The Select and Start News Report: 06.09.08
Posted by Vincent Chiucchi on 06.09.2008
Too many things are disappearing this week! Jack Thompson could be gone; Itagaki is gone from Tecmo; The Getaway, Eight Days, and Red Alert 3 for PS3 are gone; Credibility for the ESA is about to be gone. All that and more, so read the Select and Start News Report quickly or it just might disappear too!
*Note: For this Select and Start News Report, I'm not allowed to talk about how long the paragraphs are for the news stories or how long it takes for the report to load on your computer.
Tomonobu Itagaki, head of Team Ninja at Tecmo (creators of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive) has quit the company (effective July 1, 2008) and is suing President of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, for 148 million yen ($1.4 million). This is what Itagaki had to say in his statement:
Before the start of development on DEAD OR ALIVE 4, Tecmo Co., Ltd. had agreed to pay a completion bonus to me for this Xbox 360 title, which I produced. However, when the time came for the actual payment, Tecmo Co., Ltd. went against its previous agreement and refused payment. President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me "if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it." In addition, he made demeaning remarks about me to my subordinates and colleagues, causing me significant emotional distress and worsening my personal relationships and work environment. Thus, I have no choice but to resign from Tecmo Co., Ltd.
"To All Game Fans,
"I truly feel sorry to all the fans of the games I have made. Ninja Gaiden 2, which will launch on the 3rd of June will be the last Ninja Gaiden I will create. I will also never be able to make Dead or Alive 5. I regret the circumstances that have forced me to leave Tecmo, where I had worked for so many years, and I regret the disappointment this will cause my fans. However, I can no longer continue to work with President Yoshimi Yasuda, a man who chooses not to honor promises even when he is able to do so. I truly hope that nothing like this happens again in the future."
Itagaki apparently wasn't happy with what was going on at Tecmo (especially with Ninja Gaiden Sigma), and now we find out he wasn't paid any bonuses that he claims he was promised. So when told he should either quit or sue the company, he goes and does that. Unless he and Yasuda decide to make up, he isn't going back to Tecmo, so now I'm wondering what company will decide to pick him up. Activision and EA might want him considering they like to buy out many things, or Microsoft might want him to improve their Japanese market (Itagaki made comments about that, saying it has more to do with societal factors then anything Microsoft does). It's a big loss for Tecmo and a huge gain for whatever company hires him.
As for Dead or Alive 5, his comment makes it seem like it's the end of Dead or Alive. I think that will eventually be made by Tecmo, but it probably won't be any good (aka, it will suffer from "Guitar Hero Syndrome").
TECMO SAYS LAWSUIT IS DISTORTED
In response to the lawsuit, Tecmo claims that it has paid Itagaki a yearly bonus and denies responsibility for the bonus he claims, saying it is a holdover from the previous management. The company also added that the damages sought out against Yoshimi Yasuda, CEO of Tecmo, are a byproduct of "distortions" from Itagaki. They also bash Itagaki by saying Itagaki makes it look like only he himself was responsible for the games Team Ninja creates. Tecmo has assured that Team Ninja is still intact and are working on new game tities.
So according to Tecmo, Itagaki basically has an ego problem, which seems to be quite common with big name game designers. While Tecmo could be right on that front, I don't get why they couldn't just pay what the guy was owed even if it was the previous management's fault.
And now it looks like Tecmo is already paying for it. Shares dropped over 10% from Tuesday's closing of 1,102 yen ($10.40), to it's current closing of 982 yen ($9.26). Bad times for Tecmo.
BATMAN COULD BE GONE FOR 10 YEARS [credit: GamePolitics, Destructoid, GameSpot]
Jack "Batman" Thompson had been in trouble with the Florida bar for a while now, and now the situation could be coming to an end, and things don't look good for the caped christian conservative crusader. At one point during the hearing, Thompson submitted a 4,500 word written objection that he wanted to read out loud. When Judge Tunis refused to let him read it out loud, he WALKED OUT of his own hearing. The sanction continued with the bar considering banning him from law for ten years for 27 violations of professional misconduct. Thompson of course was not there to say anything.
