GDC09: Tecmo talks Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 DLC, exclusivity, 'loss of face'
by Christopher Grant 
{ Mar 25th 2009 at 3:00AM } 
First up, the 800-lb ninja in the room: Is Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 "a loss of face for everyone involved," as Itagaki said it would be? Hayashi-san carefully sidestepped directly addressing Itagaki's inflammatory remark, instead focusing on the game's development origins. As if to defuse Itagaki's pre-release remark, Hayashi explained though a translator, "Development began only after we read and heard about fan feedback ... after Ninja Gaiden 2 came out last summer." To add some street cred, he explained that the game's development team was "comprised of the Ninja Gaiden 2 team as well as the [original Ninja Gaiden] Sigma team."
As for DLC, we broached the topic two ways. First, will the PS3 release have any? Hiyashi said they were "very serious about coming up with new content to be available as DLC" and that he hopes to share "more details soon." And second, can current owners of Ninja Gaiden 2 on Xbox 360 expect to find any of the new enhancements – notably the "refined camera" and new multiplayer co-op functionality – available as DLC in the future? Hiyashi didn't need the translation for this one. Sorry, early adopters, but Tecmo's "ultimate" Ninja Gaiden experience is "only on PlayStation."
Gallery: Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
darthbob @ Mar 25th 2009 3:18AM
This isn't really to be unexpected. However, if the game looks a bit nicer, has better controls, and more content, it should be worth it for a PS-360 owner to pick up even if they have the original.
MOT @ Mar 25th 2009 3:15AM
Disappointing that the Xbox 360 version won't be getting the enhancements. I'll probably buy this game for PS4 when I get one, but I'm still disappointed by that news.
Popfrogs @ Mar 25th 2009 11:14AM
I felt the same way when Microsoft bought the rights to Rockstar's DLC and Bethesda's.
kentuckyfried @ Mar 25th 2009 7:32PM
I'm glad Tecmo's one of the companies showing the ps3 some post-release love. I wouldn't delayed releases but with lots of extra bonuses...
Copland @ Mar 25th 2009 11:39PM
Well MOT,
I'd like to say the same thing about DLC for Fallout3...
Every platform has its exclusives.
Kamizar @ Mar 25th 2009 3:21AM
What is up with Asians and hating money right now? First, the pokemon devs, saying no to an MMO(ATM). Then tecmo, denying 360 owners DLC that they would definitely pay for. Then China wants to get all crazy and establish a one world currency essentially causing complete market instability and ruining any chance of the US paying back their debt. Insane.
whazam1337 @ Mar 25th 2009 4:24PM
Well whats up with the GTA dlc and such and ect. theres more. What are u gana do..
Noshino @ Mar 25th 2009 3:43AM
Unlike other recently released games, the changes are being done for the PS3 version, which runs on a different engine (Sigma engine), which is the one Hayashi's team is in charge for.
Now, let's add to your questions, why doesn't SE release games for PS3? Why doesn't Bethesda release some Fallout DLC for PS3? what about Rockstar? Eidos?...or do they all hate money?
Shattercross @ Mar 25th 2009 3:45AM
Oh, and I suppose the US would be paying back it's national debt if the world economy wasn't in shambles? The US intends to pay back it's national debt as much as I intend to payback my student loans- it's in our best interest, but hell will freeze over before we get around to it.
Kamizar @ Mar 25th 2009 4:02AM
Noshino, Clearly they hate it as much as you hate humor.
Shatter, if I borrow 50 dollars and then you break my knee caps, do you think im going to pay you back?
Noshino @ Mar 25th 2009 4:14AM
Well, next time you are telling a joke, please let me know?
libster @ Mar 25th 2009 3:46AM
yeaaaaah!!! suck on that xbox
Shattercross @ Mar 25th 2009 3:54AM
It's just Ninja Gaiden 2 man, calm down.
I didn't really like Sigma 1 that much, so I doubt I'll pick this up just to have an exclusive.
libster @ Mar 25th 2009 4:43AM
i never said i was getting it
Lord Negatron @ Mar 25th 2009 8:46AM
Whether the roles were reversed for the Ps3 and Xbox, my following thoughts would stay the same.
This DLC is just a little too late for the party. Ninja Gaiden has already established itself in terms of consumer approval to an extent. Hey, while they're at it, why not port over DOA Volleyball and patch in "moar realistic" boob jiggling...
:P
arrrgh @ Mar 27th 2009 12:36PM
nega
my thoughts exactly
abe @ Mar 25th 2009 3:55AM
I wonder what Wada and Itagaki are thinking in this very moment.
brettjr @ Mar 25th 2009 4:01AM
Who cares about Itagaki, he's a nothing a nobody now. An unemployed bum suing so that he can pay rent for the month.
