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[foxuzamaki]

Kind of surprised. And sad. Also not really that surprised.

No idea what happened but often when something like this does happen, usually the director is demanding some kind of royalty on the backend or trying to claim some form of IP ownership. Management gets spooked and pissed and tried to break association with the director because they invested in the project and demand 100% ownership of the rights and usage of IP.

It could also be that kojima kept demanding more freedom to do more IPs, I remember a few years ago Kojima put his frustrations on twitter about them canning a IP he really wanted to do for whatever reason.

 

[SargerusBR]

Kojima should join Platinum!! Imagine

Nah he should fund his own studio and invite Kamiya and Mikami to join him

 

[NoctisVsStar]

The day Konami died in the west.. Just gives us TPP and continue making your money of machine slots.

 

[doofy102]

Nobody said it was a power struggle over marketing. The marketing is a result of whatever went down. But I wouldn't think that MGSV was the problem.

Kojima has been openly worried about MGSV's content being a problem. It seems like a strong possibility. Do you have any idea what the problem might be, then?

 

[foxuzamaki]

So this really will be the final real Metal Gear game after all.

Fuck.
Konami you twats! They fuck up Hudson Soft, they fuck up Castlevania, Silent Hill and now this...
Reminds me of this old Jim Sterling video: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/5524-Konami

I can just taste what the next jimquistion will be about monday lol, course he might make the nintendo stuff priority first.

 

[FlashbladeGAF]

It's really starting to set in

No potential port or sequel to Policenauts and Snatcher
No Silent Hills
No Zone of Enders 3
No Metal Gear Rising 2
No proper (Koji approved) sequel or remake to the Metal Gear Saga

No Kojima with a AAA budget!

 

[doofy102]

a) Kojima and co would not be hanging around to help ruin their vision for the game,
b) Konami would not need them to be around to make that happen, they can hand the game off to the KP staff who decide to stay, or some other team to finish.

I think this is wrong. Kojima would stay. He cares too much about the project to abandon it like that.

 

[ProfessorMoran]

Kojima should join Platinum!! Imagine

Platinum has consistently failed to hit it big commercially, it would bankrupt them to have Kojima join.

 

[Steverulez]

Kojima has been openly worried about MGSV's content being a problem. It seems like a strong possibility. Do you have any idea what the problem might be, then?

Perhaps Konami are unhappy its taken so long and he's been talking about "too much content" and they think he's just been adding shit in and taking much longer than he should have with it?

The disagreement we're obviously seeing here would also suggest the June/September rumour was right perhaps? Given that it was for marketing reasons that they wanted it out in September, at least it will be very polished, I hope.

 

[watership]

I wonder where Kojima will end up. He won't be lacking in offers. And since he likes being multiplaform, I doubt it'll be Sony. Maybe start his own company?

 

[Deckard Chapel]

If Konami are fucking with the game itself, I don't think I will be able to support it. Will actually buy used, and that's something I never do.

This.

Also, I think Kojima has known about this for a little while now. I remember thinking he seemed odd - almost distant in the MGSV: TPP release date reveal video. I thought nothing of it but looking back - it seems like he was sad about this.

Also, he tweeted something about the MGSV:TPP marketing posters and how there are only a few now or something to that effect. Maybe knowing that his name would be removed and the posters would be even more rare?

Here it is:

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/575110975692517376

 

[hirokazu]

Kojima has been openly worried about MGSV's content being a problem. It seems like a strong possibility. Do you have any idea what the problem might be, then?

I would guess the future direction of Konami, Kojima Productions, or what Hideo can make. You don't think any issues with the content of the game wouldn't have been raised and sorted out earlier?

 

[Steverulez]

I wonder where Kojima will end up. He won't be lacking in offers. And since he likes being multiplaform, I doubt it'll be Sony. Maybe start his own company?

I thought multiplatform was something he kind of had to do (not forced) but felt he couldn't stay exclusive to Sony, rather than actually wanting to do it. Made too much sense not to be exclusive

 

[FlashbladeGAF]

Platinum has consistently failed to hit it big commercially, it would bankrupt them to have Kojima join.

Yet they are still producing games.
You don't need to "hit it big" to be successful.

And who knows, maybe Kojima's ideas outside of MG may be something the gaming audience would embrace.

 

[doofy102]

I would guess the future direction of Konami, Kojima Productions, or what Hideo can make. You don't think any issues with the content of the game wouldn't have been raised and sorted out earlier?

