Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

DOA producer slapped with sex suit

Female coworker reportedly claims Tomonobu Itagaki made repeated unwanted advances--and that Tecmo didn't do enough to stop it.

A woman who worked with Tomonobu Itagaki is claiming that the Tecmo developer's fixation on females extends well beyond the virtual world of the Dead or Alive Xtreme series.

Tomonobu Itagaki, in happier times.

Tomonobu Itagaki, in happier times.

Japanese site Zakzak is reporting that a female former coworker of Itagaki's is suing him for sexual harassment for a number of events dating back to September, 2003. The woman claims that after wining and dining Tecmo business associates one night, she and Itagaki shared a cab ride home since they lived in the same direction. Once in the vehicle, she says Itagaki groped her and forcibly kissed her, adding he "even stuck his tongue in [her] mouth." She says he continued his advances after exiting the cab.

Following that cab ride, she says Itagaki locked her in a conference room on several occasions and made unwanted sexual advances, according to Zakzak. The article also cites incidents at a "game industry convention in the US in May of last year," likely referring to the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

The woman says that Tecmo mishandled the situation when she complained about Itagaki's behavior, telling her to handle it herself. When a new personnel manager was appointed she brought the issue up again, and Itagaki was demoted from an executive position to a regular employee, though his role in the company remained unchanged and no reason was given for the demotion.

Zakzak reports that Itagaki has admitted to kissing the woman, but said it was a mutual relationship. She is seeking 10,000,000 yen (almost $85,000) in damages. As of press time, attempts to contact Tecmo for comment had been unsuccessful.

455 Comments

  • Freethinker101

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 11:33 pm GMT

    "what the hell itagaki would never do such a thing this man is a good game.designer and he will never sexual assault a woman.and his life it;s just a rumor and a bunch of crap"

    This has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Just because someone is good at their job it dosn't mean that they are not capable of such things.

    Was Mike Tyson inoccent just because he was a good boxer?
    Or OJ Simpson just becasue he was a good footballer?

    These people are not gods, they are human beings, capable of human actions. The fact is whether he is innocent or not it should be decided on the evidence, and not on the fact that he is good at his job.
    Also the above attitude is why so many woman don't come forward and report abuse or rape!

  • awmace5

    Posted Feb 22, 2010 4:59 pm GMT

    he is a horny child stuck in a man's (if thats what u wanna call him) body and cant get a chick for himself. he should be thrown out cuz his little gay fighting games arent that great of a series anyways.

  • cuneofamily

    Posted Aug 29, 2008 4:46 pm GMT

    rebuffed.

  • G4m3F4c3

    Posted Jun 13, 2008 7:43 pm GMT

    Well, i guess you could tell he was a perv and a jackass by looking at Ninja Gaiden games... Those thing are sadistically hard and full of oversized boobies :\

  • Heldelance

    Posted Jun 11, 2008 6:34 pm GMT

    It's a Japanese thing I suppose.
    They do have a lot of weird sex things happening there.

  • Ric_SlayeR

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 11:32 am GMT

    What a PERV!!

  • Virtual_Erkan

    Posted Jun 6, 2008 1:34 pm GMT

    PERV!

  • howardorr

    Posted Jun 4, 2008 11:39 am GMT

    An individual who wears sunglasses indoors tend to be an individual with issues.

  • HavenlyHunter

    Posted Jun 4, 2008 9:59 am GMT

    SAD

  • petervaht

    Posted Jun 4, 2008 8:33 am GMT

    His team made good games, although I didnt enjoy any of them. As a person hes such a douche, pompous and full of himself, trashtalking competitors, absolutely misguided with serious self image problems. What happened to Japanese cultural trait of being humble. Rebels like these always go home and cry into a pillow. Glad hes gone.

  • Lisandro_v22

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 5:03 pm GMT

    "what the hell itagaki would never do such a thing this man is a good game designer" I didn't know that if u were a good game designer u were a good person

    probably what happend was that she asked for money not to tell and Itagaki didn't pay, if it wasn't because of that why did he wait 3 years?

  • klugenbeel

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 2:05 pm GMT

    BlackDianWei,
    BEcause you were in Japan following and watching his every move right? It doesn't surprise me Tecmo ignored what was happening and told her to take care of it herself, she should have just ripped his nuts off!

  • _JPH_

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 4:35 am GMT

    @Great_Ragnarok. He just quit tecmo.

  • Great_Ragnarok

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 1:24 am GMT

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomonobu_Itagaki
    yikes this is an ancient article. the man was innocent and apparently the two are still working in tecmo.

  • Darkblyth

    Posted May 31, 2008 12:28 pm GMT

    if it is on gamespot its true

  • norberto1995

    Posted May 30, 2008 8:22 am GMT

    Hmm....Seems like he's sick jacking off,dont wanna be blame him
    after creating all those girls from DOA seems like he want real girls now

  • BlackDianWei

    Posted May 10, 2008 8:04 am GMT

    what the hell itagaki would never do such a thing this man is a good game.designer and he will never sexual assault a woman.and his life it;s just a rumor and a bunch of crap.

