Kotaku
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reggie fils-aime
Team Ninja Bringing Special Sauce To Metroid
Nintendo has wrangled in Tecmo's Team Ninja to develop upcoming Wii title Metroid: Other M. Team Ninja is best known for its work on action title Ninja Gaiden and bouncy fighter Dead or Alive. More »
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141
Comment by Kirbysuperstar: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons are easily my favorite Zelda games. I bet every single scenario in both... 16 Responses | Other threads
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smack talk
Itagaki Bayonetta Creator Hate May Provide Game Clues
Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki has left Tecmo's Team Ninja. He's been away, but has returned with a new start-up, unofficially dubbed the Tokyo Vikings. More »
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Comment by Timstuff: His face still looks like an oatmeal cookie. 10 Responses | Other threads
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e3
Where To Now For The Ninja Gaiden Series?
Development of the modern, 3D Ninja Gaiden games has always been overseen by one man: former Team Ninja boss/ Dark Lord Tomonobu Itagaki. But what happens now he can no longer work on the series? More »
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Comment by HA-TheJoker-HA: But will they have severed limbs that dont turn into a cartoonish purple "puff!"? That is the question... 6 Responses | Other threads
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e3
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Impressions: If It's Broke A Little, Fix It A Little
I didn't like Ninja Gaiden II much. From what I saw of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, though, I like it a lot better. Amazing what an extra 12 months development time can do for a game, isn't it? More »
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Comment by Grinman: I'd rather have a perceived bad camera and limbs flying around all over the place than a slightly better camera... 21 Responses | Other threads
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e3
Will Team Ninja Take The Slutty Route With Samus?
Was speaking with new Team Ninja boss Yosuke Hayashi today, and got to thinking...Team Ninja are admirers of the female form. Team Ninja are now doing Metroid. So will Team Ninja be admiring Samus' form? More »
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Comment by AznSlackerType~Is AbsurdlyNarcissistic: I really hate huge breasts, they piss me off more then they turn me on. Call me weird, but thats... 25 Responses | Other threads
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e3 2009
First Metroid: Other M Screens
Nintendo is partnering with Team Ninja, not Retro Studios, for the newest outer space adventure starring Samus Aran, Metroid: Other M. The Wii game is a mix of first and third-person action. It looks spectacular. More » -
tokyo vikings
Ex-Team Ninja Lead Itagaki Speaks About What's Next
Former Team Ninja lead Tomonobu Itagaki is in the catbird's seat, having moved on from Tecmo and on to things not Ninja Gaiden or Dead Or Alive related. It's even better for us. More »
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Comment by BubbleF**kingBuddy: Whenever I see Itagaki's face, I feel for some Papa John's Pizza. No idea why, though. 16 Responses | Other threads
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tecmo
Can We Expect More Ninja Gaiden Games? Can We?
When game designer Tomonobu Itagaki headed up Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden franchise, he stated that Ninja Gaiden II was the last title in the series. But the franchise isn't his anymore. More »
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Comment by jjammerzs: As excited as I am...Why does this sound wrong? (It would be like a metal gear minus Kojima, or a... 33 Responses | Other threads
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clips
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Looks Light On Bloody Violence
The trailer for Xbox 360 title Ninja Gaiden II was a pure gore porn, complete with bloody slicing and dicing. The trailer of the PS3 reworking Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 seems, well, different. More »
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Comment by CitizenGabe: It could just be me but I saw some co-op gameplay elements. 9 Responses | Other threads
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teenage mutant ninja turtles
Ex-Team Ninja and Brawl Staff Working On TMNT Fighter For Wii
According to reports from the newest issue of Nintendo Power, Ubisoft will be publishing a new four-player fighting game based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But it's who's developing the title that's interesting. More »
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Comment by madammina: Nice pic ;) but, on the other hand, Just about ANYTHING can outpreform Brawl's online stuff. 10 Responses | Other threads
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team ninja
Team Ninja Considering Wii Development, PS3 Still Hasn't Seen Full Potential
Team Ninja isn’t quite dead and buried. As we first broke, Tomonobu Itagaki, the founder of the studio, quit and sued the company. But in September Tecmo announced a new head for the studio and said they were currently working on three new titles. More »
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Comment by anakin3: clearly, the 360 bogs down multiplatform games from a storage space point of view. I would really like to see... 10 Responses | Other threads
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tecmo
Team Ninja Has 3 New Games, New Head Ninja
Tecmo announced at a press conference in Tokyo yesterday that Team Ninja has three titles currently in development, with team member Jin Hasegawa taking the reins at the developer as of July 1. That's the day that former Team Ninja master Tomonobu Itagaki ended his employment at the Japanese publisher. More » -
tomonobu itagaki
Itagaki Bets You A Beer The PS3 Is Easier To Program For Than The Famicom
Giving his first interview since his, uh, departure from Tecmo, former Team Ninja boss Tomonobu Itagaki has told 1UP's James Mielke a bunch of stuff. Some of it interesting, some of it confusing, some of it batshit insane. You should really go read the whole piece, but if you're after a highlights package, this quote probably takes the cake: More »
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Comment by dLMN8R: Of course newer platforms are easier to develop for than older platforms. Who has ever said otherwise? The... 10 Responses | Other threads
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feature
The Meaning of Ninjy
They're the people in the shadows. You don't know their names, but you know their words. They localizers, the folks that take games not only from another language, but also another culture and open them up for another audience. "Good translation is tough to quantify," says Tokyo-based localizer Matt Alt. "If it's well done, it sort of disappears. Ideally the person playing the game doesn't even realize they're reading something that wasn't originally written in their native tongue." He runs AltJapan along with his wife (and company president!) Hiroko Yoda out of a small second story office on Tokyo's westside. And with 99.999 percent of the games AltJapan works on that’s true. Well, save for one: Ninja Gaiden II.
