Death threats forced Kojima to lead MGS4 project

It turns out that a series of deaths threats helped to encourage Hideo Kojima's decision to head the Metal Gear Solid 4 project. Initially, Kojima had planned to take a lesser role, but when the staff caught wind of the death threats he had been receiving, they urged him to return to his position as the series' head. Thankfully, since his transition back to the top, the death threats have ceased, and the staff can now look back on the incident with a smile.

[Thanks, Lost Alley; via ps3today.com]