Itagaki Resigns!!!!

[666MasterOfPuppets]

This is freaking BAD news, people.

Click here for the news (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/878/878635p1.html). My worst fears have been confirmed.

:mad: :frown: :evilangry:

[Astonishing X-Fan]

That's too bad, I liked both the NG and DOA series.

And those two franchises were basically Microsoft's bigger guns in Japan.

[Young Avenger]

Tecmo is screwed without him. He turned DoA and Ninja Gaiden into Mega franchises. With his departure I predict he's going to start a under new game studio under Mircosoft

[Kid Kamikaze10]

Holy crap...

This can't be good...

[Agent Helix]

Maybe they can hire someone that knows how to program a working in-game camera instead of seven hundred new breast undulation algorithms.

[Oblivion87]

Too bad, I hope this doesn't ruin NG or DOA in the long run.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

That's too bad, I liked both the NG and DOA series.

And those two franchises were basically Microsoft's bigger guns in Japan.

I agree. Were Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragons hits in Japan, though?

Tecmo is screwed without him. He turned DoA and Ninja Gaiden into Mega franchises. With his departure I predict he's going to start a under new game studio under Mircosoft

Yeah. His love for the XBox is general knowledge at this point. His resignation is effective on july 1st, though. I'm having this foolish hope that things might get settled before then...

Nah, it won't happen. Dammit.

Holy crap...

This can't be good...

You have no idea of how much I agree with you.

Maybe they can hire someone that knows how to program a working in-game camera instead of seven hundred new breast undulation algorithms.

A nuisance (EDIT: IMO, of course. I understand how annoying this can be for some people). I noticed that flaw in the original NG, but that didn't make me stay awake at night. However, if TECMO ever makes NGIII, it won't be the same...

Too bad, I hope this doesn't ruin NG or DOA in the long run.

I guess it depends on the context the word "ruin" is used in. A new NG, simply put, won't be the same without Itagaki. However, I just hope that whoever it is that takes the helm makes the franchise justice.

[Kevin M.]

That sound you hear is Tecmo's ship beginning to sink.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

That sound you hear is Tecmo's ship beginning to sink.

I dunno. However, I do think TECMO hasn't realized yet the massive hit they just got.

[Kevin M.]

I dunno. However, I do think TECMO hasn't realized yet the massive hit they just got.


I think they still have the rights to Ninja Giaden, and DOA, but unless they ca get some who came do what Itagaki did with those titles, they are in so much trouble.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

I think they still have the rights to Ninja Giaden, and DOA, but unless they ca get some who came do what Itagaki did with those titles, they are in so much trouble.

Exactly my thoughts. I'm thinking, TECMO will eventually go forward with DOA5 and/or NGIII. But the question is, will those sequels be better than their predecessors?

[Jared H.]

Itagaki will end up at either Sega or Microsoft, mark my words.

In either case, such a pairing would be a good thing.

[2-4-5_Trioxin]

Meh, no big loss from my point of view really. He hasnt exactly done alot of games. Yeah he did dead or alive, ninja gaiden remakes and dead of alive volleyball and worked on a couple early games for nintendo.

None of its that impressive since the volleyball games are just tits and costume collecting, dead or alive while being a solid fighter has never been a big innovator or broke new ground and the ninja gaiden games were polished really well but just action fighting games. More or less he owes his success to the good graphics his games had, if it werent for the graphics not many would have paid attention really except of course when he would outwardly say when he didnt like another game, those 2 things gave him a name.

Not to say he is a dud but hardly unreplaceable. He will never be a hideo kojima, shigeru miyamoto, al lowe, gunpei yokoi or will wright. And to a lesser extent john carmack (that guy is self centered, egotistical and cant make a decent game anymore but he builds a damn fine engine).

Personally Ill be glad to see him go instead of him sticking around and cranking out the same old 3 game series over and over again with just a few new gimmicks added and updated graphics. He should work for EA, he would fit right in.

[Kevin M.]

Itagaki will end up at either Sega or Microsoft, mark my words.

In either case, such a pairing would be a good thing.



Hopefully that will happen. Microsoft get him under their roof, they are in very good shape.

