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[Adam Blade]

Itagaki is the man...

 

[CrapSandwich]

The game sucks.

-The minigames are too hard, take too long to load, and hardly reward you with any cash
-Why the hell can't I see my girl in the hotel or the other girls in the casino?
-When you screw up in jetski mode the collision goes bonkers and you bounce around like a pinball
-No 2-player mode apart from Live
-30fps, YOU SUCK!

By the way, those guys need to rewrite their hair dynamics, it really, really blows.

-The minigames aren't hard! Come on. Water slide is a breeze and pool hopping's easy. The other three require a lot of luck, but they're stupid little things anyways. Who cares? And since they're easy or require luck, they shouldn't pay a lot. That's just common sense. I mean, right? Right?

-You can see your girl in so many different ways. In so many incredible ways. The things I've seen. Lordy. I mean, that is such a nitpick.

-Jetski is so easy, you just point in the direction you want to go and hit the gas. I mean... you've got a valid point. When you hit the rocks it's just a mess. But it's pretty easy to not hit the rocks.

Good points otherwise. Still this is an awesome game. Being food poisoned going on three days and needing some low impact, low stress, collect-em-up gaming, this really does the trick. The volleyball is great, the jet ski is great, the boobies are great.

 

[a Master Ninja]

that'd be crazyness unless he left the DOAX2 project half way and started ng2 a year ago

does anyone know how long Ninja gaiden took to make?

MANY years. The project started on PS2 if rumors are to be believed. Team Ninja is made of multiple smaller teams, as you may know, and some of them have been working on Ninja Gaiden 2 ever since Ninja Gaiden was released (design and art guys). Another chunk of the team joined after DOA4 was released, because they wanted to work on a "serious" project. Ninja Gaiden Sigma may have divided the team a bit, though.

 

[Dali]

I've never seen DOAX2 other than the prelaunch trailers. Does anyone have any thoughts on his reasons for excluding the purty swimsuits in online play? From the little bit of footage I've seen it doesn't seem as if a few special accessories or swimsuits would make online play impossible. That whole exchange gave me the feeling he was just making an excuse or maybe his team isn't the crack group of programmers he acts as though they are. But as I said, I haven't seen much of the game, which is why I'm asking opinions.

 

[pooteeweet]

It's cuz everyone and his mother's best friend who drives Suzie home from soccer practice but only on Thursdays because that's when the Bridge club isn't playing, except for legal holidays before a weekend if it's not free beer night at the local Round Table Pizza knows it's freakin' Ninja Gaiden 2.

I know that. What I don't know is anything about NG2. I realize in the confines of a DOAX2 interview it may not be the best place to ask. But Itagaki brought up the project himself several times. The man leaves you a hanging curverball you have to swing, or at the very least get the bat off your shoulder.

 

[CrapSandwich]

I've never seen DOAX2 other than the prelaunch trailers. Does anyone have any thoughts on his reasons for excluding the purty swimsuits in online play? From the little bit of footage I've seen it doesn't seem as if a few special accessories or swimsuits would make online play impossible. That whole exchange gave me the feeling he was just making an excuse or maybe his team isn't the crack group of programmers he acts as though they are. But as I said, I haven't seen much of the game, which is why I'm asking opinions.

I don't see why they'd exclude custom suits and accessories online unless it was due to performance issues. Is there another explanation that makes more sense?

 

[BboyDubC]

I've never seen DOAX2 other than the prelaunch trailers. Does anyone have any thoughts on his reasons for excluding the purty swimsuits in online play? From the little bit of footage I've seen it doesn't seem as if a few special accessories or swimsuits would make online play impossible. That whole exchange gave me the feeling he was just making an excuse or maybe his team isn't the crack group of programmers he acts as though they are. But as I said, I haven't seen much of the game, which is why I'm asking opinions.

