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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title>Ninja Gaiden II demo coming soon</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-soon/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-soon/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-soon/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/gdc/" rel="tag">GDC</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-to-appear-on-xblm/"><img width="490" vspace="0" hspace="0" height="320" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2008/02/ninjagaidenxblmjoy.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
While we're out gallivanting about in San Francisco during <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/GDC08/">GDC</a>, our 360s languish at home, alone. Thankfully, the dutiful fanboys at X3F are keeping tabs on the happenings on Xbox Live Marketplace. Their diligence has been rewarded too, as the GDC section of Xbox Live Marketplace has <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-to-appear-on-xblm/">revealed</a> that a <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653216/"><em>Ninja Gaiden II</em></a> demo should be hitting Live sometime in the near future. Given the <em>very</em> polished nature of what Tomonobu Itagaki had on display during Microsoft's keynote, we wouldn't be surprised if the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demonstration/">GDC demo</a> and the Xbox Live demo are one and the same. Good news if true, though it threatens to halt all productivity at Joystiq if it comes to pass before GDC is over.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-to-appear-on-xblm/>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-soon/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1120592/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-soon/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>gdc08</category><category>ninja-gaiden-2</category><category>ninja-gaiden-ii</category><category>ninjagaiden2</category><category>team-ninja</category><category>teamninja</category><category>tecmo</category><dc:creator>Richard Mitchell</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-02-21T01:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>GDC08: Microsoft's Keynote in pictures</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-microsofts-keynote-in-pictures/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-microsofts-keynote-in-pictures/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-microsofts-keynote-in-pictures/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/gdc/" rel="tag">GDC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a></p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/microsoft-gdc08-keynote/653478/"><img width="490" vspace="0" hspace="0" height="325" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/schappert-evil-490.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />It's one thing to read the news that positively poured forth from Microsoft's GDC08 keynote this year, but it's nothing without a few pictures to help flesh out the experience. It is with this in mind that Joystiq presents Microsoft's keynote in purely pictorial format, handily divvied into cohesive chunks for easier digestion (always chew your images, kids). Click the images in this post -- including the image of John Schappert's best Tony Soprano impression above -- for more. Enjoy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/fable-2-at-gdc08/653705/"><img width="490" vspace="0" hspace="0" height="325" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/gdc08-molyneux-490.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><center><font size="1">Click for more <em>Fable 2</em> goodness.</font></center><br /><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gears-of-war-2-microsofts-gdc08-keynote/653614/"><img width="490" vspace="0" hspace="0" height="326" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/gow2-gdc-08-28-490.jpg" /></a><center><font size="1">Click for more <em>Gears of War</em> and Epic action.</font></center><br /><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653216/"><img width="490" vspace="0" hspace="0" height="326" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ngii-demon-dude-490.jpg" alt="" /></a><center><font size="1">Click for more <em>Ninja Gaiden II</em>.</font></center><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-microsofts-keynote-in-pictures/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1120339/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-microsofts-keynote-in-pictures/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>fable-2</category><category>gdc08</category><category>gears-of-war-2</category><category>gow2</category><category>ninjagaiden2</category><dc:creator>Richard Mitchell</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-02-20T20:45:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>GDC08: Ninja Gaiden II demon-stration</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demonstration/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demonstration/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demonstration/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/gdc/" rel="tag">GDC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a></p><center><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="490" height="475" id="gamevideos6" align="middle"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="play" value="true"><param name="loop" value="true"><param name="scale" value="showall"><param name="wmode" value="window"><param name="devicefont" value="false"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><param name="menu" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="salign" value=""><param name="movie" value="http://gamevideos.com:80/swf/gamevideos11.swf?embedded=1&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;src=http://gamevideos.com:80/video/videoListXML%3Fid%3D17633%26ordinal%3D1203549534010%26adPlay%3Dfalse" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /> <embed src="http://gamevideos.com:80/swf/gamevideos11.swf?embedded=1&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;src=http://gamevideos.com:80/video/videoListXML%3Fid%3D17633%26ordinal%3D1203549534010%26adPlay%3Dfalse" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" play="true" loop="true" scale="showall" wmode="window" devicefont="false" id="gamevideos6" bgcolor="#000000" name="gamevideos6" menu="true" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="475" width="490"/></object></center>We