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European PSN update for April 17th
The second of this week's PSN Store updates is already up. While it's a little slimmer than the one earlier this week everything on the list below is worth grabbing. Especially as it's mostly all free. The only thing that isn't free is the Warhawk expansion, but we're sure you won't mind shelling out a few measly quid for that. Here's the full release list for today: Metal Gear Online public Beta (free) Warhawk: Operation Broken Mirror expansion pack (£3.99/€5.99) LAIR "Deadly Dragons" add-on (free) Grand Theft Auto 4 "Everyone's a rat" trailer (free) Don't forget that while the MGO Beta client is available now, the servers won't be open for business until April 21st. In the meantime you can sign up for a Konami ID and make sure you're ready to start playing as soon as possible. We know the next four days are going to be going pretty slowly for you, so why don't you try out Operation Broken Mirror to take your mind off it?
Joyswag: Win a Metal Gear Online beta entry code
[Update: Entry period is over, folks. We're contacting our winner by email, so go check!]Sure, in Europe the Metal Gear Online "Premiere Beta" is open to any and all who wander into the PlayStation Store beginning, well, right now. But that's just not how we do things here in America! ( ... and Canada.) We prefer our beta testing to be ultra-exclusive. We prefer passing a crisp bill across the counter in exchange for an entry code (and a DVD of some old footage). But, if you've been feeling distinctly un-American (shame on you!) and have failed to pre-order Metal Gear Solid 4, here's your chance to sneak right into the Metal Gear Online beta. Joystiq wants to welcome you to Konami's swanky 14-day parté by giving away one, single, solitary entry code into the beta (just one). Follow these five, deceptively simple rules to enter: To enter this giveaway, leave a comment crying out for Snake. (You know, something like: Snake? SNAKE? SNAAAAAKEE??!!) You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec -- sorry folks, but Snake just can't hear you from there). Limit 1 entry per person per calendar day. (We can only take so much of your yelling.) This entry period ends at 12:00pm ET on Monday, April 21st. We'll randomly select the winner at that time (please check your email!). For a list of complete rules, click here. %Gallery-20689%
Download Metal Gear Online beta now, a day early
After double checking our Men of Metal Gear Solid pinup calendar (April is Raiden's month) we thought some of you had gone crazy. The Metal Gear Online beta is live now? Oh no, it couldn't be. You see, it's only the 16th and, as we all know, it won't be available for download until the 17th. But evidently the PSN gatekeepers have let this 741MB download loose a day early so, if you've got a preorder voucher for the beta (see above), you may want to get downloading. Or not ... you still won't be able to snap your buddies' necks until the beta kicks off on April 21.
New Metal Gear Online details: catapults, customization and Konami IDs
The US PlayStation Blog has unleashed a massive amount of Metal Gear Online details in preparation for the oncoming beta. The client becomes available for download on April 17, with online play beginning April 21. According to the blog, a Konami ID will be required for play. You can register in the client or go ahead and make one now.You'll be able to customize your character's appearance extensively, which will likely only deter people for a few minutes from playing as (a now self-made) Solid Snake. Skills in the game will be upgradeable, and you choose four to specialize in. Said the blog, "Close Quarter Combat (CQC), knife fighting, quickness, alertness, heavy weaponry mastery, demolition, and sniper mastery are just some of the skills you can specialize in."Also revealed are a list of weapons and items you can use in the game, two new sepia-infused maps are also revealed, Blood Bath and Groznyj Grad, and the best idea so far: catapults for launching your character across maps. Gallery: Metal Gear Online [Via PS3 Fanboy]
First 'Metal Gear Monday' PS.Blog post details MGO beta
Mondays are about to get a lot more interesting for fans of Metal Gear Solid. Every week new info will be posted on the PlayStation.Blog for anyone who wants to learn more about Metal Gear Solid 4 and Metal Gear Online (we suspect that's a lot of you!) The first post details exactly what will take place during the Metal Gear Online beta that begins this month, including screenshots of the levels, weapon details and more.The post also guides you through creating a Konami ID (previously a Japan-only affair, but now available worldwide) and setting yourself up to play the Metal Gear Online beta. The beta itself will take place between April 21st and May 5th (though it ends on May 6th for Europe) and you will require a beta key in order to take part (Europeans needn't worry about this - the beta is open for everyone in the region). As yet, there's no word on cross-region play, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.