Despite all the stories surrounding Thompson meeting with the judges and the Florida bar, I still had this feeling nothing was actually going to happen to him. But when he decided to walk out of his own hearing, I have no doubt that Thompson is surely going to be banned for ten years. Seriously Jack, how stupid do you have to be to walk out on the one thing that can determine your future? This is a great victory for video gamers everywhere.
Oh, and you're probably wondering why I'm calling him Batman. It's because when doing some research on him, I found out that in his attempt to get 2 Live Crew's albums banned back in the early 90's, he would put pictures of Batman on his IDs and claimed he was fighting with the police to stop 2 Live Crew just like Batman helps the police to stop villains in Gotham City. So as you can see, Thompson has basically been doing crazy shit as a lawyer well before he started being the anti-gamer.
THE GETAWAY AND EIGHT DAYS CANCELLED; RED ALERT 3 NOT COMING TO PS3 [credit: Destructoid, Gamasutra, Joystiq, 1UP, GameDaily, The Escapist]
While everyone is looking forward to Metal Gear Solid 4, anyone who was looking forward to these games are going to feel very disappointed. SCEE London Studio has confirmed that the games have been cancelled, with no chance of ever getting released, in order to enhance other projects Sony is working on. A couple months ago The Guardian reported that London Studios devoted a small team to pre-production on The Getaway, so this was quite sudden. Eight Days hasn't been talked about since it's E3 2006 trailer, but was said to be in full production as well. As for Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 from EA, while the game will be coming out for the Xbox 360 and PC, for some reason the PS3 version has been suspended. It remains to be seen as to whether it's actually cancelled to just pushed back.
I wasn't really looking forward to any of these games, but that sucks. Oh well, at least we've got Metal Gear Solid 4.
KONAMI SAYS YOU CAN'T MENTION THE CUTSCENES [credit: Joystiq, Kotaku, CVG, The Escapist]
Metal Gear Solid 4 is going to be released this Thursday, but it seems that those who've got the pre-release version and are posting reviews of it are getting compromised by what they can say in their review. In EGM's July issue, instead of a full review, it's instead a roundtable discussion with this explanation:
We weren't happy with the limitations Konami wanted to impose on our comments, and rather than publish compromised reviews in the interest of being the first to rate the game, we'd rather wait until next issue, where we can be completely open and thorough with our thoughts.
IGN UK also mentions that they were given a list of things Konami didn't want them to talk about. The list of these issues has not been made public, but one of the issues that reviewers apparently were not allowed to talk about was the length of the cutscenes in the game, which total up to nearly half of the entire game and can go as long as 90 minutes. MTV's Multiplayer Blog says that two anonymous media sources said they couldn't talk about the length of cutscenes or how long it takes the game to be installed on the PS3.
The moment this story broke out, no doubt some people were thinking back to the Gamespot Kane and Lynch controversy all over again with how publishers are telling the reviewers how to review. In this case, it seems Konami doesn't want anybody to talk about the lengths of the cutscenes. Either because Konami doesn't want spoilers to start leaking, or they fear that gamers won't want to pick up the game if it's going to supposedly have 90 minute cutscenes. It does look like that once the game is actually released, they can talk about whatever they want, so I guess Konami just doesn't want people to go around and post spoilers all over the place like it was a Harry Potter book. Also, unlike Kane and Lynch, this is a GOOD game we're talking about here.
ESA HAVING A SPAT WITH GAMEPOLITICS [credit: GamePolitics, The Escapist, GameDaily]
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) seems to have a beef with the Entertainment Consumer's Association (ECA) owned website GamePolitics. GamePolitics has been questioning why the ESA would have Texax Governor Rick Perry, a man who believes in Biblical Inerrancy, to keynote E3. Senior Director of Communications for the ESA, Dan Hewitt, thinks GamePolictics is biased against the ESA and says "calling GamePolitics a news site is a laughable as saying there's a Cuban free press," and the site is more for an ECA recruitment tool. Both GamePolitics and ECA were not amused by his comments.
Hey ESA, how about you stop taking shots at news websites and start getting your shit together? E3's popularity is going down the tubes, companies are deciding to leave, and you've got Rick Perry, a christian conservative like Batman, keynoting E3. You've got enough problems on your hands.