nearly missed the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/gears-of-war-2"><em>Gears of War 2</em></a> announcement at the end of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/joystiq-live-from-the-microsoft-gdc-keynote/">Microsoft's GDC keynote</a> because of this surprise <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/ninjagaiden2"><em>Ninja Gaiden II</em></a> demonstration. By the time it finished, we had completely lost consciousness due to an increasingly violent series of glee seizures -- or <em>gleezures</em>. If you plan on watching the direct-feed footage of Team Ninja's forthcoming kill-em-up, we'd advise you to sit well away from coworkers and small children should your delight suddenly begin manifesting in wild arm flailing and uncontrollable pelvic thrusts.<br /><br />Protip: We find that thinking about the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-2-to-hit-north-america-june-3-worldwide-earl/">awful June 2008</a> release date has an immediate calming effect.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/">GDC08: Ninja Gaiden II</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653732/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653731/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653730/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653729/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653728/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demonstration/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1120106/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii-demonstration/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Itagaki</category><category>Microsoft-Game-Studios</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden-2</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden-II</category><category>NinjaGaiden2</category><category>Team-Ninja</category><category>TeamNinja</category><category>Tomonobu-Itagaki</category><dc:creator>Ludwig Kietzmann</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-02-20T18:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>X3F talks difficulty concerns with Ninja Gaiden II's Itagaki</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/x3f-talks-difficulty-concerns-with-ninja-gaiden-iis-itagaki/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/x3f-talks-difficulty-concerns-with-ninja-gaiden-iis-itagaki/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/x3f-talks-difficulty-concerns-with-ninja-gaiden-iis-itagaki/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/adventure/" rel="tag">Adventure</a></p><center> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392">	<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=159932"/> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=159932" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object> </center><br />Gamerscore Blog recently afforded our buddies over at X3F the opportunity to ask Team Ninja's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Tomonobu-Itagaki">Tomonobu Itagaki</a> <em>one question</em> about the upcoming <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/ninjagaiden2"><em>Ninja Gaiden II</em></a> on the 360. They <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/01/14/x3f-vs-tomonobu-itagaki-ninja-gaiden-ii-difficulty-concerns/">chose to ask</a> about the sequel's adjustments to the original's infamous difficulty, specifically the addition of a automatically-regenerating health system, seemingly added to widen the game's appeal to less-hardcore players.<br /><br />Not to disappoint the fans, Itagaki coolly (oh so coolly) explains that the health regenerating system was added to keep players immersed in the game, rather than having to constantly access the game's menus to use potions.<br /><br />Of course, Itagaki assures the hardcore audience that the game will still appeal to their masochistic sides, but that they hope to increase the audience in the sequel with more adjustability in the difficulty levels. Good news for everyone?<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/01/14/x3f-vs-tomonobu-itagaki-ninja-gaiden-ii-difficulty-concerns/>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/x3f-talks-difficulty-concerns-with-ninja-gaiden-iis-itagaki/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1087083/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/x3f-talks-difficulty-concerns-with-ninja-gaiden-iis-itagaki/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>ninja-gaiden</category><category>ninja-gaiden-2</category><category>ninjagaiden</category><category>ninjagaiden2</category><category>team-ninja</category><category>teamninja</category><category>tecmo</category><category>tomonobu-itagaki</category><dc:creator>Scott Jon Siegel</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-01-15T06:04:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>New Ninja Gaiden 2 footage scores A-, B+ and O+</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/new-ninja-gaiden-2-footage-scores-a-b-and-o/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/new-ninja-gaiden-2-footage-scores-a-b-and-o/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/new-ninja-gaiden-2-footage-scores-a-b-and-o/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><center> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"  codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="490" height="402">	<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> 	<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=29158"/> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=29158" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="490" height="402"></embed> </object></center>An utterly gratuitous <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/soldier-of-fortune-payback-thinks-its-okay-to-play-with-dolls/">explosion of mangled limbs</a> is just what you need to snap out of that slow, pre-Christmas Friday afternoon. It certainly worked for us, as the above gameplay footage of Xbox 360 kill-em-up, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/ninja-gaiden-2"><em>Ninja Gaiden 2</em></a><em>,</em><em> </em>woke us from our keyboard slumber just long enough for a visit to our violent word thesaurus. Decapitate, eviscerate, disembowel, shave, slash, amputate, behead, cleave, sever, lacerate, perforate and abbreviate -- all apply. It seems our language will have to become quite offensive if it's to adequately describe the game before its 2008 release.