Hideo Kojima Officially Leaves Konami, Forms New Studio - Update

[KoudelkaMorgan]

I wanna see Konami Vacation Simulator on Greenlight now.

I'm pretty sure that would be better than average for Greenlight.

 

[Andy Shandy]

While I would hope for Kojima not to be tied to any one system - mainly so as many people as possible can play his games - I will buy his games wherever he ends up.

 

[johnnyLupine]

If the new studio isn't called Outer Heaven, I'll be disappointed Mr. Kojima!

It wouldn't surprise me if Konami had the name Outer Heaven/Haven trademarked to be honest. They'd likely have a hard time arguing a case against Zanzibar though. Anyway, we should all wish Mr Kojima the best of luck with his new studio, hopefully it's going to make a tonne of decent games and if they're playstation exclusive (since they're stated as being in talks with Sony) It'd give me an excuse to use my PS4, which is currently being used as a Mug farm/bobble head stand, instead of my PC.

 

[9tailedflame]

Good, Konami doesn't deserve Hideo. I'm excited to see with what he comes up with now that he's off the chain!

 

[K12]

So who wants to bet that Konami kept his official leave until now entirely so he they could prevent him from collecting that Award his game won?

Let's see if Kojima is going to be classy about his horrible treatment or if he's going to be snarky and vengeful... I'm totally fine with either option.

 

[flying_whimsy]

No matter what Kojima does, konami will probably just say he's still an employee and that other projects and studios are simply rogue states.

I'm far more interested in watching what konami's response will be than what kojima will make; it's been too long since a good silent hill and any zone of the enders for me to care.

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

Cyber-Cops

My Kojima knowledge must be rusty. What's that one supposed to allude to?

 

[gillnavisingh]

If the new studio isn't called Outer Heaven, I'll be disappointed Mr. Kojima!

Would you be salty if he called his new studio Zanzibar Land instead?

 

[Amaror]

Great! Now create some stunning games. We don't know what really went down at Konami. Perhaps Kojima screwed his boss' wife. Perhaps he ate the office cat. All the same, he needs to keep being creative.

Maybe he ate the office cat, while screwing his boss' wife. On his boss' desk. While being on paid sick leave, despite not being sick.

 

[Strazdas]

SIgh. so many people that dont understand how corporations work. Kojima left Konami, but he had some vacation days he didnt spent so he took them all up before he left. there was a goodbuy party because he wont becoming back, but he was still on vacation and under payroll for those few weeks. now that those weeks are up he is officially out and started making his own studio public, earning free advertisement from articles like that.

 

[FillerDmon]

I'm curious what Kojima's gonna be up to now. I'll be honest, as someone who tried and failed to keep up with Kingdom Hearts, I found the Metal Gear series redonculously confusing, but at the same time I've only ever heard good things about Kojima for his part in them, at least until he actively started trying to end the franchise zombie maintained by Konami apparently. I hadn't realized that they were the more evil of the set until they started... well, doing a pretty solid imitation of Crapcom's treatment of Inafune.

 

[Mangod]

I'm honestly more curious about seeing if Kojima is better at running a company than Tim Schaefer is. Being a video game auteur doesn't necessarily translate to business savvy, after all.

 

[Li Mu]

SIgh. so many people that dont understand how corporations work. Kojima left Konami, but he had some vacation days he didnt spent so he took them all up before he left. there was a goodbuy party because he wont becoming back, but he was still on vacation and under payroll for those few weeks. now that those weeks are up he is officially out and started making his own studio public, earning free advertisement from articles like that.

This is Japan. What you're saying works in most countries, but it's not really done in Japan. Perhaps it could be done at Konami, they are different to the average company. A recent statistic showed that something like 80% (I forget the exact percentage) of Tokyo based companies were breaking employment laws by not paying employers for overtime and holiday.

So, while I agree with what you're saying in the context of an American corporation, I'd say that it's not the same for Japanese ones.

