I think everyone who played MGS3 must know about Ivan Raidenovitch Raikov, the major of Volgin's army and also heavily implied to be in a relationship with Volgin.
As his name and appearance already shows, he is made to look like Raiden, and the "joke" was that he appeared this time as being homosexual, because that was what westerners were rabidly "joking" to the point that it reached his ears.
Anyway, I did a bit of digging and the way it was framed is a bit fucked up in my opinion
What Kojima had said about this in the director's commentary was that he left the decision to knock out or *kill* Raidenovitch up to the player. The goal was simply to steal his clothes and dump him in a locker, which can be done by knocking him out.
So It wasn't that he was in the game as a joke, it was also that you could take matters into your hand and end his life because you dislike him since he is the stand-in for Raiden, but this time as the gay man that bigots tried to frame him as.
Killing any other "key" players would result in a time paradox in MGS3, but somehow Raikov can be killed without any repercussions, even if the joke is that he stands in for Raiden. The attention to detail is also thrown out of the window, it doesn't matter that your uniform is full of blood from killing him, Snake can wear his uniform to infiltrate the base without any issue.
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His name is also supposed to be a pun spelling out "Thunderbolt's bitch" (Thunderbolt being Volgin) according to Kojima
He also had put a photo where you could see Volgin's hand reaching for Raikov's crotch but it was cut off from the edges according to Kojima.
Kojima also played the joke about Snake being clueless that Raikov is gay
Source: http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary4.html
http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary4.html
Looking at it again, it is weird that he would specifically implement Raiden as a joke and making him gay just because that's what bigots were hammering about. Why would you indulge on what bigots says instead of standing your ground about the character you made ? Why even allow him to be killed as a "decision" ?
I don't understand why going through all this when the only people who would be glad about it are of the worst kind. Making Raiden the butt of the joke is one thing, retroactively making him gay through another character was utterly unnecessary.
As his name and appearance already shows, he is made to look like Raiden, and the "joke" was that he appeared this time as being homosexual, because that was what westerners were rabidly "joking" to the point that it reached his ears.
Anyway, I did a bit of digging and the way it was framed is a bit fucked up in my opinion
What Kojima had said about this in the director's commentary was that he left the decision to knock out or *kill* Raidenovitch up to the player. The goal was simply to steal his clothes and dump him in a locker, which can be done by knocking him out.
So It wasn't that he was in the game as a joke, it was also that you could take matters into your hand and end his life because you dislike him since he is the stand-in for Raiden, but this time as the gay man that bigots tried to frame him as.
Kojima said:
Killing any other "key" players would result in a time paradox in MGS3, but somehow Raikov can be killed without any repercussions, even if the joke is that he stands in for Raiden. The attention to detail is also thrown out of the window, it doesn't matter that your uniform is full of blood from killing him, Snake can wear his uniform to infiltrate the base without any issue.
____
His name is also supposed to be a pun spelling out "Thunderbolt's bitch" (Thunderbolt being Volgin) according to Kojima
Kojima said:
He also had put a photo where you could see Volgin's hand reaching for Raikov's crotch but it was cut off from the edges according to Kojima.
Kojima said:
Kojima also played the joke about Snake being clueless that Raikov is gay
Snake: EVA, about this Major Raikov...
EVA: Yes?
Snake: You said he had 'Colonel-class' authorization, right?
EVA: Right.
Snake: But his rank is Major. So how can he have 'Colonel-class' authorization?
EVA: Raikov is treated as an officer of equal rank with Colonel Volgin.
Snake: Treated as the same rank?
EVA: Yeah.
Snake: Even though he's a Major?
EVA: Right.
Snake: Why?
EVA: You don't know?
Snake: No.
EVA: Even after seeing that photo?
Snake: Nope.
EVA: Has anyone ever told you you're a bit slow?
Snake: What are you talking about?
EVA: I'll leave you to think about it.
Snake: Wait a minute...
EVA: Gotta go.
__
Dialogue 2:
Snake: EVA, what kind of guy is Raikov?
EVA: He's Volgin's precious pet.
Snake: Anything else?
EVA: He's got a handsome face.
Snake: Is that what you really think?
EVA: No, I'm just being objective. I'm not interested in people who aren't interested in me.
Snake: I was hoping to get some useful info for becoming him.
EVA: He seems mild-mannered, but the kind of guy who would sit in his room and admire his bug collection.
Snake: That still doesn't help me much. Anything more?
EVA: I really don't know, Snake. Can't you just observe him and copy him yourself?
Snake: Why are you so evasive about this?
EVA: ...People like me don't even exist in his little world.
Snake: I see...
EVA: Okay then...