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29158.html>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/new-ninja-gaiden-2-footage-scores-a-b-and-o/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1068971/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/new-ninja-gaiden-2-footage-scores-a-b-and-o/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Itagaki</category><category>NG2</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden-2</category><category>NinjaGaiden2</category><category>Team-Ninja</category><category>TeamNinja</category><category>Tecmo</category><category>Tomonobu-Itagaki</category><dc:creator>Ludwig Kietzmann</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-12-21T15:25:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Sexual harassment charges against Itagaki dismissed</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/sexual-harassment-charges-against-itagaki-dismissed/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/sexual-harassment-charges-against-itagaki-dismissed/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/sexual-harassment-charges-against-itagaki-dismissed/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a></p><a href="http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164751"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2006/11/phoenix-wright-itagaki.jpg" alt="" /></a>And so the<em> </em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/28/scalding-sake-itagaki-counters-sexual-harassment-claim/">scalding sake</a> saga comes to an end, with the sexual harassment charges against Team Ninja's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/itagaki">Tomonobu Itagaki</a> having been dismissed in the Tokyo District Court. The outspoken game designer was accused last year of behaving inappropriately in the presence of a former female Tecmo employee, allegedly displaying his fondness a bit too forcibly for her liking. With the suit settled and the charges vanquished, Itagaki has been declared an innocent man.<br /><br />"I have held my head high and have fought the good fight for the past year in order to clear my name and to uphold the reputations of Team NINJA and of Tecmo," Itagaki told <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164751">1UP</a>. "The former employee's arguments were judged to have been false, and all claims that she has brought against me have been dismissed." We expect he'll be celebrating the occasion by <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/ninjagaiden2">lopping off limbs</a> and hoping this courtroom business remains nothing more than a mammary.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164751>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/sexual-harassment-charges-against-itagaki-dismissed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1055937/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/sexual-harassment-charges-against-itagaki-dismissed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Dragon-Sword</category><category>DragonSword</category><category>Itagaki</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden-2</category><category>NinjaGaiden2</category><category>Team-Ninja</category><category>TeamNinja</category><category>Tecmo</category><category>Tomonobu-Itagaki</category><dc:creator>Ludwig Kietzmann</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-12-05T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Itagaki expects Ninja Gaiden 2 demo 'at some point'</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/itagaki-expects-ninja-gaiden-2-demo-at-some-point/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/itagaki-expects-ninja-gaiden-2-demo-at-some-point/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/itagaki-expects-ninja-gaiden-2-demo-at-some-point/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/837/837523p1.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/ninja_gaiden_2_imp_tgs.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
When Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki tells you <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-impressions-ninja-gaiden-2/"><em>Ninja Gaiden I</em><em>I</em></a> is the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-interviews-team-ninjas-tomonobu-itagaki/">greatest action game</a> ever made, he doesn't expect you to take his word for it. No, in today's wondrous online world, he expects you to download the demo and reach that conclusion on your own. Failure to do so, of course, will result in the world's deadliest mammals hurling shurikens through your window and slicing up your special edition copy of <em>Devil May Cry 4</em>. <br /><br />In a video interview with <a href="http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/837/837523p1.html">IGN</a> (embedded after the break), the outspoken designer notes that non-believers can look forward to a demo of <em>Ninja Gaiden II</em> at "some point," though we suspect it might be after the game's Spring 2008 release if the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/24/dead-or-alive-demo-drop-kicks-xblm/">tardy</a> <em>Dead or Alive 4</em> demo is any indication. Not that we need much convincing, mind you -- the interview's talk of mutilated enemies exclaiming "It's only a flesh wound!" before wrapping themselves around your legs and committing C4 seppuku has us convinced.