“They can't break free, they can't quit, they can't lose. It felt like that when Metal Gear started gaining fans and I started getting fan letters.”
Kojima said he worked on the Metal Gear series for so long because it was something he truly wanted to make, and that as long as there were fans it became his reason for living, like an athlete. He said it felt that way when Metal Gear started gaining fans and he began receiving fan letters. He kept working on the series for a while, but for better or worse he eventually went independent and could no longer work on it, so he stopped.
“I worked on the Metal Gear series for so long, but it was truly something I wanted to make. And as long as there were fans, it became my reason for living, kind of like an athlete. […] I kept working on it for a while, but for better or worse, I eventually went independent and couldn't work on it anymore, so I stopped.”