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Kojima Talks ‘Death Stranding’ at Tribeca

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As was announced last month, Hideo Kojima paid a visit to the Tribeca Film Festival yesterday. And as expected, he remained relatively tight-lipped about Death Stranding.

Nevertheless, he (and Norman Reedus) did divulge some interesting tidbits, which were recorded by a user from ResetEra:

  • Kojima reiterated that Death Stranding is an open-world action game, while emphasizing that it will bring something new to the genre.
  • Using the internet as a metaphor, he said that connection will be a big theme in Death Stranding. The player will be alone—there is solitude—but they will be trying to connect.
  • In both the gameplay and story, “connection” will be key. Everyone will be connected. Kojima was visibly enthusiastic about this.
  • He couldn’t say much more about the topic, as he didn’t want to conflict with publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment: “I don’t want to be disconnected from Sony.”
  • “To connect is the same as disconnecting in a way; is connecting correct? Is it better to disconnect?” He wants players to think about this theme in their own lives and in the world (he mentioned dating and European politics as examples).
  • Kojima said it is difficult to tell a story in an open-world game because you have to balance player freedom—freedom of movement—with the plot. You have to go in a certain direction to learn more about the story, but Kojima also wants players to feel like they are making the choice to do so.
  • Kojima talked about working with Hollywood actors. While he can create 100 percent of what he wants with mere CG, that limits him to what is in his head. Real actors, on the other hand, can surprise him with added depth. He said he cannot go back to the days before motion capture.
  • Norman Reedus, who plays protagonist Sam, said that players will cry when playing the game. You will get emotionally invested.
  • Kojima said he wants to create games until he dies.
  • We might see more of Death Stranding in a month or so. (Maybe.)

Death Stranding will be a PlayStation 4 exclusive.

Writer/Artist/Gamer from the Great White North. I try not to be boring.

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Horror Novelist Ray Garton Has Passed Away at 61

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We have learned the sad news this week that prolific horror author Ray Garton, who wrote nearly 70 books over the course of his career, has passed away after a battle with lung cancer.

Ray Garton was 61 years old.

Stephen King tweets, “I’m hearing that Ray Garton, horror novelist and friend, died yesterday. This is sad news, and a loss to those who enjoyed his amusing, often surreal, posts on Twitter.”

Ray Garton’s novels include Seductions, Darklings, Live Girls, Night Life, and Crucifax in the 1980s, followed in later decades by output including A Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting, Trade Secrets, The New Neighbor, Lot Lizards, Dark Channel, Shackled, The Girl in the Basement, The Loveliest Dead, Ravenous, Bestial, and most recently, Trailer Park Noir.

Garton also wrote young adult novels under the name Joseph Locke, including the novelizations for A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master and The Dream Child. He also wrote the novelizations for Tobe Hooper’s Invaders from Mars and Warlock, as well as several books for the Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchises.

Other young adult horror novels you may remember the name Joseph Locke from include Petrified, Kiss of Death, Game Over, 1-900-Killer, Vengeance, and Kill the Teacher’s Pet.

You can browse Ray Garton’s full bibliography over on his official website.

He wrote on his website when it launched, “Since I was eight years old, all I’ve wanted to be was a writer, and since 1984, I have been fortunate enough to spend my life writing full time. I’ve written over 60 books—novels and novellas in the horror and suspense genres, collections of short stories, movie novelizations, and TV tie-ins—with more in the works.”

“My readers have made it possible for me to indulge my love of writing and I get a tremendous amount of joy out of communicating with them,” Garton added at the time.

Ray Garton is survived by his longtime wife, Dawn.

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