The Game Awards is an annual event that celebrates the best of the gaming industry, showcasing the most innovative games and the talented individuals behind them. It’s a platform where developers, publishers, and gamers alike come together to honor and recognize the achievements of the past year. However, sometimes this event becomes the stage for unexpected surprises and controversies.
The Unveiling of OD at The Game Awards
In the midst of The Game Awards 2023, Hideo Kojima, the renowned game director, unveiled his latest project, OD. The trailer for OD left the gaming community in awe and sparked intense speculation about its meaning and purpose. Little did we know that there was an underlying theory that claimed the trailer was Kojima’s way of covertly insulting Konami, the company he had a rocky past with.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the OD trailer itself from The Game Awards. The trailer begins with a cryptic dialogue, “The hungry purple dinosaur ate the kind zingy Fox, the jabbering crab, and the Mad whale and started vending and quacking.” At first glance, these words may seem nonsensical, but according to an insane theory, each phrase holds a hidden meaning related to Kojima’s tumultuous relationship with Konami.
The theory suggests that the “Mad Whale” represents Death Stranding, one of Kojima’s projects after leaving Konami. In Death Stranding they explore the concept of Cetacean stranding, which refers to when whales and dolphins strand themselves on land. This connection may imply that Kojima felt stranded and abandoned by Konami, leading to the creation of Death Stranding.
Next, we have “the jabbering crab,” which is believed to be a reference to Kojima himself. Kojima expressed his desire to become a crab in the past, a creature known for its adaptability and resilience. This peculiar statement further emphasizes the personal significance of the trailer and its intended message, and how deeply connected Kojima is to his games and the company. Maybe his wish to be a crab indicates how he wanted to become more resilient.
Polishing the game while preparing things for TGS, and promotions after that as well as for the next project.
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) September 7, 2019
I want to become a crab🦀 pic.twitter.com/d11tBgUZLG
Moving on, the “kind zingy Fox” is an obvious nod to the Fox Engine, a game engine that was developed by Kojima during his time at Konami. The Fox Engine was a testament to Kojima’s creativity and technical prowess, however, it ultimately remained with Konami after his departure due to various legal reasons. The inclusion of the Fox Engine in the trailer implies that Konami “ate” this valuable asset, taking it away from the creator.
Lastly, we have the “hungry purple dinosaur,” which is speculated to represent the Metal Gear Solid franchise and potentially even Konami itself. Konami released a children’s game about dinosaurs in the past, and Metal Gear Solid featured a T-rex named Gear Rex. The theory suggests that the “hungry purple dinosaur” symbolizes Konami’s greed and its consumption of Kojima’s creations, though this is the most tentative aspect of the theory, in my opinion.
When we piece together these references, the theory claims that the quote, “Konami ate the Fox Engine, Kojima, and Death Stranding and started vending and quacking,” is a covert message from Kojima to express his frustration and disappointment with Konami’s actions.
While this theory may seem far-fetched, it cannot be denied that Kojima is known for his cryptic and layered storytelling. The trailer’s dialogue, combined with Kojima’s history with Konami, adds weight to the theory’s plausibility. However, it’s important to remember that theories like these should be taken with a grain of salt, it’s okay to have some fun and speculate but harassing developers or companies isn’t the right thing to do. Only Kojima himself knows the true intentions behind the OD trailer.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
