No, but the wave of the nerd zeitgeist is that somehow Kojima being ‘free’ means he can finally do The Best Game ever. As if the only fault he’s ever exhibited was being employed at Konami.

But it has to exist for every Gamer to #fuckkonami in every article related to it.

No, it doesn’t. But this #fuckkonami nonsense feels like impotent rage at a publisher that couldn’t care less about you. Keeping that torch burning through this game’s development won’t make it a better game. It won’t punish Konami. So I have to ask: who do Gamers blame if this is bad?

See, I think that’s a good way of looking at it. Funny enough, I really Kojima’s games. But I also try to understand the faults, habits, or excesses of creators I admire.

No, but I am saying you don’t show how bad one group is by shoring up the other as infallible in all things, either.

No, but I am saying you don’t show how bad one group is by shoring up the other as infallible in all things, either.

Because they have conspiratorial hold on everything Kojima does from now on? That’s a convenient, if unrealistic, scapegoat.

So if Death Stranding sucks, or bombs commercially (or both?) who will you blame then? Kojima? Sony? Who will your villain be?

No, it means the self-ascribed ‘hardcore’ - the tastemakers who sneer at ‘walking simulators’ - easily part ways with three times as much asking money for what are essentially movies ashamed that they have to shove ‘gamey’ aspects into their visions.

As someone who hates ‘cinematic experiences,’ games ashamed of being games, and a healthy distaste for Uncharted...TLoU is pretty good.

In principle that sounds nice, but in practice there’d be far fewer finished projects. Even the ones audiences consider good, with this mindset.

This is neat, considering I was already wondering what they were using for the engine. That it’s something already being used on a more complete-looking game, means a better ballpark idea of what Death Stranding’s playable look will be.

Do you think that maybe if someone pays you to do something by a certain time frame, there should be some accountability to do so?

I mean, this is cool in the way that Kojima usually is. Doing things with such an obsessive amount of intent and attention.

Did anyone sing the praises of Konami when MGS1-3 were all ‘good?’ Or did all that land squarely at Kojima’s feet? Does he only get the credit for his work when it’s good? Is Konami only ever and influence when the work is bad?

I’d take that bet.

I hope someone tells the Idle Thumbs guys about this!

“Brilliance! The smartest move ever!”

I just wanna know who did that rad art at the top!

For a solid fighting game that surprisingly got a 3D KoF right (when SNK botched that a bunch in the past), I’m surprised they’re continuing to support it in this way.