Games 'shouldn't try to tell stories' - Metal Gear creator

by Gaetano Prestia Featured 16 Comments 24 Votes 1339 Views 25/07/2012 Back to News

Metal Gear Solid creator, Hideo Kojima, insists he's "not trying to tell a story" with his games, suggesting that complex narrative and interactivity don't work well together.

His flagship series is known for its complex characters and plot, but Mr Kojima just doesn't believe games and plot work well together.

“It’s very difficult to implement a storyline into an interactive game,” he said. “I actually think we shouldn’t do that. I am not trying to tell a story.”

He explains that gamer's should be able to empathise with a character in any situation.

“You are inside a story, an environment, and acting as a certain character,” he said. Mr Kojima wants gamers to "think about many different things" while playing one of his games. “And what that character is feeling inside that environment is what I want the players to feel as they play the game," he explained.

His comments come after Heavy Rain creator, David Cage, said games need to try "something different" and more emotional.

Do you agree with Hideo Kojima? Do you believe interactivity and narrative can work together?

Source: Critical Path Project

By Gaetano Prestia - Bio

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Games 'shouldn't try to tell stories' - Metal Gear creator Comments

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Kudos: 298,781

Tano

I get what he's saying, but perhaps this was lost in translation.

My understanding is that, rather than see a character in a situation FOLLOWING a plot point, Kojima rathers to put the plot point in control of the gamer...I think.

I think Metal Gear probably bridges cinema and game, although I certainly found myself caring more for Snake while I controlled him, than I did during the cutscenes.

Maybe that's what he's getting at?

25/07/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 207,675

M@ndyz

i like stories but theres days where im shitty and im just happy to shoot or kill without a story.. like team fortress 2

25/07/2012

Add me on steam........... bootie [mmgn] Or raptr.......... bootie101 Or wiiu. actually don't add me on wiiu im never on it :p

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Tano

M@ndyz said: i like stories but theres days where im shitty and im just happy to shoot or kill without a story.. like team fortress 2

BUT GAMES ARE ART AND ART NEEDS A STORY! [Rage] =_=

25/07/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 71,429

Silence

There is art in the comic-styled arenas of TF2. The varying classes and nationalities demonstrate how everyone has their own special skill, no matter what their background is. The team-based gameplay shows that united we are strong, but alone we crumble.
The Blue team symbolises the ocean, a gentle force that can cause havoc when angered. Team Red is a representation of blood, of lives lost during the struggle. The Red teams is a homage to all those lost at sea.

25/07/2012

I'm from the Internet. Nothing I say is original.

Kudos: 207,675

M@ndyz

Silence said: There is art in the comic-styled arenas of TF2. The varying classes and nationalities demonstrate how everyone has their own special skill, no matter what their background is. The team-based gameplay shows that united we are strong, but alone we crumble.
The Blue team symbolises the ocean, a gentle force that can cause havoc when angered. Team Red is a representation of blood, of lives lost during the struggle. The Red teams is a homage to all those lost at sea.

oh nice

25/07/2012

Add me on steam........... bootie [mmgn] Or raptr.......... bootie101 Or wiiu. actually don't add me on wiiu im never on it :p

Kudos: 10,518

LMA0

The reason I play through the game is not the gameplay or how fun I'm playing it but the story that drives me to start to finish.

25/07/2012

Outer West Sydney aka The Ghetto

Kudos: 15,160

KojiDD

I think he's saying he wants people to be in the character's shoes that are made by the developers rather than their own.

Probably a comparison between jrpg and western rpg.

I think normally JRPGs are already written and the story cannot be influence by player decisions where as western rpgs are heavily influenced by player decisions.

I'm going to assume the heavy rain dev's comment was just a reference and there is no actual comment regarding it.

Beta said: I get what he's saying, but perhaps this was lost in translation.

I also agree it was lost in translation, although I believes he's trying to say the opposite of:

My understanding is that, rather than see a character in a situation FOLLOWING a plot point, Kojima rathers to put the plot point in control of the gamer...I think.

He rather gamers not have such power over the story because it becomes difficult to balance the game, basically it's between story or character customisation and I think he has a point.

