Author Topic: Itagaki leaves Tecmo, sues Tecmo president for unpaid bonus. (Read 13845 times)

Flames_of_chaos · « **on:** June 03, 2008, 03:43:57 AM »

Quote

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

Wow, quite a shocker I wonder where Itagaki will land next.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2008, 04:02:51 AM »

My money is on forming an independent studio and shortly after getting into close ties to Sony.

Flames_of_chaos · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2008, 04:17:50 AM »

I thought Itagaki dislikes Sony quite a bit. I have a feeling Microsoft is going to bite and snatch him up. But I really hope Itagaki joins Platinum Games I want to see a crazy game made by Mikami and Itagaki.

Kairon · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2008, 04:33:35 AM »

Yeah, this is a prime opportunity for eith Sony or MS to STRIKE.

... or for Itagaki to make a Wii game.

Shift Key · « **Reply #4 on:** June 03, 2008, 04:59:44 AM »

Quote from: Flames_of_chaos on June 03, 2008, 04:17:50 AM

I have a feeling Microsoft is going to bite and snatch him up.

This smells like a Japanese strategy for Microsoft. I don't believe they're that bright to try something like that.

I smell Neo Geo games.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2008, 11:34:03 AM »

Well, maybe he can make something besides DOA or Ninja Gaiden.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2008, 12:09:17 PM »

So is Tecmo f*cked now? Pretty much the only thing of significance they have is DOA and Ninja Gaiden. Itagaki is like THE Tecmo guy.

UltimatePartyBear · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2008, 12:18:05 PM »

Quote from: ShyGuy on June 03, 2008, 11:34:03 AM

Well, maybe he can make something besides DOA or Ninja Gaiden.

Coming soon: KIA and Ninja Story.

Arbok · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2008, 12:34:36 PM »

Quote from: Ian Sane on June 03, 2008, 12:09:17 PM

So is Tecmo f*cked now? Pretty much the only thing of significance they have is DOA and Ninja Gaiden. Itagaki is like THE Tecmo guy.

Just because he's gone, doesn't mean they will stop making those games... they will just probably slip down the path of Sega and beat the franchises to death over time with mediocre entries.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2008, 02:48:36 PM »

Tecmo also has Fatal Frame.

Dirk Temporo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2008, 06:58:12 PM »

I hope he gets called an oatmeal cookie in some official capacity.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2008, 08:42:54 PM »

Quote from: KDR_11k on June 03, 2008, 02:48:36 PM

Tecmo also has Fatal Frame.

As much as I'm looking forward to the 4th installment, it's hardly what I'd call a popular series...

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2008, 09:19:03 PM »

Itagaki will get hired by Namco to work on the next Tekken game.

Djunknown · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2008, 11:13:37 PM »

Quote

I will also never be able to make DEAD OR ALIVE 5

Depending on who you ask, this might be a good thing.... I guess that Code Cronus is a no go...

Its hard to imagine him sounding so...official.

Though I find it odd that he's biting the hand that (kinda) fed him. Didn't Tecmo give him their best legal representation when that sexual harrasment suit popped up?

Whatever happens, I'm sure there'll be a place for an outspoken gambler...

Adrock · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2008, 11:20:25 PM »

Maybe he'll get his chance to make Pikmin 3.

Tecmo is basically f-ed now. I wonder if Itagaki mentored anyone at Tecmo and even then, they don't have the fanbase or IPs to rely on.

RABicle · « **Reply #15 on:** June 03, 2008, 11:20:47 PM »

So are taking bets on how long it'll be before he's imprisoned for sexual assault?

KDR_11k · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2008, 01:42:44 AM »

Quote from: Djunknown on June 03, 2008, 11:13:37 PM

Though I find it odd that he's biting the hand that (kinda) fed him.

Sounds like the hand stopped feeding him.

Quote

Tecmo is basically f-ed now. I wonder if Itagaki mentored anyone at Tecmo and even then, they don't have the fanbase or IPs to rely on.

I think that's TBD, Tecmo does keep all the rights to the franchises Itagaki made (he only said HE won't make more DOA or NG games) and depending on the influence Itagaki had the quality of those might not even go down (then again it's hard to imagine DOA's quality going down).

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2008, 01:50:09 AM »

Well the latest NG game seems to be a step back from the first 3D NG. SO perhaps it isn't a huge loss.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #18 on:** June 04, 2008, 02:27:24 AM »

empty shells

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #19 on:** June 05, 2008, 02:20:09 AM »

Should I be worried about the new Tecmo Bowl? Just after I start to get excited something like this happens.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #20 on:** June 05, 2008, 02:41:57 AM »

Was Itagaki involved with that?

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #21 on:** June 05, 2008, 03:19:13 AM »

I just assumed he was, he's a big fan of American Football, and I remember reading an interview a while back where he said he still got e-mails requesting a new Tecmo Bowl and mentioning that he might do it.

Ceric · « **Reply #22 on:** June 05, 2008, 08:02:29 PM »

Now they can go back to focussing on making a high quality Monster Rancher Game.

Flames_of_chaos · « **Reply #23 on:** June 07, 2008, 01:15:41 AM »

Quote from: Ian Sane on June 03, 2008, 12:09:17 PM

So is Tecmo f*cked now? Pretty much the only thing of significance they have is DOA and Ninja Gaiden. Itagaki is like THE Tecmo guy.

The day after Itagaki left Tecmo's stock value dropped almost the equivalent of 2 US dollars.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #24 on:** June 07, 2008, 02:22:24 AM »

That's a worthless metric, how many % is that?

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Author Topic: Itagaki leaves Tecmo, sues Tecmo president for unpaid bonus. (Read 13845 times)