Rumor: Three dozen Team Ninja devs leaving with Itagaki, suing Tecmo
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Jun 15th 2008 at 7:45PM }
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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
juju187 @ Jun 15th 2008 7:49PM
tecmo is done if this is tru. MS is gonna give him a studio he already said he working on a NEW IP.
so where do you think these tecmo employese are going.
follow the big breast to M$, we kno they pay.
el serpiente @ Jun 15th 2008 11:47PM
Umm, no.
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jun 16th 2008 2:43AM
Follow the big breast?
Bleu @ Jun 16th 2008 11:14AM
fuck him he wont be successful he is gonna fall flat on his face.
Misfit Toy @ Jun 16th 2008 11:57AM
Yeah...he has such a proven track record of being unsuccessful (rolls eyes). However will he make it. Please! The man is a success and he shows no sign of slowing down. If he were to make a series of failures I'd understand your thoughts, but as is Bleu, you have nothing to stand on.
FrankTheCrank @ Jun 15th 2008 7:55PM
Your infatuation with this guy is pretty laughable.
I mean, c'mon, Ninja Gaiden? What else? DOA?
As if those games were MGS4, Halo or Mario anything.
NoHitHair @ Jun 15th 2008 8:07PM
I couldn't agree more.
This site should simply give in and rename itself "Itagakiville" and write fanfics.
F1 @ Jun 15th 2008 8:23PM
@NoHitHair
NNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DangerMouse @ Jun 15th 2008 9:30PM
I actually ctrl-c'd and ctrl-v'd that into the address bar to see what it was. I suck.
4MyFriends @ Jun 15th 2008 9:40PM
You can not like those games all you want, but don't undermine the man's work, he's talented at what he does and just as worthy of praise as Kojima and Inafune
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 15th 2008 7:57PM
They should change the name of the team to just "Ninja".
WRE (PSN: WorstReviewEver; Gamertag: HaloKissesBoys; Wii Friend Code: 4204-4590-6106-3583) @ Jun 15th 2008 9:02PM
Seriously, because when Itagaki is giving those pep talks about working together I bet it really screws things up when he tries to tell them that, "There is no 'I' in 'Team Ninja'."
el serpiente @ Jun 15th 2008 11:46PM
Actually, there is an 'i' in Team Ninja.
Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Jun 16th 2008 3:09AM
el serpiente, you're an idiot (for this and other recent posts like the pointless "umm, no")
WRE said: **it really SCREWS THINGS UP when he tries to tell them that, "There is no 'I' in 'Team Ninja'."**
It screws things up because there *IS* an "I" in "Team Ninga", which was WRE's POINT.
deaftly @ Jun 16th 2008 10:44AM
@el serpiss
WHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!
Josh @ Jun 16th 2008 11:33AM
But...If the name were just "Ninja", there'd still be an "I".
:|
juju187 @ Jun 15th 2008 8:02PM
laughable is mario. i mean really other games get slammed for being the same but zelda and mario get a free pass for being the same...
DoA is different and ninja gaiden has been around just as long as mario despite who directed it
quickshade @ Jun 15th 2008 8:02PM
somebody's going to be in trouble.....
Benny @ Jun 16th 2008 11:52AM
Ryu is.
... the Ninja Gaiden franchise is going to be rinsed.
adeel @ Jun 15th 2008 8:05PM
this guy is so over rated, and jeez does he love himself.. NG and DOA are average games at best, theres no innovation in either series, bar the ,uti level design of DOA.
im sure im not the first to think it but damn, dude looks like a ladyboy.
NoHitHair @ Jun 15th 2008 8:19PM
But he wears sunglasses. The Sakaguchis and Miyamotos and Schafer's of the world may make memorable, innovative and inspiring games, but can they make mediocre overrated shit AND wear sunglasses?
No. And Joystiq wants to make sure we understand the importance of this.
Jouten @ Jun 16th 2008 2:55AM
adeel,
"...im sure im not the first to think it but damn, dude looks like a ladyboy..."
Was that supposed to make you feel better about the lack of your own masculinity?
