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Itagaki talks about working with XBox 360 and why it isn't doing well in Japan.

June 02, 2008 in News comments 11

Love him or hate him, Ninja Gaiden creator Tomonobu Itagaki is a man who will always speak his mind.
Today he talked about what it was like working with Microsoft and the XBox 360, and why he thinks the console isn't doing too well in Japan.

Kikizo: Can you tell us about working with Microsoft as the publisher for Ninja Gaiden 2 - did this change the way you have led the project in any way?

Itagaki: There are good things and bad things about working with Microsoft. In the past, working with Tecmo Inc, it's the same company, we're all friends, we're all closely tied which is good. But because we're so small and have limited resources, it's very hard to break out of a cycle and the way that we do things. So the reason we went to Microsoft this time around and asked them to work with us and publish the game is this is my last Ninja Gaiden. It's the definitive version. So I wanted to make sure that as many people as possible have the chance to play this around the world. One of the advantages of working with Microsoft is access to their resources, things like playtesters. They have a pool of over 1,000 people locally near their headquarters that they use to playtest. So getting feedback from all those people is a great way to improve the playability of the game.

Kikizo: It seems that traditionally, this is a stance you would have been very opposed to. In fact you on several occasions championed the difficulty of Ninja Gaiden 1 - gamers who couldn't complete it, that's you're problem! You're not strong enough! Was this 'softer' approach with NG2 something that followed some debate between you and Microsoft? Or did you just decide it make more sense this way?

Itagaki: Actually, it was earlier last year, I basically sat down and made a decision of my own volition saying I want to kind of change the paradigm of Ninja Gaiden and make it more accessible, make it a little more open and more approachable for all kinds of gamers.

Kikizo: With the broader audience in mind do you find it frustrating that far fewer people in local market of Japan will be playing it?

Itagaki: Yeah, there's nothing that can be done about that. Things like economic policies, the fact that the size of the size of the population of children in Japan is dwindling, people are moving away from console gaming - there are a lot of factors involved, it's not just Xbox 360 doesn't do well in Japan because it's Xbox; there's a whole load of societal factors involved there. It's not as though the hardcore would make a big difference. This all goes back to decisions that politicians made like sixty years ago.
Miss Razz via games.kikizo.com »
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  • 0
    Storm Jun 2, 08
    I think that Ninja Gaiden II is worth buying the 360 for. [/fanboy-ism]

    quote
    I almost feel like I was born again, like this was the first game I've ever made - that's how fresh this experience is. We were able to include everything we wanted, so there would be little reason to go and do a three or a four, except just to keep the franchise alive. So I feel like I'm ready to move on with different plans.
    Wow. Well I can understand that, although there are other reasons to keep the franchise going. Bigger fanbase, perhaps thinking about more things to add later on.

    I like how Itagaki takes a hit at the guy who headed up Ninja Gaiden Sigma, though. xD
  • 0
    Bale Fire Jun 2, 08
    quote
    Kikizo: With the broader audience in mind do you find it frustrating that far fewer people in local market of Japan will be playing it?

    Itagaki: Yeah, there's nothing that can be done about that. Things like economic policies, the fact that the size of the size of the population of children in Japan is dwindling, people are moving away from console gaming
    I think he should just admit the 360 isn't selling well in Japan because it doesn't interest them. If consoles aren't selling well in general there then why are the PS3 and Wii outselling the 360 by 5 to 1?

    Still glad that to see that he hopes to end the series on a high note, I wonder what he will work on next?
  • -1
    Existenz Jun 3, 08
    Though it obviously isn't the case i mean the 360 still sells in Japan but it only sells those 20,000 a month, this isn't bad it just shows that only the hardcore japanese gamers are buying the console. I think this has more to do with the Wii and the PS3, Japanese homes are small and they generally do not have the room to have a TV and 3 consoles aswell as the rest of the rooms furnishings and keep it as a comfortable living space... I think you would find homes are split between Japanese gamers with a Wii and PS3 and those with a Wii and 360, most can't afford all 3 and most can't give up the space for all 3... Its all down to their way of life more than anything, might also have a factor that they favour their home produce but in todays age thats unlikely...
  • -4
    Final Blade Jun 3, 08
    I don't like the fact this game is a 360 exclusive. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't something about fanboyism, but I would have expecting if this is his last game, that having sell to alot more gamers, and increase its fanbase for all to remember is better than just one system. I also feel with the PS3 it can make the game better since the cell is a great processor and giving Itagaki knowledge of pushing out great titles, this would be a field worth doing.

    Now he said the Sigma devs were rookies and did what he's already done. Then why can't you make a NG game on the PS3 as well, whats so wrong with making it a multiplatform to increase its fanbase as his last. It makes no freaking sense. He makes it sound he could have made sigma that much better, but yet he decided not to make it multiplatform. If I was him, in his choice after this, I want my games to be remember by all.

    Meh, good article though. Enjoyed reading.
  • 0
    Existenz Jun 3, 08
    The reason Ninja Gaiden 2 isn't on the PS3 is because Itagaki did not like the PS3 version of Sigma, he didn't like how the PS3 handled the game... Also right now there is nothing to show that the PS3 could make Ninja Gaiden 2 any better than the 360, infact the 360 would be the superior choice as Team Ninja are still using the same graphics engine they used for Ninja Gaiden 1 and Dead or Alive 3 and 4 so it is absolutely optimised for Xbox/360.
    • -3
      Final Blade Jun 3, 08
      Yea but the fact is, like I stated before, Sigma was made by rookies, as he called them. And did exactly what he has already done. So its his fault Sigma ended up the way it did. As the saying goes "If you want something done right, do it yourself".
      Honestly who is he kidding? Having some unexperienced devs work on a different system, and expecting it to be good? Come on now, that has to be pretty stupid.
      Im pretty sure the game could be better on the PS3 giving the right time and effort as he has with the 360.
      Again i wish the game could meet all players since he's going out in a bang, not making Dead or Alive 5 and suing tecmo. So as a gamer and me liking Sigma, im very disappointed.
      • 1
        Donnelly Jun 3, 08
        You're an idiot and a fanboy.

        The idea that the PS3 makes better games because of it's power is ridiculous.

        Look at last generation, the Xbox was more powerful but it was a lot worse than the PS2.

        It all comes down to how easy it is to code on the machine.
        • 0
          Final Blade Jun 3, 08
          Your the one who can't read I said given the right time and effort it COULD make it better, Im not saying its going to be better. Its obviously has something to do with coding. Stop trying to piss me off, nothing I said was fanboyish. All I was saying besides that was He's going out in a bang and he tried to make the game appeal to new people, why didn't he just make it multiplatform. It would not only bring new fans in, it would also make his last game that much bigger.
        • 0
          Bale Fire Jun 3, 08
          Indeed Donnelly you misread his post, perhaps if you put as much effort into reading over peoples comments as you do accusing Finalblade you wouldn't have made that mistake eh?
        • 0
          Donnelly Jun 4, 08
          It could, yes.

          But when has a more powerful console won?

          SNES v MegaDrive? The less powerful one won.
          N64 v PSone v Sega Saturn? The only time in the last four generations the most powerful one won.
          PS2 V Xbox v Gamecube? Most powerful one got it's ass well and truly kicked by the PS2.



          A more powerful console means nothing if it's too hard to program on.
  • 0
    Storm Jun 4, 08
    Same thing with handhelds. Gameboy vs GameGear, etc.. It's always won.

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