Expected - but not this soon.
-
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Rumor: Konami has shut down their LA studio (ex KojiPro LA), ~35 jobs gone
- Thread starter dmr87
- Start date
Expected - but not this soon.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
Brutal.
They just opened the place early last year, right?
They just opened the place early last year, right?
I dunno, GAF, I know Konami's basically evil incarnate but I still didn't expect them to close the studio before the PC release of MGO.
I guess the writing was on the wall with that massive delay. At least now they don't have to come up with a real anti-cheat solution for PC!
Fuck Konami, BTW.
I guess the writing was on the wall with that massive delay. At least now they don't have to come up with a real anti-cheat solution for PC!
Fuck Konami, BTW.
LordBaztion
Member
Now who's going to make MGSV chapter 3, the pachinko slot?
I'm sorry for those developers
I'm sorry for those developers
Sorcerer Supreme
Member
If they don't deliver MGO on PC then I better be entitled to a refund. Fuck Konami.
They probably feel MGO is okay now, and that the few staffers left from KojiPro Japan can handle further updates at half the cost.
Purple Cheeto
Member
It looks like a lot of KojiPro employees have already jump shipped to Infinity Ward, Respawn and Sony Santa Monica. The creative lead for MGS Online is now at Sony as of November 2015 according to his LinkedIn.
Edit: I also notice a theme of a lot of people leaving back in May. The lead programmer for KojiPro LA among them.
Edit: By my count the Lead Programmer, Senior Engine Programmer, Director of Technology, Creative Lead and Lead VFX Artist are all gone already that's a TON of key people to lose.
Edit: I also notice a theme of a lot of people leaving back in May. The lead programmer for KojiPro LA among them.
Edit: By my count the Lead Programmer, Senior Engine Programmer, Director of Technology, Creative Lead and Lead VFX Artist are all gone already that's a TON of key people to lose.
7DollarHagane
Banned
The thing is people should stop being shocked about this stuff.
What has happened is essentially no different than if some unrelated company like fucking, Dodge or Craftsman bought out Konami.
Everyone was fired, and their facilities will now be used to manufacture and distribute car parts. Also, we're going to sit on all the IP from this company and never use it again because we make cars and car parts.
So the expectation and shock that now the company going by the name "konami" is firing everyone and changing direction. But the company is fully and truly dead. It does not exist in the way you think of it. It is changed.
What has happened is essentially no different than if some unrelated company like fucking, Dodge or Craftsman bought out Konami.
Everyone was fired, and their facilities will now be used to manufacture and distribute car parts. Also, we're going to sit on all the IP from this company and never use it again because we make cars and car parts.
So the expectation and shock that now the company going by the name "konami" is firing everyone and changing direction. But the company is fully and truly dead. It does not exist in the way you think of it. It is changed.
Pro from Dover
Member
Myep. Maybe senpai will notice him, turning the screws and all. No way will he point the finger at the man who spent all the Konami money...
Best of luck to all affected.
JigglesBunny
Banned
R.I.P. MGO3
Mass_Pincup
Banned
Why even bother renaming them if it's for shutting them down after...
What A Time To Be Alive
Member
Sounds like MGO will have a very short lifespan.
Hope the people who lost their jobs recover quickly.
Hope the people who lost their jobs recover quickly.
jetsetnickradio
Member
Not unexpected, but still unfortunate. I hope those who lost their jobs will move on to bigger and better things.
Glad to see they were getting out of there when they could.
E the Shaggy
Junior Member
Fuck, I can't believe they fired them only 14 months before Christmas 2016.
KyanMehwulfe
Member
so is that why that new patch is so all-encompassing?
wonder if they mgo guys knew this last patch would be their sort of legacy of what mgo's 'balance' or 'quality' and made sure to try leave the game in as best state as possible
i was a bit surprised that the patch wasn't a bit more marginal and just tweak it again on dec1...see how it plays out. guess maybe this is why.
wonder if they mgo guys knew this last patch would be their sort of legacy of what mgo's 'balance' or 'quality' and made sure to try leave the game in as best state as possible
i was a bit surprised that the patch wasn't a bit more marginal and just tweak it again on dec1...see how it plays out. guess maybe this is why.
