Just like the original, Ninja Gaiden II is coming to the PS3 in Sigma form. Recent scans of Famistu have revealed the game, which looks like it was going to be announced at GDC next week before the magazine blew up Tecmo’s spot. According to translations, it will be an upgraded version and not direct port, just like the first Sigma.
New features exclusive to the Sigma version on PS3 include a new weapon, the spiked hammer “Genma”, new giant boss battles not in the 360 version, and a being able to play as the female ninja Ayane. Hopefully there’s a better camera too, because I hated what was used on the Xbox 360.
The game is set for release this fall from Team Ninja. It’s being produced by Yosuke Hayashi, the same guy who put together the first Ninja Gaiden Sigma, which we thought was pretty damn good. I wander if the outspoken Itagaki will have anything to say since he isn’t part of Tecmo or Team Ninja anymore?
[image via GameTrailers forums]
As the world economy crumbles before our very eyes, big fish are going to continue to eat up little fish wherever they can. Sometimes, this can be good for both fish. The Tecmo fish was gobbled up by the KOEI fish in order to consolidate both Japanese based companies together. Tecmo has been around since the NES years and made some football game people like. You probably never heard of it. It is good to see Tecmo live another day and hopefully they can get back on track and release quality games this coming year.
Earlier this week Bloomberg reported that a large stake holder of Tecmo has voiced some dissent regarding the Japanese merger of Tecmo and Koei. Effissimo Capital Management Pte has made the following statement:
“We have not had sufficient information from the company to make a judgment on the merger, such as the feasibility of their plan to raise shareholder value,” Effissimo Director Takashi Kosaka said in the statement.
No reason to say this merger won’t happen at this point in time. This is just an investor who is concerned about their investment and who are interested in everyone making well informed decisions. Definitely a wise comment to make in the current economic climate. One would hope the Tecmo and Koei management teams will address this and any other investor concerns quickly.
In the recent months, Square Enix has hit the modern day newsstands (aka the Internets) with a few stories. The developer/publisher of Final Fantasy fame has recently pursued a failed bid for Tecmo, dumped Sony for Microsoft to release the next Final Fantasy, partnered with Gas Powered Games to publish Supreme Commander 2. Now the new headline is Square Enix seems to be setting up a new studio in the US of A, specifically in Los Angeles.
Square Enix has always been big in the US with titles like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and more, so why are they making these recent moves? Sony, a Japanese company and longtime platform of Final Fantasy and other Square titles is dumped for Microsoft, a US company to continue the Final Fantasy franchise. Last week shows the announcement of a strategic partnership with Gas Powered Games based in the US to develop games geared towards the North American market. Now their own studio in the US. Will this new studio produce fresh, creative material or will this serve as base to generate revival titles with an American twist?
Square Enix has mentioned they are focused on North American and European markets but there have not been any similar moves to stake ground in Europe. Anyone think we will see a few Square Enix lead acquistions around the EMEA region in the near future?
In the turbulent times we are living globally, I thought it would be relevant to highlight some of the industry happenings as there are potential impacts to the gaming public. Hopefully this will continue as semi-regular Loot-Ninja feature. The following have been the recent headlines in no particular order. Hit the links for the Loot-Ninja articles.
Lots of grim news financially and lots of studios shutting down, downsizing, rightsizing, etc. The global recession taking a toll on the gaming industry, probably. The above news updates are pretty similar to latest news in the banking industry. In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past year that means things are not very good.
By Keith Carter
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Tagged Activision Blizzard, amazon, Avalanche Studios, Brash, Budcat Creations, E for All, Electronic Arts, Industry update, Koei, Konami, midway, Reflexive, Square Enix, Take Two, Tecmo, THQ, Vivendi, WizKids
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Maybe exiled gaming genius Tomonobu Itagaki isn’t the dick bag we all thought he was. The leader of Team Ninja recently left Tecmo because he claimed he was not getting bonuses promised on his top selling games. Turns out, about 3 dozen of his teammates are doing the same thing for the exact same reason, unpaid bonuses. Tecmo has responded:
Tecmo would like to assure its loyal fans that Team Ninja, known for its top-selling and critically acclaimed Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive franchises, is intact and, as a matter of fact, has several new projects already underway.
Okay. Follow up question. Who is there to work on these projects? Your mastermind has left and so has most of his team. Maybe Tomo is not as geocentric and we thought he was. Maybe Tecmo are a bunch of cheap asses. I’m guessing its a little of both.
Well it’s about damn time Tecmo. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this friggin’ game?! Well, about as long as everyone else I suppose. But still.
Anyways. Hit the jump for more »
No one can dispute the brilliance of Tomonobu Itakagi. The man is a game design genius. His main criticism is that his outspoken demeanor can outshine his efforts and that’s where it begins to gray. He has recently left Tecmo’s Team Ninja and is suing for bonuses he claimed were promised but not delivered. He is also involved one way or another with a sexual harassment suit. Again, his non-gaming facets are affecting his reputation. Tecmo has responded to his claims with this brief message:
Our company getting sued by this employee is huge problem… the reasons for making this lawsuit public are self-centered. What’s more, this employee is filing this suit for himself and making it seem like he alone is responsible for the development of the game titles the rest of the Team Ninja staff had poured its heart into. Team NINJA is currently working on a line-up of new titles. All of Team NINJA is starting to work together on interesting new game titles.
How will team Ninja fair without its head Samurai? Seems like a huge headache is gone and maybe they can focus on some new ideas and not the extraneous bullshit.
In a shocking turn of events, Tomonobu Itagaki has left Tecmo and is suing the company. The head of Team Ninja and creator of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive has some monetary disputes with the company. In part of the letter sent to the press, Itagaki writes:
Before the start of development on Dead or Alive 4, Tecmo Co., Ltd. had agreed to pay a completion bonus to me for this Xbox 360 title, which I produced. However, when the time came for the actual payment, Tecmo Co., Ltd. went against its previous agreement and refused payment. 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.’ In addition, he made demeaning remarks about me to my subordinates and colleagues, causing me significant emotional distress and worsening my personal relationships and work environment. Thus, I have no choice but to resign from Tecmo Co., Ltd.
Ouch. Sounds like Tecmo bent him over a table on that one. He goes on to say that he’ll never be able to make another Ninja Gaiden or Dead or Alive game since Tecmo owns the franchises. Sad news for fans of both series.
No word yet on what Itagaki’s next move will be, but I’m sure it’ll involve sunglasses and beer. We’ll keep you posted on his whereabouts.
Hit the jump for more »
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