Ben-DutkaThe portrayal of the character Quiet in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has incited plenty of argument and controversy.
It started when some scantily clad pics of Quiet hit the Internet, and Hideo Kojima accidentally added fuel to the fire by saying he wanted the characters in MGSV to be "more erotic." He later clarified by saying that "sexy" is a more fitting term, but the damage had already been done.
Now, he has taken to Twitter to further address the issue. Here's the string of comments he made:
"I know there's people concerning about 'Quiet' but don't worry. I created her character as an antithesis to the women characters [who] appeared in the past fighting game who are excessively exposed. 'Quiet' who doesn't have a word will be teased in the story as well. But once you recognize the secret reason for her exposure, you will feel ashamed of your words & deeds.
Theme of 'MGSV' is 'GENE'⇒'MEME'⇒'SCENE'⇒'PEACE'⇒'RACE'. Story touches the misunderstanding, prejudice, hatred, conflict caused by the difference of language, race, custom, culture, and preference. The response of 'Quiet' disclosure few days ago incited by the net is exactly what 'MGSV' itself is."
This comes after Halo designer David Ellis called Quiet "disgusting" and said such an outdated, offensive female portrayal proves that the gaming industry is still "full of man babies." Personally, I don't know who this Ellis guy thinks he is, but despite Halo 's immense popularity, I think most hardcore gamers agree that it isn't a patch on Metal Gear Solid in terms of character design and overall creativity. Maybe Ellis can't quite conceive of such a deep narrative as the one Kojima is hinting at.
Do you think all this fallout over Quiet's character is warranted?
Related Game(s): Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Her outfit is Kinect compatible.
So all the DOA games weren't sexually offensive?
No they were not.
The PSX DOA is where it earned it's reputation.
But DOA2 (vanilla) and DOA3 were relatively mild.
Then how is this any different?
It's not like there's nudity in MGSV.
Make us ashamed huh? Knowing my Japanese stuff I'll venture two guesses:
1) She is actually a child
2) She is actually a he
I think this fallout is exaggerated. I really don't get how people are upset about this. I think it's something of a faux argument for those who are decidedly already against MGS.
and are people somehow forgetting all of the sexy, mentally deranged, female bosses from MGS4? The game went as far as having a posing photo shoot.
Not to mention how MGS games for a long time had 'pin-up' bikini and underwear models plastered in lockers and on walls, allowing you to kiss their photo.
I really don't get it.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 9/9/2013 10:56:06 PM
To be fair the B&B CORPS had full body suites on. Not a bikini tops and thongs with shredded pantyhose. For me the lack of clothing isn't really an issue given her rumored cameleon ability. Something about the design in general is just meh.
And you're right about the Japanese models. This really isn't a new thing for MGS. I wonder if this Halo fellow has ever played a MGS game.
Last edited by Jawknee on 9/9/2013 11:52:38 PM
I wonder what people will say when Kojima reveals the cover of MGS5. A provocative shot of just Quiet.
MGS5: Quiet Times =p
I don't get why she even has any clothes on…What's the big deal?
Lol!
This. Please, Kojima.
LV, tomorrow morning I'm going into a cocoon from which I plan to attempt to play Half-Life long enough to become interested in it (if that is possible).
Well it's a little unfair since it's nearly 15 years old. I hope you take that into consideration. I was hooked from the opening scene and the portal rift that takes place. If I can play Blaster Master still (sober) you can stick it out with Half-Life.
One of my talents that people bag on me for is that if there was ever a time when I would havee njoyed a game I can usually get back into that mindset.
People be like "How can you play that game that got a 6?" and I'm like, "Ten years ago this game would have got a 10"
I'm not a fan of her design in general but that statement by the Halo designer was quite idiotic. Especially after working on a game with this in it…..seriously, what the hell is this? Lol
http://sortadone.blogspot.com/2012/11/halo-4-cortana.html
The dude isn't one to talk.
Last edited by Jawknee on 9/9/2013 11:21:07 PM
yeah thats what i was sayin the other day.
Yoko is already my favorite sexy babe with sniper rifle so Quiet doesn't really appeal that much to me. But if someone call Hideo Dumb or a Fool because of Quiet design, of course I will defend Hideo. So fu** you Dave Ellis.
And in case you're wondering who is Yoko.
http://www.otakuako.com/cosplay/cosplay-galleries/cosplay-galleries-kipi/cosplay-galleries-kipi-as-yoko-littner/
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 9/10/2013 1:25:52 AM
SNIPER WOLF, F**K YO YOKO HOMIE!
She is a sex bomb.
You can have your Sniper Wolf but Yoko is mine. Haha.
it is certainly important that he said that there's more to it than meets the eye and that we can think a lil harder about what he's trying to do with the game and the story.
happy gaming =)
Cortana is fantastic looking. Quiet not so much. But thats just me. I think the secret reason has something to do with selling a lot of copies in the biggest perv nation called Japan, No?
If Quiet isn't fantastic looking (an observation I agree with if we are talking "hot" factor) then how will its sexiness help to sell anything in the "perv nation"?
sure sure dude, just keep trying to dig yourself out of the hole you built……..
I like the idea of 'race' as a topic and how cultural differences can cause massive misunderstandings. Seriously… this is the kind of topic that is going to move gaming forward from a literary standpoint. We need more like this. I'll confess to still being a little bit confused by Quiet's design, but I'm willing to give the man a chance to show that it's not just all about titillation.
