The Metal Gear series is renowned for its deep storyline (told in overly-long cutscenes), yet series creator Hideo Kojima says: "I'm not a genius like George Lucas."
Kojima has made it known that the fourth game of the series, out June 12, will wrap up the long-running Solid Snake plot, but this long and extremely complex story wasn't something Kojima had all mapped out.
"I didn't have this story planned out," he told Reuters. "I always tried to finish the story in each game," he admitted, adding: "but by some miracle in MGS4 I was able to resolve the mysteries left behind in past games and resolve the side stories from past games."
Even though it wraps up the current story, Kojima goes on to say that it this isn't the last of MGS. "MGS will always be around. I feel a responsibility to continue this series as long as users demand it," he said.
"I'll probably take a different role in the next game. Maybe I'll sit in as producer and let the young staff take control of the new series. I really want to go on to new things."
A genius would have known to leave Star Wars and Indiana Jones well alone. Not a good yard stick Kojima! Will someone give Hideo a job in Hollywood already?
He may not be a genius, but he is certainly one of the top 10 most talented men in the industry. And an inspiration to many other developers, I would imagine.
I am not a genius like Peter Jackson/Steven Spielberg/Paul Thomas Anderson/Coen Brothers/Any director of any pixar film (except Cars)...that would have worked for me but George Lucas tho???? Mr plays with his own poo till it looks all sparkly and nice???
For sure Kojima is one of the greats. Good to know he will still be somewhat involved with future metal gears thats good enough for me. And I personally don't think anything is wrong with the new Indy movie was fun thats all it had to be.
Not a genius as such, but as far as a game developer goes he's the best there is. George Lucas on the other hand has managed to wreck Star Wars, wreck Indiana Jones, and not come up with anything decent for ages. Plus, even though he is not in control of the games department, i hate LucasArts games recently so i can blame him for no reason for that too.
references to film directors/producers would probably explain the lengthy cut-scenes and cinematics with MGS games. Is he a frustrated wannabe film maker?
Well he's done alright for himself as a game director so who knows...
"I always tried to finish the story in each game,"
Really? So what was the gibberish that he gave us for the final 30 minutes of MGS2?
The problem with the new Indy is that there have been so many similar films recently (National Treasure series, Mummy series, Tomb Raider etc), they needed to do something a bit special to stand out...Whilst not a badly made film, it didn't really stand out either
He is just as crazy as Mr Lucas. I am sure at one point he said he was a bit sick of doing Metal Gear Solid games and wanted to try something new. Can't deny his talent though.
George Lucas is far from a genius. Kojima should be comparing himself to someone else, although he does share a trait with Lucas in that he sometimes injects completely weird or "funny" parts into his work which don't really fit. Like the ending of MGS2. The last hour or so was a complete joke. Stuff like that actually is somewhat like Lucas' style.
Ever notice how A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, compared to the others, have far less attempted humour and less puppets / CG characters? That's because Lucas had a wingman... someone who co-produced those films and drew the line whenever Lucas wanted to add something that was over-the-top.
Lucas was on his own for Return of the Jedi... and voila, f**king Ewoks.
He was on his own for Episode 1, and again, voila... Jar Jar f**king Binks. He was also on his own making the prequels and... yeah, didn't turn out too well.
If he ever had any genius, he lost it when the '80s ended.
Not a genius. Other than Metal Gear what has he done to expand gaming? The stories he tells are BORING. And I LOVE action games. Tell me this, who here actually watches the cut scenes in his games? Other than the tight game play, above average graphics and Solid Snake (a blatant rip off of Rambo and Snake via Escape from New York Fame) there's nothing in his career that can convince me that this game creator is a true genius.
