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Kojima talks about the design of Ludens

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During his San Diego Comic Con talk with Geoff Keighley, Kojima talked about how the design for the company mascot Ludens came to be, from Yoji Shinkawa’s sketches to the final 3D model.

The one on the left is the first design Shinkawa came up with, but it looked too battle-oriented. Kojima wanted it to be a blend between an extra vehicular suit and an armor, so the designs kept evolivng in that direction. The design on the right looked too much like a robot, and Kojima wanted it to be clear there is a person inside.
The one on the left is the first design Shinkawa came up with, but it looked too battle-oriented.
Kojima wanted it to be a blend between an extra vehicular suit and an armor, so the designs kept evolivng in that direction. The design on the right looked too much like a robot, and Kojima wanted it to be clear there is a person inside.
The one on the left looked too much like a space suit. For the ones on the right, Kojima really liked the way the helmet looked: a blend between a space helmet and a medieval knight’s helmet. The addition to the backpack as well, which made it look more like a space suit, was closer to the look Kojima wanted for the character.
The one on the left looked too much like a space suit. For the ones on the right, Kojima really liked the way the helmet looked: a blend between a space helmet and a medieval knight’s helmet. The addition to the backpack as well, which made it look more like a space suit, was closer to the look Kojima wanted for the character.
Several variants of logo designs.
Several variants of logo designs.
Final design.
Final design.
Final version of Ludens design. Kojima points out the small orange objects, Kojima wanted to have something that looked really technologic, that has a ‘techy feeling’. The design of these orange parts is based on the Turing machines. It looks like Ludens is carrying a spear, but it’s actually a flag bearing the Kojima Productions logo.
Final version of Ludens design. Kojima points out the small orange objects, Kojima wanted to have something that looked really technologic, that has a ‘techy feeling’. The design of these orange parts is based on the Turing machines. It looks like Ludens is carrying a spear, but it’s actually a flag bearing the Kojima Productions logo.
Designs of inside the helmet. Kojima wanted it to have an actual person inside, not a robot. The part of the helmet that covers the face is inspired by medieval Japanese armor.
Designs of inside the helmet. Kojima wanted it to have an actual person inside, not a robot. The part of the helmet that covers the face is inspired by medieval Japanese armor.
Designs of the backpack.
Designs of the backpack.
Final design.
Final design.

Originally the model was done by an outside company that is famous for character models in Japan, but Kojima wasn’t satisfied. A young modeler that was part of the team that made the movie Gamera joined Kojima Productions around that time and worked on the model. They worked on the model for about 1,5 month.

The face of Ludens is actually based on data from Kojima’s face, which was 3D scanned. Kojima asked the team to adjust the face a little bit because it was creepy seeing his own face all the time.

During the talk Kojima also showed off an impressive looking logo movie featuring Ludens, which you can check out here.

Kojima-Productions-Logo-Animation

Source: Hideo Kojima Talk at SDCC

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10 thoughts on “Kojima talks about the design of Ludens”

  • Tong Ninja
    July 24, 2016 at 4:03 pm
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    Yoji Shinkawa is an awesome artist. Always interesting to see early concept arts and how it evolves into the final design. 🙂

    Great to hear that the character model for Ludens was done by a young talented modeler. Kojima is doing a good job so far fultoning fresh talent to his new studio. 😛

    About that logo movie, do you think we will see it every time we start up Death Stranding? Because that would be cool haha.

    Reply

    • Yeah this is probably the company ident they’ll be using.

      Reply

  • Looks like the English Twitter account isn’t Mendoza after all.

    Reply

    • This is just a guess, but i think it is Sean Eyestone

      Reply

      • I’m not sure about that. Sean Eyestone is a a good guy and great producer, but how much KojiPro studio will have producers at this point when Kojima needs 100 people at max?
        If that is not Mendoza, he is probably Ludwig Forsell…

        Reply

      • Sean is a better translator so I would be using him more if I had him.

        Reply
  • Punished Fox
    July 24, 2016 at 6:17 pm
    Permalink

    and he did all this concept art just for a “mascot” that isn´t in the new game? BOLLOCKS!

    Reply

  • This Logo has much more going for it than a bunch full games that have come out. LOL I keep wondering about the engine. Is it Unreal or a Sony engine from their in house developers? I mean he has Mark Cerny to give him technical advice so whatever he’s running his new game on, will be pushing the limits of the hardware. Kojima sure loves his whales LOL

    Reply

  • Pingback: New pictures of the Ludens figure by Figma – Metal Gear Informer

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