Kojima Disappointed With Metal Gear Solid 4

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Read the interview in EDGE last night and it was a pretty good read. I have to say I expected more from MGS4, but at the same time it still does look good and I can't complain too much. Can't wait for it :)

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Read the interview in EDGE last night and it was a pretty good read. I have to say I expected more from MGS4, but at the same time it still does look good and I can't complain too much. Can't wait for it :)

Have you played it yet? :rofl: :shiftyninja:

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Have you played it yet? :rofl: :shiftyninja:

Where do you think I've been ;)

[sn00pie]

There's always a possibility to do better. The creator of GT says that his vision is still only 10-15% complete! :)

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

There's always a possibility to do better. The creator of GT says that his vision is still only 10-15% complete! :)

You must have also watched that GT Beyond The Apex video.

I just watched it myself today and if you did not watch the video, he says the same exact thing on it.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Hideo:

i hate to say this myself, but i am a Japanese man, so i try to be modest, or even more. i dont wish to brag about it to say "OH I AM THE MGS4 GUY (it's true, he doesn't)" or to say "THIS IS THE BEST ONE", just like how AMERICANS brag stuff like this i do enjoy myself, but in my mind i still think insufficient of myself. that's why i interview in Japanese, and SAI (translator) translates my side of the inteviews very well in English. Because the WEST does not heavily carry the idea of MODESTY, i am getting criticized in the magazines/blogs. in conclusion, on my recent comment about my disappointment with MGS4, the comments derived from "MGS4, inside the biggest PS3 Game" to "Hideo disappointed with MGS4" it was translated compeltely translated wrong due to cultural differences. There are several comments that is like the disappointment articles, like the one that says "Hideo think PS3 can't not handle the GAME" or "the 50GB Blu-ray is simply not enough." it's funny how others think "did Hideo really say that?" then ask me, and my answer is obviously "NO" but then...i guess i am responsible for all of the articles...

from now one, i will say what i plan to say

for example, let's say this dveloper is making a new kind of a car. he claims that this can FLY. now there is no stop when you say "there is a car that can fly." When you claim that it can fly, the speculation grows from "oh so it can FLY?!!!" and the developer would set his goals higher. the specualtion is that if the car flies, then it should reach a MACH speed...but it doesnt stop there...it'd go beyond the specualtion of then "it sholuld go into space!" with all the excitement around, the developer would go deeply into making the car going into space...however, he'll come up to the public and say the car reaches the MACH speed, but it fails to go into the space. but he shouldnt give up, because for a car to even reach a mach speed and go into air is revolutionary. i wished to trasnfer my thoughts like such, but i guess it didnt work very well

the next time i interview in America, i will just say "MGS4 is the BEST, THE END" it is shameful for a japanese man to speak so blatantly, but if i dont, things like this [above] can happen...MGS4 isnt exactly MY proerty, so i dont have a TOTAL control over it and sometimes i get confused with it. some may be disappointed the way i say things, but i do release the game with confidence. in fact that what i have been doing, not just this ps3 game, but my previous ps2 titles. i always reached for the higher goal and i try to go for it. even in my company, im learning a lot about media training, but i wanted to do more than just that and here i am with the interview. but this [like the incidents above] wont stop me from doing moer interviews, i mean its not like interviews have ratings. i wont QUIT!

Pretty sketchy translation of Hideo's blog done by someone here: http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstatio...ding&page=1

Apparently Hideo is pretty peeved at the way the western media handled this quote.

[Leo Natan]

Yeah yeah, Sony probably threatened to sue if he didn't repent.

[Ayepecks]

He is either a prick or foolish. He shouldn't have said what he did if he didn't want it perceived that way. If you ever say you couldn't do everything you wanted in a game, how else are people supposed to take it? I think the headline "disappointed" is inaccurate, because he never said he was disappointed. But he did say he couldn't make the game the way he wants because of technical limitations.

Then -- if that really is his blog -- he insults Americans as a whole because a few people made their own interpretations of his quote? Please. It's not a cultural thing in this instance. Yes, I know the whole Japanese honor thing, but I don't see how this relates. He was just saying he couldn't make the game how he wanted and had to cut back. Tons of developers make those same quotes. Ken Levine's said many similar things about Bioshock.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Yeah but cmon, it was practically front page news that "Hideo is disappointed with MGS4" (that bluntly), and the quote blown out of proportion everywhere with people going "OMG MGS4 SUCKS".

We all know what the media can be like, anywhere - Newspapers, TV, ect. You give them an apple, and they'll grow a field out of it at times.

[Neo003]

Well he said "his vision" just like George Lucas said about star wars (that it exceeded his vision). So it doesn't really matter that it's to his vision or not as long as he made the game I am sure it's great.

Also I thing he shouldn?t blame the west for misinterpreting what he said, we aren?t Japanese we here don?t' have the same standards as Japanese do (we do have more money though, which will pay for that little game he developed).

