Dead-or-Alive posts (Subscribe to this feed)
Dead or Alive and Final Fantasy characters clash again
by Ben Gilbert 
{ Jul 14th 2009 at 3:40PM }
Today is no different, as he pits FFVII's Tifa against Dead or Alive's Hitomi. An epic battle taking place in a church set ablaze while snow quietly falls outside? Some sort of magical, glowing orbs introduced mid-fight? And it involves Japanese video game characters? Weird! Check out the whole girlfight after the break.
[Via Insulin Funk]
Tecmo/Koei crossover games possible [update]
by JC Fletcher { Jun 18th 2009 at 12:55PM }
Andriasang translated the relevant blurb: "New Games: Will release games that combine Tecmo and Koei titles. The aim is to reach fans of both." The identity (or number) of games, and the identity of the titles that Tecmo and Koei plan to merge are unknown, which means we can amuse ourselves briefly by coming up with our own, like Dead or Alive: Xtreme Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Rygar's Ambition, Dynasty Monster Ranchers, Gitaroo-Man Gaiden Sigma, and Mighty Bomb Genghis Khan.
We've checked in with the North American branches of both Koei and Tecmo in an effort to find any additional details about the plan.
[Update: Tecmo declined to comment, indicating that the US office didn't know any more than we did about this.]
Shareholders approve Koei/Tecmo merger
by Jason Dobson { Jan 27th 2009 at 8:40AM } 
The last of Tecmo's investors finally caved, giving the company's $207 million merger with Koei the green light. At the end of it all, Tecmo shareholders will come away with 0.9 shares in the merged company for every Tecmo share in their portfolios, while Koei stakeholders will net a one-to-one swap. The Japanese pair will officially tie the knot on April 1, giving us hope that Dynasty Warriors' disturbing lack of jiggle-tech may someday be realized. Those kingdoms, you know, they're not going to romance themselves.
Dead or Alive's Valance joins Red Alert 3: Uprising camp
by Jason Dobson { Jan 12th 2009 at 10:05PM }
The Australian-born starlet describes her role in the game as "a camp, over-dramatised character," telling Eurogamer that "it was fun to go a little bit over the top." We're sure that's quite a change from DoA's Christie Allen. The four people who saw that movie tell us that she was the very picture of Hollywood grace.
Tecmo-Koei merger faces opposition from investor
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Dec 26th 2008 at 2:00PM }
Though the planned merger between Koei and Tecmo was recently finalized, one of Tecmo's largest investors, Effissimo Capital Management Pte, has expressed some concern over the benefits shareholders might expect to gain in the aftermath. "We have not had sufficient information from the company to make a judgment on the merger, such as the feasibility of their plan to raise shareholder value," Effissimo Director Takashi Kosaka said in a statement published by Bloomberg.It's unclear whether the firm, which owns 17.6 percent of Tecmo, will act to delay the formation of the new holding company, scheduled to occur on April 1, 2009. We suspect both companies will reassure Mr. Kosaka by emailing him some provocative artwork from the inevitable hit game, Dynasty Warriors: X-Treme Feudal Beach Volleyball.
[Via Gamasutra]
Team Ninja open to Wii
by JC Fletcher { Nov 3rd 2008 at 6:08PM }
Gamasutra spoke with Hitoshi Hasegawa and Yosuke Hayashi of the post-Itagaki Team Ninja about the current and future state of the high-profile development team. So far, those plans don't include the Wii, but the new Team Ninja seems more open to experimenting with other consoles than before. The studio is looking to expand their audience, and "If that lends to one console," Hayashi said, "PS3, or if that's going to be the Wii -- that's just the direction we will go."Hayashi had similarly vague statements last year, but they were more personal at that time than business-oriented. If Team Ninja decides it would not only be fun, but profitable to create a Wii game, that's more likely to justify the expense and development time.
