When Japans most renowned game developer has to comment about the situation of games in his hometown, many should stop and listen as this man certainly knows what he’s talking about.
The Metal Gear Solid creator has claimed that the recent boom of the Western game industry, has left Japan in a “losing” battle. He claims that Japanese developers are lacking motivation to succeed, in contrast with Western developers and students who, with their “focus, ambition and ability” are capable to accomplish their dreams.
Hideo Kojima shared a handful of his thoughts (via Twitter) after watching a TV documentary on foreign exchange students who were passionately studying Manga at Kyoto Seika University.
Kojima started off by saying:
“One lady mentioned she was inspired by Ranma and began studying Japanese and applied for the Manga Department in her University. She looks over her classmates’ work during lunch break, heads to the bookstore after class, and reads a little of it before a purchase. She then goes to Karoake to sing her favorite anime songs. She really likes Manga”
He then went on to say:
“The Game Industry is very similar. The West is very motivated. The younger generation of Japan is losing. The designers and to-be-designers in the West have the focus, ambition, and ability to make their dream become true. So it is not the Japanese technology or culture that is losing, we are lacking the motivation.”
Kojima explains that only with motivation will there be progress in the gaming industry:
“Lately I have come to conclusion that, with highly motivated foreigners… it doesn’t matter where they are from, working with highly motivated individuals is the only way to move forward. I am tired of taking care of people who do not have the passion.”
Kojima shared more of his thoughts – which you can view on his Twitter account – adding further to his motivation theory. Despite most Japanese game developers lacking motivation, Kojima doesn’t seem to be one. With his upcoming Metal Gear Solid: Rising, multi-platform game and his PSP beast of a game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker it seems Kojima has no intention of slowing down and is full of motivation.