[sHayden]

I love dead or alive xtreme volleyball cause I'm a pervo.
But he isn't a company's be all end all designer.

[Jmacq1]

This doesn't bother me that much. If he's Really That Good (tm) he'll find a job somewhere else and continue to make good, entertaining games.

On the other hand, if he's more ego than talent (and quite frankly, some of the interviews I've seen from him gave me the impression he's got quite an ego), then we'll find that out too. It is, after all, quite possible that "Team Ninja" had a whole host of talented developers that made the games what they are, rather than just one man.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Itagaki will end up at either Sega or Microsoft, mark my words.

In either case, such a pairing would be a good thing.

Interesting theory. Why so sure about that? I can see the MS reference, but Sega?

Meh, no big loss from my point of view really. He hasnt exactly done alot of games. Yeah he did dead or alive, ninja gaiden remakes and dead of alive volleyball and worked on a couple early games for nintendo.

None of its that impressive since the volleyball games are just tits and costume collecting, dead or alive while being a solid fighter has never been a big innovator or broke new ground and the ninja gaiden games were polished really well but just action fighting games. More or less he owes his success to the good graphics his games had, if it werent for the graphics not many would have paid attention really except of course when he would outwardly say when he didnt like another game, those 2 things gave him a name.

Not to say he is a dud but hardly unreplaceable. He will never be a hideo kojima, shigeru miyamoto, al lowe, gunpei yokoi or will wright. And to a lesser extent john carmack (that guy is self centered, egotistical and cant make a decent game anymore but he builds a damn fine engine).

Personally Ill be glad to see him go instead of him sticking around and cranking out the same old 3 game series over and over again with just a few new gimmicks added and updated graphics. He should work for EA, he would fit right in.

Well, part of the success is that he's kinda perfectionist in some aspects of the game. And he had said that he wanted to start a new franchise. but then again, perhaps that was a hint of what was to come.

I love dead or alive xtreme volleyball cause I'm a pervo.
But he isn't a company's be all end all designer.

Well, he's not as big a name as Kojima (damn you, Kojima) or the others, but he's certainly earned his spot.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

This doesn't bother me that much. If he's Really That Good (tm) he'll find a job somewhere else and continue to make good, entertaining games.

On the other hand, if he's more ego than talent (and quite frankly, some of the interviews I've seen from him gave me the impression he's got quite an ego), then we'll find that out too. It is, after all, quite possible that "Team Ninja" had a whole host of talented developers that made the games what they are, rather than just one man.

Well, that's true. Team Ninja wasn't Itagaki alone. However, I have the impression that the games made by this Team had a very visible touch from him.

Anyway, you're right. I'm sure Itagaki will continue his work elsewhere, so we'll see.

[Jared H.]

Interesting theory. Why so sure about that? I can see the MS reference, but Sega?


1. He's a huge fan of the Virtua Fighter series.

2. He's declared a lot of affection for Yu Suzuki(spent his free time during the last 3 Tokyo Game Shows at the Sega booth, chatting with Yu Suzuki and playing VF5).

3. Sega has been snapping up some excellent talent lately: Shinji Mikami(who Itagaki really respects), Atsushi Inaba and Hideki Kamiya, among others.

4. Itagaki has spoken out that game developers in Japan need to embrace a Western game making philosophy. Sega has also declared the same.

5. Itagaki really likes Sega's arcade hardware.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

1. He's a huge fan of the Virtua Fighter series.

2. He's declared a lot of affection for Yu Suzuki(spent his free time during the last 3 Tokyo Game Shows at the Sega booth, chatting with Yu Suzuki and playing VF5).

3. Sega has been snapping up some excellent talent lately: Shinji Mikami(who Itagaki really respects), Atsushi Inaba and Hideki Kamiya, among others.

4. Itagaki has spoken out that game developers in Japan need to embrace a Western game making philosophy. Sega has also declared the same.

5. Itagaki really likes Sega's arcade hardware.

Ooohh... VERY interesting, and it makes sense. Didn't know those details. A Sonic game directed by Itagaki? The possibilities sound like fun. Thanx for clearing it up.