[url]http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/metal_gear_solid_5_the_phantom_pain/news/konami_responds_to_hideo_kojima_exit_rumours.html[/url]
[quote]Konami has responded to rumours circulating this morning suggesting that Metal Gear Solid director Hideo Kojima has left the company.
In a statement provided to VideoGamer.com, a Konami representative said: "Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements."[/quote]
MGSV WEBSITE NO LONGER SAYS "KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS" OR "A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME"
[url]http://www.konami.jp/mgs5/tpp/en/index.php5[/url]
[url]https://twitter.com/Kojima_Pro_Live/status/578473094995542016[/url]
[url]http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/index.html[/url]
[url]https://twitter.com/Yoshidamian/status/577761486358982656[/url]
[url]https://twitter.com/kojima_pro/status/578470996442644480[/url]
[url]https://twitter.com/Kojima_Pro_Live/status/578473094995542016[/url]
[url]http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/news/release/2015/0304/?cm_sp=01-_-release-_-20150304-e[/url]
[thumb]http://i.imgur.com/iqzzRJj.jpg[/thumb]
What the hell is going on
Damn, maybe he's just stepping down from working on MGS since he still has Silent Hills to do.
Maybe. I heard he was tired of working on the Metal Gear Solid series.
It's not just MGS5.
[img]http://abload.de/img/before72zvj.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=The Kins;47354634]It's not just MGS5.
[img]http://abload.de/img/before72zvj.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
What the fuck.
This is like when WWE removed Chris Benoit from everything, except I can actually see why they would do that. But this?
I wonder why they're doing it.
he better still be working on silent hills
Nope, I was wrong. Fuck
To be fair I've never really liked the idea of it being a "Hideo Kojima game", when hundreds of people pour years of their lives into making these alongside him.
[QUOTE=Ganerumo;47354663]It coincides with Ground Zeroe's first anniversary.
It's an ARG, nothing to worry about.[/QUOTE]
On top of that I read somewhere that he would be "officially" stepping down on April 1st.
Yep, this is an ARG
I hope :tinfoil:
[QUOTE=Problem;47354664]To be fair I've never really liked the idea of it being a "Hideo Kojima game", when hundreds of people pour years of their lives into making these alongside him.[/QUOTE]
Its sort of like when movies tag a movie as a "Spielberg film" and whatnot. Its a marketing thing.
I get what your saying though.
[QUOTE=Dr._Medic;47354670]On top of that I read somewhere that he would be "officially" stepping down on April 1st.
Yep, this is an ARG
I hope :tinfoil:[/QUOTE]
Don't trust any news sources, some people are claiming stupid shit like that japanese news sources say he sexually abused Stefanie (Quiet's face mocap) and Konami fired him for it.
[QUOTE=Dr._Medic;47354670]On top of that I read somewhere that he would be "officially" stepping down on April 1st.
Yep, this is an ARG
I hope :tinfoil:[/QUOTE]The note excluding Kojima from Konami's executive as of April 1 was an investor report.
April 1 is when Konami's financial year starts.
You don't put jokey jokes in your investor data, unless you want your stock to fall through the floor.
-Snip-
"Please look forward to future announcements."
Means an announcement is coming.
If I had to guess I'd say Kojima is probably looking at starting his own company or going freelance. Metal Gear and such still have rights tied up at Konami so he can't take them with him. But he'll no longer contractually obliged to work on a Metal Gear next time Konami remembers it literally has nothing else and wants to force one out later down the line, which I imagine he'd want.
Crossposting from the MGS megathread... [url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-03-19-hideo-kojimas-name-removed-from-metal-gear-solid-5-branding]From Eurogamer[/url]:
[quote]The branding changes appear to relate to a restructure at Konami, announced earlier this month, to what the company calls "a headquarters-controlled system".
The idea seems to be that Konami should be front and centre of all branding and production efforts, not individual studios such as Kojima's Kojima Productions. This, in part, would explain the removal of the "A Hideo Kojima game" tagline, used in all Metal Gear Solid games up to this point.
"As we have already announced, we are shifting our production structure to a headquarters-controlled system, in order to establish a steadfast operating base capable of responding to the rapid market changes that surround our digital entertainment business."
Konami's statements will do nothing to assuage concern that Kojima has exited - or plans to exit - Konami.
At the time of publication, the legendary video game designer had yet to address the issue on Twitter.[/quote]
That puts it more in line with Western philosphy, which makes sense. I was worried for a second there.
he folded to DSP's insults.
It looks naked without the Hideo. How could they remove Hideo from the game?! He's my favorite character!
[url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kojima-expected-to-leave-konami-after-mgs5-inside-/1100-6426024/]Scuttlebutt from Gamespot...[/url]
[quote]A fallout between Kojima Productions and its owning publisher, Konami, has led to senior staff at the studio being restricted access to corporate internet, emails, and phone, GameSpot understands.
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.
The extraordinary measures were revealed by a source within the studio, speaking to GameSpot on the condition of anonymity. The person explained that, once the Phantom Pain project is finished, in all likelihood the management at the studio will disband.
"After we finish MGSV, Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami. They said their contract ends in December," the source claimed.
The person added: "At a team meeting, Mr Kojima explained that team have to be one and make a good game for fans."[/quote]
Wow.
If thats true I wouldn't be shocked at all. Will have to wait and see.
That also means that Silent Hills is dead.
Wow, fuck Konami.
Well, Konami just shot themselves in the foot. [I]Again.[/I]
God damnit Konami can you just let Kojima do what he wants for once
wtf is going on
This isn't good for Konami, they're not really much without Kojima. Sad though, because I love MGS.
[QUOTE=LoLWaT?;47355532]That talk about Konami forcing more Metal Gears wasn't actually true right? Like KP had always been the one to initiate them despite Kojima always saying enough is enough, right? :v:
I know it's all about funding but that's a real fuck you[/QUOTE]
Well now it means they'll be able to outsource MGS and SH to more shitty obscure western developers and try to milk a cow that nobody wants to get near because all the originators are out.
[QUOTE=The Kins;47354634]It's not just MGS5.
[img]http://abload.de/img/before72zvj.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
Get fucked Konami, even if you have a falling out, it is still his series, that's just being childish.
This isn't really all that surprising. Kojima has been the face of Konami's home console games for a while now; in addition to Metal Gear stuff, he had a hand in the new Castlevania games, he was working on the new Silent Hill game, and probably even helped the Pro Evolution Soccer team get setup with the FOX engine. However, Konami's top brass have been steadily becoming less interested in console games, and it only makes sense that there would be conflict and eventually a conclusion like this. It's a bit of a shame, but hopefully Kojima can pick up and move to something just as interesting.
The only bright side of this is that Kojima will be able to do whatever the hell he wants and will likely move onto smaller experimental projects like he once did with ZOE and Snatcher and the likes.
