We’ve learned (via IGN) that both former Metal Gear Solid artist Yoji Shinkawa (above right) and producer Kenichiro Imaizumi (above left) are joining Hideo Kojima in his newly formed and independent Kojima Productions.
Both creators will be filling senior roles, overseeing art design and production respectively. As for what their first game is, Kojima still isn’t ready to reveal juicy details, but he did tease a bit. “I want to create something that’s what people expect, but at the same time will have something new that people haven’t seen before,” Kojima said, while also saying that “it will be a complete game.”
Yoji Shinkawa added, “We’ve been working on a franchise that is beloved and has recognizable characters. One of my big goals is, visually, with whatever characters we create, to go beyond that, to be more recognizable, more beloved. That’s definitely one of the goals I have when it comes to the art side.”
Shinkawa said that he’ll be overseeing all of Kojima Productions’ art, including “characters, concepts for the backgrounds, concepts for the mechs,” and more. “One thing that’s different is I want to accept challenges and do things I wasn’t able to do before,” Shinkawa said. “I want to expand, on a personal level, the things I can do.”
For its first project, Kojima said, “I’m thinking smaller-scale, not too many people, and focusing on game creation at first.” Coming from this, Kojima said the studio can possibly expand to produce more than just games.
“The focus is on digital content, so we could consider movies, animations, anything,” Kojima said. “But first I think people expect games from me. That’s where I want to put my focus. Once we have an established IP in games, something solid that satisfies people, then we can consider movies and videos.”
Kojima also mentioned once again that he is still interested in working alongside Guillermo del Toro, regardless of it being a game, film, or anything really.
As for the studios new logo, Kojima also talked up its design. “I’ve always loved astronauts, and [the new Kojima Productions logo] is designed so it can be seen as a medieval knight or an astronaut’s helmet,” Kojima said. “The concept is, with new technology and a pioneer spirit, we want to bring you to a new realm – within the digital world, I mean – we want to travel together with you to a new realm to which no one has gone before.”
“As for the skeleton, we’re homo sapiens – people of wisdom – but we’re also homo ludens – people who play – and the concept behind this logo is that: With new technology and a pioneer spirit, we’ll deliver play to a new world.”
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Kojima Productions is still unsure of what engine to use for their first game. “We could go either way,” Kojima said, “whether it’s using an existing engine or making another engine. We’ll have to do some research before making a decision on that one.”