[Ayepecks]

Yeah but cmon, it was practically front page news that "Hideo is disappointed with MGS4" (that bluntly), and the quote blown out of proportion everywhere with people going "OMG MGS4 SUCKS".

We all know what the media can be like, anywhere - Newspapers, TV, ect. You give them an apple, and they'll grow a field out of it at times.

That's exactly my point, though. It's not just American media, yet Hideo slams the country as a whole for no apparent reason. If that really is his blog, he should have thought before he made such a crude posting.

[spenser.d]

That's exactly my point, though. It's not just American media, yet Hideo slams the country as a whole for no apparent reason. If that really is his blog, he should have thought before he made such a crude posting.

+1

He seems to know a lot about how western culture misinterprets things. How come he didn't think of that earlier?

Not a giant fan of being called an idiot, no matter how indirect. And I never had a problem with the guy, but if he's going to attack America for that, well, good for him.

-Spenser

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

+1

He seems to know a lot about how western culture misinterprets things. How come he didn't think of that earlier?

Not a giant fan of being called an idiot, no matter how indirect. And I never had a problem with the guy, but if he's going to attack America for that, well, good for him.

-Spenser

How is he calling you an idiot?

It's the American/Western press/journalists he's attacking, not everyday American people.

Or at least that's the context in how I see it.

But meh, people will play the injured just to start a new topic "Kojima hates Americans"....

He is being very crude, and the "trap" he's now setup for himself is the one I just said above.

[spenser.d]

How is he calling you an idiot?

It's the American/Western press/journalists he's attacking, not everyday American people.

i hate to say this myself, but i am a Japanese man, so i try to be modest, or even more. i dont wish to brag about it to say "OH I AM THE MGS4 GUY (it's true, he doesn't)" or to say "THIS IS THE BEST ONE", just like how AMERICANS brag stuff like this

...

the next time i interview in America, i will just say "MGS4 is the BEST, THE END" it is shameful for a japanese man to speak so blatantly, but if i dont, things like this [above] can happen

He's talking about the general Western reaction to things, and I don't necessarily disagree with him about how Western culture is, but he's talking about it in a pretty demeaning way, in my opinion.

Look, all I'm saying is that he could've said this in a far nicer sounding way than he did, but he chose his words.

-Spenser

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

He's talking about the general Western reaction to things, and I don't necessarily disagree with him about how Western culture is, but he's talking about it in a pretty demeaning way, in my opinion.

-Spenser

I still think it's in the context of the press/media/companies/developers churning out titles like "WE'RE THE BEST".

I don't think Kojima cares about Bob in his house saying his car is the best.

However you can see a clear indication of the west in action already, with you guys claiming you're taking offence to a translated quote which I think is in the context I said it was above, but you guys think Kojima is slating you.... :blink: :/

I guess you might say his fault for not being clear, but as I just said, this is "fan" translated. Kojima did not write his thoughts in english.

[Ajapi]

And yet again, people misconstrue the message in order to blissfully disregard the blog entry's actual meaning. The purpose here wasn't to insult Western culture, but rather to explain how his comments were both blown out of proportion and mistranslated.

I'd rather have a developer act like Kojima has, admitting that his vision wasn't achievable because of technical limitations, than a John Romero-esque developer purporting his title to be as hype-worthy as the second coming of Christ.

[GEIST]

If some of you had a clue how other parts of the western world, like Europe, view American media and press, you'd get why he referred to the U.S. specifically . :p And the people who interpreted his personal disappointment with MGS4 because he couldn't make it the way he wanted due to technical limitations along the lines of "OMG MGS4 SUX" either didn't read the full interview or lack grade school reading comprehension.

Besides, it's an undeniable fact that the western world in general brags about whenever possible. Kojima's modesty in his position is a rare gem. Peopel like him are the true innovators and achievers.

[Rookas]

All japanese hate americans. That's why gamecube and playstation controllers are built too small to comfortably fit american hands.

I keed, I keed.

[gunnerhkjp]

It's another case of things getting lost in translation.

Happens all the time.

When things are translated, it is very easy for the thoughts of the translater to creep in.

Edited May 12, 2008 by gunnerhkjp

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Kojima - Earlier PS3 comments misunderstood

In an Edge interview posted in its entirety by Kotaku, MGS4 man Hideo Kojima has retracted some earlier comments about PS3 not being up to the job, saying the meaning of his words got lost in translation.

“It’s become totally different,” he said.

“This was in English, and here’s where it gets strange. Japanese readers then translated that in Japanese and put it on their websites, writing things like ‘Oh, the PS3 is dead.’ Then that spread through the internet and now people are writing things like, ‘Hideo Kojima is making MGS4 on the PS3.’

“This is no good… It’s funny how others think, ‘Did Hideo really say that?’ then ask me, and my answer is obviously ‘No’ but then… I guess I am responsible for all of the articles…”

No, we don’t understand him either. However, you can read what Kojima really meant about the the PS3 when he talks about flying cars in space at MACH speed through the link.