It isn't because of all of the suits. It is because of specific suits. And it would be weird to allow certain suits but not others. Also, they would have to go through and nitpick at each suit and see if they should spend the effort etc. Since Itagaki didn't want to make the multiplayer anyway, he said screw it all and just allowed the basic suits of every character. I don't blame him for the decision. It is a great single player experience that I have clocked about 100 hrs in, with more to come probably resuming this week when I do a small break from Lost Planet.

 

[Dali]

I don't see why they'd exclude custom suits and accessories online unless it was due to performance issues. Is there another explanation that makes more sense?

I just didn't buy the performance issues explanation. Compared to other games (GoW/Lost Planet) it seems to have comparitively little going on to prevent this from being included online. Maybe those digusting breast physics use more resources than I thought.

EDIT: But I reiterate that my exposure to the game is limited. I guess I'm just wondering if your opinion of DOAX2's graphics is high enough to believe certain items and swimsuits couldn't make it online.

 

[Acosta]

if someone was interviewing a musician or an athlete who'd recently been sued for sexual harassment, they'd obviously ask about it. a game journalist probably should bring it up...but if i was in that situation, i wouldn't want to do it. it's an interesting issue.

In my opinion, no, and I would never do it, I don´t care of the personal life of a developer and I don´t care if my reader has an interest for it, because I am not driven by the information, I decide what I want to bring to the table and what not, and that should be that way. Speaking of how others would do it with athletes and so just shows how the others do it wrongly (and explain many miseries of the journalism).

Great interview Milky, some hardballs there (I wonder what I would get from Itagaki if I tried, probably he would kick my ass, I have never interviewed him).

 

[Aaron]

-The minigames are too hard, take too long to load, and hardly reward you with any cash

They fixed the cash issue in the patch at least. The payouts have been increased to more than triple what they once were. The difficulty of the smaller mini-games depends mostly on your character, like Tina having a better shot at winning tug of war than anyone else.

-Why the hell can't I see my girl in the hotel or the other girls in the casino?

Because that would have been work, and DOAX2 is a lazy, lazy game.

-When you screw up in jetski mode the collision goes bonkers and you bounce around like a pinball

Encourages you not screw up though, which is pretty easy to do once you know the courses.

-No 2-player mode apart from Live
-30fps, YOU SUCK!

These I hate so much. VB was fun two player in DOAX and jetski would have been a blast splitscreen. As for 30FPS, it's not even consistent. There are drops all over the place, even in gift giving scenes. The game engine is just a dog, probably ported from the original with very little optimizations. It's really a game of the least effort.

 

[Any1]

I wonder if many people feel the same way i do about Team Ninja. I'll admit that i am biased because i really don't enjoy fighters, but i just wish Team Ninja would stop focusing on DOA and Make Ninja Gaiden their most important franchise. As far as DOAX2, I am pissed that a single moment or dollar was spent on that game when they could have been making Ninja Gaiden 2.

Team Ninja makes a pretty good fighter but they are one of the elite developers when it comes to action games if Ninja Gaiden is any indication of their talent. And i think they should pursue that talent by making more action games like Ninja Gaiden and just quit that DOAX crap and even hand DOA development to another Tecmo team so they can focus solely on the action genre.

 

[akachan ningen]

Itagaki need a visit from

And then to start working on a game that actually has a chance at being good(NG2).

 

[goldenpp72]

whenever ninja gaiden 2 launches, they need to make sigma a preorder bonus or some kind of collectors edition bundle

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Did Tecmo actually announce Ninja Gaiden 2 for the Xbox 360? Or did they just say they are working on it and not mention a console?

I am not doubting or anything. I am just wondering if it was ever officially announced.

 

[goldenpp72]

Its been the best kept secret since assassins creed on 360, but I don't believe they announced it officially.

But itagaki basically said, his next project is the one everyone wants him to do or whatever, so, yeah.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Its been the best kept secret since assassins creed on 360, but I don't believe they announced it officially.

But itagaki basically said, his next project is the one everyone wants him to do or whatever, so, yeah.

Did he announce what console this next project would be for or if it would be exclusive at all?

