Hideo Kojima, a visionary born on August 24th, 1963, in Setagaya, Tokyo, later relocated to Kobe, where he spent his formative years. His fascination with Americana profoundly influenced his interests, leading him to pursue a career in writing and filmmaking, which ultimately contributed to his widespread recognition today.
As the 1980s unfolded, Kojima's passions drove him to explore opportunities in film making, but a serendipitous discovery of Nintendo's Entertainment System sparked a new interest in video games. He embarked on a quest to find employment at one of Japan's numerous game development companies, eventually landing a job at Konami Entertainment, where he was assigned to work on the MSX home computer department.
Although this might have been a setback for some, Kojima seized the opportunity to create a handful of games for the MSX, including Metal Gear (1987) and Snatcher (1988). During the early 1990s, he worked on various projects that would become instant classics, such as multiple versions of Snatcher and Policenauts for the PC, 3DO, Sega Saturn, and Sony PlayStation, as well as the Tokimeki Memorial Drama Series games in 1997 and 1998.
Meanwhile, Kojima had been secretly working on a sequel to Metal Gear, which would eventually become Metal Gear Solid (1998). First showcased at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3),the game generated immense interest, with each subsequent showing prior to its release on PlayStation in 1998 further fueling anticipation. To date, Metal Gear Solid has sold over 5.5 million copies, solidifying Kojima's status as a videogaming icon.
Kojima, a humble individual, never allows his work to affect his public demeanor. He dedicates long hours to striving for his goals and always takes the time to engage with the press, sign autographs, or attend gaming events. He is deeply interested in his fans' perspectives on his work and believes that anyone can bring their dreams to life.
With the releases of Zone of the Enders (2001) and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001),one of the most anticipated games in history, the world is poised to witness more of Kojima's creative vision take shape.
