• 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 »
    06/08/09
    0
    117

    Comment by Timstuff: His face still looks like an oatmeal cookie. 10 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    05/26/09
    0
    118

    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

  • 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 »
    05/15/09
    0
    123

    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

  • gdc09

    Yosuke Hayashi Mans Up, Moves Out Of Itagaki's Shadow

    Tecmo's redundant announcement of Ninja Gaiden Σ 2 was more than just a chance to talk about online co-op; it was Producer Yosuke Hayashi's chance to come out of his ex-boss's shadow. More »
    03/24/09
    0
    101

    Comment by Archaotic: Hayashi's the man. He's been fighting constant insults from Itagaki despite Itagaki PICKING him to develop Sigma. I... 12 Responses | Other threads

  • hideki kamiya

    DMC, Okami Creator So Not Interested in Ninja Gaiden

    Ex-Team Ninja boss Tomonobu Itagaki drinks. And never sees sunlight. Which explains the vitriol, because when he's not taking swings at Tekken, he's taking swings at Devil May Cry and Okami creator Hideki Kamiya. The Tekken things, that's just a spirited expression of personal taste, but the Kamiya thing...dude may have a point, because he was only responding to these comments by the ex-Capcom man: More »
    09/05/08
    0
    63

    Comment by akumaserge: Hmm... I think NG is following up into DMC footsteps. Watch, if a third NG game comes out, it shall be... 4 Responses | Other threads

  • 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 »
    08/27/08
    0
    132

    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

  • breaking

    Troubled Tecmo President Resigns!

    Today, Tecmo Co. Ltd. announced that Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda will resign. The Board of Directors accepted Yasuda's resignation — which was for "personal reasons". Starting September 1st, Chairman of the Board Yasuharu Kakihara will assume the position of Tecmo's president. More »
    08/20/08
    0
    61

    Comment by freespeech2: soooooo, he's pretty much admitting he was at fault????? NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more » | Other threads

  • japan

    Tomonobu Itagaki Mehs Okami, Respects Kutaragi

    Earlier, Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya didn't exactly have kind words for Ninja Gaiden. They weren't mean per se, they just weren't kind. Kamiya said he's "not interested" in NG so perhaps you could say he is indifferent. In the same issue of EGM, former Team Ninja lead ninja Tomonobu Itagaki has this to say about Kamiya and his game Okami: More »
    07/31/08
    0
    199

    Comment by Suzaku: It's hard to imagine Itagaki as an edgy guy when he's wearing his conductor's hat and excitedly shouting, "Chugga, chugga,... more » | Other threads

  • Itagaki vs. Tecmo

    Here's The Documented Evidence Itagaki Submitted Against Tecmo

    As we broke earlier today, the second round of oral arguments in the Itagaki vs. Tecmo suit commenced. Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki is suing for unpaid DoA 4 wages. These "special incentive" wages were agreed to by the former Tecmo president and the board of directors claims Itagaki, but the current president is claiming these "special incentive" wages were made single-handedly by the former president and not approved by the Tecmo board. Early last month, Itagaki left Tecmo and filed suit for unpaid bonuses. As Itagaki stated then, "President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me 'if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.'" More »
    07/23/08
    0
    94

    Comment by Alphavillain: A 6.66% share of profits? Maybe the man with the horns has come for payback... more » | Other threads

  • tomonobu itagaki

    Secret Tecmo Tapes Reveal Number of the Beast, Insulting Tecmo President

    In the second round of oral arguments for the Itagaki vs. Tecmo suit, Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki submitted evidence that included an affidavit from Ninja Gaiden II producer Yoshifuru Okamoto, a contract from 2005 that seems to clearly state terms of the Dead or Alive 4 bonus and a voice recording of Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda. Itagaki is suing Tecmo over unpaid DoA4 wages. More »
    07/23/08
    0
    101

    Comment by dowingba: It's kind of funny because if Tecmo wins this case, they ultimately lose because they have exactly 0 other employees... more » | Other threads

  • tomonobu itagaki

    Itagaki Didn't Leave Tecmo, He Was Fired

    This morning about 10:00 a.m. Tokyo Time, the second round of oral arguments for the Itagaki vs. Tecmo case commenced. As we broke early last month, Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki left Tecmo and filed suit for unpaid bonuses. As Itagaki stated then, "President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me 'if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.'" More »
    07/23/08
    0
    113