I want it to come to the 360 as much as anyone, but I am just wondering if the console was announced or not.

 

[goldenpp72]

In a gametrailers interview (video) he explained what sigma was, said xbox fans should not be worried about where a sequel will go because he wouldnt 'betray' the fans, bla bla bla, he basically spent the interview apoligizing for sigma and giving the xbox fans head saying he will continue supporting it with his big titles, like ninja gaiden.

a crappy summary anyways.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

In a gametrailers interview (video) he explained what sigma was, said xbox fans should not be worried about where a sequel will go because he wouldnt 'betray' the fans, bla bla bla, he basically spent the interview apoligizing for sigma and giving the xbox fans head saying he will continue supporting it with his big titles, like ninja gaiden.

a crappy summary anyways.

Thanks for the information. I never saw that video.

Its kind of funny that he was actually apologizing for "betraying" his Xbox fans. Most people in his position would be telling people to go buy a PS3 as well.

 

[goldenpp72]

He justified it by saying a 'rookie' on his team basically wanted to expand the ninja gaiden demographic, but made it clear his intentions were still focused on xbox 360.

 

[Pachinko]

Great interview as usual milky.

Every developer usually has a rough goal in mind for their projects, and ninja gaiden 2 is no different, itagaki would love to have it out for the us shopping season but if push came to shove and the game clearly wasn't done I can see it getting delayed just like the original game was.

As I recall Ninja Gaiden was announced loosely for no specific platform and at the time they were planning on using the DOA2 engine. The xbox came along and they made DOA3 instead and loved the hardware so much they made DOAX and took the doa3 engine to task on making ninja gaiden which I'm thinking in 2001/2002 was still just a concept design slowly being wittled away at. Now my memory is foggy but january 2003 saw DOAX coming out here and E3 that year MS/team ninja showcased the first trailer for Ninja gaiden which at that time was aiming for a fall winter 03 release. October or november I think, that was then pushed to january, then february then march.. then later march of 2004. By this point in time team ninja had atleast 2 teams making games and when ninja gaiden was finished they went to polish up dead or alive ultimate which was in progress since the release of doax1. Upon the release of DOA ultimate 1 team went directly to ninja gaiden black while the other started work on DOA4 and when Black was finished doax2 was started , when doa4 was finished they all went into overtime on doax2 to push it out with a small concept design going on for NG2 and NGsigma.

Basically while it'd be awesome if a 100% finished NG2 came out this fall, I could easily see it not making it out until early spring of 2008. Sigma should be out in the summer though.. that's my guess.

 

[mollipen]

I want to interview Itagaki, and I want to ask him only one question: "Why won't you at least give the non-Asian girls in DOA decent asses?"

 

[Lyte Edge]

I want to interview Itagaki, and I want to ask him only one question: "Why won't you at least give the non-Asian girls in DOA decent asses?"

That would be a serious question, actually, since DOAX is all about the fan service. :lol DOA is way outdone by Rumble Roses anyway.

 

[icecream]

Very nice interview, but I was sorta hoping for the answer to the reason of 30fps...

 

[hyp]

great interview milkman. itagaki practically confirmed a team ninja game for the wii. nice.

 

[rockman zx]

Great Interview. Ninja Gaiden 2 this fall?, I doubt it, the game is going to be pushed back till spring 2008, this is how Team Ninja works, delay his games (not his hobbies) again and again to polish it. But I´m positive about a demo this fall.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

DOA is way outdone by Rumble Roses anyway.

 

[Mr. Spinnington]

Find a new hobby.

My hobby is hitting cats on the road before they can get off it, doesn't make it something everyone else wants to do though.

 

[Community Forum]

My hobby is hitting cats on the road before they can get off it, doesn't make it something everyone else wants to do though.

Yah, I wouldn't pay $59.99 to be a part of your hobby either.

 

[GhaleonEB]

My hobby is hitting cats on the road before they can get off it, doesn't make it something everyone else wants to do though.