Not a genius. Other than Metal Gear what has he done to expand gaming? The stories he tells are BORING. And I LOVE action games. Tell me this, who here actually watches the cut scenes in his games? Other than the tight game play, above average graphics and Solid Snake (a blatant rip off of Rambo and Snake via Escape from New York Fame) there's nothing in his career that can convince me that this game creator is a true genius.
i watch the cut scenes. but im a bit wierd. i am very excited bout how the plot is resolved. And snake is no rambo. the body count in the first 20 mins of the new rambo have more death than the whole of mgs3
Not a genius. Other than Metal Gear what has he done to expand gaming? The stories he tells are BORING. And I LOVE action games. Tell me this, who here actually watches the cut scenes in his games? Other than the tight game play, above average graphics and Solid Snake (a blatant rip off of Rambo and Snake via Escape from New York Fame) there's nothing in his career that can convince me that this game creator is a true genius.
erm i do! loved the cutscenes in MGS and MGS3 not so much 2, and the ones ive seen so far in 4 look amazing, bring on the full version of the raiden vamp fight
what's with all the lucas bashing? he's done far more for the film industry than kojima has for the games industry. ILM was created for star wars and look at the good work they do for the whole industry and have paved the way for others to follow. how many other devs have followed kojima? i cant really see his influence anywhere.
A genius would have known to leave Star Wars and Indiana Jones well alone. Not a good yard stick Kojima! Will someone give Hideo a job in Hollywood already?
A genius would have known to leave Star Wars and Indiana Jones well alone. Not a good yard stick Kojima! Will someone give Hideo a job in Hollywood already?
Not a genius as such, but as far as a game developer goes he's the best there is. George Lucas on the other hand has managed to wreck Star Wars, wreck Indiana Jones, and not come up with anything decent for ages. Plus, even though he is not in control of the games department, i hate LucasArts games recently so i can blame him for no reason for that too.
HOW THE FECK CAN HE BE THE BEST THERE IS???? He is responsible for a game franchise that has got progressively worse imo. discount 4 coz obviously I haven't played it, and he hasn't done much else. Z.O.E for example was p**s poor. There are many other game designers which far surpass Kojima, inc ninty's own myamoto (spelling?) and in my opinion are own Peter moore has done far more for the games industry. All Hideo has been obsessed with in the past2 MGS sequels and this one it seems is sticking in hours of complicated story which for the most part is gibberish, if that makes him one of the best then I stand corrected????? I admit MGS on ps1 was a revelation the rest were just meh. This is of course just my opinion but my points are as valid as your own, no?
Not a genius as such, but as far as a game developer goes he's the best there is. George Lucas on the other hand has managed to wreck Star Wars, wreck Indiana Jones, and not come up with anything decent for ages. Plus, even though he is not in control of the games department, i hate LucasArts games recently so i can blame him for no reason for that too.
Not a genius as such, but as far as a game developer goes he's the best there is. George Lucas on the other hand has managed to wreck Star Wars, wreck Indiana Jones, and not come up with anything decent for ages. Plus, even though he is not in control of the games department, i hate LucasArts games recently so i can blame him for no reason for that too.
Sadly I'm going to have to agree with what a few other have said, Kojima is by the no means one of the greats of the video game industry. Since MGS1 the series has gone downhill. Thankfully MGS4 looks to correct that but even so, the ZOE games were also pretty crap so the man has no right to be called one of the greats when he's only really created 2 great games (if we can trust IGN's review of MGS4).
Sadly I'm going to have to agree with what a few other have said, Kojima is by the no means one of the greats of the video game industry. Since MGS1 the series has gone downhill. Thankfully MGS4 looks to correct that but even so, the ZOE games were also pretty crap so the man has no right to be called one of the greats when he's only really created 2 great games (if we can trust IGN's review of MGS4).
Isn't that true of most of them though? - 1 or 2 great games/films and pretty much everything else is average?
Genius is a word that is used far too often, in my opinion......Da Vinci was a genius, but Lucas and Kojima? - absolutely not. They are very good at what they do though.
I knew there'd be a load of tedious bellends slagging off Lucas here before I even opened the thread. Genius...maybe not, but he created Star Wars. That takes some serious vision that none of you little worms could ever hope to muster in your pea brains.
The smartest things Lucas ever did were to have Irvin Kershner direct "The Empire Strikes Back" and Richard Marquand direct "Return of the Jedi".
