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[LordOfLore]

Article link. Full video.

The man behind Metal Gear continues to hone his persona as a really weird creative dude. At the Tribeca Film Festival’s games event, Hideo Kojima revealed why the teaser for Death Stranding opened on a naked Norman Reedus as well as some other random Kojima Facts™.

Like for instance, you might have known that the game designer is a big fan of Robert De Niro, but did you know that a young Kojima used to practice his impression of the acclaimed actor in front of a mirror, reciting the now famous and often parodied monologue from Taxi Driver? Or that he used to watch the violent and unsettling thriller about a vigilante who gets bloody in 1970s New York often in the morning before heading off to school? It explains a lot.

This is the first year that the Tribeca Film Festival has had a game component in addition to the rest of the event. Like its cinema counterpart, the Tribeca Games Festival screens games and hosts talks with different game designers whose work intersects in various ways with film. Being the big movie buff that he is, Kojima was a natural fit, talking both about the games he’s worked on and the movies that have inspired him (the first one he ever saw in a theater by himself was Rollerball, a 1975 flick about people on roller blades forced to fight in a future dystopia for the amusement of the masses).

But Kojima can’t really go anywhere without people asking about Death Stranding, his latest project about strange looking dudes searching for test tube babies. On that subject the designer was predictably coy, saving himself from naming the character played by Norman Reedus and instead explaining that introducing him first as a naked man was intentional. Kojima wanted people to first see him without any clothes on so they could later see his transformation as different clothes, equipment, and hairstyles are added.

A typical Kojima response that raises more question than it answers, like, for instance whether that means the game’s nightmarish setting will include barbershops. The crowd and Twitch chat seemed to dig what he was saying, however, because for all of the charming nonsense that comes out of Kojima’s mouth, it’s still better than most of the canned nonsense floating around the rest of the video game industry.

As for production, the leader of Kojima Productions did say that the game “is moving on PS4,” and “so far it’s going pretty well.” He also mentioned that “there’s a plot.”

But that was as specific as the man of mystery was willing to get, deciding to relay the rest of the team’s progress on the game thus far by way of an extremely abstract metaphor:

“Let’s say that Norman’s character is walking in New York (and the game is not set in New York, this is just an example), we’re trying to see if what we can depict with Decima Engine actually looks like New York, if it scales correctly and feels good there. Let’s say the character goes in an Italian restaurant, who the character meets going into the restaurant, what he will be eating, all those details are decided, are set.”

Instead, what’s currently being decided on are what the tables will look like, what specific things will be said in that sort of scene, and what other dishes will be on the menu. I encourage you to interpret what this says about where the game is in development however you like.

For now though, here’s another fun Kojima Fact™ to tide you over until the next time he decides to take a break from working on his next project to share riddles with us about its development. While some of you might have just sat back and not questioned what was going on the first time you played Super Mario Bros. all those years ago, the man who said one of his characters breathed through her skin in order to explain her wardrobe came away from Nintendo’s classic NES game with questions that only led to more questions.

“I wanted to know why Bowser was taking away the Princess, and why was this complete stranger Mario trying to rescue her,” Kojima told his interviewer, Geoff Keighley, through an interpreter at one point. “And why are you stepping on those mushrooms.”

Lock if old.

 

[liquidtmd]

We want to protect him!

As for production, the leader of Kojima Productions did say that the game “is moving on PS4,” and “so far it’s going pretty well.” He also mentioned that “there’s a plot.”

I laughed

 

[Farks!]

Please don't be cringey.

 

[LowRoller]

I will buy anything kojima makes. No matter how silly his explanations are.

 

[JayEH]

The most complex way to explain they are still early in production.

 

[Champion]

I have a bad feeling about this one.

 

[SJRB]

I have a bad feeling about this one.

Well at least there's a plot this time around according to this, so there's a step-up from his previous game.

 

[the_batman]

Please don't be cringey.

nah

Kojima, you do you.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

"there's a plot"

Good to know.

 

[Yohane]

Hideo please just call Yoko Taro and ask for advice

 

[nkarafo]

Not this again

Why is he trying so hard to give explanations every time he uses a naked body in his games?

 

[Yarbskoo]

If I can have him wear a black bikini and torn stockings all will be forgiven.

 

[Adam_Roman]

Something something breathing air.

 

[Tinfoilhatsron]

Hideo please just call Yoko Taro and ask for advice

Hideo doesn't need advice, he already does in-your-face symbolism and has overdramatic animez to a T.

 

[Marmaladefire]

Kojima is ridiculous. I'm not sure what this will turn out like, but there's no way it won't be amusing for the wtf factor at the very least.

Please don't be cringey.

Don't count on it.

"Mario has convulted plot contrivances."
- The dude who wrote the end of MGS 2.

 

[Neff]

I have a bad feeling that Kojima is on the precipice of disappearing up his own ass once and for all with this game.

 

[voodew]

This is actually pretty cool. I wonder if the whole naked evolution symbology ties into the "Homo Ludens" thing Kojima was talking about when he opened his new studio.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Kojima has delusions of grandeur. Hopefully Death Stranding doesn't turn out to be a disappointment like Metal Gear Solid V especially given how long he takes to make these "AAA" games.

 

[Marvel]

I have a bad feeling about this one.

Yeah me too.

 

[DieH@rd]

I cant wait for DS. Will watch this later.

He already talked before that the plot of the entire game was written, but of course it will morph a bit when they start actually finish the world and taking in consideration performance of the actors.

