Menu Close

Kojima: “Way Too Early” To Talk About The Next Project

Ben-Dutka 14 Comments

Hope you're not expecting to see Hideo Kojima's next game project any time soon.

But realistically, how could you expect such a thing? As a reminder, the Metal Gear Solid master said during the latest HideoTube episode (pasted in below) that he has only "just started on the basic plan" for his new project.

They chat about movies in the broadcast (they talk a lot about the 88th Academy Awards) and Kojima said that while he understands people want to hear about his next game, it's just too early:

"Since the studio was just founded (in December 2015), it's still way too early to be talking about that. Right? We don't have the staff, no building, just started the basic plan. I'm in the middle of figuring out how I want the studio to look. Please wait a bit longer."

Kojima then said his plans for the new Kojima Productions include a "small team" consisting of individuals "who have passion, are energetic, people who inspire each other." Yeah, well, you can bet that competition for these positions will be absolutely insane , so I wouldn't bother applying unless you know you're a highly sought-after commodity.

Kojima's 2015 saga wasn't pretty, as we all know: "Power struggles" at Konami resulted in the legendary designer's departure later in the year, and the resulting fallout was such a pain, Kojima said he actually considered escaping to a desert island . But man, when he and Sony announced their new partnership (meaning his next game will be exclusive to the PlayStation platform), well, that was another piece of huge news.

Frankly, I think we can all just stop pestering the guy for a while. Let him work his magic and when he's ready to show us something, he will.

Read more →

Kojima, PS4 Lead Architect Embark On A “World Tour”

Ben-Dutka 2 Comments

By now, we all know the saga: "Power struggles" at Konami turned out to be symptoms of a much deeper rift and eventually, Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima left to open his own studio .

And now, he's out searching for new talent.

PlayStation 4 lead architect Mark Cerny has finally joined Twitter, and perhaps he did so to make this announcement : He's going on a "world tour" with Kojima and according to Kojima Productions producer Ken-ichiro Imaizumu, the duo is looking for "high-end technology." Then, Kojima tossed up his Tweet:

Maybe Kojima and Cerny are out searching for a new game engine, as the Fox Engine that powered last year's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is owned by Konami. Well, we hope they'll keep us updated on their travels!

Read more →

Hideo Kojima Will Become 21st AIAS Hall Of Fame Member

Ben-Dutka 2 Comments

Nobody deserves it more.

Hideo Kojima is an icon in the video game industry and rightfully so. His well-documented departure from Konami last year resulted in his opening a new studio and allying with Sony for his first project.

Now, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has announced that the Metal Gear Solid creator will be inducted into the video game Hall of Fame. He will be the 21st recipient of the prestigious award, which he will accept from the hands of film director and friend Guillermo del Toro at the 19th D.I.C.E. Awards in Las Vegas on February 18. Yup, del Toro.

The two were working together on that ill-fated Silent Hills project , and del Toro is on record saying he'd very much like to work with Kojima again . Well, at the very least, he can present this well-deserved accolade. AIAS president Martin Rae added the following:

"Hideo Kojima's career-defining works have shaped much of how the video game industry approaches cinematic storytelling and player engagement. As one of the most well-loved and well-respected designers of our time, it is a great honor for the Academy to induct him into our Hall of Fame. Hideo is a game creator whose eyes havealways looked towards the future, and we look forward to his thoughts on the D.I.C.E. Summit stage."

If you're wondering, you can only earn AIAS Hall of Fame status if you "have been instrumental in the development of highly influential games and moving a particular genre forward. These individuals demonstrate the highest level of creativity and innovation, resulting in significant product influence on a scale that expands the scope of the industry." Kojima will join the likes of Dan and Sam Houser (Rockstar Games founders), Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka (BioWare founders), and Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto. The latter was the first inductee back in 1998.

Congratulations, Kojima-san!

Read more →

Kojima Actually Considered Escaping To A Deserted Island

Ben-Dutka 11 Comments

It's arguably the biggest news of the year and now, one iconic designer is garnering headlines all over the world.

After Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima's well-documented and oft-discussed ordeal with publisher Konami, everyone wondered: What's next for Kojima? After all, Konami is keeping the IP rights to MGS.

