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The B[ack]log: Metal Gear?!
The B[ack]log finally returns with a special, three-part look at Metal Gear Solid: var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/The_B_ack_log_Metal_Gear'; It seems I've become the architect of my own failure. Instead of demolishing the skyscraper of untouched games in my living room, I recently and rather foolishly added three more stories to it. Three very involving, convoluted and relentlessly ridiculous stories, mind you, but ones that I've already been through once. With the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots close enough for me to start using the word "impending," I thought it was time for a Metal Gear Solid replay.A word of warning: While I've tried to steer clear of plot-related spoilers, we're talking about a game that's nearly ten years old. FYI, the Titanic sinks at the end.
Watch Sunny from Metal Gear Solid 4 all day as you play
This is sort of a weird thing that was stumbled upon we haven't really mentioned yet. If you expect Kojima and the Metal Gear universe to be 100% straight-faced, serious, or somber, you're crazy. There are always some silly things in there -- like the Sunny Camera. At the bottom of the menu screen, there is what appears to be a live webcam that keeps track of what Sunny is doing in her room 24 hours a day. We'd explain who Sunny is, but if you didn't play the second Metal Gear Solid, it could be quite a spoiler.A number of companies have collaborated with Kojima Productions, including Japanese energy drink companies, Apple's iPod makes an appearance, and more. What's funny is that if you choose a background track with Snake's iPod, Sunny will start dancing to the tune on the menu screen if the game is paused. Awesome. If you want to read more about some hands-on, go for it. We just thought the Sunny Camera was hilarious and the collaboration with real companies to feature their products rather strange.
MGS4 'Gun Metal Gray' PS3 bundle exclusive to Konami website
While we've known for some time that the "Gun Metal Gray" PlayStation 3 bundle -- featuring a shiny 40GB model, a matching DualShock 3 controller and a Limited Edition copy of geriatric sneakfest, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots -- would be available to Americans, we didn't know until now that it would only be available to Americans logging onto Konami's website. Online and inevitably scarce pre-orders for the $599.99 package will start on May 19th, so you'd better get clicking if you want Snake and Gray Box to face off in your living room.No, we mean it. Judging by Konami's labyrinthine sign-up process for the Metal Gear Online Beta, you'll need at least several days to prepare a registration, obtain an ID, convert that into e-currency, trade it in for the microfilm, enter the password, steal the key code, write the secret URL on a postcard and summon Hideo Kojima in an arcane ritual.Note: This bundle is different from the regular, $499 MGS4 bundle which includes an 80GB PS3 and a DualShock 3.
Kojima's next project hinted at during MGS4 press event
1UP's man on the ground at the Japanese Metal Gear Solid 4 press event has translated a clip that possibly hints at Hideo Kojima's next project. In an audio clip where attendees could only hear one half of a conversation between MGS character Revolver Ocelot and an unknown person, Ocelot explains that he just finished the press conference, right before he mentions "The Project" and "the sequel." Konami president Fumiaki Tanaka already said in March that Kojima's next project is outside the Metal Gear universe. As for "the sequel," it could point to a new Zone of Enders or Snatcher, but that's all just rumor and speculation for now.
Kojima insists he's not disappointed with MGS4
Hideo Kojima clarified on his latest blog podcast that he's absolutely not disappointed with Metal Gear Solid 4, despite earlier reports of his dissatisfaction. He's just trying to be modest about the game. He put the blame on his words getting lost in translation as the reason why his views were taken askew. This is always the usual suspect as the Japanese language and culture doesn't always clearly come out the same when put into English words. We won't go too far into this but in short Kojima says he doesn't like to brag; so he's downplaying his thoughts, keeping in line with Japanese humility. Whether Kojima is being too humble or not, gamers should still listen first to their own opinions on the game. We've seen the game footage over the years and listened to the news reports, and we're pretty sure we like what we see. Has a previous MGS game failed to disappoint amaze? No. Will this one? Most likely not. Cue in beaming first exclusive ten-over-ten review.[Via Kotaku]
Metal Gear Solid 4's Kojima explains PS3 comments [update]
[Update: Joystiq has independently confirmed the validity of the comments below. Kojima also said in the most recent audio podcast that the interview was given to an audience of 15 with intention of being translated into multiple languages. As a Japanese person, he understood the meaning of his words, but from a foreigner's perspective it was lost in translation. Special thanks to Patrick B.]Something about Hideo Kojima's words regarding the PlayStation 3 and Metal Gear Solid 4 has seemingly gotten lost in translation. In his latest blog / podcast, the MGS series creator said that recent interviews, which have him expressing dissatisfaction with how MGS4 turned out, were misunderstood or mistranslated. According to Kojima (in yet another translation, ironically), his comments reflect a Japanese culture of modesty, as opposed to an American culture of bragging. (For the record, the press-heralded King of Hype honor is bestowed upon Peter Molyneux, a British man.) In early March, Kojima was quoted as saying (via translation) that MGS4 was too big for a 50GB Blu-ray disc. Then, in April's Edge magazine, Kojima was quoted, "The original vision [for the game] was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress." Our Japanese translator is on permanent leave, so we can't confirm the translation yet. Mind you, we all know what ten steps further in Metal Gear Solid would look like.
