tokenflipguy

The following is a translation of a short interview with Hideo Kojima that was published in the Konami Support column of the November 19, 1998 issue of PlayStation Magazine by Tokumashoten Intermedia.

Special thanks to Twitter user HeitaiS for providing the scans, which can be found here.

The Strangeness of Naming

How did you came up with Ocelot’s name?

Well, originally he was going to be named Lynx, which is a wildcat [山猫/yamaneko in Japanese, literally a mountain cat]. However, to a Japanese person that name doesn’t quite convey that image. I thought making him a wildcat would be cool, wouldn’t it? So I really wanted him to be a wildcat.

So there’s a story written by author Yoichi Funato about a certain wildcat and it’s an ocelot, so that’s when I thought “alright, this is the one.” [Kojima is likely referring to the novel Yamaneko no Natsu/山猫の夏, otherwise known as The Summer of the Ocelot.]

Are ocelot wildcats?

That’s right! I decided on Revolver Ocelot since it sounded cool and was the easiest to understand in terms of image. Like an ““old man wildcat” who happens to be sly. It’s the same thing with Raven. There are various birds in the Corvus family, so calling him “Crow” would’ve been too obvious. When a foreigner hears  the name Decoy Octopus, it sounds as suspicious as a phony ninja. His name comes from the fact that octopuses are masters of disguises and  are good at camouflage. That and “Decoy Chameleon” couldn’t be used. (laughs)

Raven’s Interests

Don’t you think Vulcan Raven seems a bit rough to be an elite university graduate from Alaska?

Well he’s a shaman. He’s a sort of magician, or at least was raised to be that way, and possesses such powers. He went to university since he wanted to support the studies of such powers scientifically.

In contrast to Raven, who is a shaman who harmonizes with the power of nature and prospers mutually with it, Solid Snake is not a man created by nature, which is something that is very interesting to Raven himself. Despite his mythical powers, he cannot read Snake, which frustrates him and fills him with the desire to fight against him. Well, at the end he is pleased to mention that before dying. 

Is there any reason why the six members [of FOX HOUND] have animal names?

No particular reason at all. Americans tend to like that sort of thing. But usually they tend to pick poisonous animals, like a cobra.

Who are the Snakes?

Does Snake represent a snake that ate the forbidden knowledge, which would be cloning technology?

So it came to this. (laughs) There is such a meaning. Solid Snake’s name does have a significance. A snake is a fluid creature, while “solid” means something that is uncorrupted or a hard object. In other words, a solid snake is a contradiction in adjective. It something that originally didn’t exists like a stiff flexible object or a frozen jelly

So does that Liquid is a pure thing?

You’ll know that when you get to the end, but Liquid is a genuine kind. Apart from that, the fact that Solid and Liquid are siblings is not a mystery. It’s pretty obvious from the beginning. I didn’t make it into a complete mystery, since that would be pretty old-fashioned (laughs). Instead, I want you to play the game while thinking what it means to be recessive or dominant.

by Reinier Macatangay Con-season comes soon.

Two major California nerd conventions to attend in the upcoming months are FanimeCon and Anime Expo. Fans will not be disappointed with either convention, although they each offer their own unique brand and location.

Anime Expo boasts its status of not just an impressive California anime convention, but rather the largest anime convention in North America!

Back in the day, AX gave me press badges (not anymore)

During peak hours, a few attendees might become uncomfortable from some overcrowding, but it is only a testament to how many people enjoy coming to AX, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in recent years. 

One can spend hours in the main lobby area taking pictures.

K-On! cosplayers

Some surprises await outside as well. 

Hello Kitty, some dancers, an ice cream man and more!

Fanime, on the other hand, attracts only slightly less attendees and gives fans a “small-town” experience, while still providing a fairly large crowd and facility. It ranks as the second-largest anime convention in California.

The San Jose Convention Center (home of Fanime)

No panel, room or other event will ever feel empty. In addition, their outside area works as “the lobby” where photographers can take numerous cosplay pictures against a beautiful setting in San Jose. 

Here is one from last year. 

What game is that again?

Yes, it can be seen as terrible to take pictures of cosplayers without knowing their specific source. Photographers at least receive practice. 

Everyone knows Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Wow!

If someone can only choose one of the above gatherings, he or she will not face an easy choice. Which anime convention do you prefer?

also i think its kinda cute how mei ling asked snake to catch pikachu for her in the brawl codecs

Ocelot: Very impressive, boss, the voice in particular. You obviously studied him for some time. But I feel there’s one thing you’ve overlooked.

Liquid: And what’s that?

Ocelot: I knew Miller longer than you did. Trust me, no one will buy the disguise for long if you don’t make some sort of lewd remark to one of the women you’re in contact with.

Liquid: Is that really necessary?

Ocelot: I’m afraid it is. The next time you’re on codec, say something tacky and inappropriate to that Air Force girl.

Liquid: Mei Ling? But she’s barely out of her teens!

Ocelot: Which is exactly why it’s in character.

Liquid: Oh, very well.

*later*

“Miller”: By the way, Mei Ling, were you born in the Year of the Fox, perchance?

Mei Ling: …No. I don’t think that’s even a real zodiac sign. Why?

“Miller”: Well, because you’re… so… I can’t do this.

Mei Ling: What?

“Miller”: Sorry, I need to go.

Amazing photos from the Ryu Ga Gotoku stage show debut!

Since the beginning of the Silent Hill HD controversy we have basically only heard from the actors side of the argument which seems to hold a pretty strong argument against Konami when it comes to public relations, business ethics and VA’s rights to residuals. However, we have not heard anything from Konami other than the little of what Tomm Hulett said in the SHE interview and little from a couple of the new VAs involved in the HD Collection who hadn’t even spoken to the Cihi or the original cast on the issue prior. The strange silence from Konami seems to be a bit questionable and hasn’t seemed to help their argument (assuming they have one) especially after Guy Cihi’s open letter to Konami, which ultimately put the ball in Konami’s court when he submitted his rights and requested Konami to send him the proper documents to sign and even asked that the original voices still be used in the Collection as a service for the fans and for the honor of Silent Hill.

It was only a few days ago that we heard from someone who was also around during that time and was heavily involved in the production of Silent Hill 2, the VO/MoCap director and Translator, Jeremy Blaustein. The first time I spoke with Jeremy he gave us a little insight on the HD Collection controversy, but since then he has been very vocal with the community answering any questions the Silent Hill fans threw at him giving his honest, personal opinions of the controversy and Guy Cihi. I got in touch with Jeremy on a follow up interview to get a little more insight as his comments have raised a series of questions. Although Jeremy doesn’t represent Konami or anyone other than himself, he still has connections with key figures from Konami and he, of course, was there from the start and was involved in both SH2 and SH3 (both in the HD Collection) making him a reliable source. So here is my interview with Jeremy Blaustein’s who shares his thoughts and opinions on his side of the controversy: