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.”
Jack
December 16, 2015 at 8:26 pmah, this guy
he looked really down when kojimbles left konami
they’re together in outer heaven now
Heavily Augmented
December 16, 2015 at 8:28 pmIf there’s one large thing I was disappointed about MGSV other than the story, it was that the box art looked extremely generic without Yoji Shinkawa’s art. This just keeps on getting better and better for Kojima Productions.
Dr. Roswell. W
December 16, 2015 at 9:19 pmOooooh shit, Kojima is getting the band bac-
….Will they get Junji Tago, and Kazuhide Hatsuyama and the rest of the workers of the FOX ENGINE Back?
Please say yes.
scemar
December 16, 2015 at 9:34 pmThe Kojima saga keeps getting better and better.
Raziel Barkrai
December 16, 2015 at 9:54 pmReally interested to see Yoji Shinkawa do art besides MGS and ZOE.
doog
December 16, 2015 at 10:01 pmReally is a shame they spent all that time making the fox engine and only got to use it for one game.
Kamille
December 16, 2015 at 10:33 pmTheir PES games used it.
Genjo
December 16, 2015 at 10:46 pmanother ZOE type game calling it now!
Dewey Defeats Truman
December 16, 2015 at 10:59 pmHis poster for Pacific Rim is fucking incredible.
NuclearKangaroo
December 16, 2015 at 11:41 pm“Yoji Shinkawa”
oh shit dog, it is ON
Malcolm_Ecks
December 16, 2015 at 11:50 pmLikely. It doesn’t seem like Konami wants to pay these guys the rate they deserve for many years of hard work so they’re hiring new staff for whatever they’re going to call MGS6. Hell, we may even see Julien Merceron, FOX ENGINE’s supervisor make a return.
I also fully expect to see the Kojima Studios Los Angeles team completely re-hired after they got cut weeks before MGSV.
Malcolm_Ecks
December 16, 2015 at 11:57 pmI hope. I remember seeing Jehuty in MGS3 as a concept prototype statue for a future “Metal Gear”, I’d personally love to see Kojima make a game that links those 2 universes together.
Kojima will likely be the only Auteur Game Creator to have his legacy be unscathed.
Eat a dick Tim Schafer.
Nagato
December 17, 2015 at 2:09 amShinkawa’s art is obviously a great asset, but I dunno about having that producer on again. And so much for any hopes of Fukushima returning to the team as a writer…
Also, looks like yesterday’s FAQ got removed… guess it revealed more than they (Sony?) were comfortable revealing.
Stilzkin
December 17, 2015 at 3:51 am“while also saying that “it will be a complete game.”
HA
evilmajikman
December 17, 2015 at 6:41 amWell there’s also Don Bluth, technically.
Sevuz
December 17, 2015 at 8:18 amA ZOE like game with Pacific Rim theme could be awesome :D
Sebastian Mikulec
December 17, 2015 at 9:17 amKojima looks like a man who had been held prisoner in a dark room for an extended period of time and is now for the first time in a long time stepping out into sunlight in that picture.
tccboss
December 17, 2015 at 10:57 am“It will be a complete game.” Oh Kojima you’re such a kidder!