Well, Kojima has started his own studio and he has formed a partnership with PlayStation. He has high hopes for his first project and he definitely isn't shying away from big budgets (unlike his former employer). But he wasn't always set on this plan of action; as Kojima told The New Yorker , he actually considered disappearing to a deserted island for a year after leaving Konami. Then, a "Hollywood friend" stepped in and advised him to keep working:

"Hearing that affirmed to me that my role in this world is to keep on making big games for as long as I can. That is the mission I've been given in life."

He added that he's happy with his new-found independence and he believes this will expedite the development process. He also takes a little dig at Japanese publishers (perhaps a not-so-veiled jab at Konami):

"When working in big companies, especially Japanese companies, every little thing has to be approved beforehand, and you need paperwork to do anything. Now that I'm independent, I can do what I want with much more speed. I don't need to invest time in unnecessary presentations. I shoulder the risk."

Lastly, Kojima says he can now speak more freely. When allied with a company, his words "could be taken as the overall direction of the company" so really, he "couldn't say just anything." All of that is gone now and everything is wide open…so expect this guy to say whatever he pleases, whenever he pleases. Anybody got a problem with that?

And we say the rivalry between Konami's new Metal Gear Solid effort and Kojima's new title will be downright epic .

Read more →

Kojima’s New Studio Site Opens, Offers A Passionate Letter

Ben-Dutka 13 Comments

Kojima's new studio and partnership with Sony is now official and it all comes just one day after officially leaving Konami.

Obviously, the Metal Gear Solid creator knew about his exit for some time, so he has been preparing this fresh coming-out party…and the fans love it.

He has launched an official website for his new team, which is already comprised of former Konami employees, and they're actively searching for new talent as well (check their Careers section). The logo was designed by MGS character artist Yoji Shinkawa, by the way. And perhaps most impressive of all is the passionate letter Kojima and Co. have sent to all the gamers out there; it greets you when you visit their site but it's here in full:

"We are Homo Ludens (Those who play).

From the moment we enter this world, we instinctively invent ways to have 'fun,' and share our inventions with those around us. We are not asked to do this, nor do we need reasons to create. It is simply who we are.

We find one another and compete with one another. We laugh together and cry together; all while playing together. Our experiences bind us and liberate us. To share our most valuable experiences, we create stories, invent tools, and evolve the art of play. Play has been our ally since the dawn of civilisation.

'Playing' is not simply a pastime, it is the primordial basis of imagination and creation. Truth be told, Homo Ludens (Those who Play) are simultaneously Homo Faber (Those who Create).

Even if the earth were stripped of life and reduced to a barren wasteland, our imagination and desire to create would survive–beyond survival, it would provide hope that flowers may one day bloom again. Through the invention of play, our new evolution awaits.

Kojima Productions — We are Homo Ludens. We are those who play.

Hideo Kojima

Whatever these guys end up creating, we have every confidence that it will be a hugely anticipated PS4 exclusive (it's also coming to PC) and we anticipate nothing less than brilliance.

Read more →

Future Rivalry: Kojima’s New Franchise vs. Metal Gear Solid

Ben-Dutka 27 Comments

Come on, we all know it's inevitable.

Hideo Kojima is gone from Konami and he was forced to leave behind the IP rights for Metal Gear Solid with his former publisher.

Two things are of obvious importance here: First, while it seems clear that Konami is shifting their overall focus to embrace smaller, mobile entities, they've also confirmed that they plan to produce more games in the MGS franchise . Second, after Kojima and Sony announced their partnership , we heard a bit more about the new project at Kojima Productions.

There's nothing too specific right now, of course, but in speaking to IGN , the master gave us some vague clues about the kind of game he wants to create:

"I want to create something that's what people expect, but at the same time will have something new that people haven't seen before…

We've been working on a franchise that is beloved and has recognizable characters. One of my big goals is, visually, with whatever characters we create, to go beyond that, to be more recognizable, more beloved. That's definitely one of the goals I have when it comes to the art side."

In other words, this will be no small project and Kojima clearly wants to make something that has a similar impact on the industry. It may be nothing like MGS from a thematic or gameplay perspective but it will undoubtedly be hugely ambitious, and let's not forget it'll also be a PlayStation exclusive. So, in the future, the clash is: Whatever MGS game Konami makes for multiple platforms vs. Kojima's new series for PS4 (or maybe PS5). The comparisons will be flying once we've seen a little of both, and I'm guessing a lot of people won't think much of any MGS without Kojima.

It'll be very interesting to see, that's for sure.

Read more →