Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding, and noted cinephile is writing a book.
The book, published by VIZ Media and titled “The Creative Gene,” is due out in Fall 2021 and focuses on exploring Kojima’s artistic influences and inspirations.
Longtime fans of Kojima games will recognize the influence classic action cinema has had on the developer’s work. Kojima’s early career was focused on getting into film production before changing track to game development. The original Metal Gear on MSX was influenced heavily by The Great Escape, encouraging the player to avoid conflict and use stealth rather than go into battle guns blazing. Solid Snake, Metal Gear’s protagonist, is seen as a clear homage to Escape From New York’s Snake Plissken, even going so far as to give himself the alias Iroquois Plissken, among countless other cinematic tropes throughout Kojima’s work.
Kojima Productions has also previously announced its plans to make films in the future, with Kojima saying he’s interested in the possibilities that streaming will bring to the medium.
Kojima isn’t the only iconic developer having their work explored in book format. A new book featuring words of wisdom on game design from the late Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, who died in 2015, is getting an English release in April this year.
Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/cliff for IGN.