  • TrueProphecy22

    Posted Mar 10, 2008 10:17 pm GMT

    85,000... seems its not just in America where the legal system is messed up. If they let her win that case on just her word alone... who's to say she isn't making it all up in order to get some cash?

  • AC007

    Posted Feb 7, 2008 3:31 am GMT

    He should just settle with her out of court - he could just give her a headband that looks like a bunny rabbit and make this all go away XD

  • CompaqFS7600

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 3:30 pm GMT

    Who looks uglier Tomonobu Itagaki or Michael Jackson?????

  • FlareHazard

    Posted Nov 10, 2007 4:51 am GMT

    I bet the girl planned this all up to get the money

  • 1337cole1337

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 8:37 pm GMT

    dammn..why does such an awesome producer have to act like this..just make the games gosh.

  • keci_kt

    Posted Aug 17, 2007 8:22 pm GMT

    It is really sad when someone with a hight position in a company desrespect women, or even abuse from his authority to get sex in return. Weither this is true or not i don't know i am just reading this article but that is my personal opinion. And by the way " There is always somebody watching"

  • kingtahktahkhuk

    Posted Aug 14, 2007 1:16 am GMT

    itagaki thinks hes cool and stuff but hes not

  • skullkiller3

    Posted Jul 2, 2007 7:19 pm GMT

    he is god

  • Rakuho

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 3:03 pm GMT

    HAHAHA. it this was bound to happen, especially with a perv like this dude making the DOA games. I mean it had to be either a perv or a nerd, and this guy is both. no p**sy for you Itagaki-sama.

  • JTQJTK posted May 14, 2007 1:35 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    JTQJTK

    Posted May 14, 2007 1:35 am GMT (hide)

    i Hope He Goes To Jail

  • jojoforpres

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 7:59 pm GMT

    Sounds like she's just greedy.

  • Mezame

    Posted Mar 23, 2007 2:58 am GMT

    What a little dirty man!! He is not worthy to live! Execute! Execute!!

  • bonethuggery

    Posted Mar 18, 2007 8:31 pm GMT

    I dont think its true.
    He's successful so why not try n get sum money from him, and if the lady is hot.. well u know how it goes

  • totaldj

    Posted Dec 28, 2006 6:43 pm GMT

    WHAT AN UGLY MAN...

  • Xorac

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 8:17 am GMT

    man he's never going to score. mhuhuh, mhuhuhuh

  • deckmaster2004

    Posted Dec 22, 2006 9:06 pm GMT

    I want my NG2 even if its true Itagaki cant go to jail untill NG2 HE CANT
    and he better continue on the 360 >.

  • Furan-San

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 7:13 am GMT

    He better continue NG for the 360 or I'll go over there and kick some sence into him...

  • Thorpe89

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:12 am GMT

    That's a lot of money she tried to get.

  • Konmankeng

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 10:55 pm GMT

    pathetic...

  • jesse400858

    Posted Nov 25, 2006 1:01 pm GMT

    ninja is a bad game.

  • menmau

    Posted Nov 24, 2006 5:16 am GMT

    Sure....

  • shadowx5

    Posted Nov 22, 2006 7:31 pm GMT

    I don't care what Mr. Itagaki San did, as long as he is focused in making Ninja Gaiden 2 exclusive to the Xbox 360! lol also delaying it so that he can use the full potential of the Xbox 360 just like he used the full potential of the original Xbox Console, are u guys with me?

  • blueboy4440

    Posted Nov 20, 2006 10:03 pm GMT

    He or she was probably drunk.

  • gta11

    Posted Nov 20, 2006 1:31 am GMT

    It's proberly a lie.

  • Mafia217

    Posted Nov 13, 2006 7:11 pm GMT

    Oh come on guys, your gonna believe that? Sure, he kissed her and all, but it doesn't mean that the woman is right, need evidence of the "incident" (as in the WHOLE incident, not the I-kissed-her-only-part.) Besides, who are you to talk about perversion when you all are the ones buying off his games....sheesh.

  • Ravi_1900

    Posted Nov 13, 2006 4:06 am GMT

    Really I feel its possible Itagaki do has made a game dead or alive extreme and also the rachel from "ninja gaiden series" shows too much. But anyways I am Itagaki favour!!!! Do u got me??? he made the great ninja gaiden series.

  • PitaGriffin

    Posted Nov 12, 2006 4:15 pm GMT

    I cracked up when I read this.

  • Wezker619

    Posted Nov 12, 2006 12:41 pm GMT

    Lol wow you like A cup women your lame Itagaki!

  • Jebril

    Posted Nov 12, 2006 10:50 am GMT

    Just look at his games, he's obviously one of the biggest pervs in the world. I totally respect him XD

  • jonzilla_basic

    Posted Nov 12, 2006 7:10 am GMT

    hahhahahah i totally agree

  • jared9

    Posted Nov 11, 2006 4:32 pm GMT

    A Guy Who Makes A Game Like Doa Has To Be Super Horny.

  • dustopants

    Posted Nov 11, 2006 4:27 pm GMT

    i bet she's just blowing the whole thing out of proportion, what a ****...

  • paranoiasurviva

    Posted Nov 11, 2006 10:34 am GMT

    owned

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!