Hideo Kojima's blog now in English

It's not every day gamers get to look at the inner workings of the mind of a game development legend like Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima. Wait, scratch that. It is every day for Japanese gamers, as the esteemed developer has been publishing his blog on Kojima Productions' Web site since late September.

However, it looks like English-speaking audiences may soon be enjoying the same peek behind the curtains as their Japanese counterparts. Kojima's first six blog entries have been translated in to English and are now available at Kojima Productions' Web site. At the moment, it only contains six entries from September 24 through September 29, but the "Hideoblog" header at the top of the page also has a sign tacked to it that reads "pre-open."

Despite the limited number of entries, Kojima's musings manage to cover a wide array of themes and subjects. He discusses the rigors of game development, blowing off steam with the staff, his desire to see Bewitched, meeting Sin City creator Frank Miller, his appreciation for Franz Ferdinand, and plenty more. Here are just a few bits that stuck out in a quick scan of his entries.

On returning to direct Metal Gear Solid 4:

I enjoy creating games. I want to hang on to the creative experience. I only have to prove that I have the willpower to do so. The image of Grandpa Snake is a reflection of the determination of this middle-aged man.

On a personal note:

At this time of the year I tend to catch an affectation; this is much more troublesome than a cold. The affectation caught up with me this year. After TGS it has become most troublesome. Loneliness. I feel almost to the point of being crushed by it. Isolation! I must press through this. I should shop for a new leather jacket; a new jacket will protect me from the loneliness carried on the wind.

On Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:

I regret that today's children may identify more with the four children, before they identify with Charlie. Our children live with the prospects of a gloomy, dark, and uncertain future. Our materialistic society disallows children the chance to become like Charlie because of the priorities placed on the fulfillment of desires, the pressure of entrance examinations, and other forms of competition. Yes--they are forbidden any means of becoming like Charlie.