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Shinji Mikami is leaving Tango Gameworks

anthony2690

anthony2690

Banned
Source: https://www.trueachievements.com/n52956/shinji-mikami-leaving-tango-gameworks

"I am writing today to let you know that studio head Shinji Mikami has decided to leave Tango Gameworks in the coming months," Vaughn said. "Mikami-san has been a creative leader and supportive mentor to young developers at Tango for 12 years through his work on the Evil Within franchise, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and of course, Hi-Fi Rush."

Tango Gameworks will continue work supporting Ghostwire: Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush while Bethesda higher-ups work with Tango leadership on what comes next for the studio.

With a career spanning 33 years, Mikami has one of the most impressive CVs in the industry and is credited with creating the original Resident Evil and working on numerous games within the franchise up until Resident Evil 4. Over the years, he also worked on other notable games such as Dino Crisis, Viewtiful Joe, and Vanquish.

Mikami founded Tango Gameworks in early 2010, which was then acquired later that year by ZeniMax. He went on to launch the survival horror game The Evil Within in 2014 and the sequel The Evil Within 2 three years later in 2017. More recently, Mikami worked as an executive producer on Ghostwire: Tokyo and Game Pass hit Hi-Fi Rush.

In the email, Vaughn called Hi-Fi Rush "one of the most successful launches for Bethesda and Xbox in recent years," adding that the rhythm-based action game has "generated significant positive momentum for the business and Tango."



I wonder if this has anything to do with that mysterious remake that he was apparently teasing prior.

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/shinji-mikami-teases-mysterious-remake.1645187/

Looking forward to my free copy courtesy of Neff who is buying 10 copies 😁💪
 
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lh032

lh032

I cry about Xbox and hate PlayStation.
Jim Carrey Reaction GIF by MOODMAN
 
StylishMGTOW

StylishMGTOW

Member
The Evil Within 1/2 were awesome. Ghostwire: Tokyo is a very good open-world game that I go back to from time to time.

Hopefully his next works won't be restricted to just one console/PC. Really looking forward to his next projects, if any.
 
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skit_data

skit_data

Member
I always equated Tango Gameworks with him, probably because he’s so damn famous and that’s what helped Tango make a name for themselves initially.
Maybe it’s his time to leave the industry, he is 57 after all. Still, pretty heavy name leaving.

Edit: Imagine him leaving to do Dino Crisis with Capcom, that’d be crazy. Very low chance though.
 
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Famipan

Famipan

Member
Wow! Yeah I had it coming after the HFR presentation and looking at Mikamis Twitter I thought he just wanted to retire.

But I hope that rumor about a possible Capcom remake is true!

And wish all the best of luck to Johanas & co although I wish he went independent so he could release games for PlayStation again. But making unique and fun games is most important.
 
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anthony2690

anthony2690

Banned
Mister Wolf said:
They don't need him at this point. Neither EW2 or Hi Fi Rush were directed by him. John Johanas directed both and he is doing an amazing job.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure he said John Johanas was his prodigy a long while back in a past video interview thing.

I could be mistaken, but I am certain.

Famipan said:
Wow! Yeah I had it coming after the HFR presentation and looking at Mikamis Twitter I thought he just wanted to retire.

But I hope that rumor about a possible Capcom remake is true!!
Click to expand...
Hopefully as one last hurrah before retiring.
 
Grizzled Ghost

Grizzled Ghost

Member
Resident Evil 1-4, DMC, Phoenix Wright, Viewtiful Joe, God Hand, Vanquish(Greatest game ever made), The Evil Within 1+2, Hi-Fi Rush

Is there a better track record in gaming than this guy? Whatever his reasons for leaving, it's a huge blow to Tango Gameworks, as they were basically set up to be his studio.

Despite their recent homerun.

However, Hi-Fi Rush was a technical juggernaut, the best looking and running cell shaded game ever produced, and afaik Shinji was not really a guy involved with the technical side, so I still see good things coming from this studio. They have talent.
 
anthony2690

anthony2690

Banned
Grizzled Ghost said:
Resident Evil 1-4, DMC, Phoenix Wright, Viewtiful Joe, God Hand, Vanquish(Greatest game ever made), The Evil Within 1+2, Hi-Fi Rush

Is there a better track record in gaming than this guy? Whatever his reasons for leaving, it's a huge blow to Tango Gameworks, as they were basically set up to be his studio.

Despite their recent homerun.

However, Hi-Fi Rush was a technical juggernaut, the best looking and running cell shaded game ever produced, and afaik Shinji was not really a guy involved with the technical side, so I still see good things coming from this studio. They have talent.
Click to expand...
He does have Dino Crises 3 under his belt too. 👀
 
Mibu no ookami

Mibu no ookami

Member
bentanchorbolt said:
He told you this?
Click to expand...

It's his track record and not entirely uncommon in Japan.

Anyone who has any familiarity with him knew he wasn't going to stay at Bethesda long and certainly not after Microsoft bought it.

