Posts Tagged ‘Metal Gear Solid’

Recently a new Metal Gear Solid game was announced for iPhone in the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. The article was picked up by Kotaku’s Tim Rogers but his report wasn’t based on this new platform, but instead on articles headline.

Tim’s focuses on the headline which states that the new producer is a ‘woman’ (printed in large red characters) but refuses to give her name until the article’s body. The accompanying image shows as small area of this headline. He uses this as a platform for social comment on sexism in Japan.

Japan may not be as enlightened as it could be as regards women’s rights, but Tim’s report does not fairly represent the article. In the context of the whole page it’s possible to see a different picture. Though ‘woman’ is highlighted in red ‘Hidoe Kojima’ is also highlighted in blue. Also new producer (Yasuyo Watanabe) wasn’t hidden away in the text as Tim suggests. A picture of her actually occupies an eighth of a page (dwarfing Kojima’s image).

As I said in Japan it is hard to argue total innocence on this topic, but Tim’s report may not be a fair representation of Famitsu’s intentions. The original authors could just have easily been trying to encourage the audience (assumedly young ADD challenge boys) to actually read the article and find out more about Watanabe and her credentials than they otherwise may.

Dead Space arrived late and I haven’t yet been able to finish it. So you have to endure another fifteen ten word reviews of old games.

Burnout Paradise (360, PS3) – ‘This is amazing! Faster, faster! Shit! Bollard!’ I said bollard.

Gears of War (PC, 360) – Shallow, visceral fun that integrates a good use of cover.

GTA4 (360, PS3) – It’s just GTA again but polished to a blinding shine.

Halo 3 (360) – All I wanted was a Warthog section to finish. Done.

Hotel Dusk: Room 213 (DS) – An interesting detective game but too undirected to be fun.

Lost Planet (PC, 360, PS3) – Aesthetic and game play compensate for story and last level.

Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops (PSP) – Happily hold a Naked Snake in your hands for hours.

Ninja Gaiden 2 (360) – Masochistic gamers rejoice. Ryu is back in his tight rubber.

No More Heroes (Wii) – Nut-job director Suda 51 makes another acquired taste gaming gem.

Okami (PS2, Wii) – Despite slow some patches, the best recent non-Zelda, Zelda game.

Resident Evil 4 (GC, PS2, Wii) –You kill zombies. It’s fun. Unfortunately it’s showing its age.

Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) – I love Nintendo but fuck this crappy, unashamed, fan-exploiting game.

Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) – Sublime. Without a doubt the best game on the system.

Zack and Wiki (Wii) – Please ignore the game, a fantastic point and click adventure

Zelda and the Twilight Princess (Wii) – Far from the best Zelda, but that’s hardly a criticism.