Hideo Kojima Wants Non-Metal Gear Recognition

[Marshall Honorof]

Hideo Kojima Wants Non-Metal Gear Recognition

Metal Gear's creator believes he has more to offer than one series.

Love it or hate it, the Metal Gear series is one of the most recognizable franchises in gaming, largely thanks to its distinctive creator. Hideo Kojima has made a career for himself spinning the many yarns of Solid Snake and those who inhabit his world of espionage, but the Metal Gear mastermind insists that he has more to offer the gaming world. While he's very proud of the work he's done on the series and has big plans for its next few games, he'd like to work on new IPs by using Metal Gear as a testing ground.

"I've always said that I want to work on original properties, but Metal Gear offers plenty of benefits," says Kojima. "In the next game, I'm introducing concepts intended for entirely new intellectual properties using the Metal Gear brand." Kojima hasn't specified exactly what he might like to do in a new IP, but cited Grand Theft Auto III as a major influence. The game came out the same year as Metal Gear Solid 2, and provided a stark contrast in terms of game design. "The area a player could explore [in GTAIII] was so vast that not even the game designer could predict all possible outcomes. That title definitely opened my eyes."

Even though his flagship series can be a playground for new ideas, Kojima still hopes to migrate away from Metal Gear eventually. "I haven't really shown the world what else I might be capable of yet," he claims. "This may sound pretentious, but I don't like being thought of as 'the Metal Gear guy.' There's a lot more I can do." Kojima hopes that in the future, people will attach significance to a game that carries his name, rather than a game "from the creator of Metal Gear."

Kojima is definitely a creative man, and while the Metal Gear series has seen its ups and downs, each title has tried something new. A new IP using all of the experimental mechanics from the Metal Gear series could be interesting, but if it's anything like Kojima's previous work, it's bound to attract both hardcore fans and outspoken detractors.

Source: EGM [http://www.egmnow.com/articles/xbox_360/egm-interview-hideo-kojima-doesnt-want-to-be-the-metal-gear-guy/]

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[Ragsnstitches]

While I adore the Metal Gear series and all its flaws, I admire Hideo for entirely different reasons. In a day and age where Studios and producers are too afraid to deviate from tried and tested formulas of popular franchises, Hideo has, more often then not, shown a willingness to mess with the established formula, even gutting it and rebuilding it from scratch as seen in MGS4.

When Kojimas name is mentioned in something it always gets my attention. If he was to announce a new IP and the complete abandonment of Metal Gear as a series, I would be onboard for that. As it is I'm content with the MG story, though I do want to get some closure after peace walker. Hoping he delivers in MGS: Zeros.

Otherwise, I would love to see a completely new IP from him.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

As big of a Metal Gear nut as I am, I'd like to see Kojima do different games at this point. After Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes I don't know what else he could do. I'd like to see Z.O.E. or Policenauts get some attention. Or even an original IP.

 

[JEBWrench]

Then make a sequel to Snatcher already! We've been waiting forever.

I'm pretty sure this is him politely admitting, in a roundabout way, that he's been trying to kill off Metal Gear for years. Can't say l blame him. MGS4 couldn't have been more 'This is the end ' if it tried. Personally, l think 5 is more than a little unnecessary.

True; I'm pretty sure he's actually said it directly that he's finished working on Metal Gear, but Konami keeps making him do more.

 

[Kross]

While I like robots/mechs in general, they don't sell a franchise for me alone. Zone of the Enders was a really fun (if short... 4 hour playtime or so on the first one) game, and handled flight controls really smoothly. And yes, I only originally played ZotE for the Metal Gear Solid demo that came with it.

Would be nice to see him try some more new things.

 

[gigastar]

So Kojima wants to prove hes not a one trick pony?

The world is already watching, all he needs to do is what he wants.

 

[Casual Shinji]

You should probably stop making them then, Kojima.

 

[Rad Party God]

Well, at least Hideo Kojima is one of the few japanese developers with the balls to truly making something unique and... japanese.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Then make a sequel to Snatcher already! We've been waiting forever.

I'm pretty sure this is him politely admitting, in a roundabout way, that he's been trying to kill off Metal Gear for years. Can't say l blame him. MGS4 couldn't have been more 'This is the end ' if it tried. Personally, l think 5 is more than a little unnecessary.

True; I'm pretty sure he's actually said it directly that he's finished working on Metal Gear, but Konami keeps making him do more.

Actually, he wanted to stop after MGS 3, but saying that caused him to receive a lot of death threats, not to mention that Konami itself wasn't happy with his choice. So he did eventually give in and make MGS4...but that's the reason why everyone is dying/dead in 4. Because he wanted the series to definitively end there.

But with Rising and Ground Zeros coming up, I'd say that Kojima is probably bashing his head against a wall somewhere.

Edit: Before anyone brings it up, yes, I know that Rising isn't being developed by Kojima, but he is working on it in an advisory capacity. At least, he was the last I heard of it.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Dont worry guy, you are already known as a paranoid crazy person.

I also had a good laugh

. "In the next game, I'm introducing concepts intended for entirely new intellectual properties using the Metal Gear brand."

Says he wants to be known for something other than Metal Gear, then says he is trying new things inside the Metal Gear brand.

Surprise, anything new you try is still going to accrue to the Metal Gear brand if you put the Metal Gear name on it.

New IP's are risky and most publishers don't like putting out new IP's unless they know for sure that they'll sell well.

Kojima is probably using GZ and Rising to test the waters with some new ideas. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that whichever one does better is the path that he'll pursue with his next IP.

 

[Bindal]

Actually, he wanted to stop after MGS 3, but saying that caused him to receive a lot of death threats, not to mention that Konami itself wasn't happy with his choice. So he did eventually give in and make MGS4...but that's the reason why everyone is dying/dead in 4. Because he wanted the series to definitively end there.

I think, it's already tradition to say "this Metal Gear Solid is the last one" since 2...

But yes, if he wants to be known for something else, either make finally a new ZoE (which IS a known series. Never played it, tho) or maybe... I don't know... A Metroid game, where we play Samus stealthy with the Zero Suit (as they attempted in 'Zero Mission')? I mean, people are imagine that kind of game for quite a while, might be worth looking into.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Actually, he wanted to stop after MGS 3, but saying that caused him to receive a lot of death threats, not to mention that Konami itself wasn't happy with his choice. So he did eventually give in and make MGS4...but that's the reason why everyone is dying/dead in 4. Because he wanted the series to definitively end there.

I think, it's already tradition to say "this Metal Gear Solid is the last one" since 2...

But yes, if he wants to be known for something else, either make finally a new ZoE (which IS a known series. Never played it, tho) or maybe... I don't know... A Metroid game, where we play Samus stealthy with the Zero Suit (as they attempted in 'Zero Mission')? I mean, people are imagine that kind of game for quite a while, might be worth looking into.

Stealth anything is pretty niche, even MGS. Biggest name stealth game recently? Dishonored. According to VGChartz, it only sold 1.44 million units across all platforms as of last week. For reference, Resident Evil 6 is at 3.3. BO2 is at 11.6~, but I'm sure that Black Friday shot that number up, so we'll see whenever they post the new stats for that.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I feel this is like George Lucas saying he wants to be known for something other than Star Wars. Sure, he did other stuff, but that title is going to stay with him long after he dies. Same thing with Kojima. I would also like to add my vote to, "Stop making Metal Gear Solid games" in the first place if you want to try something new. Hasn't he said in the past that he was done with them? Several different times?

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Well get a new picture of yourself taken and used on the Escapist that isn't on that duck and then we'll talk.