hideo kojima
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Metal Gear Solid 3D's photo camouflage system photographed
Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater has one advantage over its console counterparts: a fun new camouflage system that lets you dress Snake in camo based on pictures taken with the 3DS camera. Hideo Kojima grabbed some shopping bags to use as examples, posting two pictures on Twitter. If the new 3DS port includes an added mission that takes place behind the counter of a Tower Records, Kojima's going to have no problem. Alternately, if you live in either a jungle or a decommissioned Soviet weapons facility, you'll basically be playing in easy mode.%Gallery-130515%
MGS HD collection includes MGS3 'Subsistence' worldwide, MGS1 code in Japan
Hideo Kojima, comfortable in his natural habitat (Twitter) provided details of two regional versions of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. In Japan, the collection does not include Peace Walker, but does have a download code for the first Metal Gear Solid. The "overseas version" (meaning the one we get) doesn't include the download, but incorporates the HD version of Peace Walker. In both regional variants, the HD version of Metal Gear Solid 3 is based on the "Subsistence" re-release, which means it has optional, user-controllable camera angles. That version also comes with the emulated MSX versions of Metal Gear 1 and 2, adding two more games to the collection! Kojima also said that the Metal Gear Solid 2 HD release would be based on "subsistence," by which he must have meant "Substance." He wasn't clear on whether the basis was the PS2 or Xbox version -- a distinction that seems minor until you learn that the PS2 version had a skateboarding minigame that we need in HD. Finally, Kojima tweeted an image of the trophy icons for MGS2 and 3, which you can see after the break.
'Sdatcher' radio drama will be distributed for free, sold on CD later
In a tweet, Hideo Kojima announced that the Snatcher-universe radio drama, "Suda 51's Sdatcher," will be released as a free download. A CD will be sold later to pay the voice actors, including many Metal Gear series cast members. There's still no official release date for the drama, but it was planned to be concurrent with Hideradio podcast number 300 -- they're on 298 right now. Kojima subsequently tweeted the character art of Jean Jack Gibson above. Kojima also said that he's heard the music Akira Yamaoka is making for the drama, which was to be '70s progressive rock and '80s electro pop. Per Andriasang's translation, Kojima likes it but questioned its reception by the masses. And when you bring in Suda 51 to make a podcast radio drama based on an adventure game from 1988, you don't want anything to get in the way of that built-in mass appeal.
Kojima on Snatcher: 'If anyone else would like to develop it, I would love it.'
During an interview with PlayStation Blog, Metal Gear mogul and transfarring technorati Hideo Kojima dropped a crucial truth-bomb about the future of Snatcher, his cyberpunk cult-classic. With L.A. Noire's brain-bustingly successful existence as an adventure game, and with Deus Ex: Human Revolution bringing cyberpunk back into the limelight, Kojima was asked whether or not he thinks the world is ready for another Snatcher. "I would love to do something like Snatcher," he said, "but I do not have the time or the means to do so. But if anyone else would like to develop it, I would love it." It's sad to hear that the series' progenitor won't be returning to Neo Kobe City anytime soon, but at least die-hard Snatcher fans (Snatchies, we call ourselves) can look forward to a radio drama based on the game. What do you think? Should Snatcher be handed off to another developer, or left as-is?%Poll-66471%
Kojima announces Snatcher-inspired radio drama, for real this time
This week, Hideo Kojima teased a surprise announcement coming on the latest edition of his Hideradio podcast. The real surprise is that it's something he already announced in 2007: a radio drama inspired by his 1988 cyberpunk adventure game Snatcher, scripted by Suda 51. It's called "Sdatcher" as a pun on Suda's name. This is the long-awaited Kojima/Suda "Project S." The drama will include music by Akira Yamaoka, and will be released to coincide with the 300th episode of Hideradio -- this one is #296, and they are released biweekly, on Fridays. So ... two months or so? Of course, we'll then have to wait for some kind of translation, official or otherwise. We take back what we said earlier. The real real surprise with this announcement is that Kojima actually announced something that isn't Metal Gear.