Tidbit News
-A 25-year-old man went on a rampage in downtown Tokyo Sunday, killing at least seven people in the famed Akihabara district. The killer ran over several people with his truck before stabbing 18 more. "The suspect told police that he came to Akihabara to kill people," said Jiro Akaogi, a spokesman for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. "He said he was tired of life. He said he was sick of everything." [credit: GamePolitics, Associated Press]
-Nintendo recently did a new tournament for Mario Kart Wii, and interestingly enough, the tournament involved a brand new track based on Super Mario Galaxy called the "Galaxy Colosseum." Whether this means that Nintendo is doing downloadable content or the track was already on the disc waiting to be unlocked is unclear, but might be answered by the time the tournament ends today. [credit: 1UP, Joystiq]
-Remember "Afrika", the safari sim Sony was showing off on how the PS3 was some time back, but we had NO IDEA what the hell this was supposed to be? Well Sony finally released a new trailer for the game. Or, at least I think it's a game. [credit: Joystiq]
-EA still does not own Take-Two. The takeover was postponed, ake-Two is still not giving in to the hostile bidding, EA is waiting for a commission to probe the situation, and analysts are bashing Take-Two. Yep, same old shit. [credit: GameDaily, GameSpot]
-According to a Bloomberg report, Microsoft has triumphed in a court battle against technology company Alcatel-Lucent that sought $419 million in damages, alleging Microsoft's Xbox 360 DVD player infringed on its 1993 patent for "coding video frames." Microsoft also was seeking $11.5 million in counterclaims that Alcatel violated four Microsoft patents. A jury rejected all of the patent claims from both companies. [credit: Gamasutra]
-A new Star Wars character has been announced for Soul Calibur IV; The Secret Apprentice. The Secret Apprentice is a character from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and is the apprentice (duh) of Darth Vader. [credit: GameSpot]
-Activision has announced yet another spin-off in it's milking of the Guitar Hero franchise; Guitar Hero: Metallica. The game will likely be in stores at Q1 2009. [credit: GameDaily]
Gaming Calendar
June 10th:
Dragonball Z: Burst Limit (PS3, X360)
Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy (Wii)
Don King Presents: Prizefighter (X360)
Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm (X360, PC)
EVE Online: Empyrean Age (PC)
June 12th - Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)
June 17th:
Secret Agent Clank (PSP)
Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard (DS)
Space Invaders Extreme (PSP, DS)
Arkanoid DS (DS)
June 18th - The Political Machine 2008 (PC)
June 22nd:
-Rock Band (Wii)
-Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS)
June 23rd:
Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3)
Top Spin 3 (Multi)
Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath (X360)
June 24th:
Alone in the Dark (Multi)
Hail to the Chimp (PS3, X360)
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS)
June 28-29 - Blizzard's Worldwide Invitational convention to be held
June 29th - Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (PS3, X360)
Q2 2008 - Heroes of Might and Magic Kingdoms (PC)
July 8th - Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon (Wii)
July 15-17 - E3 Media & Business Summit to be held
July 22nd - Final Fantasy IV DS
August 1st - EA Land (PC, formerly The Sims Online) will close down
Summer 2008 - Air Traffic Chaos (DS)
September 7th - Spore (PC)
September 16th - Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (DS)
September 22nd - Sim City Creator (Wii, DS)
September 2008 - TNA iMPACT (Multi)
October 2008:
-LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
-Bioshock ported to the PS3
-Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Xbox 360, PC)
October 3-5 - E for All 2008 to be held
October 9-13 - The Tokyo Game Show 2008 to be held
November 2008 - Gears of War 2 (X360)
Fall 2008:
-Resistance: Fall of Man 2 (PS3)
-MySims Kingdom (DS, Wii)
Slammiversary thoughts
They hyped up that King of the Mountain so much during the Pay-Per-View I started to think that's what the PPV was called. Nevertheless, here are my quick thoughts on the first TNA PPV I ordered since last year's Slammiversary.
Petey Williams vs. Kaz: I thought Kaz was surely going to win, but that didn't happen. I'm just glad the match didn't immediately end with Scott and Rhaka's interfearance, and that both guys looked strong. Abyss also showed up, and I thought he wasn't going to wear a mask anymore. Anyways, it was a great opener, so I'd give it a B.
The Beautiful People vs. Gail Kim/ODB/Roxxi: Kayfabe wise, I hate The Beautiful People. Angelina Love plays the heel role so well. Anyway, this was a good match with ODB getting the pin on Moose (the new name of Mickie Knuckles). Not as good as some of the other matches, but wasn't bad at all. I'd give it a C.