Do you create multi-million (maybe billion?) dollar IP's? Do you create programs/games that will always be remembered throughout the industry's history? No? Then, please, at least say something intelligent or at least relevant to the topic. If you can't give a man of his stature his due respect, then maybe you don't know what respect truly is?
Thank you very much,
The Silent Majority.
Jouten @ Jun 16th 2008 2:55AM
adeel,
"...im sure im not the first to think it but damn, dude looks like a ladyboy..."
Was that supposed to make you feel better about the lack of your own masculinity?
Do you create multi-million (maybe billion?) dollar IP's? Do you create programs/games that will always be remembered throughout the industry's history? No? Then, please, at least say something intelligent or at least relevant to the topic. If you can't give a man of his stature his due respect, then maybe you don't know what respect truly is?
Thank you very much,
The Silent Majority.
adeel @ Jun 15th 2008 8:06PM
multi^
SoulBlade @ Jun 15th 2008 8:11PM
And they peace out to start Team Pirates
Mr Khan @ Jun 15th 2008 8:14PM
Now this is going to be a gamebreaker for Tecmo. To lose Itagaki was ok if they still had Team Ninja (Sonic Team survived without Yuji Naka, and HAL Labs survives without Sakurai), but to lose Team Ninja itself...
I mean, that'll cut them back to Pangya, Fatal Frame, and Tecmo Bowl, more or less. Not that they still don't own Team Ninja's works, but they won't be the same
Rod Munch @ Jun 15th 2008 9:37PM
And a great job Sonic Team did without Yuji Naka...
crow0lf @ Jun 15th 2008 8:35PM
Wow, Itagaki was the reason that Tecmo was even put back in the spotlight after all these years. But at least they have two "A" calibur brands they can rely on. It is interesting to see how Tecmo will go on after this fiasco cools down.
crow0lf @ Jun 15th 2008 8:35PM
Wow, Itagaki was the reason that Tecmo was even put back in the spotlight after all these years. But at least they have two "A" calibur brands they can rely on. It is interesting to see how Tecmo will go on after this fiasco cools down.
Jhongerkong @ Jun 15th 2008 8:54PM
Itagaki = japanese Chuck Norris
DBuck_Eye @ Jun 15th 2008 9:55PM
NEVER compare a perverted Japanese nerd to the Chuckster. NEVER.
Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Jun 16th 2008 3:17AM
Well, yeah, I mean most of his characters can do roundhouse kicks to the face.
Also I hear Hitomi once played Russian roulette with a fully-loaded revolver... and won.
Tim The Enchanter @ Jun 16th 2008 11:29AM
I've won at russian roulette with a full revolver too. Just let the other guy start.
Dwag @ Jun 15th 2008 8:54PM
Dead or Alive and Ninja don't need anymore continues I mean they are just gonna be delivering the same crap over and over again
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 15th 2008 9:20PM
I don't mind more DOA and NG games, but I hope they can also come over to the PS3 now that Itagaki is gone, the other staff did a good job with NG Sigma. : )
Dwag @ Jun 15th 2008 9:29PM
I hope that DOA5 or NG3 don't go the PS3 cause there would be no point I mean come on the sony has to many JP fighting and action game
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 15th 2008 9:34PM
I hope that never happens....
It doesn't belong on the ps3.
And Itagaki will probably create better games that the sh*tty leftovers remaining at Tecmo will muster up.
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 15th 2008 10:32PM
Well, you feel that DOA and NG don't belong on the PS3, I said earlier that I didn't feel that Japanese RPGs belonged on the 360, that they should stick to Western games and was called out. Its just my belief and same as yours.
At least if DOA and NG were on PS3, a lot more Japanese would get exposure to them, 360 sales in Japan are much less than PS3 sales obviously and a lot more Japanese would get to play Tecmo's games if they were on PS3.
Microsoft keeps buying up exclusivity or timed exclusivity to get sales in Japan but its just not happening MS. Let the games come to PS3, for the Japanese at least! : D
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 15th 2008 10:41PM
The difference between the 2 situations you're comparing is that those RPGs you mention are coming to the 360 only because the developers WANT them to.
