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GDC: Team Ninja doesn't need Itagaki

Eurogamer writes: "Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 producer Yosuke Hayachi has said Team Ninja is getting on just fine without its founder, Tomonobu Itagaki.

You may recall that Itagaki once told CVG that if Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 was released for PS3, it would be "a loss of face for everyone involved".

At a press conference in San Francisco, a member of the audience asked why Itagaki is so against the Sigma series. "Maybe we should ask him, huh?" joshed the translator."

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eurogamer.net
Elven66259d ago

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Tecmo, the parent company of Team Ninja have to merge days after Itagaki left?

Xi6259d ago

I also beilve that the stock took a heavy fall after the lawsuit became public.

Elven66259d ago

Yea and the former CEO was basically disgraced out of his old job because of some Japanese society thing since he was accused of cheating a employee. Its honorable for the Japanese to still hold this values in 2009 especially after the huge changes they faced in World War II.

Funny, if such things were practiced in the West a respectful CEO would be a rare occurrence. :p

v1c1ous6259d ago

what the hell are you talking about? this isn't a culture issue. the CEO forged legal documents and tried cheating itagaki out of his deserved bonuses.

you don't have to be a japanese ceo or american ceo or african ceo. your ass is grass regardless anywhere.

Elven66259d ago

At above: I was referring to the fact that he was publicly shamed out of his job.

facepalm6259d ago

^-^ That's the power of money... It drives even the most "honorable" of people over the edge.

Bnet3436259d ago

Ninja Gaiden is still Itagaki's game. Hiyashi has a nice foundation to work with, but until he directs his own game, his words are meaningless. Ninja Gaiden won't be the same without Itagaki I bet. We'll see if they even make a part 3 or not.

IdleLeeSiuLung6259d ago

To add to Kigmal's statement of my own opinion, Hiyashi directed the first Ninja Gaiden Sigma for the PS3. We all know how fun the extra character was to play. If anything, Hiyashi has proven the contrary, but I could be wrong. Still very much looking forward to NGS2. Anything Ninja Gaiden get's my money!

Sarcasm6259d ago

"Ninja Gaiden won't be the same without Itagaki I bet. We'll see if they even make a part 3 or not. "

It sure isn't. Yeah the core game was started by Itagaki, but it doesn't mean it couldn't be improved upon which Hayashi did.

I think NGS and NGS2 is the stepping stone or "practice" for Hayashi, and I think his next project whether multiplatform or not, could succeed over Itagaki.

The problem with Itagaki is not because of his console preference (Xbox), but more of the fact that he doesn't evolve or seek to innovate.

Jamegohanssj56259d ago

As much as I am a Sony fan I will admit I love Itagaki. He's one of my favourites and perhaps in my top 10, well of course he's in my top ten. If I could be like he and Hideo when I grew up I would be satisfied with life. I can't wait to see what our new head chief does. I believe that he will do absolutely well with everything. He has PS3 by his side, so nothing can go wrong.

TGSI

SL1M DADDY6259d ago

Yeah, let's hope it won't be. Let's hope that with Itagaki's "rock star" ego out of the way we will se the series actually get better.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 6259d ago
Elven66259d ago

No, Itagaki is still one of Japan's best.

To be fair, from what I have seen Hayashi's stand out games were essentially Itagaki's.

Xi6259d ago

Itigaki, albiet a overzealous and a prick/pervert, is the man behind what matters most in all the team ninja games.

It's his combo system, it's his fighting mechanics that they use in every game. In the end it's because of this that the gaiden series was so great with it's visceral swordplay and skillful mechanics.

Sevir046259d ago

he's talented but his subordinates seem to doing much better under Hayashi. For one Hayashi doesn't down the work of his subordinates, the work effort shows with what they are bringing to this game. Both NGS games are systematically better than the originals on a much more technical scale of things, clearly there is more knowledge on hayashi's side. he's quite humble and it shows, he's never mouth off or taken shots at other devs... simply put Tomonobu itagaki is only known for ninja gaiden series and already hayashi is doing his game better..

hayashi > there is just no comparison.

7ero H3LL6259d ago (Edited 6259d ago )

itagaki may have been an ass but at least he had a vision. hayashi is just a person perfecting an other man's work, he's not the originator.

people would say the same thing if konami's kojima was replaced by an other person with the same intentions. the credit goes to the originator.

Dark General6259d ago

I'd wait for them to create their own original game without Itagaki laying the ground work first. That being said i'am looking forward to Sigma 2 in a major way.

Dragun6196259d ago

Honestly, i believe that Yosuke Hayashi will be a great leader for Team Ninja and i can see him making great games in the future.

As for Itagaki, Yosuke Hayashi totally owned him as he finally responded to the comment Itagaki said long ago about Sigma and how it would be "Loss of Face" as quoted

Hayashi said "There's nothing I'd put against the Sigma series. The face has changed, the leader [of Team Ninja] has changed, the so-called creator has left..." But it's still Ninja Gaiden, he said. "The DNA is there."

