Contribute to XBN's Monthly Column: Ask Itagaki!

You love him, and you love his games.

Tomonobu Itagaki of Ninja Gaiden fame has kindly agreed to answer questions—your questions—in the pages of Xbox Nation. If you’ve ever read an interview with Tomonobu Itagaki, you’ll know to expect some an advice column that’s every bit as hard-hitting and unique as his games.

Send your questions—on any topic from girls to games, cars to chocolate bars, school, being cool, whatever—to us at XBN@ziffdavis.com with the subject line: Ask Itagaki!

OR... post your question(s) here for all to enjoy.

You can find the first installation of Ask Itagaki in Issue 14 of XBN (on store shelves soon).

Just so you all know, it doesn't have to be about games...

here are some of the questions we asked Itagaki-san for round one--if you really want your question to be considered for inclusion, don't bother making it offensive.

Otherwise, keep 'em comin'

Q: Who is better: David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?

Q: I love videogames, but my girlfriend does not—what can I do to get her interested in games?

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Q: I have a huge crush on this girl in my office, but it seems that so does everyone else here. What should I do to make myself stand out? Also, she’s married…

Q: I’m coming to Japan in April with a bunch of videogame-obsessed friends. How can I avoid making this a total nerd vacation?

Q: I want to study a martial art. What would make me the strongest?

Q: What does your mom think of DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball?

Q: Describe your perfect day.

Q: Which is better, once and for all: Tekken or Virtua Fighter?

Q: Where can you find the easiest girls in Tokyo?

this has a definate chance of being the best interview ever.

I know of a couple of people here who will love this...

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

I know of a couple of people here who will love this...

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Umm... how about some questions?

I've got other interview questions do compile, and I'd rather see the Itagaki fans here have a crack at this.

hint: get drunk -- ask questions. play nice.

What is the purpose of the ninja?
How can I obtain Real Ultimate Power?
Which is cooler: ninjas or pirates?

Ninjas or pirates NEEDS to be asked! NEEDS!

But you know he'll say Ninjas.

What direction do you want the next generation of game consoles to go in? Do you have any ideas that you'd like to implenent, but can't because of hardware limitations?

Do you think it's best for the game industry to have multiple consoles to work on (Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft)? Could having just one platform be better than 3?

Why do so many 3D games have bad camera systems? Do you feel you've made headway with Ninja Gaiden?

What direction do you see fighting games heading toward? Will the next Dead or Alive series be a leader in new gameplay ideas?

What's the worst game you've played recently? Why do you think its bad and how would you improve it?

How are you with the women? (That's a serious question, btw.)

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Originally Posted by Green

Which is cooler: ninjas or pirates?

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If God called you on the phone tomorrow and asked you to help him open his peanut butter jar, would you?
Beefaroni or mangoes?
How would you describe your perfect woman?
Swords?
If Tecmo told you tomorrow that the customer no longer wants to play games with cute girls or badass ninjas in them, but instead wants shapely apes and caterpillers, wold you comply?
I want to meet Quentin Tarrentino. Can you help?
Ninjas are cool?
What emoticon would you make to describe your general demeanor?
The interviewer wants a hug. Will you help him fulfill his/her lifetime dream?
Would you drink Pepsi Cucumber?
You've said before that the DoA girls are like daughters to you. Would you have bothered putting 10 girls through private school, or would you just have sent them to public school?

I'll have more later.
This is awesome.

By the way, this article gains you a subscription to your magazine from myself. Once I get some money, that is.
Is it possible to make this a regular column? Itagaki never gets old. NEVER.

Have you ever beat a hooker?

What's it like being the most overrated game designer on the planet?

How enjoyable is it for you to be making games exclusively for a system that has seen very little success in your home country?

Who did you steal the "wearing sunglasses indoors" gimmick from? Jack Nicholson or Bono?

I want to know Itagaki's favorite 80's ninja movie.

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Originally Posted by Mamoscott

What's it like being the most overrated game designer on the planet?

How enjoyable is it for you to be making games exclusively for a system that has seen very little success in your home country?

Who did you steal the "wearing sunglasses indoors" gimmick from? Jack Nicholson or Bono?

