Metal Gear has long been a landmark franchise that helped pioneer the stealth-action genre. However, the series might never have existed if not for a simple, yet crucial, exclamation mark.
An old interview with Hideo Kojima from 1999 has resurfaced, in which the game designer shared how he persuaded Konami to release the first Metal Gear. Initially, the company was against the idea of a "game about escape" and did not believe in its potential. A young, then-unknown Kojima struggled to convince them. However, during one presentation, Kojima showed Konami a prototype of Metal Gear; the exclamation mark that appeared when the player was detected greatly impressed the company's management.
"Of course, everyone still had doubts about the basic concept. Everyone was asking, 'Will a game about escape be interesting?'...But when we showed the working version and they saw the exclamation mark appear when the enemy detected the player, that convinced them of the concept's viability. Then everyone changed their mind: 'This will work!'"
The first Metal Gear was released in 1987. Over the years, the franchise has spawned seven main entries, as well as ten spin-offs for handheld devices and smartphones. Konami is now preparing a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
