Tag Archives: valhalla games

Valhalla Games CEO Satoshi Kanematsu has said the firm plans to release Devil’s Third digitally on both PC and consoles. According to a message posted on the studio’s website, in addition to console and PC, the firm plans to bring the franchise to “a wide range of digital devices. “We are also looking beyond the boundaries of video games and plan to work with other various forms of media, including manga, novels, animation and film, to create a blockbuster franchise,” he said. “We will continue to do our best to fulfill your expectations, and we sincerely hope for your continued encouragement and support.” It was announced earlier this week THQ would no longer be publishing the firm’s title, headed by Tomonobu Itagaki, and that all rights to the franchise had been returned to Valhalla Games. Thanks, Gamespot.

E3 isn’t exactly “normal,” but only one interview properly blew me away. I’d arrived at THQ’s booth for a meeting about “unannounced game” I made with UK PR weeks before, to be confronted with a screen showing the Devil’s Third logo, Valhalla legend Tomonobu Itagaki and THQ Core boss Danny Bilson, who was finishing off a phone interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Our chat, which saw Itagaki remove his trademark sunglasses and featured some genuinely touching comments from two genuinely sincere men, ended with the most surreal moment of my entire show. I stood up to leave and both Bilson and Itagaki went to shake my hand at the same time. I didn’t know what to do, so I grabbed both their hands simultaneously. For a second we all stood there, in the middle of THQ’s E3 booth, holding hands.

I have no idea if it was the “right” thing to do or not, but it seemed fitting. Bilson and Itagaki are two men on a journey. Bilson is trying to build THQ’s core output by signing the best in the business, and Itagaki was talking about his first project since his very public falling-out with Tecmo and his departure from Team Ninja. There was passion, not arrogance, in the room. There was no cynicism or question-dodging; just a desire to make amazing videogames.

See for yourself.

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