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What is it like to be such a massive piece of shit that nobody likes or takes seriously?

How does it feel to be back on my ignore list.

Anyways, I submitted a couple of serious questons to the site, with "-Jared" at the end. Itagaki Fanboy #1!

Heres one-

Before Team Ninja, what games did you have a hand in?

How was it meeting Satsuki at E3? Did you get her autograph?

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Originally Posted by Sl1p

How does it feel to be back on my ignore list.

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It feels like nothing actually, because I don't care whether or not I am on your ignore list and even if I am, I apparently never stay there. Is this the third or fourth time you've put me on it? I swear, you are dumber than a rock, and since you have no self-restraint at all, just keep me on ignore this time.

Q: Dear Mr. Itagaki, Ninja Gaiden turned out to be a pretty solid gaming experience. Do you think most people will dismiss it as a fluke due to Team Ninja's track record of pretty, but medicore and overhyped games that fail to live up to their promise? :chick: :sweat:

Q (Serious this time): What do you think Microsoft should do to make the Xbox more popular in Japan?

oh the haters... :(

Any horseshit responses from here on out get a free one week ban.

I don't know if I have anything to contribute, but I really like the idea of yet another Itagaki interview. At first I thought the man was rediculous, pompous, and generally an asshole. After having lightened up, however, I came to realize just how incredible he actually is. His interviews, and his personality are golden.

I'd like to ask him something about an unlikely sequel to Ninja Gaiden, but I'm sure this question will be asked anyway, even if he has already given a statement on it.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

Any horseshit responses from here on out get a free one week ban.

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ohhh :(

can i at least ask him for a job

What do you say to those people who feel you shipped Ninja Gaiden with a flawed camera system?

When are you going to make a volleyball game with all the MALE members of DOA3?

Okay Mr. Itagaki, I have a few:

#1. Do you like Hello Kitty?

#2. Do you have a wife? If so, what is she like?

#3. If not, can we get married? seriously? I mean seriously.

#4. If marriage isnt your thing, can we spend a night together?

#5. Drinking?

#6. Naked?


..thats all!

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Originally Posted by animegirl20

When are you going to make a volleyball game with all the MALE members of DOA3?

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He should make a one-button DOA basketball game with all the guys in speedos.

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Originally Posted by Mzo

He should make a one-button DOA basketball game with all the guys in speedos.

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Lucas Barton would be so there! ;)

I am NOT interested in seeing the guys in speedos (Bass??????? EWWWW), but a nice like, "out on the town in fancy suits" game would rock.

okay, actually I emailed for real, theres so many things I want to ask him!!! ;_; I want a one on one interview with him!

I second the "broken camera" question. A camera I can't directly control is a broken tool, and that's one of the worst things a game an inflict on the player.

If you make a 2D sprite-based action game (think Gunstar Heroes for genre) for the X-Box, I'll give you this tasty chocolate chip cookie, complete with a tall glass of milk to wash it down with. Make it run hi-res with smooth animation and I'll throw in a second cookie for free. (Not a question, I know, but I figured a bribe was just as good.)

James

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I second the "broken camera" question. A camera I can't directly control is a broken tool, and that's one of the worst things a game an inflict on the player.

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From the book of Itagaki, "Any game that forces you to control the camera has a shitty director"

Amen.

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Originally Posted by Sl1p

From the book of Itagaki, "Any game that forces you to control the camera has a shitty director"

Amen.

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And considering that I had to constantly center the camera in Ninja Gaiden, thus forcing me to control it because it clearly wasn't doing its job itself, means...?

Q: My roommate smells awful. What should I do to make him shower more often?

Q: I'm thinking about taking up smoking to help make me look cooler. What brand of cigarettes would make me look the coolest?

Q: Where do babies come from?

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Originally Posted by Green

Which is cooler: ninjas or pirates?

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PIRATES!

*runs off to design and program Pirate Gaiden*

Pirate Gaiden would be awsome!

My Sega Saturn will be useless after Dead or Alive Ultimate/Online is out. Are there any other possible uses for it apart from playing Dead or Alive?

