More drama has unfolded in the Itagaki/Tecmo suit.

Supposedly, according to various sources (notably Kotaku) Itagaki was fired on June 18th and did not quit as he has alleged. According to Tecmo, he was fired just a few weeks after he announced he would be leaving and suing the company- so either way you look at it, he was out the door.

Itagaki is suing Tecmo over “special incentives” for Dead or Alive 4 that he was never paid. According to Tomonobu Itagaki, he was to receive 6.66% of profits generated from the sale of the game, but Tecmo president Yasuda says that those incentives were never approved. Itagaki was also supposed to receive his summer bonus and yearly incentives, which he left the company without being paid.

Now comes evidence presented by Ninja Gaiden II producer Yoshifuru Okamoto, which is an actual tape recording of Yasuda calling Itagaki a “money grubber” and saying that Itagaki was owed incentive money after all – which was in reality approved by the Tecmo board despite his claims to the contrary.

Okamoto recorded the conversation with Yasuda because he was continually harassed by him, was called  names and and told he had no class. Great way to motivate your employees there Yasuda.

Itagaki has since decided to increase his claim from 148,000,000 yen to 164,000,095 yen thanks to that wonderful bit of evidence produced by Okamoto (providing it holds up in court, which Japanese courts may differ greatly from ours).

You know, Itagaki may rub people the wrong way sometimes, and while I personally detest people who blow their own horn constantly, it is no matter. If he is owed the money, just pay the guy already.

Thanks: CVG [via Kotaku]

As if the hardware numbers didn’t clue you, Metal Gear Solid 4 dominated the software charts for last month here in the United States. The game sold 774,600 units, but if you combine that number with how many Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundles were sold (which include a copy of the game), the NPD estimates that about a million copies of MGS4 were sold last month. I guess people really wanted to know whether or not Snake and Otacon would have that dreamy ending they’ve been wanting since the end of the original Metal Gear Solid.

There are a few other easy-to-predict things in the top ten, such as Guitar Hero On Tour selling quite a few copies, as did Wii Fit and Wii Play. Battlefield: Bad Company (on 360) and Ninja Gaiden 2 both had strong sales, as did Mario Kart Wii.

But the major surprise — aside from GTA IV’s disappearance — is just how well Lego Indiana Jones sold. With the new movie being released, it was assured a good number of sales, but the Wii, PS2 and DS versions of the game combined for 822,600 copies sold, or in other words, straight cash money.

Kris Pigna over at 1UP made a good point regarding On Tour, suggesting that the game’s sales may have been much higher if the DS bundles were included in the figures. It’s worth keeping in mind, but I’m sure Activision is happy with selling 400k copies of a game that will likely have legs.

June 2008 Software Sales

1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) — 774,600 (Roughly 1 million including bundles)
2. Guitar Hero On Tour (DS) — 422,300
3. Ninja Gaiden II (Xbox 360) — 372,700
4. Wii Fit (Wii) — 372,700
5. Wii Play (Wii) – 359,100
6. Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox 360) — 346,800
7. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) — 322,400
8. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (Wii) — 294,500
9. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (DS) — 267,800
10. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (PS2) — 260,300

Downloadable content for Ninja Gaiden II has been revealed and will be released via XBL on July 25 and will cost you 800 MS Points

Available for the Xbox 360, the DLC is basically a Mission Mode and includes 25 self-contained high-score and survival stages. Some tutorial guides showing the locations of the crystal skulls will also hit XBL sometime around July 11th – which is tomorrow in case you do not own a calender or are date confused like I am.

Details:

Mission Mode, a brand-new gameplay expansion for Ninja Gaiden II. In this all new game mode, challenge your skills in self-contained missions featuring trials and tribulations not found in the standard story mode. Karma Attack missions task you with obtaining the highest score, while Survival missions give you a single weapon to fight off as many enemies as possible. Take your high scores online with Xbox LIVE and compete with players around the world on the mission leaderboards.

Skull Videos

30 videos that reveal the locations of hidden in-game skulls. Will split up into 3 packs and each contains 10 videos and they are free.

• Skull Video #1: This video shows the location of the first third of the skulls.

• Skull Video #2: This video shows the location of the middle third of the skulls.

• Skull Video #3: This video shows the location of the last third of the skulls.

Thanks: Shacknews

Channel Flip has a video review of Ninja Gaiden II up for your viewing pleasure. The host Katharine will lead you through the pros and cons of the game illustrating points with game footage from the Xbox 360.

Ninja Gaiden is notoriously difficult and gory. Fans of the series should not be disappointed. Here’s Katharine’s take on Team Ninja’s final Ninja Gaiden title under Itagaki.

via Channel Flip

Those of you who are looking for a reason to tear yourselves away from MGS4, GTA IV or Ninja Gaiden II, some of the offerings headed your way next week should give you plenty of excuses.

The following games are scheduled to be released:

June 16

• 1701 A.D. Gold Edition (PC)

June 17

• Arkanoid DS (Nintendo DS)
• Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard (Nintendo DS)
• Imagine Rock Star (Nintendo DS)
• Petz Dogz Fashion (Nintendo DS)
• Secret Agent Clank (PSP)
• Space Invaders Extreme (PSP)
• Space Invaders Extreme (Nintendo DS)
• Spore Creature Creator Complete (PC)
• Tamagotchi Connection Corner Shop 3 (Nintendo DS)
• Wacky Races: Crash and Dash (Wii)

All release dates are subject to availability, so some may be in stores on the day listed, the day before, or the day after so check with wherever you purchase your games because shipping times vary.

