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Kojima: Comments taken out of context

Monday, 12 May 2008 10:20
Hideo Kojima has moved swiftly to end speculation over alleged anti-PS3 comments
Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid 4 (MGS4), has moved to end speculation about comments recently attributed to him, which seemed to indicate he was being restricted by PlayStation 3 technology.

Mr Kojima has stated he is more than happy with the PS3's technology, and with what he has achieved with MGS4, claiming his original comments were translated poorly.

"I am Japanese, so I try to be modest," Mr Kojima said on the PlayStation.com forums. "I'm an especially modest person. I don't wish to brag about it and say, 'I am the amazing Metal Gear guy', or say, 'This is the best one', just like how Americans brag [about] stuff like this."

"Westerners do not have a tradition of modesty, so the statements are translated correctly but the original meaning is totally different."

Originally, Mr Kojima said he had planned MGS4 with the PS3's innovations in mind, but had to cut back his original vision once he ran into certain "restrictions" in the console's Cell processor technology. Media outlets were quick to leap on these comments, citing him in an anti-PS3 tirade.

"Let's say this developer is making a new kind of car," Mr Kojima said, attempting to clarify his position. "He claims it can fly. And when you claim it can fly then the expectation grows so the developer sites his goals higher.

"The expectation is that if the car can fly then it should reach Mach speed. But it doesn't stop there; it soon gets to 'it should go into space'.

"However, the developer will end up going to the public and saying that the car reaches MACH speed but it fails to go into space.

"But he shouldn't give up, because for a car to even reach MACH speed and fly is revolutionary. I wished to transfer my thoughts like this, but it didn't work out very well."

Mr Kojima concluded by saying: "MGS4 isn't exactly my property so I don't have total control over it and sometimes I get confused with it. Some may be disappointed with the way I say things, but I am releasing this game with confidence."

In other MGS4 news, Konami has announced a limited edtion version for UK customers, as well as a special pre-order campaign.

The limited edition variant will go on sale for £79.99, featuring a six-inch Old Snake action figure, a soundtrack CD and a "Making of" Blu-ray. This disc will include two high-def documentaries, interviews and general ramblings from the game's production staff.

The package will be exclusive to play.com.

Game customers will be rewarded with a DVD called Metal Gear Saga, Volume 2, featuring a seven-part documentary about the series.

"Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is rightly seen as the stand-out title for 2008, and we were determined to come up with something special for its launch," said Martin Schneider, Konami's European marketing director.

"With interest so high, it is only right that we reward fans of the series for pre-ordering the game, and the Metal Gear Saga DVD is a stunning look at how the series has evolved into the phenomenon it has become.

"Likewise, the limited edition is a celebration of all things Metal Gear, and will be prized by those who buy it."

The full version of the game is due on June 12th.


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