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Tomonobu Itagaki Interview at 1up: Skewers the Competition

Itagaki <3 Never change.

I do hope he sticks to his guns, though. There are things Itagaki does extremely well, and I think that particular niche is over-the-top bloody action that demands skill above all else (how else would we control the camera? teehee). If he thinks he can go off and do something new, fine, but if it's not built atop the framework he's built for himself and his team members, it's either gonna be a huge success, or a massive failure.

I'd rather he not test the waters with something very different -- especially since his new company's flagship title really needs to be the amalgam of everything he's learned.

I'm really dissatisfied with what I've seen so far of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 on PS3, so I really do think Team Ninja lost more than they thought they did. I'll admit, Itagaki is kind of a dick -- but that's what makes him so special in my fanboyish eyes.
 
He's a dickhole and all, but this was funny:

1UP: A lot of your critics have said that your overwhelmingly sexual female character designs border on parody (huge breasts, skimpy clothing). How would you respond to this, and do you plan to continue designing them in this way?

TI: Although I could argue, "What's wrong with women being sexy!," I have to admit I've gotten pretty tired of that. A lot of people are making those recently. I'll gladly let them take over for me. [Laughs]

1UP: So does this mean you won't have women in your next game, or that you just won't have sexy women in your next game?

TI: Don't be stupid.

Don't be stupid... :lol
 
There's no doubt in my mind that Kamiya and Itagaki go out drinking sometimes.

This amount of ribbing can only happen among friends.
 
Came on Mielke, you have the chance to interview Itagaki, ask better questions damm it.

Developer Interview: Itagaki Skewers the Competition

What the hell is that?, next time ask only about how much he hate Tekken and you are done because that's what you want, right?, controversy.

1UP: So if I move to Japan, when are we going to go drinking, and where?

TI: Any time, anywhere.

1UP: Do you think we can go back to the karaoke bar whose speakers you almost destroyed screaming into the mic?

TI: [Laughs] They'll still let me in. That'll be a good idea, I'm looking forward to it.

Keep your personal life for you and your friends, I don't care.


I really appreciate the relationship between Mielke and Itagaki, is because of it that we have the chance to read more often interviews with Itagaki. But I have always that feeling that the interviews could be more interesting because Itagaki is an interesting person and have a lot of things to say.
 
Dude has a lot to prove with his next game. Ninja Gaiden 2 was complete ass, but he has the "company was trying to fuck me" excuse.

Either way, Bayonetta looks to be the definitive action game this gen. Probably should know about it as a games designer, but I guess he has to keep up the "I'm such a badass / tool!" shtick.
 
SecretBonusPoint said:
Dude has a lot to prove with his next game. Ninja Gaiden 2 was complete ass, but he has the "company was trying to fuck me" excuse.

Either way, Bayonetta looks to be the definitive action game this gen. Probably should know about it as a games designer, but I guess he has to keep up the "I'm such a badass / tool!" shtick.
More than likely Itagaki wont even touch the game. He's most likely giving ideas and displaying concepts than actually physically working on anything. Thats what I got even with the DOA and NG series of games. Isn't that what Producers and Directors do? Just navigate everyones work rather than hands on physically augmenting the assets?
If that is the case Itagaki's brilliance is rightfully deserved. His games is only as bad as his thoughts and the people hes working with?
 
Itagaki is fucking awesome :lol :lol :lol

It does feel like he's been going through some sort of redemption and he sounds much happier :)
 
abstract alien said:
Really? Like what?

Whatever he's got under development. Miyamoto's pretty much relegated himself to irrelevance as far as I'm concerned. He just doesn't seem all that interested in developing (or overseeing the development of) the kind of stuff I like to play anymore. Itagaki, on the other hand, has been producing things I've enjoyed these past few years, and nothing I've read suggests to me that he's about to do a sudden 180. So the 'Itagaki hasn't earned the right to criticize other developers, unlike the great Miyamoto' bit doesn't really fly with me. Sorry.
 
Rikyfree said:
What a complete tool. Ever heard of respect for peers, jackass? I hope he makes nothing off his next game.

There's a big difference between 'respect for peers' and 'indiscriminately kissing the asses of everyone in the same field'. One of the things I like about Itagaki is that he's not afraid of speaking his mind where other developers are concerned, especially in comparison to the typical mealy-mouthed platitudes ('I have nothing but the utmost respect for Rival Developer-san's work, and wish him and everyone at Competing Game Studio tremendous success!') you usually hear in interviews. That's especially true of Japanese developers.
 
