Hideo Kojimathe legendary creator behind Solid metal gear AND Stranded Deathrecently shared a pivotal moment in his early career that defined his approach to storytelling in video games.
During an appearance on TBS Radio’s After 6 Junction 2 podcast, Kojima revealed the uphill battle he faced as a young developer at Konami when pushing for narrative-driven games, which is apparently a concept that many in the industry ignored all along era.
Kojima recalls, “They told me, ‘Games don’t need stories, Kojima.'” For an industry in its infancy, the idea of incorporating deep narratives was revolutionary. He added: “They were 2D with big pixels and you could only move from side to side. But I saw [their] potential.”
Determined to prove everyone wrong, Kojima immersed himself in the art of storytelling. While working on his early projects, he spent countless hours in the library, poring over books to research settings and plot themes.
He revealed, “I read like 300 books for one game,” which shows his dedication to creating something that could redefine the medium.
Despite opposition from colleagues who considered his efforts futile, Kojima continued with his vision and added: “There was no artistry. There was also no real story. So we wanted to be the ones to tell him a story.”
Kojima wasn’t the first to integrate stories into games, but he became one of the first developers to use the medium to explore real-world themes and complex stories.
Not only did it prove its critics wrong, but it also set the stage for video games to evolve into a legitimate storytelling medium.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
