Premium Episode 90 - Ophiology: the Metal Gear Solid Franchise and the Case of Keenie Meenie Services, feat. Nick Vyssotsky

[originally published on Patreon Dec 22, 2023]

Today I'm joined by Nick Vyssotsky (@cuss_otaku) to discuss Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid video game franchise. Nick takes us through the franchise's alternate history and we discuss the various themes involving Private Military Contractors, parapsychology, Programed to Kill themes, black budgets, AI guided governance, and on and on.

Then I discuss the real-world example of a particular PMC, Keenie Meenie Services. I discuss their formation in places like Yemen, Angola, and Northern Ireland and their ongoing presence in places like Oman, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, El Salvador, etc.

episode artwork by Vyssotsky (@cuss_otaku)

Songs:

Too Hot For My Chinchilla by Tangerine Dream

The Dream Is Always the Same by Tangerine Dream

Tear Down the Grey Skies by Tangerine Dream

Forbidden Colours by Ryuichi Sakamoto