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[NightShift]

Woke up all refreshed this morning after a 10 hour sleep. Got up, put the kettle on and found out Kojima is getting kicked out of Konami, destroying the chance of Silent Hills, ZoE 3 and all future Metal Gear titles.

Fuck. This. Earth.

 

[Comfort Jones]

Yep, totally. That's the smart play Sony needs to make and pitch to their shareholders: "So yeah we're gonna spend a couple hundred million dollars to give this eccentric, Japanese auteur his own studio and tell him to do whatever he wants, since that is a proven strategy for timely ROE given our work with other eccentric Japanese auteur types like Fumito Ueda and Kazunori Yamauchi."

Are you seriously trying to say getting him would be a bad business move or something? Fumito Ueda has never been even close to Kojima's level of success.

Yeah not like basically all of his major titles have been giant AAA successes or anything lol nope he's WEIRD!

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Holy shit. This is like Miyamoto leaving Nintendo.

I'm 41 and I've seen a lot of shit go down in this industry, now with Konami being a shell of its former self, just incredible. SE, Capcom, Sega and now Konami, my youth is systematically being destroyed. I'll always have the 80's and the 90's to look back upon with fond memories.

Gah, it's a sobering experience when laid out like that. All those once great companies, now just hollow shells. No wonder my enthusiasms for gaming has waned so much as I got older despite tech getting better.

 

[J.EM1]

I agree, I just hope we get 100% of MGSV and not something worse due to downsizing before Sept 1st

This is my concern as well. Worried about the morale at Kojipro.

 

[LiquidSolid]

I sincerely doubt any real work has begun on Silent Hills (Kojima is too busy with MGSV). If he wanted to restart the project under a different name and engine I doubt it would be an issue.

Kojima being too busy with MGSV is only an issue if you seriously think he was going to direct Silent Hills and that's always been just a pipe dream some fans had. Kojima Productions were huge, I have no doubt a second team have been working on it for a while.

 

[EmptySpace]

Yep, totally. That's the smart play Sony needs to make and pitch to their shareholders: "So yeah we're gonna spend a couple hundred million dollars to give this eccentric, Japanese auteur his own studio and tell him to do whatever he wants, since that is a proven strategy for timely ROI given our work with other eccentric Japanese auteur types like Fumito Ueda and Kazunori Yamauchi."

you do know gran turismo is playstation's highest-selling 1st party franchise....

unless of course you're just speaking words out of your ass.

 

[Mr. RHC]

I'm sceptical.

 

[Eurocult]

Do we know if Kojima is actually unhappy about splitting from Konami? Maybe it's what he wanted.

 

[Sayter]

I'm excited to see what new games Kojipro will bring after the separation.

 

[Kindekuma]

My heart goes out to people in the KojiPro LA offices as well. Those people are working so hard to bring MGO3 to life, and their parent company just pulled a big middle finger to them by removing all traces of KojiPro.

Seriously, that's so messed up.

 

[FF Seraphim]

Gah, it's a sobering experience when laid out like that. All those once great companies, now just hollow shells. No wonder my enthusiasms for gaming has waned so much as I got older despite tech getting better.

Just wait until the same happens to the companies we look up to now as gamers...

When Naughty Dogs walks down the same path I will weep...

 

[Polioliolio]

Thank god. He can finally stop working for that crazy company.

Hope he goes indie. That'd be saaawheeet.

 

[Nightengale]

Yep, totally. That's the smart play Sony needs to make and pitch to their shareholders: "So yeah we're gonna spend a couple hundred million dollars to give this eccentric Japanese auteur his own studio and tell him to do whatever he wants, since that is a proven strategy for timely ROI given our work with other eccentric Japanese auteur types like Fumito Ueda and Kazunori Yamauchi."

Kazunori prints money for Sony tho.

 

[LiquidSolid]

Yep, totally. That's the smart play Sony needs to make and pitch to their shareholders: "So yeah we're gonna spend a couple hundred million dollars to give this eccentric Japanese auteur his own studio and tell him to do whatever he wants, since that is a proven strategy for timely ROI given our work with other eccentric Japanese auteur types like Fumito Ueda and Kazunori Yamauchi."

Yeah, Sony would be in a much better place if they were more like Konami and told their best creative minds to fuck off. Brilliant idea, just look at how well that strategy has turned out for Capcom.

 

[Comfort Jones]

Do we know if Kojima is actually unhappy about splitting from Konami? Maybe it's what he wanted.

"Along with the restricted communications, key developers at the studio, such as Hideo Kojima, will now have limited opportunities to lend their appearance to promotions of the studio’s upcoming game, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Power struggles between Kojima Productions and Konami have led the publisher to make drastic changes, including the employee status of its Metal Gear team. Some senior staff at the studio, including Kojima, now essentially work as contractors, not permanent employees"

Nothing about this sounds like something he would want.

 

[pupcoffee]

This is my concern as well. Worried about the morale at Kojipro.

