Tecmo: Itagaki Lawsuit Based On 'Distortions'

According to a new report on the recent resignation and allegations of unpaid bonuses by Ninja Gaiden producer Tomonobu Itagaki, parent company Tecmo has said the producer's lawsuit against its president are full of "distortions." Following his resignation, Itagaki filed a complaint in the Tokyo District Court against Tecmo for the unpaid completion bonuses and against Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda for “such unlawful acts as unreasonable and disingenuous statements made towards me, claiming damages in total of 148 million yen” ($1.42m). The full statement (pdf), released by Tecmo and summarized by consumer website IGN, notes that its current completion bonus system has been regularly paid to Itagaki, but that the bonus in the complaint came from former management. IGN also says the statement makes complaints about the producer taking the matter public, and "accuses Itagaki of referring to Team Ninja's productions in his statement as if they were developed exclusively by himself." Representatives from Tecmo have told Gamasutra in a separate English statement that the company had no choice to accept Itagaki's resignation due to the accompanying lawsuit, and reiterates that the bonus in question is "in regards to a claim to an incentive bonus linked to a past project." "The parties could not reach an amicable resolution to this matter and Itagaki chose to seek a legal remedy. Tecmo, LTD. will let the court decide the outcome of this case and will seek a true, fair, and quick resolution," it reads. As with IGN's earlier summary, Tecmo's official English statement also notes that Itagaki's departure does not mean that Team Ninja has dissolved, and notes that the division has "several new projects already underway."