OMGS4: Guns of the Patriots gets its first 10
Grand Theft Auto IV? 10! Halo 3? 10! The Orange Box? 10! And Metal Gear Solid 4? 10, of course! The UK's Official PlayStation Magazine has given Snake's stealthy send-off full marks, sticking a nice, round "10" at the end of a lengthy justification. "Ultimately, this is a game for fans -- and you should be one," writes Paul Fitzpatrick. "As for Snake? It turns out his last stand really is his finest hour."Yes, we know. "No game is perfect!" You're right. "10 doesn't necessarily mean perfect!" That's true. "The promise of next-generation technology is finally paying off with increasingly immersive, detailed and hitherto impossible experiences!" Could be. "Snake's last stand is only an hour long wtf?!" Okay, you are an idiot.We can't wait for more reviews to roll in, if only to see further evidence of Kojima stubbornly sticking to his comically over-the-top guns. You can cry about cutscenes all you want, but the man is finishing his story.
Metal Gear retrospective goes back to the MSX days
Retrospectives are both a great and horrible thing. This Metal Gear retrospective by GameTrailers is an excellent way to relive the long-revered franchise. To many, it may come as strange to think that Kojima was ever a troubled developer -- but that's exactly what happened. The original Metal Gear was a last-ditched attempt at saving Kojima's career. The idea of a "sneaking mission" game, where the player isn't encouraged to kill everything on sight was a daring move ... that ultimately paid off. The early origins of Snake's adventures are fascinating to see, as they help ground us for Snake's last adventure -- Metal Gear Solid 4. While this retrospective serves as a fantastic primer, it also details some of the noteworthy differences between the MSX original, and the NES follow-up. Also, find out more about the NES-exclusive sequel, which wasn't handled by Kojima at all.Oh, and why are retrospectives horrible? Because they remind us how old we are. [Via Joystiq]
Hideo Kojima bashes Metal Gear Solid 4 -- is he being too hard on himself?
It's been circulating the internet for a little while now -- Hideo Kojima's comments regarding Metal Gear Solid 4 and the PS3. It's almost inevitable our take on the situation will be misconstrued as blind fanboy bias, but we'd like to try to take an objective glance at what he said. In a recent interview in Edge magazine, Kojima said that the gameplay of MGS4 is fairly close to his vision, but the graphical side of things got a slight hit from what he envisioned: "things like motion-blending and the size of the map, totally was not accomplished to my original vision - to my satisfaction."After their initial TGS showing, everyone was excited to see what the PS3 was capable of, but once development really started, Kojima says they could not evolve as much as he wanted. "The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress." The CPU apparently is at fault here, as the Cell is being fully employed, says Kojima.He doesn't blame the PS3 and rightly so. It's one thing to lay out your plans and envision what you'd like to do, but when it comes to it, you've got to sacrifice some of your dreams and ideals. Was Kojima dreaming too much with his original ideas? Not really -- but what he wanted might have been something we'll need to wait another generation for. We'd like to have a smell-o-vision, but we'll settle for rumble. Is that the PS3's fault? Nah. Kojima should relax -- his game looks fantastic and we're sure all his fans will agree he's made much more progress than he's giving himself credit for.[via NeoGAF]
Kojima's ideal MGS4 bites off more than PS3 can chew
We weren't surprised to read in this month's Edge Magazine that Metal Gear Solid series creator, Hideo Kojima, isn't entirely satisfied with his latest creation. Why? That's just the nature of being an artist, especially one as famously exacting as Kojima. Every sequel to the Metal Gear series is another iteration; another re-tuning of an increasingly polished gameplay experience. So, when envisioning the fourth (and final?) chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga on a brand new and as-yet-untested piece of hardware, Kojima shot for the moon, looking to "create something revolutionary." When confronted with the limitations of the actual PlayStation 3 hardware (it's human after all), Kojima says "we weren't really aware of what the full-spec PS3 offered – we were creating something we couldn't entirely see." It's less a case of the PlayStation not being up to snuff (or, perhaps, of not living up to Sony's impossible-to-match marketing message) as it is with Kojima not being satisfied with technological limitations. He says, "The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress." We'll all get a chance to experience the technology that powers Metal Gear Solid 4 this Monday, when the Metal Gear Online beta goes live. Something tells us we won't be as dissapointed as Kojima is.Check out the full ten-page MGS4 cover story in the May issue of Edge. [Via Kotaku]
Celebrate 20 years of Metal Gear with a fun trailer
It's hard to believe the Solid Snake saga has gone on for twenty years. What's even harder to believe is that the fourth entry in the Metal Gear Solid franchise is but two months away. So, to celebrate both the long life of Kojima's beloved game series and the impending release of what will undoubtedly destroy many gamers' lives for a few weeks, a trailer for you chronicling the many Snakes of years past. Enjoy!
