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It Seems That Kojima Is Fultoning Everyone From Konami To Kojima Productions

C

Crazy Diamond

Member
Generally speaking, when a high ranking employee departs from an employer, the employer has multiple provisions in place to protect their interests, and ensure that the employee won't encroach on their territory. These provisions include non compete agreements, which bar the employee from holding a similar position to the one they held with the employer for a certain amount of time, and non poaching agreements, which prohibit the employee from asking others at the company to quit to come work with them.

In the case of Konami and Hideo Kojima, it seems that none of those apply whatsoever. Not only has Kojima quit Konami, and started his own new studio right away, but it also looks like he is siphoning off some of the best talent from Konami to his own new studio. We already know that he has Yoji Shinkawa, the Art Director, working with him, along with Ken-Ishiro Imaizumi, the Producer; personal assistant Ayako Terashima; and Shinji Hirano, the former President of Konami Europe.

But it looks like that's not all, either. Apparently, Kojima also has Masaki Saito and Jackie Tan, formerly game designers at Konami, working at his new studio. He's also managed to get Yasuhiro Kawakami, cinematic artist at Konami, working at the new Kojima Productions. Chihoko Uchiyama, who was the senior character designer at Konami, has also been recruited by Kojima. And in what is probably Kojima's biggest coup, he has Akio Sakamoto, the man who designed the core of the FOX Engine, working with him at the new Kojima Productions, too.
Click to expand...

Article

Jackie! Looks like Kojima and company have more than picked up the pieces. Not entirely sure how accurate gamingbolt is, but Jackie's Twitter bio reads "Kojima Productions" and that's a major get for them given his playtesting prowess he displayed prior to MGSV's launch.
 
A

AstroNut325

Member
0e3.png
 
K

Kaako

Felium Defensor
Good. Rise stronger than before. Create magic that sucks the remaining creative talent out of Konami's greasy veins. Take back what is yours.
 
C

Chaos2Frozen

Member
Kojima predicted that he has to do this, that's why he made the Fulton in peace walker because he knew that people would make it into a meme. All in preparation for his insurrection! /s
 
R

Risev1

Member
If nothing else, this just shows how much respect Kojima's co workers have for him. The all opted to follow him, regardless of the fact that they held high positions before
 
B

BreezyLimbo

Banned
Risev1 said:
If nothing else, this just shows how much respect Kojima's co workers have for him. The all opted to follow him, regardless of the fact that they held high positions before
Click to expand...

Not only that, but the opposite is true too, that Kojima has faith in his people. And that is just as important.
 
E

Eusis

Member
Well, would non-compete even count when they're practically not making video games anymore anyway? None in the sphere Kojima is in anyway.

(I doubt non-compete would actually work that way but I can see Konami maybe deciding the less of his time around the better and to freely bleed out those people. If not that, then Sony greasing the wheels so they don't come out badly for it.)
 
J

JayEH

Junior Member
Did notice in some of the pictures he's tweeted that he had some old kojipro people with him. Glad he's gathering as much as he can. I'm sure they're all happy to get out of the konami janitor closet.
 
J

Jintor

Member
Did their legal team seriously fail to put in non compete clauses? Is it not standard practice in Japanese firms?
 
B

Beartruck

Member
Thats a lotta talent. Could they be working on more than one game? Could Kojima have a side project thats a spiritual successor to Penguin adventure?

Not even joking, i love Pentaro. C'mon Koji, make it happen.
 
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