Itagaki has resurfaced from the darkness again. This time around we know the name of the publisher he is now associating himself with – Valhalla Studios. Yet another exploration of Norse mythology (something which I am very knowledgeable about). Ol’ Crazy Tomoubu didn’t waste any time bashing Tecmo Koei. He said while there made Dead or Alive, which he hailed ‘the best fighting game in the world.’ I severely question that. But anyway, his new game will be like nothing we have seen before. I am waiting for that announcement at e3. He didn’t say anything much, although I am impressed. This is one of the rare interviews he does SOBER!

It never amazes me the bad blood that developers still have at their former employers when they have a vendetta. Take Mr. Itagaki for example. His new team, the Tokyo Vikings, has yet to announce a WIP, but that wouldn’t stop ol’ Tomoubu from bashing everything from Tecmo to Bayonetta (hope that 1.1 mil units sold made him eat his words). If the gaming community have heard the last of him, think again. By my best assumptions, he is out in a karaoke bar getting high when one of his co-workers will tell him some stunning news. Tecmo Koei is making Dyansty Warriors Strike Force. No big deal, he might say. But the news that Ryu and Ayame will be playable characters in the game will make it a big deal for him. This is Tecmo Koei’s way of saying FU to Itagaki, who has been giving them and Hideki Kamiya (creator of Bayonetta) hell the last 9 months in his interviews with the media (remember ‘Tecmo was a long time ago’, ‘Bayo-something’, and ‘Mr. Kamiya needs LASIK’?) He will have a fit about it, no doubt. But there is something he needs to remember. WHERE IS YOUR COMEBACK GAME?

It was Winter 1994. I was 7. My grandmother, fresh from the store, is resting. I was in Eddie’s room in 406 with Joe and Reggie. Eddie was playing Tiger-Heli, and was being really good at it. After a little lunch, Grandma gave us some cereal. Joe and Reggie have took the only clean bowls, so my cereal was in a large size fast food cup. But Grandma neglected to tell me one thing – the cup was leaky! So there I was, in Eddie’s room, leaky cup and all, watching Eddie kick some booty. Looking back, I was kinda glad thing like this happened, because my brothers and I - all nine of us -  will be forever bind to the industry that made us who we were. I am happy to pass what I know to others, especially you.  

Oh, I almost forgot. I have done only one AMV in ‘09. It didn’t have a title until now. The Thinker and the Dreamer is Gene + Mefina (Outlaw Star) set to the final minutes of Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony (The Pastoral). Another project I started in ‘09 but didn’t finish, set to the beginning of the Fiftth Movement of the Pastoral, features Joey and Mai (Yu-Gi-Oh). That will come later this week. But for now, enjoy the Thinker and the Dreamer. Before I close I would like to say a two word statement for my readers in New Orleans. WHO DAT?