All Tecmo employees sue Tecmo

90 Comments by Justin McElroy Jun 17th 2008 1:25PM
Filed under: Business

We thought it was bad when Tomonobu Itagaki left Tecmo, but little did we know it was about to get much, much worse. As rumored over the weekend, employees of the company are suing for unpaid bonuses. Well, it's not exactly the same as the weekend rumor, which said the lawsuit would come from three dozen or so higher ups. No, apparently the lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all 300 of the company's employees. A Famitsu article on the subject also says the suit complains of employees not getting holiday and overtime pay that they are owed.

So, in short, Tecmo is eating itself. You may now carry on with your day.

[Via X3F]

Tags: itagaki, tecmo, tomonobu-itagaki

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Zertoss: Jun 17th 2008; 1:30PM

Tecmo should go talk to Capcom. They've got Phoenix, Apollo and Harvey. They couldn't lose with a dream team like that!

Fernando Rocker: Jun 17th 2008; 1:31PM

lol =p

Co: Jun 17th 2008; 7:58PM

Sooo.... no Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff then?

Magetto: Jun 17th 2008; 8:16PM

No Tecmo Bowl... ;_;

Maverick Saturn: Jun 17th 2008; 1:31PM

Bye Tecmo, bye DOA, buy NG :( *Sheds tears*

LaughingTarget: Jun 17th 2008; 1:31PM

This is a story of 300 employees as they hold the line against the massive armies of Tecmo at Thermopylae.

Maverick Saturn: Jun 17th 2008; 1:33PM

THIS IS TECMOOO!!

FOXHOUND: Jun 17th 2008; 1:34PM

LMAO!!

Tecmo HR/Execs> ...OUR HOLIDAY WORK HOURS WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF THE SUN!
Tecmo Employees> ...then we'll sue you for the lost wage! >:O HOWWH!! HOOWWWWH!!

Zertoss: Jun 17th 2008; 1:35PM

Tonight we jiggle in hell!

Maverick Saturn: Jun 17th 2008; 1:40PM

"EMPLOYEES, WHAT IS YOUR PROFFESSION?!"

"SUEING THE ASS OFF TECMO!!"

DemonGSides: Jun 17th 2008; 3:40PM

TONIGHT

WE DINE

IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE!

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread): Jun 17th 2008; 4:06PM

LMAO!

ah, you guys are hilarious. thats why i love this site lol.

Slaziman: Jun 17th 2008; 4:12PM

Jun 17th, Itakagi promises to make the God-Company bleed (money)

BananaBoat: Jun 17th 2008; 4:53PM

This thing just went from crisis to disaster =p that's what happens when you don't pay promised bonuses, and you seriously piss off a man that wears his sunglasses at night.

THIS_ IS _ LITIGATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Korova *Pyro aspect*: Jun 17th 2008; 5:37PM

That's a bunch of game designers who took fighting the Boss to a whole new level.

tyetheczar: Jun 18th 2008; 3:37PM

Speaking of 300 parodies, you should see the black20.com 300 parody.

FOXHOUND: Jun 17th 2008; 1:31PM

So... now it's a comparison on which company treats/treated their employees worse: EA or TECMO? :o

Maverick Saturn: Jun 17th 2008; 1:33PM

Like I said, no need to worry, EA will enivitably buy them and the world will be a better place :)

DOA girls have law degrees....lmao, they only have breast degrees.

FOXHOUND: Jun 17th 2008; 1:35PM

If Tecmo loaned out their DOA characters for an IBM commercial... then it would easily beat out any kind of "DEEZ NUTZ" campaign that Mr. Peanut/Planters could ever do.

Maverick Saturn: Jun 17th 2008; 1:38PM

Lol, make the money back, Namco should buy DOA to piss Itakagi off, lmao

FOXHOUND: Jun 17th 2008; 1:41PM

LOL Now *that* would be news...

xFenixKnightx: Jun 17th 2008; 1:34PM

RIP

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5): Jun 17th 2008; 1:56PM

Wow talk about being a bad company ... it would be so wonderful to see Itagki and Kojima team up to make a new game. I remember both of them saying that Western developers had surpassed Eastern developers. That would be one hell of a combo.

I have the feeling that Itagki will end up with Microsoft.

xFenixKnightx: Jun 17th 2008; 2:05PM

I agree that would be pretty insane. I just wanna see what Itagaki can come up with on his own from scratch. No NG or DOA franchise to deal with.

xeleion: Jun 17th 2008; 2:40PM

HAHA Itagaki teaming up with ANYONE is improbable, that cocky bastard.

Here's what would happen: They would team up and Kojima would come up with some beautiful concept and a small build and Itagaki would look at it and say, "meh, the graphics are alright but there's not enough action! Not enough nipple! Kojima, ain't you nevah played MY games?!"

And that's just Kojima. Itagaki would tell Nomura to make his loli girls older so they have have more boobies. He would tell Sakurai that Kirby needs more blood... and boobies.

