undefined | Better HN

0 pointsndiddy2mo ago0 comments

It's definitely all circumstantial evidence, but from all the recent stuff about Cookie's Bustle we know that whoever it is:

a) Is willing to at least tell the UK government that he's Keisuke Harigai (see this UK trademark registration: https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00... )

b) Is comfortable with registering companies in shady tax havens and knows his way around international IP registration/enforcement

c) Has a bunch of private data related to Cookie's Bustle's development

d) Is unwilling to make any sort of public statement beyond sending takedown notices

Meanwhile, Keisuke Harigai:

a) Is Keisuke Harigai

b) Runs a company out of the Cayman Islands

c) Would have access to all data related to Cookie's Bustle's development because he ran Rodik

d) Has not made any sort of statement related to Cookie's Bustle since 2001 ( https://web.archive.org/web/20010725131942/http://www.idevga... ) despite people attempting to contact him after the takedowns started

Obviously nothing concrete but I think he's the likeliest candidate.

0 comments

protocolture2mo ago

The UK Filing is probably the most interesting. However, its hard to unravel the mail forwarder. If a mail forwarder let you establish a forward in someone elses name it might be an easy way to pretend to be someone else for the purposes of UK Trademarks.

That said, could also just be convenient for filing outside of japan, japanese street addresses are notorious.

The most convincing argument in favor of Harigai is why would anyone believe there is money to be made there. Its not like sending takedown notices is a renewable source of income.

Even if someone was making a movie about it, the secrecy doesnt make a lot of sense. The guy could clear so much up with just an email.

>Would have access to all data related to Cookie's Bustle's development because he ran Rodik

Just a few years ago, the son of one of the original Metal Fatigue developers found old nightly backups and handed them over to Nightdive. I just find this to be a pretty weak element of the argument. The person with the strongest claim, using the weakest methods to establish that claim doesnt make sense to me.

icepush2mo ago

The most plausible explanation, based on the facts so far provided, is that it is Harigai, and he is not happy with how the game/company turned out and does not want to be reminded about it anymore.

cactusplant73742mo ago

He's a CEO in the oil industry. He probably finds all of the video game enthusiasts annoying and a threat to his personal brand.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse