Konami Forms Kojima Productions Development Studio

Konami has announced that, following the April 1st 2005 merger of its group companies, the former Konami Computer Entertainment Japan West Team, lead by creator Hideo Kojima (Corporate Officer, Konami Corporation), will now form Kojima Productions, still wholly owned by Konami. "Hideo Kojima's creations are world-renowned for their incredible high quality," said Kazumi Kitaue, Executive Corporate Officer in charge of America and Europe at Konami Corporation. "Konami Corporation constructed Kojima Productions in order to further promote his creativity." Kojima Productions includes notable personnel such as producer/director Hideo Kojima, producer Kenichiro Imaizumi, director Shuyo Murata, and character designer Yoji Shinkawa. The newly formed developer has announced that its first new title under that name, Metal Gear Solid 4 is currently in development for the PlayStation 3. Also under development are Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence for the PlayStation 2 and Metal Gear Ac!d 2 for the PSP.