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10-31-2009, 02:59 PM
http://media.bestofmicro.com/konami-love-plus,J-Y-228814-1.jpgMetal Gear Developers Addicted to Dating Sim
October 30, 2009
" Perhaps its a good thing your employees are addicted to the product they created.
Hideo Kojima, executive corporate officer of development house Kojima Productions, has ridden the waves of success with the Metal Gear, Castlevania, and other popular game series. But according to an interview with Famitsu (via 1UP), he seems rather surprised at the reaction of his employees for Konami's latest game, Love Plus for the Nintendo DS. Unlike many of the games they've developed over the years, Love Plus isn't action packed, but rather lets the player build a relationship with a virtual girlfriend.
So what's the big deal? In a nutshell, his employees are addicted. But then again, it may also be promotional hype to boost the overall sales. Are they actually sneaking off to the toilet to get a few minutes in with their virtual ladies? That's what Kojima claims. Kojima even told of one friend who found a man in a movie theater whipping out his DS and setting up the virtual girlfriend in the next seat.
"All everyone talks about is their 'girlfriends,'" Kojima told Famitsu regarding staff members. "I see them all standing in the shadows looking serious, and I go and see what's up and they're all bragging about their girlfriends--like, 'Oh, she changed her hairstyle for me' and so on. I'm not gonna give his name, but there's one guy who hasn't had a girlfriend for decades and talking about his virtual friend makes him so incredibly happy."
Akari Uchida, producer of Love Plus for publisher Konami, even added that a programmer cornered him in an elevator and offered thanks for the game. Surprised, Uchida could only smile. Game sales speak volumes about its addictive quality in Japan, going through 124,000 copies simply by word of mouth. An astonished Uchida said that he knew the sales would start off slow and accumulate over time, but the game has flown off shelves quicker than expected. "
:source: Source: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Nintendo-DS-Konami-Date-Sim,news-4990.html:view: Homepage: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/
October 30, 2009
" Perhaps its a good thing your employees are addicted to the product they created.
Hideo Kojima, executive corporate officer of development house Kojima Productions, has ridden the waves of success with the Metal Gear, Castlevania, and other popular game series. But according to an interview with Famitsu (via 1UP), he seems rather surprised at the reaction of his employees for Konami's latest game, Love Plus for the Nintendo DS. Unlike many of the games they've developed over the years, Love Plus isn't action packed, but rather lets the player build a relationship with a virtual girlfriend.
So what's the big deal? In a nutshell, his employees are addicted. But then again, it may also be promotional hype to boost the overall sales. Are they actually sneaking off to the toilet to get a few minutes in with their virtual ladies? That's what Kojima claims. Kojima even told of one friend who found a man in a movie theater whipping out his DS and setting up the virtual girlfriend in the next seat.
"All everyone talks about is their 'girlfriends,'" Kojima told Famitsu regarding staff members. "I see them all standing in the shadows looking serious, and I go and see what's up and they're all bragging about their girlfriends--like, 'Oh, she changed her hairstyle for me' and so on. I'm not gonna give his name, but there's one guy who hasn't had a girlfriend for decades and talking about his virtual friend makes him so incredibly happy."
Akari Uchida, producer of Love Plus for publisher Konami, even added that a programmer cornered him in an elevator and offered thanks for the game. Surprised, Uchida could only smile. Game sales speak volumes about its addictive quality in Japan, going through 124,000 copies simply by word of mouth. An astonished Uchida said that he knew the sales would start off slow and accumulate over time, but the game has flown off shelves quicker than expected. "
:source: Source: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Nintendo-DS-Konami-Date-Sim,news-4990.html:view: Homepage: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/