Hideo Kojima to be inducted into Hall of Fame

 

It looks like Snake’s famous quip “Kept You Waiting, Huh?” finally applies to Metal Gear series creator Hideo Kojima this year, as Polygon reports that the legendary Japanese game developer has been inducted as the twenty fifth member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.

This honor will also be highlighted by an award ceremony at next month’s DICE Summit, where Kojima-San will be presented the 2015 Hall of Fame award by director Guillermo del Toro, whom he collaborated with in the now cancelled “Silent Hills” game.

The new feather on Kojima’s cap couldn’t have come at a better time, as the game visionary has finally left Konami for greener pastures following a very controversial time with the publisher last year while working on “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain”. From removing Kojima’s name in the boxart to the dissolution of Kojima Productions, everything pointed to a unhealthy relationship between the two that only soured when a lawyer representing Konami informed The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley that Hideo Kojima was barred from attending or receiving any awards for MGSV. That was the final nail in the coffin to convince fans why Kojima wanted to end his working relationship with the company he helped popularize with his games, and now the visionary has entered a partnership with Sony and Playstation that sees him and his newly established “Kojima Productions” studio working on a new IP that will be a Playstation 4 exclusive.

"Hideo Kojima's career-defining works have shaped much of how the video game industry approaches cinematic storytelling and player engagement," Martin Rae, president of Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences said. "As one of the most well-loved and well-respected designers of our time, it is a great honor for the Academy to induct him into our Hall of Fame. Hideo is a game creator whose eyes have always looked towards the future, and we look forward to his thoughts on the D.I.C.E. Summit stage."

Released in September 1st last year, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was intended to be the final chapter in the Metal Gear series that Hideo Kojima began in 1987. Despite Kojima’s departure, Konami has stated that they will continue making Metal Gear games, but it remains to be seen how much impact the series will have without its key visionary behind the wheel. Kudos to Kojima-San for getting new and better opportunities for 2016. — TJD, GMA News