Have you ever patented the titty jiggle technology used in your games?

Q: Pirates or Ninjas?

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Originally Posted by Contra

Q: Where do babies come from?

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You stole my question.

Any camera you can't control shows a total lack of foresight into what an individual gamer will want. A good camera shouldn't have to be messed around with by the average player, but that doesn't mean you rip control of it from him.

Either way you look at it, the Ninja Gaiden camera has issues, and not allowing the player to correct them is a design oversight.

James

The only thing I can think of asking him are boring questions like what are his plans for Ninja Gaiden 2, DOA4, and other upcoming projects, including their target platforms and what are the things he'd most like to improve about these franchises.

Q: Is the Ryu Hayabusa in Dead or Alive the Ryu from XBox Ninja Gaiden or the NES series?

Q: Why did Ryu lose the ponytail?

Q: Who would win: Jaquio, Ashtar, or Doku

Q: Do you think that you could beat Hideo Kojima in a fight?

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Originally Posted by MechDeus

And considering that I had to constantly center the camera in Ninja Gaiden, thus forcing me to control it because it clearly wasn't doing its job itself, means...?

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I call that blasphemy. Still your tongue, infidel dog.

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Originally Posted by Zerodash

Q: Is the Ryu Hayabusa in Dead or Alive the Ryu from XBox Ninja Gaiden or the NES series?

Q: Who would win: Jaquio, Ashtar, or Doku

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Too bad Itagaki dosen't know shit about Ryu, so these questions must be thrown out. He'll be all like "Jaquio what? Ashtar who? Where is all this story coming from?!?"

He's never played the originals, remember?

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Originally Posted by Mzo

He's never played the originals, remember?

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I'd be surprised if he knew what an NES was.

some pretty good questions here folks.

and personally, i think itagaki was a PC Engine fan.

He played the originals, he just thought that they were unresponsive and utter shit. But that's probably only because he didn't play them until 100videogame years later.

Anyway;

Q: Will you ever put Vanessa into another DOA game?
Q: Was there a significant reason for Tina going from Brunette to Blonde? (Blondes have more fun?)
Q: When are you going to admit that you TOO have used the nude patch?
Q: Do you TRULY expect to have Chronus, Ultimate, AND 4 out before then end of the fiscal year?
Q: Who is your favorite DOA girl? Who is your least favorite? Why?

Q: Smoking or non-smoking?
Q: Ever get a bit overwhelmed from postponing your projects over and over?

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Originally Posted by Zerodash

Q: Is the Ryu Hayabusa in Dead or Alive the Ryu from XBox Ninja Gaiden or the NES series?

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He's already answered that, Ninja Gaiden is a prequel to the DOA series (three years earlier, IIRC) and thus Ryu is the one from DOA.

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Originally Posted by bahn

Q: Smoking or non-smoking?

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He's japanese, therefor - smoking

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Originally Posted by Do You Like Erotic?

Q: Who is your favorite DOA girl? Who is your least favorite? Why?

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he's said his fav is kasumi. as far as least fav, we can assume Tina. XD

ps bahn--he's smoked in more than one interview, I think he's a smoker.

If you know that, you should also know that he's married... and I think he has kids too, or are you just only reading what you want to read? :p

Q: What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

OK somebody has too....African or European?

I actually sent these:

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Honestly, what were you people thinking when you made the decision to give out a Kasumi "pillow" with the game in Japan? I mean you do know what people will likely be doing with them, right?!

Have you ever seen this picture?
http://www.nerv.us/nerv_images/misc/...i_missiles.jpg
What do you think of it?

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I had to fight the urge to send this one:

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What do you think of Fragglers games?

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Originally Posted by Ammadeau

If you know that, you should also know that he's married... and I think he has kids too, or are you just only reading what you want to read? :p

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well, as far as i can remember he didn't say he was married, just that he had a daughter. >D so....maybe he's divorced??? or his wife died? .....or his wife and daughter don't exist at all...... :chick:

Ninjas Vs. Pirates is finally decided (well after everyone forgot about the "debate") in this month's XBN. It's the first question, too!
Go see!