No preorder needed, Metal Gear Online beta open in Europe
While North America is used to getting things early, it looks like European Metal Gear fans will get the last comically exaggerated laugh after all (really, stop laughing, we get it). After a brief mention in a SCEE press release, Konami has confirmed that the "Metal Gear Online Premiere Beta will be available as a free download on the PlayStation Store" from April 17th to May 6th ... in Europe.Just so we're clear, Europeans don't need to pre-order Metal Gear Solid 4 to get into the beta and they'll be sneaking from April 21st through May 6th, while North American gamers will only be snapping necks from April 21st through May 5th, a full day shorter? Coupled with the Limited Edition limitation, those of us in North America are feeling a bit unloved, Konami ... now we know how Raiden feels every day of his life. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
SCEE announces next PSN Store update, including MGO beta [Update]
SCEE has confirmed that the PSN Store redesign will be going live on April 15th. It has also been revealed that the European Store won't get updated until Thursday the 17th, but it should be worth the wait. A list of upcoming content was included in the press release, including the European Metal Gear Online beta. From the looks of things, it'll be an open beta for anyone who wants to take part, unlike in the US or Japan where beta keys were handed out with Metal Gear Solid 4 preorders. Here's what we can expect to see next Thursday: Metal Gear Online Premiere Beta Warhawk: Operation Broken Mirror expansion Lair "Diabolical Dragons" pack Lair "Skyguard Upgrade" pack "A collection of trailers including the latest for GTA IV" Sega Superstar Tennis demo Looks like that "special update" we were promised was pointing towards the MGO beta. Nice to see Europe not getting shafted in the end -- in fact, they get the best deal. A seemingly open beta. We're not sure whether the content listed above is exhaustive, but assume for now that it is. We'll let you know if we find out otherwise.[Update] Konami has confirmed that the beta will be completely open and will last between April 21st and May 6th. After May 6th the beta client will be removed from the PSN Store.%Gallery-19482%%Gallery-12719%
Europe will get MGO beta too
According to Eurogamer, Konami has told them that a European Metal Gear Online beta will be announced "shortly." This is excellent news for Europeans, especially for the lot of you trying to sneak onto the Japanese beta sign-up but keep getting locked out. Naughty. In any case, you can stop the nail-biting anxiety now. Also, cancel that planned trip down to the pub -- the one you usually reserve for occasional grumblings on being left in the dark again.While Euros await the chance to pounce on a sign-up, North Americans are sitting at home with paranoia for the past few weeks safeguarding their beta access codes from potential intruders. We're keeping it under lock and key, and behind a sawed-off shotgun. See, getting things early isn't always that much of a slick deal.
MGS4 pre-order DVDs shipping with MGO beta keys, beta to begin April 21
Those who are truly anticipating the further adventures of the now mustachioed, raisin-wrinkled Solid Snake have no doubt hesitantly slid a five-dollar bill across the counter of their nearest brick-and-mortar, trying not to meet the crisp, judgmental eyes of Abraham Lincoln as they fulfill the reservation fee for Metal Gear Solid 4. Well, at least your shame before The Great Emancipator wasn't endured in vain -- copies of Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2, complete with beta access keys for Metal Gear Online, are currently shipping to retailers to be distributed to loyal pre-orderers.The DVD includes backstory on the major characters in the Metal Gear franchise, as well as a few trailers for MGS4, but the real treasure in this early bird bonus is the access code which will allow you to download the MGO beta on April 17, and play the fourquel's online counterpart from April 21 until May 5 -- at which point bleary-eyed FOXHOUND fanatics will emerge from their houses to an unfamiliar world; one where cowbots don't roam the streets, and neck-snapping is almost universally frowned upon.
People receive MGS4 pre-order bonus early, MGO beta info revealed
Over on the IGN boards, a forum poster uploaded pictures of the Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 DVD and stated that these pre-order bonus discs were ready for pick up. However, we gave several local Gamestops a call yet none of them have the discs up for grabs. Chances are your local Gamestop wouldn't have them either, so don't bother calling. For those who don't know what this DVD is, it's a documentary highlighting a part of Metal Gear Solid's history; it is only available to those who have pre-ordered Metal Gear Solid 4 from US retailer Gamestop. The poster also revealed some information on the upcoming beta test for Metal Gear Online. According to a slip within the DVD case, the beta will be available for download on April 17 and will run from April 21 through May 5.On a related note, teetering fans anxious to get their hands on the bonus DVD might want to double check Gamestop's website. They've been listing a scrumptious limited edition version of MGS4 for quite some time now. Better check that one out if you're a real hunter of all things collectible.
