Posted Nov 7, 2006 2:15 pm PT

A woman who worked with Tomonobu Itagaki is claiming that the Tecmo developer's fixation on females extends well beyond the virtual world of the Dead or Alive Xtreme series.

Japanese site Zakzak is reporting that a female former coworker of Itagaki's is suing him for sexual harassment for a number of events dating back to September, 2003. The woman claims that after wining and dining Tecmo business associates one night, she and Itagaki shared a cab ride home since they lived in the same direction. Once in the vehicle, she says Itagaki groped her and forcibly kissed her, adding he "even stuck his tongue in [her] mouth." She says he continued his advances after exiting the cab.

Following that cab ride, she says Itagaki locked her in a conference room on several occasions and made unwanted sexual advances, according to Zakzak. The article also cites incidents at a "game industry convention in the US in May of last year," likely referring to the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

The woman says that Tecmo mishandled the situation when she complained about Itagaki's behavior, telling her to handle it herself. When a new personnel manager was appointed she brought the issue up again, and Itagaki was demoted from an executive position to a regular employee, though his role in the company remained unchanged and no reason was given for the demotion.

Zakzak reports that Itagaki has admitted to kissing the woman, but said it was a mutual relationship. She is seeking 10,000,000 yen (almost $85,000) in damages. As of press time, attempts to contact Tecmo for comment had been unsuccessful.

Posted Nov 24, 2006 1:36 pm PT

The Dead or Alive fighting franchise has been criticised by some as using sex to sell its games. Spin-off game series Dead or Alive Xtreme takes it a step further, with one of the characters diving naked into the ocean in the opening sequence of its Beach Volleyball edition, and Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 features unlockable pole-dancing scenes.

Art imitated life earlier this year when DOA publisher Tecmo hit the headlines after the games' producer, Tomonobu Itagaki, was accused by a former coworker of sexual harassment. The woman claimed that Itagaki had made a series of unwanted advances. She said that on one occasion, the high-profile producer locked her in a conference room and at other times groped her and forcibly kissed her.

The Tokyo-based company this week issued a statement categorically denying the allegations. It said, "The alleged sexual harassment of the former employee by Itagaki never took place, and Tecmo did not issue an unjustified notice of dismissal to the former employee."

The statement also attacked the media for its "one-sided" coverage of the event and stated that Itagaki believes he has been defamed by the "false allegations."

The company claims that it immediately launched an investigation after the employee claimed Itagaki harassed her, which was under way for one month and was performed in "the most strict and impartial manner." The result of the investigation, it said, was to conclude that the allegations in question were a result of the former employee's desire "to vent frustrations over her own personal affairs, and not indicative of sexual harassment."

The statement went on to say that Itagaki and the unnamed former employee, as well as others, "mingled personal affairs with their corporate responsibilities," and as a result of this "unnecessary confusion" in the workplace, both were demoted and had their salaries reduced. Tecmo also claims that it did not force the employee to leave the company by firing her but that she put in a voluntary resignation.

Itagaki and Tecmo's "reputation and goodwill" have been damaged, claims Tecmo, and because of this, Itagaki plans to launch a countersuit against the woman for damages.

Zakzak reports that Itagaki has admitted to kissing the woman, but said it was a mutual relationship. She is seeking 10,000,000 yen (almost $85,000) in damages. As of press time, attempts to contact Tecmo for comment had been unsuccessful.