The September issue of EGM brought our editors face-to-face with some of Japan's most celebrated game developers, including PlatinumGames' Hideki Kamiya. Previously responsible for Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, and Okami, the former Capcom designer talked at length about his upcoming action game Bayonetta -- as well as his feelings about his competition. You can check out the full, extended interview in all its sexy glory right here.
You might recall our other big interview with former Team Ninja head Tomonobu Itagaki, where the Ninja Gaiden creator unceremoniously rocked a Ninpo on Okami. In case you were wondering, here's why:
"I've never played Ninja Gaiden, and to be honest, I'm not that interested.
"The quality that gets you interested in something is that you feel something for them. Like on TV, or a movie, or a song, or whatever. You just feel something, and you get pulled into it, and then ... More »
Curious what ex-Team Ninja head Tomonobu Itagaki has been up to since leaving Tecmo back in June? Our own James Mielke journeyed all the way to Tokyo to score this exclusive post-Tecmo interview with the father of Ninja Gaiden, and boy is it a doozy.
Always quick with plenty to say that can stir things up, this beefy chat with the admittedly drunk Itagaki is overflowing with gems. For example, Itagaki likens the decline of Japanese game development -- and most other things -- to aerial dogfights:
"For instance, look back to World War II. You had aerial dogfight battles with 600 planes on each side. And then, as we got into, say, the Korean War, it was maybe 50 or 60 per side. And in modern times, with modern jet planes, you only need one or two to fight a battle. So you certainly see a progression like that, but I look at it as someone who likes fighter planes and thinks they're really cool. The fact that fighter planes themselves have dwindled in num... More »
Ninja Gaiden II has become a significant title over the past few weeks. If you've been following the gaming news you would have heard of Tomonobu Itagaki's departure from Tecmo as a result of some alleged incidents within the company.
So, in a way, Ninja Gaiden II has become Itagaki's swansong title; as the last game made by one of the bigger gaming personalities out there.
Once again you're thrown into the shoes of master ninja, Ryu Hayabusa - member of the Hayabusa Ninja Clan. That's pretty much all you need to know about the story. It's a nonsensical mess, only really serving to move Ryu from location to location.
But this doesn't affect the game in any way. If you come into NGII expecting a deep and engaging narrative, you're in the wrong place. NGII is all about chopping people up. The story just gives you a reason to.
The original Ninja Gaiden had little story, yet it was one of the best action games to greet the big ... More »
Tomonobu Itagaki's announcement that he was leaving Tecmo and suing them for $1.4 million for unpaid completion bonuses, and against the company’s president for “unreasonable and disingenuous statements” made towards him has led to Tecmo's share price to plummet.
The share price fallen 10 percent in the space of just one day.
At market close on Tuesday, the publisher’s shares reportedly slumped from 1,102 yen ($10.40) to 982 yen ($9.27) — a reduction of ten percent... quite significant indeed.
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.
Temco later declined to comment saying that they were aware of his statement but unwilling to say more. Now Microsoft is chiming in, responding to our request for comment, thanking Itagaki for his years of Xbox support.
To quote: Tomonobu Itagaki has decided to leave TECMO and Team NINJA to pursue other opportunities. We thank Tomonobu Itagaki for the many years he has supported Xbox as he has contributed immensely to the success of the videogame industry as a whole.
I'm sure that if Itagaki carries out his threats and leaves Team Ninja he won't be leaving game development. In fact he told us as much last month when he decided to drop another bomb, saying that Ninja Gaiden II was his swan song and that he was thinking of creating a shooter set in the Pacific... More »
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:
Yeah, there's nothing that can be done about that. Things like economic policies, the fact that the size of the size of the population of children in Japan is dwindling, people are moving away from console gaming — there are a lot of factors involved, it's not just Xbox 360 doesn't do well in Japan because it's Xbox; there's a whole load of societal factors involved there. It's not as though the hardcore would make a big difference. This all goes back to decisions t... More »
Tomonobu Itagaki announced today that he has filed suit against Japanese-based publisher Tecmo, claiming damages in the amount of 148 million yen for unpaid bonuses.
In the suit, which was filed on May 14, Itagaki specifically calls out the company’s head honcho, Yoshimi Yasuda, for breach of contract and making demeaning remarks about him to fellow subordinates and colleagues.
To quote: 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.”
Itagaki further notes that the comments made by Yasuda has led him to formally announced his resignation from Tecmo. He will leave the company on July 1.
Statement: 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... More »
In fall of 2008, two of the industry’s premier shooters will face off in Resistance 2 (PS3) and Gears of War 2 (360).
Resistance, a PS3 launch title, found its way into gamers’ homes and hearts following a stream of positive reviews from the gaming media. Though it sorely lacked the polish of Gears of War in terms of its visuals, it more than made up for its blemishes with a terrific story, solid gameplay and an excellent multiplayer component.
Gears of War, a title that did not see the light of day until over a year after the Xbox 360 was released, featured a brilliant singleplayer campaign with unsurpassed visuals and seriously addictive gunplay. Since their releases, Insomniac and Epic have had more than ample time to optimize each title’s engines in order to get the most out of their respective consoles.
The gaming public is not only looking for these developers to deliver memorable second chapters, but also to create momentum before t... More »
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