Itagaki resigns and sues Tecmo

[Mozgus]

Mozgus, you and I must have different ideas of what porno is.

Clearly. Just because they aren't having intercourse on the screen doesn't mean it's not porno. Both their outfits and their actions are designed to arouse. Hell, half their martial arts moves seem sexual. The volleyball game is supposed to have modes where you just watch the girls being flirtatious with the camera, bouncing around and all.

The DoA series' highest priority has always been to show as much skin while staying within an M-rating, and still still being marketed as a world-wide, mainstream fighting game. To be all scientific, from the pictures I've seen, at some point later in the series, Hitomi wears a few strings that cover her labia minora and areolas and nothing else. Now come on. There's an army of 4chaners who admit that DoA was the first game they jacked off too, and it's that keyword "first" that frightens me. I wasn't aware that we were supposed to be wanking to our games now. I grew up with Mario and Sonic and shit, and I never wanted to spooge on them.

Like I said, fuck this guy.

[GSZX1337]

I never understood why people put this guy on such a pedestal. He created Ninja Gaiden and DoA, so what? The modern Ninja Gaiden isn't that great (or that hard) and DoA has really hurt the gaming industry like Mozgus said. I used to really be into fighting games (mostly Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Bros. (if that even counts) and Street Fighter). Whenever I would talk to anyone who knew anything about games, their reply to me saying that I like fighting games is always: "Yeah, I bet it's because of (insert Tekken or DoA girl here)."
I knew people that played fighting games, but never mentioned it because of DoA.

[Faffel]

I never understood why people put this guy on such a pedestal. He created Ninja Gaiden and DoA, so what? The modern Ninja Gaiden isn't that great (or that hard)

I hate all games with an undying passion that leads to me playing two hours of games a week. I beat Ninja gaiden 3 times in a row within the first month of owning, and am going for a fourth. Ninja Gaiden Black was the most well-designed, deepest, most difficult, and most well-balanced action game I've played in my entire life. It was almost completely flawless. To say that it isn't "that great" is to completely cast aside all of the great things inside it that are almost impossible to deny. I've yet to see an action game that is as close to a tournament fighting game than Ninja Gaiden Black.

Did you even play on Hard+ where you fight fiend Ryu? The AI was so good, and the choice of moves was so large and well-used that it was like fighting another player. Also, NGB was the hardest action game I've played since the 2D era. The only one that gave me any real challenge, actually. DMC3 is a joke combat system where you can lock down enemies mercilessly. God of War was just boring. Square square, roll back, square square, roll back. ENJOY YOUR HARD MODE.

Also, Dead or Alive sucks fuckdick. That said, Igataki is one of the only interesting personalities in the gaming industry, and his comments and opinions are a wonderful change from the average blank-faced nerd programmer who wouldn't say shit if he had a mouthful of it.

[4ppleseed]

I reckon they squeezed him out after the sexual harassment thing last year. He'll be okay, will set up his own little studio and make some new titles. That's not a bad thing at all, is it?

[Gamerforlife]

My opinion of Itagaki has always been that he's a good game designer(and yes I said good, not great), but a jackass of a person. He's very egotiscal and has a rather one sided view of everything. Itagaki has no passion, he's said before he's all about making money and just being better than everyone else. That's not passion, that's ego and greed. Itagaki makes games that will sell, period. I've heard these words from his own mouth.

Like I said, he's a GOOD designer. The only reason I wouldn't call him a great designer is because his work is derivative. He takes something that he sees as successful and then just adds his own spin on it, which usually just means cranking up the volume on everything, so to speak. Wow, fighting games are popular, I'll make one with more cleavage! Wow, people dig this Devil May Cry, I'll make a game just like it but with more moves and a blonde sidekick with MUCH bigger cleavage!

I did have fun with Ninja Gaiden though. It was a very good action game, and I'm curious about trying NG 2 as well, but no matter what anyone says, NG was a Devil May Cry rip-off(and a damn good one). Now you can argue all day which series is better. They're the same in my eyes, but DMC was the model Itagaki followed(and I don't care if NG was in devlopment first, that doesn't mean it wasn't changed after DMC came out)

The man, is is no way shape or form a genius. It's the same thing with David Jaffe, I enjoy the God of War series, but there's nothing original about them at all and David Jaffe has shown himself to be pretty immature in the past as well.

To me, Fumito Ueda is a genius, and I can probably think of some other designers who are as well if I had the time.

