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Re: Kojima Productions Has Disbanded

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 5:01 pm
by deathzero23
..for those still wondering what happened after to the situation after MGSV's released.

Kojima says Final Farewell to Metal Gear Solid in Emotional Video
September 02, 2015
http://www.polygon.com/2015/9/2/9244141 ... gear-solid
With Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain released to overwhelmingly positive reviews, it seems it is time for series creator Hideo Kojima to say goodbye.

In this touching video, Kojima sits down with some of the talented people he's worked with over the years to discuss the 28-year-old series. Kojima is parting ways with longtime partner Konami with the release of The Phantom Pain after a still undisclosed fallout that resulted in the mothballing of a new Silent Hill game.

While some of this more than 10-minute-long video can get a bit self-aggrandizing, the ending pulls it all back to what Kojima says matters most to him: the fans.

It's an emotional ending you need to make sure to stick around and watch.
Report: Hideo Kojima has left Konami
October 19, 2015
http://www.polygon.com/2015/10/19/95709 ... gear-solid
Hideo Kojima, the creator of the Metal Gear Solid series, has left Konami, according to a report from The New Yorker.

The New Yorker reports that Oct. 9 was Kojima's last day at Konami, citing an anonymous source who said they attended Kojima's farewell party that day at Kojima Productions, his game studio in Tokyo.

Kojima's relationship with Konami began to show strain in March, when the company announced a corporate restructuring that left Kojima's name off the list of directors. He also began hinting at his planned exit from the studio in a series of tweets, while publicly stating his intention to break ties with the Metal Gear series he created.

Konami canceled Kojima's collaboration with Guillermo del Toro, Silent Hills, in April, suggesting further conflict between the parties. Later, in July, Kojima Productions, the studio he founded in 1986, was reportedly disbanded.

Kojima's most recent project with Konami was Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, the final entry in the series. His name, along with his studio's, was removed from the game's box art and other promotional materials.

Following the well-received Metal Gear Solid 5's Sept. 1 launch, Kojima was the focus of a sentimental farewell video, bidding goodbye to the series he oversaw over its entire run.

We have reached out to a representative from Konami for an official confirmation of Kojima's reported departure, and will update with more as we receive it.

For more on the myriad events leading up to Kojima's exit from his longtime home, check out our StoryStream.
Konami says Hideo Kojima is still an employee, just on a vacation
October 20, 2015
http://www.polygon.com/2015/10/20/95732 ... n-vacation
It might amount to monumental hair-splitting: Metal Gear Solid publisher Konami today denies that game developer Hideo Kojima has left the company.

Instead the company says, according to a Japanese site translated by Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft, that Kojima is on a well-deserved vacation after a protracted stint of development on Metal Gear Solid 5. What they don't say is if Kojima is going to return from this vacation.

"Currently, Kojima is listed as a company employee [at Konami]," according to a translated comment on Tokyo Sports from an unnamed Konami spokesperson. "Currently, Kojima and the development team are finished developing Metal Gear Solid 5 and are taking a long time off from work.

"Because the development time for console games is so long and fatigue builds up, it's common for employees to take extended periods of time off when development is finished."

The denial comes after a report in The New Yorker that Kojima had left the building (and company he worked for, after nearly three decades) for a final time earlier this month.

Simon Parkin reported for The New Yorker that there was even a going away party. But Konami writes it has no idea what that party was about.

Parkin responded with a picture of the mystery party.

Here is a photograph of Kojima's farewell party on October 9th at Konami, which Konami claims no knowledge of: pic.twitter.com/xgRUoYs5qt
— Simon Parkin (@SimonParkin) October 20, 2015

It's possible, perhaps even likely, that technically both Parkin and Konami are correct. Kojima has in fact left, but that his official last day won't be until accrued time off runs out (as well as a rumored non-compete.)

