Konami is evil

Started by Dr. Pezus, Aug 03, 2015, 12:40 PM

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Dr. Pezus


Japanese economy newspaper Nikkei has gone up with a report on the current state of affairs within Metal Gear Solid and Pro Evolution publisher Konami. And it all sounds pretty bad.

There's a lot to digest, but here's the summary:
  • Culture at the company shifted from traditional, hardcore games to cheaper, social titles in 2010 when Konami shipped a mobile game called Dragon Collection, which earned huge profit and a low budget.
  • Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's development budget has surpassed 10 billion yen ($80 million).
  • Kojima Productions is now known as "Number 8 Production Department." Its computers have no internet access and can only send messages between internal computers.
  • Employees that leave the office during lunch beak are monitored with time cards. Those who return late have their names announced throughout the company.
  • There are cameras in the office corridors to monitor the movements of Konami's employees.
  • Most Konami employees don't have their own permanent company e-mail addresses. Staff who deal with people outside the company, such as public relations, do, however, everyone else's e-mail is routinely randomized and changed every few months.
  • Konami developers who aren't seen as useful are reassigned duties such as security guards, cleaning staff at fitnes clubs, or roles at pachi-slot machine factories. This includes producers who worked on big titles. In 2013, Japanese newspaper Asahi News reported on a former Konami employee who allegedly went from development to working in a Konami pachi-slot factory, which led him into severe depression.
  • After announcing on Facebook that he was leaving Konami for a new job, Konami monitored his social media post and reshuffled those within the company that "Liked" it.
Nikkei has repeatedly reached out to Konami founder Kagemasa Kozuki for comment, but never heard back. Kagemasa is apparently known to avoid others, both among media and his corporate peers. He and others at companies like Nintendo and Sega allegedly used to help each other out, but he has apparently since become very distant.
http://gematsu.com/2015/08/nikkei-report-bad-things-happening-konami

Mmm_fish_tacos

Sounds like a horrible company to work for. I hope those people can find new work some where else. But honestly I'd just show up and stand around if they treated me like that. I don't think they can fire people in japan. I'd also file a complaint against the company.

Legend

Wow I expected this to just be a recap of what we already knew, but that's horrible.

DD_Bwest

... wow i dont know how anyone would continue to work for a company like that..  

darkknightkryta

Well, good luck Konami.  You're going to need it.

Aura7541

I usually don't wish ill-will towards a company, but I hope Konami gets what it deserves. The way it treated its developers is cruel and unethical.

darkknightkryta

Quote from: Aura7541 on Aug 03, 2015, 06:37 PMI usually don't wish ill-will towards a company, but I hope Konami gets what it deserves. The way it treated its developers is cruel and unethical.
If the gambling legislation doesn't go through it will.

the-pi-guy

Some of these are awful.

These are pretty much the same where I work.  
QuoteKojima Productions is now known as "Number 8 Production Department." Its computers have no internet access and can only send messages between internal computers.
Employees that leave the office during lunch beak are monitored with time cards. Those who return late have their names announced throughout the company.
There are cameras in the office corridors to monitor the movements of Konami's employees.

7H3

but MGSV HYPE amiright?
"It's hip to be square." - Eurogamer<br />"Shut up its art!" -Legend

Legend

Quote from: the-Pi-guy on Aug 03, 2015, 06:52 PMSome of these are awful.

These are pretty much the same where I work.  
You have your name announced if you are late?

7H3

Quote from: Legend on Aug 04, 2015, 04:19 AMYou have your name announced if you are late?
I heard of a similar situation from a fellow employee that I work with who has a different manager... basically if you do something wrong that manager (of my "co-worker") will announce it to the rest of his team
"It's hip to be square." - Eurogamer<br />"Shut up its art!" -Legend

Legend

Quote from: 7H3 on Aug 04, 2015, 05:19 AMI heard of a similar situation from a fellow employee that I work with who has a different manager... basically if you do something wrong that manager (of my "co-worker") will announce it to the rest of his team
That seems kinda... childish

the-pi-guy

Quote from: Legend on Aug 04, 2015, 04:19 AMYou have your name announced if you are late?
Its more the opposite.  
If we've worked too many hours, they announce everyone who is over and by how much.  

Aura7541

#13
If I change the "m" in Konami to a "z", the company will be called Konazi! ;D

Xevross

Quote from: Aura7541 on Aug 04, 2015, 08:21 PMIf I change the "n" in Konami to a "z", the company will be called Konazi! ;D
And by "n" you mean "m", right?