Metal Gear Smile: Meeting an Idol

You might not believe it, but I made Hideo Kojima do something not many people have seen.

I made him smile.



Last month, a few friends and I headed down to SoHo’s Uniqlo Store to stand in line and wait for an opportunity to shake the hand of Mr. Metal Gear. By the time we made our way to the end of the line, we had already had wrapped halfway around the block. Being two hours early, was clearly not the brightest idea.

As we waited I saw more camo and cardboard boxes than I have ever seen on the the city’s streets, and I heard more about Dragon Ball than I would have expected.



We finally made our way inside, and I could see him sitting at the top of the stairs. Moving a few steps forward, we were told that Kojima would be signing items. One item per person, and they could only be things that he had worked on.

Our memorabilia in hand, we made our way up the stairs.



He sat behind a small convention table in the far corner; a translator to his right and a guard to his left. He spoke very little, his translator quickly uttered English, and the fans were pushed aside when their fleeting time expired.

I saw Kojima sign a copy of Metal Gear Solid 4, I saw him sign a action figure, and I even saw him sign a copy of Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation. I remember looking down at my hands, as I was bring rushed towards Kojima, and wondering what he was going to say.

I handed him the book I was holding, thanked him for making games that I had enjoyed, and I watched him as he pondered over what I had just handed him.

When I was younger, I loved my Nintendo. I would stay inside all weekend long and play as much as I could. I also loved reading. When my thumbs would grow numb I would make my way to my room and read whatever I could. Naturally, when I found out about a group of books that were based on Nintendo games, I grabbed as many as I could. The Metal Gear novelization being among them.



He sat the book down, looked at the book, and picked it back up. I watched as he flipped the book open, and thumb through the pages, while he looked at what was in his hands with bewilderment. He looked to his left, spoke to his translator, and then turned to me and offered his hand. As his translator spoke, he faintly smiled, before setting the book down and signing it.



The translator told me that Kojima had never seen this book before, and asked me what it was. I hastily explained the book to the translator, and watched Kojima break another small smile as she told him what I had said.

He handed the book back to me, shook my hand again, before I was promptly shooed away. I still find it had to believe that no one else had ever had him sign it, but it really makes me happy that, as far as I can tell, that I was the first. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not gloating for the sake of gloating. It isn’t even my book, as I had lost mine so many years ago. The book was a gift for my girlfriend, who really is the biggest Metal Gear fan I know.

I am just really happy I was able to give her something that is so damn cool!



- Aaron M.

Simple Question Tuesday: 3DS

I’m excited about the 3DS!
Kyle is excited about the 3DS!
Reggie is even MORE excited about the 3DS!
Everyone is excited about the 3DS!

Let’s keep the excitement rolling! Have a look!

And now to channel all of this Nintenergy into something productive.

Behold:

Simple Question Tuesday
3DS edition

SQT:
What was the last system that you were super excited for?

A:
For me, it was back in 1996 when the N64 was announced. All I wanted was a new Final Fantasy, with a new story, and AMAZING graphics. What I got was something else.

This was very upsetting to me, because at that time in my life games were JRPGs or they were trash. My excitement was great, but my disappointment was far worse. When I finally got my hands on what the N64 had to offer in way of RPGs, I remember feeling betrayed and upset that Nintendo would do something like this to me.

All I wanted was this:

What I got was this:

Oh Nintendo, you killed my dreams with Quest 64. But I’m grateful that you are making it up to me with the 3DS.

What about you?

And yes, I think I did just use the word nintenergy. Please don’t hate me too much.

- Aaron M.

Simple Question Tuesday

With Kyle out of commission for a few more days, I thought I would take this opportunity to be sneaky and drop something unexpected in GGG:

Simple Question Tuesday
(or SQT for short)

Here is the deal. Every Tuesday I’ll ask a simple question. Should you feel so inclined, please post a response. It can be as long or as short as you like. Easy, right?

Let’s get this show on the road!

Q: What was the first game that you remember getting frustrated with?

A: For me, it was the Golem boss in Dragon Warrior.

I remember traveling to that small enclosed town, looking to rest and save, only to find out I had to fight a giant stone golem. It was a little too much for me, and with each loss I found myself getting more and more upset. I don’t remember what my breaking point was, all I remember is throwing my NES controller to the floor and storming out of the room.

It wasn’t until years later, while playing Dokapon Kingdom, that I found that same level of hatred and frustration. But that is another story all together, for some other time.

- Aaron M.

!

I’m not going into work on Friday. It doesn’t matter that two of our largest accounts have expanded. It doesn’t matter that, come next Monday, I will have to stay very late. It doesn’t even matter that skipping on Friday is going to hurt my wallet a little more than I care to admit. Yep, sometimes my personal priorities lead me down the wrong path. But with Hideo Kojima in town, of Metal Gear fame, can you really blame me?

Kojima will be in New York’s UNIQLO store to signing autographs, pimp his new game, and sell T-shirts. While I am dreading standing in long line, in SOHO, in the middle of a hot summer day, I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t completely excited at the same time.

It will be an honor to shake the hand of the man who helped craft the way I play, perceive, and deconstruct the games I enjoy.

Should you be in the city and you want to meet up, please send me an e-mail. It all goes down this Friday, the 11th @ UNIQLO @ noon.

Because, line misery loves line company.

- Aaron M.