Itagaki's departure causes Tecmo stock plummet
by Scott Jon Siegel 
{ Jun 5th 2008 at 5:50PM }
Assurances that Team Ninja would remain (largely) intact apparently did not appease the stockholders. Shares dropped over 10% from Tuesday's closing of ¥1,102 (USD 10.40), to today's closing of ¥982 (USD 9.30). Not a good start to the company's new Itagaki-less lifestyle, to be sure.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rokobungi @ Jun 5th 2008 5:55PM
funny how a 10% drop looks like a 90% drop because they like to leave off the bottom of the scale
Wilhelm @ Jun 5th 2008 6:02PM
Haha, I agree. It looks a lot worse than it really is.
Poisoned Al @ Jun 5th 2008 7:24PM
Heh, yeah, my design tech teacher taught me long ago if anyone is trying to prove anything using a graph, that they are usually full of shit.
Zach @ Jun 5th 2008 9:02PM
Both scales are their... Time (Days of the week), and value... The range is what affects the graph's shape.
>> Sorry For Math Whore.
fredrik_dunder @ Jun 5th 2008 9:16PM
gb2/shcool youngsters,
1~2% in a big stock is considered a BIG F*CKING drop.
we are talking about a goddamn dollar here people. 10% is not much?? lollercoaster
kaneda @ Jun 6th 2008 9:47AM
@Zack. From one math whore to another, I agree that there is enough information there to discern the significance of the data presented, but that doesn't change that selective range graph presentation is a practice in deception. Most gullible (or lazy) people are more than willing to look at that graph and think that the stock dropped 90%.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 5th 2008 5:58PM
All they need is another face to step up and say "I'm the greatest Japanese developer of all time." Maybe they could even go full on Beat Crusaders style and he'll never show his face, instead wearing an old school printer representation of his face...
voodoo_craig @ Jun 5th 2008 6:00PM
As long as that representation has some badass sunglasses and a metal haircut they'll be fine.
DBuck_Eye @ Jun 5th 2008 8:53PM
I'm sorry, but Itagaki is in no way, shape, or form the best Japanese developer of all time. Miyamoto definitely takes that honor and even if you were referring to developers who make violent games, you're obviously forgetting Suda51. In the past 5 years, all Itagaki has done is release the same game four times and show the world how much of a pervert he is (in terms of both the harassment suit and the DoA series).
P.S. I am truly sorry for wasting your time if you were just saying that Shmitidaki is cocky or something in that vein, but judging by your picture, I would say that that is highly improbable.
FOXHOUND @ Jun 6th 2008 7:31AM
DBuck ---
No waste of time at all, good sir. I agree with your sentiment, and could easily figure that Tecmo could usher in an equally horse-faced, greasy haired, and cheap-o shades wearing producer to put out another $60 overpriced softcore volleyball game.
Or just hire Ron Jeremy. That's an improvement even below the belt and the low-brow actions to match, ha-chaa. But at least Ron's more respectable.
TwEE @ Jun 5th 2008 5:59PM
Has Itagaki worked on any good games?
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 5th 2008 6:00PM
Yes, yes he has. Seriously.
NoHitHair @ Jun 6th 2008 4:01AM
Right. Between Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, he's really--
Hmm... I forgot - can anyone explain to me why we give a flying fuck about this guy?
I'd give myself -1 to save all the Joystiqers the trouble but their bandwagoning mindset (I can hear the "Baa! Baa!"'s already) in giving Ninja Gaiden entirely undeserved accolades will ensure myself a low rating anyway.
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 5th 2008 6:02PM
Its the Itakagi Curse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He cursed them!!!!
I knew he was a witch!!!! He has the look!!!
RobLink (Return of the McElroy Defence Force) @ Jun 5th 2008 6:14PM
Ouch. Sucks to be them. I'm sure they'll recover though.
Sadistic Freek @ Jun 5th 2008 6:20PM
Not surprising. Itagaki had a hit with the Dead or Alive series, and it was a long period of time between that and Tecmo's last hit (what was it, Ninja Gaiden III on NES?). And even now, Team Ninja's games are pretty much the only ones that get much of any press. Not many people may have liked Itagaki, but there's a reason he was given his own team within Tecmo. I, for one, look forward to playing whatever project he works on next.
Tomonobu Itagaki @ Jun 5th 2008 6:20PM
I hope Team Ninja moves forward without me, and hope that those who still have faith in me would join me at Microsoft Game Studios.
