The renowned video game creator Hideo Kojima, known for his work on iconic titles like Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, has shared his painful experience of job hunting, describing it as similar to “solving a murder case.” In an essay translated by Automaton, Kojima reveals that during his youth he attended a second-tier university, which contributed to him being mocked in interviews when he spoke about his literary aspirations.
He is also not a fan of being the one who interviews
Despite these setbacks, Kojima’s luck changed thanks to a human resources director from a medical equipment manufacturer, who, upon hearing his true desire to work in a creative industry, encouraged him to pursue his passion. This conversation resulted in a job offer at Konami, where Kojima served as a young prodigy. However, the creator continues to express his dislike for the job search process, noting that “two years after becoming a working adult, I found myself sitting behind the interviewer’s desk, listening to the lies of students.”
Reflecting on the dynamics of interviews, Kojima does not hesitate to assert that “those who conduct the interviews also lie,” as they represent their companies instead of being honest about their personal beliefs. This environment, according to him, becomes “a place where lies meet.”
In another realm, the director of Resident Evil 2, Hideki Kamiya, has expressed his interest in Kojima developing a game in the style of “P.T.”, despite not enjoying the horror genre. This opens an interesting debate about Kojima’s versatility and future potential in the world of digital entertainment.