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team ninja
Ninja Gaiden II Mission Mode Hits Xbox Live July 25
Those looking for more to do in Ninja Gaiden II should start rooting through the couch cushions for loose Microsoft Points, because details on the game's DLC have appeared, like, out of nowhere. One second there's a puff of smoke, the next Gamersyde reports that you'll be paying 800 MS Points for 25 new missions via Xbox Live. Cheap! More »
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Comment by MoFuzz: Hope there's ppl still at Team Ninja working on resolving the framerate/slowdown issues. Tarnishes an otherwise awesome experience. How come screenshots... more » | Other threads
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ninja gaiden ii
NECA's Ninja Gaiden II Figure
Whoah, NECA! Slow down! You'll wear yourself out, then you won't be any good to anyone. Not content with releasing God of War figures, and Gears of War of War figures, and Bionic Commando figures, they've just released shots of a Ninja Gaiden II figure as well. Of course, it's of Ryu Hayabusa, who'll stand 7" tall and come with a bunch of weapons and accessories when he's released in September. In case you haven't noticed with those ball hips and wacky shoulders, the emphasis here is on his flexibility, not his detail.
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Comment by kidnicky: Why's everyone bitching about the joints? It looks like a typical poseable action figure. more » | Other threads
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itagaki's revenge
Tecmo Says Team Ninja Exodus Rumors False, Calls Out U.S. Media
Tecmo is not pleased. It says that rumored talk of some three dozen Team Ninja members bolting from the company along with Tomonobu Itagaki and filing suit against Tecmo, reports of which originated at 1UP, are false and inaccurate. "No such action is taking place at the company," reads an official statement forwarded to Kotaku.
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Comment by Snokie: In addition, there were reports that Tecmo, LTD., a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, withheld information from... more » | Other threads
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tomonobu itagaki
Rumor:36 on Team Ninja Quitting, Planning Lawsuit
The Itagaki-Tecmo pissing match may have hit a new level of animosity. 1Up, attributing only "word on the street," reports that as many as 36 key members of Team Ninja are walking, and preparing a class-action lawsuit against Tecmo regarding unpaid bonuses they were due for completed games.Earlier this month Tomonobu Itagaki, who leads/led Team Ninja, announced his intention to quit Tecmo, effective July 1. In his announcement he was PO'd about a company decision not to pay bonuses on a completed game, so, chances are his comrades feel the same. Tecmo, for its part, says the bonus to Itagaki that is in dispute was approved by a previous management team, not the current one.1Up also writes: Another problem for Tecmo is that in Japan, any lawsuit filed against a publicly-traded company must be immediately reported to its shareholders on the same business day. The fact that Itagaki had actually filed a complaint against Tecmo in Tokyo District Court on May 14, but Tecmo management withheld this information from shareholders, possibly as late as when the notorious developer released his high-profile public statement on June 2, creates even bigger problems for the game publisher. Of course Tecmo still owns Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, and can hire developers to make all the games it wishes off of those franchises. But if this is true, it's absolutely a fair to wonder what they'll be like without, and how faithful they'd be to the gaming experience so many have come to expect to this point. Rumor: Three Dozen Team Ninja Members Leaving With Itagaki [1Up]
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By Owen GoodComment by freespeech: Well, I don't really like Itagaki as he seems like a bit of an ass to me but the man... more » | Other threads
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review
Ninja Gaiden II Review: Swan Song or Death Knell?
