Ninja Gaiden 2 Interview, Itagaki on "real violence"
In a relatively short interview with a relatively mainstream news outlet, the head of Team Ninja, Tomonobu Itagaki, gave the UK a bit of an insight into his mind and views. The interview is interspersed through a news post in which the writer discusses Ninja Gaiden 2 in the context of the UK game market (where Manhunt 2 was banned) and the world as a whole. Itagaki is his usual self, providing varying levels of interesting and puzzling. Though maybe it's in the translation, it's hard to mistranslate a guy getting up and pulling out his samurai sword right in front of you. This was in response to the interviewers questioning him on the violence in his game, about which he offered his opinions, namely that violence is not about just dismemberment. Violence in his mind has more to do with the Japanese traditon of putting your enemy to shame. Removing his ability to fight, then watching as he commits suicide out of disgrace. "That's what I consider to be real violence," says Itagaki, according to him,"It's not about lopping off limbs. It is about the relationship between you and your opponent. In order to inflict these dishonouring wounds you would really have to hate your opponent and this is not what this game or this character is about." Itagaki has more than just to say in the interview so get outta here and go read it!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FatalisticDread @ Feb 23rd 2008 6:18PM
"If parents or older gamers plan to splash out on the game for themselves, and there are also younger children sharing the games console, make sure you restrict their access to the game using the Xbox 360's built-in family controls. These allow you to place password-protected restrictions on certain age-certificate games to prevent younger users playing them."
What? A news group actually took the time and space to notate this? .....I'm nearly speechless.....
Killswitch On @ Feb 23rd 2008 6:30PM
Why are you speechless?
When does GDC wrap up and has Microsoft unveiled what was under wraps at the beginning of the show? Any more announcements left to get excited about?
Xav de Matos @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:15PM
Terrence failed to note that after you "get outta here" we'd like you to come back! :)
@Killswitch on: What was "under wraps" was the XNA Studio Launcher integrated into the Xbox 360 dashboard. GDC is donzos.
b33eazy @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:18PM
Can't wait 2 get this game!
Justin W @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:23PM
Anybody else think itagaki looks like a tool? I don't like the game either, but as the poster a bit above me said, i'm glad that a news group took the time to mention that the xbox does have family security settings.
BluesmanTLU @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:42PM
Yes.
I personally love Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden 2 is one of the games I am most looking forward to this year, but he is not a ninja nor is it 1987, so there is no reason for him to be dressed like that.
CharleyTony @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:51PM
Tomonobu Itagaki's reaction is really cool but whats next ?
In a GTA 4 interview, maybe some gaming producer could take out his gun, put it on the table, then get bl*wn off by a hooker (who was just passing by, of course) and beat her afterwards to get his money back... All that to prove that their game should be rated TEEN instead of MATURE ???? LOL
Chris @ Feb 24th 2008 6:30PM
if they made hayate a playable character in this game I would probably pay up to $150 for it
Bravo6 @ Feb 25th 2008 9:56AM
For some reason the photos of this guy always make me think of an Asian Dale Gribble.