SEGAbits Forums
Gaming => General Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: George on March 20, 2015, 03:59:33 pm
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Well it all started with this article by Gamespot with a 'source' telling them about the whole thing:
A fallout between Kojima Productions and its publisher, Konami, has led to senior staff at the studio given restricted access to corporate internet, emails, and phone calls, GameSpot understands.
Along with the restricted communications, key developers at the studio, such as Hideo Kojima, will now have limited opportunities to lend their appearance to promotions of the studio’s upcoming game, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.
Power struggles between Kojima Productions and Konami have convinced the publisher to make drastic changes, including amending the employee status of its Metal Gear team. Some senior staff at the studio, including Kojima, now essentially work as contractors, not permanent employees.
The extraordinary measures were revealed by a source within Konami, speaking to GameSpot on the condition of anonymity. The person explained that, once the Phantom Pain project is finished, in all likelihood the management at the studio will disband.
"After we finish MGSV, Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami. They said their contract ends in December," the source claimed.
The person added: "At a team meeting, Mr Kojima explained that team have to be one and make a good game for fans."
Kojima, now 51, joined Konami in 1986. His departure from the company will bring an end to nearly three decades of service.
In other developments, Konami has begun erasing the Kojima Productions logo from all official Metal Gear art, and it has demoted Kojima off its executive team. Meanwhile, Kojima Productions’ branding has also been removed from Twitter, the official Metal Gear website, and even the LA office listing.
Representatives for Konami would not discuss specifics of the matter when contacted by GameSpot. The corporation has offered a statement, however.
It reads: "Konami Digital Entertainment, including Mr. Kojima, will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements."
The corporation's central public relations team, based in Tokyo, is unavailable at the time of going to press, due to it being past midnight local time.
Metal Gear Solid 5, Kojima’s latest iteration in the famed series, ships in September on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.
An expanded statement from Konami follows: "As we have already announced, we are shifting our production structure to a headquarters-controlled system, in order to establish a steadfast operating base capable of responding to the rapid market changes that surround our digital entertainment business. Konami Digital Entertainment (including Mr. Kojima), will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements."
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kojima-expected-to-leave-konami-after-mgs5-inside-/1100-6426024/ (http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kojima-expected-to-leave-konami-after-mgs5-inside-/1100-6426024/)
Now Konami has issued an official statement that they will continue making MGS games after Kojima leaves the company.
http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/news/topics/2015/0320/ (http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/news/topics/2015/0320/)
If that wasn't adding insult to injury, Konami has now taken Hideo Kojima's name off of promotional material on their site and has renamed Kojima Studios LA as Konami Studios LA (which they are hiring at right now).
(http://i.imgur.com/S7Ak1mv.jpg)
As of April 1st, Kojima will no longer be a Konami executive. Ironically enough April 1st was the 10th anniversary of his studio.
http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/news/release/2015/0304/?cm_sp=01-_-release-_-20150304-e (http://www.konami-digital-entertainment.co.jp/en/news/release/2015/0304/?cm_sp=01-_-release-_-20150304-e)
The Kojima Pro twitter account also stated that they will be moving to a generic Metal Gear twitter account:
https://twitter.com/Kojima_Pro_Live/status/578473094995542016 (https://twitter.com/Kojima_Pro_Live/status/578473094995542016)
RIP Konami... you just killed your only hit.
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Woah removing his name from the box art is petty to a point that it's kind of comical... Like an Asian parent removing their son from the will for not finishing college. U BRING GREAT SHAME TO THIS FAMILY KOJIMA!
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So when are we holding the funeral for Konami games then?
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Yeah, I can't think of many other games that Konami has left to destroy. While the '2D Castlevania' games stopped selling on handhelds, they basically killed it with the 3D PS3/360 games. Silent Hill is dead and was suppose to be resurrected with Kojima, who will leave after MGSV.
So here are the franchises they own:
- Castlevania
- Contra
- Dance Dance Revolution
- Gradius
- Frogger
- Suikoden
- Ganbare Goemon
- Metal Gear
- Pro Evolution Soccer
- Silent Hill
Licensed:
- TMNT
- Yu-Gi-Oh!
They do have other smaller franchises like TwinBee that I used to like and Zone of Enders, but they don't care about those franchises. I basically think Konami will milk MGS games till they lose all the audience then move on to mobile, then fail and leave games all together.
This is the last Contra game, wtf...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASE9zUqf57M
What is this...
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It amazes me Contra did not get a large scale third person shooter last generation when every major Jaoanese publisher had one on their books.
