According to 1UP who received an official letter from one of Itagaki's aids, Itagaki reveals that he is suing Tecmo for 145 million yen due to "unpaid completion bonuses" and because Itagaki claims that there were "unreasonable and disingenuous statements made towards me" by Tecmo's president Yoshimi Yasuda which caused "significant emotional distress." The letter goes on to say that the lawsuit is based on a "strong intent to question the social responsibility of Tecmo Co., Ltd." and that Itagaki will resign from Tecmo effective July 1st. Ending his letter, Itagaki addresses his fans, saying that Ninja Gaiden II "will be the last Ninja Gaiden I will create", mentions that he will never "be able to make Dead or Alive 5" and, for that, Itagaki regrets "the disappointment this will cause" those who have enjoyed his work.
Wow ... we're speechless. Itagaki leaves Team Ninja, leaves behind franchises that he helped bring to life and leaves both his fans and the industry, well ... speechless. We can only assume that Itagaki's battle with Tecmo will be hard fought and is going to get very, very ugly.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
6-03-2008 @ 9:36PM
Johnny_Ridden said...
We all know that's a good thing. DOA series was a joke from the start. unless you like playing with one hand inside your pants.
6-03-2008 @ 7:33AM
AJ said...
Love to see this guy team up with a western developer, just to see what they might be able to come up with together.
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6-03-2008 @ 7:54AM
Ross said...
He's not leaving.
He just broke free.
... From the MATRIX.
Amirite?
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6-03-2008 @ 7:59AM
Boff said...
Christ! That one came out of nowhere! Can't see him leaving the game industry altogether.
Somebody will snap him up! Or he starts his own team....
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6-03-2008 @ 8:03AM
Disco Ball said...
Microsoft game studios, to the rescue!
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6-03-2008 @ 8:38AM
SABCA said...
WOAH. Now THAT's surprising. Itagaki no longer leading his "digital daughters"? Team Ninja is losing it's soul, and Tecmo is losing it's biggest star... this is definitely going to feel WEIRD.
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6-03-2008 @ 8:56AM
Rob Bourne said...
Surely he will get royalties for the sales of NG2 etc, won't he?
If so, don't boycott the game because of this revelation :D
And to whoever said MS Game Studios to the rescue - I think you may be on to something there!
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6-03-2008 @ 8:58AM
Prhime said...
Didn't he state before that this was the last ninja gaiden he would be working on / in control of at the MS Spring Showcase. "NGII is my final instalement"
also he said he wants to work on a total new and unrealted project and mentioned working on a game based on Pacific Theater during WWII.
-so i guess this is old news that was hinted but no one would have ever guessed it to happen like this with flair and a little spice on topic with the lawsuit and all that
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6-03-2008 @ 8:58AM
Rob Bourne said...
p.s. I've tried uploading an avatar multiple times and it never updates, despite it confirming the upload, wtf halp
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6-03-2008 @ 2:15PM
PeacefulOutrage said...
You have to do it on Joystiq for some reason.
6-03-2008 @ 8:59AM
Prhime said...
-also, agreed with the MS position looking more and more likely
-good thing Tecmo brought back out Tecmo Bowl....if only this was the late 80s /start dream sequence
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6-03-2008 @ 8:59AM
Prhime said...
-also, agreed with the MS position looking more and more likely
-good thing Tecmo brought back out Tecmo Bowl....if only this was the late 80s /start dream sequence
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6-03-2008 @ 9:00AM
Revray said...
Easy solution to the conundrum of either supporting Tecmo or the New Hotness, flash your 360, buy a kreon drive and burn the hell out of it. You support the New Hotness by playing the game, and give it to Tecmo. I of course, I have no idea what flashing your 360 or buying a "kreon" drive means. I just heard it around town, you know, I'm just saying.
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6-03-2008 @ 9:26AM
Arnon said...
*salutes* Itagaki
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6-03-2008 @ 10:10AM
NitroFrost said...
WHY!!!!!!!!!!!WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will always remember the times I have had playing his games and I wish him the best.
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6-03-2008 @ 10:14AM
CharleyTony said...
This guy just became the biggest free agent in gaming out there ...
Microsoft needs to get this guy back onboard and make him the deal of a lifetime.
Something like what they did for Sakaguchi (Lost Odyssey). They fund him the money to make a studio and get exclusive games from that guy.
NOW!!!
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6-03-2008 @ 10:48AM
iFester said...
I recall him stating I think it was GDC that Ninja Gaiden II will be the best action game on the best console. Sure it sounded like a marketing line, but I'm getting the impression he is getting tired of Japan's gaming industry and working with Microsoft Game Studios as publisher may have given him a taste for western gaming. The man is a rock star and I think western gaming might suite him as a change. We'll see what happens and I wish him luck.
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6-03-2008 @ 10:57AM
Trogdor said...
I hope he comes over to MS, I don't want to risk losing his games on the 360.
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6-03-2008 @ 11:52AM
Deck said...
Craziness!
But I do find the dramaz entertaining!
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6-03-2008 @ 11:56AM
Tony Bowman said...
I think that whatever Itakaki-san comes up with next, because there is no doubt he will either start a new studio on his own or get picked up by another well-funded operation, will be aslick, quick, and deadly beast of a game. Can't wait!
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