Kojima likens game industry's challenges to Charlie Chaplin
Somehow, between helping run Konami Digital Entertainment and accepting a lifetime achievement award at Gamelab, Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima found the time to sit down with Gamesindustry.biz and talk shop. Specifically, the impact that new technologies are having on the way games are being made. When asked about cultural expression in games, Kojima said that developers now have "more capability for expression" than ever, likening the situation to a similar story-telling crossroad that challenged silent-film giant Charlie Chaplin. "He didn't need words to express himself in his movies but suddenly he had to include words in order to stay relevant. With this increased capability of expression through games, I think it's a matter of learning how to use it." This enhanced ability to express ideas also causes problems for Japanese directors, according to Kojima. "There was no cultural barrier to the rest of the world because the technology meant that you couldn't tell whether it was Japan or anywhere else. Now it is possible, so it becomes more difficult." He maintains that "creating something is about turning impossible things into possible things," and that as technology continues to improve, game design could potentially lose its luster. "If it gets to the point were I'm able to create anything I want," he says, "I'll probably stop making videogames."
Kojima highlights the gap between western and Japanese development styles
Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima dropped some truth-bombs this week during an interview with Famitsu, as translated by 1UP. Speaking on the importance of world-wide success in the international market, he claimed that acceptance in foreign lands may not be as important as it once was, and that there is more to international success than a development team's nationality. According to Kojima, the key to global success is separation: if a development house wants western success, they should build a western team separate from their existing Japanese teams, complete with their own offices and culture-specific pay-scales. He also cites cultural differences as a major roadblock for international success, explaining, "Japanese people might say 'Why space aliens?', but Americans will counter with 'What's with these games featuring these feminine-looking boys fighting in Japan with these huge swords?' It's no wonder the target audience for a lot of games is getting so compartmentalized." Kojima hopes that Fox Engine, Kojima Productions' forthcoming multi-platform development environment, will help his studio develop new titles in a fashion similar to western developers. As long as he keeps putting snakes in boxes, we don't care what development style Kojima uses.
Kojima using 'Transfarring' cloud data for all future games
Hideo Kojima said during a recent Kojima Productions podcast that the cloud data sharing system he created from dragonscales, Old Snake's mustache trimmings and cardboard boxes -- "Transfarring" -- will be available for every title his studio releases in the future. That means all of its games going forward, including the Metal Gear Solid and Zone of the Enders re-releases, Metal Gear Solid Rising and the new Fox Engine game, will all presumably provide some connection between the PS3 and PS Vita. Does this mean a version of Metal Gear Solid Rising for the PS Vita? We'll have to wait and see. More importantly, perhaps, we're wondering how long it will take for someone to tell Kojima that cloud saving has been around for a while -- just so he can stop using that very silly name.
Kojima announces multiplatform 'Fox Engine,' powering upcoming project
Though we're still waiting to hear more on Kojima Productions' sword-swinging action title, Metal Gear Solid: Rising, the series' progenitor gave some hints about his next project in today's pre-E3 presentation. Kojima explained that he's working on a heretofore unannounced title that will run on the "Fox Engine," a new multiplatform development tool which Kojima Productions is creating in-house. A teaser image for the engine shows a PC mouse, a DualShock 3 and a 360 controller, seemingly indicating its compatibility with the three device's respective counterparts. Kojima explained the engine, which Konami started developing shortly after completing Metal Gear Solid 4, is designed to ease the company's fairly laborious porting process between consoles, freeing Kojima's team to make even more games. We'll keep an eye out for more details on the Fox Engine at E3 next week!