 

[Strazdas]

SIgh. so many people that dont understand how corporations work. Kojima left Konami, but he had some vacation days he didnt spent so he took them all up before he left. there was a goodbuy party because he wont becoming back, but he was still on vacation and under payroll for those few weeks. now that those weeks are up he is officially out and started making his own studio public, earning free advertisement from articles like that.

This is Japan. What you're saying works in most countries, but it's not really done in Japan. Perhaps it could be done at Konami, they are different to the average company. A recent statistic showed that something like 80% (I forget the exact percentage) of Tokyo based companies were breaking employment laws by not paying employers for overtime and holiday.

So, while I agree with what you're saying in the context of an American corporation, I'd say that it's not the same for Japanese ones.

Well that was the case of breaking the law. maybe konami simply did things the legal way even if it cost them a lot of PR (like they had any to begin with, ech). Not paying for overtime is pretty much universal with most companies, but holidays are more or less being forced now because people tend to complain when they dont get holidays now.

 

[RikSharp]

Cyber-Cops

My Kojima knowledge must be rusty. What's that one supposed to allude to?

Policenauts

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Great! Now create some stunning games. We don't know what really went down at Konami. Perhaps Kojima screwed his boss' wife. Perhaps he ate the office cat. All the same, he needs to keep being creative.

Maybe he ate the office cat, while screwing his boss' wife. On his boss' desk. While being on paid sick leave, despite not being sick.

Well, if you're being fired you may as well reach for the stars: they can't sack you twice after all.

I agree with the prevailing notion that 'Outer Heaven Studios' would be a hella good name for a new group. What I do hope, regardless of the name, is that they start small. Some nice, easy consumption and low risk stuff that can be put on PSN without being too taxing: something that will let any new team members find their rhythm within the old crew.

 

[owbu]

Looking forward to konamis statement.
New studio does not actually exist. Everyone who buys his game will be sued. For buying games that do not exist. Also Kojimas vacation is going great!

 

[IamLEAM1983]

I can't wait for the inevitable desertion of Pachinko machines. One day, some new trend will sweep over Japan and destroy the Pachinko and Gachapon industry.

When that happens, Konami will be left with its pants around its ankles.

"B-But my Pachinko? My fitness centers?! WHERE IS ALL THE MONIES?!
- Yeah, your delusional CEO burnt everything on hookers and blow."

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Cyber-Cops

My Kojima knowledge must be rusty. What's that one supposed to allude to?

Policenauts! I game I never actually played and indeed, I don't think it officially launched in the US. I could be mistaken...I've seen a bit of gameplay with English dialog but I'm unsure if it's a fan-translation or a European release.

 

[ap0cass1n]

I hope that Konami goes out of business and then they sell the Silent Hill IP to KojiPro. Then Kojima will be able to make PT.

Well, maybe they will sell it even without going out of business. Since they're moving to pachinko games, they might want to keep their IPs for branding sake. All those slot machines you see in casinos based on movies come to mind.

But hey, with all these spiritual successor games made by the creators of the original games (eg Yooka-Laylee, Mighty No. 9, Bloodstained) maybe Kojima might try doing that with PT. Kind of like how Koji Igarashi is making Bloodstained after he left Konami.

I wanna see Konami Vacation Simulator on Greenlight now.

I'm pretty sure that would be better than average for Greenlight.

It would contain an asymmetric multiplayer mode, where one team played as the guards to the VGAs and one person played as Kojima trying to infiltrate said VGAs.

Cyber-Cops

My Kojima knowledge must be rusty. What's that one supposed to allude to?

Policenauts! I game I never actually played and indeed, I don't think it officially launched in the US. I could be mistaken...I've seen a bit of gameplay with English dialog but I'm unsure if it's a fan-translation or a European release.

Yep, says here that it was never localized in the anglosphere: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policenauts#English_localization

There is an unofficial english patch though: http://policenauts.net/english/