Tecmo gags Itagaki

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...

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 8:35 pm PT

    Well that would make sense if techmo had a lot of bad skeletons they want to hide.

  • crunchb3rry

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 8:31 pm PT

    This guy won't comply. He's a megalomaniac. The likely result is Itagaki just disappears after the court rewards him what he's asking for. After leaving Tecmo, I don't see any company wanting to collaborate with him because of his attitude and ego. After all, this is the guy acting as if he "owns" a preexisting franchise.

  • YunalescaFFX

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 8:14 pm PT

    Sure Itagaki has a big mouth - and I do believe this gag order is in Tecmo's best interest... but man it would be interesting to listen to his remarks and *** talk... Ah well - pretty harsh order though

  • mrklorox

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 7:41 pm PT

    Yeesh... I could understand not allowing him to divulge software or company secrets, but not allowing Itagaki to publicly speak of his past at Tecmo seems ridiculous. Without the backing of Tecmo, I doubt his next company will be as commercially successful as Team Ninja.

  • vietboi89

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 6:54 pm PT

    I really dont care for Itagaki, it seems he loves the attention, fame and money but I don't really have much faith in Tecmo either since they don't seems very honest about the situation. I don't think there are any sides to take I only care about the titles that are in jeopardy. We don't need Itagaki since NG and DOA don't belong to him and I look forward to a new guy picking up the series and make something different from it since Itagaki doesnt stray far from his own way. As long as the series don't take a turn for the worst or disappear completely then we'll be ok.

  • Timstuff

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 6:40 pm PT

    "Itagaki is kindof a dik anyways...."

    Tru dat. I actually think that Tecmo may be better off without him, however there's still that whole debacle about the unpaid overtime to their employees, which is in their best interest to settle out of court or lose more face with the public.

    One thing's for sure though, a gag order is going to be hard for someone with as big a mouth as Itagaki's to honor. Don't be surprised if he ends up facing legal penalties for violating it, because he doesn't know how to act professionally. I don't expect that to change in regards to his dealings with the legal system.

  • dn3datomiced

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 6:01 pm PT

    Dude, IsmirZone, he and Team Ninja ARE TECMO. Without the DOA and Ninja Gaiden series, they're going to be severly dead in the water. Things like Tecmo Bowl and Fatal Frame are not going to save them.

  • IsmirZone

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 5:47 pm PT

    Tomonobu Itagaki has problems with himself. He thinks the he is Tecmo...for someone who is Japanese that is disrespectful on his part to announce his quitting the way he did. His perverted DOA franchise that was in impressive way back and Ninja Gaiden is works of art to his credit, but forgot that none of it would have gotten to where it is without Tecmo and the fans that supported his projects. Now don’t get me wrong about the claims he makes, but as Tecmo said let the court decide that..

  • KamuiFei

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 5:41 pm PT

    Itagaki does have a big mouth and loves the spotlight. Tecmo knows this, hence why they felt a gag order was necessary. I mean if any of you guys owned a company and fired someone that knew your secrets, who could potentially tell everyone out of spite and greed, then you'd put a gag order on him too.

    I'm not defending Tecmo, but still, they're a business trying to make money and businesses will fight in court to keep that money.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 5:40 pm PT

    They will sue him if he releases info. They have legal right which is the sad part. However I hope god is itagaki's side. unpaid bonuses is a bigger crime.

  • meta_foxx278

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 5:17 pm PT

    Isn't Tecmo in enugh trouble already? I mean, what's to stop the ones that are suing them now from releasing that sort of information? They can't protect themselves on this one. Somebody other than Itagaki is going to go down on them hardcore somewhere down the road, and it won't be pretty when it does happen.

  • aliko

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 4:57 pm PT

    Meh greedy bastards. The guys who do all the work should get enough pay!

  • pleasurengineer

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 4:45 pm PT

    Shouldn't we be allowed to know of corporate abuse of employees. Why are businesses given such an advantage. It's not as if company technical secrets are being divulged.

    Congratulations Tecmo, you have yourself a pristine business with an army of faceless minions toiling in obscurity to generate your profits!

    Greed! Tasteless.

  • PullTheTricker

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 4:16 pm PT

    Itakagi is talented, he makes great games and thats what counts for me. Its a shame his career will end this way. I hope he starts a new development team. Just like Jeff Gerstman did with GiantBomb. There is always hope and a future awaiting ahead of you.

  • saber262

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 4:09 pm PT

    and the drama continues.

  • Lestater

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 4:07 pm PT

    OMFG, another child labor scandal?!

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:59 pm PT

    Tecmo is apparently one of the worst developers ever. Gag orders are fairly standard when lawsuits like these are involved, but it's pretty obvious they have something to hide.

  • Disciple_Gamer

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    Gag order. Is Tecmo stupid. They fired a ninja. Itagaki does his work in the shadows.

  • zeus_gb

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:47 pm PT

    It's not the first company to slap a former employee with a gag order and they won't be the last either.

    If they promised to pay these people then they should honor their promise.

  • Gamewako

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:47 pm PT

    Itagaki is kindof a dik anyways....

  • polsci1503

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:43 pm PT

    getcha popcorn ready...

  • kindredmachine

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:42 pm PT

    ChickenHounk911 - ROTFL!!!! I actually laughed at that sunglasses comment.. ROTFL!!!

  • MuscleCarMan

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:42 pm PT

    Tecmo is actually a ninja training grounds, or so i hear. Rumor also has it, you need enormous breasts and more blood than the average human being has to even be considered a member. Talk about tough.
    Get the word out Itagaki!

  • AZisBack

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:24 pm PT

    Yeah I don't know if Itagaki has the ability to shut up.

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:22 pm PT

    Game time! Ready?..... Guess which company is going to nab this guy.....

    P.S. One of Tecmo's secrets is.... they FORCE their employees to wear sunglasses ALL THE TIME! lol

  • Ice_man_1985

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 3:18 pm PT

    slap in the face, that what should they get.

  • Spartan1017

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 2:59 pm PT

    wow, now i really want to know what's going down over there..

  • dewwy

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 2:44 pm PT

    A company doesn't file such an extensive gag order unless that employee needs to be gagged. Makes me really wonder just what goes on in the Tecmo studio.

  • SPANNER-MAN

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 2:35 pm PT

    Wow, if they did all that. Then something is definately going down.

  • VirtuaCast

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 2:27 pm PT

    Itagaki already told me Tecmo secrets. Too late lol

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