Is Konami’s Decision To “Continue” With The Metal Gear Franchise Simply A Move To Hurt Hideo Kojima?

TTZ: Can there be another Metal Gear Solid without creator Hideo Kojima? Would Konami simply continue to frustrate him? We give our two cents on Konamigate!

[Maltaze]

Don't think it matters. If Kojima is as big as they come, some other studio will pick him up or he simply freelances for other AAA studios. Either ways, it paints Konami as a sucker when it comes to the gaming community and as a future partner with upcoming titles.

TL DR: Kojima may or may not lose. Konami will absolutely lose in both situations.

[VenomUK]

Q) "Is Konami’s Decision To “Continue” With The Metal Gear Franchise Simply A Move To Hurt Hideo Kojima?"

A) No. They are a business and Metal Gear Solid can generate a substantial profit for them, they would be silly to ignore their prized asset.

On a personal note, whilst I understand that they will continue with MGS I think the best thing they can do is leave Kojima's Solid Snake story as it is. A new writer would never be able to do it justice and their interpretation would invite criticism for not being true. Far better for Konami to create a brand new game set in the same Metal Gear universe but with new characters. It will then be it's own game which can be judged on its own merits.

[Bansai]

It's simply a matter of making more money, not making Kojima suffer, lol...

[ssj27]

I only played mgs4 and now this one and it does have a unique history behind it and nice twist but his history telling and specially name in characters are very un original and make every confusing, i remember ever after downloading a app he did to understand mgs4 and some fan made youtube vides i was still confuse in many things history related. And this one also confused because of all the silly weird name's and curious to replay mgs4 again but i can't because dont have a ps3 anymore and who the f is the big boss? Who do i play as in mgs5? Inst the same snake character I'm playing as in mgs5?

And then you can't call 5 a game that it setting is before 4 .. another silly confusing thing to do and a huge mistake.

My point is and hopefully the next guy fix all this timelines, names and makes the next game more logical to understand in every way.

[Army_of_Darkness]

Mgs is konami's most popular franchise, so obviously they're gonna continue the series to continue too make more revenue, not too "hurt" Kojima lmfao!! That's just some plain old sensitive fanboy assumption there lol!
Whether or not the mgs franchise will succeed or not without kojimas involvement is a whole different story... Something that we'll all have to wait and see.

[Mikeyy]

ssj27

The game doesn't make sense to you because you haven't even bothered to play the rest of them

Mgs5 makes it very clear it's 1984. Mgs5 takes place before mgs1, after mgs3 and after ground zeroes.

Mgs4 is way in the future. Also if you played 4 like you claim you didn't beat it because the end of the game features big boss, yet you've never heard of him?

Don't hate because you are just lazy.

[darkslayer208]

i hope they authorize a new metal gear revengeance game by platinium gmes

[hulk_bash1987]

Konami's decision was purely financial. MGS is one of their biggest cash cows, for them to just stop isn't a smart move. But with that being said, doing a MGS game without Kojima takes away it's soul.

[avengers1978]

Exactly... MGS 5 will be the last MGS game I ever play. No Kojima no Metal Gear.

[madworld]

in my opinion,it's not all about kojima himself but it is a matter of a business choice nothing more,let me explain That,,first of all Kojima always does very damn expensive things and never used second of all he seemed doesn't care about the company future when he spends 83 million $$ for game such as mgs v it is not worth all this cost, let be reasonable here he wants to make an AAA open world game such as RED DEAD and GTA V and he in my perspective failed the game comes with almost 16 of main missions identical plus all side missions are the same thing over and over again ,so until now MGS V didn't cover its cost the game just sold 3 million copies which is less then what MGS 4 did in first 3 or 4 weeks from launched.I will fired him with his madness choices this is what Konami should do to survive from Kojima ,business world is tough and I don't blame theme if they want to survive.

[Malice-Flare]

Delusions of Grandeur...

[Axonometri]

They do not have ears do they?

[FoxyGotGame]

Not sure I understand the basis of the question...

Konami 'OWN' the MGS IP. As much as I disagree with their actions of late, that fact is indisputable. Does the author think Konami should just abandon the franchise because Kojima is no longer at the helm? /

[3-4-5]

Too many fanboys can't handle reality that their savior Kojima is actually just a normal human like the rest of us.

Kojima will be fine, but so will Konami.

Prior to MGS5 being released they had reported profits were up 150% from last year, so even before MGS5, they were making a profit.

As dumb as some of the management sounds, you need to be realistic and stop worshipping Kojima as if he can do no wrong.

[Gatsu]

"Kojima will be fine, but so will Konami. "

But the next MGS won't be...

[Forum_Pirate]

Tell me, how did that line of thinking go for Castlevania or Suikoden? What about Dark Souls 2 selling less than half what Dark Souls did?

Maybe some series don't need the initial creator, either by nature or with a sufficiently skilled staff to take over, but if you think MGS and it's notorious eccentrics isn't one of them or, even if it wasn't, that Konami has the brains (or is willing to spend the money) to hire people who might be able to do it justice you're ignoring the history of Konami and gaming at large.

Fans know a suda51 game when we see it and we all know when Hidetaka Miyazaki was involved in the level design, just like we can know a Quentin Tarantino, The Wachowskis, Steven King or Piers Anthony project when we see them. Hate to break it to you.

