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Hideo Kojima Sends Impassioned Message to His Loyal Fans

Plus, see his new studio's logo, designed by Metal Gear artist Yoji Shinkawa.

132 Comments

On December 15, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima finally revealed he has setup is own independent studio along with former members of the team he worked with at Konami.

No Caption Provided

The studio has revealed its new logo, which was designed by Metal Gear character artist Yoji Shinkawa, suggesting he is part of the new studio. Take a look at it above.

The new studio has also launched its official website, which prominently features a message from Kojima addressing the gaming community and laying out a mission statement for the new Kojima Productions. Read it in full below.

We are Homo Ludens (Those who play).

From the moment we enter this world, we instinctively invent ways to have "fun," and share our inventions with those around us. We are not asked to do this, nor do we need reasons to create. It is simply who we are.

We find one another and compete with one another. We laugh together and cry together; all while playing together. Our experiences bind us and liberate us. To share our most valuable experiences, we create stories, invent tools, and evolve the art of play. Play has been our ally since the dawn of civilisation.

"Playing" is not simply a pastime, it is the primordial basis of imagination and creation. Truth be told, Homo Ludens (Those who Play) are simultaneously Homo Faber (Those who Create).

Even if the earth were stripped of life and reduced to a barren wasteland, our imagination and desire to create would survive--beyond survival, it would provide hope that flowers may one day bloom again. Through the invention of play, our new evolution awaits.

Kojima Productions -- We are Homo Ludens. We are those who play.

Hideo Kojima

Currently, the website has a number of job opportunities, ranging from character, weapons, and environment artists to lead programmer, game designer, music composer, and concept artist.

This news follows months of speculation about Kojima's status with his ex-employer Konami. At The Game Awards, host Geoff Keighley revealed lawyers were keeping Kojima from attending the show.

In November, Konami denied the claims that Kojima had left the company, saying that he was on vacation.

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Johny_47

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Edited By Johny_47

Homo Ludens, I like that =)

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omotih

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thats not realy a logo ... u know, when People get old they tend to become (very) childish again

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DanceGDance

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Play is connected with no material interest, and no profit can be gained from it.

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AndreasRufus

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I like the art, but not the placing of the text.

Oh well, at least the style is already very "Kojima"-ish and it's just a logo anyways. Looking foreward to this project and any other one in the future.

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lostn

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I hope he shows up Konami hard.

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jack00

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Soooo, can we get a silent hills spiritual sucessor now ?

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blackamerica

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first off i don't hate Japanese people, second your way of thinking is completely wrong to me as well. the Japanese business companies and CEO'S only look after themselves in this industry. I can clearly Say that Microsoft has made an attempt to do better in last few years even with the 360. Sony clearly has no interest in the American Market other than getting you to buy their console. Look the fact that japan is one of the most gamer focus places in the world doesn't give them the right to shun Americans out of certain games that people feel should be multi-plats after they support this dirt bag over alL. I can say that i don't know much of this guys work other than metal gears and silent hill. But with the support all gamers gave him and still shut them out of his new work to support the Japanese companies. I personally think all gamers should feel betrayed and offended on all consoles.

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NunoALC

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@blackamerica: Bohoo.

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JokerOfLife

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@blackamerica: pls stop commenting

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drumjod

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@Redsyrup: Sounds like the ones who complain about games taking too long to come out yet have no idea what it takes to actually make a game.

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Zenopants

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@drumjod: aka Homo Vinum

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drumjod

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@Zenopants: Human WIne? haha I get it, good one

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RogerioFM

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I wonder if Konami even cares, are they being bitter or they simply don't give a damn.

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luciferous

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@RogerioFM: They won't give a damn up until KojiPro make more profit than them, which will be hard because Konami are soulless profit making machines.

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ketsuhige

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Edited By ketsuhige

You are absolutely right, Kojima-san: we are all Homos....wait, what??

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RogerioFM

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@ketsuhige: Well, we are anyway.

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RogerioFM

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What the hell was he smoking when he wrote that?