I think, in a way, they've been preparing for something catastrophic since they started making MGSV. Koima has been openly worried that the game will go so far "over the line" that he'll have to (quote) "Leave the games industry." He admitted not mentioning the "race" theme the Konami CEO's when pitching the game. His attitude seems to be that if he goes out, at least he'll finally be going with a bang. The man just doesn't give a fuck this time. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the fallback came from him resisting censorship.

 

[Sn4ke_911]

 

[2thepoint]

Yep, totally. That's the smart play Sony needs to make and pitch to their shareholders: "So yeah we're gonna spend a couple hundred million dollars to give this eccentric Japanese auteur his own studio and tell him to do whatever he wants, since that is a proven strategy for timely ROI given our work with other eccentric Japanese auteur types like Fumito Ueda and Kazunori Yamauchi."

Well, at least with Kojima, a working title will result - unlike Ueda.

Yamauchi is still working on Gran Turismo PS4 - please be excited when it is announced in the next decade.

If it proved relatively cost effective, I'd recommend Sony at least trying to grab him before someone else does.

 

[Brhoom]

I bought a ps4 for silent hill with my sister after i convinced her to...

 

[hirokazu]

Kojima being too busy with MGSV is only an issue if you seriously think he was going to direct Silent Hills and that's always been just a pipe dream some fans had. Kojima Productions were huge, I have no doubt a second team have been working on it for a while.

It is possibly that he takes Del Toro and Norman Reedus with him and they start from scratch though. If it is under development, I don't think those two would stick around with Kojima gone.

The biggest obstacle to the KojiPro team that leaves is that they spent so many years on Fox Engine and now they'll have to either make a new engine or license one when they leave Konami.

 

[LilWayneSuckz]

Fuck! PT was one of the things that has gotten me excited about gaming this gen.... This is awful news . First the Nintendo news and now this? Uhh :/

He might end up going to Sony and developing a Silent Hills successor

 

[Mr. RHC]

Epic! I was gonna post this too! The Snake Soup is going in! Now comrades, we must do battle!

Ch~aa~~rgeeee! #aHideoKojimaGame

 

[sublimit]

Konami has been a sinking ship ever since 2004.Zero respect for their own titles and their legacy and the only games that were keeping them relevant in the console business were MGS and ProEvo.
It's a good thing that Kojima has left or else he may have drowned with them.

 

[Suzushiiro]

Yep, totally. That's the smart play Sony needs to make and pitch to their shareholders: "So yeah we're gonna spend a couple hundred million dollars to give this eccentric, Japanese auteur his own studio and tell him to do whatever he wants, since that is a proven strategy for timely ROI given our work with other eccentric Japanese auteur types like Fumito Ueda and Kazunori Yamauchi."

Kojima has a consistent enough track record to be worth it, I'd say. Has any game directed by Kojima in the past twenty years been a commercial flop?

I mean, he probably wouldn't get a literal blank check with anyone, but Sony would probably offer him more budget/freedom than anyone else.

 

[Sayter]

Do we know if Kojima is actually unhappy about splitting from Konami? Maybe it's what he wanted.

Hard to tell with. He seems to have one facial expression.

Here he is happy.

Sad

Delighted

Outraged

Distressed

Awake

Asleep

 

[guill]

Guys, do you think Sins of the Father was Kojima foretelling what was going to happen?

Pride feeds their blackened hearts.
And the thirst must be quenched to fuel hypocrisy
Cleansing flames is the only way to repent.
Renounce what made you...

 

[Boke1879]

Yep, totally. That's the smart play Sony needs to make and pitch to their shareholders: "So yeah we're gonna spend a couple hundred million dollars to give this eccentric Japanese auteur his own studio and tell him to do whatever he wants, since that is a proven strategy for timely ROI given our work with other eccentric Japanese auteur types like Fumito Ueda and Kazunori Yamauchi."

Who said anything about giving him 100's of millions? Sony could easily do something similar like they are doing with Bloodborne

 

[dolabla]

This is hard to believe. Oh well, I guess things happen sometimes.

 

[Storm360]

I say we as fans edit any promo material Konami puts out to add A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME on it, Trailers etc, I'm already debating scanning my box arts day one to add it in

 

[cafemomo]

God how awful.

Im going to have to resort to making a custom cover with "A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME"

 

[pupcoffee]

Guys, do you think Sins of the Father was Kojima foretelling what was going to happen?

Pride feeds their blackened hearts.
And the thirst must be quenched to fuel hypocrisy
Cleansing flames is the only way to repent.
Renounce what made you...

The ending of Ground Zeroes was Kojima foretelling the destruction of Kojima Productions.

Diamond Dogs is the overshadowing of Kojima's next studio.

 

[MickeyKnox]

Are you seriously trying to say getting him would be a bad business move or something? Fumito Ueda has never been even close to Kojima's level of success.

Yeah not like basically all of his major titles have been giant AAA successes or anything lol nope he's WEIRD!

It's a dumbass business move, Sony, hell the industry in general, is no longer in a place where you can give one dude's vision a blank check, nonexistent deadlines and expect to stay in business let alone turn a profit.