    Comment by Mufasa95: How harsh. Sucks to be Tecmo right now. What greedy twats tho, instead of just paying what was promised they... more » | Other threads

  • tomonobu itagaki

    Tecmo Withdrew Itagaki Gag-Order Weeks Ago

    Remember that four point gag-order Tecmo tried to slap Itagaki with? The company had simply filed for a gag-order, and it wasn't yet granted and didn't actually go into effect. Today as the second round of oral arguments for the Itagaki vs. Tecmo case commenced in which Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki is suing over supposed unpaid wages, it was revealed that Tecmo had already rescinded the gag-order on July 7th. But, did Tecmo publicly announce that it was withdrawing the gag-order filing? More »
    07/23/08
    0
    38

    Comment by Enigma_20XX: I don't even like the guy, and I want to see him treated fairly here... so I won't have to... more » | Other threads

  • 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.
    More »
    07/13/08
    0
    69

    Feature

    Comment by WhitePoop: Sounds like you can use "ninjy" whenever you can't think of the right word. A little like "smurf", "snork",... more » | Other threads

  • Itagaki vs. Tecmo

    One Of These "Special Incentive" DoA 4 Contracts Is Fake

    Yesterday, Itagaki vs. Tecmo commenced with Itagaki's lawyer submitting into evidence the contract he had supporting his completion bonus for Xbox 360 title Dead or ALive 4. Tecmo's lawyers submitted a somewhat identical-looking contract, differing in that it did not support Itagaki's claims that he was entitled to a completion bonus. Hrm. Someone it seems is lying, and other evidence seems to indicate that Tecmo isn't exactly being truthful about overtime — which is a totally separate case altogether. More »
    06/19/08
    0
    50

    Comment by garytek: If Itagaki's accusations turn out to be legit, then I'm going to whip myself repeatedly for buying the whole DOA... more » | Other threads

  • legal

    Tecmo Japan Wants Journalists To Be Fair, Understanding

    As previously posted, Tecmo issued a press release calling out the foreign media for that rumored talk of some three dozen Team Ninja member Tecmo exodus. The Japanese press release released today is slightly different and has been "localized" so to speak. [Note: A previous press release Tecmo USA released didn't have mention of Itagaki's "sexual harassment suit" while the Japanese was quick to point it out.] Today's press release is the second one Tecmo Japan has released in the last two days that addresses the mass exodus rumors. Yesterday's was a two sentence affair stating that the Western media rumor was not true. Today, which you've already read the English version of, is slightly longer and quite humble. Hit the jump for that: More »
    06/18/08
    0
    42

    Comment by freespeech: @michaelleung: huh???? more » | Other threads

  • 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. More »
    06/18/08
    0
    30

    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

  • top

    Tecmo Slaps Itagaki With 4 Point Gag-Order

    And the Itagaki vs. Tecmo legal battle continues! On June 10th, Tecmo filed with the Tokyo District Court for a "gag-order" against former employee and Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki before the court case begins. The provisional disposition includes the following four points, prohibiting: More »
    06/18/08
    0
    87

    Comment by EMPEROR_COW: @Teh Emo Penguin: the only thing he could possibly leak is countless amount of urine from all the booze he... more » | Other threads

  • breaking

    Tecmo Employees Sue Tecmo (Tecmo Seems Fucked)

    First Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki sues former employer Tecmo, now this. On June 16th, two Tecmo employees filed suit with the Tokyo District Court for unpaid wages, demanding 8.3 million yen (US$77,000) in payment. According to the suit, the workers were illegally placed on a "flexible hours" work scheme, starting four years ago. From that point, overtime wasn't paid, apparently. The plaintiffs represent all 300 Tecmo employees and contest that because of this dubious employment structure, overtime for the employees exceeded over 100 hours per month in unpaid overtime. Tecmo developer Hiroaki Ozawa is one of the plaintiffs in the case, and since February has headed up the "Tecmo Labor Union". The suit even claims that Tecmo has created false documents and has covered up accounting documents. Officials are looking into whether Tecmo has violated labor laws. Things look bad for Tecmo. Very, very bad. More »
    06/17/08
    0
    148

