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Itagaki Quits Tecmo News

Itagaki Quits Tecmo News

By Jon Wilcox on 03/06/2008

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The Dead of Alive and Ninja Gaiden creator quits the Japanese publisher due to alleged non-payment of bonuses from the Tecmo president...

Tomonobu Itgaki has today released a statement confirming his resignation from Tecmo as of July 1st 2008. News of Itagkai's decision to leave the publisher comes on the day that Ninja Gaiden II hit North American shelves; the game is scheduled to arrive in the UK on Friday.

In addition to his surprise resignation, Itagaki has announced that he's suing Tecmo for unpaid bonuses, originally promised to him on completion of 2006's Dead or Alive 4:

"Before the start of development on Dead or Alive 4, Tecmo Co., Ltd. had agreed to pay a completion bonus to me for this Xbox 360 title, which I produced. However, when the time came for the actual payment, Tecmo Co., Ltd. went against its previous agreement and refused payment...I have filed this lawsuit with a strong intent to question the social responsibility of Tecmo Co., Ltd. and its President Yoshimi Yasuda, as well as condemning them for their unjust acts."

Itagaki also had a message for fans of the franchises he's created too: "I truly feel sorry to all the fans of the games I have made. Ninja Gaiden 2, which will launch on the 3rd of June will be the last Ninja Gaiden I will create. I will also never be able to make Dead or Alive 5...I regret the disappointment this will cause my fans."

At Microsoft's recent Xbox 360 Spring Showcase held in San Francisco, Itagaki told TVG that Ninja Gaiden II was the 'definitive' instalment in the franchise, and would therefore be the last he would work on. It had been assumed that the developer would turn his attention to Dead or Alive: Code Chronos or Dead or Alive 5 instead.

Itagaki's future is so far unclear, but with Microsoft's Shane Kim wanting to attract as much creative talent as possible for the Xbox 360, and the Japanese developer's devout love of the console, perhaps he'll find a place at the Redmond corporation in the near future?

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	By: Anonymous Coward Added:Wed 02nd Jul 2008 14:58, Post No: 12 comparing MGS4 (ps3 only game) to NG2 is like apples and oranges. Arcade action to intractive movie just dumb.
	By: Anonymous Coward Added:Tue 17th Jun 2008 14:15, Post No: 11 How is it possible that every aspect of this game is lower than MGS4 but it managed to get the same score?
	By: gfh-77 Added:Sun 15th Jun 2008 07:27, Post No: 10 Anonymous Date Added:Wed 14th May 2008 01:25 about bill gates shelling out cash. i say i like that there actually spending that cash to support there fanbase. unlike sony that expect ppl to just hop on board because there sony. anyone say GTA 4 DLC and 3 year warranty IP Address: *..106.236 Gamer Points -Anonymous Date Added:Wed 14th May 2008 01:22 well japan is nationalist when it comes to there products something USA could of learn from instead of feeding the beast known as "Made In China" IP Address: ..106.236 Gamer Points -Anonymous Date Added:Wed 14th May 2008 00:11 Yeah, I'm sure it's the last on the cards. Their dev team has a real great history of sticking with a console company lol. And hate to break it to you Bud, but console gaming in Japan is quite alive, and quite well. It's just that the Xbox is a dead pony there. Morne IP Address: ..233.39 Gamer Points -Anonymous Date Added:Thu 20th Sep 2007 06:50 lol are you just dumb or stupid bill gates retired from microsoft regaredless of that your just a fanboy so shut up and let the rest of the world see what happens if it dont change so what at least its not gonna fade away like the wonder swan or the neo geo pocket colour (oh and if your were still in nappys when the psx came out sony bought out sht loads of games companies to stop other companies ie sega nintendo only now have they expired/lost contracts with these companies that these computer games companies can now choose what console they make there games for) it just a matter of time ps ds rules psp is dead and the rest i dont care IP Address: *..38.151 Gamer Points -Anonymous Date Added:Fri 14th Sep 2007 15:47 Bill is flushing out cash again since they bride IGN and gamespot on their games reviews and now flush out cash on square enix to give them a time exclusive games (except the Last Remnant)this is the potentially of gaining the Japanese market share, no matter how much he flush out of his bank it still won't change the market in Japan simply Nintendo and Sony are conquering it sorry no luck for u Bill IP Address: .*.212.155 what a sad pathetic bunch of fools you all are this is a review for ninja gaiden 2 not some play ground for pathetic fanboys trying to sell there soals just so bill/sony/nintendo praises there words, heres a word for ya GET A LIFE. as for ninja gaiden 2 i havnt yet played it but from what i hear it sounds like a fantastic game and if it sells well ninja gaiden 3 is a dead cert on this format (dont quite know where you get the idea it wont come out on 360 but i guess your another fanboy so as above for the rest of you)
	By: Anonymous Coward Added:Thu 12th Jun 2008 12:25, Post No: 9 My god, what have good games or bad games or classic games got to do with Bill Gates or Sony? Why can't everybody just enjoy good games? Honestly, I gotta hand it to MS this gen for giving us superb games.
	By: Anonymous Coward Added:Thu 05th Jun 2008 20:04, Post No: 8 It's a shame there won't be a Ninja Gaiden III for the 360
	By: Anonymous Coward Added:Tue 03rd Jun 2008 21:26, Post No: 7 Ok, Ninja Gaiden if awsome. I can not wait to play it. By the by, I love hearing you all talk about "Game" politics, where schewed and uniformed ethical views are expressed as haphazardly as a game of the WNBA. You make my days brighter you know that. Games are an esscape. If you are gonna get worked up over politics, do so over the politics that matter. Between you and me, its election time.So be a capitalist, make tons of money, own all the consoles and none of this will matter.
	By: Glyndwr Added:Fri 30th May 2008 16:20, Post No: 6 And what does any of this have to do about Ninja Gaiden II???
	By: Anonymous Coward Added:Wed 14th May 2008 01:25, Post No: 5 about bill gates shelling out cash. i say i like that there actually spending that cash to support there fanbase. unlike sony that expect ppl to just hop on board because there sony. anyone say GTA 4 DLC and 3 year warranty
	By: Anonymous Coward Added:Wed 14th May 2008 01:22, Post No: 4 well japan is nationalist when it comes to there products something USA could of learn from instead of feeding the beast known as "Made In China"
	By: Anonymous Coward Added:Wed 14th May 2008 00:11, Post No: 3 Yeah, I'm sure it's the last on the cards. Their dev team has a real great history of sticking with a console company lol. And hate to break it to you Bud, but console gaming in Japan is quite alive, and quite well. It's just that the Xbox is a dead pony there. Morne