MGS designer re-evaluating all aspects of studio to 'challenge foreign software houses'
Metal Gear designer and producer Hideo Kojima has revealed that his studio, Kojima Productions, will 'start from zero' from 2009 in order to better complete globally.
"We're currently reviewing everything - from the team structure to tools and our staff - in order to make Kojima Productions a team that can challenge foreign creators and software houses," he told Famitsu as part of their 2009 preview. "So, because of that, 2009 is going to be a very important year for us.
"I've come to understand that the way we've made games up until now won't translate globally, and I've come to think that I need to make Kojima Productions a team that can compete alongside the rest of the world," he said.
"I've thought a lot about how Western games have been winning, looking it from a global perspective, and there are things that I've noticed. So 2009 will be a year of change, a year where we start from zero again."
Likening games developed in the West to Hollywood's output in terms of worldwide appeal, he said: "With games, you've got to use cutting-edge techniques, and doing so costs money - so I don't think you can make games that just appeal to the Japanese market. So, 2009 will see us continuing to think how to create a team that can take on the world."
Advertisement
Smells like a pay off from someone known for payoffs. Looks like Kojima has heard the sound of the M$ money train paying off developers to come aboard. A sad day for gamers.
I agree with truBlue
Oh Kojima....You are doing nothing wrong, perhaps die hard JRPG developers are falling behind the curve but you are so far past the curve it's a dot to you!
Do not let us unimaginative westerners influence you much, stick to your guns..... (and the ps3 please :D )
What's the PS3 have to do with anything? I hope he develops for every console so everyone can play his games.
Lol yust the PS3 shuld have this exelent Guy...
This is probably why Kojima was touring US developers, not for FPS or any of that ****, but to see how they work and their pipeline. This is good because the Japanese have superior art direction to the US but not as good tech. Whereas the US developers have better tech, but their games art direction is rarely ever good and most while having impressive tech look boring and lack good storylines and cinematics. Kojima Productions and the Metal Gear series have the best of both tech and art direction as well as impressive storytelling, I can't wait to see what they do going forward!
Why do fanboys even exist anymore. Who cares about the consoles, it's about the content not the platform. I own all three major consoles and if a game is multiplatform I'll buy it for whichever makes the most sense. I just bought MGS4 and own 1, 2 & 3. I love the series and would like to see them come out alittle faster than they already have. I don't know if that would be a good thing though becuase that might waterdown the series and lower my anticipation.
You're not BC
Their FF series was brilliant
Compete globally?? I hope that he doesn't add more sexual oriented and violence stuff to his next game.
Would Kojima let down his fans? Hope not.
The comments are made of rampant fanboi, weeaboo, and ugh.
Kojima is talking less about changing art and content and more production style. If you know a drop about how Japanese games are made, you know that their production pipeline is horridly archaeic and inefficient, a waste of time and a drain on resources better spent elsewhere.
Moreso, tradition shoud not be a reason to stagnate growth. That it took until MGS4 to enable Snake to move AND shoot, when the premise of the series is that he is a soldier of legendary skill and ability, is testament to that. The fact that Kojima & co. had to look outside their normal vision to bring this about is proof that a narrowly focused point of view is held by them, and deserves to be thrown swiftly into the nearest dumpster.
It's not about making "westernized" or "Japanese" games, it should be about making GOOD games to the best of the ability of their makers, that every game should be both a challenge and expansion of the skills in their respective areas. That this is often not the case means that game developers are failing we, the consumers, and we should let them know this with our wallets.
