Jump to content
LCVG

Great interview with Itagaki (Dead or Alive, Ninja Gaiden)


heavy liquid

Recommended Posts

Itagaki is producer, director and often programmer for Team Ninja (Tecmo). I love reading interviews with this guy almost as much as I enjoy playing his games. As always, there's a lot of info and good quotes.

 

http://games.kikizo.com/features/itagaki_interview_feb05_p1.asp

 

But gamers who think that Ninja Gaiden is too hard are losers - there are always winners and losers - just fight your best fight!

:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He's always a fun interview to read. He's a real cowboy-type. I can't imagine him tackling a tennis game, though.

 

In an older interview, I remember him saying he signed on to develop for the XBox because it was the "more powerful" console at the time. What surprises me is that he's already announced plans to develop for the next XBox before developers really knew anything of the architecture in the next generation of consoles. Perhaps his rebellious nature has led him to forge an ally with an American company...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kikizo: Tecmo has been reviving some of its older games recently [Rygar, Ninja Gaiden]. Is there another old Tecmo title you would like to see remade?

 

Itagaki: Tecmo Bowl. Unfortunately, EA kind of screwed that up with the purchase of the NFL rights! [Laughs]

 

On behalf of everyone reading this thread, I'd like to say, "God damn it!!!"

 

In an older interview, I remember him saying he signed on to develop for the XBox because it was the "more powerful" console at the time. What surprises me is that he's already announced plans to develop for the next XBox before developers really knew anything of the architecture in the next generation of consoles.

 

Not only that, if Xbox 2 launches this year and Nintendo and Sony's machine launch during the fourth quarter of '06, there's a good chance that Xbox 2 won't be as powerful. I wonder if his desire to work on the most powerful platform will steer him towards the other consoles.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What surprises me is that he's already announced plans to develop for the next XBox before developers really knew anything of the architecture in the next generation of consoles.

 

I think you're reading too much into the interview. Team Ninja have been heavily courted by Microsoft for a long time, and I don't think it's a suprise to hear them supporting Xbox 2.

 

To say developers don't really know anything of the next gen architecture, especially a premier team like Team Ninja, is a little over the top.

 

If the Xbox 2 is coming out this year, lots of developers need to already have development kits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To say developers don't really know anything of the next gen architecture' date=' especially a premier team like Team Ninja, is a little over the top.[/quote']

 

Thing is, I read that interview a couple months after Ninja Gaiden came out. (Roughly June/July last year.) Thus why I stated my surprise. I don't think Tecmo/Team Ninja really had a solid grasp of what the next XBox looked like at that point.

 

I'm in the camp that the XBox may not be the most powerful console next generation either, unless they wise up and delay the launch with better specs in mind. Ideally, I'd like to see a launch of all 3 consoles at the same time and let God sort it out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

From Leifang2000 at the neotaku forums:

 

Itagaki was throwing out some more teases at the recent Taipei Game Show:

 

-He is working on a new action game (in addition to DOA4 and another DOA)

 

-2 new games will be shown at E3

 

-He may make Kasumi a playable character in the next Ninja Gaiden

 

-There will be a Hurricane Pack 3 coming out! (last one for the current Xbox)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From the 1up interview cited in this Eurogamer item:

 

... but no matter the reason those [Namco] guys are a pretty weird bunch," he told 1UP.

 

Said the pot to the kettle. :D

 

 

Kikizo: Why do you always wear sunglasses?

 

Itagaki: I don't want people to read my mind when I'm playing gambling-type games with others [the Japanese consider the eyes to be the windows to the soul]. These are business sunglasses right now. You can see my eyes now' date=' but in different circumstances...[/quote']

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you're reading too much into the interview. Team Ninja have been heavily courted by Microsoft for a long time' date=' and I don't think it's a suprise to hear them supporting Xbox 2.

 

To say developers don't really know anything of the next gen architecture, especially a premier team like Team Ninja, is a little over the top.

 

If the Xbox 2 is coming out this year, [i']lots[/i] of developers need to already have development kits.

 

Makes sense. There's been screenshots of Dark Sector for a while now. It would be pretty misleading to have these posted public if they were made on a PC instead of a next gen system like XBox 2.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey, if anyone wants to school Itakagi you'll have your chance to this Sunday. Read this over on IGN:

 

Sunday March 6th...You too can be a Ninja

 

On Sunday, March 6, you have a chance to go head-to-head in Dead or Alive Ultimate against Tomonobu Itagaki, legendary game designer and head of Team Ninja.

 

This Sunday's edition of the Mystery Gamer Competition, presented by Xbox Live and Team Ninja, features Itagaki himself as the DOAU Mystery Gamer. Before you get too cocky, remember, this is the guy who created Ninja Gaiden and figured its challenge was just right.

 

The event will run from 10pm-11pm. I've already notified Scott and he has his Xbox primed and ready guys. :rock

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...