Matsuyama Fears Controversy Over New Metal Gear Title

Kojima Productions is worried that Metal Gear Solid: Rising may have a Grand Theft Auto effect.

In an interview with Eurogamer, Kojima Productions developer Shigenobu Matsuyama expressed concern that the violence in Metal Gear Solid: Rising could create the same amount of shock that was caused by the violence in Grand Theft Auto III.

The trailerreleased in June showed the extent of the violence that will be in Rising. As it looks like players will spend a lot of their time chopping their enemies into bite-sized chunks as Raiden, Matsuyama may have good reason for concern. The developers want to give players freedom, but are wary of the controversy that could be caused by what the players will do with it.

"...what was shocking was a title like Grand Theft Auto. I never realised the freedom of any other games. You could go anywhere. You could do anything. It was fun, but at the same time I felt a fear of what the people would do and how they would react."

Rising will give players the option to go through the entire game without killing any humans, and does not reward them for killing. Often they will even be punished for accidental violence.

"So, in Rising, you might make a mistake. You might try to get just his weapon but you might cut his hand, and then you're surrounded more and you're in a more difficult position."

Metal Gear Solid: Rising will be released sometime in 2011 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.