Breaking: Ninja Gaiden's Itagaki says 'Sayonara Tecmo, see you in court'
by Randy Nelson 
{ Jun 3rd 2008 at 3:00AM }
In addition to resigning his position at the company – where he had a seat on the board of directors – Itagaki has announced his intention to sue Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda for 148 million yen (US$1.5m) in damages. Among the grievances listed in the statement are Yasuda's unwillingness to pay him bonuses promised for work on titles including Dead or Alive 4, and allegations that Yasuda "made demeaning remarks" about him to other Tecmo employees, which resulted in "significant emotional distress" and "worsening [of his] personal relationships and work environment."
Itagaki began his career at Tecmo as a graphics programmer. One of his earliest titles for the company was 1993's Tecmo Super Bowl for SNES. He later gained notoriety for his original fighting game creation, Dead or Alive, and was lauded with superstar-level recognition by Microsoft after they secured the exclusive rights to Dead or Alive 3 for the original Xbox's US launch.
In his statement, Itagaki confirmed that he will not be involved with any future Ninja Gaiden or Dead or Alive titles, as the rights to both franchises are retained by Tecmo. How Itagaki's departure will affect the future of either series will surely be at the forefront of gamers' minds, as well as those of Tecmo brass. We'll have more on this breaking story, including Tecmo's reaction, as it develops.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
thegears @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:05AM
RIP DOA.
Phil @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:05AM
Um... Okay, first off... Wow...
I'm assuming... NO ONE saw this coming, much like myself.
Itagaki's a bit odd though so it's hard to make heads or tails of whether or not he's just trying to cash out or something else.
But I figure he had to have had a good job there so I don't see why he would've left.
pacokorn77 @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:17AM
I didn't see this coming in the least bit...I was out drinking with a bunch of friends, and as soon as I read this, straight sober-face.
Itagaki leaving Team Ninja? What the crap? Surely he has something tucked away behind those surgically-implanted sunglasses that will make us completely forget he left Ninja Gaiden and DOA behind in the hands of those who'll just milk each franchise's golden teet.
Surely...
BananaBoat @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:31AM
WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE BOOB PHYSICS?!?! WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE BOOB PHYSICS!!!!
Seriously, I saw this coming when he called Ninja Gaiden Sigma crap. Who calls a product that keeps them in business "crap"?
I'm seriously sad, because truly DOA and Ninja Gaiden will be worse off without him =/
Volomon @ Jun 3rd 2008 5:39AM
What you didn't see it coming, he threw a fit about Ninja Gaiden going to PS3, hes obviously a cry baby. The guy was probably calling him out a few times for being said baby. I don't think the company will miss him to be honest. Hes to self righteous and thinks he is the creator of god.
Wii60Warrior @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:33AM
I'm really shocked by this....
DOA and Ninja will NOT be the same without him.
I look forward to whatever games he creates in the future.
The guy is a fucking genius.
dsub @ Jun 4th 2008 4:10PM
Volomon-
I'd say Tecmo will miss him quite a bit.
Just about the only thing Tecmo develops anymore are DOA and NG.
Go to there site. There are no upcoming titles and the only other games I can find that WEREN'T NG or DOA were Tokobot for the PSP and Super Swing Golf.
I'm assuming the guy who oversaw NG Sigma will step up, but I have a feeling Itagaki will be announced as a new employee of MS Game Studios in the near future.
doom saber @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:06AM
"......and allegations that Yasuda "made demeaning remarks" about him to other Tecmo employees, which resulted in "significant emotional distress" and "worsening [of his] personal relationships and work environment." More details after the break.
"
I would imagine a guy like Itagaki could take some abuse after makin remarks about how crappy games, ports (like ps3 ninja Gaiden port and the ppl responsible for those are.
Maybe we will see him get a job at Namco bandai for Tekken 7. LMAO
Kamizar @ Jun 3rd 2008 5:54AM
Its not about what was said, it's about how it made things harder to get done...
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:05AM
That would be like him turning gay, it won't happen, never, no, nout!
Its like the cross to a vampire
NOOOOOO TEKKKKEEENNNN!!! IT BURNSSSS!!!
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:40AM
Also, Tekken is too good for him. Yeah, i went there.
doom saber @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:12AM
Didn't Ita bashed a fellow employee for the ps3 NG port any different in regards of making that guy's work environment a bit hard to work at? That is calling the kettle black.
Organic_Shadow @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:18AM
Yeah seriously... sorry, allegiances aside, I gotta call "cry baby" on this one.
He's like the trouble maker kid in grade school that BARELY gets out of trouble once, and then tries to act like everyone else is the problem and becomes a tattler all of the sudden.
Could this be a reaction to the not-so-perfect-as-he-said reviews of NG2?
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:06AM
Funny, considering he apparently wanted no part in the PS3 version of NG, it performed quite well, some nice scores and great NG gameplay.
Kodros @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:02PM
Can someone explain why doom saber was voted down?
Moffka @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:13AM
Good riddance.
