Hideo Kojima has been paying attention. Speaking as part of a BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat documentary, the auteur explained that "we may be connected through the Internet more than ever, but what's happening is that people are attacking each other because we're so connected". He’s not wrong: social media – once a bold and wonderful concept – has become suffocating; many of us now long to escape it rather than engage with it.
The world is more divided than it’s ever been, and the current political landscape plays a huge part in that: "President Trump right now is building a wall," he explained. "Then you have Brexit, where the UK is trying to leave, there are lots of walls and people thinking only about themselves in the world." The metaphor in Death Stranding, of course, is to create bridges – structures which connect us rather than divide us. It’s not exactly deep, but it does resonate.
For the Metal Gear maker, the PlayStation 4 console exclusive is about bringing people together. "When [gamers] are alone and playing video games in their living room they don't feel like they fit into society or their community," he said. "So when those people play this game they realise people like them exist all over the world. Knowing that, even though I'm lonely, there are other people like me makes them feel at ease – that's what I would like for them to feel when playing the game."
[source bbc.co.uk, via gamesradar.com]
Comments 21
Yeah, it’s a very obvious metaphor but it’s a nice message in today’s climate. Good to know by making Norman Reedus piss on the ground I’m helping to connect people the world over.
In our world today we are more “connected” than ever before but we are also more isolated and lonely than ever before as we have abandoned traditional relationships to replace them with artificial ones online.
Will Death Stranding fix that? Will it reinforce it? I dunno, but I appreciate the experimentation.
One thing I disagree with Kojima on, though, is that he’s allowing himself to be influenced by those who wish to divide. The media.
It is too simplistic to say Brexit is about putting up walls or isolating. I also think opposing Trump is too black and white.
The world is full of nuance. It isn’t black and white. There is a lot of grey area. Several sides to every story and so forth.
I’m sure Kojima knows that but seems to be towing a politically correct line.
You're twistin' my melon man, you speak so hip.
@Kienda To be honest, I'm not sure he's even referring specifically to the politics, but the fact that we all seem to be so polarised about them.
Seems a bit on the nose though doesn't it? Not quite as ingeniously foresighted as MGS2's gloriously weird plot, perhaps? I guess I'll see!
@m1349 Everything is influenced by everything. You can't expect game developers (or any artists) to not be inspired by what's going on in the world.
I know what you're saying, but there's always going to be crossover at some point.
"The metaphor in Death Stranding, of course, is to create bridges – structures which connect us rather than divide"
That'll explain why it's a PS4 exclusive then 😜
@m1349 Plenty of "fun" games. Diversity is good.
@carlos82 *console exclusive
I'm personally on fire about this game, I'm so hyped that the these last few days seem to not be passing.
MGS being referred to as Political Fiction by Kojima himself rather than Sci-Fi, I'd say we all knew and expected such views in Death Stranding as well.
He is an artist and obviously full of emotions. There are numerous inspirations behind every aspect of each artwork, be it a painting or a piece of music. And in this case, it's all of that combined.
I'd expect Death Stranding to have positive impacts, but then again no single piece of art can be THAT effective as to change everything and everybody alone. But it is good to see games that are worth hundreds of hours of discussion. Who knows, maybe they'll talk about Death Stranding in 100 years and regard it as an influential work.
I'm so excited to experience it, and I'm quite sure it is as insightful and thought-provoking as Kojima-san's other games.
A great message of hope in the actual sadness and diffidence we are living in.
@m1349 then we should stop considering videogames as a form of art nowadays, like writing or cinema, cos any form of art takes inspiration from concepts and carries meanings.
Let's then accept that videogame is pure mind dumbing, escapism and entertainment...
@m1349 i don't know why anybody would do that especially first playthrough, just like folk who skip the intros to shows on netflix, why? The music especially in anime is amazing and gets you excited and sets the tone for each episode!
@m1349
I'd prefer to have a mix of things. If every game was just mindless thoughtless fun, it would be like if every meal was comforting fast food.
Maybe that's what you'd like and that's fine, but I'd rather there was a varied selection to chose from and I'm happy to try new things to form opinions or challenge preconceptions.
Good on people for Kojima attempting art that divides opinon but has something to say, even if they end up as noble failures artistically, commercially and as a comment on the world I might not necessarily agree with.
I barely touch Twitter any more. Full of hateful people and morons. Just look at the bile directed at Anthony Daniels for a perfectly reasonable comment about Star Wars fans.
@Paranoimia
What did he say to inspire such bile? Was it that "all the unhinged people moaning about the films will still be first in line to watch the last one?"
If so, well, he's not wrong is he?
@m1349
George Melies was an illusionist and made the film "A Trip To The Moon" almost as a filmed magic trick to make audiences gasp at the spectacle and wonder how he did it, but the people inspired by that asked questions of what the media can do and went in different ways.
Most music is where fans of a genre have listened to something, been inspired to take up an instrument and then said "but what if I took that, and did this?"
Your argument seems to indicate that video game medium should only exist for a sole or initial purpose, or ringfenced to the purpose that you enjoy.
If that was the case and that mentality was adopted by more people, there would possibly be no video games as computers would be giant house sized boxes at Nasa for calculating rocket science coded with punch cards , and TV's would be for television only.
Again, appreciate if you like mindless entertainment in your video games but it's not like the medium is over saturated with AAA high concept art pieces and you are struggling for games where violence is the core mechanic, FPS' , Destiny Clones, Sports Games or Open World Ubi Towers derivatives.
The film equivalent would be for arguing for example "mother!" or "The Shape Of Water" were not interesting and took valuable screentime away from Superhero films.
We like what we like, but with sales and PS+ game of the month, if can give us the chance to still try new things that might surprise us.
Hope you give Death Stranding at least an hour try when it is PS+ game of the month sometime in 2022
@m1349
I do find that actually the issue with heavily narrative based games that prioritise a "story" over the "mechanics", once the story loses you, it's hard to conitnue.
I agree totally Bloodbourne is a good example of where the narrative is there in the background and can be explored or interpreted to different levels to different conclusions.
@RPE83 Nope. He merely said that he can understand why some fans feel disappointed with the newer movies. But you're right, he wasn't wrong... on either count.
@Paranoimia
i thought he was fairly diplomatic and positive, but clearly there's no place for that in this crazy mixed up world. Someone should make a game about that...
@RPE83 He was indeed. But the residents of Twitter no longer allow deviation from the hive mind. It's lost to the Dark Side. 🤣
Tap here to load 21 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...