Hideo Kojima recently revealed that words of encouragement from an HR director led him to make games.
Hideo Kojima is one of the most renowned names in the gaming industry, a visionary who has brought us some of the best video game series, including the Metal Gear series, Death Stranding, and more. However, he was not always the genius game developer that we know and love; Kojima also went through a plethora of traditional job interviews before landing where he is today.
Hideo Kojima Reveals How an HR Director Sparked His Game Development Journey
As reported by Automaton, Hideo Kojima recently wrote an essay for An-an Web, in which he revealed what led him to create games. Kojima began by stating that he graduated from a “second-rate” university when he started searching for jobs. However, obtaining one was not an easy task, as Kojima received numerous rejections due to his resume. He also explained that when he reached the interview stage, he would be laughed at when he revealed that he wrote novels.
Kojima described himself as a “Showa era detective trying to solve a murder case”, as he kept looking for a job until his shoes were completely worn down. During that time, Kojima realised that everybody who was applying for a job was “hiding their true self”, trying to become a version of themself that best suited the job’s needs.
After the constant rejection, Kojima was eventually able to secure a job offer from a medical equipment manufacturer. However, by the time he secured this job, he was already at his limit of pretending to be another version of himself. He ended up confiding in the HR director at this company, stating that he wants to be in a more creative field. The HR director’s response was a turning point in Kojima’s life, prompting him to enter the gaming field, as he stated, “Kojima, I feel like you’re more fit for a creative job – so go for it.”
Following this exchange with the HR director, Kojima began pursuing jobs in the gaming industry. In these interviews, he didn’t have to “lie anymore”; he could be his true self, talk about his novels and other creations. Soon after, he landed a job at Konami, and the rest is history.
In other news, Hideo Kojima recently hinted that Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain was ‘unfinished‘. Additionally, Kojima Productions will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with a ‘Future Projects’ glimpse. What are your thoughts on an HR director encouraging Hideo Kojima to make games? Let us know through the official Insider Gaming forums discussion.
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