Itagaki Acknowledges, Keeps Mostly Quiet About New 'Tecmo Bowl'

A new "Tecmo Bowl" game is still coming. That's what I learned at GDC as I wrapped up a quick interview with Tomonobu Itagaki.

He and I mostly talked about the Xbox 360's "Ninja Gaiden 2" (and gambling). But here's my exchange with him about the famous football series, which took place right after Microsoft's GDC keynote:

Multiplayer: People back in my office would be upset with me if I didn't ask you for an update about "Tecmo Bowl." About a year ago, there was an announcement that a new game was underway for an unspecified system. What can you update people about about that beloved franchise?

Itagaki: To be honest that was a totally different division that made that announcement, so I have no idea what's going on with that.

Multiplayer: So you're not working on any "Tecmo Bowl," right now?

Itagaki: I'm in a tough position because when I am making "'Dead or Alive," for instance, all the "Ninja Gaiden" fans say quit messing around with Dead or Alive and make a sequel to "Ninja Gaiden". When I'm making a new "Ninja Gaiden," all the "Dead or Alive" fans are like, "You have to quit that and start making "Dead or Alive." And that's tough enough as it is, but I also get letters all the time for the past 10 years from "Tecmo Bowl" fans saying, "When are you going to resurrect that franchise?" So it's tough being in my position.

Somewhere in the company there are people working hard to bring that to you. So I would suggest you wait for further announcements from them.

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That's all I could get about "Tecmo Bowl," but I will have more from my chat with the Itagaki shortly. Stay tuned.