Fair point,

But the scenario you're offering is one that sounds like a peaceful "business" agreement. Konami and Kojima have reached an agreement about how Kojima will leave, and how Konami will proceed. What's actually happening, we've heard, is quite hostile. Kojima and staff have been banned from corporate emails. There has to be more to it. There has to be a reason Kojima is leaving in the first place. This wasn't the plan.

 

[hirokazu]

Also, he tweeted something about the MGSV:TPP marketing posters and how there are only a few now or something to that effect. Maybe knowing that his name would be removed and the posters would be even more rare?

Here it is:
https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/575110975692517376

Pretty sure that just says "There's only a couple of these posters currently exist," but the meaning got lost in translation.

 

[The Lamp]

I swear, Konami, if you lay a censoring finger on MGSV's content because of today's news, I will make it my virtuous mission to preach a gospel of hatred for your company to every gamer I ever come in contact with from now on.

 

[entremet]

Where people really expecting ZOE3? From this Konami?

Even if KojiPro stayed put, I would've expected Silent Hills to be next major project and then another MGS game of course.

 

[LiquidSolid]

Based on the fact that nobody really makes cinema-heavy games anymore.....unlike that 1998-2004 period, nobody is trying to ape the cutscene-heavy style of Final Fantasy and Metal Gear.

But MGS5 is an attempt to tone down the dramatic dialogues and bring in open-world mechanics, which is why it's something of a test to see if Kojima can continue to make games that are relevant and successful in the AAA development.

So games like The Last of Us don't count as cutscene heavy games? Your definition seems so vague that of course no-one's making them anymore.

Ground Zeroes debuted at #6 on the March NPD with the highest-selling SKU moving 141K copies. After that it disappeared from the NPD. While I don't think it's fair to compare that to the sales of proper full-sized MGS games, I'm not sure if it bodes very well for the series.

NPD figures might be relevant if Konami didn't push digital as heavily as they did.

I'm honestly pretty amazed anyone would seriously think MGSV isn't going to be a huge success.

5 years of development time is something that nobody but Rockstar can or will afford anymore. Konami got an engine they can use, but that slow development time means that the effort poured into putting FOX Engine on 360/PS3 is kinda useless since those platforms are now nearly irrelevant.

I personally expect that like most people who have spent a couple decades in the AAA space, Kojima will probably "retire" to smaller projects.

5 years of development time isn't really that rare and as a one-off, while building an engine that will be used for years to come, is perfectly understandable. Whether they wasted some time getting it to scale down to PS3/360 doesn't really matter that much, given that we also know it scales up incredibly well to the PS4 and even more powerful PCs.

You really think he'd "retire" to work on smaller projects? I think you're just making up shit now. There's no reason to believe he'd do that, especially based on most of the other examples we have. Sakaguchi's really the only big Japanese "name" that's turned to mobile games and that was more out of necessity than anything else.

Edit: Oh wait, you're referring to indie games too, not just mobile games. So I guess that'd include Iga and Inafune. Even so, I don't think there's any reason to believe Kojima wants to go back to those days of small scale games, he seems to love the big scale he can operate on with games like MGSV. So I still think it's a ridiculous suggestion.

 

[Freezasaurus]

I swear, Konami, if you lay a censoring finger on MGSV's content because of today's news, I will make it my virtuous mission to preach a gospel of hatred for your company to every gamer I ever come in contact with from now on.

That sounds kind of exhausting.

 

[zoutlaw]

It's almost enough to make me not buy MGS5 altogether, but I know that is doing injustice to his work, and that he poured zillions of hours into this so that fans would enjoy it.

Konami needs to do some face saving and leave the "A Hideo Kojima Game" on at least MGS5. This hasn't gone gold yet either so I could see his name literally only showing up in the credits and them giving a big middle finger to it being anywhere else.

My utmost biggest concern is the handling of Metal Gear Online now. That is THE reason MGS5 is my most hyped game in forever, and if this is a nail in the coffin to the LA studio as well, then we can kiss goodbye great support for the game post launch or hell even remotely good servers at launch.

At this point they could launch absolute dog shit if they wanted and not care, but I hope they don't do that and knock it out of the park. I've needed MGO in my life again for so long. I've been listening to the OST online on youtube lately. So goooood.

