Itagaki leaves Tecmo, sues them on the way out [update]

by David Hinkle { Jun 3rd 2008 at 1:15PM }

Well now, somebody pass us the box of Kleenex tissues. Apparently, we'll never get another Ninja Gaiden on the DS, or any more Ninja Gaiden games period, as whiskey-swillin' and leather-wearing head of Team Ninja, Tomonobu Itagaki, has called it quits with Tecmo. The president of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, hasn't paid money that Itagaki is owed, he says.

And that's why Itagaki is suing for 148 million yen (US$1.5m) on his way out. Not only that, but Itagaki also says Yasuda "made demeaning remarks" about him to other employees, affecting his status at work, giving him "significant emotional distress" and "worsening [of his] personal relationships and work environment."

In his statement, Itagaki said there won't be any more Ninja Gaiden or Dead or Alive games from him, as the rights are retained by Tecmo. This will surely come as a huge disappointment to fans.

Update: Fixed a wording discrepancy.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: business, itagaki, lawsuit, ninja-gaiden, team-ninja, tecmo, tomonobu-itagaki

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ethan42404 @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:23PM

In his statement, Itagaki said there won't be any more Ninja Gaiden or Dead or Alive games BY HIM, as the rights are retained by Tecmo.

Corrected to reflect the fact that Tecmo owns the rights to these games and can produce any number of sequels it wants.

Sinnix @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:58PM

True, and while I love Ninja Gaiden, perhaps with Itagaki out of the picture the series will have the opportunity to really evolve. A lot of the core gameplay (on a conceptual level) really hasn't changed since the NES days. Go from point A to point B, slaughter everything in your path.

Or, you know, Tecmo could totally ruin it which is probably far more likely when you consider the rest of their line up.

igorponweed @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:28PM

Let me just scream, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I only played a little of the DS one and loved it! Don't leave meeeeeeeeeeeeee!

igorponweed @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:48PM

Even if he is a jerk, I still defend my last comment.

Jason @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:30PM

Good riddance, Itagaki is a major dick-head with a ego the size of Jupiter. Dragon Sword is good, but I really don't care for him as a person at all. I think the only thing that worsened his personal relationships at work were HIS comments about how terrible Sigma was and calling out the people who worked on it. It would have been the same damn game if he worked on it but then he would say it was a masterpiece. This guy is trash.