Tiny Metal Director Allegedly Took Money From Another Kickstarter To Fund Game, Confusing Mess Ensues

Tactical game Tiny Metal’s Director, Hiroaki Yura,  is facing accusations from JRPG Project Phoenix developers.

According to Gamasutra, Tariq Lacy from Project Phoenix’s marketing made a strongly worded post on Project Phoenix’s Facebook page, accusing Hiroaki of misappropriating Project Phoenix’s funds to develop the cash-strapped AREA 35’s Tiny Metal.

At one point Hiroaki tried to have Lacy cover-up the misappropriation in which Lacy vehemently refused.

“I refused this request to fabricate and minimize the truth for the purpose of misleading others, then told Hiroaki to remove me from all matters regarding Project Phoenix so that I would not be implicated in this affair.”

However, if you think that is the end of the story, it is not. Here is where the mess starts. Hiroaki made a counter statement saying that all of the allegations were untrue and made by a “toxic” Lacy after being laid off for sexually harassing his female colleagues.

“(The allegations were) posted by a staff whose contract has been bought out due to him being a toxic employee who has sexually harassed our female staff amongst many other problems.”

This is where, of course, Lacy stepped in to deny that he had committed any sexual misdeed.

In any case, AREA 35 is now looking into legal methods to dispel the allegations and talking with lawyers to see how best handle the situation. Tiny Metal was due to be released next month on 21 December 2017 on the Nintendo Switch after missing the deadline today. You can read the full article from Gamasutra here.