Last month when I spoke with Tomonobu Itagaki in San Francisco he told me that Ninja Gaiden II represented the culmination, the absolute height of the franchise and because of this he would no longer be making any more Ninja Gaiden games. Ninja Gaiden has always been about perfection of timing, on some level the art of the sword, this is no more evident than in this latest game. More »
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Comment by bl400: I don't understand the comments levied towards NG2. 2 questions. 1. How can people look past that fact that when you... more » | Other threads
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Itagaki's last day
TECMO: Itagaki's Last Day is July 1, Team NINJA Still Developing
Last night Ashcraft was quick to post details from the official statement Tecmo posted on their Japanese site in regards to Tomonobu Itagaki's decision to sue and quit the company.
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Comment by freespeech: @D-Sovereignty: he'll probably just kick his feet up and tell his team to do what they want!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then everyone... more » | Other threads
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news
Microsoft Thanks Itagaki For Years of Support
When Tomonobu Itagaki dropped a bombshell late last night telling us through a translator that he was not only leaving Team Ninja but suing his former employer, it was pretty stunning. More »
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Comment by 3inst3in just had rrod number 2 and is sad: @Michael McWhertor: what's my rooster got to do with any of this? more » | Other threads
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ninja gaiden ii
Ninja Gaiden II Demo "By The End Of The Week"
Like Ninja Gaiden II? Don't like fiddling around with a Japanese Xbox Live account just to play the demo? Me too. So...good news! Microsoft's Larry Hryb has slipped into his Twitter account a little note on the status of a Western demo for the title, writing "I am told that it will be available by the end of next week". That was written last Friday, so "next" week is actually this week. Be sure to count down the days on your calendar. In blood.
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Comment by Myst3r1o: @Xerxes 8933A: THANK YOU kindly sir. That's exactly what I needed to hear! more » | Other threads
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gallery
Ninja Gaiden II Sexy Photo Event Fun Time
The inclusion of the chesty Sonia in Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden II isn't just an excuse to pander to the caveman portion of gamer brains everywhere with ladies in tight rubbery outfits in a video game. It also provides an excuse to pander to the caveman portion of gamer brains everywhere with ladies in tight rubbery outfits in real life. To wit, the "Ninja Gaiden II Red Hot Night Sexy Photo Event" that just went down in Korea. Ninja Gaiden II producer Yoshifuru Okamoto was there, promoting the game along with a gaggle of half-hearted flesh and blood attempts at Sonia, each holding things like plastic swords and plastic Ninja Gaiden II cases. It was, as you'll see in the gallery, a huge success. More »
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Comment by DragoManiac: Saw Takashi Miike's Audition the other night, good movie but well... let's just say that you can never be too... more » | Other threads
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Comment by Xiedo: IGN's major complaint was "lack of content." As in, no Mission Mode. And I'd tend to agree with them. Despite... more » | Other threads
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xbox 360 spring showcase
Itagaki: No More Ninja Gaiden, This Was My Swan Song
In an interview with Kotaku earlier today Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki said that he doesn't plan on making any more Ninja Gaiden games for any platforms following the release of Ninja Gaiden II for the Xbox 360.
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Comment by Zosic: Itagaki making a World War II game? I bet it will be different then the others. It will feature nurses... more » | Other threads
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xbox 360 spring showcase
Ninja Gaiden II Trailer Scythes Outside The Box
Here you go kids, the official trailer for Ninja Gaiden II, complete with movie-guyish announcer voice and some damn fine intro music. The scythe popping out of the letterbox effect for some reason had me stopping and starting the clip over and over again. I suppose I am so used to letterbox at this point that I find something breaking those sacred black strips strangely compelling. Whoever came up with the effect deserves a cupcake. As for the rest of you, better get ready. Vengeance is coming, June 2008. Might want to clean your house or something, make things nice for it.
