Nikkei Konami Article Summary

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Retweeting with the same request to my own followers, too. This is something I'm very interested to ready in full. twitter.com/markmacd/statu…

Mark MacDonald @markmacd

Nikkei login anyone? New article on Konami (Jpn only) seems pretty scathing, talking creators leaving & mgmt silence nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO…

2015-08-03 13:24:37

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Nevermind, you can read the Nikkei article fine with a free account if you're willing to use up one of your alloted 10 free articles monthly

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Jesus, this Nikkei article on Konami. $80+ million spent on MGS5's dev as of April if it's to be believed.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Momotaro Densetsu apparently jettisoned by Konami over disagreements over revenue split with creator. Happaned without warning.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Ah, quick correction: I meant to say Momotaro DENTETSU earlier, not Densetsu, regarding the Nintendo stuff and whatnot. Sorry!

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

New Momotaro Densetsu game has instead been licensed out to Nintendo for release next year. Konami only interested in licensing fee.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

As already known, Love Plus creator left. Development halted for Tokimeki Memori and Suikoden, as well.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

This is not to say that new games were actively in development, mind. Just that what was already stalled is now extra stalled.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

One employee feels turning point was when Konami launched Dragon Collection for mobile. Lots of money made with sub-$1 mil budget.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

This was back around 2010. Kagemasa, Konami founder, not keen on increasing budget for console games with diminishing returns.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Jesus, Konami's internal culture sounds poisonous. For one, email with outsiders is done with a randomized email address changed regularly.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

At least that seems to be the case with specific departments like sales. Uncertain what it's like for others.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

It doesn't stop with emails. Lunchtime leave is regulated with time cards. Those who exceed allotted time are outed within company.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Employees deemed useless have been known to do assemblyline work, security guard detail, cleanup at fitness clubs.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

These aren't nobodies being told to do this work either. Producers and other prominent creators have had this hoisted on them.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

One famous incident of reassignments happened over a FB post of a guy saying he was heading to another company. Those who liked it were-

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

-quickly found to have their positions shifted around. Even upper management with loyal followings were hit by this.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Nikkei has repeatedly reached out to Kagemasa for statements, but have never heard back from him. He's staying silent.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Kagemasa is apparently a known recluse, both among media and even with his corporate peers. He and other old guards at companies like-

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Nintendo, Sega, etc. used to help each other out of jams and whatnot, but has since become very, very distant from them.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

That's about it for the stuff that would matter to non-business types. Talks a little about how Kagemasa wanted to diversify even at the-

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

turn of the century and is the reason behind some of Konami's acquisitions, but otherwise consider my work summarizing this article done.

Tom James, The Daigo Umehara of Dating Sims @iiotenki

Thanks for following and reading my stuff. Please cite me if you use my summaries in any articles; this took time out of my day to do. c:

Sophia @Shiori_Ishimaru

@iiotenki There's a NeoGAF thread on your translations even. People are citing tho. neogaf.com/forum/showthre…