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Ninja Gaiden II director Itagaki quits Tecmo (au.gamespot.com)

Ninja Gaiden Creator Itagaki Quits Tecmo, Sues (blog.wired.com)

Tomonobu Itagaki leaving Tecmo (bit-tech.net)

Ninja Gaiden II director Itagaki quits Tecmo (gamespot.com)

Itagaki Resigns (xbox360.ign.com)

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Itagaki won't make Dead or Alive 5. He's leaving Tecmo ... then suing them!

Gothic Girl | June 03, 2008 | News | XBOX 360 Company

Controversial Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki will soon be leaving Tecmo and suing them for 148 million yen (approx $1.4 million) worth of unpaid bonuses.
After president Yoshimi Yasuda told Itagaki that: if he was unsatisfied with the unpaid bonuses he should either leave or sue the company, Itagaki took him up on both offers.

Itagaki was greatly apologetic towards his fans, and disappointed that he wouldn't be able to take charge of Dead or Alive 5.

(go to source for full article and Itagaki's full statement)

Tomonobu Itagaki is leaving Tecmo and suing the company for unpaid bonuses. The Dead or Alive creator cites an unfulfilled Dead or Alive 4 completion bonus, stating, "President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me 'if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.'"

An official statement from Tomonobu Itagaki was sent by fax to major Japanese news outlets. In the interest of fair and expedient reporting of this story throughout the English-speaking world, I have been asked by Itagaki to convey this statement to you...

quote Tomonobu Itagaki
To All Game Fans,

I truly feel sorry to all the fans of the games I have made. NINJA GAIDEN 2, which will launch on the 3rd of June will be the last NINJA GAIDEN I will create. I will also never be able to make DEAD OR ALIVE 5. I regret the circumstances that have forced me to leave Tecmo, where I had worked for so many years, and I regret the disappointment this will cause my fans.

However, I can no longer continue to work with President Yoshimi Yasuda, a man who chooses not to honor promises even when he is able to do so.

I truly hope that nothing like this happens again in the future.

News Story attached to:

Dead or Alive 4 [XBOX360]
Ninja Gaiden II [XBOX360]

15 comments | go to source (kotaku.com) | Add to favorites!

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Comments

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Final Blade | June 03, 2008

_{Epic man epic. Wow I never saw this coming. Shit, What the hell is going on, I hope this isn't true.}
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Bale Fire | June 03, 2008

Well this certainly puts his future in doubt.

Maybe he'll start his own company
- 0 thumbs!
  Gothic Girl | June 03, 2008
  
  Same goes for Tecmo too. According to Tecmo's recent press release Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden are two of their four biggest franchises. It'll be a big hit to the company if the guy in charge of both those series leaves. Sure, they can get someone else to take the helm, but it'll never be the same.
  - 0 thumbs!
    Final Blade | June 03, 2008
    
    _{To be honest he already changed NG as far as im concerned with NG2, trying to meet new gamers. So Im sure someone can make those games better. He is a great developer, but he isn't the all end of the games. New idea's could do much for the company. Hell like i stated before, NG2 should be for everyone to play, multiplatform since he's going out in a bang so it seems. And the PS3 is a great machine, but left with rookies, or subpar developers as he called the ones in charged of sigma, the blame should be placed on him self.
    
    I loled at the fact he thought unexperienced devs making ninja gaiden game on a new system could possible make it great. Its pretty stupid if you ask me.}
-2 thumbs!
Onvacation | June 03, 2008

148 million Yen? Thats like $34 ritete?
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the undertaker gonzo | June 03, 2008

Well that sucks, wonder where this will eventually get to.
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Existenz | June 03, 2008

Itagaki getting some money, if this is true and is in a contract Tecmo have no grounds to stand on, they will have to pay out and Itagaki will have find a new employer.
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Storm | June 03, 2008

You have got to be kidding me...I like Itagaki and all but this is going too far. What's a few bonuses compared to the main salary and recognition you get?
- 1 thumbs!
  Gothic Girl | June 03, 2008
  
  I'd be pretty pissed off too if my boss refused to give me $1.4 million dollars that he owed me.
  - 0 thumbs!
    Storm | June 03, 2008
    
    Depends on the job, for me. If I were in Itagaki's shoes, that cash shouldn't do too much for me. He's got fame and fortune, what's an extra million going to do for him? It's just bonuses.
    
    Sure the boss does owe it to him, but think of the bigger picture here. This will hurt Tecmo, and it's franchises.
    - 0 thumbs!
      Redemption | June 03, 2008
      
      Storm - why should Itagaki care about hurting Tecmo when the company's president is reneging on promises? It sounds like the president isn't even bothering to deny that Itagaki was promised bonuses - he's outright refusing to pay them and basically daring the man to do something about it. I think that type of treatment destroys Itagaki's ability to trust the company. If anything the president should be the one who is apologizing to fans.
      
      Hopefully there's more to this story that would explain a little more the president's side of the story, perhaps Tecmo's cash is tied up, or it's having some difficulties financially, or perhaps the bonus was tied to a performance requirement that Itagaki (or his games) never met.
    - 0 thumbs!
      Storm | June 03, 2008
      
      That's true. I know the boss is responsible for this. He should have just paid Itagaki, but as you mentioned, we may not know the whole story as to why he hasn't given Itagaki his bonuses.
      
      But damn, this means that we likely won't see DoA5, Code Cronus, etc., as it was meant to be, with Itagaki heading up the projects. I still don't think that's a lot of money for Itagaki in the first place.
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kik36 | June 03, 2008

Well it's the principle of the whole thing. I wouldn't want to work for a boss who fills me full of empty promises either....it makes it tough to come into work everyday if the company you're working for won't honor their commitments to you.
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Zero and X | June 03, 2008

I hope he starts his own company and make his own games, that would own.
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Subzer0 | June 04, 2008

I can't say I blame the guy.