Donna Burke comments on the situation at Konami
Donna Burke, singer and actor for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, has commented on the situation at Konami in a couple of tweets. First, she reacted to yesterday’s story about Akio Otsuka asking people not to cancel their pre-orders (you can see the original corresponding tweets by clicking on the images below).
From the looks of her response it seems like she is quite sure Kojima actually has been fired from Konami, something that still hasn’t been confirmed officially by the studio. Update: see her Facebook post at the bottom for an explanation of these statements.
Update: Konami has told VideoGamer.com that the suggestion that Kojima has been fired is ‘categorically incorrect’. Furthermore, Rob Crossley (news editor at Gamespot) posted the following message on Twitter (his source is the same one that Gamespot used when they first broke the story back in March):
(Image source: NeoGAF)
However, the tweet has since been deleted because it had a typo in it.
Below are some more tweets from Donna concerning the situation:
Donna also expects that there won’t be a live performance by her to promote the game – something that did happen when Peace Walker released – due to lack of budget.
It’s not all bad news though – according to Donna, Kojima and his team are still hard at work on the game to make it as awesome as they can.
As worrisome as the whole thing sounds, we can at least take some comfort in the fact that she shares Otsuka’s sentiments in supporting the team by supporting this last game. We will have to wait to find out what will happen once the game is finished.
To conclude with some positive news, Donna Burke seems to be sure that Kojima and his team will move onto even greater heights following the events at Konami.
Update: Donna Burke posted the following message on Facebook:
This article [GameSpot article] is accurate. However be assured that MGSV has been made, it is ground breaking, breath taking in its scope and the team that made it is still in place putting the finishing touches to it at Roppongi Midtown up the road from my studio. It’s just such a shame that in these few months before the release when the team should be ramping up publicity, joyfully communicating with fans, building up the excitement etc, they have to deal with this…Fans unite! Make Kojima Productions proud of you and don’t desert the team when they need your support the most. In the end, the game you will play will be worth the wait and the blood, sweat and tears they have put into it..
Update 2: Donna Burke has clarified her comments in another Facebook post:
I agree, Konami- I should be more accurate.
“Don’t throw away the last 5 years because Konami changed the contract status of a genius”
Konami is correct in that Kojima has not actually been fired. As I stated previously he and his team are still working hard on getting the game out. My sincere apologies to Konami, Hideo Kojima and the fans for giving the wrong impression.
I was trying to add my voice to Otsuka-san pleading with the fans to not abandon MGSV because of the stuff happening at Konami and to throw my support behind Kojima and everyone who has worked over the last five years and is working to make this game the greatest ever.
This is true.
Kojima himself confirmed in a statement that he was still “100% involved” in the completion of The Phantom Pain, and was “determined to make it the greatest game I’ve directed to date.”
So my apologies for upsetting you all.