I don't like mowing lawns, but if I don't the grass will get tall and lions will take up residence in it. How can avoid mowing AND protect myself from a possible lion attack?

Do you ever get so mad sometimes that you want to break something? If so, how do you get over it (without breaking things)?

What do you do when you're on a date with a pretty girl and you've run out of things to say? Also, would you tell her you like videogames or lie about it?

He didn't ask any of my questions. :cry:

Q: Do you insist on developing for the biggest flop of a console in Japan because it is the only place you will not be overshadowed by competent developers who focus on gameplay instead of eye candy?

Q: What do you think of Neo Geo?
Q: Why is VF4evo so much better than DOA?
Q: Do you consider DOAXV a game?
Q: What do you think of Solomon's Key? or Star Force?

I think the time period to ask questions to Itagaki is long over, doodurs. :S

It doesn't matter. They'll ask him all the ego-inflating questions instead of the hard ones anyway...

yes. i demand more tough questions in this comedy interview.

did anyone ever read the article? im pretty sure a few of the better questions asked here got through.

i dont have the mag in front of me, so i forget which ones made it in. it was a pretty short read though. nothing major.

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Originally Posted by kingoffighters

Q: What do you think of Neo Geo?
Q: Why is VF4evo so much better than DOA?
Q: Do you consider DOAXV a game?
Q: What do you think of Solomon's Key? or Star Force?

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A: It's shit.
A: Why does no one play VF4Evo but DOA is one of the most popular fighting franchises in the world? Oh wait, thats because it's better.
A: I don't consider King of Fighters to be a game but more of an act of terrorism upon people who enjoy good video games.
A: Who cares.

The column has been hilarious so far.
Q- What's your favorite drink?
A- Alchohol is very important to game development!

Indeed.

Itagaki, while Ninja, has a great sense of pirate in him.

\0. HAIL!

They shoulda have asked him how he keeps his skin so nice.

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Originally Posted by Sl1p

A: It's shit.
A: Why does no one play VF4Evo but DOA is one of the most popular fighting franchises in the world? Oh wait, thats because it's better.
A: I don't consider King of Fighters to be a game but more of an act of terrorism upon people who enjoy good video games.
A: Who cares.

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Someone should break into your cardboard box and steal all your shit. You don't deserve to waste power to play the shit that you consider good. It's fucking 2004. Lose the Halo avatar.

Was he serious when he said DOA was the most popular fighting franchise in the world? Or was he just being hilariously ironic?

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

It's fucking 2004. Lose the Halo avatar.

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This is easily the most unintetionally funny thing I've read in the thread.

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Originally Posted by Do You Like Erotic?

Was he serious when he said DOA was the most popular fighting franchise in the world? Or was he just being hilariously ironic?

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By May 2002, DOA 3 had already sold over a million units. The previous installments combined likewise sold millions of copies across multiple platforms. Dead or Alive Ultimate, Dead or Alive 4, and Dead or Alive: Code Cronus regularly show up on, if not top, various Most Wanted lists, particularly in Japan. Basically, it's presently very popular.

I assume that the Street Fighter franchise has collectively far outsold the DOA franchise (and maybe even Tekken, and others have as well), but he may have some basis if he's referring to present popularity and anticipation, and assuming he's excluding most of TNL.

Edit: Plus, he's Itagaki. He can say whatever he damn well pleases.

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

This is easily the most unintetionally funny thing I've read in the thread.

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OMFG! You used the quote button!

OMG!

Thank you Jesus!

LOL @ that, and the rare typo in my post.

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

This is easily the most unintetionally funny thing I've read in the thread.

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Why? Because it's 2004 and he still insists that games and technology from 10 years ago are better and somehow makes him feel superior for believing this? Or is it the fact that he is just clueless.

Yoshi, I've said this before and I'll say it again. You are without a doubt the biggest prehistoric gaming ape the world has ever known. You are the prime example of the stereotypical TNL gamer.

And you make me laugh with every post. Keep it up, slugger.

Actually, I was referring to the Yoshi avatar, what with Yoshi's prime in popularity having been when SMW was released.

