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TGS 2009: Hands-on: Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker (co-op)
Sharing a flimsy, cardboard box with another soldier is sure to be an inexhaustible supply of awkward discomfort. Aside from the clear violation of personal space, there are two major concerns for the occupants of Metal Gear Solid's iconic camouflage: (1) Who's driving this thing? And (2) that better be your gun poking me in the back, I swear.Thankfully, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker has an elegant solution for the former problem. Holding up on the PSP's d-pad will "sync" you with your sneaking partner(s) and, as long as the button remains held down, you'll stay in automatic lockstep with the leader. Remaining a cohesive group is an essential strategy for a silent approach, though splitting up offers its own advantages as well.%Gallery-73875%
Razer announces the Naga MMO mouse
BlizzCon isn't the only big gaming convention happening this week (though you'd never known it from reading our site -- we're a bit obsessive, no?). Gamescom is going on in Germany, and gaming equipment manufacturer Razer has announced there that they're releasing a new mouse, specifically designed for MMO games. They put it together in conjunction with MMO players (they say the folks at Curse had a hand in it), and while it isn't officially tied to Blizzard as far as we can tell (Steelseries already has that market cornered), there is one interesting connection. They decided to call this new mouse the "Naga."Technically the word is Sanskrit for "snake," and especially since most of Razer's mice are already named after scaly reptiles, we suppose it works. But given that the mouse is supposed to be designed for MMO gameplay (it has a twelve button thumb grid, supposedly to keep your hands off of spell buttons and on movement buttons where they belong), it's probably a happy coincidence that the name of the product is reminiscent of well-known villians in one very famous MMO. Good show, Razer.They also have a new "mousing surface" (back when I was a kid, we just called them mousepads) called the Megasoma. Both are available right now, and they ain't cheap: $80 for the mouse, and $50 for the pad. But if you want to go high-end on a mouse, and the Naga strikes your fancy, there you go.
MGS: Peace Walker screens are hiding under a cardboard tank
Click image to sneak into our gallery Coming up with headlines is tough -- except in the case of these new MGS: Peace Walker screens from GamesCom. There are plenty of screens to ogle (ten, to be exact!), but none tug at the heart strings more than the screen you see above. There's something magical about two Snakes running around with cardboard disguises that just ... you'll have to excuse us, we have something in our eye.%Gallery-70455%
Konami game revenue dips during fiscal Q1, Snake nowhere to be found
Snake?! Snake?! SNAAAAAAAKE?! news now with Konami's financial results for its first quarter (which ended June 30, 2009) showing a notable decrease in revenue, both company-wide and within the video game sector. Edge reports that overall revenues sank 21 percent to $535 million, while sales accrued from video games dropped 50 percent to $103 million. A 45.1 percent slide in net revenues within the digital sector to $258.6 million was attributed to the gradual sales withdrawal of 2008's lucrative PlayStation 3 exclusive, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, as well as "changes in the economic environment."Konami reportedly sold 2.96 million video games during the quarter, the majority of which were not Metal Gear Solid 4 and 860,000 of which were soccer games. The publisher plans to have a stronger showing during the second half of 2009, thanks to titles like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, the latest iteration of Pro Evolution Soccer and, of course, DDR Ultra Awesome Kick Mix 2010 EX Gyration Splendour Special (not an actual title). The future will arguably prove to be even more fortuitous, what with the bold decision to release a Metal Gear Solid game on more than one platform. [Image: Mega 64]
Kojima finally explains his wacky countdown site
Remember when Kojima's countdown ended ... and started another countdown? Man, that was fun! The creator of the Metal Gear series seemingly had a big laugh as he teased gamers all the way to his E3 announcements: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for PSP, Metal Gear Solid: Rising for PS3 and Xbox 360, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.As the countdown continued, the site featured a number of symbols that flashed on the screen. Many of you attempted to break the code ... but were you successful? Kojima just revealed what each of those symbols was supposed to mean: 5 = it is an MGS5 class game S = Snake 巳＝snake in Kanji E = E3 R = Raiden 3 = 3 from 360 and E3 6 = 6 from 360 P and S = PSP and adding 3 makes it PS3 Once again, Kojima asks gamers: "Did you like it?" We think we can speak for most gamers when we say ... "no."
