Konami Helping Make Metal Gear-Like Prosthetic Limb for Double Amputee

Konami has announced a new initiative where it will work with a prosthetic limb company to create a Metal Gear-eque bionic arm for a young double amputee gamer. The project is called The Phantom Limb, and as part of it, Konami will work with Sophie De Oliveira Barata and her team (including engineers, roboticists, and product designers) to build a "highly stylized and multi-functional" limb for 25-year-old James Young.

Young lost an arm and a leg when he was pulled onto the tracks between two trains of the London DLR train system. However, he's since taught himself to play games one-handed.

Barata's Alternative Limb Project differs from others in that it works with amputees on unique designs for their prosthetics. Some of her past work has included steampunk arms and cyborg-like legs. She even created the "crystal leg" worn by performer Viktoria Modesta in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympics. Now, she's working with Young--who says he's a fan of the Metal Gear Solid series--and Konami on a new arm inspired by the one Snake has in The Phantom Pain.

The production of this unique prosthetic--from concept to reality--will be chronicled in a documentary and in a series of posts on this blog. The limb is expected to be ready in January. To see more of Barata's previous work, visit her website.

The Phantom Pain launched in September and has shipped 5 million copies. The game's next update is coming soon, introducing ridiculous cat hats and more.