Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding and notable film buff is writing a book.
The book, published by VIZ Media and entitled “The Creative Gene”, due out in the fall of 2021 and focuses on exploring Kojima’s artistic influences and inspirations.
Longtime fans of Kojima games will recognize the influence of classic action cinema on the developer’s work. Kojima’s early career was focused on getting into film production before moving on to game development. The original Metal Gear on MSX was heavily influenced by The Great Escape, encouraging the player to avoid conflicts and use stealth instead of going into battle with guns drawn. Solid Snake, the protagonist of Metal Gear, is seen as a clear homage to Escape From New York’s Snake Plissken, even giving the pseudonym of Iroquois Plissken, among countless other cinematic tropes throughout Kojima’s work.
Kojima Productions also announced its plans to make films in the future, with Kojima saying he is interested in the possibilities that streaming will bring to the medium.
Kojima is not the only iconic developer who has his work explored in book format. A new book with words of wisdom about game design from the late Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, who died in 2015, will be released in English in April this year.
Joseph Knoop is a writer / producer / cliff at IGN.