Carnegie Mellon's robotic snake stars in a glamour video
We've been pretty into Carnegie Mellon's modular snake robots for a while now, and seeing as it's a relatively sleepy Sunday we thought we'd share this latest video of snakebots just basically crawling all over the place and getting crazy. Bots like these have been getting some serious military attention lately, so watching these guys wriggle into any damn spot they please is at once awesome and terrifying. Or maybe it's just the music. Video after the break.[Thanks, Curtis]
Israeli military develops robot snake for battlefield, children's nightmares
While this is by no means the first time we've seen a robotic snake prototype, it ain't every day that we find one so close to deployment. This self-propelling, two foot long robot can crawl along the ground, climb through debris, and even stand erect to give the operator a better view through the forward-mounted camera. The Israeli Defense Force says it will use this thing for "routine surveillance and reconnaissance." And if this is not enough? In that case, the prototype can be wired with explosives -- making it, in the words of the Jerusalem Post, a "suicide snake." Fun! And rather upsetting. No proposed price or timetable yet, but you can see the thing in action for yourself after the break.
Konami expecting profits to rise by 88% (thanks, MGS4!)
Snake is still getting the job done, with Metal Gear Solid 4 publisher Konami forecasting an optimistic increase in profits, largely thanks to the senior stealth citizen's shenanigans. The company expects its financial results for the first-half fiscal year (due next week) to show an 88% rise in profits to 11.8 billion yen, with revenues increasing 9.8% to 146.9 billion yen.Now, if only there was some way to sell Metal Gear Solid 4 to more people.
Polymorph: Black Cat, Serpent found in Dalaran
I don't know how new this is but it's news to me, and great news to Mages looking for more Polymorphing fun -- reader Alassiel on Uldaman (thanks!) was poking around Dalaran in the beta, and in the Sisters Sorcerous shop, he found a new Polymorph spell, Black Cat, for... wait for it... 2500g. Yes, it'll cost you more than twice a Gigantique bag, but if you're looking for a new Poly spell and don't want to muck around in the waters of ZG, there you go. And apparently Polymorph: Serpent is also occasionally sold by the same character for the same price.Both spells seem to be level 60 spells, strangely enough (Update: Because, I learned in the comments, the highest rank of Polymorph is obtained at level 60), so if your 60 Mage has 5000g just sitting around or has a rich alt willing to pay the price, you could be using them then. WoWWiki also says the prices are rep-related, so if you do a little grinding for the Kirin Tor, you might be able to pick them up for cheaper. And don't forget that this is Wrath -- 2500g is likely only a few days of dailies anyway. Polymorph on!
World of Warcrafts: Crimson Serpent
Every Thursday, Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle guides you in creating WoW-inspired crafts using real world mats with World of WarCrafts.Behold the Crimson Serpent Figurine. This real world trinket probably won't give you any additional stamina or intellect, and the increase to magic power is debatable. But it is guaranteed never to go limp in your time of need and there's no pesky 2 minute cool-down. Just don't whip it out in an inappropriate setting like work or school.Here is what you will need: Porcelain Clay Acrylic Paint (Red & Black) Paint Brushes Krylon Crystal Clear Glaze Toothpick Click on the images below to view a gallery of step-by-step instructions. %Gallery-33326%
'A Snake for a new era,' Kojima teases
A brief interview with Hideo Kojima at Variety isn't so much full of megatons – he hasn't read much Haruki Murakami but he does enjoy Phillip Dick and Kurt Vonnegut – as it is with some insights into the supposed "end" of his Metal Gear Solid series.Kojima shares some of his thought process on the creation of "Old Snake" – "I made him this way because of the unique characteristics of the game medium ... he represents the players themselves because of the interactive nature of games" – as well as teasing what we may be able to expect from "a new Snake." Kojima says, "If there ever were to be a new Snake (might have a different name), he will be a Snake for a new era." No, we're not sure what that means either, but it gives us great satisfaction in knowing that Kojima probably does.
Snake versus Raiden: the SCIV user generated match
The character creation tools of Soulcalibur IV look to be rather robust. Kotaku's CB has created facsimiles of our favorite Metal Gear Solid characters, Snake and Raiden, using the in-game system. While not 100% spot-on, these renders do add a distinct Metal Gear flair to the classic fighter. Seeing these two fighting on the Death Star with Soulcalibur weapons ... well, that's the kind of stuff fanfics are made of.[Thanks, Gambit07!]
Sakurai: 'I had a lot more characters' in Brawl
What do you think of Smash Bros. Brawl? Great game, right? Yeah, we think so, too. Is it missing something, though? Perhaps extra characters?According to ONM, Sakurai himself cut a couple of characters from the roster. "I had a lot more characters, for example.. but sadly I can't discuss which ones didn't make it," he said to ONM in an interview that will be featured in their next issue, hitting newsstands on Friday. How does that sit with you?For us, it's not much of a big deal. The game's already packed with a ton of characters, and even includes wonderful bits of fan service in Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog. So, we're not complaining.%Gallery-3347%
OMGS4: Sales exceed 1 million in Europe during first week
Senior stealth citizen news now, with European Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots sales exceeding one million units in its first week. Konami has called the demand for the game "exceptional," noting that the final chapter in Solid Snake's spiraling saga has seen high sales in all European territories. The 25,000 Limited Edition copies made available to the continent were "almost immediately" sold out. Figures. The PlayStation 3 sneak-em-up has seen similar success in Japan, outselling its closest competitor by a factor of 12. If you're among the million Metal Gears Sold and don't know your Gekkos from your Frogs, be sure to download the free MGS4 Database from the Euro PlayStation Network this Thursday.