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Konami removing his name is absolutly disgusting.
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Konami has released a joint statement with Kojima:
To Customers,
Thank you for your continued patronage of KONAMI products and services.
The latest title in the METAL GEAR series,“METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN” (below, “MGSV: TPP”), will be released as planned starting on Tuesday, September 1st, 2015 in North America, Latin America, and Europe, followed by Japan and Asia on Wednesday, September 2nd. Hideo Kojima will remain involved throughout.
Hideo Kojima stated, "I want to reassure fans that I am 100% involved and will continue working on METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN; I’m determined to make it the greatest game I’ve directed to date. Don’t miss it!"
In addition, KONAMI will continue to develop and distribute top-quality content in the METAL GEAR series following “MGSV: TPP.” We greatly anticipate and deeply appreciate your ongoing support for METAL GEAR.
As the next step in the series, KONAMI has already resolved to develop new “METAL GEAR”.
We will be conducting interviews for main staff to lead the development.
https://www.konami.com/news/mgsvnotice/
Like I predicted, Metal Gear 1 and Metal Gear 2 remakes are coming...
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I'd really like remakes of those games, but it doesn't say anywhere in there that they're going to make those. Just that they're going to make a new Metal Gear game after MGSV, likely without Kojima.
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Some major stuff has rgone down at konami huh.. Honestly this move destroys the whole image of konami. The heads over there are just being straight up douchebags. How will anyone feel pride working under such foul unprofessional people. Eww
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Yes, Metal Gear. Not a new Metal Gear Solid. Not only does MSV leaves the game at the start of Metal Gear, but they SPECIFICALLY used 'Metal Gear' as a name in the press release. Why not say Metal Gear Solid... Tho it could be side games like Revengence. But let's be honest, Metal Gear remake is coming... there is no other reason for Konami to change the voice of Big Boss in V outside of planning a reunion in the remake...
Personally think the big contenders for getting Kojima after his departure are Sony (first) and I can see Microsoft trying to scoop him up.
Tho I hear Kojima and Nagoshi are friends and Nagoshi is Chief Creative Officer at SEGA and part of the board of directors in the company.
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As of April 1st, Kojima will no longer be a Konami executive. Ironically enough April 1st was the 10th anniversary of his studio.
As of April 1st, Kojima will no longer be a Konami executive. Ironically enough April 1st was the 10th anniversary of his studio.
April 1st huh? I don't want to be that guy, but what if this is a cruel joke? Isn't Kojima the kind of guy that trolls his fanbase? Or am I thinking of another big name developer? Either way, if this is true then this doesn't bode well for the Metal Gear IP. Just look what they've done to Silent Hill.
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It isn't a joke. April 1st doesn't mean anything in Japan and April 1st is when their financial report is released (that is why changes happen).
Also, not making big news due to Hideo, Konami also let go of their Love Plus staff and will also continue making games in the series.
http://www.siliconera.com/2015/03/18/despite-complications-konami-will-continue-making-loveplus-tokimeki-memorial-games/
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Kojima is the master of ruse. I'll wait and see.
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Honestly I wanna know why they didn't kick him out sooner. If I had a guy constantly giving bad PR, being ungrateful towards the company, and doing everything in his power to kill franchises, I'd have kicked him out after MGS IV at the latest.
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Honestly I wanna know why they didn't kick him out sooner. If I had a guy constantly giving bad PR, being ungrateful towards the company, and doing everything in his power to kill franchises, I'd have kicked him out after MGS IV at the latest.
He did? Explain..
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Yes, Metal Gear. Not a new Metal Gear Solid. Not only does MSV leaves the game at the start of Metal Gear, but they SPECIFICALLY used 'Metal Gear' as a name in the press release. Why not say Metal Gear Solid... Tho it could be side games like Revengence. But let's be honest, Metal Gear remake is coming... there is no other reason for Konami to change the voice of Big Boss in V outside of planning a reunion in the remake...
Could also be that Solid Snake will be in MGSV. Remember that it takes place after he was born (though he would still be a kid at that point).
And like you said: could also mean that they're making more side games. And at the very least, Metal Gear Rising 2 is looking pretty likely.
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He did? Explain..
He's pretty damn mean to his fanbase, like most of the time I see him being talked about it's another wacky shenanigan involving him being extremely transparent or trying to insult people through his games.
Most I've seen, he pretty much resents Konami for continuing the Metal Gear series and his other projects not being as popular, though I can't blame him for it, honestly.
Every Metal Gear game after the first Solid has been trying to end the series in more and more obtuse ways, and it's obviously backfired.