<br /><br /><center><embed width="433" height="360" src="http://videomedia.ign.com/ev/ev.swf" all="" flashvars="object_ID=686645&amp;downloadURL=http://xbox360movies.ign.com/xbox360/video/article/837/837049/ninjagaiden2_interview_112607_flvlowwide.flv&amp;allownetworking=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></center><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/837/837523p1.html>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/itagaki-expects-ninja-gaiden-2-demo-at-some-point/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1050115/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/itagaki-expects-ninja-gaiden-2-demo-at-some-point/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Itagaki</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden</category><category>NinjaGaiden</category><category>NinjaGaiden2</category><category>TeamNinja</category><category>Tecmo</category><dc:creator>Ludwig Kietzmann</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-11-29T02:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>New details on Ninja Gaiden 2's violent tendencies</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/new-details-on-ninja-gaiden-2s-violent-tendencies/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/new-details-on-ninja-gaiden-2s-violent-tendencies/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/new-details-on-ninja-gaiden-2s-violent-tendencies/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://gamers-creed.com/?p=692"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/ninja_gaiden_2_imp_tgs.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
The latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly has a few new details (via <a href="http://gamers-creed.com/?p=692">Gamers Creed</a>) on the upcoming Xbox 360 bloodbath <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-impressions-ninja-gaiden-2/"><em>Ninja Gaiden 2</em></a>. Developer Team Ninja has added plenty of incentive for dismemberment, as removed limbs will stay on screen (we can only hope this inspires a rather grotesque <em>Katamari Damacy</em> cross-over game). <br /><br />Additionally, there will be "obliteration techniques" that the player can activate by pressing Y after removing a limb. The details are unknown except that the camera zooms in, but we can only assume that entails protagonist Ryu totally flipping out and killing people in some stylish fashion. The techniques vary based on what weapon you're using and what body part you just removed.<br /><br />Some of the stages are modeled after -- and possibly named after -- real world locations, including Tokyo, Times Square and Venice. (The Statue of Liberty was <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/16/itagaki-shows-off-ninja-gaiden-ii-aqua-city-level/">previously spotted</a> in the TGS demo.) Expect cooperative attacks from enemies and unfortunately (but unsurprisingly) no multiplayer in the final game.<br /><br /><em>Ninja Gaiden 2</em>, being published by Microsoft, is due out Spring 2008.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/10/24/ninja-gaiden-2-details-in-latest-egm/">X3F</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://gamers-creed.com/?p=692>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/new-details-on-ninja-gaiden-2s-violent-tendencies/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1020981/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/new-details-on-ninja-gaiden-2s-violent-tendencies/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>itagaki</category><category>ninja-gaiden-2</category><category>ninjagaiden2</category><category>tecmo</category><dc:creator>Ross Miller</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-10-24T14:58:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>TGS impressions: Ninja Gaiden 2</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-impressions-ninja-gaiden-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-impressions-ninja-gaiden-2/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-impressions-ninja-gaiden-2/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/ninja_gaiden_2_imp_tgs.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">"Violent content is a big feature," says <em>Ninja Gaiden 2 </em>project lead Yoshifuru Okamoto, well aware of the obvious nature of his statement. Subtlety isn't a concept that's welcome in this particular Tokyo hotel room, with even the faintest hint of it soundly beaten with an over-sized mallet before being strapped to the hood of a car barreling into an exploding train... falling out of an airplane. Which also happens to be exploding. <br /></div>
<br />Team Ninja's long-awaited, not-a-remake sequel to <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/NinjaGaiden/">Ninja Gaiden</a></em> has already garnered attention for its gratuitous and unyielding violence, with early screenshots depicting massive arterial blood sprays, decapitations and all manner of lopped and lobbed limbs. It's further exacerbated when seen in motion, as enemies clutch bloody stumps and roll about in agony when separated from their legs. If you didn't consider series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa to be a murdering machine before, <em>Ninja Gaiden 2</em> should provide enough visual evidence to convince you otherwise.<br /><br />The key to creating thrilling combat in an action title, says Okamoto, is turning every encounter into a "life or death situation." When death happens to be so boldly portrayed, it becomes less of a shock tactic and more of a visual reward for dispatching foes efficiently. In many ways, it's a direct reinforcement of one of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja Gaiden</span>'s most important qualities -- the sense of empowerment. As the long-standing relationship between an enemy's head and his neck comes to an abrupt ending, you're reminded that you control the most agile and powerful being in the game. The choice between life and death is entirely in your hands.<br /><br />Of course, your choice in this important matter is aided by an array of new and returning weapons, with the immensely useful Dragon Sword and Sigma's dual katanas falling under the latter category. Okamoto notes that Team Ninja doesn't "think in numerical values," pointing out that its goal wasn't simply to increase the number of available weapons. "We ask ourselves... what would be the most bad-ass?" New sharp (and decidedly <span style="font-style: italic;">bad-ass</span>) implements granted to Ryu and equipped via a pace-preserving in-game menu include an intimidating scythe and a set of wolverine claws, neatly matched by a pair of bladed boots ideal for use in satisfying kick-capitations. The man wielding these weapons still boasts some remarkably fluid animation, accentuated by dramatic close-ups whenever an unrestrained killing blow is delivered.