Home Gaming Hideo Kojima nearly got sued for ripping off Escape from New York

Hideo Kojima nearly got sued for ripping off Escape from New York

2 min read
61

plisjpg-ed62de_1280w

Except he didn’t because he actually didn’t really rip off anything. If you’ve watched Escape from New York recently (or just fondly remember it), it’s hard not to look at Metal Gear Solid’s Snake/Big Boss and not see the on-the-nose resemblance. The eye patch with the long flowing mullet, all brought together by a gruff voice that just oozes badass. And the fact that Escape from new York’s lead is also called…well…Snake.

It’s no secret that Kojima designed his own lead with strong references to Snake Plissken. He loves the film so much that an alias Solid Snake went by in Metal gear Solid II was actually and even more blatant reference, with the character going by the name “Iroquois Plissken” for most of the game. At a time the IP owners of Escape from New York, CanalPlus, actually wanted to take the game designer to court over it. Until John Carpenter himself told them not to.

“[CanalPlus] wanted to also go after the video game Metal Gear Solid, which is kind of a rip-off of Escape From New York, too, but I told them not to do that. I know the director of those games, and he’s a nice guy, or at least he’s nice to me.”

Carpenter’s admiration for Kojima aside (although it is quite hilarious to think that’s why he wasn’t sued), Metal Gear Solid really doesn’t bear much else in common with the film. It isn’t about an agent sent into a massive prison to rescue the President’s daughter (although Resident Evil 4 almost fits that mold). Aside from the neat throwback in Snake himself, there’s nothing else that the two have in common, which would’ve probably made the case weak to begin with.

Hideo Kojima previously explained why he chose Snake as a name, but it’s confusing and weird and not at all as endearing as just admitting it was a throwback to a piece of film he really liked. Although now I can’t really see anyone else but Snake Plissken taking down Metal Gears.

Last Updated: October 28, 2015

61 Comments

  1. Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

    October 28, 2015 at 08:44

  2. Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

    October 28, 2015 at 08:44

  3. Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

    October 28, 2015 at 08:44

  4. oVg

    October 28, 2015 at 08:44

    and that is why every gamer over 35 LOVE Hideo Kojimas 80s vibe. His first game was released in 1987. 28 years ago, he was 25.

    P.S. Those 1980 tunes on the walkman in MGSV MAKE IT GOTY!!!! alone.

    Reply

  5. Alien Emperor Trevor

    October 28, 2015 at 08:46

    I thought it was all just a case of Missnaken identity?

    Reply

    • oVg

      October 28, 2015 at 08:48

      Also explains why Plisskin was shit at shooting and Big Boss is not. You need your left eye to aim with rifles.

      Reply

    • RinceThis

      October 28, 2015 at 09:46

      Oh dear…

      Reply

      • oVg

        October 28, 2015 at 10:17

        He is just warming up.

        Reply

  6. oVg

    October 28, 2015 at 08:51

    BRING BACK THE 80S Also, the outcry over Quiets attire just proves how long ago the 80s were 🙁

    Reply

    • oVg

      October 28, 2015 at 08:56

      It was normal. KIDS

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        October 28, 2015 at 09:06

        Kung Fury XD

        Reply

        • oVg

          October 28, 2015 at 09:09

          ACTION!!!

          Reply

      • Captain JJ the Goo

        October 28, 2015 at 09:12

        KUNG FURY IS LIFE

        Reply

    • (Umar) Must be Cipher

      October 28, 2015 at 08:59

      I never understood that scene. That’s from the trailer, we clearly see venom riding the bike…yet, in The The Man Who Sold the World mission…It’s BB that drives away on the bike.

      Reply

      • oVg

        October 28, 2015 at 09:05

        They could not give away the twist. I believed I was playing as a clone, I never expected the twist.

        Reply

        • (Umar) Must be Cipher

          October 28, 2015 at 09:54

          Fair enough. Would’ve been a massive giveaway.

          Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      October 28, 2015 at 08:59

      Again with Quiet’s outfit. You know it’s fucking bullshit. Times CHANGE. Did you know women can vote? ;P

      Reply

      • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

        October 28, 2015 at 09:00

        I actually saw my wife outside the house when I got home yesterday, granted, she was taking out the trash, but still, crazy.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          October 28, 2015 at 09:05

          Discipline is required.