Metal Gear Solid 3D's interface snapped by Kojima
Hideo Kojima gave a glimpse of the playable Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D demo for E3 by way of his Japanese Twitter account today. He noted that he finally crossed a suspension bridge using the "gyro controls." Last year's E3 demo of MGS 3D was little more than an interactive movie. The image shows off the game's interface on the lower screen, with weapon selection also accessible through the bottom screen. Kojima, who recently received a promotion in the Konami hierarchy, previously stated that there is something big planned for Metal Gear Solid's 25th anniversary next year, though he's not planning on delivering any announcements at E3 himself.
Kojima: something big planned for 25th Metal Gear anniversary next year
Kojima Productions head honcho Hideo Kojima took to his company's official podcast to address some rumors surrounding his ongoing projects. Rather than elaborating on fans' questions (and potentially spoil Konami's long-term marketing plans), Kojima simply delivered either "Yes" or "No" answers (summed up by Andriasang). First up: He won't be making any big splashes at next month's E3, (that's a "no"), but he did confirm that there are big plans afoot for next year's 25th anniversary of Metal Gear. Before you get too excited, he also shot down the dream of a Metal Gear Solid 4 port to NGP, and offered another "No" when asked if MGS5 would be announced next month. As for the 3DS port of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, "yes," it'll arrive by year's end. Finally, he noted that we won't see Metal Gear Solid Rising's multiplayer anytime soon, never mind at Microsoft's E3 presser (where he will not appear). Now we're hoping that Kojima's big surprise for next year is reversing all of this year's "No" answers. [Image source: Mega64 (screencap)]
Hideo Kojima becomes VP of Konami Digital Entertainment
Kojima Productions head and, of course, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima has been promoted to a vice president and corporate officer role for Konami Digital Entertainment (the game development and publishing division of Konami Corporation), effective April 1 -- while maintaining his more prestigious title of "Hideo Kojima." The other Konami producer whose games actually sell, Pro Evolution Soccer's Shinji Enomoto, has been promoted to the same position, as well. The new appointments come as part of a wave of executive shuffling, likely predicated by Konami's absorption of Hudson Soft. In fact, Konami's Kazuhiko Uehara is taking over the presidency of Hudson during this round of corporate musical chairs. [Image source: Mega64 (screencap)]
Kojima finds vintage Metal Gear design documents
Here's proof that there's a method to Hideo Kojima's madness -- even if it looks like more madness. The game designer tweeted some pictures of Metal Gear design documents he happened to find while cleaning his shelves. Above is a hand-drawn level map, featuring tons of notes; he also tweeted Codec conversation scripts, with each katakana character hand-written into a grid to fit in the screen (and memory) space. Kojima also showed off the cover to his design document for "Metal Gear Intruder," which he submitted to Konami in 1986. The proposal was rejected, an occurrence that Kojima probably finds quaintly nostalgic now.
Kojima Productions recruiting more Metal Gear staff
Otacon: Snake! I was looking at Konami's website and saw that Kojima Productions is hiring staff to make the "next generation" of Metal Gear Solid. Snake: Metal Gear! Otacon: Right, Snake, people to work on the next generation of Metal Gear Solid games. Snake: Next-generation special forces?! Otacon: Well, I guess you could call them that. Konami is hiring designers, programmers and artists. Snake: They're building an army! Otacon: They could just need some additional staff to work on Metal Gear Solid: Rising, Snake. You remember, the one starring Raiden. Snake: Raiden! Otacon: ... Snake: Otacon?! Otacon: What is it, Snake? Snake: Tell the story again about the time I drove a ... Metal Gear! Codec: *click*
Developers celebrate Super Mario Bros.' 25th anniversary
In case the red consoles didn't sufficiently alert you, 2010 is the 25th anniversary of the release of Super Mario Bros. for Famicom and NES. To commemorate the occasion, Famitsu spoke to a group of prominent developers about the impact Shigeru Miyamoto's masterpiece had on them and the industry. "The reason I entered the industry," Capcom's Keiji Inafune said, "was because I encountered Mario and learned how interesting games can be. Thank you, Mr. Shigeru Miyamoto." Super Monkey Ball and Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi expressed a similar sentiment, saying "It's the game that made me enter the game industry." Bethesda's Todd Howard said that Super Mario Bros. was the beginning of "the genre where the hero always follows the correct path." Our favorite quote is from Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii. "Also, I can't say much," he said, "but there was also 'Kintamario.'" Yes, yes there was.