On the internet, there's stuff saying "Hideo Kojima" isn't satisfied with the PS3. I'd like to talk about that today. I just got back from Paris and did 15 interviews and everyone asked me about it, did I say that. The meaning of what I said has totally been changed, made totally different. Today, I'd like to talk about that. Why did it turn into that? When I'm doing an interview, I answer in Japanese, and I can't control how the writer will interpret that into English... What I say is then translated in English, and the writer then changes that into their own words and writes that. So, right there, the meaning of what I say changes a lot.

I am Japanese, so I try to be modest. I'm an especially modest person. I dont wish to brag about it to say "I am the amazing Metal Gear guy" or to say "This is the best one", just like how Americans brag stuff like this... That's why i interview in Japanese, and Mr. Sai (translator) translates my side of the inteviews very well in English. Westerners do not have a tradition of modesty. And so, the statements are translated correctly, but the original meaning is totally different. And those statements are on a totally different website and the meaning totally changes. Regarding my recent comment about my disappointment with MGS4, the comments derived from the article "MGS4, Inside The Biggest PS3 Game" to the post "Hideo Disappointed with MGS4." It's become totally different. This was in English, and here's where it gets strange. Japanese readers then translated that in Japanese and put it on their websites, writing things like "Oh, the PS3 is dead." Then that spread through the internet and now people are writing things like "Hideo Kojima Is Making MGS4 on the PS3." This is no good... It's funny how others think "Did Hideo really say that?" then ask me, and my answer is obviously "No" but then... I guess I am responsible for all of the articles...

Now I’m going to say what I really wanted to say, and this is what I told those 15 reporters:

Let’s say this developer is making hardware, in this case a game, and that hardware is at the level of a car. And when looking at the specs, the developer claims the car is able to fly. Now there is no stopping when you say, “This is a car that can fly.” When you claim that it can fly, the speculation grows from “oh so it can FLY?!!!” And the developer would set his goals higher. The specualtion is that if the car flies, then it should reach a MACH speed…but it doesnt stop there…it’d go beyond the specualtion of then “it should go into space!” with all the excitement around, and the developer would go deeply into making the car going into space… however, he’ll come up to the public and say the car reaches the MACH speed, but it fails to go into the space. But he shouldn’t give up, because for a car to even reach a mach speed and go into air is revolutionary. I wished to convey my thoughts like that, but I guess it didn’t work very well.

Recently I’ve been thinking about not giving interviews. That’s not my job. My job is making games… The next time I interview in America, I will just say “MGS4 is the best, the end.” It’s not cool for a Japanese to speak so blatantly, and I don’t want to say that. But if I don’t, things like this [above] can happen… If you look at MGS4, I think you’ll understand… MGS4 isn’t exactly my property, so I don’t have a total control over it and sometimes I get confused with it. Some may be disappointed the way I say things, but I do release the game with confidence. In fact that what I have been doing, not just this PS3 game, but my previous PS2 titles. I always reached for the higher goal and I try to go for it… Things like this often happen with Japanese newspapers. Where they take only the choice quotes. They don’t change what you say, but the meaning’s different, and the meaning changes. I’m always careful while giving interviews. Even in my company, im learning a lot about media training, but I wanted to do more than just that and here i am with the interview, but if things like above keep happening, I won’t do anymore interviews. I don’t get paid for these interviews at all. [jokingly] I won’t do them anymore! I’ve decided! I’ll stop doing my podcast! Like that.

Source: http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/05/12/k...tood/#more-4812

[+shift. MVC]

What did he think about his first four games. :p

I would get a PS3 just for this game alone.

[Keito]

I find it funny that people frequenting forums get offended by what Kojima says...

I know my share of japanese culture and it was pretty clear that "being dissapointed" doesn't mean it is bad, but just as someone pointed out earlier in the topic, like George Lucas, he couldn't fulfill his expectations, which clearly exceeded the capabilities of the PS3 (now).

I myself would get ****ed as well if everything I'd say would be translated, paraphrased and taken out of context.

In my opinion he has made the comments regarding to the US press because they tend to exaggerate way more than press in Europe, US people just tend to speak more in absolutes "the best", "the worst", "great", "crap" and so on - while I guess it's not that black and white over here, so comments like that from Kojima (being dissapointed) will be relativated faster than in the states.

just my 2 cents.

[PiracyX]

I am disappointed with Hideo Kojima for making MGS2 and MGS3 so crap. Hopefully this one will be "as good" as MGS1 e.g the best one in the series.

[stezo2k]

I am disappointed with Hideo Kojima for making MGS2 and MGS3 so crap. Hopefully this one will be "as good" as MGS1 e.g the best one in the series.

wow, finally somebody with taste. i thought i was the only one who preferred MGS1

nothing compares to the first i dont care what people say

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

wow, finally somebody with taste. i thought i was the only one who preferred MGS1

nothing compares to the first i dont care what people say

Clearly you don't read around a lot :/

Most people prefer MGS1, but MGS2 and MGS3 supplemented the story line adequately, and had some great characters - I think calling them completely crap games is very harsh, at least if you like the MGS world.