Is your name Hope Sanchez? 0_o

 

[MegaTen]

wtf,Itagaki is a Genji fan? :lol

The man has good taste in games.. usually. He also likes Image Fight which is awesome.

 

[black_13]

Don't tell me Code Chronos is what he means by 'son'?!

He should really just stop wasting time with these "hobbies" that he has and do what he's best at or at least try something different but serious.

 

[casmaksen]

I want to interview Itagaki, and I want to ask him only one question: "Why won't you at least give the non-Asian girls in DOA decent asses?"

along with a character creator option, more sports such as beach soccer, 2on2 basketball, baseball and homerun derby it would of been a justifiable purchase. Especially if they halfed the retail price. It'd be like an adult oriented Wii sports.
Oh and a higlight reel maker option like NBA2k7 where people could upload there vid

 

[jmdajr]

indeed...doa needs some better booty!

 

[XSamu]

1UP: Does that mean you'd like to develop something for the Wii?

TI: Well, I've got my hands full looking over my 'daughter' and my new 'son,' [Editor's note: DOAX2 and Ninja Gaiden 2] who's going to be born soon

When is that... SHOW ME PICS AND INFO NOW

 

[Cdammen]

That's all I have to say

 

[Sysgen]

That's all I have to say

Hehe, you noticed this too. Also too bad I have to shut off my 360 before the pole dance ends so i don't have to stand at that slot machine for another hour. At least the Team Ninja QA left in some back doors.

 

[jarrod]

MANY years. The project started on PS2 if rumors are to be believed. Team Ninja is made of multiple smaller teams, as you may know, and some of them have been working on Ninja Gaiden 2 ever since Ninja Gaiden was released (design and art guys). Another chunk of the team joined after DOA4 was released, because they wanted to work on a "serious" project. Ninja Gaiden Sigma may have divided the team a bit, though.

It started on Dreamcast actually, using the DOA2 engine. It might've been originally planned as a Naomi release too.

And Team Ninja has 3-4 teams internally...

Team Kunai
-Dead or Alive 3
-Ninja Gaiden
-Ninja Gaiden Black
-Dead or Alive 4
-Ninja Gaiden 2

Team Kunochi
-Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
-Dead or Alive Ultimate
-Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
-DOA Code: Cronus
-tba DS project

Team Progressive
-Project Progressive

Team Sigma (?)
-Ninja Gaiden Sigma

 

[DarienA]

I don't think much of Itagaki, but he gets props for being an original Wizardy player.

 

[Dali]

It started on Dreamcast actually, using the DOA2 engine. It might've been originally planned as a Naomi release too.

And Team Ninja has 3-4 teams internally...

Team Kunai
-Dead or Alive 3
-Ninja Gaiden
-Ninja Gaiden Black
-Dead or Alive 4
-Ninja Gaiden 2

Team Kunochi
-Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
-Dead or Alive Ultimate
-Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
-DOA Code: Cronus
-tba DS project

Team Progressive
-Project Progressive

Team Sigma (?)
-Ninja Gaiden Sigma

Is that a typo? I know a Kunoichi is a female ninja, but a Kunochi may be something too. I'm just wondering.

 

[jarrod]

Is that a typo? I know a Kunoichi is a female ninja, but a Kunochi may be something too. I'm just wondering.

Yeah, it was a typo. Should be Kunoichi.

 

[vspectra06]

Wait, does this mean Ninja Gaiden 2 is planned for release Memorial Day 2007 or Memorial Day 2008?

Itagaki said "our" next game, not necessarily "his." He could be referring to Ninja Gaiden Sigma which is supposed to come out this year...

 

[jarrod]

Itagaki said "our" next game, not necessarily "his." He could be referring to Ninja Gaiden Sigma which is supposed to come out this year...

Yep... Sigma's a Q2 release, so that's likely it.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

That would be a serious question, actually, since DOAX is all about the fan service. :lol DOA is way outdone by Rumble Roses anyway.

Truth. Shame Konami hasn't announced anything about a sequel.