Ninja Gaiden Creator Sues Tecmo

In a span of days that has seen a jaw-dropping twist in the season finale of Lost, Stanley Cup heroics, and Obama getting dirty (despite the “Only Yo Momma Would Vote for Obama” t-shirt I saw yesterday), it is only fitting that the video game world receive its own bit of drama thanks to game designer-turned-derelict, Tomonobu Itagaki.
Itagaki, a man whose ego has grown to be as large as the games he and his team have produced—including the Ninja Gaiden and the Dead or Alive series—has become somewhat synonymous with his bold statements and overall brash behavior. It should come as no surprise to Japanese game developer Tecmo that Itagaki is suing them for 148 million yen (about $1.4M) in “unpaid completion bonuses.”

Tecmo responded on Wednesday in an official statement, stating it was self-centered and selfish of Itagaki to sue for bonuses on games that his colleagues, Team Ninja, helped design.

But what more can be expected of a man who habitually sports dark sunglasses, light feathered hair, sleek leather jackets and tight ripped jeans? Itagaki simply screams rock star. We are talking about the man who was the brainchild behind the specific “bounce physics” of the female fighters in the Dead or Alive series. It would almost be a shock if he didn’t shake things up during his departure from Tecmo.
Regardless, Tecmo is taking the lawsuit seriously, and it will be interesting to see how it advances without Itagaki. His strident attitude is reminiscent of a young Liam Gallagher from the British rock group Oasis, whose big mouth often put him at odds with brother Noel, the creative half of the duo.
The rebellious rocker comparison is a bit too easy, but surely Itagaki enjoys the spotlight. His departure from Tecmo should keep his name in the video game headlines for awhile and the full story will most likely never be known. Perhaps he will seek employment elsewhere. Do you think Rockstar Games has any openings?