Maybe the game can't be salvaged, so they went with it.
Kojima will no longer be a Konami executive from April 1st + KojiPro is no more?
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Maybe the game can't be salvaged, so they went with it.
It's a company restructure which happens to involve the rebranding of Kojima Productions. I don't think it is simple or that the rebranding is all that is happening, but it seems pretty clear that the restructure is what started all this. We now know that the restructure took effect this Monday. In this same week we've also gotten confirmations that producers involved with Tokimeki Memorial and Love Live left Konami. I'm sure it's related. When restructures happen, people might disagree with it and leave. People might take it as an opportunity to move on. There are various possibilities. There isn't enough information to say what's happening here exactly, but the root of it seems to be the restructure.
BreezyLimbo
Banned
Well, /v/ has this news stickied which usually doesn't happen. Some gold responses, though.
Purple Cheeto
Member
And he was just retweeting Konami stuff yesterday.
I swear I saw that Konami LA was hiring for a new IP as well. Maybe everyone got sick of making B-Movies masquerading as video games.
Now Kojima is free to work on SyFy Channel movies.
I swear I saw that Konami LA was hiring for a new IP as well. Maybe everyone got sick of making B-Movies masquerading as video games.
Now Kojima is free to work on SyFy Channel movies.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
GreyOcelot
Member
I would love for this to be the impetus for game designers abandoning the current status quo in favor of a more movie director, per game type of thing So they can shop ideas around. A western pub would absolutely give kojima 50-100 million dollars to make a game
mgs2master2
Banned
inb4 patches to all the MGS games will release and patch out "a Hideo Kojima game" when they load in.
but seriously, if he is no longer a konami exec or is gone from the company, it really was his last metal gear.
but seriously, if he is no longer a konami exec or is gone from the company, it really was his last metal gear.
"All that's left" ... Kojima said on his latest video that they are at a very critical phase now, so I think this definitely will affect the whole team somehow.
Imagine this, they put all their heart into this game for over 5 years and all Konami does now is erase the logo of the development team and Kojima's name. That's not fair and real dick move from Konami.
This is pretty big if you ask me.
I think it has to do with Kojima wanting to end the franchise. Konami clearly doesn't want that and stepped in before development could be completed. I think MGS is done storyline wise now.
Phoenician_Viking
Banned
Huge news.
Kojima would be proud.
So, you think I can get off my balcony or not?
and not a single fuck was given
RandomExpletive
Member
Well this certainly isn't what I wanted to wake up to...
Please don't do anything TOO stupid Konami...
Please don't do anything TOO stupid Konami...
I'm mocking the Bayonetta 2 reactions.
Western AAA publishers are even more intrusive than Japanese publishers are when it comes to director freedom. I would say Sony/Nintendo first-party is where he can work best without heavy publisher pressure. Maybe Take Two aswell but they would just want to monetize his games with microtransactions and DLC.
Lollipop Dave
Member
Konami wrestling game when?
Ninja Scooter
Member
I don't think that Kojima has to join anyone. He has the clout and brand to go full independent as a developer and sign some sort of distribution deal with Bethseda or 2k or whoever he wants.
The question woild be if he is taking KojiPro with him. Seems crazy to me that when he established the studio he didn't have any sort or contingencies in place for a situation like this. Guess it never really was his.
The question woild be if he is taking KojiPro with him. Seems crazy to me that when he established the studio he didn't have any sort or contingencies in place for a situation like this. Guess it never really was his.
Bloodborne with long load times...is that true or just trolling? Sorry for the OT.
Fancy Clown
Member
I want "a Hideo Kojima Game" on my boxart God damn it
He doesn't even own his engine.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
The Phantom Pain is fine. It's in by far the tail end of development, a huge project that's been laboured over for years, with a release date locked in. The only real worry to have with TPP is what Konami's support plans are four MGO, and how that fits into the restructuring. Even if Kojima is jumping ship, the bulk of his work on TPP would be done, and I'm certain he'd be contracted out to see the project through in full capacity.
