[shinobi602]

Coming from the man who made the Metal Gear Solid games, a sentence like “I am not trying to tell a story” seems quite a reach. But that’s exactly what Hideo Kojima has been claiming. In fact, he doesn’t think games and plot are a natural fit at all. “It’s very difficult to implement a storyline into an interactive game,” he said. “I actually think we shouldn’t do that. I am not trying to tell a story.” But the Metal Gear Solid games’ hours of cutscenes and twisting narratives tend to leave most people thinking the series is more about storytelling than it is interaction. So what in the good gracious is he talking about? Speaking as part of a series of game design interviews called the Critical Path Project, Kojima described how it’s more important that a player empathises with a character in a given situation. It’s about allowing the player to feel, rather than showering them with plot points. “You are inside a story, an environment, and acting as a certain character,” he said. “And what that character is feeling inside that environment is what I want the players to feel as they play the game. Within that environment I want the players to not only have a fun and exhilarating experience, but also think about many different things. That’s my concept.” I think Kojima’s right that this approach can work, but I’m not sure I’m entirely convinced that his games exactly follow this technique. I’m pretty sure Metal Gear Solid 4 had a story to tell, didn’t it? http://beefjack.com/news/hideo-kojim...-tell-stories/

Well then.

[Pranay_]

I think he is wrong.

[IrishNinja]

well, if he's not even trying anymore...that makes me feel better about MGS4.

[QisTopTier]

So uh the life of a character isn't a story?

Kay!

[RichardAM]

So...yeah, about that.

[Sadist]

[Jackpot]

[Ushojax]

His certainly shouldn't.

[Omikaru]

well, if he's not even trying anymore...that makes me feel better about MGS4.

Pretty much how I feel.

I can see how this approach was applied to MGS4, because it just pulls bullshit out from its ass and continually throws things at Snake, no matter how ridiculous the events around him are.

Sadly, I quite like good plots too, so I found myself unable to relate to Snake. Better luck next time, Kojima.

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

What is Kojima on?

[_Keiichi_]

Nanomachines?

[CarbonatedFalcon]

I don't buy it, and it's laughable coming from Kojima.

No, not all games need to be about telling stories - most of the earliest ones weren't and plenty aren't today either.

Stories in games have their place, however, and have the opportunity to be more compelling than any other medium.

[Mocca-Bear]

Can't help but reading his comments and thinking of Valve.

I mean come on, he is describing what is quintessentially Portal and Half-Life!

* Do imagine something being horribly lost in translation in that interview...

[Lagspike_exe]

The ultimate troll.

[Sarcastic Response]

You said it. I understand what he is trying to say, but saying that games shouldn't tell stories when his entire series has done nothing but tell a story is pretty insane.

[Pyrrhus]

The man's a Japanese George Lucas. I guess spouting contradictory nonsense comes with the territory.

[BadWolf]

Nier says hi.

(as well as all of his MGS games and Snatcher and Policenauts and ZOE)

[dark10x]

Wait, what? Everything he's ever made has focused almost entirely on story telling.

[Castor Krieg]

I don't really understand what goes in his head when he says this - the man created one of the most convoluted, storyline-heavy games of the last two decades.

[BosSin]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[DaSorcerer7]

Guess he learnt something from MGS4.

[flyinpiranha]

Is there something lost in translation here? It seems to counter his opus.

[GCX]

"I am not trying to tell a story.”

Well I guess MGS4 makes a little more sense now.

[1-D_FTW]

That explains why I find his games absolutely nonsensical. Bravo, sir. Although protip: If you're gonna have a cut scene last for around 2 hours, you might WANNA have it tell a fucking story. But maybe that's just me.

[blowred]

What is Kojima on?

nanomachines duh.

[ClivePwned]

So the 90 minute cutscene at the end of MGS4 is not trying to tell a story?

[Exterminieren]

I did one hell of a double-take at the title.

It’s very difficult to implement a storyline into an interactive game

Hours of cutscenes ahoy.

[WickedLaharl]

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

nanomachines duh.

Lol, good one.

Seriously though, something might be lost in translation here.

[MechaX]

You said it. I understand what he is trying to say, but saying that games shouldn't tell stories when his entire series has done nothing but tell a story is pretty insane.

Indeed. Kojima may have a point here, but it is still absolutely unconvincing coming from him of all people.

[diamount]

Oh Kojima, you so crazy.

[Ryuuga]

[Krauser Kat]

I totally agree with Kojima that stories in a grand sense should stay the fuck out of videogames because they are all almost universally shit. Its really funny coming from him though.

[amar212]

Kojima did this just to amuse himself over GAF reactions.

He lurks and he knows GAF will pick it up.

He will stop by later and have fun reading everything over weekend.

Man have to have fun, understand him.

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

The story is the least important part of a game. Telling a story isn't what games are good at. Conveying atmosphere is what games are good at.

[bomma_man]

Bizarre.

Although he's right.

[BlazingDarkness]

That makes..no sense whatsever

[shagg_187]

Is this called irony? Or is it called hypocrisy? Whatever it is, Kojima is trolling hard. HARD!

[Stealth20k]

yes they should

[Herb]

Kojima lies with Peter Moleyneux and David Cage on the list of game developers I almost admire.

[Byakuya769]

Well then.

No, Kojima; YOU shouldn't try to tell stories. And please explain how MGS4 focused on interactivity over ham fisted story telling.

[miladesn]

so he did that with mgs4 and pw on purpose then to prove this point, nicely done. haha

[CrazyArcadia]

I guess this is basically him admitting that the stories of MGS were some sort of meta-game to make people discuss whatever happened in whatever entry to the series. He deliberately made it so that his games jump genres, use some sort of post-modernist ideas, emphasise on story telling but then troll out in the end through not making that much more sense than a saturday morning cartoon. So... the meta-game in the end is more important than the game itself and, if played on competitive level (read: forum flame wars, wiki-wars, convention panels about MGS), takes up more time than playing through the series.

It's just an elaborate plan for him to play his players. He's dwelling on the tears, the discussions, the rage of gamers. It's like a game for him, he makes these games for himself. He mentally feasts on the reactions of gamers.

(in all seriousness though, it's kinda hypocritic coming from Kojima, but I agree - at least when it comes too long cutscenes and games that think of their story as more important than the gameplay. I prefer games where the gameplay comes first.)

[RoboPlato]

Of all the developers to say this...

[Jonboy]

lulz.

[zerokoolpsx]

He lost me at not trying to tell a story.

[CambriaRising]

I kind of understand what he is saying. I think the translation is off though.

[Mister0079]

I had to double- no, triple check the thread title to make sure I was reading it right.

[RukusProvider]

MGS defenders on suicide watch!

[IrishNinja]

MGS defenders on suicide watch!

no no, when the dissonance is that thick, even a creator's words can't harm you
see: the battered victims of star wars