Come to think of it, the only person I could even imagine him teaming up with is Jaffe, and damn, would that be one hell of a game -

Kratos + Ninjas + breats + boobies + blood + gore + flashy next-gen effects and nonsensical faux theatrical lighting = best selling game in America

Eric: Jun 17th 2008; 3:13PM

Fenix, what's your gamertag? Have to play some games some night....

xFenixKnightx: Jun 17th 2008; 3:20PM

Yeah my gamertag and PSNID are both xFenixKnightx

Cyro: Jun 17th 2008; 1:35PM

Well Tecmo=rip. I hope Tecmo closes down and is forced to sell DOA and NG IP's to Microsoft for the cheap :) Then they just have to scoop up Itagaki and his team up.

Well or at least take in Team Ninja and make a new studio or something for new ip's.

LaughingTarget: Jun 17th 2008; 1:39PM

I wouldn't be surprised if that actually happens. Itagaki has a hard-on for the 360.

xFenixKnightx: Jun 17th 2008; 1:40PM

I see you beat NG2 already. Why haven't you uploaded your stats to the leaderboards? It sais you've only played for 33min lol. Like I told you I had to start all over but this time its just better. I'm slicing my way through it with no hesitation. Its just insane! I'm on level 4 :)

xGeneral DEATHx: Jun 17th 2008; 1:50PM

You can beat that game in 33 minutes?!?!

Cyro: Jun 17th 2008; 1:52PM

Yeah, I just beat it last night. It took me like 1 1/2 hours to finish the last boss. You will see what I mean, don't want to spoil it to you, but you nearly have to be perfect to actually beat that guy at the end. And I was playing on Acolyte or something. I can just imagine on Hard. Its probably insane!

PS: I loved the game. Its just lots of fun. I am going to start over again.

Cyro: Jun 17th 2008; 1:56PM

Only GOD could finish that game in 33 minutes. I just haven't uploaded my scores. It took me around 12 hours according to the save files. But it actually took way more than that, because the save files doesn't count the try's you had before actually finishing the level. It just counts the minutes on the try that you actually succeeded finishing the level.

So I would guess like 14 to 15 hours to finish ? Something like that. Totally worth the purchase I can tell you that. I felt pretty good when I finally beat the game. I dont think I can get the achievement for finishing it on Hard though :P

xFenixKnightx: Jun 17th 2008; 2:02PM

Oh its very doable, Ill just slap my GameGenie on! lol! Nice work Cyro.

xFenixKnightx: Jun 17th 2008; 1:37PM

Itagaki working on 360 exclusive Next-Gen OTOGI??!!! Teh Confirmed?!!! Hey, I liked those games.

:P

NukeAssault: Jun 17th 2008; 1:41PM

That would be a sight to see. =D

deaftly: Jun 17th 2008; 1:51PM

Rare should pick him up to work on the next Killer Instinct. One can dream.

xFenixKnightx: Jun 17th 2008; 1:54PM

I know its doubtful but hopefully they become Xbox Originals. It still looks good to this day.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/225.html

Kamizar: Jun 17th 2008; 3:14PM

From Software needs to make an Otogi 3 and a Chromehounds 2...

Itagaki needs to work for MS Gaming Japan and get his old IPs back and his old Team...

xGeneral DEATHx: Jun 17th 2008; 3:55PM

Kamizar:

Speaking of Chromehounds, do any of you know where I can find the music that plays during the opening menus? It's creepy-ish, but very memorable.

quickshade: Jun 17th 2008; 1:39PM

They better hope that they just didn't pay for bonuses and stuff, otherwise this could be Enron 2.0.

Maverick Saturn: Jun 17th 2008; 1:41PM

News at 10: Namco, creators of the popular Tekken series have decided to buy DOA and Ninja Gaiden.

We interveiwed Itakagi and he had this to say:

"WTF? My precious!"

MariosInferno: Jun 17th 2008; 1:43PM

Good Lord...that escalated quickly.

Who's suing us???

Everyone.

Hmmm...good talk.

Maverick Saturn: Jun 17th 2008; 1:44PM

Well, look on the bright side.....

....wait, lemme think, it just escaped my head...

...I'll get back to you on this one.

matt: Jun 17th 2008; 1:49PM

TECMO is hosed. Not only will they more than likely lose this lawsuit but will be in major trouble with the government if the claims that they forged and falsified documents to cover up employee work hours and pay. My guess is the all management will be fired and the new owner is....Itagaki!!!

zero2dash: Jun 17th 2008; 1:55PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see Team Ninja hired or bought by Microsoft.

Maverick Saturn: Jun 17th 2008; 2:00PM

They would have to act now though, not when everyone is already left or leaving. At this rate Itakagi will get hired into EA before MS acts, where everyone else seems to go nowadays, lol

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Jun 17th 2008; 2:36PM

I doubt that will happen. I'm pretty sure Itagaki is loyal to Microsoft so you can expect him working for them.

zero2dash: Jun 17th 2008; 3:43PM

Well Microsoft certainly laid the groundwork (and surely the red carpet) out for Itagaki by publishing NG2. I'm sure by now the two sides are talking...it could definitely help in Japan if they can hire another respected Japanese developer.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5): Jun 17th 2008; 1:58PM

Microsoft will scoop up Itagki for sure ... They have a good rapport.

I will say again that I would love to see Konami sign him and have he and Kojima make a new IP together.

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