Those are just my opinions though, I can see how a thread like this can turn into a flame war so I'll show respect for those who think he's the shit. Personally, I just don't see it.

[Doctor Fugue]

^^Thanks for the respect. Ueda definitely deserves more attention. Some things or people strike the right chord or wrong chord with certain people. DMC vs. NG is definitely the wrong debate to get into here...I happen to prefer NG, but both are great.

Otherwise, I am surprised by how many people are offended at a little skin...and just polygonal skin (although a few of us seem to be offended by EVERY thread). If Itagaki wants to express himself with some curvaceous "3D" girls, then who cares. Again it is not meant in an offensive, vulgar or demeaning manner.

And so what if little boys get off looking at a video game. Why is that more offensive than boys getting off to movies, music videos, commericals, magazines and any other visual medium? It's certainly less harmful than violence, blood and gore.

[Mozgus]

And so what if little boys get off looking at a video game. Why is that more offensive than boys getting off to movies, music videos, commericals, magazines and any other visual medium? It's certainly less harmful than violence, blood and gore.

I can think of a few reasons. For one thing, and I'll be the first to admit this, games are sacred to me and it rubs me the wrong way when they start getting perverted. Now porn is fine and I can't fathom how certain individuals live their lives without it (or claim to). There's just something that always leaves a bad taste in my mouth when porn enters my games.

I guess there's a conflict that forms in me, and no I'm not just talking about wishing I could play these certain games one-handed. I guess I start thinking about how awesome this game COULD have been, if they spent less time on whoring out women that COULD have been respectable and rich characters, and more time fleshing out the gameplay and other aspects. That's how I look at Soul Calibur 4 right now. The sex dial has been turned up all the way with this entry, and it kinda disgusts me, because I remember when just 1 or 2 whores in the roster were enough to please the shallow. Now, practically every single female is being sexed up in some way. It's really taking me out of the experience, much like the boners of the poor horny teens who are playing these games now.

[Doctor Fugue]

That's how I look at Soul Calibur 4 right now. The sex dial has been turned up all the way with this entry, and it kinda disgusts me, because I remember when just 1 or 2 whores in the roster were enough to please the shallow. Now, practically every single female is being sexed up in some way. It's really taking me out of the experience, much like the boners of the poor horny teens who are playing these games now.

SC4 is an interesting example (I suggest not looking at the JP version, which apparently has even less clothing). It was always a better fighting engine and yes I agree sexing it up is a little disconcerting. Not as disturbing or horribly wrong as a naked Amy in a Sonic game would be, but still...

Even from the beginning, DOA games were always about the beauty of combat and the beauty of the female form; Itagaki readily admits to presenting sexually-charged action involving "his daughters" (his figurative words, not mine!).

Man I love women, the real kind of course!

[ZenLogikos]

To me, Fumito Ueda is a genius, and I can probably think of some other designers who are as well if I had the time.

That is the truth! I will only buy a PS3 when his next game comes out.

I do like Ninja Gaiden and I've been known to throw around the term "A.I.", but it really is a misnomer. No such thing. Most times when a game is 'harder', it's nothing more than the enemies speed and damage attributes being turned up. I give the game no more props for this...and I like 'hard' games. To hear you, Faffel, then compare NG to GoW, citing difficulty level and 'Square square, roll back, square square, roll back' is laughable. That string you mention is certainly one way to play, but only one of many, just like NG.

As for women in fighting games...they don't belong. Call me chauvinist (you might be right overall, but wrong in this instance), but there's a reason you don't see any women in MMA. They would get killed. I realize games are often fantasy, but I, like Mozgus, play a fighting game to 'fight'(with varying degrees of realism), not get eye-boners.

[lost_within]

^^Thanks for the respect. Ueda definitely deserves more attention. Some things or people strike the right chord or wrong chord with certain people. DMC vs. NG is definitely the wrong debate to get into here...I happen to prefer NG, but both are great.

Otherwise, I am surprised by how many people are offended at a little skin...and just polygonal skin (although a few of us seem to be offended by EVERY thread). If Itagaki wants to express himself with some curvaceous "3D" girls, then who cares. Again it is not meant in an offensive, vulgar or demeaning manner.

And so what if little boys get off looking at a video game. Why is that more offensive than boys getting off to movies, music videos, commericals, magazines and any other visual medium? It's certainly less harmful than violence, blood and gore.

When i was younger i remember baby sitting a kid...and trust me...if people are offended by the DoA series...maybe they should go peek in on what their kids watch when your NOT around....