From a Japanese rpg vs Western rpg standpoint, Western rpgs usually gives players intense character customisation, which can take away from the story itself if the player has TOO much control over the story, while Jrpgs are much linear and compensate the lack of decisions by trying to give you an emotional attachment to characters.

Essentially the difference is whether of not players get to decide whether someone lives or dies or whether their fate is already written and they will die no matter what.

25/07/2012

New South Wales

Kudos: 298,781

Tano

KojiDD said: I think he's saying he wants people to be in the character's shoes that are made by the developers rather than their own.
Probably a comparison between jrpg and western rpg.
I think normally JRPGs are already written and the story cannot be influence by player decisions where as western rpgs are heavily influenced by player decisions.
I'm going to assume the heavy rain dev's comment was just a reference and there is no actual comment regarding it.

Beta said: I get what he's saying, but perhaps this was lost in translation.

I also agree it was lost in translation, although I believes he's trying to say the opposite of:

My understanding is that, rather than see a character in a situation FOLLOWING a plot point, Kojima rathers to put the plot point in control of the gamer...I think.

He rather gamers not have such power over the story because it becomes difficult to balance the game, basically it's between story or character customisation and I think he has a point.
From a Japanese rpg vs Western rpg standpoint, Western rpgs usually gives players intense character customisation, which can take away from the story itself if the player has TOO much control over the story, while Jrpgs are much linear and compensate the lack of decisions by trying to give you an emotional attachment to characters.
Essentially the difference is whether of not players get to decide whether someone lives or dies or whether their fate is already written and they will die no matter what.

Well where does a game like Heavy Rain fit into that?

25/07/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 7,061

byrnezy

SNAAAKKKEE

25/07/2012

RADelaide South Australia

Kudos: 75,060

Matrix6

25/07/2012

The Last Story VI: Temptress In Azure

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Tano

Matrix6 said:

I'm confused :P

25/07/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 71,429

Silence

I understand what he's getting at, and it's difficult to put into words. When I look back on a game I finished 5 months of 5 minutes ago, I forget all details. Story, character development, pretty much everything except for a few disjointed scenes.

What I do vividly remember, however, is whether or not I found a game to be enjoyable. That long lasting impression of awe is what designers should be aiming for IMO.

25/07/2012

I'm from the Internet. Nothing I say is original.

Kudos: 48,893

Jubilee

Um I completely disagree with his comment, playing a game without a plot is like watching a movie without a plot ie. crap. I agree, you can play a game that doesn't have a strong plot but developers who can make one that works while still making it fun are few and far in between (ie. Left 4 Dead series has basically no plot).

Games are the perfect medium for stories to be told, arguably they are even more immersive than a movie or series because you take control of the character and the environment. Having a strong plot drives you to move forward.

25/07/2012

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KojiDD

Beta said:
Well where does a game like Heavy Rain fit into that?

Well he does say it's merely very difficult to put storyline and interactivity together, not impossible.

Additionally Heavy Rain is a interactive story, the characters aren't as generic, players there have greater influence over the story but only by what they accomplish for the end result to be a success or a failure, and it's not far fetched and within reasonable boundarys of the story.

Perhaps what I should've said is that he wants players to be and understand the character rather than create their own persona and story?

Edit: Although I could completely be looking out of the box to much and what he said was literally what he meant :/

25/07/2012

New South Wales

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Tsunamo

Given who this is coming from I find this hilarious.

25/07/2012

[Perth, W.A | MMGN]

Kudos: 298,781

Tano

Jubilee said: Um I completely disagree with his comment, playing a game without a plot is like watching a movie without a plot ie. crap. I agree, you can play a game that doesn't have a strong plot but developers who can make one that works while still making it fun are few and far in between (ie. Left 4 Dead series has basically no plot).
Games are the perfect medium for stories to be told, arguably they are even more immersive than a movie or series because you take control of the character and the environment. Having a strong plot drives you to move forward.

I could name you literally 100 games off the top of my head that are awesome and have absolutely no plot whatsoever. At least a "plot" by definition of characters and some sort of story progression.

26/07/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"