Quote Originally Posted by Bolivar View Post
Konami has invested millions of dollars in this team, entrusting them with its confidential and proprietary information. And every one of them is leaving to follow Kojima after this game ships. It's not out of the ordinary for companies to install cameras, monitor building activity, and restrict computer access in these scenarios. The rest of this just sounds farfetched, though. I don't know much about Japanese business culture or the job market but I have to imagine if they really did assign a software programmer to the cleaning crew, they would just find a new job. I have heard other stories about Konami reassigning teams and downsizing their game development, which, while disappointing, does not ring of employee mistreatment. I admit I have heard some disturbing rumors and don't have all the information so if someone else knows more, I would love to learn about it.
I know one thing about Japanese business culture and that is company loyalty is a HUGE deal over there. You basically want your kid to get into a good school, so they can get into a good college, and get recruited by a good company so they are set for life. Employees do their work and are promised a steady paycheck benefits and a chance for promotion and all they need to do is work for them until retirement. Getting a job in Japan isn't as much of struggle as getting into a proper and reputable school because Japanese workers tend to stay loyal to their company once they land the job. It's one of the key reasons why journalist have been worried about the gaming industry because so many reputable designers are quitting their companies is a bit alarming because culturally, it's unheard of, unless the person royally screwed up and had to quit (Gunpei, Sakaguchi, Tanaka).

One article I read talked about how the Indie Game development scene in Japan is nothing like the West because a) they tend to be funded by established game companies who use it as a recruiting format, and b) because most up and coming Japanese designers stick to the old formula of just landing a job in an established company because starting a start-up company in Japan's almost oligarchy business world is considered throwing your future away. I feel this is part of the reason why so many former game designers tend to shift more of their focus towards the West because it is an easier market to get your foot in the door on this side of the Pacific than over there. I'm expecting Kojima will either form a company and use Kickstarter for funding like Inafune, go freelance and work for other companies as a freelance designer like Matsuno, or build his own company but ally with one of the big 3 console companies to fund their projects like Mistwalker does.