While in Barcelona to accept a Lifetime Achievement award, Kojima had some words to say to our sister publicationEdge, including commenting on recent release LA Noire. Despite not having played it yet, Kojima heaped praise on the title’s revolutionary face-capturing technology. Still, no matter how much he thinks the tech has changed gaming, don’t expect to see the process used in the next Kojima Productions game.
"I'm very interested in [LA Noire], and I'm waiting for it to be released in Japanese. I haven't played it yet but I was able to go to the studio where they were [using the tech]… The technology is absolutely fantastic." He went on to say that, “This technology, regarding facial expressions… I think that's a huge element that from now on will change the direction of adventure games.”
After reading such high praise, we wouldn’t blame you for thinking the next Metal Gear title will feature 45 minutes-long cutscenes with impeccably recreated faces. Not so fast says Kojima. The developer continued, “… for the next game I want to make, it isn't necessarily the technology I need, so I don't think it goes along with the next game I would like to create."
We highly doubt Kojima will ever make a game that doesn’t have extensive dialogue in never-ending cinemas, but it looks like they won’t integrate Team Bondi’s tech any time soon. If we had to hazard a guess, perhaps that’s due to Kojima making games for more than one language, and were he to record the expressions of a Japanese actor, that performance would look a bit off with English dialogue added. Then again, maybe the next MGS game will exclusively feature characters that have no faces; maybe you’ll play as a rock or a blade of grass. Stranger things have happened in MGS.
Jul 5, 2011
We highly doubt Kojima will ever make a game that doesn’t have extensive dialogue in never-ending cinemas, but it looks like they won’t integrate Team Bondi’s tech any time soon. If we had to hazard a guess, perhaps that’s due to Kojima making games for more than one language, and were he to record the expressions of a Japanese actor, that performance would look a bit off with English dialogue added. Then again, maybe the next MGS game will exclusively feature characters that have no faces; maybe you’ll play as a rock or a blade of grass. Stranger things have happened in MGS.
Jul 5, 2011
