Weiting TU

Supervisor: Dr. Miguel ROSA Duque

My graduation thesis focuses on the protagonists in the MG franchise and Death Stranding's development and investigates the social influences that create their traits. This study examines prior studies' limitations on game mechanics analytics and cinematic narrations. This study aims to enhance existing research by investigating Hideo Kojima's self-created auteurism. It does so by assessing his position as both the director and a game component and by exploring the metafiction technique employed to explore player agency and identity inside the gameplay. Subsequently, a comprehensive examination of the Metal Gear franchise and Death Stranding is conducted to scrutinize the 'hero's journey' concepts in both games and the protagonist's progression towards heroism. This work delves into the physical obstacles, emotional struggles, and ethical quandaries the main characters encounter and how these variations in their experiences influence their development. In addition, the paper focuses on the social influences that shape the protagonist's hero image, inquiries regarding the game director, Hideo Kojima's artistic style, and his awareness of social issues and developmental trends. It aims to offer socially focused and culturally significant perspectives to comprehend Hideo Kojima and his video games.