Kojima leaves Konami to start new Studio *Confirmed*

[Nesh]

I was kinda thinking the same. The games themselves are ok but derivative in their controls, look and play, and good god they need an editor for the cut scenes and dialog! In that respect to me him leaving is a good thing, the MGS series needs a fresh approach.

This carries some irony though considering that MGS was his inception and the fans love it for what it was. Asking for him to leave to make the series good it is like implying that the series was bad because he was introduced in the development.
I agree that the series needed some serious editing but at the same time the series carried elements that are his and are those that made people love his work.

 

[DieH@rd]

I'll always remember an old interview where Kojima was kinda complaining having being forced (or a similar word) to direct himself the latest Metal gear game.

Like if he was waiting for someone else to direct the game, but as nobody wanted to take this role, he was forced by necessity to direct the game himself (I just remember the gist of the interview, he probably didn't use the word 'forced').

The reason I remember this interview is because I had already found it odd, years ago.

It was during the PS2 era during MGS2 or MGS3 launch, I do believe it was for MGS2 launch.

He also tried to give other devs from KojiPro a chance to direct PortableOps and Metal Gear Rising. With first game they created half-baked product, and with second they failed completely and Kojima gave the game to Platinum.

It looks like Konami wanted more after MGS5, and Kojima didn't. But who knows...

 

[L. Scofield]

Wasn't Portable Ops well received? Rising is a wash because while it used the lore of the franchise it was supposed to be a completely different kind of game.

 

[joker454]

This carries some irony though considering that MGS was his inception and the fans love it for what it was. Asking for him to leave to make the series good it is like implying that the series was bad because he was introduced in the development.
I agree that the series needed some serious editing but at the same time the series carried elements that are his and are those that made people love his work.

Well I am a fan, I played Metal Gear way back on the Nes (even finished the much mocked Snake's Revenge), along with having played it on the PS1, PS2, PS3, etc. But over time the series has gotten a bit ridiculous in it's writing, cut scenes are out of control, and there is a very much a sameness to the look and feel of the game. The way camera angles and pans are chosen in cut scenes, game animations, game feel, pacing, etc, it's just has this dated feeling to it all like it's still stuck in the past. To me it's long overdue for a massive overhaul, not unlike many other games out there, and with Kojima's departure hopefully that will make it easier to accomplish. Then maybe I'll buy another Metal Gear game again, but right now when his name is on the product basically means I'll pass on the game like with Ground Zeroes which I don't think I'll even bother with.

 

[eastmen]

I never cared for the MGS games but whoever gets him would be quite lucky indeed

 

[Rikimaru]

Well I am a fan, I played Metal Gear way back on the Nes (even finished the much mocked Snake's Revenge), along with having played it on the PS1, PS2, PS3, etc. But over time the series has gotten a bit ridiculous in it's writing, cut scenes are out of control, and there is a very much a sameness to the look and feel of the game. The way camera angles and pans are chosen in cut scenes, game animations, game feel, pacing, etc, it's just has this dated feeling to it all like it's still stuck in the past. To me it's long overdue for a massive overhaul, not unlike many other games out there, and with Kojima's departure hopefully that will make it easier to accomplish. Then maybe I'll buy another Metal Gear game again, but right now when his name is on the product basically means I'll pass on the game like with Ground Zeroes which I don't think I'll even bother with.

Well you are in luck. MGS5 will have long take camera and openworld.

 

[Nesh]

Well I am a fan, I played Metal Gear way back on the Nes (even finished the much mocked Snake's Revenge), along with having played it on the PS1, PS2, PS3, etc. But over time the series has gotten a bit ridiculous in it's writing, cut scenes are out of control, and there is a very much a sameness to the look and feel of the game. The way camera angles and pans are chosen in cut scenes, game animations, game feel, pacing, etc, it's just has this dated feeling to it all like it's still stuck in the past. To me it's long overdue for a massive overhaul, not unlike many other games out there, and with Kojima's departure hopefully that will make it easier to accomplish. Then maybe I'll buy another Metal Gear game again, but right now when his name is on the product basically means I'll pass on the game like with Ground Zeroes which I don't think I'll even bother with.

I think Phantom Pain addresses those issues very well though
I am pretty sure Hideo Kojima realized those pet peeves. Ground Zeros was hundreds of steps above from previous MGS games even though it was just a prologue. GZ and demonstrations of Phantom Pain show more focus to the gameplay which can extend in accord to your liking.
MGS5 appears to be that massive overhaul you are asking for.
For example one notable improvement are the codec conversations. In the past you had to stare for hours in front of a codec screen. Now hints and intelligence from your comrades happen on the go while you play.
Cut scenes and dialogues are also much shorter. Gameplay is open space with significant amount of freedom and variety. The only cut scenes I remember in that game is the opening, some short ones when you save two people and the ending. They were much better directed and edited than MGS4 too.
I think this is going to be a perfect MGS game

Its a shame you didnt give a chance to GZ to see that its a completely different game than what the other games used to be

 

[Cjail]

Its a shame you didnt give a chance to GZ to see that its a completely different game than what the other games used to be

Not really.
GZ novelty is that the map is more open than in previous MGS but really there are not many new elements to the series.