Thats a great point. "The Empire Stikes Back" is the best Stars Wars movie and Lucas took a back seat on that one. It's also a good thing he wasn't in charge of the Indy films. Great story teller, average director.
The same could be said about Kojima. The games have great gameplay and the best bosses out there, but sometimes the story lacks focus, something another director could solve.
He's a movie director wannabe, and because of his frustation, he keeps throwing not-so-good games at us. Perhaps MGS on PSX was kinda great, but that was well back in the 90's... I honestly think he's been over-hyped for the last 3 games, and he wouldn't have so many succes if it weren't for the MGS Sony exclusivity... Just take a look at any PS3 forum out there and you'll see all those PS3 fanboys writing things like "Even I have not played this game, it's the best game ever and Halo 3 (or Zelda, or whatever you want) sucks you big time idiot bladablada blada!" That's so many succes right before the game is even released, that he could deliver the worst piece of crap ever and it will anyway be considered a masterpiece (just because a bazillion of flies like s**t, s**t must be indeed a good thing...) Someone has already said that the word "genius" is used too aften these days. I totaly agree with that, and I think I. Kojima is an example of that being true. It's a bad thing for us gamers too, because if we all agree to point persons (or a persons' work) as "genius" when it's clearly not, we are setting the standard at a very low point, and that only means not-so-good games/movies/whatever worshipped like the Holy Grial. Just wait for the game. Play it. And then, make your opinion about it as a game, not as a movie, a story telling exercise or whatever. It's just a game. Don't try to make what it's not. That's the problem bout Kojima, in my opinion: he's trying to demostrate he is something he is not. And that makes it too much complicated for me to apreciate his job.
Nothing beats the first MGS game on PS1, it had some truly original ideas in it, like the way it could read your controllers movement and what was on your memory card, that was pure gaming genious. But I'm not a fan of the bloated and overdone cut scenes, they take away from the playing of the game, whereas the radio comms added to the whole gaming feel/experiance.
Nothing beats the first MGS game on PS1, it had some truly original ideas in it, like the way it could read your controllers movement and what was on your memory card, that was pure gaming genious. But I'm not a fan of the bloated and overdone cut scenes, they take away from the playing of the game, whereas the radio comms added to the whole gaming feel/experiance.
It warms my heart to see so many Kojima bashers- it really does. Something I never thought I'd see in this life time- but they do exist!
The original Star Wars films are timeless- though I agree with Fallout Warchief- the Ewoks were terrible. Beyond terrible. If only they had stuck with Wookies it would have been ok. I mean how could they take out a garrison on the Emperor's "finest men" with stones?
Sorry- sore spot right there. However Hideo Kojima does make Lucas look like fu*king shaft!
George Lucas on the other hand has managed to wreck Star Wars, wreck Indiana Jones
It's so easy to slag off the greats isn't it. On the other hand, just for the record. I think the last Star Wars movie is great. As for the moment 70's Lucas mind merged European Mythology, with Asian legend and set it in space, well that is genius.
George Lucas on the other hand has managed to wreck Star Wars, wreck Indiana Jones
It's so easy to slag off the greats isn't it. On the other hand, just for the record. I think the last Star Wars movie is great. As for the moment 70's Lucas mind merged European Mythology, with Asian legend and set it in space, well that is genius.
Anyone who denies him that well...
I think that you and Mogs have got it wrong. I LOVE Star Wars and Indiana Jones - only a 'special' individual would deny that these are two of the greatest film trilogies of all time.
Credit to George for giving us Indy and Darth, but that still doesn't make the new films any good does it? A genius doesn't paint a hairy 'tache on the Mona Lisa years after he finished painting it. So let us vent our frustration, eh?
I for one don't think that George is a genius - I rate the term a little more highly than that.
A genius would have known to leave Star Wars and Indiana Jones well alone. Not a good yard stick Kojima! Will someone give Hideo a job in Hollywood already?
