MGS4's Ryan Payton talks plot fudging and execution essays
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Sep 12th 2008 at 8:30AM }
Shortly before leaving Kojima Productions, Metal Gear Solid 4 producer Ryan Payton had a chat with 1UP, discussing the many highlights of working on one of the year's biggest blockbusters. As is often the case with this line of work, Payton was privy to several elaborate death threats. "When word hit that I chose Pat Zimmerman for Liquid Ocelot -- and not Cam Clarke -- I got dozens of hateful messages from fans including a 2,000 word short story depicting my execution."
Payton also expressed a belief that the development team did a sterling job with untangling Metal Gear Solid's twisted story -- with minimal plot fudging. "The stories of MGS2 and MGS3 were truly written without any backup measures if the series continued, leaving dozens of confusing and unexplained plot elements in the wake," he said." The fact that we were able to tie up all the loose ends with MGS4 was nothing short of a miracle." Miraculous acts happen to include the amazing gender bending of not only Olga's child, but MGS1's briefly mentioned Dr. Clark. In Snake's world, anything goes.
Payton also expressed a belief that the development team did a sterling job with untangling Metal Gear Solid's twisted story -- with minimal plot fudging. "The stories of MGS2 and MGS3 were truly written without any backup measures if the series continued, leaving dozens of confusing and unexplained plot elements in the wake," he said." The fact that we were able to tie up all the loose ends with MGS4 was nothing short of a miracle." Miraculous acts happen to include the amazing gender bending of not only Olga's child, but MGS1's briefly mentioned Dr. Clark. In Snake's world, anything goes.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
deadjesterx @ Sep 12th 2008 8:51AM
Ya see, this is a pretty good example of why I can't stand fanboys.
Death threats? Really? And someone actually took the time out of his/her life (an apparently sad, little one at that) to write a 2,000 word story? All because someone else was chosen as a voice for a digital character...
Ok people, it's shit like this that ends up justifying the negative stereotypes about gamers. I love games just as much as the next gamer but sending hate mail, especially over a voice actor, is pathetic and a sign of a very unhealth obessesion.
FOXHOUND @ Sep 12th 2008 8:50AM
I didn't write that letter...
In purple crayon...
Calling him a poo-poo head...
...blame the nanomachines! ¬_¬!
xGeneral DEATHx @ Sep 12th 2008 9:08AM
THE SYSTEM IS MINE!
SimbaDogg @ Sep 12th 2008 3:40PM
any guy that is pathetic enough to send in death threats over a video game like MGS, or someone who does the same to michael bay (not that he isn't semi douche @ times anyways) over the type of truck uses for optimus prime, or bumblebee not being a bug...you need a fucking girlfriend. either that, or pick up a healthy hobby...like jogging.
Metal_Gear @ Sep 12th 2008 8:50AM
If you play the game, it becomes obvious why Pat Zimmerman got the job rather than Cam Clarke so all this idiotic morons were shown that you should just shut your mouth and let the masters work.
And it was awesome that they managed to tie all those loose ends up but they were sometimes tied up with parts of the plot we thought was already done with which made the whole MGS4 sumpremely epic for me.
CW @ Sep 12th 2008 8:50AM
I havent finished it yet, but I can say that MGS4 is the highest quality game that I have ever played. People talk about "AAA" titles, and GTAIV and COD4 are part of that group.
MGS4 blows them away. It is beautiful to watch, fun to play, with an engrossing story line.
MGS4 is a definite "must play" for any PS3 owner.
Raikage (GOLDEN Gun Of The Patriots) @ Sep 12th 2008 2:22PM
Are you smoking crack?
MGS4 is a definite "must play" for ALL gamers!
;)
John Z @ Sep 12th 2008 8:50AM
It's kind of interesting to see a little bit of how the voice work came together. I've yet to go back for a re-play but I was really impressed with everything.
The Prague mission was also very, very cool. Probably a defining moment for the game, really.
Vcize @ Sep 12th 2008 10:27AM
Prague was act 3, right? If so, I agree, act 3 of MGS4 was epicness rarely matched in a game.