Primethius
Banned
Awful news. Hopefully they find work quick.
jormungand
Banned
Most likely they will tell you that the Kojipro staff are on vacations
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
Just days after MGSV sold five million copies.
Konami won. Keep telling me they didn't. They are laughing to the bank and back.
Konami won. Keep telling me they didn't. They are laughing to the bank and back.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
YGO seems to me like the kind of game that would do really well on mobile.
talk about a brain drain.
stick a fork in MGO, it's done. or at least, will only get worked on from japan.
Pancake Mix
Copied someone else's pancake recipe
I hope those laid off all find steady jobs elsewhere.
There's nothing to say about Konami itself that hasn't already been said, but as bad as they are now, never, ever forget their immense legacy, like GAF gold.
There's nothing to say about Konami itself that hasn't already been said, but as bad as they are now, never, ever forget their immense legacy, like GAF gold.
RevolverRoden
Member
If this is true then LOL
But, ill wait for a confirmation.
MGO twitter hasn't posted since the 31st though so this is very possible.
LOOOOOOOL
WHAT ABOUT OUR NOVEMBER MGO PATCH????
But, ill wait for a confirmation.
MGO twitter hasn't posted since the 31st though so this is very possible.
LOOOOOOOL
WHAT ABOUT OUR NOVEMBER MGO PATCH????
We got fiddled...
It's such a bummer. MGSV is so representative of how bad companies can completely ruin an amazing game. I can't believe how badly they've steered this ship. I can't wait to see what Kojima does where he ends up (hopefully sony, making big first party games for them with limitless budgets)
RevolverRoden
Member
Honestly, as much as it isn't hard to believe that Konami would do this, but I'm finding this specific situation hard to believe. I mean, it seems as though MGSV is still getting supported, MGO is getting the patch, there's still the PC version of MGO.
I mean this could just be that some Konami LA people were laid off but the studio is still around (how many employees did it have?).
It just seems WAAAAAYYYY too soon.
And while the MGO twitter hasnt tweeted since halloween, Robert Peeler is still tweeting and answering MGO questions. And it still says on his page that he's the Konami LA community manager. Maybe im just in denial here.
I mean this could just be that some Konami LA people were laid off but the studio is still around (how many employees did it have?).
It just seems WAAAAAYYYY too soon.
And while the MGO twitter hasnt tweeted since halloween, Robert Peeler is still tweeting and answering MGO questions. And it still says on his page that he's the Konami LA community manager. Maybe im just in denial here.
BIONIC-ARRRMMM!!
Member
Jesus, before the MGO patch even hit.
I knew they were either closing, or putting them to work on mobile. Guess they went with the former.
I knew they were either closing, or putting them to work on mobile. Guess they went with the former.
UrbanDandy
Member
I'm pretty sure Konami is going to say that nothing's wrong, and that "we love our employees." I don't really believe this rumor based on someone's twitter. Even if it is true, then Konami really needs to be transparent with people; just say what you did.
Banjo-Kazooie
Member
Like, ya this sucks...but just before Christmas? What? Lol...its two months away. Silly thing to say in that tweet
Still Jan. 2016. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if they shit 1.00 out the door and tell people to "DEALWITHIT.gif" in regards to overpowered infiltrators and hacking/no anti-cheat. A la F.O.B. on PC.
Holiday's are starting up. November run-up to Christmas is generally a heavy buying period for getting gifts for family/friends. So, no. The saying still applies.
Yeah, the office looked really nice from Kojima's twitter pictures of it last December. It's a shame that the office was only made and then quickly shut down to fuck over Kojima.
ginger ninja
Banned
Quadraphonic
Member
That shit is always outdated. And you never want to turn down a quality engineer.