Konami may be fine as a whole, but unless they seriously turn things around they have basically no future in gaming asside from their mobile garbage and pachinko.

[frostypants]

@Gatsu, I'd argue that much of what is WRONG with MGS these days is due to Kojima. Getting some better writers in there, for example, would be an improvement. Kojima's storytelling is sloppy.

[s45gr32]

Yes it should, for it will ruin metal gear and become another call of duty clone.

[rainslacker]

Question is asking if Konami is out to spite Kojima in some way.

I'd say no. Their decision to continue it is solely on the basis of it makes money. Konami is a business, and while the head of Konami may be disgruntled towards Kojima, he's not going to go around losing money just to try and make Kojima feel bad.

[goldwyncq]

Kojima = Big Boss
Konami = Cipher

Konami's going to clone Kojima's masterpiece to replicate his success, even after he's gone.

[PocketRave]

woooh man thats some deep sh! t

[CDbiggen]

As much as I hate this debate, I loved that comment.

[ImmortalCarrot]

Love ur comment. Just wondering whos gonna be the surrogate mother and create the clones.

[wheresmymonkey]

No, I think they're going to continue with it because it makes money. that is all Konami care about.

[Sainox16]

All about the Benjamins

[chrisx]

Kojima gave up on MGS along time ago,Its because of konami he made all those others. And they own they ip so the answer is No

[user9950279]

it makes money, that's why.

Kojima could just start a new series called "Metal Spear Golid" or something. He'll live.

[Mykky]

Yes Konami have been acting like total assholes at late but what this article is suggesting is just plain stupid. Konami owns MGS and i doubt their next MGS would be made simply to hurt Kojima lol.

[Elda]

Maybe or maybe not but primarily a business decision.

[DillyDilly]

Watch Konami port all MGS games to Mobile

[scark92]

No, it is the same with all of Konami's decision, Money.

[MasterCornholio]

Kojima is Metal Gear Solid. Metal Gear Solid is Kojima.

Without the soul the body can not live.

At least thats how i view it.

[s45gr32]

If MGS continues under Konami it will end up as a waterdown experience, run of the mill call of duty crap. MGS can't be done without Kojima san.

[JOWAPPO]

Although it can easily be argued that it's a simple matter of Metal Gear being a cash cow that Konami owns, I can't say for sure in light of the fact that Konami wants to focus almost exclusively on gambling machines, with their only actual video game being soccer (if I remember correctly). According to them, that model will make them more money (and more quickly) then a cash-sinking Metal Gear ever could.

If they were planning to continue the series, then why all the drama behind the scenes? Why not let Kojima make the best last game he can so that it's left on a high note and is as successful as possible? Did he go too far over budget ...or was it something petty? Perhaps even diabolical?

Maybe they DO just want to spite the man over ego alone, or maybe they wanted to throw Kojima off his A-game so that the standards are lowered, and the next kojima-less game won't be crucified as much for inevitabley failing to live to a standard? With Konami the way they are right now, I can't put that extreme past them. I've heard worse corporate horror stories from Japan.

[NeoGamer232]

Konami are going to spend another $50-80 million of shareholders money just so they can stick their middle finger up at Kojima. /s

[ApocalypseShadow]

Kids these days.they'll make money but they just lost a customer.but when you pull some bulls#it,I will boycott you and never buy your products.or watch as the thing I used to like turns to crap.

RE without shiji makami and hideki kamiya.how many REs do you think I bought after clover studios got fired from capcom?yes.that's right.NONE.how about devil may crys?yup.NONE.

How many sonic the hedgehog games do you think I bought after yuji naka left Sega?can you guess?

How about EA.once they screwed gamers buying up all football licenses(NFL,afl,ESPN)they were boycotted.I don't buy their games because of NFL2k.I don't care what reviews their games get.it just more money for them to buy up licenses and monopolize as they always do.or buy their competition for their game engine or a competing product like burnout was to need for speed.now there is no burnout.

Metal gear will not be metal gear.perfect example:who liked the terminator movies after James Cameron left after T2:judgment day?how about aliens after number 2?the original creator leaves and its never the same.

Nintendo,Sega,capcom,konami,n amco were my favorite companies growing up.and their offshoots like snk,treasure,natsume(shatterha nd,shadow of the ninja),etc.their developers changed or were fired because they took their time making great games and not quick cash runs for the company like!e EA.or having to deal with slave labor.now you see these guys on kick starter making spiritual successors to castlevania or mega man.

Its just as bad as sitting on properties and not making new ones like streets of rage,powers stone,contra,metroid etc.now all those companies get NO MONEY from me.

They lost a customer.konami will get no money from me.

[DiaperFace]

Lol no. This is a company, they're not even thinking of Whojima when making business decisions. Ridiculous. This isn't high school.

[WitWolfy]

There is no "I" in team. But there is an "I" in Kojima...

[ICANPLAYGAMES2]

Well if rumors are true that Konami wasn't happy with Kojima in regards to the games budget, and getting the game out in a timely manner, I doubt there is anything malicious like that intended. I do however believe that anyone else put in charge probably wouldn't give the game the same care and attention, I think Konami would put someone who would only make safe decisions and shove it out the door when they wanted it released, and damn the consumers, but that is only my opinion.

[TeamLeaptrade]

I really think Konami is going to continue with MGS just to say that they're still focused on AAA titles. I really don't think we'll see a MGS for a very long time, if ever.