Koji Okada, the official producer for Atlas and the Megami Tensei series.
This time, Kobayashi Tetsu hadn't specifically assigned anyone to lead the Megami Tensei project; the team had chosen internally. The result was still Koji Okada.
Today was Koji Okada's first day at Atlas. He had worked before, but that was planning the SF Convention. Now, at Atlas, he finally had the opportunity to create something he truly wanted to make. Deep down, Koji Okada felt immense pride.
If not for his experience at Tecmo, he doubted he would have ever gotten such a chance.
While waiting for the elevator, Koji Okada noticed a man beside him with meticulously styled hair, square-rimmed glasses, and a carefully groomed beard. The man exuded a flamboyant aura.
When the elevator arrived, Koji Okada was surprised to see the man press the button for the twenty-fourth floor.
"Are you an Atlas employee? Why—"
Why had he never seen this man before?
Hideo Kojima turned to face Koji Okada.
"Oh, I've heard of you. You're the new guy, right? Keep up the good work! Welcome to Atlas!"
The elevator ascended to the twenty-fourth floor. Hideo Kojima gave him an encouraging nod and rose to enter the office.
Koji Okada initially responded with a greeting, but couldn't help but wonder.
Wait.
Who is this guy? Could he be the founder of Atlas?
Having never met Hideo Kojima before, Koji Okada couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
There are still hidden masters!
Of course, Hideo Kojima didn't actually work at Atlas. More accurately, Kobayashi Tetsu had never hired him.
Hideo Kojima had only graduated from university that year. Although his grades weren't stellar, he still managed to obtain his diploma.
Inside the office, Kobayashi Tetsu was pondering matters related to the Red Fortress when he heard a knock. "Come in," he called out. When he saw Hideo Kojima standing there, he was genuinely surprised.
"Kojima-kun? Have a seat. How have things been going in Akihabara recently?"
"They're going well," Hideo Kojima replied, less flamboyant here than he was outside. "The store's business is thriving, and we've achieved stable profitability. The trained managers are operating branches across the city. While they haven't turned a profit yet, they've helped stabilize Atlas's customer base. However, I'm here today to ask for your help with something else."
Kobayashi Tetsu casually capped his pen and gestured for Hideo Kojima to continue.
"Go ahead."
He had a rough idea of why Kojima was here.
"It's like this, I graduated from Osaka this year. I feel I've developed a good understanding of computers and software design."
Kojima carefully chose his words before finally saying what was on his mind:
"I want to make video games."
Instead of immediately agreeing, Kobayashi Tetsu countered, "Kojima-kun, forgive my bluntness. While you have software development experience from university, you've never worked on a game before, nor participated in any game projects. What makes you think you can become a producer here at Atlas and make games?"
Kojima acknowledged, "I know I don't currently have the qualifications. But I have an idea. I've been working on a detailed proposal for a game I've been conceptualizing. I'd like you to take a look."
He opened his briefcase and handed over a folder.
Kobayashi Tetsu skimmed through it. It was an escape game: players break out of a prison cell, and if caught, they are sent back to the cell to continue the game endlessly.
It was the prototype for Metal Gear.
Hideo Kojima worked on several projects at Konami before proposing the prototype for Metal Gear. However, his colleagues deemed it unpromising, so he refined the concept and developed Metal Gear.
The original Metal Gear wasn't a commercial success. Stealth games were still a novelty at the time, and the first installment had its share of issues, so it wasn't an instant hit. Kojima went on to create many more works at Konami.
His later grievances with Konami are a separate matter.
Kobayashi Tetsu skimmed the proposal, already forming a plan in his mind.
He could certainly use Hideo Kojima, but Kobayashi Tetsu wouldn't let him join Atlas. If the opportunity arose later, he would hire Kojima separately, arranging his work in a manner similar to Capcom's approach.
Kojima's early works were critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful, and their style didn't quite fit with Atlas's usual approach. Kobayashi Tetsu still preferred to let Kojima act independently.
"Do you have someone suitable for the game store?"
Kojima looked down. "Yes, the clerk we hired earlier is very intelligent and articulate. I plan to entrust the game store to him."
Kobayashi Tetsu casually pointed at the whiteboard.
"Take a look at this. I'm designing a boss for an upcoming game. If it were you, how would you approach it?"
He was referring to the boss of the Red Fortress. Kobayashi Tetsu's drawing skills weren't particularly refined, so the whiteboard was primarily filled with text.
Hideo Kojima studied it for a moment and figured it out: this was likely a tank with various skills that would attack the player.
After a few moments of contemplation, Kojima began writing and sketching in a corner of the whiteboard.
"I plan to design this tank with a part-destruction mechanic similar to the bosses in Sonic. Of course, the tank would have parts—machine guns, the main cannon, even the accompanying infantry. If players destroy the machine guns, they'll weaken the tank's offensive capabilities. Destroying the main cannon would render the tank useless. The surrounding infantry could even be designed as part of the 'limb' destruction."
Kobayashi Tetsu nodded slightly.
Kojima's insight was still sharp; this design approach was correct.
It basically aligned with the original design of the Red Fortress boss.
"Then it's settled," Kobayashi Tetsu said, standing up and extending his hand for a handshake. "You'll be temporarily assigned to Atlas Development Division 2. Let's finish this game together first."
Promoting someone without merit would naturally breed resentment. While Hideo Kojima had done well at the game store, that didn't count as game development experience.
Kobayashi Tetsu would at least have him work on Red Fortress first. Once he had his name in the credits and some development experience, things would be easier.
Even celebrities aren't born knowing everything; they need cultivation!
The current Yuji Naka was a completely different person from the one he'd been four years ago. Not only had his technical skills improved, but his design sense had also matured. He wouldn't be designing attacks that came from off-screen anymore.
Since Hideo Kojima hadn't been polished at Konami as in the original timeline, Kobayashi Tetsu wouldn't use him right away.
If he were to put Hideo Kojima in charge of Metal Gear now, it would probably be worse than the original game. It might even be roasted by players as a disaster.
When Hideo Kojima was a child, he snuck back home without a telescope. The family dog spotted him and chased him for ten blocks!
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