Hideo Kojima, the mind behind games like Death Stranding, often shares his thoughts on the gaming world. He believes it’s great that young people today are playing so many games. But for him, personally, his own gaming habits are quite different. He suggests everyone should look for new experiences in other types of media too.
At a recent Q&A session during the New Global Sport Conference, Kojima gave a peek into his creative process. He admitted he doesn’t play as many games as you might expect from such a famous director. In fact, he much prefers watching movies, reading books, visiting museums, or simply spending time with people. He pointed out that many ideas for his games actually come from outside the video game world entirely. He also noted that some other game creators simply look at what’s already on the market for inspiration.
Kojima shared some interesting advice for young people dreaming of making their mark. He said they should expand their horizons beyond just games. He gave examples of famous directors like Mamoru Oshii, who directed Ghost in The Shell, and Katsuhiro Otomo, creator of the legendary anime Akira. Kojima explained that these masters made such incredible work because they didn’t just watch anime. They watched foreign films, especially those from Europe, and wanted to bring those creative elements into their own anime projects.
"I think the new generation plays a lot of games, which is good," Kojima stated. "But more than anything, I want everyone to understand the value of art, to view art and really absorb it, and then use that to create new things."
It might surprise some, but even a game creator of Kojima’s stature doesn’t spend much time playing games himself. He mentioned that he might play only one game in an entire year. This is partly because games take a lot of time to finish. He also feels there are many other important things he needs to do beyond what’s inside a game.