Tecmo gags Itagaki

When Tomonobu Itagaki quit his job at Japanese developer Tecmo at the beginning of the month, he didn't go quietly. The Ninja Gaiden II director released a statement telling the world that he was leaving due to unpaid bonuses and would also be suing the company to reclaim said bonuses, which he claimed amounted to some $1.4 million.

Tecmo confirmed his departure, stating that it would "let the court decide" the verdict and added that popular game franchises, including Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, would be continuing without Itagaki.

Yesterday, the Japanese press reported that a class-action law suit had been filed at the Tokyo District Court by two other Tecmo employees, on behalf of all 300. The lawsuit was for unpaid overtime wages totaling $77,000 (presumably per person).

Now, in the latest chapter in the saga, Tecmo has slapped Itagaki with a four-point gag order, reports Famitsu. As part of the gag order, Itagaki is not allowed to disclose or leak information regarding Tecmo's game software, sales, development or any other company secrets.

Further, using newspapers, magazines, and the Internet to criticize company software and company employees is forbidden, and Itagaki is also barred from obstructing the company's business through slanderous remarks to third parties. Lastly, he cannot accept interviews regarding Tecmo or talk to the press about the company.