Kojima leaves Konami to start new Studio *Confirmed*

[Rurouni]

I do hope that it is Kojima that wants out from Konami, but by the look of how this is all handled, it's probably the other way around.
Anyway, I hope he brings PT with him. It doesn't have to come out as a Silent Hill game since PT can easily be made without tying it in to Silent Hill.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Anyway, I hope he brings PT with him. It doesn't have to come out as a Silent Hill game since PT can easily be made without tying it in to Silent Hill.

I believe Konami own the rights to Silent Hill and likely any and all IP for the PT demo as well. They'd basically have to start over and that doesn't seem to be what people want, which is a new Silent Hill game.

 

[Rurouni]

A game based on PT concept can be easily made without making a connection to Silent Hill. What I'm wondering is if Guillermo del Toro involvement is contractually binding with Konami or not. If not, then he can just follow Kojima and realise the concept with Kojima.

Edit: and how about Fox Engine? Can Kojima Pro still use that (without needing to pay to Konami) or he needs to make a new engine (or license something)? What is usually happen in this case?
Also, even without Silent Hill being the title, at least in the gaming world people knows Kojima. He can just put Kojima Pro brand on the cover and it will gather attention.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

A game based on PT concept can be easily made without making a connection to Silent Hill. What I'm wondering is if Guillermo del Toro involvement is contractually binding with Konami or not. If not, then he can just follow Kojima and realise the concept with Kojima.

Konami own PT as well. I can't see any situation where del Toro or Norman Reedus' (voice and mo-cap) involvement would be with the development studio rather than the publisher. Any authority Kojima Productions may have had in negotiating their involvement or the decision-making, is now gone.

Edit: and how about Fox Engine? Can Kojima Pro still use that (without needing to pay to Konami) or he needs to make a new engine (or license something)? What is usually happen in this case?

The norm is that anything you create while working for your employer is theirs unless your contract states otherwise. It's clear Konami own the MGS IP because they say they'll be putting a new team on it and I can't see why the engine would be any different, particularly as it's being used by other Konami teams.

The only circumvention is if you create something in your own time - but you'd better have meticulous records to demonstrate this, e.g. John Carmack and his work on Oculus code while working for iD owned by Zenimax. It'd be very easy for Konami to claim the work was done on their time and hard for Kojima Productions to disprove unless they can evidence other output.

 

[DieH@rd]

It wold be nice if Kojima can retain the name "Moby Dick Studios".

 

[RenegadeRocks]

Wtf ! How can Konami even think of making a profitable MGS without Kojima ! Are they crazy ? And especially after the fantastic hype after the PT demo bringing their SH franchise back into limelight they want to throw out Kojima? That too in such a degrading manner, removing his name from an MGS game ! Its so rude ! So damn rude !

 

[Silent_Buddha]

I'm not sure there is much more than a superficial difference here. Both studios, Bungie and Kojima Productions, ended up leaving their owner/publisher. I don't know that anybody in Bungie was ever any kind of executive in Microsoft like Kojima was with Konami and the Bungie thing happened after they'd shipped a game rather just before they'd shipped their last game. Konami may own 'Kojima Productions' (I don't know) but there's no way they can stop him using his own name in whatever studio he ends up in - assuming it's a leadership position warranting the use of his own name.

From what Konami has since that, that there will be more MGS games, it sounds like if may have been creative freedom differences. Perhaps Kojima genuinely wanted to walk away from the franchise (although he's said this before and returned enthusiastically) or take the game in a different direction.

Well, other than the fact that Bungie were allowed to leave intact and on amicable terms.

While Kojima Productions will be disbanded (Kojima isn't allowed to keep it or the team), and apparently Konami are kicking him out. I suppose it could be the other way around, but then I highly doubt Kojima would want references to Kojima Productions removed from all past games as well as having his own name and Kojima Productions basically erased from the upcoming MGS. I'd assume that at least his name will still be in the credits, however. But other than that, seems Konami is hell bent on erasing as many traces of Kojima as possible on present or past products.

Regards,
SB

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Well, other than the fact that Bungie were allowed to leave intact and on amicable terms.

Well accounts from people in Bungie tell a different tale. Bungie wanted to do something different to Halo sequels, and had to leave Microsoft to do it. Amicable? That doesn't sound too amicable any more than a typical divorce.

While Kojima Productions will be disbanded (Kojima isn't allowed to keep it or the team), and apparently Konami are kicking him out.

I've not read anything about Konami prohibiting Kojima and his team remaining together and I don't see how they could enforce this legally? Most reporting indicates that Kojima & team are no longer permanent employees and are now contractual employees which, in most countries, hugely limits what control Konami have regarding the team and their employment or reemployment status. Legally they can no more stop Kojima and his team forming a new studio any more than Activision could stop Infinity Ward's senior members leaving en masse and forming Respawn Entertainment.

 

[orangpelupa]

but seriously, who Kojima-san makes angry at Konami? It just weird that his name is removed from existence.

its possible that every MGS series kojima want to stop but konami keep saying make more MGS. Now Kojima finally snapped, Konami very angry.

or kojima trademarked "A GAME BY HIDEO KOJIMA" thus preventing Konami to use that sentence? O_O

 

[MrFox]

http://powerupgaming.co.uk/articles/783-konami-erases-kojima-from-metal-gear

Konami Erases Kojima From Metal Gear History
Director's name removed from previous MGS titles on studio's official website.

Wow, something happened definitely that made Konami very very angry.

My wild guess is that someone made Konami an offer they can't refuse, and Kojima was against it and quit. This is the only power struggle I can think of. This kind of panic move of erasing Kojima everywhere wouldn't happen if it was only because Kojima didn't want to make another MGS.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Wow, something happened definitely that made Konami very very angry.

I bought MGS4 using a credit card which means my purchase is on record. I'm wondering if there'll be a knock at the door and I'll see this.

 

[milk]

Am I the only one still not throwing out the possibility of this being a marketing stunt?

 

[RobertR1]

Should have been thrown about after making people sit through MGS4 cutscenes.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Not that I think there was any doubt by Eurogamer have updated their article with the latest statement from Hideo Kojima:

"I want to reassure fans that I am 100 per cent involved and will continue working on Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, I'm determined to make it the greatest game I've directed to date. Don't miss it!"​

 

[Scott_Arm]

Should have been thrown about after making people sit through MGS4 cutscenes.

Maybe the games will actually get good after he's gone. The basic mechanics are fine, so get someone that actually cares about game play instead of lengthy cut-scenes with terrible humour and unintelligible plot-lines.

 

[DieH@rd]

MGS5 has great gameplay, Ground Zeroes has proven that. IMO, GZ plays better than any other modern shooter, controls are perfectly adapted to western gamers [MGS4 was better than older games, but far from perfect].

Both sneaking, action and sandbox solving of problems is supported in a great style.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

I hate the controls in GZ. They are bloody awful!

 

[Nesh]

I hate the controls in GZ. They are bloody awful!

I am pretty sure thats a matter of preference because for me they worked great

 

[dobwal]

I hate the controls in GZ. They are bloody awful!

Agreed. While I definitely love Kojima's work on MG, I have always thought that the core game play mechanics were behind the times.

I think Kojima's greatest accomplishment with MGS is he made a universe that probably one of the richest and filled to the brim with character. A universe that's fully capable of carry on without its creator. It just needs to be put in the right hands.

Personally I am not all that upset with the circumstance. I've always wanted see more of Kojima's creativity outside of MGS and this practically guarantees that he won't be pressured back into working on another MGS.

 

[MrFox]

I loved the cut scenes in MGS4. Wonderful 100% japanese wackiness.