 

[Spukc]

His skin needs to be exposed to light.
His stomach was destroyed by drinking lava.
So he crossed his genes with a plant.

Now his only way to survive is photosynthesis
But because a human body uses more energy than a plant he needs to be naked 100% of his life.

Hire me kojima

 

[N7.Angel]

I will buy anything kojima makes. No matter how silly his explanations are.

Of course, noone in this industry can do what he does, his games are unbeaten.

 

[Tiamant]

I will never understand how this man is considered a genius. I mean, he used to make great games but his efforts since MGS3 fell short in a lot of aspects.

Also, it's "quirkiness" with stuff like Quiet is embarrassing and the most it gets are some laughs. Why?

 

[Maxrunner]

We want to protect him!



I laughed

Kojima and plots is like vinegar and olive oil.

 

[Spukc]

Kojima and plots is like vinegar and olive oil.

But those don't mix at all ?

 

[Crazy Diamond]

I will never understand how this man is considered a genius.

He makes really good games.

 

[Mister Wolf]

I have a bad feeling that Kojima is on the precipice of disappearing up his own ass once and for all with this game.

I hope the Xeno director, Souls director, and Nier director never become like this.

 

[bigol]

I will never understand how this man is considered a genius. I mean, he used to make great games but his efforts since MGS3 fell short in a lot of aspects.

Also, it's "quirkiness" with stuff like Quiet is embarrassing and the most it gets are some laughs. Why?

I would say after MGS3. MGS 3 is still one awesome game.

 

[The Spoony Hou]

I will never understand how this man is considered a genius.

I think his MSX output was his best. He slowly got worse and worse as the years passed.

 

[Napalm_Frank]

I will never understand how this man is considered a genius. I mean, he used to make great games but his efforts since MGS3 fell short in a lot of aspects.

Also, it's "quirkiness" with stuff like Quiet is embarrassing and the most it gets are some laughs. Why?

MGSV is a really, really fuckin good game that could easily have been one of the greats given a little more focus to story and actually finishing the game.

Kojima definately has the potential of making another masterpiece, we just have to wait and see.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

I hope the Xeno director, Souls director, and Nier director never become like this.

The major difference between those guys and Kojima is that Kojima has always loved the limelight, those guys are like the polar opposite: Yoko Taro has often spoken about hating press interviews, Miyazaki makes rare appearances to talk about his games like once or twice a year and Takahashi tends to be the same way as Miyazaki. Kojima loves owning that "auteur" title and running with it.

 

[TheMoon]

Kojima Tries To Explain Naked Norman Reedus At Tribeca

He also mentioned that “there’s a plot.”

dying over here

 

[immortal-joe]

I have a bad feeling that Kojima is on the precipice of disappearing up his own ass once and for all with this game.

What the hell in the article gives you that idea?

 

[Neff]

I will never understand how this man is considered a genius.

I wouldn't go so far as genius, but he simply makes very, very good games, time after time.

I think his MSX output was his best. He slowly got worse and worse as the years passed.

Personally I'd say Snatcher is his best work. Policenauts is a little overrated but it's a solid game. The MGS series varies wildly, but they're all great nonetheless.

What the hell in the article gives you that idea?

Death Stranding in general.

 

[Maxrunner]

But those don't mix at all ?

Exactly.

 

[The Boat]

I have a bad feeling that Kojima is on the precipice of disappearing up his own ass once and for all with this game.

Most likely, especially since he reached peak Internet deification.

 

[toddhunter]

Well at least there's a plot this time around according to this, so there's a step-up from his previous game.

Yes but this is a massive downgrade from his previous games which had seven or eight of them.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Most likely, especially since he reached peak Internet deification.

I started expecting it would get to this with the credits for every mission in his last "AAA" affair.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

I started expecting it would get to this with the credits for every mission in his last "AAA" affair.

His name was the only one?

 

[immortal-joe]

Death Stranding in general.

I see nothing there that stands out. Is it the use of high profile actors?

 

[The Spoony Hou]

Personally I'd say Snatcher is his best work.

Yes, I also think Snatcher is his best game.

 

[DevilDog]

Kojima is unshackled, unleashed in its full potential, it's going to be as cringey as it gets.

 

[eso76]

I think I read somewhere, possibly imdb, that Norman Reedus character in Death Stranding is named Adam.
It was pulled soon after. Seeing as imdb content is often submitted by users that could have been made up, but it's fitting.

 

[HMD]

Kojima is unshackled, unleashed in its full potential, it's going to be as cringey as it gets.

I just hope he has a decent writing team.

 

[Sumio Mondo]

I just hope he has a decent writing team.

?
He always writes for his own games.

 

[GhostTrick]

After Peace Walker and MGSV, I gave up on Kojima writing a good story anymore.

?
He always writes for his own games.

Not alone though ?

 

[Xliskin]

Kojima nailed it with Peace Walker's ending , the gaming community trying to hunt him down he assembled the men and made KojiPro "the hunt is on"

 

[Hux1ey]

"You will feel ashamed of your words & deeds."

 

[liquidtmd]

I just hope he has a decent writing team.

He doesn't need a decent writing team, he just needs a good editor. One. One solid, visible guy to balance out some of his more indulgent tendencies.

Guy is a decent writer that sometimes feels like he his just burbling out his thoughts in streams of stoned consciousness

 

[Ludens]

A Hideo Kojima's thread.