I might be biased because I just don't really like Kojima that much, I think he's really pompous and most of his projects overly-pretentious.
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He's pretty damn mean to his fanbase, like most of the time I see him being talked about it's another wacky shenanigan involving him being extremely transparent or trying to insult people through his games.
Most I've seen, he pretty much resents Konami for continuing the Metal Gear series and his other projects not being as popular, though I can't blame him for it, honestly.
Every Metal Gear game after the first Solid has been trying to end the series in more and more obtuse ways, and it's obviously backfired.
I might be biased because I just don't really like Kojima that much, I think he's really pompous and most of his projects overly-pretentious.
Thanks. I didnt know any of that. The fanbase overall seems to be pretty satisfied overall I think? The worst thing that caught my attention was ground zeroes as a demo sold at retail price. But many ate that up too :\
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I basically think Konami will milk MGS games till they lose all the audience then move on to mobile, then fail and leave games all together
SEGA and Konami are now more or less the same , Quite sad to see whats happened to these corps .
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SEGA and Konami are now more or less the same , Quite sad to see whats happened to these corps .
It's even more sad considering how many IPs each of them have under their belts. Konami with Hudson, and SEGA with Atlus respectively.
I just wish their Japanese development studios would release more games.
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Konami will pull a capcom and allow their franchises to go to western developers and not work out. See
SEGA and Konami are now more or less the same , Quite sad to see whats happened to these corps .
and Capcom
I think Capcom has had the the worse with a full team of people moving on and finding success (Platinum Games) and Inafune doing Mighty No.9.
While Yuji Naka and other characters at SEGA have had a hard time finding a market.
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I think Capcom has had the the worse with a full team of people moving on and finding success (Platinum Games) and Inafune doing Mighty No.9.
I can't think of many "big name" developers that are still at the studios that they made a name for themselves at.
Shigeru Miyamoto, Yuji Hori and Toshihiro Nagoshi at Nintendo, SquareEnix and SEGA respectively, are three of the few that pop into mind.
Think of any of your favourite Japanese franchises, and most of the creators have gone indie.
Hironobu Sakaguchi left SquareEnix (Final Fantasy)
Koji Igarashi left Konami (Castlevania)
Yuji Naka left SEGA (Sonic/NiGHTs/etc...)
Tetsuya Mizuguchi left SEGA (Space Channel 5, Rez)
Shinji Mikami left Capcom (Resident Evil, God Hand)
Hideki Kamiya left Capcom (Viewtiful Joe, Okami, Devil May Cry)
Keji Inafune left Capcom (Mega Man)
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Eh, Keji Inafune always gets more credit than he deserves. He made games happen, but he wasn't very involved creatively aside from early on.
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I am the only one who think that Tetsuya Mizuguchi is slightly...overestimated?...
I mean he did good games yes but i think he is not even close to developers like Naka or Suzuki.
My point is that he was good but i dont think that his resignation was a very big loss for SEGA back in the day.
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I personally liked his game but speaking in terms of sales numbers, yes, losing Mizuguchi wasn't a big deal for SEGA. Space Channel 5 was actually promoted well and failed, Rez wasn't so much but was a cult hit.
But both those games paled in comparison to his SEGA Rally title. Tho I would say he did better without SEGA seeing how Lumines was a hit and worked with Sora on Meteos (which is nice).
Though yeah, compared to Naka he wasn't as big due to his catalogue. Tho compared to everyone else, will anyone at SEGA ever be on the same level as Suzuki? Dude is a hit making machine.
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He did? Explain..
Publicly humiliating the orginal team behind MG Rising and making them apologise was nothing more then work placed bullying and he should of got called out on it. Then there's the amount of franchies at Konami he's killed stated above - I would inclued Metal Gear in that as it's become a complete joke story wise for me.
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When did he publicly humiliate the team and force them to apologize? I agree that the story is crazy but it was sorta always out there.
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When did he publicly humiliate the team and force them to apologize? I agree that the story is crazy but it was sorta always out there.
It was during one of the events when he announced Platinum Games were taking over as developers. He made them create a video with them all apologising for not being good enough etc.
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Assumptions sure are nice
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Expect it's not an asummption. You can find it on YouTube. It's a really difficult watch.
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I watched the video. Again, assumptions are nice.
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I think your talking about this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV1BMUg4NsA
The one where he said he was giving the team full reigns on Metal Gear Solid 5 and they told him no because they didn't want the responsibility. The guy that literally gave them the key to the Porsche so he can work on something else... forced them to apologize?
