While at a press conference in Tokyo, Japan to announce the completion of development for Metal Gear Solid 4, series creator, Hideo Kojima, made an appearance to discuss the upcoming title and also had some comments for the industry at large. This lead to addressing the presence of casual games within the industry, saying that he created MGS4 with hopes of reviving “non casual” games and going against the mass popularity of casual gaming.

“Casual games have become mainstream in the industry. There are new markets and possibilities opening up thanks to the trend, which is great. But on the other hand, we shouldn’t forget about the hardcore gamers whose lives are about videogames”

Kojima explained that videogames are “a form of synthesized art that evolves by adapting new technologies.” According to him, Japan has halted this synthesis and that getting back on track can be difficult, which is what the team has tried to do with MGS 4. It is this trend of casual game development in Japan that Kojima believes has allowed western game developers to pull ahead and take the seat as lead innovators of the industry.

“Unfortunately, overseas game production companies, which are well-funded and extremely skilled, have surpassed us by a couple of steps. It was once said that Japan molded the world’s video game [industry], but that’s becoming a thing of the past. Sad as it may be, it’s the truth”

Kojima joins a long list of other designers in the industry that have begun to criticize casual gaming; seeing it as profitable but having no business in pushing the art form forward. Although he was a little more gentlemanly and didn’t start bashing the more casual gaming system that need not even be named, it’s pretty obvious that he’s pointing the finger at Nintendo. Casual gaming’s role can be endlessly and hotly debated, but does the line between casual and hardcore gamers have to be as thick as Kojima draws it if innovative games like GTA IV can reach such mass appeal? In the meantime, if you’re life doesn’t revolve around videogames, then don’t bother with MGS4, as this game is clearly not meant for you.