Is that a serious suggestion? At what point during any of the MGS games have you been sitting watching a hideously drawn-out cutscene, thinking to yourself "Wow! This guy is an amazing story teller! I wish he'd make a full length movie!".
Kojima is most certainly not a genius, though he is quite obviously desperate to be considered a great story teller and it is evident throughout his games that he dreams of the day Harvey Weinstein offers him a directing gig. The day that happens is the day I'll jump off a bridge.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not down on MGS in any way. In fact I have very much enjoyed some of the previous titles in the series (Snake Eater being a particular favourite). Let's not be under any illusions though. Kojima sucks at plot.
A genius would have known to leave Star Wars and Indiana Jones well alone. Not a good yard stick Kojima! Will someone give Hideo a job in Hollywood already?
Is that a serious suggestion? At what point during any of the MGS games have you been sitting watching a hideously drawn-out cutscene, thinking to yourself "Wow! This guy is an amazing story teller! I wish he'd make a full length movie!".
Kojima is most certainly not a genius, though he is quite obviously desperate to be considered a great story teller and it is evident throughout his games that he dreams of the day Harvey Weinstein offers him a directing gig. The day that happens is the day I'll jump off a bridge.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not down on MGS in any way. In fact I have very much enjoyed some of the previous titles in the series (Snake Eater being a particular favourite). Let's not be under any illusions though. Kojima sucks at plot.
Yep, it was, but not for the reasons you suspect! Move Kojima to Hollywood where he can find another outlet for his filmic urges, thereby stopping him from putting 30min monologues into otherwise cracking games. Once Hideo hits Hollywood, you'll be free to ignore him (just like a Boll movie) and we'll have cutscene-lite MGS games - hooray!
I love many things that Kojima has brought to MGS - the man is clearly a bit of a visionary and pushes the proverbial envelope more than most. But I could do without his ridiculous pseudo-political toss.
Yep, it was, but not for the reasons you suspect! Move Kojima to Hollywood where he can find another outlet for his filmic urges, thereby stopping him from putting 30min monologues into otherwise cracking games. Once Hideo hits Hollywood, you'll be free to ignore him (just like a Boll movie) and we'll have cutscene-lite MGS games - hooray!
I love many things that Kojima has brought to MGS - the man is clearly a bit of a visionary and pushes the proverbial envelope more than most. But I could do without his ridiculous pseudo-political toss.
That, sir, is actually a very valid point. Sweep him under the carpet with a huge budget and let him make his own bed. When he releases a complete stinker and can't find another gig we'll all be rid of him for good.
sounds like the old...'im no hero, never was...' line from snake .
the story is a great premise for a film, if kojima successfully transforms the game into a film. then it will be lightyears better than star wars. excuse the pun.
He's a movie director wannabe, and because of his frustation, he keeps throwing not-so-good games at us. Perhaps MGS on PSX was kinda great, but that was well back in the 90's... I honestly think he's been over-hyped for the last 3 games, and he wouldn't have so many succes if it weren't for the MGS Sony exclusivity... Just take a look at any PS3 forum out there and you'll see all those PS3 fanboys writing things like "Even I have not played this game, it's the best game ever and Halo 3 (or Zelda, or whatever you want) sucks you big time idiot bladablada blada!" That's so many succes right before the game is even released, that he could deliver the worst piece of crap ever and it will anyway be considered a masterpiece (just because a bazillion of flies like s**t, s**t must be indeed a good thing...) Someone has already said that the word "genius" is used too aften these days. I totaly agree with that, and I think I. Kojima is an example of that being true. It's a bad thing for us gamers too, because if we all agree to point persons (or a persons' work) as "genius" when it's clearly not, we are setting the standard at a very low point, and that only means not-so-good games/movies/whatever worshipped like the Holy Grial. Just wait for the game. Play it. And then, make your opinion about it as a game, not as a movie, a story telling exercise or whatever. It's just a game. Don't try to make what it's not. That's the problem bout Kojima, in my opinion: he's trying to demostrate he is something he is not. And that makes it too much complicated for me to apreciate his job.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