Kojima reveals how Snatcher almost stank
Metal Gear Solid's "codec frequency on the box" gag wasn't the first time Hideo Kojima thought about integrating a game's packaging with the contents of the game. Kojima tweeted the story (and Andriasang translated) of how he originally thought to cover the disk for the PC-8801 version of the cyberpunk adventure game Snatcher with a paint that smelled like blood. The idea was that as you played, the disk would get warm, and eventually your computer would "release the smell of the crime scene." Or, to think of it another way, the scent of blood would gently waft out of your computer, freaking you the hell out. He now calls it the "Dead Smell Project." In a more sensible plan, Kojima also wanted to use the heat of the computer to hide a message on the disk, only visible when it was warm. [Image: JunkerHQ]
Hideo Kojima wants to show a game of his own at TGS 2011
While a new Kojima Productions game was on display at TGS 2010 -- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow -- Hideo Kojima's direct involvement seems limited to providing the voice for a mischievous chupacabra. In a tweet, the game director expressed his interest in showing a true Hideo Kojima game at next year's event. Kojima said "I think it would be nice if next year I can do not just editing, but introduce my own new game (game design, script and direction)." During the Metal Gear Solid cosplay event at TGS, he also jokingly said "It's 5! Shall we make 5! With this, I won't have to quit Konami. I'll be there for 3 more years." This was in response to a prompt to "say something shocking," however, and not "say something true." A grain of salt is advised.
Kojima wants a 'Complete' edition of MGS4, if someone else makes it
Poor ol' Hideo Kojima has apparently been on the receiving end of a plethora of demands from his rabid fanbase, all crying out for the integration of some of the PS3's patched-in features into Metal Gear Solid 4. The idiosyncratic developer took time out of his busy schedule of eating bizarre-looking foodstuffs to respond by saying, "I wanted to make a 'Complete Version' with trophy support and 3D, but if I did that I wouldn't be able to work on a new game. I wonder if someone else would make it for me." Well, gang -- any takers? It really shouldn't be too hard. Just drop a trophy in for completing each boss fight, one for beating the game on its hardest difficulty, and one for beating the game using only your wits and a pornographic magazine. Give them some clever names ("I Only Read It For The Articles," for instance), and baby, you're good to go.
Decorate your Front Mission Evolved robot with logos from ... Metal Gear?!
During Comic-Con, Square Enix revealed what Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa were up to when they visited the company last month: Metal Gear-themed decals for use in Front Mission Evolved. You won't exactly be able to make your Wanzer look like a Metal Gear, but you will be able to festoon it with logos from FOXHOUND, Militaires Sans Frontieres, and other in-game factions. Kojima even signed autographs at Square Enix's Comic-Con booth to celebrate the announcement. The surprise (!) brought with it another nice bonus: the stylish Front Mission Evolved trailer after the break.
Hideo Kojima linked to adventure game project
In a recent interview with Japanese gaming news site 4Gamer (as translated by Andriasang), Chiyomaru Shikura, the CEO of music publisher 5pb, revealed his upcoming foray into the world of interactive electronic games. When asked about his upcoming projects, Shikura explained that one title will carry quite a bit of clout -- specifically, the one on which he's collaborating with "Konami's Hideo Kojima." "Kojima said that he wanted to make an adventure game," Shikura explained, adding, "we're still at the level of 'let's lock ourselves away in the mountains somewhere and work on the plot,' so the specifics haven't been finalized." If this project comes together, we're really hoping to see some classic-style, point-and-click adventure game puzzles -- just imagine what positively insane item combinations Kojima could think up.
