Interest
Australian Game Retailers Add Hideo Kojima's Name on MGS V Displays
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The staff at Australian game retailer JB Hi-Fi stores are not-so-subtly sharing their opinion on Konami's decision to remove both "A Hideo Kojima Game" phrase and the "Kojima Productions" logo from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain game's website and packaging. The stores' displays include handmade poster boards and signs emblazoned with the missing credits.
The images were shared on Kojima's Twitter account. The game director was celebrating his birthday with his long-time friend and Metal Gear Solid film producer Avi Arad.
Kojima and Konami's difficult relationship involving Metal Gear Solid V became public in March when an anonymous source within Konami told gaming website GameSpot that Kojima was leaving after the game's completion. The source claims Kojima and the staff of Kojima Productions were at odds with Konami, leading Konami to restrict the staff's access to corporate internet, e-mails, and phone use. Allegedly, the game was completed with the staff working as contractors to Konami.
Voice actor Akio Ohtsuka, who has played Solid Snake and Big Boss in the Metal Gear Solid video game franchise, wrote on his personal Twitter account that Kojima Productions had been dissolved. Konami also confirmed Kojima and film director Guillermo del Toro's Silent Hills game was cancelled.
Metal Gear Solid franchise composer Rika Muranaka stated on a podcast that the situation could be credited to Kojima not sticking to a budget and timetable for the game.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is slated to ship for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One in the United States and Europe in September 1, followed by Japan on September 2.
[Via Hachima Kikō, Kotaku]
