Game-maker Hideo Kojima taps into something new with his latest release.
Now, he’s thinking about what’s next: streaming.
You have a billion people all doing that at the same time.
The extent ofMads Mikkelsen’s videogame knowledge prior toDeath Strandingstarted and ended withSpace Invaders.
(Like, the originalSpace Invaders.)
One word seems to come up repeatedly when trying to describe the experience: “connection.”
In the story, Reedus' Sam is a “porter.”
In other words, a delivery man.
Sam traverses America for a company called Bridges, transporting packages and supplies to a now-disconnected civilization.
(A single drop can mean unconcealable wrinkles.)
Playing through about 4 hours of Death Stranding, the feeling is understandable.
“I had a hunch that I really wanted to be a part of that process.”
I was like, ‘What do you mean say yes?’
He’s like, ‘Trust me.’
Guillermo got me my first acting job.
I have a huge respect for our friendship.
I know if someone presses Guillermo that much, I’m going to love him."
“I found out there were already fans and I had connected with fans,” he says.
“I’m not saying yes or no to connection.
The answer is up to the players to think about,” Kojima says.
“If you play the game, you may feel a connection is not bad after all.
It’s how you use the technology.”
Kojima leads by example in the way he uses the technology at his disposal.
At times, it’s too realistic; one function allows players to make Sam urinate where he stands.
“I don’t think I did something really new here,” Kojima notes.
“Performance capture is something that was there [already].
I’m just using in a different way.”
The results bring a more cinematic experience toDeath Strandingthat Kojima, too, takes advantage of.
“I wanted to set the bar really low and that’s the very easy mode.
I want people to come back to playing games again.
It’s totally different than watching a movie.
It’s basically easy, but you have to control it.
You’re not just watching it.”
The nature of choice lends itself to the idea of connection.
(There’s that word again.)
You’re the one deciding and you’re the one connecting."
Kojima has a lot of ideas bouncing around in his mind.
Coming from a film and television background, Mikkelsen is intrigued by the potential of interactive storytelling.
“I think there’s definitely a future to that.”
Black Mirror: Kojima, anyone?
