MGS4's Ryan Payton talks plot fudging and execution essays

Shortly before leaving Kojima Productions, Metal Gear Solid 4 producer Ryan Payton had a chat with 1UP, discussing the many highlights of working on one of the year's biggest blockbusters. As is often the case with this line of work, Payton was privy to several elaborate death threats. "When word hit that I chose Pat Zimmerman for Liquid Ocelot -- and not Cam Clarke -- I got dozens of hateful messages from fans including a 2,000 word short story depicting my execution."

Payton also expressed a belief that the development team did a sterling job with untangling Metal Gear Solid's twisted story -- with minimal plot fudging. "The stories of MGS2 and MGS3 were truly written without any backup measures if the series continued, leaving dozens of confusing and unexplained plot elements in the wake," he said." The fact that we were able to tie up all the loose ends with MGS4 was nothing short of a miracle." Miraculous acts happen to include the amazing gender bending of not only Olga's child, but MGS1's briefly mentioned Dr. Clark. In Snake's world, anything goes.