We've reached out to Konami to ask if Kojima will be returning to work after this vacation and will update this story when they respond.
Konami confirms closure of Kojima Productions Los Angeles Studio
November 03, 2015
http://www.polygon.com/2015/11/3/966723 ... metal-gear
Konami's L.A.-based development studio, the team formerly known as Kojima Productions Los Angeles, has been closed. Konami confirmed the studio's closure in a statement emailed to Polygon today.

"Konami has made the decision to close its Los Angeles Studio, effective immediately, due to the product development resources being restructured into a more centralized unit," Konami said. "This facility contributed to the recent Metal Gear Solid games. Konami will continue its operations to support all Metal Gear Solid titles, including the recently launched Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Online. Metal Gear Online is still scheduled to release for PC Steam in January 2016."

Kojima Productions L.A. officially opened for business in 2013 after a public recruitment campaign. The studio worked on Metal Gear Solid 5 and its competitive multiplayer component, Metal Gear Online.

"The Los Angeles studio emphasizes Konami and Kojima Productions commitment to expanding our development footprint," Konami Digital Entertainment president Tomoyuki Tsuboi said when the studio opened. "The new studio will put Kojima Productions in the heart of the west which will benefit future releases as it will introduce new talent and creativity to the development teams."

Kojima Productions Los Angeles was renamed to Konami Los Angeles Studio earlier this year, when Kojima Productions and Hideo Kojima's names were stripped from Metal Gear Solid websites and box art.

Rumors of Konami Los Angeles Studio's closure circulated on Twitter this week. Sources told Polygon that many staffers left in advance of the developer's closure, once turmoil between Konami and Kojima Productions became public knowledge. Kojima himself reportedly left Konami last month, though the publisher said that the man who created Metal Gear is instead "on vacation."
here's a 4 month old article but it makes sense...
Understanding What Has Really Happened At Konami
June 2, 2015
http://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder ... at-konami/
....Whether Kojima is some kind of amazing game designer is also debatable. Games are made by large numbers of people and while they are directed, the process is cumulative and the result of the talent of the entire team.

That talent still exists within Konami.

What’s more the reports of staff being made redundant are clearly unfounded. As it’s clear Konami want to retain their talent, whether that talent will stay to work on mobile games remains to be seen though.

In addition, while Silent Hills may be no more it’s clear that Konami still want to continue with the series and I’d be very surprised if they’d dump all that was created thus far and not re-use it in some way. The same goes for the future of Metal Gear.

All we are seeing here is what happens when your branding leaves a company as well as a belated and likely misguided shift into mobile gaming. I am sure Kojima will be fine and is probably already in talks with organizations like CAA to help him set up a new studio elsewhere.

As for Konami, this has definitely been a tumultuous period in their company’s history, though the shift into mobile gaming looks to be very risky considering how the market is shaping up in Asia. Whether Konami continues with their console gaming enterprise remains to be seen however and that in itself is a sad footnote to a company that brought a great deal of joy to gamers back in the day.
^some key points:
- Konami is a Family Business, The company owner's son took over and spearheaded the big decision.
- Konami as reported long time ago is moving to mobile gaming.
- MGS is made by talented people that handled by Kojima. Those people are still employed and will be retained by Konami.

..another article, MGS composer's Rika Muranaka's take on the issue:
Farewell sausage: Why Hideo Kojima leaving Konami is a good thing
September 7, 2015
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/what- ... ood-thing/
If rumours are to be believed, part of the reason Konami and Kojima have been butting heads is because Kojima refuses to compromise, causing the budget to exceed initial plans. Has there ever been a reused asset in a Metal Gear game? Clayton Daley, a co-host of The Codec Podcast, claims to have recently been part of an interview with series composer Rika Muranaka, in which she revealed the following:

“The main reason for the falling out, at least in her opinion, is that Kojima gets paid a salary, and doesn't make any profit share on the game. He gets paid a certain amount no matter what, and he was spending so much money and delaying the project, and adding all these features and making sure the game was the biggest and best thing it could be, and Konami was unhappy with that because [delaying] has no effect on him. He was spending the budget on this and that and upgrading the Fox Engine and then delaying further because the engine wasn't ready, and Konami wasn't happy with that because he gets his salary and he takes a more traditional "Japanese man" approach by not taking a profit share. So in doing that, he gets a little more than a game creator would but doesn't take bonuses from the game selling well…

