Hideo Kojima is one of the few world-famous game designers. He’s an auteur whose singular creations — the Metal Gear Solid series and, most recently, Death Stranding — have become huge blockbusters.
Games are generally credited to development studios, so it is rare for a creator to become a public figure. Kojima has a team to make his games, but the difference is that he directs all aspects of production, everything from story to game mechanics to art design. The result is a unique world that reflects Kojima’s interests and eccentricities.
A new translation of Kojima’s 2019 book ‘The Creative Gene’, which released last month, gives insight into his background. It is a collection of essays in which he provides summaries of his favourite books and films and explains his creative philosophy. As you read the book, it becomes clear that Kojima…
