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Former Square Enix Boss Sides With Kojima, Calls Konami “Cruel”

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I’ve come to enjoy poking fun at the handful of toddlers who currently run Konami. It’s been therapeutic, and more than that, it’s necessary. Companies do bad things all the time, but more often than not the culprit is corporate greed, general human stupidity, or a combination of the two.

Ubisoft releases a multiplayer game that doesn’t work for months after its release. Electronic Arts gives us a sequel to a cult classic that replaces the charm of the original with annoying “freemium” mechanics. Activision refuses to stop being Activision. Microtransactions, season passes, game-breaking bugs, delays, retailer-exclusive pre-order incentives.

This amazing industry has a seemingly endless supply of annoying quirks, and we’re all to blame. The publishers favor a profitable quarter over happy consumers, and we scold them for doing us wrong while we hand over more of our money.

Then there’s Konami.

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The same company that gifted us with the Metal Gear, Silent Hill and Castlevania franchises has come undone this year. I will be forever grateful to Konami, which spent much of its decades-long run making some of the bravest and most narratively ambitious games I’ve ever played.

The cancellation of Silent Hills, the removal of the brilliant P.T. demo from the PlayStation Store, the unnecessary closure of Kojima Productions and their continued abuse of Hideo Kojima, who they recently prevented from accepting his own award at The Game Awards 2015.

Konami is a disgrace and they absolutely should be ashamed. They’ve raised the bar for assholery and simultaneously reached a new low. It’s gotten bad enough that the former head of Square Enix, Yoichi Wada, had to speak up in this Facebook post (translated by Kotaku).

“As I know Mr. Kojima, I want to say, ‘I can’t believe this cruel treatment!’ But, here I’m going to give my thoughts as a corporate exec.”

“However you think about this, this is a negative for business.”

“Maybe leaving the home console market is management’s plan, but going out of your way to make enemies with the world has no meaning. Generally, this kind of thing happens when there’s a lack of leadership. I think, perhaps, there isn’t someone in charge who is paying attention and laying out all the little details for whole enterprise.”

“When you are not aware that the feelings of your own department aren’t aligned with the world at large, the results can be deplorable.”

YTSUBHUB2015

Gamer, writer, terrible dancer, longtime toast enthusiast. Legend has it Adam was born with a controller in one hand and the Kraken's left eye in the other. Legends are often wrong.

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‘The Blob’ and ‘Dream Warriors’ Filmmaker Chuck Russell Has Passed Away at 74

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Chuck Russell with Jamie Campbell Bower behind the scenes of Witchboard

All of us here at Bloody Disgusting are deeply sad to learn that The Blob director Chuck Russell has passed away at 74 years old.

Russell’s career began with his directorial debut, 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

The multihyphenate film director, screenwriter, and producer is best known for helming 1994 comedy The Mask starring Jim Carrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger actioner Eraser, and adventure spinoff The Scorpion King. The latter served as the first leading role for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The filmmaker left an indelible mark on horror with his ANOES sequel, 1988’s The Blob, and 2000’s Bless the Child.

Russell’s final film credit is 2024’s Witchboard remake starring Madison Iseman (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building), and Jamie Campbell Bower (“Stranger Things”).

It marked Russell’s return to horror after a lengthy hiatus, and he shared sequel hopes to Bloody Disgusting in an interview ahead of the remake’s release: “I got to design the board with real mystical symbols and things that I know represent good and evil, and where that board takes us if the audiences respond to the film, and I hope they will; I know it’s out there for you guys, but the sequel is a world we’ll get to go a little further. That’s sure the intention.”

He also recently expressed interest in returning to the franchise that began his career.

TMZ notes that Russell passed away at his San Diego-area home.

We send our deepest condolences to Chuck Russell’s family, friends, and fans.

Director, Co-Writer & Producer Chuck Russell behind the scenes of the horror film, WITCHBOARD. Photo courtesy of The Avenue and Atlas Distribution

 

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