My question is, can PS3 owners expect to see a Dead or Alive Xtreme Sigma 2
avan @ Mar 25th 2009 4:49AM
another 2 year old port..... yay ps3
NoughtSoClever @ Mar 25th 2009 2:46PM
Port he says.
eNrique @ Mar 25th 2009 3:29PM
ATENTION JOYSTIQ READERS!!!
NEW TIME LAWS AND DEFINITIONS FROM avan:
Summer 2008 to Fall 2009= Two years
A game that is being completely built on a totally different oand optimized engine for a specific console (Sigma Engine) plus being enhaced with a load of extras and CO OP = PORT.
Stay tuned for more law breaking laws from avan.
Redunt Departament of Redundancy.
avan @ Mar 27th 2009 2:32AM
ok i take what i said back, this a never b4 seen game, 100% original content, exclusive to the fabulous ps3, I said 2 years i take that back too, fall 09 is a solid release date, cus i mean they NEVER push things back. btw i thought wii/ps3/360fanboy.com where gone, you proved me wrong once again
blindfromthesun @ Mar 25th 2009 5:34AM
I'm not thrilled I have to pay for an enhanced port of NG2 but I'm happy to have the additional content and non campaign co-op.
Question of the day: why are 360 owners getting shafted? NGS only sold 500k. NG2 sold 1.5 million. Why would Tecmo release a remix version on a console that made them less money. Sony isn't even funding the development like Microsoft did with NG2. The franchise originated on the Xbox and most of its fans game on the 360.Where is our Ninja Gaiden Black 2?
JXCgunrunna @ Mar 25th 2009 8:28AM
If you want to get into it, NG started on the NES, so my big question is: Wheres my Ninja Gaiden Wii?
i would be a little surprised if after Sigma 2, they didnt spend a year on Black 2 while they work on their new IP. It would be easy money
Count Noobula @ Mar 25th 2009 10:01AM
Sigma sold 500,000 copies in its first MONTH. Since then it has sold more, and is a PS3 "Greatest Hits" title, which means it had to have sold at least 750,000 copies to make it there.
I am guessing that the 1.5 million for NG2 were mainly U.S. customers, and putting it on the PS3 may get more Japanese gamers, and U.S. PS3 customers to buy it.
I still think it would have been cool to have the extra content available to 360 owners through DLC, but seeing as how its on a different engine, that would be a lot of extra work for Team Ninja.
Oh well, another reason to sell my 360 once I get it back due to E74.....
NoughtSoClever @ Mar 25th 2009 2:49PM
So let me get this straight...
MS spends money on a Xbox 360 exclusive = no problem
Sony spends money on a enhanced port of that exclusive = MS is shafted
Is that correct?
Maverick Saturn @ Mar 25th 2009 6:20AM
I bet they are doing this just to oppose Itakagi
shadowhowl1900 @ Mar 25th 2009 8:28AM
feel sorry for the 360 people but on the good side, i get to flaunt the better camera.
Will there be trophies dealing with the Co-op and other characters or is it the same from 360 acheivements.
Tuxy79 @ Mar 25th 2009 8:37AM
Stupid of Team Ninja to isolate early adopters like this.
RankHypocrisy @ Mar 25th 2009 9:53AM
But they already have their money.
mgsrocks1 @ Mar 25th 2009 2:38PM
How are they isolating them? They would rather you pay $60 for a full game then charge DLC and get $5 or so out of you. Besides, many people didn't buy Ninja Gaiden 2. I didn't, for example, so I'm might buy this one for the PS3. What about what Bathesda and Rockstar did with their DLC? If you want this one then get a PS3. I'm so glad I bought both a PS3 and Xbox360 that way I can enjoy all of the games.
hoop @ Mar 25th 2009 8:53AM
Little late to the party, but when I read the end of the headline, the first thing I thought of was: GIVE ME BACK MY FACE!
yulaw335 @ Mar 25th 2009 9:19AM
Yes! Team Ninja is the greatest!!!!
I will be buying this for sure. I hope they will have a special edtion like the first sigma had. oh yeah in your face crap box! hahaha
Maverick Saturn @ Mar 25th 2009 9:38AM
Crap Box?
Jeez, the things people come up with these days.
el serpiente @ Mar 25th 2009 10:42AM
An improvement from the previous doo-doo-ca-ca box.