<br /><br />Much like Rachel's throws in the PlayStation 3's <span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja Gaiden Sigma</span>, Ryu is now able to cut to the chase, often by cutting to a vital organ within the body of significantly weakened enemy. These fatal attacks greatly speed up the pace of the combat and allow you to better deal with large attacking groups, though letting your guard down is still not a viable option. Even when reduced to nothing but an angry torso and a pair of flailing arms, an enemy ninja is able to cling to Ryu's feet and commit an explosive suicide with an incendiary shuriken. These folks don't give up without a fight!<br /><br />For those who <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> give up without a fight in the previous title, Team Ninja has implemented a limited health regeneration system in <span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja Gaiden 2</span>. Ryu is now able to automatically recover a certain amount of health after receiving damage, with the condition that each major blow reduces the maximum amount of health that may be regained. Okamoto fully admits that this is a concession to gamers who had trouble assailing <span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja Gaiden</span>'s steep learning curve, pointing out that it would allow a wider range of gamers to play and appreciate the game without destroying their controllers in the process. Of course, widening the appeal in this manner risks disappointing those who appreciated <span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja Gaiden</span> for its unforgiving (but not unfair) challenge. Though the exact effect on overall difficulty has yet to be seen, health regeneration is certainly the preferred alternative to weakening enemy AI or boosting Ryu's already considerable strength. <br /><br />A weakness on <span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja Gaiden</span>'s part was the 3rd-person camera, which many insisted to be clumsy and ineffective within smaller environments. This too will see great improvement, promises Okamoto, both in terms of functionality and stylish presentation. We didn't spot any obstructive angles during Ryu's run through the somewhat static but beautifully lit canal city of Aqua, but further judgment on the camera will have to wait until we're closer to the game's 2008 release date. <br /><br />In its current state, <span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja Gaiden 2</span> appears to be a focused and thrilling sequel to what many consider to be one of the action genre's defining moments. As you watch Ryu Hayabusa flicking the blood from his weapon amidst heaps of lost lives and limbs, you may just start believing that when it's time to take on the the world, you might actually <span style="font-style: italic;">win</span>.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-impressions-ninja-gaiden-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/995759/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-impressions-ninja-gaiden-2/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Ninja-Gaiden</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden2</category><category>NinjaGaiden</category><category>NinjaGaiden2</category><category>Team-Ninja</category><category>Tecmo</category><category>TGS07</category><dc:creator>Ludwig Kietzmann</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-09-22T17:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Itagaki shows off Ninja Gaiden II aqua city level</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/16/itagaki-shows-off-ninja-gaiden-ii-aqua-city-level/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/16/itagaki-shows-off-ninja-gaiden-ii-aqua-city-level/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/16/itagaki-shows-off-ninja-gaiden-ii-aqua-city-level/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24980.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/ninjagaiden2.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
<br /><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/ninja-gaiden-2-to-flip-out-and-kill-people-on-360-in-2008/">Leaked screenshots</a> are one thing, but to truly experience the power of a ninja you need to see him in action. Fortunately, GameTrailers has <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24980.html?type=flv">footage</a> from Tomonobu Itagaki's live demo of <em>Ninja Gaiden II</em> at Microsoft's pre-Tokyo Game Show press conference.<br /> <br /> Itagaki says the "world's best action game" is "pretty far in development," as evidenced by the eight stages available on the demo's stage select screen (including one that intriguingly shows the Statue of Liberty). Only one level gets played in the live demo, though -- a Venice-style aqua city. Our favorite ninja is shown using a scythe-like sword, a pair of longswords and a set Wolverine-style claws against ninjas, military types and some green-blooded dragons. The action will be familiar to anyone who has played a modern <em>Ninja Gaiden</em> game, with plenty of bloody severed enemies and dramatic zooms for particularly vicious kills. <br /><br />Unfortunately, the demo ends just before a battle with the towering red-eyed spider-beast shown above. Here's hoping we'll get some hands on time with the game when the Tokyo Game Show starts this Thursday.<br /><br />[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]<div align="center"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="409">	<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=24980"/> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=24980" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="409"></embed> </object></div><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24980.html>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/16/itagaki-shows-off-ninja-gaiden-ii-aqua-city-level/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/990839/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/16/itagaki-shows-off-ninja-gaiden-ii-aqua-city-level/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>breakingnews</category><category>itagaki</category><category>ninjagaiden</category><category>ninjagaiden2</category><category>teamninja</category><category>TGS</category><dc:creator>Kyle Orland</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-09-16T18:11:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Watch video of Ninja Gaiden 2 