Tomonobu Itagaki, the outspoken Ninja Gaiden and Dead Or Alive designer who led Tecmo's Team Ninja before leaving in 2008, settled a legal dispute with his former employer out of court this week, according to consumer video game site 1UP. The game designer said "that a settlement was amicably reached on February 26th, 2010 upon a mutual agreement." His lawsuit sought damages of around $1.42 million, although terms of the actual settlement were not disclosed. Itagaki sued Tecmo in 2008 when he left the publisher under contentious circumstances. He claimed that the company owed him unpaid bonuses, wages, severance, and other compensation. In May 2009, about a year after Itagaki left Tecmo, news emerged that he and former members of Team Ninja formed a new game studio under the working name, "Tokyo Vikings." The studio has yet to reveal what exactly it's working on. Following the settlement of the Tecmo suit, Itagaki also told his fans, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your great help and words of encouragement which have been extended to me so far. "I can't hardly wait for the day of announcing my newest work in progress to you all, but I promise you now that I will deliver to you an enjoyable game with depth that surpasses all the games I created before, and is worthy of being world-class entertainment. "Please continue your unwavering support for me. -- Tomonobu Itagaki"