Tecmo: Team Ninja still 'intact' after Itagaki's departure

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jun 4th 2008 at 6:00PM }

Following the resignation of outspoken game designer, Tomonobu Itagaki, and his subsequent lawsuit against his former employer, Tecmo has assured fans that its Team Ninja development studio remains "intact" and involved in "several new projects." In a statement issued to 1UP, the Tokyo-based publisher notes that, due to the legal complaint, it had "no choice" but to accept Itagaki's resignation, effective July 1, 2008.

The lawsuit is said to be tied to an outstanding incentive bonus for a past project, one which the parties could not amicably resolve. Tecmo states that it will let the court settle things and bring about a "true, fair, and quick resolution." As for the Team Ninja studio, it remains "committed to producing compelling and cutting edge games in order to maintain its reputation as a high quality developer and to continue to receive the support of its loyal fans."

While it's obvious that Tomonobu Itagaki didn't make games like Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden by himself, we wonder if another star developer will emerge to give Team Ninja an incendiary pass to the presses. Is this Itsygaki's time to shine?

[Thanks, Fattycop]

Tags: Dead-or-Alive, Itagaki, Lawsuit, Ninja-Gaiden, Ninja-Gaiden-2, Team-Ninja, Tecmo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

PojoMofo @ Jun 4th 2008 6:07PM

I think the incentive bonus was supposed to come after completing DOA4, where he got a 100,000 Yen bonus for every boob bounce animation he put in the game.

Tecmo owes him a lot of money!!

Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 4th 2008 6:32PM

I'm hoping for more Team Ninja games to come to the PS3 as well, they will see much better sales in Japan at least, get a lot more exposure among their home audience and thats a fact.

What are the sales of their Xbox games in Japan anyhow?

Microsoft courting these developers with buckets of cash will not help you in Japan, just forget it.

Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 4th 2008 6:34PM

Whoops, wrongly placed comment.

Benny @ Jun 4th 2008 6:12PM

Hmm... "several new projects". Ninja Gaiden II: Sigma perhaps?

Slayer @ Jun 4th 2008 6:21PM

That would be nice if there were a ninja gaiden sigma 2 on the way. I really want to play ninja gaiden 2 but my 360 weirded out on me. So I have to wait for another one.

Moofree @ Jun 4th 2008 6:21PM

Ninja Gaiden Tau

PojoMofo @ Jun 4th 2008 6:23PM

Ninja Gaiden phi Xtreme Beach Volleyball?

ScottyGEE @ Jun 4th 2008 6:25PM

Multiplayer Ninja Gaiden...Up to four people going crazy. OH MAN WOULD I BUY THAT

Kryptinite @ Jun 4th 2008 6:30PM

No Itagaki

No Team Ninja!

that is all. Speaking of which, I might go pick that up today.

Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 4th 2008 6:31PM

Are there any pictures of this guy without his fucking sunglasses on!?

FOXHOUND @ Jun 5th 2008 7:56AM

He wears his sunglasses at night too. So don't trust the man.

-guitar riff-

doom saber @ Jun 4th 2008 7:00PM

Be interestin to see how Team Ninja would do w/o Ita on board. I mean, Ita does talk about his games as if he is the sole designer. This way, we can see if he is full of shit or not if an upcomming Team ninja game does better w/o his involvement

Robobagins @ Jun 4th 2008 7:10PM

I hope Itagaki-less Team Ninja moves away from the Plastic-y action figure look for the character models and finally gives the levels some much need character. Also less enormous in-your-face tits. It was fine in the beginning when it was kind of silly, but when it becomes a selling point, it's just too much for me.

FOXHOUND @ Jun 5th 2008 7:58AM

$60 for softcore seems unreasonable; so I wholeheartedly agree on Team Ninja going in a different(read: "good")direction from this point on. Perhaps even touching upon the better NES storylines of NG.

Batzarro(A.K.A Rap-Rock Cameo) @ Jun 4th 2008 7:52PM

Intact like a corpse without a head?

Batzarro(A.K.A Rap-Rock Cameo) @ Jun 4th 2008 7:54PM

Ninja Gaiden Theta: Now with more Rachel!

Josh @ Jun 4th 2008 11:32PM

Yosuke Hayashi!

BananaBoat @ Jun 4th 2008 11:38PM

Without Itagaki, you can bet that Tecmo will have no problem whoring out Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden until they are fat and rich with the profits from such gems as Ninja Gaiden bowling and Dead or Alive Dance Revolution. This is the end of anything resembling integrity at Tecmo. Look for the DOA girls to cheerlead on the sidelines in the next Tecmo Bowl game. Hell, Ryu might be forced to play quarterback.