Kojima Leaving Konami? The Patriots swing into action.

[wakka]

Fatman! That guy was awesome. The 'mad bomber' is such a Japanese trope

[Asura]

I don't think any of them have touched the brilliance of the first one. That really was a revelation.

I also felt it had just the right balance of playing/watching. I must have finished it 7 or 8 times now.

[Dogg Thang]

Yep, I agree. The first one is still wonderful. I played it again maybe two years ago and it took me maybe 20 minutes to get used to the rough PS1 graphics and then I was immersed. The gameplay is so beautifully clear and structured and the cut scenes aren't overwhelming the game. It's a great game.

[Golgo]

Thirded. Metal Gear Solid comprehensively re-drew the potential scope and ambition of gaming, for me. I remember thinking, "Wow, so this is what games can do!" All boss battles were iconic. And just the right balance of narrative and gaming too, although it was slammed for cut-scene over-indulgence at the time. Little did we know what was to come lol!

[wakka]

Yep. One of the greatest games of all time and in my top 3.

However I still think the rest of the series are absolutely superb too.

[Brad]

I liked the following mission yep! Can't comment on the GTA comparison because every GTA has always boredme to tears long before I've had a chance to experience more than about 10% of it ha! Yet I'm going to borrow GTAV off my mate becuase he insists it's incredible. BTW, not saying MGS4 is the best MGS game, just that I loved every minute off it (IIRC). I also played a fair bit of the Metal Gear Online whihc was nicely different to everything else (as well as stupidly janky to get into and play of course).

[VR46]

Interesting article on Konami and their problems and plans for the future etc etc

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-08-03-new-article-on-konami-paints-a-bleak-picture

[Wools]

Saw that earlier on Twitter, disgusting behaviour from Konami if true.

[fishbowlhead]

Just an outrageous waste of talent of the Konami board. Instead of funding quality titles with money from some mobile releases, their ditching consoles altogether, give it 3 years until the mobile bubble has burst completely and they will be a mere footnote in the minds of gamers.

As for their treatment of employees, forcing seasoned developers and apparently some quite high ranking established producers to clear rubbish at fitness centers & clean toilets just leaves me speechless.


How have Sony or Ninty not gone in there yet and poached every last scrap of talent?

[Darwock]

Not having read the link, I'll just say that employees of all levels doing the cleaning is part of Japanese culture. I'm a teacher, but I spend more time sweeping up rubbish and cleaning toilets. Everyone does the dirty work together. It's taught from kindergarten onwards.

[Dogg Thang]

That's what they told you. Dude, they laugh their asses off every time you go off to clean that toilet. It's the longest running practical joke they have in your workplace.

[briareos_kerensky]

Not having read the link, I'll just say that employees of all levels doing the cleaning is part of Japanese culture. I'm a teacher, but I spend more time sweeping up rubbish and cleaning toilets. Everyone does the dirty work together. It's taught from kindergarten onwards.

What's happening is more akin to mobbing, placing game designers as clearners and security guards probably hoping they will leave the company.

[Yakumo]

Not having read the link, I'll just say that employees of all levels doing the cleaning is part of Japanese culture. I'm a teacher, but I spend more time sweeping up rubbish and cleaning toilets. Everyone does the dirty work together. It's taught from kindergarten onwards.

That's actually true in some professions in Japan. I did that too when I was a teacher. It's different in other jobs but no unhered of. For example, the car accessories store, Yellow Hat made their employees sweep the streets and clean toilets when sales were low. Magically the sales increased but I don't that had anything to do with the poor workers doing ****ty jobs. Sadly the idiots at the top don't think that way. My company has also threatened to do the same thing even though we have building cleaning staff that sweep the street and toilets. They can kiss my arse if the think I'm doing **** like that.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I just burst out laughing at the thought of Kojima-san and Seabass being made to clean toilets by Konami senior management.

Wow...just, wow...

[nakamura]

Seabass has been cleaning toilets for years.