 

[ArcLyte]

I am fucking shocked to my core that Kojima won't be retaining any ownership of the MGS brand. I really hope that's not the case.

 

[Wolves Evolve]

Kojima wanted David Hayter confirmed.

 

[Steverulez]

I am fucking shocked to my core that Kojima won't be retaining any ownership of the MGS brand. I really hope that's not the case.

It was made as a product of Konami, how many times has an individual retained ownership of the IP? It might have been more common back in the day but its completely unheard of now

 

[Sterok]

What happened to Konami? Why did they bleed most/all of their talent and become the thing they are today? Was it the corporate vision? Chasing mobile money? Interpersonal fights? I could never understand exactly what happened to them to fall so much. The company will survive just fine, but it seems that they don't have much relevance to the people here anymore.

 

[FlashbladeGAF]

Based on the fact that nobody really makes cinema-heavy games anymore.....unlike that 1998-2004 period, nobody is trying to ape the cutscene-heavy style of Final Fantasy and Metal Gear.

MGS.... the title that showed you could still show a decent immersive story with in-game assets instead of the more expensive, flashier CG option.

Something that is totally not being aped today with the rising development costs.

What happened to Konami? Why did they bleed most/all of their talent and become the thing they are today? Was it the corporate vision? Chasing mobile money? Interpersonal fights? I could never understand exactly what happened to them to fall so much. The company will survive just fine, but it seems that they don't have much relevance to the people here anymore.

Other than Nintendo, Every major company has relied on the IP instead of the talent that created them.

Sega
Capcom
Square
Konami
Hudson
SNK

Only a few stragglers remain, probably because they got paid to stay.
This keeps up, Japan's gaming industry will be dead.

These guys created genres, earning the company millions. And they couldn't give them a decent raise?
Every company should have been like Nintendo to where they are paying their developers so much, they have to turn down money, like Miyamoto.

For all the shit he gets, I imagine if Iwata wasn't President, Miyamoto and Nintendo would have gone the way of Yu Suzuki and Sega.
Atleast Miyamoto was able to properly train the new generation.

 

[Schnauzer]

Come on Sony! Do the right thing and get Kojima NOW!

 

[NoctisVsStar]

What happened to Konami? Why did they bleed most/all of their talent and become the thing they are today? Was it the corporate vision? Chasing mobile money? Interpersonal fights? I could never understand exactly what happened to them to fall so much. The company will survive just fine, but it seems that they don't have much relevance to the people here anymore.

Deadman walking konami ( In the gaming side )

Luckly SE & Capcom are starting to wake up.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

They haven't updated their steam page for the game yet. Still says 'Hideo Kojima game' and mentions KojiProd.

 

[EatinOlives]

No Kojima with a AAA budget!

Kojima himself can easily land a position in any gaming company he wants. He would have absolutely no trouble securing a AAA budget for his next game if that's what he wants.

 

[pants]

You've got this all wrong, this is a great day. Kojima can make whatever the fuck it is he wants to now. New ideas. No baggage. Praise Jesus

 

[FlashbladeGAF]

Kojima himself can easily land a position in any gaming company he wants. He would have absolutely no trouble securing a AAA budget for his next game if that's what he wants.

I'd like to think that, but when money gets involved you never know how hands off or on the investor/producer will truly be.
An outside perspective is good mind you, but you don't want to many cooks in the kitchen.

Especially for A Hideo Kojima Game

 

[Genkobar]

God damn. Power struggle, huh?

I can see one silver lining to this whole thing though; now Kojima can't get pulled back into doing Metal Gear like every time he talks about doing something else, and actually make something new. I look forward to seeing that.

 

[Booshka]

I am optimistic this is a net gain for Kojima, he can finally work on something else.

Silent Hills is the biggest potential loss here.

Konami can focus on their Casino games and fade out of video games.

 

[Betty]

You've got this all wrong, this is a great day. Kojima can make whatever the fuck it is he wants to now. New ideas. No baggage. Praise Jesus

With far less money, and depending on which publisher he goes with, a whole new host of headaches to contend with.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Man, this whole thing still hasn't set in for me. I hate that it's happening, but the deafening disappointment hasn't quite hit yet.

 

[doofy102]

Will we ever know the truth?

 

[EatinOlives]

I'd like to think that, but when money gets involved you never know how hands off or on the investor/producer will truly be.
An outside perspective is good mind you, but you don't want to many cooks in the kitchen.