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By Mike FaheyComment by mcool93: the moves are fluid. If they get fps right, this should be a very pleasant (and frustrating) game to play.... more » | Other threads
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deals
Wait! You Might Not Want To Buy The Halo 3 Legendary Map Pack
Did we get your attention before it was Too Late? We hope so. Because if you were already interested in picking up Ninja Gaiden II, pre-ordering the game at Circuit City will score you the Halo 3 Legendary Map pack free. While the process isn't instantaneous, Circuit City will email you a redemption code within a week of your order. And seeing as Halo doesn't seem to be going anywhere in the near future, it could be a decent way to save yourselften dollars800 Microsoft Points. More » -
xbox 360
Ninja Gaiden II Impressions: Bloodbath
I haven't had nearly the time I'd like to play around with Ninja Gaiden II for the Xbox 360. I know, sacrilege, you'd think I'd be spending all of my waking moments on the game sense they sent me the early build to check out. More »
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Comment by SavitriHizballa: Ok ok. I picked up NGB a few months ago to see what all the hubbub was about. I have... more » | Other threads
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ninja gaiden: dragon sword
Ninja Gaiden DS: Gaming at the Speed of Penmanship
Stephen Totilo sat down with Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword producer Yosuke Hayashi last week during the devs tour of NY and managed to squeeze some pretty interesting and different information out of him. More »
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Comment by mienai: Nope, it's English with English subs only, unfortunately. But there are undubs floating around... more » | Other threads
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masahiro kanagawa
Team Ninja Reacts to Kanagawa Rampage
It wasn't until Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi stepped off the plane in the States this week that he heard about the connection some in the Japanese media were trying to draw between his recently released Ninja Gaiden game and the rampage of a disenfranchised gamer at a shopping center near Tokyo.
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ninja gaiden: dragon sword
Team Ninja Thinking of More DS, Wii Games
I had a chance to sit down with Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi, producer of Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword, in New York earlier this week, where he had flown to help launch the portable title in the U.S. More » -
media
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword Boss Gameplay
For whatever reason, I've had very little interest in Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword for DS. (Maybe it was because Itagaki laughed at me.) But this new gameplay footage, while not necessarily the most epic battle in history, looks both fun and technically impressive. Not to be a graphics whore, but man, look at those graphics! Not too shabby for a DS title!
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By Mark WilsonComment by Jenstar: I can't wait for this game. Reminds me of Phantom Hourglass controls but much faster with NINJAS. You... more » | Other threads
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tecmo
One-Armed Ninja Gaiden II Enemies Can Fight
Severed arms. Decapitated heads. And lots and lots of blood. Ninja Gaiden II looks pretty gross. The game's mastermind, Tomonobu Itagaki, is to remind all that it plays pretty gross, too. Itagaki says: More »
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Comment by ParadiseEve: Hopefully by the time this comes out the xbox360 will be a lot better. Mine died to i have to... more » | Other threads
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By Mike FaheyComment by davahsa: Since Ninja Gaiden Black is my favorite game of all time (couldn't justify buying a PS3 for sigma since I... more » | Other threads
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clips
Pronounce Ninja Gaiden Right, You Ninja Dogs
Sorry, Flynn, but it's not NIN-JA GAY-DUN, it's NIN-JA GUY-DEN. As in N'Gai Croal. I officially win our debate. Team Ninja's master ninja Tomonobu Itagaki—don't worry he helps with the pronunciation of that, too—provides the sound-off in the latest MTV Multiplayer pronunciation guide, even throwing in the proper way to say "Helena", something I wasn't even aware was an issue. Sorry, Canada and the UK, you know the deal with this MTV video nonsense. Ask a friend in the U.S. to give you the gory details. More »
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Comment by curryman: @FUZZYCUFFS: People also tend to pronounce the first syllable like the English word "care", so it's Care-EEE-Oh-Key. Who screwed up the pronunciation... more » | Other threads
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too hot for tv
Itagaki Doesn't Want To Hang With The Censored
Team Ninja's fearless leader and boozemaster Tomonobu Itagaki is one of the last people you'd expect to answer to The Man, but he's actually pretty OK with it.I don't believe the adage that the artist should be able to express whatever he wants is necessarily applicable in this case, because we're creating entertainment. And entertainment shouldn't include things that make people feel uncomfortable or extremely upset...[and] people out there that want to create something that is very far removed from societal norms and the moral sensibilities of the general public ... They're unfortunate, and I don't want to be grouped in with that group of people.
Who does want to be grouped with those weirdo people?? We're with you all the way! But, uhh...what's with all the decapitation? More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by MonsterKingRen: @Enigma_20XX: I was thinking the same thing. Witzbold's right, though. There's some difference between looking at SAW where you kind of... more » | Other threads
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By Mark WilsonComment by Kaosu: @nerdtacular: My god. Itagaki IS a rockstar. more » | Other threads
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clips
Ninja Gaiden II Versus Sigma
By Mike FaheyComment by Black Kodd: Look how fucking dark the 360 gameplay is, I would be pissed. And the camera being so far away from... more » | Other threads
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clips
Ninja Gaiden II Gameplay
By Mike FaheyComment by ese: If ninja gaiden 2 was a movie, it would be rated MA for "Mucho Asskickin". Bring it on baby! more » | Other threads
team ninja
Denver, 4:14 AM
Fri Jul 10
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