The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
[MEGATON] Itagaki leaves Team NINJA, sues Tecmo's president.
bloodyroarxx
Casa GrandeRegistered User regular
Casa GrandeRegistered User regular
http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8756736&publicUserId=4549175
Yes, it's true, and you can read the full news story here, but Team Ninja leader, Tomonobu Itagaki is indeed bolting from his famed development team, on the eve of Ninja Gaiden II's release, and heading off for greener pastures. For the sake of expediency, I'm posting his full statement here, unedited, in all of its unexpected glory.
"I, Tomonobu Itagaki, hereby announce that on the 14th of May 2008 I filed a complaint in the Tokyo District Court against Tecmo Co., Ltd. for unpaid completion bonuses, and against the President of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, for such unlawful acts as unreasonable and disingenuous statements made towards me, claiming damages in total of 148 million yen. I also announce that this complaint was delivered to the defendants on May 22nd of the same year.
In addition, I hereby announce that I have today submitted a letter of resignation to Tecmo Co., Ltd. stating that I will resign as of the 1st of July, 2008.
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. 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.? In addition, he made demeaning remarks about me to my subordinates and colleagues, causing me significant emotional distress and worsening my personal relationships and work environment. Thus, I have no choice but to resign from Tecmo Co., Ltd.
The conduct of Tecmo Co., Ltd. and its president Yoshimi Yasuda towards me has been unbefitting of a publicly-listed company.
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. Today, in addition to announcing the reasons for this lawsuit, I make clear my reasons for resigning.
To All Game Fans,
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 circumstances that have forced me to leave Tecmo, where I had worked for so many years, and I regret the disappointment this will cause my fans.
However, I can no longer continue to work with President Yoshimi Yasuda, a man who chooses not to honor promises even when he is able to do so.
I truly hope that nothing like this happens again in the future.
Tecmo Co., Ltd. Creative Officer
Leader, Team NINJA
Tomonobu Itagaki"
Make of this what you will, and speculate all you want on Itagaki's next move, but what will happen to Tecmo now that its core creative force is walking out of the door on July 1st? The smart money is that Tecmo president (Yasuda) orders up the instant revival of Dead or Alive (via ports), Ninja Gaiden II (ports), and deposits at least some of those funds into the perpetual money-pit known as Bastard Online. With Tecmo's greatest money-maker shaking it loose as of July 1st, the company's financial hopes rests on upcoming titles like Fatal Frame Wii and, uh, Monster Rancher? Whatever you think of Itagaki and Team Ninja, this is most definitely a dark day for Tecmo.
bloodyroarxx on
0
Posts
I fail to see why Itagaki deserves 130+ million yen and the people who actually made the game don't..
I never asked for this!
I don't like his attitude but the man makes fine games. So here's hoping MS front's him his own studio or Platinum games picks him up.
Yes, it is very wrong.
Itagaki should go with sega and make Fighting Vipers 3.
Then they should make Fighters Megamix 2. The thought of a Yu Suzuki based VF5 vs a Itagaki based FV3 is orgasmic.
The thing is...which company has he not badmouthed enough that would take him?
SHIIITT that a good fucking idea.
He loves Sega. He actually wanted to work for Sega originally, but didn't want to move, so he went to work for Tecmo instead.
Microsoft would be fucking stupid not to give him his own studio.
He is a cock but he makes good games. Oh well, PS3 owners can look forward to getting NG2 then!!
Holy shit if he went to Sega that would be awesome!!!
Perhaps it will be a good thing, though. Assuming he continues to work in the gaming industry ... new franchise ahoy?
He loves virtua fighter.
So maybe Sega?
I'm gonna guess that microsoft will snap him up though.
I know he loves VF, didn't know about his thought of the company as a whole.
The fighting game idea sounds cool, but he should come out with an action game that trumps NGII, just to piss all over them.
Thanks, now I need new pants :P
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
Sooner than that, I'd imagine. NG was really all they had. They're coming out with new Tecmo Bowls, but I doubt people will remember the name enough for them to be popular. Rygar sucked, and apparently they're touching it up for a Wii relese.
Is that it?
There's also Dead or Alive, but guess what Team produced that?
I said 5 years just to go along with the "Doomed in 5 years" joke that was big a few years back.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
As I said, Sega was originally who he wanted to work for. However, working at Sega would have required that he'd move, and Tecmo was close to where he lived, so he chose to work for Tecmo instead.
This was many, many years ago, but every time he's spoken about the company, it's been with reverence. Given that he has the utmost respect for Yu Suzuki, and that Virtua Fighter is the only other fighting series he speaks favorably about (and fighting vipers by extension) I doubt he'd be against the idea of working for Sega.
Weird. Sega may find themselves on top again.
Tecmo owns DOA.
Itagaki no longer works for Tecmo.
Do you see the problem here?
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
Maybe he will go to Namco so he can show them all how its done....
Isn't DOA a tecmo IP?
But yeah, I'll be sad if there isn't a DOA5. I quite enjoyed the series.
DON'T JUDGE ME.
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
I'm not being sarcastic, that's an actual quote from him.
FUCK
YOU BETTER MAKE A NEW FIGHTING FRANCHISE, ITAGAKI
If getting out of a bad situation is what he needs to do to keep making good games, the more power to him.
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
Don't forget - Sega has 4 games coming from Shinji Mikami, Atsushi Inaba and Hideki Kamiya.
Crazy!
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
4?
I know there's 3, so what's the 4th one?
A mystery project being directed by Shinji Mikami himself. It was a surprise announcement at Sega's gamer day and no media nor a title has been unveiled, only that Mikami will be directing.
"Itagaki leaves Tecmo because they don't wanna pay him royalties, THEY TELL HIM TO SUE, so he actually steps up to the plate and does it! Now he's a free agent who's made his love for Sega no secret, Sega seems to be on a hot streak right now, an upcoming revitalization of their flagship, along with new games from the creators of Resident Evil 4, Okami, Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, WE HAVE THE MAKINGS OF A DREAM TEAM HERE!"
You're worried about Sega stock, this should dispel your fears, I'm pumping this up to a BUY. BUY SEGA STOCK.
Sega very publicly announced 2 years ago that they were going to shift focus from eastern game design to a more western based philosophy. Itagaki would fit in with Sega's mindset very well.
I never ever thought this was going to happen, the guy saved Tecmo.
I...I...I badmouth Ninja Gaiden all the time, but secretly I really love the fact that I suck at it and it whomps my ass. I bought NG for the third time today on Amazon (Sigma), and can't wait to be stuck on the fourth level again.
Sega and Tecmo spoke about mergers prior to the Sega-Sammy merger.
The Sega-Namco deal overshadowed those talks, though. I still wish Sega and Namco would have merged... their combined efforts would have been amazing.
Actually, that would be really sweet. But Microsoft is probably going to get him before Sega does.
That right there is the problem.
DOA and Ninja Gaiden are going to die on July 1st.
Sure there will be a DOA5 and a NG3, but yeah, I don't think they will be what you would expect. I'll leave it at that.