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Metal Gear Solid theme omitted from MGS4 due to plagiarism claims

December 12, 2008 in News comments 13

While Konami hasn't made any open statements, the company decided not to include the famed Metal Gear Solid theme in Guns of the Patriots due to plagiarism accusations regarding the musical piece. Russian composers have pointed out an uncanny resemblance between classic MGS theme, first heard in 1998, and a 1979 Russian composition.

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In a video post on YouTube, Russian men present Hideo Kojima with a musical piece that appears to resemble the MGS theme. Hideo smiles at first, perhaps recognizing the song and thinking that it is a tribute to the franchise, until the men explain that the recording is actually from "Pushkin's Garland," written by Georgy Sviridov in 1979.
RabidChinaGirl via neoseeker.com »
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  • 0
    Drogo Baggins Dec 12, 08
    EDIT: Okay, changed my stupid statement....

    Anyway, I don't think they sound THAT similar...
  • 1
    iLLmatic Dec 12, 08
    You're not listening clearly if you don't think they sound that similar. I've seen that clip before and I reacted just the way Kojima did. I knew I didn't hear the damn song in MGS4. I got into this whole argument with some idiot on a message board, because I was disappointed to not hear it in the finale of the series, but he said it was in there. There is a variation on the soundtrack, but the original theme is clearly not in the game. I didn't know any accusations actually came to light though.
  • 0
    Krunal Dec 13, 08
    I'm sorry but I just don't notice any similarity between the two.

    Here's the Main Theme which you can compare it to: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zqqq8uqSDnk

    But personally, I don't see any similarities between the two.
    • 1
      Onvacation Dec 13, 08
      You don't think 0:57 of your video sounds like 0:54 from the OP video onwards?
  • 0
    Bale Fire Dec 13, 08
    Kind of ironic that Kojima is scared to put the theme music for his series in the final title for fear of copyright issues.
    • 1
      Xenctuary Dec 13, 08
      How is that at all ironic?
      • 0
        Drogo Baggins Dec 13, 08
        I guess he's trying to point out that Kojima had no problem with the song being in MGS1-3?

        If that's what he's trying to say, then I guess he doesn't know that Kojima only recently realized the songs' similarities.

        EDIT: I listened to both songs, and I'll say that they do sound similar, but definitely not to the point of plagiarism.

        They each have different tempos and pitches with notes. I'd say the largest similarity would be the point at which both songs slow down, and start up again, which is about 30-40 seconds into it.

        I doubt there would've been any legal problems if the theme were included in MGS4, but it's good that they covered themselves, just in case.
  • 0
    Arikardo Dec 13, 08
    I always wondered why the MGS theme wasn't in MGS4 and now i know. Christ they are rather similar, the Russian piece sounds like a very mellow version of the MGS theme. I hope this wasn't blatant plagarism as i do love that piece of music.
  • 0
    Dramon Knight Dec 13, 08
    So, plagiarism huh?

    Great, well at least I know the story behind the issue now.
  • 0
    BANDITO ATTACK Dec 13, 08
    metal gear solid has a theme song?
    i never knew this. all the music in the mgs games seems pretty forgettable to me.
    • 0
      Arikardo Dec 13, 08
      I sense a troll...haha, i saw what you did there.
  • 0
    Miss Razz Dec 13, 08
    I thought the copyright issue had been cleared up a few months before MGS4's release? It's a shame Kojima felt the need to not include the theme in MGS4 at all. There's definitely a similarity between the two songs, but the songs as a whole are completely different.
  • 0
    RabidChinaGirl Dec 13, 08
    I think they do sound very similar, but I [i]don't[/b] believe that the similarities were intentional. Unless they can prove the composer listened the the Russian piece prior to writing the MGS theme, the resemblance is purely coincidental.

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