After their initial TGS showing, everyone was excited to see what the PS3 was capable of, but once development really started, Kojima says they could not evolve as much as he wanted. "The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress." The CPU apparently is at fault here, as the Cell is being fully employed, says Kojima.
He doesn't blame the PS3 and rightly so. It's one thing to lay out your plans and envision what you'd like to do, but when it comes to it, you've got to sacrifice some of your dreams and ideals. Was Kojima dreaming too much with his original ideas? Not really -- but what he wanted might have been something we'll need to wait another generation for. We'd like to have a smell-o-vision, but we'll settle for rumble. Is that the PS3's fault? Nah. Kojima should relax -- his game looks fantastic and we're sure all his fans will agree he's made much more progress than he's giving himself credit for.
[via NeoGAF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-19-2008 @ 2:41AM
strike911 said...
I've been reading the coverage of this and I don't think he's trying to tell people MGS4 will be a bad game. We have to understand that this is (supposedly) the end of Solid Snake's story, the end of a character that's been around for 20 years, that is essentially Kojima's baby. He's been building MGS4 for years... everyday going to work and working on a game. Game developers ALWAYS want more content in their games, but because of deadlines, budgets, etc. they are unable to get everything they wanted in there. EVERY developer deals with this. I respect Kojima for what he's saying, but he does sound like he's being too hard on himself. I don't think he's saying he's completely dissatisfied with MGS4, but I believe he's merely saying that there were more things he wanted to implement into it that he was unable to accomplish. MGS4 (and MGO) look fantastic, and all the reviews/previews I've read have only said good things. The video's I've seen look incredible. I was reading some comments at kotaku saying "I'm cancelling my preorder now." and I think that's wholly ridiculous. Kojima is a perfectionist; I'm sure he's said this about all the games he's made at the end.
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4-19-2008 @ 2:46AM
stevend1038 said...
I personally think he sets his bar way above everyone else's but fails at his own expectations and delivers on player expectations. Too be honest I wasn't expecting anything revolutionary, I just want to be able to take snake through a game, just one last time!
4-19-2008 @ 11:04AM
MrEverdred01 said...
Not only that, but it's just Japanese culture that when somebody compliments you, you're supposed to be modest and downplay your success. Like if somebody in Japan said to you, "that's a nice hat you have on" then you're supposed to say, "no, it's not really that good." If you say, "yeah thanks. I picked it out myself." then whoever you're talking to will think you're an arrogant, narcissistic prick. It's just one of those cultural differences that doesn't make very much sense. Kojima's just trying to be modest so everyone doesn't think he's full of himself.
4-19-2008 @ 2:20PM
John McPoop said...
@strike911
I agree with what your saying there. I also think there is a little reverse psychology about this situation with Kojima. With all the hype surrounding this game I think he wants everyone to take a step back and lower their expectations a little bit. Then, once the game releases and we are all blown away we will be truly befuddled about what Kojima's vision was for this game. I think this game will win GOTY and will be one of the best games in the history of console gaming.
4-19-2008 @ 2:48AM
brettjr said...
Okay after all Kojima said about maxing it and not being able to achieve his full vision then I'm just going to look poorly at his skills if MGS4 doesn't have the graphic qualities of CoD4.
He's saying he got the best out of it then a least it should be just as pleasing visually and special effects wise.
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4-19-2008 @ 5:36AM
Thoas said...
Please dont put COD4 on the same level as MGS4 graphic wise. MGS4 should be right behind Crysis in that area.
4-19-2008 @ 9:35AM
RazLeboL said...
COD4 graphics are just good use of their engine. The engine itself is nothing spectacular. Everything is "fixed" instead of "dynamic". Still gorgeous though.
4-19-2008 @ 2:49AM
Lavat said...
It is something to fill the cup in the terms of console capability, since the ps3 out specs the 360 and of course the Wii. Although since he just feels down about the things he could not do he probably also wishes that he had more Time to squeeze every dam bit of anything he can do with the PS3 and the Game but he has gone far. Wouldn't you be disappointed to if you were stopped by something while you took over the world? I would...
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4-19-2008 @ 2:54AM
Pirathonite said...
Kojima has said this before with his previous games, yet every one of them have been amazing. Who knows, since he is disappointed with MGS4 maybe in the future he'll make MGS5 so he can use the ideas that weren't put in MGS4.