Toasty Toaster Man @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:16AM
"worsening [of his] personal relationships and work environment."
Sexual assault usually does that.
Moffka @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:29AM
Winrar
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:09AM
DOA was his fantasy, how can he let it go?
His ultimate dream was to have a fighter with completly nude anime women fighting.
Got there a bit late though:
http://www.gametrailers.com/search.php?str_type=allmedia&s=battle%20raper
Nick Ritch @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:18AM
I wonder where he's gonna end up?? I'm sure theres quite a few companies that would be happy to have him.
Brian @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:50AM
He can join the frat party that is Gamecock publishing.
Noshino @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:19AM
Well, everyone saw this coming...
- NG2 being published by Microsoft themselves
- Itagaki admitting that he wouldn't make any more DOA or NG titles (you really thought that his comments about those 2 franchises having peaked perfection was true?)
And the fact that, like the article states, he has been given superstar-level recognition, and so most likely he would want an studio under his own command (but then again, Tecmo on the last few years had been depending on Team Ninja...)
Most likely, he will join Microsoft Studios.
J.Goodwin @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:02AM
Yeah, he's been an outspoken supporter of Microsoft's consoles, and basically hasn't wanted to personally work on anyone else's home console since he touched the Xbox...
He'd be a major addition to Microsoft's 2 and a halfth party lineup with Mistwalker.
Farseer (GDI) @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:11AM
Dude, I didn't think about that, but it is certainly feasible.
Cyro @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:49AM
It would be nice to see him work for Microsoft Studios and Build a new IP from the ground up. Maybe he already knows what they are going to work on, since he already was talking about doing something different now.
What ever it is, it should have some quality in it.
Having this guy do nothing for a couple of years is a waste of time for him and the gaming community.
dsub @ Jun 4th 2008 4:13PM
Volomon-
I'd say Tecmo will miss him quite a bit.
Just about the only thing Tecmo develops anymore are DOA and NG.
Go to there site. There are no upcoming titles and the only other games I can find that WEREN'T NG or DOA were Tokobot for the PSP and Super Swing Golf.
I'm assuming the guy who oversaw NG Sigma will step up, but I have a feeling Itagaki will be announced as a new employee of MS Game Studios in the near future.
elmersglue @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:22AM
i wonder why you didn't like him... of course the ps3 fanboys are gonna start chiming in with their nonsense.
Tragedy @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:29AM
Wow, this guy is as big a douche as Kojima.
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:11AM
Lol, Kojima? Right.
Phil @ Jun 3rd 2008 5:31PM
If Kojima's a douchebag then Itagaki's a freaking angel according to your logic.
Since when has Kojima ever made major complaints about the gaming industry, other than the remarks he made about MGS4?
You all know what I mean, how he wanted to do more but the Blu-Ray disk was limiting or something.
That's ALL he's ever said. Kojima's games I find a bit too much for me but if there's one thing he is it's a fantastic director. I've had MORE fun watching my friend play the MGS games than playing them myself.
Noshino @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:32AM
huh? the PS3 fanboys?... dude, the guy trash talked other more famous franchises that were on the same genre as his games...he was famous for saying something bad about either DMC or Tekken (at times both) on almost every interview...
Not only that, but his behavior and his ego....because his comments towards the team in charge of Sigma weren't nice at all, more so when he had handpicked the director himself....
Foetoid @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:44AM
Now we need Nintendo to smarten up and create an exclusive game studio specifically for the style of game Itagaki makes and pay him well to run the whole studio. Then Nintendo would have some top-quality in-house hardcore adult games (heck, get him to make a Zelda game with the Ninja Gaiden style!) and Nintendos reputation among hardcore gamers would increase ten-fold. It's not like they can't afford to make my suggestion a reality lol.
Noshino @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:04AM
Actually, the other way around, hiring Itagaki, and even worse, giving him his own studio, would destroy Nintendo's image of being family friendly...one that they have been keeping for quite a few years...
spoo @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:10AM
This is the most idiotic comment I have read in some time. DID YOU FORGET that Itagaki is the biggest GFX whore ever?
I'm sure Itagaki would rather suck Miyamoto's manhood than make GCN 1.2 games.
This isn't some random fanboy comments, read up on Itagaki and his thoughts on making games on only making games "the most powerful console."
doom saber @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:14AM
@ spoo, I know what you said about Ita is true, but the guy did make NG dragonfire for the Ds, which is not as powerful as the psp.
I think Itagaki is confusing "popular or new" with "powerful"
doom saber @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:19AM
Not tryin to start a war by sayin the psp is more powerful than the DS in terms of graphics (own both portable systems, but prefer the ds because the games they have,) but it is true and for those who can't see that, are in denial.
However, the Ds has what the psp lacks, are the games and that what makes a system. Just had to create this post so I don't have some narrowminded dumbass commenting to my previous post about I am some psp fanboy for statin the system being more powerful than the ds.