New Metal Gear Online screens, now with lots of English
The public beta test for Metal Gear Online will be coming next month for those who pre-ordered Metal Gear Solid 4. In order to prepare all you MGS fans out there for the upcoming frag-fest, we suggest you have a look at these new screens, courtesy of Gamersyde. Things look like they're coming along smoothly, and the scores of English text only means we're getting closer and closer to those fateful beta days.In the meantime, we suggest you start thinking of your special Metal Gear code name fast before someone else snatches it up. If you're having trouble finding the right name, we suggest you use this old friend of ours: Metal Gear name generator. This blogger's MGS code name is "Contageous Mandrill." Meh. What's yours?
Metal Gear Solid 4 confirmed for June 12th worldwide
Konami has issued a press release today which confirms the rumored report of Metal Gear Solid 4's June 12th release date. The latest issue of Japanese magazine Dengeki PlayStation also reports that June 12th will be the Japanese release date for the game. Hideo Kojima made a statement last year at Leipzig during which he said that he firmly intended on making Metal Gear Solid 4 a simultaneous worldwide release and that it is regrettable that Europe has to so often wait longer to receive games. Let's hope his plan comes to fruition and we can all, throughout the world, enjoy the game when June 12th rolls around.The press release also confirms that Metal Gear Online will come bundled with MGS4 in the form of a "Starter Pack", but it's still unclear how this "Starter Pack" will differ from the full release. Those that pre-order the game will receive a bonus DVD entitled "Metal Gear Saga 2.0" which will contain a prologue recapping the entire series so far and a 20th Anniversary retrospective. Other features on the DVD include character profiles for all the main characters and trailers for the game. It's unclear whether any of this will be included with the European version, but we'll try and find out soon.
More Metal Gear Online Images
Does the above image look like it belongs somewhere else? Well, it sort of does to us; the background environment reminds us more of another Konami hit series, Silent Hill, than it does Metal Gear Solid. That is, of course, once you take out all the Russian soldiers.Luckily, it's only this screenshot out of a batch that made us think so; the rest of the screenshots look mighty fine. Check out the rest of the new images at The Magic Box.
MGS Online images display cardboard box strategy
Set in what we can only assume is the same world as Metal Gear Solid 4, the new Metal Gear Online title is shaping up to be quite the sexy goddess of tactical espionage action we've been dying to see. What you can check out in this slew of new screenshots is that hiding in cardboard boxes is still pretty convenient to get the drop on your opponents -- there appear to be boxes sitting around everywhere. Still, shooting every box you come across is always going to be your best option.If boxes aren't your cup of tea, how about narrow hallways? When you get tired of the mayhem of an open-field massacre, take your team and huddle around an open doorway leading into a hall and create a complicated ambush of unlimited fire. The possibilities are out there for this game to become one heck of a title, so we'll keep you as updated as possible on new images, game features, and maybe even someday, a release date.
Kojima talks Metal Gear Online, Xbox 360 and "The Rumble Guy"
After his Leipzig presentation, Hideo Kojima took some time to answer some questions from the audience. When asked if Metal Gear Online will be separate from the main MGS4 game, he answered: "When you play story mode you will be able to go online and it will have extra stuff at the end. Haven't decided whether it will be separate or not, but if you buy MGS4 you can play a portion of online at least."When asked about rumble, Kojima-san told a tale of woe: "In Kojima Productions there is a man, we call him The Rumble Guy, and he has nothing to do right now. So every day I worry about him. I want to include Rumble so that he has something to do." Please Sony! Give The Rumble Guy something to do!Finally, when asked about a 360 version, he reconfirmed what we knew all along: "Right now it's only being made for PS3. No plans for 360 for now." For the complete Q&A, visit Joystiq.
Metal Gear Online beta starts in Japan this August
From the Tokyo-based Metal Gear Solid 20th Anniversary event that spawned a new PSP graphic novel and a cell phone outing for Snake, comes word that 3,000 players will be selected to participate in a beta program for Metal Gear Online. The game, which allows up to 16 players to engage in sneaky neck-snapping shenanigans, will be tested from August 20th until September 3rd.Players hoping to be included in the beta can apply at the Kojima Productions website as of today -- entries close on August 6th. If you find yourself quite geographically removed from the East, you'd best hope Konami announces a similar program for the rest of the world or, at the very least, a release window for Metal Gear Online.