Once again, Friday is bringing us a new episode of The 1UP Show, kicking off a brand new season for the series. This week, the gang takes on a barrage of top-tier releases with Ninja Gaiden II, Soul Calibur IV, and Penny Arcade Adventures. Naturally, Soul Calibur IV is the one that elicits the most excitement (before it’s all dashed against the rocks at first, that is). Apparently, some new gameplay elements are making this a very different Soul Calibur than past games. There’s also a heavy debate over whether Ninja Gaiden II’s non-revolutionary feel is due to the game’s difficulty or just poor design choices. Finally, there’s a discussion over the new Penny Arcade game, a generally good, but slightly flawed, title.

As always, you can download the new show using one of the links below:

• QT M4V (Podcast)
• WMV 640×360
• QT 640×360

June is shaping up to be a pretty decent month in the way of gaming releases. Already we have been handed Kung Fu Panda, LEGO Indiana Jones, Ninja Gaiden II, The Bourne Conspiracy, The Incredible Hulk, and Summon Nights: Twin Age. But what else does the month leading into Summer hold for us?Plenty, and I have next week’s releases listed for you right here:

June 9

• Don King Presents: Prize Fighter – Xbox 360

June 10

• Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm – PC, Xbox 360
• Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit – PS3, Xbox 360
• EVE Online: Empires Age (Expansion) – PC
• Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles – Nintendo DS
• Looney Toons: Cartoon Conductor – Nintendo DS
• My Fashion Studio- Nintendo DS
• NASCAR 09 – PS2, PS3,Xbox 360

June 12

• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Regular and Limited Edition) – PS3

All release dates are subject to availability, so some may be in stores on the day listed, the day before, or the day after so check with wherever you purchase your games because shipping times vary.

Ninja Gaiden II was released today and already an easter egg has been revealed in the game.  As you see in the picture above, a big ‘X’ can be found in one of the levels in the game.  What is it?  What does it do?  Where can I find such an awesome easter egg?  All of these questions can be answered after the break.  Those of you who are worried about spoilers can rest assure I won’t ruin anything for you with my explaination.

Read the full article

Microsoft and TECMO/Team NINJA announced today that Ninja Gaiden II is now shipping to retailers throughout North America.Featuring a new and improved game engine, developed from the ground up exclusively for Xbox 360, in Ninja Gaiden II gamers must guide Ryu Hayabusa on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Armed with an assortment of ninja weaponry, players must help Ryu skillfully maneuver through a world fraught with peril. An all new auto-health regeneration system has been introduced, along with exciting new levels, adventures, enemies and thrilling combat. The newly added “Ninja Cinema” feature will allow gamers to record Ryu’s combat exploits as movie clips on their Xbox 360 and the ability to upload their clips to Xbox LIVE for everyone to download and view.

Fans are also encouraged to participate in the “Ninja Gaiden II, Weekend of Vengeance” from June 13-15. There will be an Achieve & Win sweepstakes where one lucky fan will win a Ninja Gaiden II Custom Elite Xbox 360 Console and a Ninja Gaiden II Swiss Army Victorinox console/laptop bag. Other prizes include 1600 Microsoft Point Cards, Xbox 360 120GB hard drives, 12-month Xbox LIVE Gold Subscriptions, Ninja Gaiden II T-shirts and much more.

Gold members must register and then play Ninja Gaiden II during the June 13-15 Vengeance Weekend. Also that weekend, to help celebrate ninjas, Gold members can watch free classic ninja movies, including “Ninja Hunter,” “A Life of Ninja” and “Ninja in the Deadly Trap.”

Finally, all seven hilarious Ask A Ninja episodes and the hour-long documentary “Way of the Warrior: Ninja Gaiden II” will also be available as free downloads to all Xbox LIVE subscribers, Silver and Gold.

Via: Press Release

When Tomonobu Itagaki announced last month that Ninja Gaiden II would be his “swan song” for the series, may speculated that the infamous mastermind behind the series was talking just to hear himself as usual and did not take much stock his words. Yesterday though, he announced that he was leaving Team Ninja which seemed to give credence to his previous statement.

Today however, we have learned that not only is he in fact leaving Team Ninja, but he is suing Tecmo for unpaid completion bonuses. Here is the fully monty via Itagaki’s own mouth:

“I, Tomonobu Itagaki, hereby announce that on the 14th of May 2008 I filed a complaint in the Tokyo District Court against Tecmo Co., Ltd. for unpaid completion bonuses, and against the President of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, for such unlawful acts as unreasonable and disingenuous statements made towards me, claiming damages in total of 148 million yen. I also announce that this complaint was delivered to the defendants on May 22nd of the same year.

In addition, I hereby announce that I have today submitted a letter of resignation to Tecmo Co., Ltd. stating that I will resign as of the 1st of July, 2008.

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.

The conduct of Tecmo Co., Ltd. and its president Yoshimi Yasuda towards me has been unbefitting of a publicly-listed company.

I have filed this lawsuit with a strong intent to question the social responsibility of Tecmo Co., Ltd. and its President Yoshimi Yasuda, as well as condemning them for their unjust acts. Today, in addition to announcing the reasons for this lawsuit, I make clear my reasons for resigning.

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.

Tecmo Co., Ltd. Creative Officer
Leader, Team NINJA

Tomonobu Itagaki”

There ya have it – straight from the horse’s mouth. Much speculation as to where he is headed next is expanding across the internet like John Goodman’s waist line, but as soon as something more is announced we will be sure to inform you.

Meanwhile, the demo for Ninja Gaiden II should be up on XBL later on as it is already available in Europe – so if you are a Ninja Gaiden fan you better get your fix now because this is the last time you will get to walk in Ryu’s stealthy footsteps.

Via: 1UP