"We're confident," Hayashi said of Sigma 2. "This will be the ultimate package, the one you will always remember."

Hayashi's also confident that he can fill the void left by Itagaki: "I'll prove it with the game," he said, which sounded way more badass in Japanese. Later, in English, he told me he was the boss of Team Ninja now.

End quote

I'm sure Hayashi will continue the success of Team Ninja and hold true to his word that Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 will be the ultimate package which seems to be definite this point as According to GameSpot, they've tweaked the camera, added 2 new playable characters, added huge bosses not seen in the 360 version, new weapon, trophies, better graphics already stated by Ghost of Sparta in the other comments.

http://kotaku.com/5182867/y...

LONEWOLF2316259d ago (Edited 6259d ago )

We will see what happens.
But all i know is that Hayashi will never fill the shoes that Itagaki left vacant.

Bnet3436259d ago

lol please, all Hiyashi did was polish a game Itagaki made. Let's see if Hiyashi can make his own game then make comparisons.

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panasonic236259d ago

lol soon after Itagaki left team ninja have to merge with a company to survie yep they don't need him lol

Kamikaze1356259d ago

Who needs a drunken fanboy at a development company? lol

SmokingMonkey6259d ago

wonder if it will make smoke come out of whatever machine/console it is on?

Elven66259d ago

Microsoft would be stupid not to fund his next project, he could give them a better foot hold in Japan, not exactly enough to win but definitely make a worse situation better.

SmokingMonkey6259d ago

although, a Wii game could be just as possible these days

Xi6259d ago

Microsoft needs to fund a studio with him and Yukio Futatsugi (panzer dragoon, phantom dust) to provide quality action games for the 360. Along with them and mistwalker I'd think microsoft would be sitting pretty.

Obama6259d ago

With the economy in the toilet, I highly doubt that MS will fund itagaki along with his studio. It costs millions.

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100°

10 Hardest PS3 Games

Tough as nails, solid as a brick, and as annoying as a rooster at dawn—this list has it all. Here are the hardest PS3 games.

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altarofgaming.com
DarXyde557d ago

This list has nine games....

And if these are the "hardest", that's a bit alarming because I'm pretty average and I've managed to 100% more than a third of this list (Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Hard Corps Uprising, and Catherine).

150°

The Best Hack and Slash Games of All Time on PS3

Grab your katana, and slice your way through this list featuring the best hack and slash games the PlayStation 3 had to offer.

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altarofgaming.com
darthv721299d ago

Dante's inferno... an excellent GoW inspired game. So sad the sequels will never be.

LoveSpuds1299d ago (Edited 1299d ago )

I recall enjoying it well enough at the time, but it wasn't a patch on God of War 3 which came out around the same time I think.

I own it and fired it up on my PS3 about 6 months ago and time hadn't been particularly kind to it although it still very much nailed the atmosphere and it is a cool as he'll setting and universe.

Inverno1299d ago

Dante's Inferno needs the GOW treatment. No cut camera, with a real hellish depiction of the 9 circles and a story as dark and as serious would be amazing.

Yui_Suzumiya1299d ago

Still pretty amazing there was a PSP version that was actually pretty good. I remember playing it 10 years ago. I had the PS3 version when it first came out and loved it.

Hellcat20201299d ago

Ahh the memories of playing Heavenly Sword
Such a amazing experience

LoveSpuds1299d ago

Yup, I remember being blown away with Heavenly Sword. I remember holding out hope that they would go back and add trophy support as a incentive to go back and replay the game, but I don't think they ever did?

Yui_Suzumiya1299d ago

I couldn't beat the final boss though! Spent several days trying but eventually gave up, lol. Still enjoyed it though.

refocusedman1299d ago

heavenly sword was such a short, but amazing game. that game should be prime material to be made into a download only remaster.

YoungKingDoran1299d ago

I really enjoyed Castlevania, but struggled to get into it again reattempting it a few years back. I still think it does another of things well; story, presentation, level varietily and art style at least. Gameplay maybe has not stood test of time unfortunately which makes it a chore to get through.

110°

The History of Ninja Gaiden: The Resurrection

In the conclusion to a three part series, CV takes a look at the most recent Ninja Gaiden games, for better and for worse.

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culturedvultures.com
spicelicka2333d ago

They need to make a true sequel to Ninja Gaiden 2, that was the most satisfying combat I've experienced in a hack n slash game.

micdagoat192333d ago

been playing 1&2 on and off since they were released. I usually will play until I get frustrated then take another year off lol. Nver tried 3 or the 4th one even though they are in my backlog.

Domestupidname2333d ago

I tried to go back to Sigma but good god those controls are just insufferable. Couldn't do it.