    Comment by electricmine: @Llost: And publishing really doesn't hold weight. In my opinion, the IP is more important than that. I said that... more » | Other threads

  • 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]
    06/15/08
    0
    90

    Comment 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

  • business

    After Itagaki Announcement, Tecmo Stock Price Drops

    On June 3rd 2008 2:30PM Japan Standard Time, Tomonobu Itagaki announced that he was leaving Tecmo and also suing the company for unpaid bonuses. He cited an unfulfilled Dead or Alive 4 completion bonus, stating, "President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me 'if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.'" How did that effect the company stock price? The following day, the price of Tecmo stock suddenly dropped 10.16 percent in Japan. Think of it as a shuriken to the market cap. More »
    06/04/08
    0
    127

    Comment by mcool93: Without Itagaki, I don't think Tecmo has much left more » | Other threads

  • clips

    Let's Quickly Learn About Ninja Gaiden

    Forget the finger-pointing and lawsuits for a moment, here's a quick look at the history of Ninja Gaiden, minus amusing English mispronunciations. More »
    06/04/08
    0
    47

    Comment by Masatomo: Well, I suppose me not being an anglophone helps out a bit but.. I didn't notice any "amusing English mispronunciations".... more » | Other threads

  • 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. More »
    06/04/08
    0
    95

    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

  • top

    Tecmo Responds To Itagaki

    Tecmo has responded to Tomonobu Itagaki's announcement. Interestingly, the statement's second paragraph mentions Itagaki's sexual harassment suit and that the company was investigating internally, but that Itagaki unilaterally wanted to push forward with the legal suit. The rest of the company's statement points out that Itagaki has been paid annual bonuses. The completion bonus that Itagaki refers to was not agreed to by current management, but by the company's previous administration. Tecmo calls the consolation damages Itagaki is seeking from the Tecmo president the result of his own "distortion." What's more, it reads: More »
    06/04/08
    0
    142

    Comment by royaljester: Tecmo shot itself in the foot the instant they admitted any prior agreement to pay bonuses existed..which they did through... more » | Other threads

  • 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 »
    06/03/08
    0
    112

    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

  • news

    Tecmo Stays Mum on Itagaki Departure

    Late last night Tomonobu Itagaki's translator Andrew Szymanski contacted Kotaku to tell us that the famed producer of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden was leaving Tecmo and suing the company for unpaid bonus. More »
    06/03/08
    0
    129

    Comment by electricmine: @Billkwando: And You=fail for coming back here and seeing what I had to say when this happened a day ago and... more » | Other threads

  • top

    Itagaki Leaving Tecmo, Suing Tecmo

    Tomonobu Itagaki is leaving Tecmo and suing the company for unpaid bonuses. The Dead or Alive creator cites an unfulfilled Dead or Alive 4 completion bonus, stating, "President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me 'if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.'" More »
    06/02/08
    0
    350

    Comment by XxBunnyBoyxX: Well, all I can say is I've been with Itagaki since day 1 on this issue and I think he's... more » | Other threads

  • ninja gaiden ii

    Itagaki Explains Why Xbox 360 Not Popular In Japan

    Tomonobu Itagaki always has something to say. And right or wrong, for that, bless him. Previously, he's announced that Xbox 360 exclusive Ninja Gaiden II is the last entry in the series and that the game won't be going multiplat. In an interview with game site Kikizo, Itagaki describes the advantages of working with Microsoft — which included access to a troop of playtesters. But still, the Xbox 360 isn't exactly tearing up the Japanese hardware charts. Why is that? Itagaki offers this: More »
    06/02/08
    0
    106

    Comment by fuchikoma: @Cubby: Tournaments seem to take place on other planets though. When I played DOA2 my friends and I would fight until... more » | Other threads

  • tecmo

    Itagaki Rags On Ninja Gaiden Sigma

    While Tomonobu Itagaki adores Grand Theft Auto IV, he totally despises Ninja Gaiden Sigma. And Itagaki's own Team Ninja made it! From an interview with website CVG: More »
    05/21/08
    0
    306

    Comment by NINgod: haha loserface! PS3 ftw! more » | Other threads

  • 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. More »
    05/13/08
    0
    145