Team Ninja may not be working on any Wii projects themselves, of course, but their company, Tecmo, is, and the expertise gained from that stuff may help Team Ninja. "We will continue to work in that path. We have a lot of Wii console fans within the company, so hopefully there's something that we can work on."
Itagaki unloads evidence, raises damages claim
by Dustin Burg { Jul 24th 2008 at 11:15AM }
With Tecmo's attempts at getting a gag order failing and bad blood still staining the Tecmo name, Tomonobu Itagaki is steadfast in following through with the lawsuit against his former boss with the introduction of new evidence and an increase in his damages claim.Recently, Itagaki submitted all kinds of documents and recordings as evidence to help his case against Tecmo, where he claims they owe him all kinds of cash. The documents include signed contracts and a transcript of a recording between Itagaki and Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda where they discussed and agreed on contract terms. Also, with the new evidence coming to light, Itagaki has increased his lawsuit's damages from $1.3 million USD to $1.5 million USD. Itagaki is raging mad. Don't mess with a raging mad Itagaki.
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.
Tomonobu Itagaki: A Blood Splattered History
by Ross Miller { Jun 5th 2008 at 4:25PM }
Join us as we take a stroll through memory lane and examine the games, the controversies and the impending future of Tomonobu Itagaki. Click here, get educated.
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]
UK TV presenter delivers 'chilling verdict' on violent games
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Mar 28th 2008 at 2:30PM }
Call it a hunch, but we're not convinced that UK television presenter, Anne Diamond, is an ideal choice to "review" games which she says make her "hair stand on end." Though she brushes off several titles which are "so mindless it would be hard to see them as a destructive influence," the ones with "gratuitous use of violence and bloodthirsty imagery" really draw her ire. Honestly, we'd be bitter too if we had copies of Dead Rising LODGED IN OUR SHOULDERS.In a response to Thursday's publication of a Dr. Tanya Byron-led review of video game violence, the UK's Daily Mail has delivered a one-two punch of sensationalist misinterpretation ("allowing children to play on computers unsupervised is as dangerous as letting them play outside on their own") and misguided scaremongering, offering the task of analyzing and rating already-rated violent video games to Diamond. Her "chilling" verdicts are all neatly assembled below a snap of kids playing the infinitely sinister Mario Kart 64.
After glossing over Dead or Alive 4 (she wasn't keen on playing as "a martial artist in the fantasy Ninja-style mode"), she becomes truly horrified by a game that "wallows in violence for violence's sake." This dubious honor goes to Resident Evil 4 which, in case you forgot, is about "a cataclysmic chemical attack" spawning legions of zombies which "don't stop until you shoot them in the face or slash their arms off."
"This game shouldn't be allowed to be sold, even adults," says a Diamond in the rush to pass judgment. After being "stabbed to death with pitchforks amid fountains of [her] own blood," she calls it quits and declares, "This kind of violence can only be bad for you." Well, that's what the healing herbs are for, Anne.
[Thanks, Duncan]
Final Fantasy vs. Dead or Alive: Round 2
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Mar 25th 2008 at 8:01AM }
Above you'll find the sequel, an even bigger display of absurd acrobatics, imaginative pummeling and blissful ignorance of the laws of physics. We love it.
[Thanks, dara hoy]
Haloid creator mashes up Final Fantasy and Dead or Alive
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 13th 2007 at 3:55PM }
After pitting Master Chief and Samus against each other, animator Monty Oum now renders the results of the Final Fantasy universe intersecting with Tomonobu Itagaki's fighting franchise, Dead or Alive. If you take issue with saucer-eyed women pummeling each other in ways that defy logic and gravity, avert your eyes and hide your children (advent or otherwise) before the interminable Matrix music kicks in.
Why are Kasumi and Yuna so upset with one another? Why are bullets so utterly useless? Why hasn't someone made Super Smash Sisters yet? Clearly, we're asking way too many questions. Just enjoy the mad choreography and know that if it's anything like Haloid, love can eventually bloom on the battlefield.
[Thanks, Kamizar]