teaser</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/watch-video-of-ninja-gaiden-2-teaser/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/watch-video-of-ninja-gaiden-2-teaser/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/watch-video-of-ninja-gaiden-2-teaser/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/tgs/" rel="tag">TGS</a></p><center><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="490" height="418">	<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=24817"/> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=24817" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="490" height="418"></embed></object></center>Here at Joystiq's East Coast HQ, the sun has just started to crest the hills, bathing the clover in a soft golden light, while on the West Coast, the sun still hides below the horizon, allowing the California denizens a few more hours sleep. As we watch this picturesque scene we are plagued by one answerable question: ... Is it too early for ninjas?<br /><br />We don't, of course, wonder if it's too early if you yourself are a ninja, as we all know that you'll rise at any hour for killing. What we want to know is if it's too early for you to watch a video of Ryu Hayabusa after he just killed a bunch of people in <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/NinjaGaiden2/">Ninja Gaiden 2</a></em>. Is pure ninja action like cheeseburgers? Delicious, but not necessarily at 8 a.m.? Or is it like bacon, a perfect addition to any meal? Regardless, we're putting this teaser up for your consumption now. If you get your faced rocked off by watching it too early, don't come crying to us.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24817.html>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/watch-video-of-ninja-gaiden-2-teaser/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/987470/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/watch-video-of-ninja-gaiden-2-teaser/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>ninjagaiden2</category><category>ninjas</category><category>tecmo</category><category>tgs07</category><dc:creator>Justin McElroy</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-09-12T08:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Ninja Gaiden 2 to flip out and kill people on 360 in 2008</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/ninja-gaiden-2-to-flip-out-and-kill-people-on-360-in-2008/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/ninja-gaiden-2-to-flip-out-and-kill-people-on-360-in-2008/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/ninja-gaiden-2-to-flip-out-and-kill-people-on-360-in-2008/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/tgs/" rel="tag">TGS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><img hspace="0" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/ninja_gaiden_2_decap_attack.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
Fresh from our <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/live-at-the-microsoft-pre-tgs-press-briefing/">liveblog Microsoft TGS briefing</a>, Tomonobu <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Itagaki">Itagaki</a> has unveiled <a href="http://joystiq.com/tag/ninjagaiden2"><em>Ninja Gaiden 2</em></a> for the Xbox 360. The latest iteration of the title will <a href="http://realultimatepower.net">cut off heads all the time and not even think twice about it</a> as today's earlier screenshot <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/rumor-ninja-gaiden-2-images-leaked-on-xbox-japan-site/">leak</a> indicated. Itagaki is pushing to include even more ideas his team had to scrap with the franchise relaunch (and <a href="http://joystiq.com/tag/ninjagaidensigma">relaunch</a>), admitting that they made many compromises. We've lost count of the numbers -- does <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/ninja-gaiden-sigma-ninja-gaiden-true-or-false/"><em>Black</em></a> count -- but maybe this time will be the charm.<br /><br />According to a <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3162734">brief 1UP preview</a>, the title will be published by Microsoft instead of Tecmo, so this one seems locked into a 360 exclusive. Look for the game in 2008.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/live-at-the-microsoft-pre-tgs-press-briefing/">Read</a> - Live at the Microsoft Pre-TGS press briefing<br /><a href="http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3162734">Read</a> - Previews: Ninja Gaiden 2<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/ninja-gaiden-2/">Ninja Gaiden II</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/ninja-gaiden-2/803254/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/ninja-gaiden-ii-46_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/ninja-gaiden-2/803253/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/ninja-gaiden-ii-30_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/ninja-gaiden-2/803252/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/ninja-gaiden-ii-29_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/ninja-gaiden-2/803251/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/ninja-gaiden-ii-48_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/ninja-gaiden-2/803250/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/ninja-gaiden-ii-47_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><br /> [Thanks, Jonah]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/ninja-gaiden-2-to-flip-out-and-kill-people-on-360-in-2008/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/987337/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/ninja-gaiden-2-to-flip-out-and-kill-people-on-360-in-2008/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>360</category><category>itagaki</category><category>microsoft</category><category>ninjagaiden</category><category>ninjagaiden2</category><category>teamninja</category><category>TGS07</category><category>tomonobuitagaki</category><dc:creator>Zack Stern</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-09-12T01:57:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Live at the Microsoft Pre-TGS press briefing</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/live-at-the-microsoft-pre-tgs-press-briefing/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/live-at-the-microsoft-pre-tgs-press-briefing/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/live-at-the-microsoft-pre-tgs-press-briefing/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/tgs/" rel="tag">TGS</a></p><div align="center"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