I thought it all fell apart after that though, and aside from the big mech battle and some nostalgia I found acts 4 and 5 tedious and overdone, and the story just got out of hand at that point.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Sep 12th 2008 9:01AM
"I got dozens of hateful messages from fans including a 2,000 word short story depicting my execution."
This is the exact reason why fanboys of all mediums need to be wiped off the face of the earth. I mean seriously? Death threats? I mean I can understand being somewhat upset, but death threats? It's just a fucking game.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Sep 12th 2008 9:07AM
If we could only inject them with SOP, we could control their every move and make them go cliffside en masse, like the lemmings they are.
FOXHOUND @ Sep 12th 2008 1:24PM
...Except for me, right? XD
I'm obviously a big fan of the METAL GEAR saga, but I'm not about to pull a "Misery" and break Hideo Kojima, Yoji Shinkawa, David Hayter or Ryan Payton's legs. LoL.
For what it's worth, I did get Quinton Flynn to autograph my PS2 copy of MGS2:S...?
edhc44 @ Sep 12th 2008 9:36AM
W00t? They changed Liquid voice actor? I says DIE RYAN PAYTON!
j.howlett @ Sep 12th 2008 10:27AM
i don't take death threats over the internet seriously. i hardly take anything on the internet seriously.
Gehodra @ Sep 12th 2008 1:26PM
I'm going to kill you in your sleep.
kaneda @ Sep 12th 2008 2:27PM
I will BREAK into your house and STEAL all your MONEY and use it to buy a GOLDEN KNIFE which I will STAB you with in the HEART.
j.howlett @ Sep 12th 2008 8:17PM
there's a dagger by my bed and a folding knife on the dresser when i'm sleep. my weapon collection kind of thinned out after a brief period of homlessness so i no longer have quick access to a fire arm. if it goes down like the last time i had an intruder my neighbor the cop will meet you at the curb with his gun after you get tossed of my porch.
Startlingline117 @ Sep 12th 2008 10:42AM
I don't care what AAAAAAANYYONE says - NOBODY knew what the hell was going on throughout this game.
Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Sep 12th 2008 12:37PM
The fudged elements of the story are pretty obvious, and in parts, painful to watch; especially towards the end (Zero, wtf?). However, I think they did a good job coming up with such an epic ending considering the two previous games were written with no intention of following up.
But Snake should've died.
kaneda @ Sep 12th 2008 2:36PM
Major Zero was a character from the original 8bit Metal Gear 2. He played the Roy Campbell-esq role or mission coordinator. He was also revisited after Metal Gear 3 in Portable Ops.
** Spolier for the 5 MGS fans that haven't played yet **
The only fudging I would consider to be really outlandish was the whole Liquid Ocelot arm thing and Ocelot's voice changing because Ocelot has convinced himself that he is Liquid through hypno-therapy and a hand transplant.
Plus the Johnny-poopoo-pants and Merly (who was frightening in her wedding dress) seemed really unnecessary. There are probably a handful of other stretches, but nothing comes to mind.
Metal_Gear @ Sep 12th 2008 3:12PM
*continuing the spoilers*
Ocelot hadn't fully become Liquid during the Taker Big Shell incidents so you could argue that he put on the voice himself. They wedding was sudden, but I thought it was ok then again, I am a MGS fanboy so mabey I am biased. :|
Roto13 @ Sep 12th 2008 3:32PM
Who would even want Cam Clark back as Liquid? He was annoying in MGS 1. "BRRRRROTHERRRRR!"
Questworld @ Sep 12th 2008 11:37PM
I miss Revolver Ocelot the way he was in MGS1/Twin Snakes. He had all the style of a western gun slinger but then he evolved wearing military fatigues in MGS2 and suffered dual personality and essentially got lost to being a hybrid of him and Liquid. It's like losing Albert Wesker to some generic mutant Wesker end boss transformation.
Red Leader @ Sep 13th 2008 1:04AM
Funny, I could swear I read this exact article about four months ago directly after the game came out. EGM? Game Informer? Not sure, but I know I read it already. Strange it was only now posted on Joystiq.