“In her eyes, Kojima's a fantastic creator, and probably the best creator of his time, but he doesn't have a strong business sense like Konami would like him to have. Where instead of, for example, cutting corners by lowering foliage resolution, he wants to make sure everything looks as good and polished as possible. She said they paid for her to write 30-40 songs that ended up not being used, and he'd tell her to write another one, then another one, then another one, because he settles for what he likes and has a good mind for what people want to see and what people want to hear…”
... Since Konami wants cost-cutting and to cut corners, they have now the opportunity to remake MG1, MG2 and MGS1 to close the whole saga full circle back at Solid Snake. They could utilize the ex-KojiPro staff's talents. And they still have the Fox Engine.

Re: Kojima Productions Has Disbanded

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:37 am
by Daniel
Does the ex-KojiPro staff have the same vision as Hideo? Let's hope so.

Re: Kojima Productions Has Disbanded

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 6:36 pm
by grayfox17
Daniel wrote:Does the ex-KojiPro staff have the same vision as Hideo? Let's hope so.
for sure some (or all) of them do. I mean, having the chance to work with one of the most recognizable names in video game history is considered to be a privilege so it is natural lang that his staff inherits his "visions" for the franchise pero after what happened to kojima sigurado they'd rather keep their "ideals" to themselves than end up like him.

:mrgreen:

Re: Kojima Productions Has Disbanded

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 1:19 pm
by deathzero23
Koji-Pro staff?
Di ba nagkaproblema sila while making Revengeance nung una? Does it really the design is the only problem back then? Or baka some visions between Koji and his staff can't meet at least in between? Tapos Platinum lang pala sagot sa problema :lol:

I think may natutunan naman mga staff ni Koji sa tagal nilang nagsama-sama.
Whatever that is good left sana i-harness ng Konami ng maayos, puro sila mobile gaming at pachinko.
Yup cost cutting but there's a way to design console games pa rin without spending too much.
They still have the staff and the fox engine i think so better use it to the fullest.

Re: Kojima Productions Has Disbanded

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 1:42 pm
by Daniel
Sabagay. Tulad ng Team Ninja ngayon. Kung ano si Itagaki dati, kahit paano ganun si Hayashi ngayon. Kuha pa rin nila Hayashi ang magka ma-chix ni Itagaki, at hinigitan pa. Kaya mas daring ang Dead or Alive games ngayon. :lol:

Re: Kojima Productions Has Disbanded

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 5:03 pm
by deathzero23
^or baka mas "Ma-L" si Hayashi than Itagaki :lol:
Well, I'm curious if there's someone left among ex-KojiPro staff that can take the helm of Kojima in terms of vision but at the same time have the business sense of Konami's upper management. Will he be an another "frustrated film-maker" too? hehe.
And may game yata ang Koji-Pro that Kojima didn't have spent too much time overseeing it di ba?

Sony announces deal with Kojima, left Konami establishing new company. It's official

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 4:04 am
by mkmcarlos
Image

Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima officially left Konami on December 15 and is establishing a new studio with his former Konami staff, according to a Nikkei report.

Kojima is reportedly in final negotiations with Sony Computer Entertainment, and his new game is expected to launch first for PlayStation platform(s).

Source: Gematsu

Re: Nikkei: Kojima left Konami, establishing new company with former staff to make new PlayStation game

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 4:05 am
by mkmcarlos
Luma na itong picture na ito e. Hehe.

Image

Re: Nikkei: Kojima left Konami, establishing new company with former staff to make new PlayStation game

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 11:34 am
by Daniel
hehehe parang couple shirt and glass

Re: Nikkei: Kojima left Konami, establishing new company with former staff to make new PlayStation game

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 11:41 am
by z3kEn
masama lang naiwan yung mgs sa konami :(

Re: Nikkei: Kojima left Konami, establishing new company with former staff to make new PlayStation game

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 2:14 pm
by mkmcarlos
z3kEn wrote:masama lang naiwan yung mgs sa konami :(
Ayun nga lang. Sana gumawa naman si Kojima nang JRPG. Hehe.