Our friends from <a href="http://japanese.engadget.com/">Engadget Japan</a> are live on the scene in Tokyo, feeding us updates from Microsoft's Xbox 360 2007 pre-TGS briefing. Maybe they'll finally come clean on <em>Ninja Gaiden 2</em> for the 360, we'll see. We'll update this post live throughout the event. <br /><br /><strong>1:10PM</strong> - The show begins with a CGI trailer, after which Takashi Sensui, Microsoft Japan's Xbox division manager takes the stage. He introduces Hironobu Sakaguchi who says that his Unreal Engine 3-powered RPG <em>Lost Odyssey</em> is 95% completed.<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-1.jpg" /><br /><br /><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-2.jpg" alt="" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:20PM</span> - Sakaguchi is playing <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost Odyssey</span>, though apparently "playing" is arguable considering the amount of non-interactive cutscenes. The screen shows: "B: Cancel; A: See the Dream." We'll assume he pressed 'A'. Like most UE3 games, Lost Odyssey looks great, but the battle system appears to be quite dated (or traditional depending on which you prefer). Even better: Sakaguchi lost a battle and thus ended the demo. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:30PM</span> - They show off box art for the game featuring a manga-style painting by<span id="CNT1"> Inoue. It will be released on December 6th in Japan, but will not be playable at TGS. Instead, they'll be showing off a new trailer and they'll host another event for the press in November. Sensui is back on stage and says North America will get the game in February 2008, and the rest of Asia in January 2008. He says the game "is already beyond movies." <br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="CNT1"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-3.jpg" /></span><br /><span id="CNT1"></span></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:37PM</span> - What's that music ... is that ... Halo? They're showing off the E3 trailer, and we're reminded to prowl for Cortana cosplayers at TGS. There are about 50 Xbox 360 fanboys screaming and shouting at each announcement and trailer, while Sensui explains how great <span style="font-style: italic;">Halo 3</span> is for the Japanese gamer (something tells me they're not listening). <span style="font-style: italic;">PGR4</span> is coming to Japan on 10/11 (we already knew that) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Viva Pinata Party Animals</span> is coming in 2007 (we're thrilled, I assure you). <br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="CNT1"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-4.jpg" /></span><br /><span id="CNT1"></span></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:42PM</span> - And now the third-party games. Kicking it off with Namco Bandai, showing off a new trailer of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ace Combat 6</span> (which is an Xbox 360 timed <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/20/ace-combat-6-revealed-as-an-xbox-360-exclusive/">exclusive</a> if you'll recall). Applause. The game will hit Japan on November 1st, and will be playable at TGS (that <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost Odyssey</span>!). <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:50PM</span> - Koei is showing off Dynasty Warriors 6, which will launch for PS3 and Xbox 360 at the same time this November, and will also be playable at TGS. They show a trailer for the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/devil-may-cry-4-no-longer-a-playstation-3-exclusive/">no-longer exclusive</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Devil May Cry 4</span>, and say it will be on the Xbox 360 "early next year." It's unclear if the PS3 version has been delayed from its expected Q4 release or if both versions are coming out next year. After the trailer, Sensui calls the game "Devil Maker 4." Hey, don't sweat it, that name makes more sense than "Devil May Cry." <br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="CNT1"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-5.jpg" /></span><br /><span id="CNT1"></span></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:55PM</span> - SURPRISE! <span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja Gaiden 2</span>! Our good buddy Tomonobu "<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/joystiq-interview-doa-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-tekken-sucks/">Tekken sucks</a>" Itagaki takes the stage and says this is the world premiere of the game. "We, Team Ninja, don't think the last Ninja Gaiden on Xbox was a masterpiece or such." What about Sigma on the PS3? Did you get it right by that point? He continues, "Many compromises there, ten or twenty features we could not implement then. This time, we can finally present those original ideas." It only took what ... four iterations? <br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="CNT1"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-6.jpg" /></span><br /><span id="CNT1"></span></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br />The ever humble Itagaki barely squeaks out, "The Xbox 360 is the best game console on the earth and this game is gonna be the best on the console." To prove it, he's showing off some real-time footage of the title. He mentions <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/rumor-ninja-gaiden-2-images-leaked-on-xbox-japan-site/">the leak today</a> (he calls it "the accident") so he's going to show off a new stage. <br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="CNT1"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-8.jpg" /><br /><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-7.jpg" /><br /><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-9.jpg" /></span><br /><span id="CNT1"></span></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br style="font-weight: bold;" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:05PM </span>- As you can see (well, you can't, but believe us anyways) the title is jam-packed with gore, handily earning it a Z (that's like an M/AO to us) rating. The screen says, "Rengenge begins 2008" ... in blood. Nice touch. Itagaki says, "Thank you so much. I'm very happy to announce it here today. Thank you." Sensui is back on stage saying, "Sugoi desune!" over and over again. It means "really awesome." <br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="CNT1"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-10.jpg" /></span><br /><span id="CNT1"></span></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:10PM</span> - They move onto the broader Microsoft games biz, like Games for Windows. The "platform" now has 250 titles, including Live, in 2007. And a Z-rated platinum <a href="http://www.xbox.com/ja-JP/press/release/20070903.htm">collection</a> featuring Dead Rising and Gears of War for about $40 US (what a deal!).