It is reported that "as many as three dozen" Team Ninja employees have done a runner and, to make things worse for Tecmo, also plan to take the company to court over unpaid bonuses for completed games.
Things got nasty early this month when Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden creator Tomonobu Itagaki publicly announced his resignation and lawsuit filing against Tecmo, along with a few damning statements against company president Yoshimi Yasuda.
If the rumours from 1up are true, things are going to get a lot worse for the developer.
On a more positive side, could we possibly see Itagaki and ex-Team Ninja employees reform as an independent developer? Fans can only dream...
I hope that publishers take heed over this, your employees are worthwhile and are worth the fraction of money you pay them compared to the money they make for you. Why shouldn't they see a slice of the pie, they made the damn thing!
This could mean a spinoff company with full creative freedom, which is promising given the teams history. A new blockbuster franchise on the cards maybe?
We have recently seen the damage that a writers trike can do for the TV & Film industry, could this be the start of a programmers strike?
These people make the bloody game, they deserve to get more from what they create and make. Instead, it's always about what the publisher and/or developer can make and never about the people that are behind the scenes that make the games you enjoy.
We get raped by the likes of EA, we pay over the top prices, but not a lot of that will go to the programmers or writers. It's all about the corporate fat cats making their over the top salary and driving their top of the range company cars.
I suppose that this is what happens, when your industry starts off as group of people, creating their wares in a spare bedroom, then it escalates into a business that's bigger than the film industry it has tried to replicate all these years.
I sure it wasn't intended but the word r&pe isn't really needed as part of a comment and is likely to cause offence to those having suffered this sort of abuse.
This site i'm sure gets lots of visitors that are very much interested in reading the comments section about articles like this but are also victims of sexual abuse.
Obviously can't get away from seeing or hearing about this crime but considering the subject is gameing,i think this fairly disgusting and often used put down will be upsetting to those already suffering
If you could edit your comment i would be greatfull
–noun 1. the unlawful compelling of a woman through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse. 2. any act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person. 3. statutory rape. 4. an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation: the rape of the countryside. 5. Archaic. the act of seizing and carrying off by force. –verb (used with object) 6. to force to have sexual intercourse. 7. to plunder (a place); despoil. 8. to seize, take, or carry off by force taken from dictionary.com
American meaning: Abusive or improper treatment; violation: a rape of justice.
He isn't using it in a sexual context, therefore it is an acceptable word to use. Sorry if it offended you but he shouldn't need to edit it.
This is not good at all. I really hope it doesn't kill the company off. They have been around for absolutely ages.
Serves them bloody right if they do, also what games of note have Tecmo actually done recently? Although I'm not a fan of the ninja series so that limits my choice somewhat
Iv'e been told on a couple of occasions that the word does indeed mean the same in america as it does over here - at least it is often used in the same way.
Anyway it's a shame is all as clearly someone else today or tommorow will be reading here and reminded of something they would have rather forgotten
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Even if the management changed... they should still honour it. 
