TOMONOBU ITAGAKI

Director and producer of some of the most praised fighting games and beat-'em-ups developed by Team Ninja, Tomonobu Itagaki upholds to his somehow nefarious reputation, frankly answering Retro Gamer's questions

- Words by Guy Miquel-Albert

Tomonobu Itagaki started his career in the videogames industry at Tecmo, quickly creating and supervising the Team Ninja team, where he developed the first four Dead Or Alive fighting games, the first two 3D Ninja Gaiden adventures and the early Dead Or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball games. After leaving the company in 2008, he later created Valhalla Games Studios, which developed a Wii U exclusive action game, Devil's Third. More recently he taught game design in Italy, but it now producing new videogames at Itagaki Games.

You grew up in the countryside of Japan, surrounded by nature. Can you tell us more about it, and how it impacted your later videogame productions?

Before answering this question I'd like to know why you're asking me this. I'm sure there are similar places in the United Kingdom. Instead of just playing videogames, it would be a good idea to start playing in nature. If you do so, I think you will naturally understand the relationship between nature and playing in general. However, you need to be careful when playing in nature. Don't forget to bring a knife, a slingshot, a rope, gunpowder and shurikens. Carrying them or not can make a big difference.

What was your first contact with videogames, and in what context?

When I was 15 years old, my father bought me a game called Baltic Kantai wo oe, meaning Hunting For The Baltic Fleet. This game depicts the Battle Of The Sea Of Japan, the decisive naval battle that led to Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War.