Snake: Did he dump you?
EVA: "I see..." huh? You don't get it at all! No, not THAT. I'm just not good with his type.
Snake: But...
EVA: If this conversation goes on any longer, I'm going to send my fist through this radio into your head! Figure him out yourself. Later!
Snake: ?
__
Dialogue 3:
EVA: The security in the west wing where Sokolov is being held is extremely tight. The only ones who are cleared to enter the west wing are those with colonel-class authorization. One of those people is Major Raikov. To get into the west wing, you could disguise yourself as Raikov. First, you'll have to take Raikov out and steal his uniform. He's in the east wing of the weapons lab in the center of Groznyj Grad. The east wing is northeast/east/north of your current location. Head northeast./Head east./Head north./You're in the vicinity of the east wing. Proceed to infiltrate.
Snake: All right. But why?
EVA: Huh?
Snake: Why do I have to steal Raikov's clothes from him? What about that scientist outfit...
EVA: That's not going to work this time around. Raikov's uniform is a special type that only he wears. You'll have to get it directly from him. Normally I'm pretty good at getting men to take off their clothes, but it won't work on him.
Snake: ?
EVA: You, on the other hand, might have a better chance with him.
Snake: What's that supposed to mean?
EVA: What indeed. Anyway, the only way to get Raikov's uniform is to take him out and steal it yourself. He's somewhere in the east wing.
EVA: Yes?
Snake: You said he had 'Colonel-class' authorization, right?
EVA: Right.
Snake: But his rank is Major. So how can he have 'Colonel-class' authorization?
EVA: Raikov is treated as an officer of equal rank with Colonel Volgin.
Snake: Treated as the same rank?
EVA: Yeah.
Snake: Even though he's a Major?
EVA: Right.
Snake: Why?
EVA: You don't know?
Snake: No.
EVA: Even after seeing that photo?
Snake: Nope.
EVA: Has anyone ever told you you're a bit slow?
Snake: What are you talking about?
EVA: I'll leave you to think about it.
Snake: Wait a minute...
EVA: Gotta go.
__
Dialogue 2:
Snake: EVA, what kind of guy is Raikov?
EVA: He's Volgin's precious pet.
Snake: Anything else?
EVA: He's got a handsome face.
Snake: Is that what you really think?
EVA: No, I'm just being objective. I'm not interested in people who aren't interested in me.
Snake: I was hoping to get some useful info for becoming him.
EVA: He seems mild-mannered, but the kind of guy who would sit in his room and admire his bug collection.
Snake: That still doesn't help me much. Anything more?
EVA: I really don't know, Snake. Can't you just observe him and copy him yourself?
Snake: Why are you so evasive about this?
EVA: ...People like me don't even exist in his little world.
Snake: I see...
EVA: Okay then...
Snake: Did he dump you?
EVA: "I see..." huh? You don't get it at all! No, not THAT. I'm just not good with his type.
Snake: But...
EVA: If this conversation goes on any longer, I'm going to send my fist through this radio into your head! Figure him out yourself. Later!
Snake: ?
__
Dialogue 3:
EVA: The security in the west wing where Sokolov is being held is extremely tight. The only ones who are cleared to enter the west wing are those with colonel-class authorization. One of those people is Major Raikov. To get into the west wing, you could disguise yourself as Raikov. First, you'll have to take Raikov out and steal his uniform. He's in the east wing of the weapons lab in the center of Groznyj Grad. The east wing is northeast/east/north of your current location. Head northeast./Head east./Head north./You're in the vicinity of the east wing. Proceed to infiltrate.
Snake: All right. But why?
EVA: Huh?
Snake: Why do I have to steal Raikov's clothes from him? What about that scientist outfit...
EVA: That's not going to work this time around. Raikov's uniform is a special type that only he wears. You'll have to get it directly from him. Normally I'm pretty good at getting men to take off their clothes, but it won't work on him.
Snake: ?
EVA: You, on the other hand, might have a better chance with him.
Snake: What's that supposed to mean?
EVA: What indeed. Anyway, the only way to get Raikov's uniform is to take him out and steal it yourself. He's somewhere in the east wing.
Source: http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary4.html
http://www.tentenpro.com/muni_shinobu/mgs3/commentary4.html
Looking at it again, it is weird that he would specifically implement Raiden as a joke and making him gay just because that's what bigots were hammering about. Why would you indulge on what bigots says instead of standing your ground about the character you made ? Why even allow him to be killed as a "decision" ?
I don't understand why going through all this when the only people who would be glad about it are of the worst kind. Making Raiden the butt of the joke is one thing, retroactively making him gay through another character was utterly unnecessary.
