Itagaki resigns and sues Tecmo

Post by **Doctor Fugue** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:47 am

http://kotaku.com/5012535/itagaki-leavi ... uing-tecmo

To me, this news is upsetting. He was such a strong creative force behind his games (he often implied he created almost every aspect of his games), and his games were always an excellent balance of presentation and near-perfect control.

Being an immense fan of Ninja Gaiden, I am really sad that Ninja Gaiden II will be the last to be under his control. He is a genius, and although many people disagree with his outspoken ideals, you could tell his games were made with passion. I hope he doesn't fade away like Yu Suzuki or Yuji Naka.

Post by **Mozgus** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:38 am

"Passion" is a little too clean-sounding for what drove him to make the DoA series. The modern Ninja Gaidens are probably awesome, but honestly, I think this guy hurt the industry more than he helped it. Fuck him. He gave the news media far too much fuel in their "games are porno" argument, because...well...his games are porno. And he's said some pretty stupid shit over the years, as well.

Post by **Bootaaay** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:35 am

I don't really rate Itagaki, he's an asshole and has a much to great opinion of himself and his games. Saying that, however - he has created the perfect action combat engine in Ninja Gaiden, pity the overall game and camera issues hinder this one aspect of brilliance.

Post by **Doctor Fugue** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:33 am

I certainly disagree with some things Itagaki has said, but I am willing to respect someone who has such total conviction and backs up his arguments; and also someone who delivers exactly what he promises.

Mozgus, you and I must have different ideas of what porno is. A few bouncing jugs and skimpy outfits in DOA is hardly pornographic. And his non-core games (Volleyball) are really just simple fun and not vulgar at all. Compare them with the extremely sexual and demeaning material that exists in a million PC games and eroge manga from Japan and the Xtreme Volleyball game looks like a church picnic.

Post by **nateup2** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:13 am

Dude makes great games! Titties or none, gameplay is always innovative and graphics always push the machine fully.

Post by **marurun** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:31 am

Itagaki was a great designer, but he's largely a one-trick (two-trick, actually) pony these days. DOA and Ninja Gaiden. The man needs to branch out and lose some of the ego.

Post by **Ack** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:13 am

Wow, wonder what that means for the future of both DOA and Ninja Gaiden.

Post by **D.D.D.** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:58 am

Resignation: I guess that'll affect us somehow... Ninja Gaiden was cool but I never was a fan of the play control in the booby fighting genre.
Lawsuit: He deserves what the freaking president of the company promised.

Post by **peace4myheart** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:32 pm

Let's hope this is somehow a good thing for the industry. I really think he is a bit arrogant, but at least I respect him for caring more about his game than trying to make a profit from remakes.

Post by **lost_within** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:57 pm

Its not cocky if its true...if i was behind Doa and NG...id stroke my own ego more than a little bit.