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Designer Mike Zaimont has been fired from a Guilty Gear project over allegations of abusive and inappropriate behavior brought against him by members of his former studio, Lab Zero Games.
In a statement to Gamasutra, Arc Systems Works representative Takeshi Yamanaka said Zaimont had been hired to work on a netcode implementation fix for Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R.
He was hired at the behest of developer Team French CaliBurst shortly after a number of developers severed ties with Lab Zero over his behavior, alleging inappropriate physical contact and sexual remarks, insulting behavior and degrading and retaliatory tactics when asked to resolve complaints against him. He then fired all the remaining employees a week later.
“Arc System Works has now agreed with the French team at CaliBurst to suspend MikeZ’s involvement in development until it has resolved the outstanding issues,” said Yamanaka.
He added that Zaimont was hired on the assumption that he “would eventually resolve the allegations against him”.
“Arc System Works has a firm policy of not condoning illegal acts, harassment, acts of violence or discrimination in any way and form,” he added.
When asked why Zaimont was originally hired given the allegations against him, Yamanaka said the following:
“It was decided on the basis of providing the best service to our users, and making users our top priority. For the ultimate benefit of our fans who are awaiting the GGPO update, we express our deepest regret that we have chosen to overlook certain aspects of our harassment policy.
“We hope that MikeZ will resolve the allegations against him in good faith. Now that development has reached a milestone, [outreach], we thought it was a good time for MikeZ to start working on a resolution. “
Former Lab Zero Games members have since reformed without Zaimont at the Future Club studio, which will develop its own IP addresses.
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