Now, if one of these auteur types were to start their OWN studio, with vc THEY secured and get a smaller scale project going that looks interesting, then sure start doing the 3rd party courtship dance.

 

[Comfort Jones]

Hard to tell with. He seems to have one facial expression.

Must your image be that damn big?

 

[duhmetree]

How much would KojiPro and Fox Engine.cost? $25M? $50M? I honestly have no clue. There's would be no IP involved just the studio talent and the fox engine.

Might be a win-win for Konami. Finally realize profits from MGSV then sell KojiPro

OR does Konami think they can still do MGS without Kojima?

 

[2thepoint]

Hard to tell with. He seems to have one facial expression.

Here he is happy.

Sad

Delighted

Outraged

Distressed

Awake

Asleep

hahahahahha, oh my, that was funny.

This is one of the dumbest decisions I think I have ever seen in gaming.

Kojima is basically carrying that fucking company and they just toss him like that.

And then have the nerve to remove his name and evaporate Kojima Productions - insulting as a word doesn't even cover it.

Konami must be leaving games development, and if so, sell the Metal Gear IP and give someone else a shot at it.

 

[Eurocult]

"Along with the restricted communications, key developers at the studio, such as Hideo Kojima, will now have limited opportunities to lend their appearance to promotions of the studio’s upcoming game, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Power struggles between Kojima Productions and Konami have led the publisher to make drastic changes, including the employee status of its Metal Gear team. Some senior staff at the studio, including Kojima, now essentially work as contractors, not permanent employees"

Nothing about this sounds like something he would want.

I read that, but what if Konami wanted Kojima to renew his contract, but he didn't want to. Konami then punishes Kojima by removing his name from the cover art, not letting him engage his fans, etc leading up to the release he's poured his heart into? **I know. This is just out there speculation, but there's always more to these kind of stories.**

Hard to tell with. He seems to have one facial expression.

LOL

 

[III-V]

A guy like this does not get kicked for bad behavior/poor performance. This is his doing. He has a plan.

 

[Comfort Jones]

It's a dumbass business move, Sony, hell the industry in general, is no longer in a place where you can give one dude's vision a blank check, nonexistent deadlines and expect to stay in business let alone turn a profit.

Wow it sure is fun to just make things up as you go to support this goofy vague argument of yours. As if Kojima has ever done anything to fuck over Konami money wise, the man knows what he's doing. If he got picked up by Sony he'd do just as fine if not better.

 

[MagnesD3]

This industry disappoints me

 

[J.EM1]

I think, in a way, they've been preparing for something catastrophic since they started making MGSV. Koima has been openly worried that the game will go so far "over the line" that he'll have to (quote) "Leave the games industry." He admitted not mentioning the "race" theme the Konami CEO's when pitching the game. His attitude seems to be that if he goes out, at least he'll finally be going with a bang. The man just doesn't give a fuck this time. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the fallback came from him resisting censorship.

Very true. Kojima always ahead of the curve, prepared and ready.

 

[GreyOcelot]

This is fucking DISGUSTING. Could you imagine if they removed Martin Scorsese's name from Goodfellas or Tarantino's name from Pulp Fiction? Just disrespectful as fuck

 

[wingwah]

At least Konami still has....oh wait, nothing

 

[Ozium]

 

[RK9039]

At least Konami still has....oh wait, nothing

They still have MercurySteam.

 

[III-V]

This is fucking DISGUSTING. Could you imagine if they removed Martin Scorsese's name from Goodfellas or Tarantino's name from Pulp Fiction? Just disrespectful as fuck

Yea, its a bad move by Konami all around, it will only hurt them.

 

[DXLelouch153]

He loves Metal Gear. Why would he be happy?

now he gets to be the main character again in whatever game Kojima makes next

 

[Simply Sami]

Konami has been a sinking ship ever since 2004.Zero respect for their own titles and their legacy and the only games that were keeping them relevant in the console business were MGS and ProEvo.
It's a good thing that Kojima has left or else he may have drowned with them.

Pro Evo has been terrible since 2006.

 

[sublimit]

^I have no idea about its quality i was never interested personally.I only mentioned it because of its popularity especially in Europe.

At least Konami still has....oh wait, nothing

Well they have Pro Evolution Soccer.

 

[Zaki2407]

Just arrived at the office, made a coffee, and tried to read GAF before doing work. Shocking news indeed. But, I think Kojima Production as a team can stand on their own feet right now. You know, they can make any kind of games they want and work with any kind of developer. It's funny though after all these years, when I heard the word "Metal Gear Solid", I associated it with Kojima (or Kojima Production), not Konami

 

[Poimandres]

I know this sucks for Konami, Silent Hills, and potentially MGSV... but I'm not as distraught over this news as a lot of people seem to be.

I feel like Kojima has been eager to break free from the MGS series for a while now. Hell, he's even said as much rather directly. For future Kojima games, this might actually be a good thing. Ultimately it remains to be seen, but I'd rather see Kojima really doing what he wants to do as opposed to being stuck making MGS games forever.