Noshino @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:24AM
spoo,
yes, he did mention that, but there was an intreview in which he mentioned that he was interested on the Wiimote, so that could also mean that he was willing to make a Wii title (he made a DS title despite the fact that the most powerful handheld is the PSP)
spoo @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:46AM
Not to fuel the fire but here on DS Fanboy Itagaki said, "We're doing a lot of research, that's about all I can say right now. Although, to add on that note, my kids have been saying they want a game for the Wii. To tell you the truth, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword, that's because my kids were asking for one of my titles to be on the DS." http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/2007/08/02/itagakis-kids-want-a-wii-game/
As a married man that doesn't have any children but the majority of my friends are parents I can totally see Itagaki's reasoning behind this.
In other articles I have read about Itagaki an the Wii he states that he would rely on "motion-sensing strengths" but that isn't saying he wants to make Wi games. (Is Wi pearl for Wii?)
I could careless what system Itagaki makes games for (since IMHO he is overrated, pretentious man that doesn't deliver,) but I'm sure he isn't that big of a hypocrite to make 1st party Wii games, or is he?
Yourself @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:44AM
Though he's a bit of an intolerable ass (and, along with the artist-formerly-known-as-Cliffy-B, one of the "cool-kids" of gaming whom journalists annoyingly adore), his opinions on gaming in general tended to be spot on.
Still, sounds like he found the bitchiest reason possible to leave/sue.
doom saber @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:59AM
I cannot speak for Brett from Atlanta, but I thought Ita was a douche ever since he bashed the entire tekken series after hearing a Tekken radio advert bashing DOA. The tekken advertisment was most likely not even made by Namco, but by some advertisming firm; I am not a Tekken fanboy or anything, but am I the only one who thinks Ita is being an ass for bashing a game for years and years just because of one ad that may or may not be made Namco?
I mean, if the team behind Tekken personally said that, I can understand Ita's anger towards his compititors...But a freaking ad?
Also, Noshino is correct about Ita's bashing on a port of NG and the person who was in charge of the conversion. regardless what system Sigma is on, it takes an asshole to bash a faithful port of a game (to the original Xbox NG game) he made and the person behind the port especially if he picked the director to port the game over.
Jouten @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:19AM
R.I.P. Tomonobu Itagaki.
Deadpool @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:24AM
Looking back at all the recent news articals on Itagaki, I'd have to say he worked really hard on his final game, dispite all the camera issues.
I feel sorry for the guy (I'm serious). He must really had a tough month with all the stress of hyping NG II. I just hope a good company hires him and all his thought provoking games (This is not funny!)
Maybe Microsoft will hire him...maybe even Sony.
Yeah Sony!
Because we all know he...he just...Loves..Sony....HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHAH! HAAAHAHAAHAHAA! HHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAAA!!!
Sorry, I can't do this anymore! But really if he does win the lawsuit we can at least hope he uses it to complete his Michael Jackson facial reconstuction surgery. They're so close to getting it done! HAAAAHAHAAH!
His games will be missed...Itagaki...not so much.
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:15AM
Roflmao, just wait, he'll turn up to court in his PJs lol
"Yes your honour, I am in my PJs, but its about how Tecmo have screwed me over, not about my PJs or my sexual harrassment"
Shadowflare XIII @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:28AM
....got....dammit.
I mean I knew this guy had ego issues but to go as far as this??
Now I know the world is going to hell, who's next...Hideo Kojima?
#%(k it I'm going to bed.
Kamizar @ Jun 3rd 2008 6:00AM
Can you spot the PS3 owners, I can...
Sure, he talked trash and was arrogant, but he made games that people really enjoyed, so I hope he finds a job somewhere where he can talk more trash and make better games...
James B @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:01AM
That, and anyone in the industry who bashes the entire Tekken series has got some serious fucking balls.
Maybe there's a bit of a cover-up going on here? This could be about porting NG2 to PS3, which would make more money for Tecmo but the only thing in the way of that would be Itagaki himself.
Oh, and to anyone calling crybaby over this, there's a big difference between external criticism and internal criticism from the president which could damage relationships between employees (that is, if Itagaki claims are truthful).
Noshino @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:45AM
"Maybe there's a bit of a cover-up going on here? This could be about porting NG2 to PS3, which would make more money for Tecmo but the only thing in the way of that would be Itagaki himself."
Well, we can't really tell, remember that Microsoft published the game, we don't know what the contract involved (or do you?)
"Oh, and to anyone calling crybaby over this, there's a big difference between external criticism and internal criticism from the president which could damage relationships between employees (that is, if Itagaki claims are truthful)."
......he is suing the president over internal criticism because of the damage caused?...I'm pretty sure he cause enough damage against his own image by his comments against the team behind Sigma...
J.Goodwin @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:49AM
Have you played Tekken: Dark Resurrection? I'm not so sure that it takes balls so much as eyes, two thumbs, and a brain.
Garcian_Smith @ Jun 3rd 2008 6:30AM
Here's the world's smallest violin playing the world's saddest song just for you Itagaki.
KWhite @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:09AM
/spittake
He what? My good with him leaving that can only mean one thing.
He's the final cylon!
/panic