Although Konami's reputation with video gamers fell this year, it's good to know that the company still occasionally does something good.
Now, Konami is working with The Phantom Limb Project to help create a prosthetic arm for an amputee based on the style of art used in Konami's latest video game, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
In Metal Gear Solid V, the main character, Snake, has a prosthetic arm that players can modify with various in-game items, such as a taser or remote controls for a drone. Although it's unlikely that amputee James Young will get such attachments, he will still get a new prosthetic that looks similar to the one Snake sports in the game.
Konami teamed up with Sophie de Oliveira Barata, a prosthetics artist, to provide a custom arm for Young, who lost an arm and leg after slipping off a train platform.
"The Phantom Limb Project was born out of a desire to create something innovative, on the cusp of future technology, which would explore the themes present within the series and more specifically, the themes and ideas referenced in the latest incarnation: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain," wrote The Phantom Limb Project on its blog. "We also wanted to tell an uplifting human story of what it means to be an amputee, to feel phantom pain, to overcome loss and how technology can change our perceptions of 'disability'. Moreover, the story of how one gamer known as James Young, never let his condition get in the way of his passion as a gamer."
Young became an inspiration after releasing photos of several of his Halloween costumes, which took advantage of his amputations: he posed as a shark attack victim, complete with fake blood and gore. Those images became a hit on Reddit.
"The costume has been exceptionally well received by my friends, and my family impressed with my sense of humour due to coming along with me on the long journey of recovery from the accident," said Young to Daily Dot. "One of my friends thought it was cool but was reminded of seeing me with my injuries at the time. ...There are always going to be memories of what has happened to me that won't go away, so we just have to take enjoyment from the now, and the future."
Perhaps next Halloween will see Young with his new prosthetic arm as Metal Gear Solid V's Snake. The Phantom Limb Project hopes to release Young's story, as well as document the journey taken to create the prosthetic in a three-part film.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is available now everywhere video games are sold for PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
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