The video was put together by Konami, not by Kojima. Not only that the filming of the interviews where in different locations. I think your thinking way too much into it because you just dislike Kojima....
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Update: Kojima Station (live stream) has been cancelled....
"To everyone who usually watches Kojima Station, thank you. The broadcast scheduled for March 26 at 20:00 has been cancelled due to various circumstances. Nevertheless, we apologize to those who were looking forward to it. As for the next broadcast, we will share more information as soon as it’s decided."
http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/station/jp/#info
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How strange, I wonder why he left the Company. Was the relationship with Konami and Kojima that strained?
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That's only part of the video. There's a segment at the start where he tells the audience about the team. Can't seem to find it now :/
Ah, well. Also, I used to like Kojima, but then as we've heard more of him over the years I've realised he's full of nonsense.
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https://twitter.com/tvsmatthackney/status/592177537427447808
This was expected, but still shitty. Guillermo del Toro has confirmed that Silent Hills has been cancelled. Also, P.T. will be removed from PSN this Wednesday so get it while you still can. You can get it from the online store without owning a PS4: https://store.playstation.com/
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This news brokey heart a few weeks ago. =(
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https://twitter.com/tvsmatthackney/status/592177537427447808
This was expected, but still shitty. Guillermo del Toro has confirmed that Silent Hills has been cancelled. Also, P.T. will be removed from PSN this Wednesday so get it while you still can. You can get it from the online store without owning a PS4: https://store.playstation.com/
What's PT?
Also surprised that Silent Hill got shit-canned after all the work they were putting behind it.
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What's PT?
Also surprised that Silent Hill got shit-canned after all the work they were putting behind it.
P.T. stands for "Playable Teaser". It was a teaser for Silent Hills that can be downloaded for free from PSN. Even on its own it's considered one of the best horror games ever made.
Also, Konami has confirmed that Silent Hills has been cancelled: http://kotaku.com/its-official-silent-hills-is-cancelled-1700379816
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I don't get it. Kojima is leaving, this project with Guillermo Del Toro didn't go anywhere and now the word's out on Konami getting delisted from the Stock Exchange (http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/27/konami-delisted-new-york-stock-exchange/).
None of this bodes well for Konami.
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I don't get it. Kojima is leaving, this project with Guillermo Del Toro didn't go anywhere and now the word's out on Konami getting delisted from the Stock Exchange (http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/27/konami-delisted-new-york-stock-exchange/).
None of this bodes well for Konami.
The stock exchange is a minor issue, they need to pay to be on there and the division it entails (Their Slots division) is so minor that paying the extra cash is a complete waste of money.
This all does however signify that they are aggressively cutting corners where they can.
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I guess but in a way, what franchise can Konami live off of besides Metal Gear Solid right now? Pro-Evolution Soccer is their only other franchise that can make some coin but it's kinda weird that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the only major title they got going right now.
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Another one bites the dust. How many more will follow sigh
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynl4sIFazmM
Jim did a video on Konami.
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So now Konami filed a copyright strike on a video by Super Bunnyhop where he was speculating what was going on at Konami using sources he trusted but didn't even say that their words were the 100% truth? As if we needed another reason to call them scum.
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And they posted really good profits, I guess their video game business really doesn't matter to them.
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Konami's profits from gambling/pachinko and their fitness clubs is higher than gaming, so them moving away from being a games publisher outside of MSG, DDR & Pro Evo is not surprising.
They will likely follow the path of EA/Activision/Ubisoft et al and release a ton of games in those three franchises produced cheaply and quickly using inexpensive staff relying on the name value of the franchise to sell the title with increasingly lower numbers as the lack of quality takes it's tole and Konami become less relevant in Gaming outside of mobile games.
Sega's situation could be much worse compared to the disaster here!
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Anyone hearing about the situation with P.T.? It's honestly kind of hilarious.
Essentially, Konami has completely forbade the game from ever being re-downloaded, even by people who already had it. They've revoked a 'license,' of every owner, and now that it's gone, if they delete it from their system, they can never download it again.
But that's not all! In revoking this license, they've also made the PSN fail a check to make sure the user is legit. So if the system detects PT now, it will lock the user out of the PSN and out of access to their games. The only way to stop it is to delete PT from their system, and go offline.
I have never before seen a company so adamant in ignoring this thing ever happened. It's just sad and petty honestly. They have succeeded in killing a digital title for good, and it's their own game, and a high-profile game at that.
Fucking amazing.
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^Holy shit, I heard they were blocking sales of it from Ebay, but I didn't know about blocking users unless they delete it!