<br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="CNT1"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-12.jpg" /><br /><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-11.jpg" /></span><br /><span id="CNT1"></span></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:20PM</span> - They're showing off new pink and light blue wireless controllers, just like the ones <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/colored-xbox-360-controllers/">we saw at E3</a>. some ladies are on stage in matching shirts to show off the lovely new controllers. They're also introducing the chatpad for the Japanese market, but there's no release date just yet. The pink and blue controllers will be available on 11/1 or 12/1.<br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="CNT1"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="368" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-13.jpg" /></span><br /><span id="CNT1"></span></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:25PM</span> - In terms of downloadable contenst, Idol Master is the 3rd best selling game on Live, by numbers sold. For Xbox Live Arcade, they're bringing Rez, Ikaruga, Every Extend Extra Extreme, EXIT, Omega Five, and Trigger Heart Exelica! Wowza!<br /><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-14.jpg" /><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-15.jpg" /><br /></div>
<span id="CNT1"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:30PM</span> - Square Enix's Kojima Hajime</span> takes the stage to talk about <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/13/new-tri-ace-rpg-for-xbox-360-undiscovered/">Infinite Undiscovery</a>, the fantasy RPG being developed by Tri-Ace and published by Square Enix. They show a trailer. Hajime is followed by now Kawazu Akitoshi, executive producer for Square Enix's other Xbox 360 bound RPG project, <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/last-remnant-simultaneous-360-ps3-release-in-us-japan/">Last Remnant</a>. They show off some real-time footage; unfortunately, the game won't be playable at TGS.<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/pre-tgs-briefing-16.jpg"  alt="" /><br /></div>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:45PM</span> - Sensui is back on stage. Says, "The 360 is the most fun, most exciting platform now." They show off a little recap movie for those folks in the audience who may have dozed off for a little bit, and that's it! Sensui says, "See you at TGS!" You bet your behind you will. <br /><br /><br /></div>
</div><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/live-at-the-microsoft-pre-tgs-press-briefing/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/987306/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/live-at-the-microsoft-pre-tgs-press-briefing/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>BreakingNews</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden-2</category><category>NinjaGaiden2</category><category>TGS07</category><dc:creator>Christopher Grant</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-09-12T00:11:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Rumor: Ninja Gaiden 2 for 360 to be at Tokyo Game Show</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/rumor-ninja-gaiden-2-for-360-to-be-at-tokyo-game-show/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/rumor-ninja-gaiden-2-for-360-to-be-at-tokyo-game-show/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/rumor-ninja-gaiden-2-for-360-to-be-at-tokyo-game-show/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/tgs/" rel="tag">TGS</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.gamespot.co.kr/xbox360/news/0,39051450,39328532-39109243p,00.htm"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/08/ninja-gaiden-2-subtitled.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
There is a rather perverse enjoyment of reading bad translations at Joystiq HQ (which is located <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/12/overheard-e3-deja-vu-to-you-too/">in France</a>, of course). So it is with a hushed giggle that we inform you of a rumor stemming from <a href="http://www.gamespot.co.kr/xbox360/news/0,39051450,39328532-39109243p,00.htm">GameSpot Korean</a> that <em>[nin] the guy to sleep 2 it is burnt</em>, also known as <em>Ninja Gaiden 2</em>, will be shown on the Xbox 360 at this year's Tokyo Game Show.<br /><br />A Japanese insider also reportedly said that a PS3 version is not yet detailed. Our Korean is a little rusty, so until we hear a confirmation in another language (Japanese, Spanish, German, Swahili, English or French, of course) and can translate in-house, consider this just a juicy rumor to sink your katana into.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/08/19/rumor-ninja-gaiden-2-on-the-360-at-the-tgs/">X3F</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.gamespot.co.kr/xbox360/news/0,39051450,39328532-39109243p,00.htm>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/rumor-ninja-gaiden-2-for-360-to-be-at-tokyo-game-show/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/969839/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/rumor-ninja-gaiden-2-for-360-to-be-at-tokyo-game-show/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>itagaki</category><category>ninjagaiden</category><category>ninjagaiden2</category><category>teamninja</category><category>tgs07</category><dc:creator>Ross Miller</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-08-20T21:55:00+00:00</dc:date></item></channel></rss>