I love the guys melodramatic disposition, but that made no sense lol. All the best for him though.

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Hells_rebelion

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@RogerioFM: Makes sense to me honestly. Basically just saying he's a gamer and gamers create. No matter what struggles he or anyone has gone through he must go on creating and having fun. Basically in line with him leaving Konami I'm sure.

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RogerioFM

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Edited By RogerioFM

@Hells_rebelion: I know, but his pretentious melodrama is always amusing. Rooting for him though.

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Hells_rebelion

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@RogerioFM: lol it seems a lot of Japanese are like that. It's enjoyable. Yeah definitely rooting for him.

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Forester057

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@Hells_rebelion: Yep. I love the Japanese. They aren't afraid to be sincere and show their feelings. Americans are too locked in to the sarcastic, make fun of you if you are serious thing. RogerioFM making fun of Hideo for saying something heartfelt is my case in point. Don't get me wrong. Love Merica!

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RogerioFM

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@forester057: I'm not american.

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Forester057

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@RogerioFM: Well damn. That ruined my hypothesis didn't it.

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TERMINATOR-SSD

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As long as he makes games for PC's as well then im happy :-)

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imajinn

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Edited By imajinn

@blackamerica: Americans do support their own companies. Which is why there are so many FPS/shooter games. I support game companies that make games I want to play. No matter if they are from a planet named gluknard. I play lots of RPGs. Not many American companies make those now do they? You may want to thoroughly think about every aspect of what you write, before writing it. You write of CEO's there only looking after themselves. Guess what? They do it in America too! Gasp, what a shocker right? There was a reason EA was voted worst company to work for, for example.

Everyone has opinions. Everyone has assholes. Some stink more than others.

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deactivated-601c0fd238ca0

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If he makes an exclusivity deal with Sony, he's going to be caught up in the same empirical crap as he was with Konami. Sony isn't that much better of a company. Just look at how they treat press conferences. Both Nintendo and Xbox can be seen commending their competition on great products. Sony just comes out saying "We have the best console and games", not addressing anyone but themselves, when Sony is mostly a failing company.

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beastmode

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Edited By beastmode

@Iamshmee: get out of here xbox fanboy, ps4 gamers will be enjoying kojima game while you sit there and whine.

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deactivated-601c0fd238ca0

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@beastmode: Actually don't even have an Xbox One, mainly PC and Wii U here. Sony just screwed up too bad on PS3, it was garbage and I know they're still running the same crappy PSN. There's nothing special about PS4 besides a couple of exclusives and even some of those are cross porting to PC like SFV and No Man's Sky.

In all honesty at this point I'm just anti-Sony because their fanbase is trolls like yourself and they run such a broken show, and act like their crap doesn't stink. Oh wait just like their fans.

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jayz0ned

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@Iamshmee: This Kojima game is coming to PC, so at least you will be able to play this game.

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LouiXIII

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@Iamshmee: you do know that if it wasn't for Sony, you wouldn't be playing SFV on PC right. Sony AND Capcom are footing the bill for development...yet you hate them. The real troll here is you. Losers hate a winner and right now, Sony is WINNING!!!

So keep living your putred little life of hate and envy. Meanwhile, I'll be playing exclusives like Horizon, The Last Guardian and Grand Turismo along with a slew of others that you won't find on PC or anywhere else

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deactivated-601c0fd238ca0

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@louixiii: You really have no idea how Sony as an entire company is doing if you think Sony is winning. Also the only reason more units have been sold is because they're taking a huge loss selling cheaper bundles. Just like with the PS3, I highly doubt the PS4 rage you think is amazing will last as long as it did with PS3 in the last gen.

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LouiXIII

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@Iamshmee: Actually I do. They closed down their laptop division because it wasn't selling and may close down their cell phone division as well, but their Bravias are doing pretty good but their games division IS BOOMING!!! Shares went up so I know they're not doing but so bad. And with as many exclusives that are due to release next year, shares are going to shoot through the roof.

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Creepywelps

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@Iamshmee: Lol, what a joke.

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