LAX vs. Team 3D: Nothing really bad about this match, but for some reason I just wasn't really into it. At least LAX are still the champs. I did like how D-Von was waiting to 3D Hernandez and didn't pay attention to Homicide pinning Bubba Ray and winning. Nothing too bad, so it would get a C.
Awesome Kong vs. Serena Deeb and Josie: Apparently they were from OVW at one point. Deeb got killed first, then Josie decided to enter the match. I thought she would actually win because she was the hometown girl and was not afraid of Kong at all. But alas it wasn't meant to be. After Kong killed the bitches, Eric Young came out and introduced "Elvis". The crowd was basically SILENT for this until Kong killed the guy. I don't mind the Kong killing bitches angle, but this felt like filler. D.
The Wedding: Just as predicted, Sonjay turned Heel by objecting to the wedding and asking Val to marry him. She says no, Lethal and him get personal, then Dutt attacks him. The legends save Lethal and that's basically it. Served it's purpose but dragged.
AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle: I was hoping this would be a perfect encounter between the two, but with the slight Tomko interfearance and Karen showing up at the very last minute to swerve Kurt, I was slightly disappointed. Everything else was great, and with Kurt and Tomko attacking Styles after the match, I guess the feud will continue, and maybe they'll have the dream match I want down the line. Great match with a few bad spots, so it's a B.
King of the Mountain: Holy crap on a stick were they hyping this. Interviews with the guys involved (btw, Booker T mentioning WWE = not cool) and mini-hype videos before each guy entered the ring, I thought they were REALLY wanting this match to deliver. And deliver it did. There wasn't any bad spots I think of, and THANKFULLY Nash did not turn on Joe and cost him. All Nash really did was make sure Roode got in the box when he didn't want to, and cost Booker T the title, which Booker T had coming when he knocked out Nash with the title. Samoa Joe is still the champ, and I thought aside from the ending feeling anti-climatic, it was a great match and a great way to end Slammiversary. I'd give it an A.
Overall, this really felt like a great Pay-Per-View. The Elvis stuff was bad and the Wedding seemed to drag a bit long, but aside from that no big complaints. I hope TNA can deliver like this more often.
Videos of the Day
This guy hacks his Roomba and turns it into Pac-Man. Sound effects included:
When Jack Thompson Talks To God. Maybe it was God that told him to leave his own hearing:
It turns out Konami didn't want people spilling the beans on some aspects of installs as well.
The key one seems to be that you'll have to do another install any time you switch chapters. That also includes going back to a saved game from a previous chapter.
I just can't understand why they would do that, instead of having either one large install to start and nothing after, or at least only have to install those chapter breaks ONE time, not every time.
Posted By: Rod Oracheski (Registered) on June 09, 2008 at 03:05 AM
if they would sell a pacman roomba, that would be MANY BUYS!!!
Posted By: setobakura (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 09:13 AM
I'm sure those given the opportunity to play and review the game would have (obviously without reference to said spoilers) reflected their disappointment in their ratings.
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 09:33 AM
"Also, unlike Kane and Lynch, this is a GOOD game we're talking about here"
You know, I understand that everyone is really stoked about MGS4, and rightfully so. But how can people keep saying how great the game is before even playing it?
Also is the Tokyo rampage being blamed on video games?
Posted By: Toddo (Registered) on June 09, 2008 at 12:52 PM
"The key one seems to be that you'll have to do another install any
time you switch chapters. That also includes going back to a saved
game from a previous chapter."
Thats going to suck, but I guess its going to give ppl time for their bathroom breaks and getting more junk food
Posted By: TWilliams (Guest) on June 09, 2008 at 04:05 PM
I thought that reviewers mysteriously failing to mention the infamous 6 minutes 28 seconds load times in their 8/10 Smackdown 2006 PSP reviews was bad.
It's quite noticable that the reviews under Konami's embargo gave MGS4 9.5 out of ten upwards while the reviews based on actual opinion (Eurogamer, EDGE & GameTM) gave it 8 out of ten.
Posted By: WadeMcG (Guest) on June 10, 2008 at 03:24 AM