Capcom, PlatinumGames, TangoGameWorks

As a Japanese studio and Japanese developer, there was no way he was going to stay locked into Xbox.
 
JimmyRustler

JimmyRustler

Gold Member
DenchDeckard said:
Yeah, can't wait to see his next game. I hope he got bank from bethesda/MS. Guys a legend and deserves a comfortable life.
Click to expand...
From what I recall he wanted to stop making games for a long time. This was acutally the reason he founded Tango. He wanted to manage the studio. Evil Within was only made by him directly due to pressure from Bethesda and he hasn't directed a game ever since. So I'm not even sure if he will want to go back into game development. Even though I'd love him to naturally. A new RE and or Dino Crisis reboot would be a propper send off for him.
 
Mibu no ookami

Mibu no ookami

Member
That's how you make money as a game maker, especially in Japan.

Make a name for yourself with a few big titles, leave the company, create your own studio, sell said studio to a major publisher rinse and repeat.

We're starting to see it more and more with the western developers now too.

And of course, you bring in your best people... offering them senior positions, higher pay, better benefits, profit sharing e.t.c.

If TGW isn't a shell of itself within the next 4 years I'd be stunned.
 
Yoboman

Yoboman

Member
JimmyRustler said:
From what I recall he wanted to stop making games for a long time. This was acutally the reason he founded Tango. He wanted to manage the studio. Evil Within was only made by him directly due to pressure from Bethesda and he hasn't directed a game ever since. So I'm not even sure if he will want to go back into game development. Even though I'd love him to naturally. A new RE and or Dino Crisis reboot would be a propper send off for him.
Click to expand...
I'm sure he'd announce retirement rather than leaving if he was going to stop making games
 
Mibu no ookami

Mibu no ookami

Member
Yoboman said:
I'm sure he'd announce retirement rather than leaving if he was going to stop making games
Click to expand...

There's too much money on the table to retire.

He can basically poach TGW talent for his new studio and some publisher will sign/buy him out. Studio will want to stay as a Japanese company, making Japanese products.
 
Barakov

Barakov

Gold Member
anthony2690 said:
Source: https://www.trueachievements.com/n52956/shinji-mikami-leaving-tango-gameworks

"I am writing today to let you know that studio head Shinji Mikami has decided to leave Tango Gameworks in the coming months," Vaughn said. "Mikami-san has been a creative leader and supportive mentor to young developers at Tango for 12 years through his work on the Evil Within franchise, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and of course, Hi-Fi Rush."

Tango Gameworks will continue work supporting Ghostwire: Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush while Bethesda higher-ups work with Tango leadership on what comes next for the studio.

With a career spanning 33 years, Mikami has one of the most impressive CVs in the industry and is credited with creating the original Resident Evil and working on numerous games within the franchise up until Resident Evil 4. Over the years, he also worked on other notable games such as Dino Crisis, Viewtiful Joe, and Vanquish.

Mikami founded Tango Gameworks in early 2010, which was then acquired later that year by ZeniMax. He went on to launch the survival horror game The Evil Within in 2014 and the sequel The Evil Within 2 three years later in 2017. More recently, Mikami worked as an executive producer on Ghostwire: Tokyo and Game Pass hit Hi-Fi Rush.

In the email, Vaughn called Hi-Fi Rush "one of the most successful launches for Bethesda and Xbox in recent years," adding that the rhythm-based action game has "generated significant positive momentum for the business and Tango."



I wonder if this has anything to do with that mysterious remake that he was apparently teasing prior.

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/shinji-mikami-teases-mysterious-remake.1645187/

Looking forward to my free copy courtesy of Neff who is buying 10 copies 😁💪
Click to expand...
Mikami back working with Platinum/Capcom?
Mrwv3Wu.gif
 
March Climber

March Climber

Member
Grizzled Ghost said:
However, Hi-Fi Rush was a technical juggernaut, the best looking and running cell shaded game ever produced, and afaik Shinji was not really a guy involved with the technical side, so I still see good things coming from this studio. They have talent.
Click to expand...
I was going to point this out as well. GAF keeps praising Mikami for the game, but the truth probably is that they wheeled him onto stage to present a game he probably just lightly consulted on.

https://www.gameshub.com/news/featu...-xenogears-references-okami-influences-39977/

For a game like Hi-Fi Rush, the people who worked on it clearly understand the right design philosophies that he left behind. Tango was left in good hands and Hi-Fi Rush proves this.
 
Grizzled Ghost

Grizzled Ghost

Member
yazenov said:
Buying companies is one thing, but securing talents after the purchase is always tricky.

I hope he still makes games elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Shinji is a hell of a designer but that doesn't mean anything if he doesn't have a competent technical team under his command. He's had a great crew at Tango these last few years.

However, Shinji's been hitting homeruns for the last 25 years, so I assume he understands this. I don't think he's signing any deals without knowing who he's working with. We should also have to think he's sniping talent.

Time shall see.
 
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