Antonio Fucito from the Italian site multiplayer.it has revealed on Twitter during the Metal Gear Solid V preview event, that Konami are planning to clarify the details of the Kojima fallout in the coming months.
I think the most plausible scenario is this: -Konami decides to shift to mobile games only -Konami tells Kojima he'll have to make mobile games now -Kojima doesn't want to -Kojima tells konami he is quitting once MGS5 is finished -Konami is mad because they just lost their most important employee, removes his name from everything -Everyone is mad at Konami now -Everytime the Konami boss looks at himself in the mirror, he sees Kojima grinning back at him, saying "Did yu rike it?"
I'm more under the impression that he quit, rather than being fired. Konami would have to be really stupid to fire their star developper, even if there were tensions between them
On a side-note, I hope he gets on Kickstarter and funds his PT game with Del Toro. They just have to call it something other than "Silent Hill". Any project from him on kickstarter would be cool, really.
Um yeah NO...He ain't getting no PT kickstarter going...If MGS was 60 million to get something on the same level as PT would probably cost at least that if not twice as much...For the 2 maybe 3 million it would get at best yeah your looking at Amy 2....Not even figuring it what it would cost to get Del Toro and Reedus back neither of which work for free one of which being a highly expensive actor
why in the coming months? your not going to put a cherry on top and pretend nothings going to happen are ya? We know what happened. you put the pieces together, and we know whats going to happen, end of story..... Stop delaying the inevitable.
-Taking his name off the MGSV cover -Killing off his studio, and renaming the LA studio -Pulling out of the Stock exchange -the possibility that you are going to fire pretty much every developer -People coming forth talking about the consequences and doing a youtube strike to conceal the truth -Putting a complete focus on Mobile (terrible idea BTW)
So, despite knowing the events of what happened which they could easily discuss right now... They need months to clarify...? How hard is it to just come out and say what went down?
I take it they're trying to secure their gaming future somewhat. If they were going all in for other ventures, why would they feel the need to clarify these events with us, the people they've upset?
I wonder if they're trying to beat Kojima to the punch before he has a word about it. I imagine he's under some confidentiality clause and they'll tell their side before he's exonerated from Konami's contracts.
EDIT: if I had to guess why it will take months to tell, it's because they're trying to control potential backlash before The Phantom Pain releases. Right now, it's all speculation and they might be using that to their advantage. The company is getting publicity. Bad press is, after all, still press. I imagine they don't want to diffuse any attention just yet.
"Right now, it's all speculation and they might be using that to their advantage."
To their advantage? The facts show that they removed his name from several games, changed the name of his LA studio, canceled his Silent Hill game, had their website redirect to MGS series portal, "moved" Kojima Production's social media accounts to @MetalGear_EN and @MetalGear_JP, changed job listings from Kojima Productions to Konami USA, and Kojima is no longer listed as the "Executive Content Officer" in Konami's restructuring announcement.
The speculation is that he's been moved to a contractor position, and that him and his staff will be axed after the game releases. And that the only reason they didn't do it now, is that fans would boycott the game. And after Konami had a youtube video brought down for quoting an anonymous source, a lot of the "speculation" in that conversation was given more credence.
Edit: "why would they feel the need to clarify these events with us, the people they've upset?"
So people don't boycott the game because Konami is screwing over one of their best devs who gamers love? Imagine all the money they spent on the game, just to screw things up before hand and have everyone boycott the game as a result.
The speculation is the overarching theme: Konami's reasons for firing/demoting Hideo Kojima. All of those things did happen, yes, but we don't know why. That's where the speculation begins.
But the point is...all of this attention that Konami is getting, while negative, is STILL PRESS. It's free press and it's starting many conversations and that's my point. They're likely to disclose all of this info as slowly as they can (hence, over the coming months) and people will follow the story. It capitalizes on the attention the company is getting. Giving us closure too soon might hurt the game. I'm sure Konami is exercising discretion here.
