Yesterday, two ex-Tecmo staffers, including Dead or Alive programmer Hiroaki Ozawa, filed lawsuits with the Tokyo District Court for unpaid salaries and bonuses tallying up to 8.3 million yen ($77,000).

The suit explains that Tecmo moved employees to a "flexible hours" work schedule where overtime did not need to be compensated and could demand an extra 100 hours per month. Additional claims blame Tecmo for forged fake accounting files. If true, legal troubles involving ethical business practices will become a bigger problem than the company's current morale malaise.

Ozawa has been leading the "Tecmo Labor Union" since February. This self-sustaining union represents 300 workers as they sue for earnings.