 

[BoardBonobo]

Looks like it was all about Kojima wanting to spread his (creative) wings and do something different other than MGS. Konami, on the other hand, wants a cash cow and whenever creativity clashes with the bottom line the fit hits the shan.

Source

 

[Nesh]

Not really.
GZ novelty is that the map is more open than in previous MGS but really there are not many new elements to the series.

This is irrelevant. All games share the same ideas in most part but they dont play the same. They play differently. Therefore it doesnt need to have too many new elements. Few new elements where needed can have a large difference but mainly its the much improved execution of the old that make GZ feel different. The openness of the map itself has opened so many opportunities for improvement and gameplay freedom to the player that the sum of all the elements have a much greater effect than by simply isolating each element

 

[DieH@rd]

Looks like it was all about Kojima wanting to spread his (creative) wings and do something different other than MGS. Konami, on the other hand, wants a cash cow and whenever creativity clashes with the bottom line the fit hits the shan.

Source

I can totally see this being true, Konami wanting to start producing more and more Metal Gear games. But this website is not well known, so who knows if the report is true.

 

[Cjail]

This is irrelevant. All games share the same ideas in most part but they dont play the same. They play differently. Therefore it doesnt need to have too many new elements. Few new elements where needed can have a large difference but mainly its the much improved execution of the old that make GZ feel different. The openness of the map itself has opened so many opportunities for improvement and gameplay freedom to the player that the sum of all the elements have a much greater effect than by simply isolating each element

Of course it's different but GZ is not a "completely different game" as you said; GZ has so much in common with previous MGS and keeps many of the limitations they had.
For instance there's little "vertical exploration" in GZ compared to Splinter Cell or Assassin's Creed, Batman or Dishonored.

In therms of freedom of approach GZ is also very limited compered to an open world like Just Cause.
Hopefully we will have more freedom in The Phantom Pain.

 

[Nesh]

Of course it's different but GZ is not a "completely different game" as you said; GZ it has so much in common with previous MGS.

In therms of freedom of approach also I found GZ very, very limited compered to an open world like Just Cause.
Hopefully we will have more freedom in The Phantom Pain.

Even with its commonalities to me it is a different game
I dont think its fair to compare Just Cause with GZ. You are comparing a fast paced full game (that had the whole area open for you to explore), to a prologue that intentionally kept you only in one area. Of course it would be limited. In addition even if we assume that MGS5 is more limited compared to JC, thats only in relative terms when compared to that game. In absolute terms it doesnt mean it is limited.
Also what made GZ such a pleasant experience is the fact that despite its limited area, there were many ways to approach it and expand the playtime while maintaining its weight and depth. Just Cause was closer to a frantic open world shooter were everything represented a probe to cause destruction and death to NPCs that lacked any sense of human personality. I consider JC's design extremely superficial

 

[BoardBonobo]

I can totally see this being true, Konami wanting to start producing more and more Metal Gear games. But this website is not well known, so who knows if the report is true.

IMO Konami, by attempting to remove Kojima from all association to MGS (and themselves), are basically telling him that without them he would be nothing. It's like the ultimate control over his actions, without us this is where you would be. Now tow the line and make us lots more money, like the good boy you are. How he goes about doing that is irrelevant (I'm sure there is a sizeable cut scene in that somewhere!), but we own you and your ideas. I hope he ups and leaves for real after this but I can't see Konami letting him just do his own thing. They won't be able to resist trying to derail him.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Looks like it was all about Kojima wanting to spread his (creative) wings and do something different other than MGS. Konami, on the other hand, wants a cash cow and whenever creativity clashes with the bottom line the fit hits the shan.

Source

Yeah, so basically exactly like I said. Rather than work with that internal development studio and the head of the internal studio for an amicable parting of ways. It was Konami's way or the highway. They tried to throw him a few bones (formation of Kojima Productions and semi-autonomy) but with him not wanting to do MGS anymore, they just want to get rid of him now as well as any sign that he ever existed, if they can.

Regards,
SB

 

[NRP]

Is that the Japanese way or something? Why not just let him go? Why go to great lengths to erase all traces of him? Doesn't make sense from a business perspective.

 

[orangpelupa]

i dont know with people but... Sony did the same thing with their products. They erase them from existence.

 

[tuna]

Is that the Japanese way or something? Why not just let him go? Why go to great lengths to erase all traces of him? Doesn't make sense from a business perspective.

There is no point for Konami in promoting the kojima brand if they will not gain anything by it.

 

[MrFox]

Wait... Did they remove all references to Kojima himself or just the branding "Kojima Productions"?

If they only changed the name of "Kojima Productions" and the corporate twitter account because it's owned by Konami, and with Kojima leaving a rebranding is obviously necessary... all of this is pointless drama. Nothing to see here.

Now if they are truly removing his writer, director, and producer credit from his past and present accomplishments, it would be a dick move.

 

[tuna]

Also, it might be weird (for the easy to be confused masses) if MGS5 was "a hideo kojima game" but 6 wasn't.