    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

  • ninja gaiden

    Team Ninja, The iPod

    DS game NINJA GAIDEN Dragon Sword is on sale. People are buying it! And to encourage those people along, Tecmo's Team NINJA is running a special campaign from March 21st to April 16th, giving away 15 iPod 8GB Nanos to those Japan-based gamers who complete the game with the highest "Karma" score. Nice of Tecmo to give those away. Better yet, nice of Tecmo to trust people not to hack the game. Then again, it is just an 8GB iPod Nano... More »
    03/24/08
    0
    13

    Comment by VAMP: WTF??? "Just an 8gb Nano"??? I think that's pretty good. more » | Other threads

  • tecmo

    Itagaki Recommends? Gambling!

    Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki is back with another masterclass in bad assery! When asked what advice he'd give to young game developers, Itagaki replied: More »
    03/19/08
    0
    26

    Comment by B33: Anyone else view Itagaki as a sellout? Or do I stand alone on my views? more » | Other threads

  • ninja gaiden ii

    Itagaki Laughs At Your So-Called "Violence"

    Tecmo's Tomonobu Itagaki is so not fucking around. He's a man of extremes, chugging black coffee and eating burnt steaks. He scoffs at quote-un-quote video game violence. That's nothing. From the BBC piece: More »
    02/25/08
    0
    165

    Comment by DragoManiac: @Enigma_20XX: Yaaawwnnn...! Here we go again. "I knew it was to good to be true... he has returned..." Well thank you for... more » | Other threads

  • gdc08

    Itagaki Will Like GDC Better When He "Matures"

    Sure GDC might be a professional workshop for game developers, but not for Tecmo's Tomonobu Itagaki. He's at GDC for one reason: Promote Ninja Gaiden II. What does he think about Itagaki? More »
    02/21/08
    0
    53

    Comment by Xiedo: Damn, Itagaki is the straightest shooter out there. He doesn't just cut the bullshit, he unleashes Obliteration Technique on the... more » | Other threads

  • 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 »
    11/05/07
    0
    105

    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

  • 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 »
    10/26/07
    0
    58

    Comment 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

  • feature

    Second Hand Smoke With Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki

    By Michael McWhertor More »
    10/02/07
    0
    40

    Feature

    Comment by Tobru: Even if I'd see Tomonobu Itagaki drunk, high or freshly out from a drug and alcohol rehab center I'd still... more » | Other threads

  • tgs07

    Justify Your Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword

    More »
    09/27/07
    0
    40

    Comment by Kaosu: @nerdtacular: My god. Itagaki IS a rockstar. more » | Other threads

  • wcg

    Itagaki Shows Vaguely Human Display of Emotion

    With the sunglasses and leather jacket, you could get the idea that DoA and Ninja Gaiden creator Tomonobu Itagaki comes is cold and distant. Like he's just sneering at us, releasing bastard hard games and waiting for his next whiskey straight. But wait! Here he is. And he's actually touching another human in a friendly way. It's like the game creator is human. Or something. There's good reason why he's so pleased! That dude Itagaki has his arm around is a regular Dead or Alive finalist in the WorldCyberGames. The WCG 2007 finals aren't until October, but prelims were held in Tokyo with Dead or Alive 4. Is that curled lip a slight smile on Itagaki's face? Impossible! More »
    08/27/07
    0
    34

    Comment by Chef: Looks like a "dirty uncle" pic to me. "Don't tell your mom! Don't tell your mom!" more » | Other threads

  • hate

    Itagaki Scoffs at Heavenly Sword

    Beside booze and boob physics, Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki doesn't like much of anything! Tekken he hates so hard. And the upcoming PS3 title Heavenly Sword? Meh! The game features "Hero Sequences" in which players have to input particular commands to proceed through a Dragon's Liar-esque cinematic event. In the latest Electronic Gaming Monthly, Itagaki offers his two cents: More »
    08/06/07
    0
    187

    Comment by kryo: The guy's honest, says what he thinks. Not too common in today's game biz pr :) About the comments on Heavenly... more » | Other threads

  • clips

    Ninja Gaiden Sigma Collectors Edition Redux

    06/28/07
    0
    9

    Comment by gameboyregressed: itagaki needs his own reality tv show. every time he gets interviewed i find something to laugh at. the dude's... more » | Other threads