HardBoiled2009 @ Mar 25th 2009 9:48AM
oh boo freakin hoo Xbox fanboys .. when us PS3 fans complain that we don't get certain DLC .. it's all about HA in your face we got this hahaha .. but when we get something you all break down and cry .. what do you except from us sympathy ? well your not getting it from me i hate a xbox fanboy for this. wanna solve your problem ?.. sell all games the PS3 is getting a better version of and the games that are medi-ocre like Gears OF War 1 and 2 and Halo 3 ) and buy a PS3 and then you can own a better Copy on the better Console.
Maverick Saturn @ Mar 25th 2009 10:23AM
Thats just immature, what would you turn around and say if the DLC was in fact released on 360 later?
'Oh, well it was a crap game anyway'?
AkaMagi @ Mar 25th 2009 10:06AM
There is an old rule in business.
Don't spit in the face of your loyal customers.
Team Ninja was nothing but a second rate development house until they turned to the Xbox. Turning away from the fans that have supported them for the past 8 years will achieve nothing but hard feelings and resentment.
Team Ninja better hope that PS3 owners take to their games like Xbox owners did, otherwise they'll be right back where they were in the Dreamcast/PS3 days of their history. And being the fickle people that they are, 360 owners won't have a thing to do with a second rate port from the PS3, especially when they were denied the "enhancements" to what was originally their own game.
On a side note, I wonder how MS feels about a game they own the publishing rights to being ported to the PS3 without their permission. Wouldn't surprise me a bit to see a huge lawsuit coming in the future.
Maverick Saturn @ Mar 25th 2009 10:22AM
Team Ninja was never devoted to 360, Itakagi was, don't say such silly things ¬_¬ If Microsoft cared that much, they would have hired Itakagi and given him his own team.
el serpiente @ Mar 25th 2009 10:56AM
Wow, that's a lot of asshurt for a port of an old game. A grip needs getting.
Ninja Gaiden iz serious bizness?
Maximiliano @ Mar 26th 2009 6:52AM
Wow, that's pretty much what we (PS3 owners) have been saying about a lot of companies since the beginning of this generation. SE just for a start...
We are being left behind by a lot of companies, ignoring what playstation brand and consoles has done for their franchise, and you come here talking about loyalty?! C'mon..
Not to say about whole franchises that were base on a playstation plataform and now are multiplataform (Devil May Cry 4). At least we get to play those games as they are made multiplataform. But what about the franchises exclusive to the previous playstations plataforms that this generation didn't saw the face of PS3? (Ace Combat anyone?)
Anyway man, I was just surprise to see this history on the other side, nothing personal. I would play any games on any plataform, but I prefer playstation since the first and I'm just disappointed that there's no such thing as loyalty for the brand (and costumers) this generation. Well, at least we get to play some Xbox games =)
"Don't spit in the face of your loyal customers." Funny joke those days =]
avan @ Mar 27th 2009 3:22PM
well the only good thing about this is that MS might hire Itakagi san whenever hes ready, the only with talent in the whole tecmo building
Kyle @ Mar 25th 2009 10:06AM
GO GO GIANT STATUE BATTLES!
Maverick Saturn @ Mar 25th 2009 10:21AM
Whats with the stupid rants?
Ps3 fanboys blowing thier joy horns and Xbox fanboys screaming hatred for Team Ninja, look people, a game is a game, if you don't get one or get a bit of DLC it won't spell doom for you or the company, stop being retarded.
So childish....
ash @ Mar 28th 2009 2:58PM
where is Quatium theory, also is tis that exclusive game
ryan @ Mar 25th 2009 10:46AM
I just don't know what to think about them replacing the blood effects with neon purple and pink particles. He wants a cooler, sleeker look he says. I think they reworked textures and models and the blood just slowed things to a crawl.
j.howlett @ Mar 25th 2009 11:21AM
hope the dlc doesn't turn out to be overpriced skins
slipping_halo @ Mar 25th 2009 1:25PM
I guess this is what Sony meant when they said no exclusive is really an exclusive, its just a 'timed' exclusive. So it seems that they put games on the 360, then tweak bugs and make improvements so they can release a better version on the ps3. Bioshock did this, Alone in the Dark(which really wasent too good) and I think theres a couple more as well, cool I guess
Hedgeson @ Mar 25th 2009 4:05PM
Strangely, it even fits with the way Microsoft released the XBox 360. It came out first with bugs and some tech (CPU) shared with the PS3.
I do know some games are unstable on the PS3. For instance, when I rented GRAW2 on the PS3, it would crash everytime on the 2nd or 3rd mission character screen.
I only have a PS3, and can't afford also a 360. I like my 60GB PS3
Josh @ Mar 25th 2009 2:08PM
Very nice. I like this Yosuke Hayashi guy.