Tomonobu Itagaki (NG, DOA) is leaving Tecmo and suing the company for unpaid bonuses.

[Silent Kayos]

Statement

I, Tomonobu Itagaki, hereby announce that on the 14th of May 2008 I filed a complaint in the Tokyo District Court against Tecmo Co., Ltd. for unpaid completion bonuses, and against the President of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, for such unlawful acts as unreasonable and disingenuous statements made towards me, claiming damages in total of 148 million yen. I also announce that this complaint was delivered to the defendants on May 22nd of the same year.

In addition, I hereby announce that I have today submitted a letter of resignation to Tecmo Co., Ltd. stating that I will resign as of the 1st of July, 2008.

Before the start of development on DEAD OR ALIVE 4, Tecmo Co., Ltd. had agreed to pay a completion bonus to me for this Xbox 360 title, which I produced. However, when the time came for the actual payment, Tecmo Co., Ltd. went against its previous agreement and refused payment. President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me “if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.” In addition, he made demeaning remarks about me to my subordinates and colleagues, causing me significant emotional distress and worsening my personal relationships and work environment. Thus, I have no choice but to resign from Tecmo Co., Ltd.

The conduct of Tecmo Co., Ltd. and its president Yoshimi Yasuda towards me has been unbefitting of a publicly-listed company.

I have filed this lawsuit with a strong intent to question the social responsibility of Tecmo Co., Ltd. and its President Yoshimi Yasuda, as well as condemning them for their unjust acts. Today, in addition to announcing the reasons for this lawsuit, I make clear my reasons for resigning.

To All Game Fans

I truly feel sorry to all the fans of the games I have made. NINJA GAIDEN 2, which will launch on the 3rd of June will be the last NINJA GAIDEN I will create. I will also never be able to make DEAD OR ALIVE 5. I regret the circumstances that have forced me to leave Tecmo, where I had worked for so many years, and I regret the disappointment this will cause my fans.

However, I can no longer continue to work with President Yoshimi Yasuda, a man who chooses not to honor promises even when he is able to do so.

I truly hope that nothing like this happens again in the future.

Tecmo Co., Ltd. Creative Officer

Leader, Team NINJA

Tomonobu Itagaki


It's sad to see Temco not fulfill there obligations to a person who has done so much for the company financially. Its a big loss for the company.

[Operative #19]

The end of Tecmo is on the horizon. Not really but let's be serious, without Itagaki and the IPs he created(Ninja Gaiden and DOA) what does Tecmo have left? They hand those IPs to a no name developer and then what? Itagaki, however, will be a major coup for any company that is able to pick him up. I wouldn't be surprised for him to get picked up by a Western developer rather than a Japanese one. He is a lot different then most Japanese developers and has a lot more in common with Western developers. Best of luck to him.

Also, as a side note, I was on GameSpot and saw this headline and the comments there regarding Itagaki are demoralizing. The allegations regarding his professional conduct were proven false, so why people base anything on that is beyond me. People have to make a mountain out of a mole hill, I suppose. Again, best of luck to Itagaki.

[Nicodemus]

It's sad to see Temco not fulfill there obligations to a person who has done so much for the company financially. Its a big loss for the company.
I usually despise cocky assh*les like him, but he was always so arrogant and smug that it made me laugh the way he would respond in interviews.. like when he called the tekken series a piece of sh*t.

But the guy could make some games.. I played through Ninja Gaiden on Xbox 3 times only to play through it again twice when Ninja Gaiden Black was released.

It's sad that they would treat him this way.. the guy has helped make them millions of dollars and a great reputation in the industry, only to have it end like this.

[Beha]

So he has no control over his IPs even though he fully created them?

Hogwash.

I WANT ME SOME NINJA GAIDEN 3 IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS!!! Ugh...

[puertorock_papi]

I guess there won't be a Ninja Gaiden 2 Black?

I don't know about DOA but the follow on NG titles might be in good hands. Hayashi did a great job with Ninja Gaiden Sigma. I enjoyed all three versions.

[Neo Matrix]

The only reason he made Black was to include the easier difficulty setting. I think he went on record saying that he didn't want to make it.

For me DOA will be missed... even the volleyball games.

[Silent Kayos]

Here's an update to the situation:

The creator of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, Tomonobu Itagaki, quit Japanese developer Tecmo earlier this month and claimed that it owed him close to a cool million dollars. On announcing his departure, Itagaki also said he would be suing the company in an attempt to get his hands on the cash.

On June 16, more Tecmo employees followed him, filing a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court for unpaid wages totalling ¥8.3 million ($77,000), reports the Japanese-language Game Watch Impress.

The suit alleges that four years ago, Tecmo illegally placed workers on a "flexible hours" scheme, reports Kotaku. It reports that under the new regime, overtime wasn't paid--and has been clocked up at a constant 100 hours or so per month.


The two plaintiffs who filed the case reportedly represent all 300 Tecmo employees, and also claim that the company created false documents and covered up accounting records.

Tecmo had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment as of press time.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6192629.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;10


This doesn't look good for Temco.

[Neo Matrix]

I assume that means 100 hours of overtime a month, right?

[Beha]

Yeah, it does.

Also, did anyone see their stock options the day it was announced Itakgi was leaving and suing? It fell a sh!tload, I wish I could remember exactly how much now...

[dominatrixdave]

Throw me a frickin' bonus here!!

But seriously, that's unfortunate that NG has to end so abruptly, after a mere two and a... quarter or so games.