GamesHideo Kojima was told “games don’t need stories” early in his career, so he read 300 books while making a single game to prove them wrongWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesHideo Kojima was told “games don’t need stories” early in his career, so he read 300 books while making a single game to prove them wrongWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Konami)
Hideo Kojimahas opened up about what it was like being an early progenitor of story-focused video games, revealing he once read around 300 books researching story details for a single game.
In a recent episode of TBS Radio’s After 6 Junction 2 podcast (timestampedhere), Kojima relayed his experience as a young developer, in which he faced opposition against his desire to spend time developing stories in video games.
“They were 2D with big pixels, and you could only move from side to side,” Kojima said of video games at the time. “But I saw [their] potential. I pushed back against everyone’s opposition … There was no artistry. There was also no real story. So we wanted to be the ones to give it a story.”
コジ10（KOJI10） ep.1「小島秀夫の自己紹介」（Eng.sub） - YouTubeWatch On
コジ10（KOJI10） ep.1「小島秀夫の自己紹介」（Eng.sub） - YouTube
コジ10（KOJI10） ep.1「小島秀夫の自己紹介」（Eng.sub） - YouTube
Kojima wasn’t the first game developer to add stories to games, but he is definitely an early pioneer of exploring real-world themes and issues in games. Regardless, it sounds like a lot of his early days atKonamiwere spent making the case for the sort of narrative-heavy games he’s now known for.
“We were trying because it didn’t exist back then, but it was hard to make it a reality, because everyone was against it. They told me, ‘Games don’t need stories, Kojima.'”
Thankfully, Kojima persisted, saying he would often visit the library during work hours “to research things like plot settings,” again facing resistance from co-workers who felt stories weren’t important in games.
While Kojima would go on to create the beloved Metal Gear series at Konami, he first had some convincing to do. Not only was he up against resistance to the idea of story-focused games, he also had to convince the higher-ups of his vision for Metal Gear’s gameplay. In fact, a recently resurfaced 1999 interview revealsit wasn’t until Kojima showed his bosses the famous exclamation point feature in Metal Gear that they were sold on the idea.Kojima even said he was ready to quit Konami altogether at one point due to what he called “passive aggressive resistance.”
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Hideo Kojima originally had “no plans” for a character like Metal Gear Solid’s Cyborg Ninja until Yoji Shinkawa’s art had him saying “hell yeah, a ninja cyborg!”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”