Tecmo gags Itagaki

By Emma Boyes, GameSpot UKPosted Jun 18, 2008 7:16 am PT

Former Team Ninja boss and Dead or Alive, Ninja Gaiden creator Tomonobu Itagaki ordered by court not to talk to press before Tecmo lawsuit begins.

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.

161 Comments

  • mcjakeqcool

    Posted Mar 18, 2009 12:09 pm PT

    Damn! That was a shocker.

  • pigilikepoe

    Posted Aug 21, 2008 11:55 am PT

    This Reminds me of when Tecmo made that Tetris game without even owning the rights to it. I reckon they got a lot of dirty little secrets.

  • pcmacro

    Posted Jun 20, 2008 4:41 am PT

    lol that guy is a women harassing, tekken bashing douche. His picture says enough

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jun 20, 2008 2:58 am PT

    man this is just getting crazier and crazier day by day.

  • blackdragonfist

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 8:49 pm PT

    @ kasmi amen to that.

  • kasmi

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 6:30 pm PT

    well...policies are policies when it comes to companies.. itagaki might as well shut-up for the mean time until the court decides other wise he might get accused and make tables turn-around..

  • TrueProphecy22

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 4:31 pm PT

    Free speech... denied.

  • Chris875

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 3:14 pm PT

    Tecmo's success was a result of Itagaki's involment, as well as the other talented individuals actually making the games. Apparently Tecmo doesn't value that talent considering the fact that 300 employees have come forward claiming unpaid wages. I hope Itagaki starts his own studio, he'll have no problem finding a publisher.

  • dvdragon

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 2:50 pm PT

    I'd have to say this could either be a really good thing (new life in the franchises) or really bad (they devolve into total crap and don't recover). Most likely....bad...

  • Raisuke

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 12:35 pm PT

    I can't wait to see how great DOA and NG will evolve without Itegaki holding their potential back believing his games are so perfect that they don't need to change in the sequels.

  • cooldude03

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 9:49 am PT

    Itagaki is Tecmo. Without Itagaki Tecmo is nothing. Their big titles DOA and Ninja Gaiden are only successful do to Itagaki's creative thinking. Those franchises are due for failure without Itagaki. Tecmo's drop in stock after the departure of Itagaki is just the beginning. Even with Itagaki's gag order people already know Tecmo's screwed.

  • jknight5422

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 7:47 am PT

    HAH. Serves him right. It's pretty unprofessional for Itagaki to blast Tecmo like that anyway. Which is probably why the rest of the Tecmo team has been incited to riot about lost wages. One thing that is screwed up is that he sunk his own game in Japan. Since people there steer clear of scandalous products & complications associated with them.

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 5:51 am PT

    Sound's like they let him leave, and only then realized how much he "knew" about them.

  • edhc44

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 5:46 am PT

    @ crunchb3rry
    Like he couldn't create his own studio...

  • edhc44

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 5:45 am PT

    I sure wouldn't want a guy like Itagaki on my wrong side...

  • ColdGen

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 3:50 am PT

    Sounds like Tecmo are feeling heat!

  • Pyro77

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 2:52 am PT

    I predict Tecmo agreeing to a settlement as quickly and as quietly as possible to try to save face. Both public opinion and company stocks are gonna take bad hits as it is already.

  • dulun19

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 12:34 am PT

    secrets?? oooo.. i know someone will pay big bucks for it!!!

  • V-Nine

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 8:50 pm PT

    ...ooo now were getting somwhere, where is TMZ(show) when you need them...

Dead or Alive 2 Quick Links

Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum

advertisement

Related Unions

Dead or Alive 2 Boxshot Enlarge the boxshot
Dead or Alive 2

Game Stats

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Games you may like…

Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.

See More Similar Games
advertisement