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Tecmo wormed out of Ninja Gaiden 2 exclusivity?

March 19, 2009 in News comments 15

Ninja Gaiden 2 up until recently was exclusive to the 360, a contract between Tecmo and Microsoft cementing this. So how exactly did the game still end up heading towards the PS3? According to Gamer.Blorge the game isn't technically the same game, but rather reworked to the Sigma engine, technically classifying it as a remake, rather than just a port. ISWYDT

As per contract, Tecmo is not allowed to release Ninja Gaiden 2 on the PS3, but can release any other iteration of the series on any platform since Tecmo owns the Ninja Gaiden IP. This is similar to how EPIC Games owns the Gears of War IP, as Mark Rein VP clarified when he stated, “Epic owns Gears of War.”

However, Tecmo did something a bit crafty to circumvent the exclusivity deal with Microsoft. The company rebuilt Ninja Gaiden 2 on the Sigma engine and improved it enough to classify it as a “remake” for the PS3. Technically, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is a whole new game on paper.
Bale Fire via gamer.blorge.com »
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  • 1
    Pyrazor Mar 20, 09
    If that's true then that's just down right sleazy.
  • 0
    Killosity Mar 20, 09
    Good work Temco. Hey Microsoft, focus on your (imo) pisspoor First party lineup. That way exclusitivity rights wont be such an issue.
  • 0
    Seeker X Mar 20, 09
    Wow, not even a George Clooney-produced movie plot could've come up with this.
  • 2
    FinalFantasyFanaticc Mar 20, 09
    Just goes to show how piss poor contracts are nowadays, seems that exclusivity means nothing when a company can work around the contract.

    Just shows Tecmo are a bunch of assholes tbh.
    • 1
      Existence Mar 20, 09
      "Assholes"? How so? Its just good business.
      • 1
        BlackLabel Mar 20, 09
        Exactly anyone could have seen this coming when they released Sigma. Sigma was an entirely new franchise, Sigma 2 was bound to come eventually.
  • 2
    Zero and X Mar 20, 09
    Looks like MS needs to learn to write better contracts.
  • 0
    nanobyte Mar 20, 09
    Thats brilliant, glad to see a company getting 1up on Microsoft
  • 0
    kspiess Mar 20, 09
    Hrmm wonder if a lawsuit might turn up out of this.
    • 1
      Koloth Mar 20, 09
      To what end? Sigma 2 isn't NG2 it is a remake of NG2. The contract only covers the original. Tecmo can do anything they want with teh property as long as they don't port it. They found a loophole and exploited it. MS can't do a thing about it.
  • 0
    Seproth Mar 20, 09
    How is it good business to piss off one of the most powerful companies in the world?
    • 0
      FinalFantasyFanaticc Mar 20, 09
      I can see Microsoft unleashing all kinds of hell on Tecmo for this tbh.
      • 1
        BlackLabel Mar 20, 09
        You talk like this is news to Microsoft. Just because we have only just found out about this title doesn't mean Microsoft have only just found out. If anything Microsoft probably kept Tecmo quiet for this long to make sure Ninja Gaiden 2 would sell as many as possible before the PS3 gamers got the game.
        • 0
          Seproth Mar 21, 09
          Possible, I could see it being the other way around too.

          They held off announcing it, so that Microsoft wouldn't be as pissed.
  • 1
    Mr Gray Mar 20, 09
    Hehehehehehe, next up, DOA.

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