Hotsuma said:
Does anyone think Sega will publish their ("Tokyo Vikings") games? The way he mentioned that people would be surprised with who was funding them....I don't know...would make sense. Dead or Alive plays somewhat like Vipers anyway...might as well let Itagaki do one.:D

Well, Sega is already publishing Platinum Games' games, so...
 
Itagaki is still Itagaki, so I won't praise or bash his words, since they're expected. However, it is really irritating the way Mielke purposely asks him questions, just to get a quotable rise out of him. Mielke obviously knows Itagaki's reputation, and is exploiting it to the max.


Here's a lovely loaded question from Mielke's prior interview with Itagaki.
1UP said:
1UP: Given your past history, can I assume that you're developing something exclusively for Xbox 360? If so, is it because of the hardware's power, or because of its bigger-than-PS3 user base?

TI: I'm trying to be flexible in that respect, but I do feel that the Xbox 360 still has a lot of potential that I haven't been able to play with yet. I also have many good friends [at Microsoft's Xbox team] too, and being in a comfortable environment is best.
Itagaki actually gives a non-inflammatory answer to this obviously loaded question, and even suggests the possibility of going multiplatform, at some time. It's obviously not the kind of answer Mielke was fishing for, though. The title of the latest interview's headline makes Mielke's agenda clear, and it's not in Itagaki's best interests to continue doing interviews, like this one.
 
_tetsuo_ said:
The internet says its Ninja Gaiden. Are you calling the internet a liar? Do you want to hurt it's feelings?
Right, because the people best qualified to judge the merit of action game are the ones who are constantly sprinting toward an ever-looming deadline, too rushed to put in the time needed to grasp a complex combat system.

Metalic Sand said:
Ninja gaiden shits all over DMC. Hopefully he makes another REAL action game.
I'm sure your multiple playthroughs of every DMC game and intimate knowledge of their gameplay are a great boon to your credibility here.
 
:lol Awesome interview. People should stop getting so riled up by his comments, have a hearty laugh instead. Most of you will probably die by the age of 40.
 
Those last two answers are :lol :lol :lol

The Experiment said:
I find it amusing that a bunch of sexless nerds are idolizing this groping creep that makes a lot of equally creepy games.

Now now, let's not pretend you have sex.
 
1UP: So does this mean you won't have women in your next game, or that you just won't have sexy women in your next game?

TI: Don't be stupid.

:lol :lol

Any of you who actually get annoyed or mad at a geniunely funny guy who is just fucking around, really need to lighten up.
 
Ninja99 said:
I'm sure your multiple playthroughs of every Ninja Gaiden game and intimate knowledge of their gameplay are a great boon to your credibility here.

So easy see?

I dont need to play a game multiple times to understand it.
 
or like Gregory House : he's a dick, but you both hate him and love him for this, because nobody else would say things like that without any shame or hesitation. :D
 
If only game directors were this viciously vocal in the SEGA/Nintendo wars of the 1990's. The gaming scene would be such a better place. I don't think I'd have thrown out my gaming magazines either. Anybody have a Delorean?
 
Metalic Sand said:
So easy see?

I dont need to play a game multiple times to understand it.
And the justification you've provided for your hilariously absurd comment is still nonexistent. Until you manage to convey some sense of your understanding of DMC (which I still suspect to be meager at best), and specific reasons why Ninja Gaiden "shits all over DMC," as you so eloquently put it, consider me unconvinced.
 
ShinoguTakeruKoeru said:
wannaseeitagakiseyes.jpg

It's e3's annual Masters of Douche - DOUCHEOFF '09
 
I love Itagaki, I'm sure he just wants to make interviews fun, which they are.

Some of the people upset by this just provide the cherry on the top.
 
Angelus said:
Lots of butt hurt haters. Leave the thread if you can't take opinions. Its the fucking internet ladies.
:lol

so he can insult other devs like kamiya, his games, but we can't call him a douche and make fun of him?

leave the thread if you can't take opinions. its the fucking internet lady.
 
I will point to this interview from now on to indicate that Itagaki is essentially harmless, benign, and playful in his statements. Also, he makes a lovely old Japanese lady.
 
Yeah people shouldnt take what he has to say so seriously...I can imagine in the interview it comes off as a playful jokingly tone or something.
 
sprsk said:
There's no doubt in my mind that Kamiya and Itagaki go out drinking sometimes.

This amount of ribbing can only happen among friends.

Just a couple of good ole womanizers, sharing a drink between self-made men. You know, it wouldn't suprise me, being fellow Waseda alums and all. Now that I think about it, Waseda does have a reputation for producing womanizers. :lol
 
Dude is in a league of his own. The real rockstar of the gaming industry.

He just doesnt give a shit. As long as he pays his dues (which he does with praise for the gaming forefathers) he'll always be the man.
 
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