It's bound to be a very subjective term and as such, it will always foster plenty of debate.

What iconic video game franchises would you consider "world famous?" Would Metal Gear Solid be on the list? Well, in the eyes of Platinum Games boss Hideki Kamiya, it shouldn't be.

Kamiya Tweeted about his definition of "world famous games" (as translated by CGM ) and he said:

"Super Mario and Dragon Quest applies to that list, Zelda, Resident Evil, and Final Fantasy are in borderline position…Metal Gear Solid and Monster Hunter are not on that list, unfortunately."

So, what do you think? It seems reasonable. After all, while MGS and Monster Hunter are indeed huge, I wouldn't say they've crossed over to the mainstream side of the industry, where video games finally become household names. Even my grandmother has heard of Mario and Resident Evil (not sure about Zelda , though) but MGS remains unknown to those outside the core gaming populace.

Do you agree?

Subscribe
Notify of
26 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jalex
Jalex
7 years ago

I could agree with that were it not for 'Dragon Quest's inclusion. I love 'Dragon Quest' (more than 'Final Fantasy', personally), and I know it's super-huge in Japan, but I don't see how it could be called "world famous" when 'Metal Gear' isn't.

Crabba
Crabba
7 years ago

Indeed, what the heck is Dragon quest doing there, if anything I would say MGS if far more a household name than Dragon quest.

Underdog15
Underdog15
7 years ago

DQ is more world famous than MGS, but I wouldn't say that makes it so. (Neither MGS nor DQ/DW are "world famous") Known in Eu as well, and although it's not as big anymore, it had a sizable cult following even in the old days.

You're right it isn't up there with something like FF, in terms of "world famous", but definitely closer than MGS.


Last edited by Underdog15 on 11/16/2015 8:24:22 PM

MRSUCCESS
MRSUCCESS
7 years ago

Now, the question is:What are the requirements for a franchise to be iconic?

Do I show a random person a picture of Solid Snake and ask who it is? A lot of people (mostly non gamers) will probably not know but does such thing matter?

That being said: is Call of Duty iconic because it's known to a lot of people outside the core gaming populace?

In a nutshell – I agree with the Mario portion only.

Crabba
Crabba
7 years ago

Yep, if we're talking world famous aka known to non gamers the world over it's a very short list that would probably only include Mario, Call of Duty, Grand theft auto & Minecraft, plus ofcourse classics like Tetris, Pac-man & mobile stuff like Candy Crush etc.

tes37
tes37
7 years ago

Metal Gear Solid might not be world famous, but I'm willing to bet more people in gaming know who Hideo Kojima is, as opposed to Hideki Kamiya. I had to copy and paste Hideki Kamiya's name to keep from scrolling up and down to spellcheck it.

vatoloco47
vatoloco47
7 years ago

Who the fk is Hideki Kamiya to Metal Gear isn't a world famous game! Just because they fked upM etal Gear Rising Revengeance and moat of the games Platinum makes. Metal Gear Solid was one of the biggest games on PS1 and were all masterpieces by Hideo Kojima.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
7 years ago

Hmmmmm, Platinum Games may be good, but no f'ing way are they even anywhere close to being in the same league as MGS.

Since all they seem to know is speed-induced games, I gotta wonder whether or not they're a bunch of 24-hour-a-day crack-addled meth-heads,LOL

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
7 years ago

LOL

Hexen
Hexen
7 years ago

They never said they were,also action is their especialty and no one does it better at the moment.They also work on a vast mayority of IPs,you know not just milk one.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
7 years ago

It's true that they usually produce new IPs, which is great, but it's also true that they only seem to produce fast-action games. I have a bad feeling that what they're doing to Nier: Automata will be a travesty. I mean, from an RPG and structural standpoint; I have no doubt it'll be a great action game.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
7 years ago

Hexen,

Oh please, I don't stand corrected!

And furthermore……I'll take any 1 MGS or Deus Ex game over the whole entire total of games that Platinum has done.

Draguss
Draguss
7 years ago

…Dragon Quest above Final Fantasy? MGS not on the list at all? Kamiya seems to be following some strange criteria.

Jalex
Jalex
4 years ago

I could agree with that were it not for &#39Dragon Quest&#39s inclusion. I love &#39Dragon Quest&#39 (more than &#39Final Fantasy&#39, personally), and I know it&#39s super-huge in Japan, but I don&#39t see how it could be called "world famous" when &#39Metal Gear&#39 isn&#39t.

Underdog15
Underdog15
4 years ago

DQ is more world famous than MGS, but I wouldn&#39t say that makes it so. (Neither MGS nor DQ/DW are "world famous") Known in Eu as well, and although it&#39s not as big anymore, it had a sizable cult following even in the old days.

You&#39re right it isn&#39t up there with something like FF, in terms of "world famous", but definitely closer than MGS.

Last edited by Underdog15 on 11/16/2015 8:24:22 PM

Crabba
Crabba
4 years ago

Yep, if we&#39re talking world famous aka known to non gamers the world over it&#39s a very short list that would probably only include Mario, Call of Duty, Grand theft auto & Minecraft, plus ofcourse classics like Tetris, Pac-man & mobile stuff like Candy Crush etc.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
4 years ago

LOL

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
4 years ago

Hmmmmm, Platinum Games may be good, but no f&#39ing way are they even anywhere close to being in the same league as MGS.

Since all they seem to know is speed-induced games, I gotta wonder whether or not they&#39re a bunch of 24-hour-a-day crack-addled meth-heads,LOL

tes37
tes37
4 years ago

Metal Gear Solid might not be world famous, but I&#39m willing to bet more people in gaming know who Hideo Kojima is, as opposed to Hideki Kamiya. I had to copy and paste Hideki Kamiya&#39s name to keep from scrolling up and down to spellcheck it.

MRSUCCESS
MRSUCCESS
4 years ago

Now, the question is:What are the requirements for a franchise to be iconic?

Do I show a random person a picture of Solid Snake and ask who it is? A lot of people (mostly non gamers) will probably not know but does such thing matter?

That being said: is Call of Duty iconic because it&#39s known to a lot of people outside the core gaming populace?

In a nutshell – I agree with the Mario portion only.

Crabba
Crabba
4 years ago

Indeed, what the heck is Dragon quest doing there, if anything I would say MGS if far more a household name than Dragon quest.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
4 years ago

It&#39s true that they usually produce new IPs, which is great, but it&#39s also true that they only seem to produce fast-action games. I have a bad feeling that what they&#39re doing to Nier: Automata will be a travesty. I mean, from an RPG and structural standpoint; I have no doubt it&#39ll be a great action game.

Draguss
Draguss
4 years ago

…Dragon Quest above Final Fantasy? MGS not on the list at all? Kamiya seems to be following some strange criteria.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
4 years ago

Hexen,

Oh please, I don&#39t stand corrected!

And furthermore……I&#39ll take any 1 MGS or Deus Ex game over the whole entire total of games that Platinum has done.

Hexen
Hexen
4 years ago

They never said they were,also action is their especialty and no one does it better at the moment.They also work on a vast mayority of IPs,you know not just milk one.

vatoloco47
vatoloco47
4 years ago

Who the fk is Hideki Kamiya to Metal Gear isn&#39t a world famous game! Just because they fked upM etal Gear Rising Revengeance and moat of the games Platinum makes. Metal Gear Solid was one of the biggest games on PS1 and were all masterpieces by Hideo Kojima.