Itagaki doesn't want his masterpieces to be on the psTRIPLE. In his mind the ps3 isn't worthy of the greatness that is NG or DOA.
Hopefully in his suit he'll file for the rights to both franchises. Cuz they really are his babies and he deserves to retain all rights to them. DOA wouldn't be DOA if it weren't for him.
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 15th 2008 11:35PM
Are we sure Itagaki hates the PS3 because Microsoft gave him money and whores? ; )
NG Sigma is great on the PS3, it looks fantastic and shows the PS3 hardware is no slouch, if harder to develop for than the 360. The first two DOA games were on Sony's and Sega's systems and were just fine.
Did Itagaki go towards Microsoft after 2001 because of the hardware they offered or because of big, luscious bribes? I know, its the psychotic Playstation fanboy in me talking. : D
el serpiente @ Jun 16th 2008 12:01AM
ThePerfectCompanion = PremierAssasin = Wii60Warrior?
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 16th 2008 12:08AM
Huh, I was thinking that a bit too el serpiente, if it is him, at least he isn't being a blatant assholic troll like he was with his previous usernames.
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jun 16th 2008 3:09AM
Well, personally, my people get sick of my for being a toolbox I'll probably just change my name to Martez er something.
Er wait
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jun 16th 2008 3:10AM
Sigh, I fail, and will not post corrections.
Rod Munch @ Jun 15th 2008 9:43PM
Oh man I'm getting sick of how all you commenters on Joystiq seem to think just because you don't like a game means its rubbish. And why does a game not deserve a sequel unless its "innovative" and does something entirely new? Can't we have good games that sell well and people enjoy have sequels that tweak the gameplay and add options while improving on the graphics? I bet half of you wish they'd remake FFVII but don't see the irony when you put down a sequel because its just a bit improved from the last game. And yes I like DoA, its a simpler game which is fun to play and I am sad that it looks like an Itagaki-led Team Ninja won't be making a sequel.
4MyFriends @ Jun 15th 2008 9:45PM
Thank you, finally someone who doesn't hate Itagaki and his works just because of how he acts in interviews.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 15th 2008 10:14PM
Most of the hate comes from the fact that Itagaki loves talking shit about the ps3.
Zsavior @ Jun 16th 2008 1:14PM
You know Rod I am glad you said that. But it doesn't, matter this guy insulted people's mothers he hurt alot of gamers when he did that and they.....Wait no he never did that at all, he said he didn't like his COMPETITORS and people proceeded to lose their mind.
When Tecmo was a nobody he stood out to give them a name, not only in gaming but also in personality. He stood out so gamers could see him coming a mile a way and believe there was a difference in the games he was making as compared to somebody else. If you ever read some of the things Itagaki says I don't think he wanted to do that always but he knew it was needed for a company that was in a slump that gamers had completely forgotten. He took on a persona to help his company get an identity like many western game makers do, even though he knew it would bring him flack.
This was successful and in return the company screwed him over and disrespected him, and many of you are crying here because you can't see this is an act. I mean really do you believe wrestling to? I used to wonder how people could believe wrestling but I see how, the glasses the bravado the look, it was all so people knew tecmo, recognized their games, and anticipated them. He was making a corporate identity that not only sold games but got them media and press.
4MyFriends @ Jun 15th 2008 9:44PM
Can we please stop treating Itagaki as some 3rd rate talentless nobody? Just because he has an ego, even as big as it is, doesn't change the fact he is talented at what he does. Don't like his work? Fine, you are allowed to not like what you don't want(Hell, I don't care for Metal Gear Solid after the first one, and I was a former PS2 fanboy), but don't act rude and spit on his accomplishments.
If this rumor is true, Tecmo's future isn't looking bright. The last thing you need at a time like this is unhappy shares holders.
Chigurh @ Jun 15th 2008 9:48PM
This guy is like the T.O. of game devs. Except he's only made 4 good things happen.
I don't know if another publisher is going to take him and his baggage on considering he lost the rights to the IPs he's known for.