A new report reveals the very grim working conditions in Konami Corporation in Japan. The disturbing story was first published by financial newspaper Nikkei, and Kotaku has taken the initiative to translate key points from Japanese to English.
When it comes to the game publisher's way of monitoring their employees, they've reportedly gone extreme. According to the report, if the employee stays out too long for their lunch break, their names will be announced to the entire company. The makers of "Castlevania" and "Metal Gear Solid" have also gone full-on Big Brother and have installed numerous cameras along office corridors, which are used to monitor employees' every move.
Even the employees' social activity isn't safe from Konami. An employee has allegedly posted a status on Facebook about his plans of leaving the company, and other co-workers who "liked" the status were reportedly relegated to other roles. Office email addresses were also said to be regularly changed so that the employees wouldn't be contacted by other prospective employers and headhunters.
Konami's treatment of their game developers isn't so ideal either. It has been reported that game developers who are deemed "useless" were given custodial duties as guards in a pachi-slot factory, or even worse, janitors in the fitness center. A former game developer for the Japanese corporation reportedly developed depression and his health declined after being delegated to one of these "punishment" jobs, as told to Asahi News. It was also mentioned that no one is spared from this, regardless if they are seniors or juniors.
According to Forbes, speculations about Konami's hostile environment and "potential demise" started after the very public split with Hideo Kojima that ultimately led to the end of "Silent Hill." According to the same report, it seems like the company doesn't really care about public recognition, and writer Paul Tassi compares it to another "hated" game developer EA.
"...unlike other "hated" developers like say, EA, Konami seems to have absolutely zero interest in changing public perception of their company, more intent on dismantling and blacklisting their opposition instead of having conversations and instituting reforms."
Multiple news outlets have reached out to Konami for comments regarding this explosive expose.
