- Joined
- Jan 2, 2020
A couple articles popped up talking about this, so they are divided into two spoilers
For anyone curious about Virtuos Ltd. here's their game list (Archive: https://archive.md/Ic7lt )
Bad News: Chink Shit
Article: https://www.videogameschronicle.com...evive-metal-gear-castlevania-and-silent-hill/
Archive: https://archive.md/qlkSp
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Konami is set to revive Metal Gear, Castlevania and Silent Hill
THE JAPANESE PUBLISHER WILL REVEAL MAJOR PROJECTS AFTER A PERIOD OF RELATIVE QUIET
Konami is set to ramp up its premium game development with new instalments and remakes for its biggest franchises, including Metal Gear and Castlevania.
That’s according to publishing sources who spoke to VGC anonymously, because they did not have permission to discuss their projects publicly.
Konami’s premium games output has slowed down significantly in recent years. The last new Metal Gear game was 2018’s critically panned Metal Gear Survive, while the last mainline Castlevania release was 2014’s Lord of Shadow 2.
In the past decade, the company has arguably grown a bigger reputation for its Pachinko gambling games, than for its premium PC and console releases.
However, following a restructure to the company’s game development divisions earlier this year, Konami is now focused on bringing back its biggest brands to the premium games space, VGC was told.
The first of these titles will be a new Castlevania game, which sources described as a “reimagining” of the series currently in development internally at Konami in Japan, with support from local external studios.
There’s been much speculation that Demon’s Souls studio Bluepoint could be working on a remake of Metal Gear Solid. However, VGC was told the series is actually being worked on by an external studio, Virtuos.
Established in 2004, Virtuos is one of the largest game developers in the world and focuses on supporting the development of major triple-A games or bringing existing games to new platforms.
Recently it worked on the Switch ports of Dark Souls Remastered, The Outer Worlds and The BioShock Collection, as well as contributing art and content to blockbusters such as Battlefield 1, Uncharted 4 and Horizon Zero Dawn.
The new project is currently in early development and multiple sources suggested it would be centred around fan-favourite entry Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, rather than the original MGS.
Konami also intends to release remasters of the original Metal Gear Solid games for modern consoles, ahead of the larger project, we understand.
Finally, multiple Silent Hill games are currently in development at various external development studios, as per an earlier VGC report from February.
One of these projects was outsourced to a prominent Japanese developer earlier this year, we were told.
Konami should publicly showcase its plans at major shows next year, disruption from the pandemic permitting. Konami pulled out of this year’s E3 2021 show due to “timing” issues, although at the time it confirmed it had “a number of key projects” in the works.
Konami’s Japanese bosses are understood to have historically pushed back against most pitches to outsource its key games brands, which is a big reason why previous pitches for Silent Hill games, such as one by Until Dawn studio Supermassive, weren’t greenlit.
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Archive: https://archive.md/qlkSp
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Konami is set to revive Metal Gear, Castlevania and Silent Hill
THE JAPANESE PUBLISHER WILL REVEAL MAJOR PROJECTS AFTER A PERIOD OF RELATIVE QUIET
Konami is set to ramp up its premium game development with new instalments and remakes for its biggest franchises, including Metal Gear and Castlevania.
That’s according to publishing sources who spoke to VGC anonymously, because they did not have permission to discuss their projects publicly.
Konami’s premium games output has slowed down significantly in recent years. The last new Metal Gear game was 2018’s critically panned Metal Gear Survive, while the last mainline Castlevania release was 2014’s Lord of Shadow 2.
In the past decade, the company has arguably grown a bigger reputation for its Pachinko gambling games, than for its premium PC and console releases.
However, following a restructure to the company’s game development divisions earlier this year, Konami is now focused on bringing back its biggest brands to the premium games space, VGC was told.
The first of these titles will be a new Castlevania game, which sources described as a “reimagining” of the series currently in development internally at Konami in Japan, with support from local external studios.
There’s been much speculation that Demon’s Souls studio Bluepoint could be working on a remake of Metal Gear Solid. However, VGC was told the series is actually being worked on by an external studio, Virtuos.
Established in 2004, Virtuos is one of the largest game developers in the world and focuses on supporting the development of major triple-A games or bringing existing games to new platforms.
Recently it worked on the Switch ports of Dark Souls Remastered, The Outer Worlds and The BioShock Collection, as well as contributing art and content to blockbusters such as Battlefield 1, Uncharted 4 and Horizon Zero Dawn.
The new project is currently in early development and multiple sources suggested it would be centred around fan-favourite entry Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, rather than the original MGS.
Konami also intends to release remasters of the original Metal Gear Solid games for modern consoles, ahead of the larger project, we understand.
Finally, multiple Silent Hill games are currently in development at various external development studios, as per an earlier VGC report from February.
One of these projects was outsourced to a prominent Japanese developer earlier this year, we were told.
Konami should publicly showcase its plans at major shows next year, disruption from the pandemic permitting. Konami pulled out of this year’s E3 2021 show due to “timing” issues, although at the time it confirmed it had “a number of key projects” in the works.