Especially for A Hideo Kojima Game

I could easily see him teaming up with SCEJ.

1) Located in his home country
2) MGS was a Sony exclusive for pretty much the entirety of the series
3) Sony can give him the money he wants/needs
4) Sony's got a good track record of hands-off development

 

[border]

So games like The Last of Us don't count as cutscene heavy games? Your definition seems so vague that of course no-one's making them anymore.

I would define "cutscene-heavy" as games where you regularly give up any player control to a story sequence for an inordinately extended period of time (5-10 minutes or more). It could be extended NPC dialogue or a more elaborately choreographed action scene. I don't think The Last of Us would really fit this bill, as most of the cutscenes are pretty brief and occur at natural progression points between stages.

NPD figures might be relevant if Konami didn't push digital as heavily as they did.

Even for the most successful AAA publishers, digital sales are still a fraction of physical sales. How many digital copies of Ground Zeroes do you really think they sold?

I don't know what kind of success MGSV is going to be. It will certainly do better than Ground Zeroes, with a bigger marketing campaign and a release date closer to the holidays. But it will also have a lot more of the heavy-hitter holiday games to contend with.....and may end up releasing quite close to Halo. I think a lot of it hinges on how the game turns out and how big of a push it gets from the enthusiast press. Is it a fun stealth-action romp for everyone or is it simply going to be nonsensical junk to anyone that hasn't really devotedly followed the series? Reaction to Ground Zeroes seems mixed, though it's hard to go by reviews since so many outlets penalized it for being so incredibly short.

At any rate, Konami just burned all their bridges with their most valuable and respected employee, but they did it for a reason. Maybe it's not a good reason or one that you agree with, but it isn't just for spite or because "Konami is stupid". What do you believe this reason to be? My personal thought is that the franchise probably isn't tracking to do as well as it used to, Ground Zeroes sales being an early indicator. If MGS5 is going to be an unstoppable hit that completely justifies its development budget and 5 year development cycle, why is Kojima getting axed?

 

[Radec]

Inb4 "Kojima joins Nintendo"

Sony seems like a better fit, but Nintendo seems much more "free" to creativity and letting him do anything he wants to do.

Nintendo is the least "free" to creativity than Sony.

 

[Savitar]

Will we ever know the truth?

The only people that know the truth will be some dead presidents.

 

[border]

MGS.... the title that showed you could still show a decent immersive story with in-game assets instead of the more expensive, flashier CG option.

Something that is totally not being aped today with the rising development costs.

I think the last remnant of Kojima-styled narrative in at least Western AAA games was Assassin's Creed 1, where every time you assassinated a major target the person you killed would give you some long-winded speech about their life in the style of Sniper Wolf or Vulcan Raven. Then in future AC games you just killed the dude and kept on running.

 

[Booshka]

Kadokawa, From Software and Miyazaki need to hire Kojima to start working on a new Zone of the Enders with Chromehounds style MP and ties to Armored Core.

Or whatever, just hire Kojima, and build a team.

 

[ZenTzen]

personally, this'll be great for Kojima, now he wont be permanently glued to the MGS chair and finally do something else like he wanted to

on the other hand this pratically means Konami is out of the gamming business and all its IPs, besides PES, even MGS will eventually go into obscurity

No chance of a new ZOE game happening, Castlevania? after LOS2? another dead franchise, Silent Hills is probably gonna be the last HURRAH of that ip, Contra, Suikoden, etc, etc, etcetera, and Hudsons Blody Rage, well, not like konami was doing anything with that

 

[Nightengale]

Kojima joins Polyphony.

Omega Boost 2 aka ZoE3.

 

[McLovin]

How incredibly stupid of Konami, it's like Disney having a fallout with Mickey mouse.

 

[James Scott]

Nintendo is the least "free" to creativity than Sony.

If he's an independent contractor that grants him the most creative freedom. He could take jobs from anyone on any platform (including MS, Sony, and Nintendo)

 

[RealityPales]

Does this mean we won't get a Metal Gear set during World War II involving the Cobra Unit?

 

[Gun Animal]

I've been wanting Kojima to leave Konami since MGS4, but not like this... Not like this. I've never seen a corporation act so childishly in my life.

 

[nephilimdj]

Nah he should fund his own studio and invite Kamiya and Mikami to join him

I agree with this, Kojima needs to own his IP, platinum cant offer that

What if Ubisoft got him for the division?