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Yes, you too can pick up Dead or Alive gals. WITH CLAWS. Sega's announced its U.F.O Catcher crane machines will be featuring Dead or Alive Xtreme figures of Kasumi and Ayane in Japan. They're about 18cm tall, designed by Shunya Yamashita and apparently sculpted by zenko. Not bad!
DEAD OR ALIVEエクストラサマービーチフィギュアfeat.山下しゅんや [SEGA via yuuwakuwaku]
And the Itagaki vs. Tecmo legal battle continues! On June 10th, Tecmo filed with the Tokyo District Court for a "gag-order" against former employee and Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki before the court case begins. The provisional disposition includes the following four points, prohibiting:
• Disclosing or leaking information regarding Tecmo's game software, sales, development or any other company secrets
• Using newspapers, magazines and the internet to criticise company software and company employees
• Obstructing the company's business through slanderous remarks to third parties
• Do not accept interviews regarding Tecmo or talk to the press about the company
This gag-order certainly seems in response to the statement Itagaki released to Kotaku and other outlets.
テクモ、板垣氏に対して仮処分を申請 [IT Media] [Pic]
The Itagaki-Tecmo pissing match may have hit a new level of animosity. 1Up, attributing only "word on the street," reports that as many as 36 key members of Team Ninja are walking, and preparing a class-action lawsuit against Tecmo regarding unpaid bonuses they were due for completed games.
Earlier this month Tomonobu Itagaki, who leads/led Team Ninja, announced his intention to quit Tecmo, effective July 1. In his announcement he was PO'd about a company decision not to pay bonuses on a completed game, so, chances are his comrades feel the same. Tecmo, for its part, says the bonus to Itagaki that is in dispute was approved by a previous management team, not the current one.
1Up also writes:
Tomonobu Itagaki is leaving Tecmo and suing the company for unpaid bonuses. The Dead or Alive creator cites an unfulfilled Dead or Alive 4 completion bonus, stating, "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.'"
Tomonobu Itagaki's translator Andrew Szymanski contacted Kotaku, telling us, "At approximately 2:30 PM Japan Standard Time today, June 3rd 2008, an official statement from Tomonobu Itagaki was sent by fax to major Japanese news outlets. In the interest of fair and expedient reporting of this story throughout the English-speaking world, I have been asked by Itagaki to convey this statement to you. Herein find attached Itagaki's official statement, in English, for the benefit of your readers."
What does this mean for Itagaki's future? Szymanski does not know, adding, "You will likely have questions regarding the content of the statement, or about Itagaki's future plans. I am afraid that I will be unable to answer such questions for the time being; however, rest assured that more information will be forthcoming as soon as it is deemed appropriate to do so."Quitting Tecmo (and suing it) means the chances of Itagaki making Dead or Alive 5 are more dead than alive. Hit the jump for Itagaki's full statement.
Tecmo's Tomonobu Itagaki is a serious guy. Dead serious about things like his Ninja Gaiden games and things like anatomical physics. He's not messing around, folks! So when he looks at Grand Theft Auto IV, does he see serious business? Says Itagaki:
I think it [Grand Theft Auto IV] is made extremely well and is a fun game... People always use that as an example of violence in games. But I don't think there's anyone who takes their job as seriously as the guys who make that game. You only have to look at all the detail in there.
That's a pretty high compliment right there, Rockstar!
Itagaki Talks GTAIV [CVG]
As Crecente previously reported, Tecmo's Tomonobu Itagaki is ready to move on after Ninja Gaiden 2. He's said its the last entry in the series. What's next for the sunglassed one? According to Itagaki:
And the shameful Dead or Alive toys continue! This Tina figure is totally bra swimming. But look at her face. She could be waiting for a bus for all we know. And what about her hair? That's not swimming hair. We are disappointed to say that this Tina figure just isn't very realistic.
More pics of this Tina sample over at Akiba Hobby if you like.
Venus on the Beach! [Akiba Hobby]
If you thought the first episode of Dead Fantasy was spectacular, you simply aren't prepared for the fan service orgasm of part two. The story so far: Tifa, Rikku and Yuna from various Final Fantasy releases are inexplicably trading blows with Hitomi, Ayane and Kasumi of Dead Or Alive fame. In the new episode of Mounty Oum's epic kick-fest—he also did Haloid—the girls go at while sprinting down the side of a massive tower, dramatic fireballs are thrown and franchise guest appearances abound. There's even a bit where someone runs on lava. It's that terribly good.
You'll notice that near the end of this 11-minute fan film, Oum teases Dead Fantasy is "to be continued", He says five more episodes are in the works, so expect a heaping helping of lady kicks in the future.
Thanks for the heads up, Dara!
This Sunday, 24 year-old Masahiro Kanagawa knifed 8 random people at a shopping mall in Ibaraki Prefecture. Seven of the eight were seriously injured, while the eighth (a 27 year-old man) died on the way to the hospital. Kanagawa fatally stabbed a 72 year-old man earlier this month, after deciding not to go through with his original plan: A murder spree at his former elementary school. According to the police, Kanagawa said:
Last September at some drunken TGS party, we got close. Damn close. Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki took off his shades, we saw the whites of his eyes. Fumbling, we got out our camera, which conveniently took a BLURRY PHOTO. While picture cameras apparently don't work, video cameras do. And not just any old video cameras, but video cameras used to film Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studio propaganda. Hit the jump for a closer look at an unmasked Itagaki.
