You might think a major new game in the long-running “Metal Gear” franchise would elicit a ton of hype.
The last major “Metal Gear” game, “Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain,” was a blockbuster phenomenon — just like every major “Metal Gear” release before it.
But things are quite the contrary in the case of “Metal Gear Survive,” the latest major “Metal Gear” game.
Though I personally enjoyed the game, much of the talk surrounding it has been focused on “Metal Gear” franchise creator Hideo Kojima, who either left Konami or was forced out of the company, depending on who you ask. Is he or isn’t he officially thanked in the game’s credits? Does this image from the game contain a secret message from employees loyal to Kojima?
So, what in the world is going on with “Metal Gear Survive”? Here’s the deal:
First and foremost: What is “Metal Gear Survive”?
Konami
“Metal Gear Survive” is a super, super weird game.
It’s set in the same timeline as the last major “Metal Gear” game, “Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.” But instead of continuing that game’s story, it branches into an alternate, paranormal version of events.
The game’s main character — one you’ve molded in the game’s character creation tool, and named something silly — is one of dozens of random soldiers involved in a paranormal incident. A wormhole in the sky opens over the base you’re stationed at, and you’re swept into an alternate dimension: a bizarro version of Earth named “Dite” (dee-tay) that’s full of horrific, zombie-like creatures.
And thus your journey begins: You’re a soldier trying to survive in a parallel dimension that’s full of zombies.
“Metal Gear” is a franchise with seriously passionate, loyal fans. And those fans are mad as hell that franchise creator and longtime director Hideo Kojima left/was forced out of his role at Japanese game company Konami.
Konami
Since “Survive” is the first “Metal Gear” game without Kojima, fans of the series and of Kojima himself are looking at “Metal Gear Survive” with extra scrutiny. And so is Kojima himself.
When asked about the game, Kojima noted that he had nothing to do with its creation.
“That’s nothing to do with me,” he told an audience at the 2016 Tokyo Game Show, reports IGN. “The ‘Metal Gear’ games are about political fiction and espionage. Where do zombies fit in with that?”
Since Kojima is so deeply entwined with the “Metal Gear” franchise, many fans see “Metal Gear Survive” as a trick of sorts from the game’s publisher, Konami — slapping the “Metal Gear” name on something that isn’t truly a “Metal Gear” game (whatever that means).
Kojima was treated terribly by Konami, according to reports.
Kojima Productions
It’s not clear exactly what caused the rift between Konami and Kojima — Kojima worked at the Japanese game publisher for over 20 years — but it’s resulted in some seriously scorched earth.
The origin of the issues apparently goes all the way back to 2010, according to Nikkei, when a Konami game named “Dragon Collection” became a hit. The game was big in the mobile game market, and Konami reportedly had a strong reaction to seeing a game earn loads of cash that cost little to make.
Kojima Productions
As the company’s corporate overlords shifted interest toward mobile and social games — games that often cost little to make and can reap massive profits — Konami began looking more shrewdly at its division that made massive, expensive, blockbuster games: specifically, Kojima Productions.
To put an even finer point on it, Kojima is known for being an auteur. His games are routinely delayed while he labors over every detail. This, among other things, leads to his games often costing tens of millions of dollars to make. Though they’re often wildly successful, the production process is a scary and risky one.
But, instead of firing Kojima and moving toward mobile development, Konami reportedly instituted bizarre oversight methods to Kojima’s production team. Those methods reportedly included cutting off the internet and installing cameras to watch staffers closely. Since Kojima’s fans are so loyal, Konami has become a villain in the ongoing controversy.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- 6 reasons you should buy a Nintendo Switch instead of a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One in 2018
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- No one is talking about the latest game in the blockbuster ‘Metal Gear’ franchise — but it’s actually pretty great