You say so people don't boycott the game. Thanks for answering an obviously rhetorical question. The game is, undoubtedly, expensive to create. I already said they were looking after their future in gaming (this includes The Phantom Pain since the game is not done yet) because they obviously care what people might think about what's going on. They don't want people to boycott it.
I feel that you were so eager to jump at my post that you didn't take the time to understand what I was writing.
Here are the facts:
-Kojima's name and essentially presence have been removed from The Phantom Pain and the company's projects (Silent Hills, etc.)
-Konami has Kojima on board as a contractor and his role is to be terminated upon release of The Phantom Pain
- Reasons behind Konami giving away snippets of information at a time regarding this whole fiasco are PURELY speculative. You know nothing, I know nothing. That's speculation. Maybe it's because they don't want people boycotting (and I can't imagine they want that) but the fact is, WE DON'T **KNOW** THAT for certain. I hope I'm much more clear this time. I don't get how you misconstrued my post.
People may be correct in their speculation, but it is still speculation because they don't know for a fact. Only those close to or are part of the company really know.
Are you saying a castlevania game where you can only do an action once every few hours (unless you use special gems) isn't entertaining?
Maybe a contra game where we can shoot bullets every half hour (unless you use a special gem)?
You can't seriously tell me that a new top-down metal gear strategy game that lets you build a base over a few months (unless you use special gems) isn't appealing?
Good. It's not appealing to me, either. Done with Konami. Great part of my youth but will discarded like the used gum it has become.
This entire Konami incident will be the best the best thing to ever happen to Hideo Kojima, and the worst for Konami.
Hideo Kojima has been making classics for nearly 30 years. He is the backbone of Konami and furthermore, the ambassador for Japanese gaming. He is responsible for the depth of cinematics in today's virtual entertainment.
With the rise of community funded development support, Hideo Kojima will have no problems reaching whatever development costs he needs to deliver us another legendary masterpiece. Konami parting ways with Kojima would be like the Chicago Bulls releasing Michael Jordan in his prime.
In Dark Sniper's opinion, it would be of Sony's best interest to snatch Kojima up QUICKLY since he has strong ties to the Playstation brand. Meanwhile, enjoy your seat and grab your popcorn as we sit back and watch the fall of grace for Konami.
Sounds like the first strike of Konami damage control before Kojima can really say anything. Off topic: Dark sniper where have you been? You are like the ghost of N4G past, appearing out of nowhere to comment on this article.
Really? I mean you "Konami" are the ones who said that Kojima is still heading the projects at Konami and everything was fine. Then we hear a few days later from Del Toro that Kojima was indeed sacked and Silent Hills was no more as well. Even Norman Reedus came out on Twitter and expressed his displeasure.
Not only that, you have an employee that leaked the info that Kojima was fired and you tried to bury it buy saying, that he is still working with Konami when indeed that isn't the case. Right your full of b.s and I don't care what kind of PR bullshit you throw at us. Konami is dead now.
The damage has been done already, it will be some PR bullshit. Nobody will care after what they did with Kojima and Silent Hills, including how they handled the P.T. demo recently.
Konami is doing the right thing to be honest. They finally got rid of that leech of kojima. I guess they finally realized they don't have to please a fanbase that just as unapreciative as kojima.
"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes."
It better be good.
I bet he was against the companys move to mostly mobile market and being an executive with the company was actively trying to stop it and got fired.
Toooooooooo late Konami, you blew it.
Who's gonna believe them?
why in the coming months? your not going to put a cherry on top and pretend nothings going to happen are ya? We know what happened. you put the pieces together, and we know whats going to happen, end of story..... Stop delaying the inevitable.
-Taking his name off the MGSV cover
-Killing off his studio, and renaming the LA studio
-Pulling out of the Stock exchange
-the possibility that you are going to fire pretty much every developer
-People coming forth talking about the consequences and doing a youtube strike to conceal the truth
-Putting a complete focus on Mobile (terrible idea BTW)
I mean how much more damage you want....