I wish good luck upon the Team Ninja developers.
Itagaki-san
Neebs @ Jun 5th 2008 6:23PM
hax0rz
Maverick Saturn @ Jun 5th 2008 6:34PM
Whats the difference between:
Itagaki-san
and
Itagaki-kun
ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 5th 2008 6:42PM
From what my brother tells me, -san is used in a more respectful tone, whereas -kun is used in more casual, friendly addresses.
He only took 2 years of high school level Japanese, though, so I could be mistaken.
fred @ Jun 5th 2008 6:57PM
I think kun is used for boys
Geist @ Jun 5th 2008 10:52PM
The -kun address is indeed used for much more casual addresses. It's often used by girls for any gender, but it can be attached to a guy or girl's name. The -san address is for those who are generally equal to you in stature and age, but who you're not on casual terms with, such as classmates that you don't really hang out with.
Bones3D @ Jun 5th 2008 6:40PM
"-san" = a formal title, something like "Mr."
"-kun" = informal title, with dual usage. It can be used either with an acquaintance to denote friendship or it can be used as an insult toward someone who expects to be considered your superior. (For example, you wouldn't end your boss's name with the "-kun" title if you value your job.)
ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 5th 2008 6:43PM
ah, OK. He was correct then.
Matt @ Jun 5th 2008 6:44PM
... how do you know that drop isn't from Itagaki selling his shares..? Because drops like that don't occur all at once like that from news of someone leaving it slopes down.
LaughingTarget @ Jun 5th 2008 6:54PM
Maybe, but the news broke after the market closed so this could be the impact.
Sam406 @ Jun 5th 2008 6:45PM
A drop in stock price? watch out for EA, Tecmo...
Jhongerkong @ Jun 5th 2008 6:48PM
....Its almost a 90° angle
Adam @ Jun 5th 2008 6:51PM
I agree ... the graphic is terribly misleading. I think that a 10 percent drop is significant, but I'm not sure the image conveys that well.
AaronMD @ Jun 5th 2008 7:20PM
You can rest assured that this 10% drop in share price has cost Tecmo shareholders a lot more money than paying Itagaki's bonuses.
J.Goodwin @ Jun 5th 2008 7:21PM
Where you've got one unhappy game director there's the potential to have several, especially in situations where there's money involved.
To whit, Capcom lost three or four guys in quick succession last year.
jimmygotsmack @ Jun 5th 2008 7:24PM
You know what, now that I think about it, besides ninja gaiden, and Dead or alive, what games does tecmo actually make, that people actually know the name of, at least in countries outside japan. Monster Hunter is one, but its often doesn't take well with people, and fatal frame, which like most survival horror games "Not all", it never really sold that well in other territories if I recall correctly.
Those are the only two I can actually think about without doing any research, but its not like tecmo has lost the franchises he was associated with. Its still always bad to hear the person that was leading those games has stop.
With 30 seconds of looking at the companies history, I appearntly named a little less then half of their franchises. I could have sworn
Hmm, since 1981 to 2008 they've released less then 100 games, most of which never left japan, and almost all of them sequels, I could have sworn they made more games then that.
Mr Khan @ Jun 5th 2008 7:39PM
Like i said, they're already working with Suda 51 on Fatal Frame IV, they should move to buy out Grasshopper Manufacture, then they can get another rockstar, slightly insane dev with a good amount of Western Appeal
Practically perfect to fill Itagaki's shoes
It's a hard loss though. Tecmo's top three titles would be Ninja Gaiden, DOA, and Fatal Frame, and they just lost the driving personality behind the top two
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jun 5th 2008 7:48PM
Funny, I would've thought for what an utter loser and toolbag that moron is the stock would've gone up. Tee hee :)
Seriously that guys a complete chach.
BananaBoat @ Jun 5th 2008 8:58PM
Graph makes it look like Enron, rofl. When your stock is only at 10 dollars a share to begin with, and it loses A DOLLAR on the price....lol. Not exactly the end of the world. I'd say that they are pretty damn ripe for a buyout though *HINT* MICROSOFT GET ON THAT BEFORE EA DOES *HINT*
jkanownik @ Jun 5th 2008 10:31PM
24,879,000 outstanding shares = $27.4M decline
Geist @ Jun 5th 2008 10:54PM
Oh no, he's gone. I guarantee you nothing is going to change with the games. I can't imagine he contributed anything imaginative beyond "Hey, can we make her breasts bigger?"