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Tomonobu Itagaki

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Tomonobu Itagaki

Tomonobu Itagaki (板垣 伴信, Itagaki Tomonobu; April 1, 1967 – c. October 2025) was a Japanese video game designer best known for creating the Dead or Alive series and also reviving the Ninja Gaiden franchise in 2004. In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time. Joining Tecmo in 1992, Itagaki produced two video game franchises that were critical and commercial successes, earning him several promotions; he headed Tecmo's development team, Team Ninja, and sat on the executive board. He left the company in June 2008 after 16 years of service, filing a lawsuit against its new president for withholding bonus pay. He formed a new company, Valhalla Game Studios, with several Team Ninja members and released Devil's Third. The company was dissolved in December 2021, although he had formed Itagaki Games earlier in 2021. Itagaki died in October 2025 at the age of 58.

Infobox

Born
(1967-04-01)April 1, 1967 Tokyo, Japan
Died
October 2025(2025-10-00) (aged 58)
Alma mater
Waseda University
Occupation
Video game designer
Years active
1992–2025
Children
1

Tables

· Works
1993
Captain Tsubasa 4
Role(s)
Graphic engineer
Tecmo Super Bowl
Role(s)
Graphic engineer
1996
Dead or Alive
Role(s)
Producer and director
1999
Dead or Alive 2
Role(s)
Producer and director
2001
Dead or Alive 3
Role(s)
Producer and director
2003
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
Role(s)
Producer and director
2004
Ninja Gaiden
Role(s)
Producer and director
Dead or Alive Ultimate
Role(s)
Producer and director
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Role(s)
Special adviser
2005
Ninja Gaiden Black
Role(s)
Producer and director
Dead or Alive 4
Role(s)
Producer and director
2006
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
Role(s)
Chief designer and software architect
Super Swing Golf
Role(s)
Adviser
2008
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
Role(s)
Executive producer
Ninja Gaiden II
Role(s)
Producer and director
2015
Devil's Third
Role(s)
Director
2020
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Role(s)
Supreme advisor
Year
Title
Role
1993
Captain Tsubasa 4
Graphic engineer
Tecmo Super Bowl
Graphic engineer
1996
Dead or Alive
Producer and director
1999
Dead or Alive 2
Producer and director
2001
Dead or Alive 3
Producer and director
2003
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
Producer and director
2004
Ninja Gaiden
Producer and director
Dead or Alive Ultimate
Producer and director
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Special adviser
2005
Ninja Gaiden Black
Producer and director
Dead or Alive 4
Producer and director
2006
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
Chief designer and software architect
Super Swing Golf
Adviser
2008
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
Executive producer
Ninja Gaiden II
Producer and director
2015
Devil's Third
Director
2020
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Supreme advisor

References

  1. IGN
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140420081446/http://www.ign.com/top/game-creators/76.html
  2. "Interview with 1UP"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030219/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3174393
  3. AV Club
    https://www.avclub.com/tomonobu-itagaki-obituary-dead-or-alive-ninja-gaiden
  4. "2006 41st week business report"
    http://www.tecmo.co.jp/company/pdf/4100breport.pdf
  5. chuapp
    http://www.chuapp.com/article/287828.html
  6. GameSpot
    https://www.gamespot.com/articles/legendary-dead-or-alive-and-ninja-gaiden-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-has-died/1100-6535478/
  7. Icons
    https://web.archive.org/web/20161231112359/http://www.g4tv.com/icons/episodes/3352/Dead_or_Alive.html
  8. "GameSpy Presents: E3 2003 -- Complete Coverage"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20040227201847/http://www.gamespy.com/e32003/interview/xbox/1002965/
  9. "Itagaki: The Kikizo Interview 2005"
    http://games.kikizo.com/features/itagaki_interview_feb05_p1.asp?f=itagaki_interview_feb05_p1.asp
  10. Wired
    https://www.wired.com/2012/02/itagaki-dice-2012/
  11. chuapp
    http://www.chuapp.com/article/287853.html
  12. IGN
    https://web.archive.org/web/20050509053632/http://xbox.ign.com/articles/609/609713p1.html
  13. Xbox Nation
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090503103746/http://bellsouthpwp.net/r/a/racerg/itagaki-xbn-winter2002.html
  14. IGN
    http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/707/707859p1.html
  15. 1UP
    https://web.archive.org/web/20060215222434/http://1up.com/do/previewPage?pager.offset=0&cId=3145772
  16. 1UP
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110523094055/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3156625
  17. "Tomonobu Itagaki on Ninja Gaiden"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110628192006/http://archive.gamespy.com/interviews/august03/itagaki/
  18. "Tomonobu Itagaki: Interview Summer 05"
    http://games.kikizo.com/features/itagaki_interview_aug05_p1.asp
  19. "Dev Interview: Tecmo w/Itagaki-san"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070515031706/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/d/deadoralive4/20050523-tecmo.htm
  20. "Joystiq interview: DOA creator Tomonobu Itagaki, "Tekken sucks""
    http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/joystiq-interview-doa-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-tekken-sucks/
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