the DS, or any more Ninja Gaiden games period, as whiskey-swillin' and leather-wearing head of Team Ninja, Tomonobu Itagaki, has called it quits with Tecmo. The president of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, hasn't paid money that Itagaki is owed, he says.And that's why Itagaki is suing for 148 million yen (US$1.5m) on his way out. Not only that, but Itagaki also says Yasuda "made demeaning remarks" about him to other employees, affecting his status at work, giving him "significant emotional distress" and "worsening [of his] personal relationships and work environment."In his statement, Itagaki said there won't be any more Ninja Gaiden or Dead or Alive games from him, as the rights are retained by Tecmo. This will surely come as a huge disappointment to fans.Update: Fixed a wording discrepancy.[Via Joystiq]
Itagaki sues Tecmo, decides to leave Team Ninja
As we eagerly await our chance to experience the Ninja Gaiden II demo we just caught wind of a VERY juicy announcement coming from Mr. cool shades, Ninja Gaiden creator and Team Ninja member Tomonobu Itagaki. Simply stated, Itagaki is suing Tecmo and just announced plans to leave Team Ninja ... ZOMG!According to 1UP who received an official letter from one of Itagaki's aids, Itagaki reveals that he is suing Tecmo for 145 million yen due to "unpaid completion bonuses" and because Itagaki claims that there were "unreasonable and disingenuous statements made towards me" by Tecmo's president Yoshimi Yasuda which caused "significant emotional distress." The letter goes on to say that the lawsuit is based on a "strong intent to question the social responsibility of Tecmo Co., Ltd." and that Itagaki will resign from Tecmo effective July 1st. Ending his letter, Itagaki addresses his fans, saying that Ninja Gaiden II "will be the last Ninja Gaiden I will create", mentions that he will never "be able to make Dead or Alive 5" and, for that, Itagaki regrets "the disappointment this will cause" those who have enjoyed his work.Wow ... we're speechless. Itagaki leaves Team Ninja, leaves behind franchises that he helped bring to life and leaves both his fans and the industry, well ... speechless. We can only assume that Itagaki's battle with Tecmo will be hard fought and is going to get very, very ugly.