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Originally Posted by Prince Planet

By May 2002, DOA 3 had already sold over a million units. The previous installments combined likewise sold millions of copies across multiple platforms. Dead or Alive Ultimate, Dead or Alive 4, and Dead or Alive: Code Cronus regularly show up on, if not top, various Most Wanted lists, particularly in Japan. Basically, it's presently very popular.

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I like how you bring up facts, as though they would actually be the basis of anything that comes out of his mouth. It doesn't matter if DOA sold two copies or two billion copies, Itagaki would still claim it as the most popular fighting game ever. Or, more likely, claim it as the most popular fighting game series ever only when counting those who matter.

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Originally Posted by MechDeus

I like how you bring up facts, as though they would actually be the basis of anything that comes out of his mouth. It doesn't matter if DOA sold two copies or two billion copies, Itagaki would still claim it as the most popular fighting game ever. Or, more likely, claim it as the most popular fighting game series ever only when counting those who matter.

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Do you also expect Yu Sasaki to say his favorite fighting game is Tekken?
Or Namco to declare their undying love for Mortal Kombat?

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Originally Posted by Ammadeau

Do you also expect Yu Sasaki to say his favorite fighting game is Tekken?
Or Namco to declare their undying love for Mortal Kombat?

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I only saw the comment about Itagaki saying DOA was the most popular fighting game around and not anything dealing with what his opinion on fighting games is. So did I miss something or did your comment actually not have anything to do with what I said?

Itagaki's clearly a gimmick, and all of you should be familiar with gimmicks by now. It just so happens Itagaki's is an especially entertaining gimmick.

I love how some people have such a stick in their ass when it comes to Itagaki. He's like the greatest troll in gaming, and you suckers are falling for it hook line and sinker.

Yoshi, Mamoscott, anyone else who complains about him, you lose.

This industry doesn't need developer trolls. I would rather magazines find lesser known talented people to give interviews to.

Actually that's exactly what the industry needs. If more high profile guys started challenging more developers to step the fuck up, and their sales reflected that, I guarantee you that not only would the developers benefit, but the gamers would benefit greatly as well.

Everyone knows that competition breeds productivity and quality. It can only help in a field like this.

Right now, there's enough food in the kitchen for everyone to be fat, and that's a real problem, because due to the film industry's correlation, and due to the fact that developers such as capcom et al, are so damned well off and beloved, they've grown extremely apathetic.

"How do we sell a game?" "Just give Dante or Chun Li a cameo appearance, fuck actually working on the game dudez!"

Itagaki is a greedy, oily-faced, lying, dick of a man... but he's also putting his money where his mouth is for the most part. And he's also, in his own, WCW-esque fashion, calling people out for not doing the same.

Does that mean that we can all count on him to make a bunch of stupid decisions killing Tecmo and their successful brand names within the next few years then?

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

I love how some people have such a stick in their ass when it comes to Itagaki. He's like the greatest troll in gaming, and you suckers are falling for it hook line and sinker.

Yoshi, Mamoscott, anyone else who complains about him, you lose.

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That's probably true.

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

This industry doesn't need developer trolls. I would rather magazines find lesser known talented people to give interviews to.

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That's definitely true.

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

This industry doesn't need developer trolls. I would rather magazines find lesser known talented people to give interviews to.

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Ill read one Itagaki interview before I read 20 of anyone else's. I usually cant even make it through those other ones, as they are all boring, uninteresting, and sound exactly the same - the interviewer lobs softballs ("Mr. Kojima, your games have the momentum of a runaway freight train. Why are they so popular?") and the developer still can't hit it.

I think a lot of boring interviews stem from the interviewers' boring questions.

Itagaki gets asked the same questions and he still rocks them, by actually having a personality.

Q: "What do you think of your competitors products?"

Regular developer: "They're great and we're working real hard to top it"
Itagaki: "Tekken 4 is a piece of shit."


Itagaki = champion.

He reminds me of that guy from 989 Studios that would talk shit about EA's sports games. I forget his name.

Oh yea. Kelly Flock. That guy was awesome too.

"Liquid AI is the shit that ran down EA's leg when they saw our game"

Forced EA to up the ante, he did.