Sony announces deal with Kojima, left Konami establishing new company. It's official

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 2:25 pm
by mkmcarlos
Image

Sony Computer Entertainment and Kojima Productions have entered into an agreement to develop its first software title as a console exclusive to PlayStation 4, the two companies announced.

Kojima Productions is a new studio formed by Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear.

“I will be taking on a new challenge by establishing my own independent studio, and I am thrilled to be able to embark on this journey with PlayStation, who I have continued to work with all these past years,” said Hideo Kojima. “I cannot wait to deliver, with PlayStation, a game that will become a compelling franchise.”

Get the announcement video and press release below.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Kojima Productions, a newly formed studio by the acclaimed game designer Hideo Kojima, to develop its first software title as a console exclusive to the PlayStation(R)4 (PS4(TM)) computer entertainment system.

“PlayStation(R)’s history is one of game innovation and great new franchises,” said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “Hideo Kojima has been a huge part of that history, and we are therefore delighted that he has chosen to bring his brand new project to life in partnership with PlayStation. We look forward to working with him on an exciting new game and warmly welcome him to the PlayStation family.”

“I will be taking on a new challenge by establishing my own independent studio, and I am thrilled to be able to embark on this journey with PlayStation, who I have continued to work with all these past years,” said Hideo Kojima, Game Designer, Kojima Productions. “I cannot wait to deliver, with PlayStation, a game that will become a compelling franchise.”

SCE will continue to expand the world of PS4 to deliver entertainment experiences that are only possible on PlayStation.


Source: Gematsu

Re: Sony and Kojima Productions enter agreement for new PS4 console exclusive title

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 2:26 pm
by mkmcarlos
Again, WATCH THE VIDEO Haha!

:cheer: :2thumbs:


New logo?

Image

Re: Sony and Kojima Productions enter agreement for new PS4 console exclusive title

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 2:59 pm
by ron_bato
This is big news for Sony. I hope this will be the spiritual successor to silent hills.

Re: Sony and Kojima Productions enter agreement for new PS4 console exclusive title

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 3:02 pm
by Oink McOink
A new translation of the Nikkei article suggests that Hideo Kojima is not in fact in discussions to form a new Sony studio. Rather, the report appears to claim he's launching a new studio of his own with other former Kojima Productions staffers and is in negotiations with Sony to have their first game debut on PlayStation. No further details about Kojima's next game are available.
It would have been awesome if they did, though.

Re: Sony and Kojima Productions enter agreement for new PS4 console exclusive title

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:02 pm
by grayfox17
i sure as hell hope kojima makes a new IP, wag puro MGS or identical to it na lang...

Re: Sony and Kojima Productions enter agreement for new PS4 console exclusive title

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:23 pm
by flipsflops
Wow. Marunong pala mag nihongo si Andrew House.

Re: Nikkei: Kojima left Konami, establishing new company with former staff to make new PlayStation game

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:32 pm
by z3kEn
Ituloy yung P.t with SCE japan studio ;)

Re: Sony and Kojima Productions enter agreement for new PS4 console exclusive title

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 8:52 pm
by ron_bato
flipsflops wrote:Wow. Marunong pala mag nihongo si Andrew House.
Sa isa sa mga pre-TGS events ng Sony dati, si Andrew House nag nihongo for the entire thing. Sobrang nakakagulat nung nangyare :lol:

Re: Sony announces deal with Kojima, left Konami establishing new company. It's official

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 9:00 pm
by ron_bato
New info has come out. Sony is going to publish the game, it's going to be a full console exclusive, but coming to the PC after the PS4.

It's also not going to be tied to MGS or Silent Hill, and is said to be something that will be completely new.