The real query this restructuring highlights is the status of Silent Hills as a big new project for the new rebranded Kojima Productions. Rebranding is one thing, restructuring is another, especially at the dawn of a new fiscal year, which can indicate massive changes to pipeline, projects, projections, and other p words. Where previously Silent Hills fit the gap, and I suspect came about largely in part due to Hideo Kojima's executive status and leadership, the scope of the project or even existence of the project at all can be called into question. Does Konami wish to deliver on plans to fund a big new project like Silent Hills?
The real query this restructuring highlights is the status of Silent Hills as a big new project for the new rebranded Kojima Productions. Rebranding is one thing, restructuring is another, especially at the dawn of a new fiscal year, which can indicate massive changes to pipeline, projects, projections, and other p words. Where previously Silent Hills fit the gap, and I suspect came about largely in part due to Hideo Kojima's executive status and leadership, the scope of the project or even existence of the project at all can be called into question. Does Konami wish to deliver on plans to fund a big new project like Silent Hills?
Don't take anything on /v/ seriously.
BIONIC-ARRRMMM!!
Member
Rumble Roses
Why is Kojima silent and why is Konami being coy, then?
Serpens007
Member
Maybe it's just that Konami needed a change focused on the company's name to allow it to growth. In this time, "Kojima Production" meant a quality product, but that's not the usual thing with "Konami" and that somehow affected their income.
By making something as big - and good - as MGSV a "Konami" branded game, rather than "Kojima", will help them.
That's how I see the "HQ-focused" changes are working, they want to make it like what Rockstar, Ubisoft and other big companies does.
I don't know if this really means that Kojima is leaving, the thing this that for him to allow to scrap his name of all, must be something that requires him to leave his ego aside. And we know that's hard. Perhaps he will take some time off and then continue to make Silent Hills, "a Konami Game, directed by GUILLERMO DEL TORO and Hideo Kojima".
By making something as big - and good - as MGSV a "Konami" branded game, rather than "Kojima", will help them.
That's how I see the "HQ-focused" changes are working, they want to make it like what Rockstar, Ubisoft and other big companies does.
I don't know if this really means that Kojima is leaving, the thing this that for him to allow to scrap his name of all, must be something that requires him to leave his ego aside. And we know that's hard. Perhaps he will take some time off and then continue to make Silent Hills, "a Konami Game, directed by GUILLERMO DEL TORO and Hideo Kojima".
Konami trolling the king of trolls himself?
Taken at face value, that would suggest that this was all planned before the restructuring announcement. However, looking at the version of the press release on SCE Asia's site, it seems like Konami actually went back and scrubbed all mentions of Kojima from the release date press release too?
Konami:
SCE:
Konami:
SCE:
http://asia.playstation.com/hk/en/newsdetail?id=3808
My guess is that there were a lot of layoffs at Kojipro (as mentioned in that tweet posted earlier) during the restructuring, and Kojima either did not agree to the folding of his namesake studios into Konami, or to the layoffs, or both and this is the result of whatever went down.
It would make sense if Kojima did leave in the fallout of such a scenario, but will stay on to complete MGSV and support MGO, that Konami then decide to de-emphasis his name from the MGS brand immediately and have people associate it with Konami instead.
Who even knows!
i hope you are right, but 4-5 months of polishing can do wonders in a game... so the doubt over how much this affects development is there...
spindashing
Banned
artsi
Member
Well a company is just paper, the people matter more. Nothing stops him from starting new and taking the key people with him.
Except some funky non-compete agreements.
legacyzero
Banned
Bring back Konami ID too, while you're at it Konami.
Joking
Removing his name from the boxart is stupid. His involvement in the promotion of MGS games over the last 15+ years made him into gaming developer legend. This move seems to be very shortsighted, or made by petty executives who have come to conclusion that in the mind eye of the public, their company is nothing without Kojima.
BreezyLimbo
Banned
Yeah...if it's anything like Western Devs, layoffs tend to happen near the end of the cycle of a games development. In which case would be bad news for KojiPro if they're near the end of production for MGSV..
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