Nega-review: Metal Gear Solid 4
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/MGS4_Nega_review_A_Look_at_All_Bad_Comments_From_Reviews'; "Metal Gear Solid 4 is not the inclusive, universally entertaining experience it could have been." (7) It "is a frustrating, fractured game" (2) that "feels ... like a genie struggling to find enough goodies in the lamp, slave to the demands of everyone but itself." (1) "Metal Gear Solid 4 is, in most senses, the biggest Metal Gear yet. But the best? Maybe not." (2) "As the game starts, with its fairly generic next-gen textures and desert battlefield setting, you can't help feeling that you could be playing the latest Call of Duty, or Assassin's Creed." (3) "After a few chapters, [the] gameplay ... begins to mutate into linear action that feels like an afterthought amidst all the story." (4) "The relatively weak second act is more of the same in a much less compelling setting - a rather unconvincing, blandly designed South American backwater - and ennui starts to set in." (2) "More intuitive controls could have made the overall experience a better one." (6) "A new feature called 'Stress' isn't explained quite clearly enough" (5) and "the new Stress and Psyche meters don't really gel with the flow of play." (2) "You'll also spend a good deal of time poking through your inventory in the middle of boss battles and protracted firefights, which can occasionally disrupt the dramatic flow." (5) "Because control is ... complex, it's very easy to do something you didn't want to by accident, and it's painful to see the perfect setup blown in an instant." (6)
Sagacious advice from the MGS4 install screen
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/Sagacious_advice_from_the_Metal_Gear_Solid_4_install_screen'; In case you were thinking of skipping the approximately 8-minute install (which also translates to 4 or 5 cigarettes for our aged hero) and making a sandwich, consider the little bit of humor you'd be missing. If you're still undeterred and plan to ignore the game while it installs, check out our gallery for the sagacious and spoiler-free advice. While some of it is a bit mundane, there are some rather humorous tidbits scattered about. For instance, how does one take a break every 15-minutes when cut-scenes run longer than that? [By pausing, you troll! - Ed]%Gallery-24974% Snake? Snaaaake? SNAAAAAAKE! Check out our Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots page for all things Metal Gear.
The B[ack]log: The Snake is a Lie
This article contains enormous spoilers, just so you know. Playing Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty again, after all these years, has had an interesting effect on my opinion of it. Which is to say, I actually like it now. I'm tempted to compare it to a maturing, fine wine, a substance I'm sure was heavily consumed during the game's development, but the truth is that Sons of Liberty remains every bit the unhinged and convoluted mess I remember it to be. A mess that, with patience and even the slightest idea of what you're getting yourself into, becomes considerably easier to navigate. Wait ... does that make me the wine?
Choi Jung Hyun assembles non-venomous viper with recycled keyboards
Yeah, this one's been slithering around the alleyways of the web for a tick, but it's just too hard to ignore a vicious looking viper created entirely from unwanted keyboards (okay, so glue and a faux tongue were involved, too). Still, the best part isn't the unquestionably amazing use of the dreaded Caps Lock key, it's the crowd of mice this thing is getting ready to feast on. Better check yo'self before you wreck yo'self, kids.[Via MAKE]
Friday Video: Smash Bros. goes XXX
Our Friday Video spot seemed an appropriate place to store these videos of Smash Bros. Brawl characters caught in compromising poses. Equal parts ridiculous and hilarious (because, really, who goes through all this effort?), the pair of videos show that every single fight in Smash Bros. Brawl is unpredictable. You never know if Snake is going to murder or sexually violate you. The videos could be considered NSFW, so you'll have to head through the break to the "Adults Only" section of Wii Fanboy for the rest.%Gallery-3347%
Japan's Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle a real steel
Actually, the headline is headlyin' just a bit. Not only is Japan's forthcoming Metal Gear Solid 4 PlayStation 3 bundle not made of steel, it's not particularly cheap either. The latest issue of Famitsu reports (translated by IGN) that a steel-colored PS3 will join a special edition of Konami's highly anticipated senile sneaker sim in a Japanese Premium Pack.Approximately ¥51,800 ($515) will net Japanese consumers an alloyring PlayStation 3, a matching controller, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, the Metal Gear Online starter pack and a special video disc no doubt packed with making-of fluff. And before you start importing, keep in mind that the US is also getting in on the bundling brouhaha this June. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