          Reply

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            October 28, 2015 at 09:09

            Sal maar weer die snotsambok moet uithaal

          • Hammersteyn

            October 28, 2015 at 09:09

            hahahaha sies

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            October 28, 2015 at 09:12

            As dit nie vir sies was nie, het ek ‘n boring lewe gehad
            xD

        • oVg

          October 28, 2015 at 09:10

          I wonder what she is hiding? 😛

          Reply

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            October 28, 2015 at 09:11

            Well, since we had bacon for dinner (I know, awesome right?), my guess it is the parts of the pig we don’t eat

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:15

            WINNER!!! If I was never allowed to eat bacon I would blow myself up.

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            October 28, 2015 at 09:15

            HAHA, oh you

          • Captain JJ the Goo

            October 28, 2015 at 09:16

            Sounds like an experiment waiting to be attempted.

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:20

            OK, That and If I was not allowed to inebriate the cerebral cortex.

      • oVg

        October 28, 2015 at 09:08

        Not when the franchise is based on RETRO aesthetics. That is why I love MGSV even more after playing the sequel (the first game from 1987) that came free with Snake Eater. The mechanics of the gameplay has never changed over the last 28 years. Its just got lovely graphics.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          October 28, 2015 at 09:11

          No. Not buying your BS today. 😛

          Reply

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:13

            You feminazi, get back on your white stallion.

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            October 28, 2015 at 09:15

            BUTT STALLION!

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:16

            UNIHORN

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            October 28, 2015 at 09:33

            He-Man sitting at the back like a little bitch. Retro! 80’s FTW!

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:34

            lol, well its was during a time when people just had no idea what a homosexual was. George Micheal had no idea 😛

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            October 28, 2015 at 09:59

            Everyone knew. You’re forgetting Elton John.

          • RinceThis

            October 28, 2015 at 09:56

            You are anti-mannanist!

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:21

            Win. Borderlands 2 was also very retro. It will never age.

          • Captain JJ the Goo

            October 28, 2015 at 09:15

            That’s racist

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:17

            LOL I never thought of that 😛 I suppose being an 80s kid allows me not to give a shit 😛

          • Captain JJ the Goo

            October 28, 2015 at 09:19

            I have an unhealthy obsession with 80s movies.
            I’ve rewatched more 80s movies this year than new releases.

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            October 28, 2015 at 09:19

            Send me the list on Skype, I need to watch some more!

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:22

            So, not the new Robocop then?

            RUNS

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            October 28, 2015 at 09:17

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:18

            White knight rider?… no?

            I need more coffee

          • RinceThis

            October 28, 2015 at 09:47

            HAHAHAHA!

          • Captain JJ the Goo

            October 28, 2015 at 10:30

            Reply “NO” to opt out.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            October 28, 2015 at 10:32

            I didn’t opt in. ;P

  7. Captain JJ the Goo

    October 28, 2015 at 08:57

    They wish.
    Nothing can touch Snake Pielskin.

    Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

      October 28, 2015 at 09:18

      Sies

      Reply

    • oVg

      October 28, 2015 at 09:24

      He was so fucking bad ass in the film Soldier. It was also the first film that I watched where I child gets shot in the head. The 80s gave no fucks.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        October 28, 2015 at 09:32

        Soldier was released in 1998. I have the DVD. STFU about 80’s retro kak now. 😛

        Reply

        • oVg

          October 28, 2015 at 09:33

          I knew you were still reading 😛

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            October 28, 2015 at 09:34

            Where else am I going to get this entertainment? 😉

          • oVg

            October 28, 2015 at 09:36

            From the EFF leader Julius Caesar.

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            October 28, 2015 at 10:04

            Bwahahaha Julius

      • Captain JJ the Goo

        October 28, 2015 at 10:26

        I watched Tango and Cash the other weekend again. Also a great movie.

        Reply

  8. RinceThis

    October 28, 2015 at 09:45

    Yeha, the film is actiually entertaining *RUNS

    Reply

    • oVg

      October 28, 2015 at 10:18

      Big trouble in little china for Saturday. Make it so, Number 1.

      Reply

  9. WitWolfy

    October 28, 2015 at 10:12

    Kojima should get sued for the trailer that is MGS 2, and lying right to our faces about MGS V… Just my 5c

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Michael Myers is back – Again! – in gory first full trailer for Halloween Kills

You just can't keep evil down. Not even after trapping him in a burning house as Jamie Lee…