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4-19-2008 @ 2:54AM
strike911 said...
The game will be revolutionary. Just not AS revolutionary as the concept that Kojima thought up in his head.
Everyone is overreacting from this minor interview.
*rolls eyes*
He blatantly says that game-wise it's close to the original vision. It's only the graphics/motion blending/size of the maps that he was referring to. I mean, the gameplay is what matters, and graphically the game looks fantastic.
everyone stop overreacting, damn it.
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4-19-2008 @ 3:00AM
John Benoit said...
Hideo Kojima is without a doubt one of the most forward thinking, hard working, revolutionary leaders in the gaming industry today. When he says that he got 1/10th of what his original plan was, I'm not disappointed at all. Instead, I think about how absolutely amazing even a tenth of Kojima's original idea is going to be!
Mr. Kojima is extremely hard on himself, all perfectionists are. If perfectionists such as himself do not let their fear of failing get in the way of trying, as Kojima has, they often produce extraordinary work, MGS4 should be a perfect example of that.
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4-19-2008 @ 3:41AM
foxhound said...
Kojima is way to hard on himself it gonna be great I'm just sad to know that this is the end of the story I feel like my has now come to an end all I have to say thanks to mr Kojoma for 20 years of a great series I'm sure everybody here feels the same ...sob.....
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4-19-2008 @ 2:59PM
John McPoop said...
Well there could be more MGS type games just with Raiden and maybe a different mission in the future. This is just the last game for Snake. Who knows Snake could be cloned again as well ... I could see Kojima making another Zone Of the Enders after this ... something less complex ... But, I don't think MGS 4 will be the last tactical espionage game from Kojima ... I expect to see a Raiden game in the future ... Maybe a completely different game with similar priciples
4-19-2008 @ 3:43AM
foxhound said...
i meant to say i feel like my childhood has finally come to an end
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4-19-2008 @ 4:05AM
Jim said...
Nah, he's just Japanese... it's all about understatement.
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4-19-2008 @ 1:31PM
Dahk said...
Yeah haha I was gonna say that too.
But in all seriousness, Kojima's vision was set WAY too high, and no one can blame him for it. It's his last monstrous baby, and who doesn't want to go out with an insane BANG.
He wants that level where, developers aren't even going to touch that graphical awesomeness for another couple years lol. Which... in this day and age, is basically impossible (with studios like Epic Games, 2K Boston, Insomniac and Naughty Dog breathing down your back)
4-19-2008 @ 4:19AM
Logan said...
haha there's been a lot of people say "hard on." that's what i think about all this. can't wait to be floored by this game.
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4-19-2008 @ 4:23AM
JayFight said...
if you ask me (yes i know you didn't ask but if you had) i'd say Kojima sounds like an artist one who is never satisfied with what they made, i bet Leonardo Da vinci was unhappy with the Mona Lisa and Michaelangelo probably didn't like how the Sistine chapel came out and yet everyone revers those to be great works of art. So even though he says it's only 1/10th what he envisioned, i for one will not be dissuaded from buying MGS4, and i hope not to many others will be, for it would be a shame for people to miss out on what promises to be as great a work of art as Kojima's past MGS games have been.
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4-19-2008 @ 4:50AM
Wayne said...
Hype control. Nothing more.
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4-19-2008 @ 4:59AM
Rye21 said...
@ Strike911
I read that comment about canceling pre-order and its ridiculous how easy people are put off when they catch a whiff of ill-spoken news about a game.
In this case I think because MGS4 is meant to meet unprecedented perfection. Everything must be absolutely as stated. But with the slightest comment from a man who is an amazing man and a perfectionist. Everyone over-emphasises and panicks.
I totally agree with you Strike911, this has been blown out of the water and has been misinterpreted, he is not talking about the game play being dumbed down. Rather the graphical capabilities maybe content,that they once hoped for wont be as good as originally plan. Who cares itl still be a wonderful looking game and cut above the rest, maybe this mgso will give us an idea of graphics.
In truth we probably wont notice that much of a change, since we have not played the game before its release or know how big the maps are or anything he is stating didn't make it to the final cut.
Since we have not seen the game enough we probably will never know as the saying goes 'what we don't know can't hurt us.
Do you self a favour buy this game and enjoy it.
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