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Yes, now Konami is entering the mobile business. I have a feeling they won't even milk most of those games you mentioned because they can just do mobile versions of the games for cheaper and 'probably' get a bigger audience.
What is so special about the PT demo? I heard it was very 'OK' but worked as a teaser.
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It's just Konami trying so hard to erase its existence that's gotten people's attention.
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Don't worry, Metal Gear Solid 4 did the job better than all this shit would.
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Anyone hearing about the situation with P.T.? It's honestly kind of hilarious.
Essentially, Konami has completely forbade the game from ever being re-downloaded, even by people who already had it. They've revoked a 'license,' of every owner, and now that it's gone, if they delete it from their system, they can never download it again.
But that's not all! In revoking this license, they've also made the PSN fail a check to make sure the user is legit. So if the system detects PT now, it will lock the user out of the PSN and out of access to their games. The only way to stop it is to delete PT from their system, and go offline.
I have never before seen a company so adamant in ignoring this thing ever happened. It's just sad and petty honestly. They have succeeded in killing a digital title for good, and it's their own game, and a high-profile game at that.
Fucking amazing.
It looks like that anyone who has downloaded PT, even if they subsequently delete it, will be blocked from accessing PSN with any games, as even if you delete it, the license is still there and so your account will fail the checks necessary to get access as it appears that you have unlicenced software on your console. This move my Konami is incredibly actionable if anyone were bothered. Sony best clear this up quickly. I sincerely hope MGS & Pro Evo die off as the sooner Konami becomes a full fledged mobile publisher, the sooner the gaming world can forget they exist.
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What is so special about the PT demo? I heard it was very 'OK' but worked as a teaser.
Did whoever tell you that it's only 'OK' only watch playthroughs on Youtube or Twitch. Actually playing it is a lot scarier than watching someone else play it. I've seen some praise it as one of the best horror games of all time, I'm too much of a wimp to play it for long though. :V
Also, it's a pretty big part of video game history. Keep in mind that when this was released, Konami didn't announce what it was actually a teaser for. It wasn't until a random streamer on Twitch finished it that people found out that it was for Silent Hills, which would have been a big deal even if it would be bad because of the people involved. It's the only time a game has ever been announced like that, and Konami trying to get rid of it is just a sad display that shows how little they actually care about it.
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er why do people think games are scary? Have you been scared by a game?
Honestly, I have had some jump scares but I never played a game and went "OH wwow I'm so scared'. I'm a fucking adult. Just give me a good survival horror or horror game with puzzles that is entertaining.
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I find games scary in the moment, but it's not as though I am physically afraid to play a game or the fear seems into real life. To be honest, RE:CV is a scary game because if you die you have to go back to the last save point. I find that scary in any game...
BTW George, remember in our Isolation live stream when you were fucking around trying to get on the transport and then the alien rushed in like a guy about to miss his train and killed you? lol, that wasn't scary so much as funny and surprising.
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George, I think you just haven't played a good horror game. :V
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er why do people think games are scary? Have you been scared by a game?
Honestly, I have had some jump scares but I never played a game and went "OH wwow I'm so scared'. I'm a fucking adult. Just give me a good survival horror or horror game with puzzles that is entertaining.
You could say the same for any form of media then.
I think it's possible for a game or anything else to elicit a sense of fear.
RE:CV is a scary game because if you die you have to go back to the last save point. I find that scary in any game...
That's every RE game until RE4 was all 'We want the Call of Duty Audience'.
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I guess I haven't, but I have played Silent Hill and Silent Hill 2, loved it. Didn't find it scary. Maybe I'm just too mustachioed.
Konami on its future:
"We will pursue mobile games aggressively," says Konami's new CEO Hayakawa in an interview with Nikkei Trendy Net.
"Our main platform will be mobiles. Following the pay-as-you-play model of games like Power pro and Winning Eleven with additional content, our games must move from selling things like "items" to selling things like "features."
"We saw with these games that even people who buy physical games are motivated to buy extra content. The success of Power pro especially has motivated us to actively push more of our popular series onto mobile than ever before."
"Gaming has spread to a number of platforms, but at the end of the day, the platform that is always closest to us, is mobile. Mobile is where the future of gaming lies."
"We hope that our overseas games such as MGSV and Winning Eleven continue to do well, but we are always thinking about how to push our franchises onto mobile there too."
"With multiplatform games, there's really no point in dividing the market into categories anymore. Mobiles will take on the new role of linking the general public to the gaming world."
http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/35xubt/konamis_new_ceo_mobile_is_the_future_of_gaming_is/