Tecmo's president steps down amidst Itagaki controversy

Tecmo’s president, Yoshimi Yasuda, resigned today amidst a heated legal battle with former Tecmo employee Tomonobu Itagaki. Itagaki, creator of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, is currently suing the company, along with two other employees, for missed overtime pay and not delivering on other promised incentives. He states that it was Yasuda who is promised him these added bonuses, while Yasuda argues that such promises were made on an informal basis that did not meet approval from the Board.

Since then, an incriminating tape has come to light from Ninja Gaiden II producer Yoshifuru Okamoto, which has Yasuda launching personal attacks on Itagaki as well as admitting that he was owed incentives approved by the Board. Hoping to wash Tecmo’s hands of all this and get the company out of such a negative spotlight, Tecmo's Chairman of the Board, Yasuharu Kakihara, will be stepping up as president effective September 1st.

[via 1UP]