I'd wager Kojima has more interesting ideas on race than the leading FPS games which toss you a stereotyped black person now and then.
The entire problem is the explanation he originally made, that he wanted the character to be extra sexy in order to inspire cosplayers and figurine sales. That's just such a stupid thing to say.
When it comes to the actual content, I've long ago gotten used to consider content in games to be much like cartoons; There's plenty of "man babies" sitting in their small offices drawing those heroines and female supervillains.
It's the exact same in games.
I still think it's an obvious cultural bias, here we just don't talk about the process behind the females in western games but the same process is there.
Furthermore it pigeonholes both creators and fans of things. I know a lot of gamers also like comics, there are idealized women all over comics, and the movies that come from them, does that mean the artists behind them and their fans are all overexcited fat pimply virgins? There's a lot of grown, professional people who enjoy making and consuming this stuff.
Beamboom
So what if Hideo ordered Yoji Shinkawa to design a character and make it cutely, decently well dressed to inspire cosplayers or it's figurines to sell?
It still a stupid thing to say? And how do you think Dave Ellis and self righteous people will react?
@World;
I agree, it's the same in western games indeed. Like I say, content in gaming heritages a lot more from the superhero cartoon world than it does from the movie world. Most video games could in fact easily be called interactive cartoons.
And, well, I believe those creators can be called "man babies" too. Let's be honest here – it's pretty cheap and shallow entertainment. Let's not over-intellectualize it. Those heroines are what we would have drawn too, had we had the skills when we were 14.
@Homura;
Yes, I think it would still be stupid. Create good, interesting characters and the cosplay and fan merchandize sales will follow. That's the way to do it.
This "Quiet" character will forever just be a marketing attempt, a tailored character to trick me into buying stupid figurines and watch pictures of near-nekkid teens.
It's something about breaking an illusion.
When real sexy girls are playing a role in a movie, everyone know she's the hottie of the movie and understands perfectly well why she was hired to play that role.
But have you ever – EVER – heard a director trying to promote his movie by saying, "so we added a few scenes in the script just so we could have a long good look at her hooters, and I specifically made the light man work on getting the lighting just right to see a glimpse of her nipples through that blouse at the end there."
No, you don't. And that's the kind of dumb*ss comment Kojima – this old, experienced "director" of the gaming industry – managed to blurp out with.
I don't think he deserves *any* cred for that.
Last edited by Beamboom on 9/10/2013 10:57:17 AM
Beamboom
Hideo is not tricking you into buying (stupid?)figurines or watch picture of near naked teens. He is specifically made it for those who are into that kind of things not for you or to those who don't like it and he's being honest with it. And Hideo is not stupid to not fit her story into MGS universe.
And are you familiar with Bond ladies? They are specifically framed to enticed those who like those kind of things. Even if the director doesn't say a thing, most of us know that's what they're trying to accomplished.
And for your information, character design sometimes comes first before the story. And sometimes they design it with a conscious effort to cater to specific audiences.
Ex: "Hey let's design a cute character that will appeal to children and hope that it's toy merchandise will follow".
And even if the character is design first to cater to specific audiences it doesn't mean that they will not have a good back story or will not be interesting. They will try hard to differentiate their own character to other characters with the same audiences in mind.
Let me ask you again. If Hideo Kojima ordered Yoji Shinkawa to specifically design a character who is an amputee to inspire those who are in the same conditions. It is bad or stupid?
Your self righteous comments are dumb and stupid.
Then that's your opinion, and that's perfectly fine. 🙂
Most of the boss battles in MGS4 were versus some amazing looking hotties! That made the game more enjoyable for me. I mean, yeah.. I don't really want to shoot a sexy-as-hell babe in the head, but the eye candy is still welcomed.
The HALO guy can teabag a hot iron for I care. He's so inconsequential that I didn't even bother to scroll up to see what his name was.
I reckon the design itself is fine. I don't see anything overly sexy about it at all but to each their own.
As for the story..she's called Quiet because her tongue was cut out at a young age, she was kidnapped by a vicious gang who used her in the sex trade. One of her customers liked her but felt she needed perkier boobs and a firmer butt so he paid for those and bought her as well until she killed him in his sleep…when everything was Quiet…
Just a theory. Probably too closely linked to her name but then MGS always had strong links to the characters names. Vamp, Psycho Mantis, Raven and even Snake!
@Beanboom i hate to break something to you but as an Artist you start off drawing the body of the character before you draw the clothing in other words you start off drawing the character naked then decide what outfit you want on the character
heres another thing you should know Cosplaying Video Game characters is extremely big in japan
now to address cheap marketing DMC3 Nevan only has hair over her breasts
God of war has a Sex Minigame Dragon age origins has a house thats only purpose is sex fable also has the same
Now lets look at the real world for abit Vietname war they would send women and children up to soldiers with grenades strapped to them and have them ask the soldiers if they wanted candy then boom killing the soldiers and their own women and children
also other countries in war would use attractive women with almost nothing on or nothing on as an attention grabber to kill the invading army people or they would use attractive women as spies
but hey your Complaining about a FICTIONAL CHARACTER in a skimpy outfit
oh my i guess you have never walked out of your house and seen Teens wearing Mini skirts and a shirt that shows the top of their breasts
and you call it cheap marketing when you fail to realise reality