Konami’s Japanese bosses are understood to have historically pushed back against most pitches to outsource its key games brands, which is a big reason why previous pitches for Silent Hill games, such as one by Until Dawn studio Supermassive, weren’t greenlit.
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Bad News: Chink Shit
Article: https://www.ign.com/articles/konami-indie-games-classic-series-gradius-twinbee-goemon
Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/2021100...e-games-classic-series-gradius-twinbee-goemon
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Konami is Inviting Indie Developers to Make New Games Based on Some of Its Classic Series
Famous IP from the past may be revived through indie creators' eyes.
Konami has announced an indie game contest that actively asks small developers to make games based on some of its classic series, including Gradius, Ganbare Goemon, and many more.
Konami's Action & Shooting Game Contest asks indie creators to plan and develop new action games and shooters based on past Konami titles. The rules allow for creators to make remakes or sequels, they can pick out a single character or mechanic from a past title, or even change or combine genres that may not have been in the originals. Through the collaboration of indie creators and Konami, these new works could potentially become commercial products.
A video outlining the contest was published by Konami. This contest is sponsored by Konami and held in cooperation with Shueisha Game Creators Camp, a project to support game developers. The contest began September 30 and will run until January 6, 2022.
Konami's specified 80 different games for creators to reimagine, including games from Gradius, Star Soldier, Twinbee, Ganbare Goemon, Knightmare and others. The full list can be found at the bottom of the official entry page (in Japanese).
It comes at an interesting time for Konami as a whole – a recent report says that the company is beginning to refocus on its owned series, and is becoming more open to allowing third-parties to develop games within them. While Konami itself is apparently handling new games for Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, and Silent Hill, this contest seems to allow some of its lesser-known or more cult favourite series to re-emerge through different means.
The grand prize for the contest is 2 million yen (about $18,000 USD), and Konami will offer to publish works that can be commercialized. In addition to investing up to 30 million yen ($270,000 USD) in development funds for commercialized projects, Konami will provide supervision, production advice and support regarding localization, promotion and development equipment.
The outline of the contest is as follows:
Entry period: September 30, 2021 8PM – January 6, 2022 11:59PM (Japan Standard Time)
Grand Prize (one winner): 2 million yen + Grand Prize trophy
Outstanding Performance Prize (up to five winners): 57,300 yen + Outstanding Performance Trophy
Criteria for judgement:
- The game should radiate passion for the chosen genre and title, as well as convey a sense of innovation and the character of its creator.
- The content is judged to be feasible for development by the applicant or a development team including said applicant.
- The work must meet the application requirements and application rules.
Judging committee:
- KONAMI Action & Shooting Game Contest Management Team
- Shueisha Game Creators CAMP" Management Team
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Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/2021100...e-games-classic-series-gradius-twinbee-goemon
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Konami is Inviting Indie Developers to Make New Games Based on Some of Its Classic Series
Famous IP from the past may be revived through indie creators' eyes.
Konami has announced an indie game contest that actively asks small developers to make games based on some of its classic series, including Gradius, Ganbare Goemon, and many more.
Konami's Action & Shooting Game Contest asks indie creators to plan and develop new action games and shooters based on past Konami titles. The rules allow for creators to make remakes or sequels, they can pick out a single character or mechanic from a past title, or even change or combine genres that may not have been in the originals. Through the collaboration of indie creators and Konami, these new works could potentially become commercial products.
A video outlining the contest was published by Konami. This contest is sponsored by Konami and held in cooperation with Shueisha Game Creators Camp, a project to support game developers. The contest began September 30 and will run until January 6, 2022.
Konami's specified 80 different games for creators to reimagine, including games from Gradius, Star Soldier, Twinbee, Ganbare Goemon, Knightmare and others. The full list can be found at the bottom of the official entry page (in Japanese).
It comes at an interesting time for Konami as a whole – a recent report says that the company is beginning to refocus on its owned series, and is becoming more open to allowing third-parties to develop games within them. While Konami itself is apparently handling new games for Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, and Silent Hill, this contest seems to allow some of its lesser-known or more cult favourite series to re-emerge through different means.
The grand prize for the contest is 2 million yen (about $18,000 USD), and Konami will offer to publish works that can be commercialized. In addition to investing up to 30 million yen ($270,000 USD) in development funds for commercialized projects, Konami will provide supervision, production advice and support regarding localization, promotion and development equipment.
The outline of the contest is as follows:
Entry period: September 30, 2021 8PM – January 6, 2022 11:59PM (Japan Standard Time)
Grand Prize (one winner): 2 million yen + Grand Prize trophy
Outstanding Performance Prize (up to five winners): 57,300 yen + Outstanding Performance Trophy
Criteria for judgement:
- The game should radiate passion for the chosen genre and title, as well as convey a sense of innovation and the character of its creator.
- The content is judged to be feasible for development by the applicant or a development team including said applicant.
- The work must meet the application requirements and application rules.
Judging committee:
- KONAMI Action & Shooting Game Contest Management Team
- Shueisha Game Creators CAMP" Management Team
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