Hideo Kojima's 'Forgetting Game': Play Too Long, Lose Memory and Skills

Hideo Kojima’s Japanese radio podcast, KOJI10, offers fans a unique window into the mind behind iconic games like Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding. In the latest episode (Episode 17), Kojima delves into how the passage of real-world time can be integrated into video game mechanics. Not only does he reflect on time-based features he's used in his previous works, but he also unveils innovative concepts he hasn't yet implemented, including an idea that was cut from the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

Kojima is well-known for incorporating real-time mechanics into his games. He cites two examples from 2004's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater on the PS2. To enhance the survival aspect in the jungle setting, food collected in the game would spoil after a few days in real life. Consuming spoiled food could cause Snake to become violently ill, or players could use it as an unconventional weapon by throwing it at enemy soldiers.

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Another example from MGS3 involves the boss battle with the elderly sniper, The End. Kojima explains, "Although he is a really tough boss, if the player waits a week, The End will die of old age." If players load their save file a week later, they'll encounter a cutscene where Snake finds The End deceased.

Kojima also shared a concept he considered for Death Stranding 2, where Sam's beard would grow over time, requiring players to shave it to keep him looking neat. "Originally in Death Stranding 2, I was going to have Sam’s beard gradually grow out over time, and the player would have to shave it. If they didn’t, Sam would end up looking unkempt," he said. However, due to Norman Reedus's star status, Kojima decided against it to avoid making him look "uncool." Yet, he remains open to exploring this idea in future projects.

Kojima also proposed three new game concepts centered around real-world time mechanics. The first is a life simulation game where players start as a child and age into an elderly person over time. "It starts out with the player being born, you’re a child and then gradually over time you become an adult. In the game, you fight various enemies. Like with the previous example (MGS3’s The End), if you keep playing the game, you will become a 70 or 80 year old man. However, at this age you will be weaker, your eyesight will worsen. When you are a teenager you’ll be able to run faster but by the time you reach 60 you’ll slow down a bit," Kojima explained. This aging process would influence gameplay strategy, with younger characters having better physical abilities and older ones possessing more knowledge and experience. Despite his skepticism about its marketability, the podcast's other participants showed enthusiasm for such a "Kojima-like game."

Another concept involves a game where players cultivate items like wine or cheese, requiring long-term engagement and patience, suitable for a background or idle game.

On the other hand, Kojima proposed a "forgetting game" where the protagonist loses important information and abilities if the player takes breaks. "In this concept, the main character gradually forgets important information and abilities if you take too long a break from the game. For example, if you don’t play every day, the main character will gradually forget things such as 'how to fire their gun or what their job is.' This forgetfulness builds up until finally the player is unable to move. 'Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it,'" Kojima humorously remarked.

As fans eagerly await the release of Death Stranding 2 on June 26, many are likely to take time off to immerse themselves in Kojima's latest creation. For more insights into the game, check out our interview with Kojima and our impressions after playing through the first 30 hours.