PSP audience is 'important and new' for MGS director Kojima
Hideo Kojima, revered director of the Metal Gear series, recently talked about the PSP in an interview with IGN. He noted the success Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops has had, especially with the younger demographic. He notes that teens in Japan love the PSP: "middle school students, from 13 to 15, are really fanatical with the machine itself -- look at Monster Hunter Portable, for instance."The rampant fervor of the teenage PSP audience is what helped drive the Monster Hunter series into millions of units sold. This is obviously an audience that Kojima would love to capture: "I would like to continue with this, to aim at those middle school students because they are so interested with MPO right now. I would continue to try to reach them."He gives an anecdote about his son. "He has always criticized it: 'Oh, Metal Gear is such a s****y game.' Until the point I released Portable Ops." From the sounds of it, Kojima certainly wouldn't want to disappoint his son, and it appears that a new PSP game from Kojima Productions is inevitable: "My son is really into Portable Ops as well: the use of the WiFi, the ability to play anywhere, bring it to school, etc ... It might not be the Metal Gear series, but I would like to consider this audience because it's very important and new."
Hideo Kojima wants, needs Snake to die
Hideo Kojima is adamant about making Metal Gear Solid 4 the last real MGS game he'll direct. "I really don't want to say that this the final game or this is the wrap up," he told IGN. "But if I don't say it, people will make me create MGS again!" While we don't think the fans would mind, it's clear that Kojima wants to work on new things. "So I have to say, 'Die, Snake,' and really end it so I can move on to something else!"Of course, there's life after Snake. "Actually, it's a game, so even if Snake dies, the game can live on." In fact, the Metal Gear franchise may continue its life as anything but a game. "Maybe it'll be a novel or a comic – I do have some ideas." Don't expect Kojima to be hands-on with the process, though. "However, I have to say that I'm not going to do everything if we were to create it. Maybe I'll just produce or maybe design the game and just act on that role, so I won't be the total creator of that series if it happens."Read IGN's full interview to find out more about the PSP, and developing Metal Gear Online.
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]
Kojima working on next project
Konami president Fumiaki Tanaka tells Japan's Nikkei BP that Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima's next project is outside the Metal Gear universe. Tanaka informs that no announcement will be made this year and we shouldn't expect anything until after MGS 4 and Metal Gear Online have been given room to breathe.Tanaka reveals that he expects sales of MGS 4 to be comparable to past titles in the series and he believes many people are waiting to buy a PS3 until MGS 4 is released. Outside of the MGS 4 business, Tanaka says Konami will release more remakes of classic games in the future and he alludes to Wii Ware being part of the plan.
Kojima already seeking out his next title
It really should go without saying, but aside from Metal Gear Solid 4 and Metal Gear Online, Hideo Kojima has been hard at work figuring out his next move, outside of the Metal Gear franchise. Rumors have been swirling for a year now; everything from a collaborative sequel to Snatcher with Suda51, to a remake of Policenauts, to the heavily anticipated and partially expected Zone of the Enders 3. So, what's he working on?We won't know until 2009, apparently. A formal announcement isn't to be made until after Kojima finishes penning the new title's scenario. This won't happen until after Metal Gear Solid 4 is released and Metal Gear Online given a big push. So, maybe if things go particularly well for Kojima, we'll hear something near the end of the year, but we'll just safely assume we won't know if any of the aforementioned games are coming around until 2009.
Snatcher Pilot Disk ported, fantastic
Fresh off its abridged port of visual novel Fate/Stay Night: Trial Edition, Multiple: Option has posted another homebrew adaptation of a text-heavy game, Snatcher Pilot Disk.This release is based on the PC-Engine demo of Hideo Kojima and Konami's acclaimed adventure title, but uses still images from the Sega CD version. Though there isn't much players can do to deviate from the game's very linear progression, the cyberpunk plot and voice acting keep Snatcher Pilot DS interesting. For those of you who demand interactivity beyond selecting text options, there's also a fun bug-blasting segment towards the end.Unfortunately, this "pilot" comprises only the first act of the full Snatcher game, taking players through the J.U.N.K.E.R. headquarters and factory scene (Multiple: Option does not plan to port the complete game). Still, it's an entertaining, 10-minute experience worth playing through. [Via PAlib]
Metal Gear Online beta in April, MGS4 pre-order secures access
Those looking forward to snapping the necks of complete strangers (in a game) should be pleased to learn that a Metal Gear Online "Starter Pack" is due to launch alongside Metal Gear Solid 4 in Q2 2008. Sony has announced that a beta test for the multiplayer sneak-em-up will start in late April, with pre-orders of Metal Gear Solid 4 giving gamers "guaranteed access." It's a great incentive, though given the anticipated nature of Hideo Kojima's latest opus, we feel a bit like donkeys wandering into a vast forest of carrots.
Rumor: Nintendo still hurt about RE4, reason why Capcom doesn't have a Brawler
There's a rumor floating around that the lack of a playable character from Camp Capcom is due to a little game by the name of Resident Evil 4. You see, before it ended up on the PC and PS2, along with the Wii, it was meant to be entirely a GameCube exclusive. That didn't last that long, however.With the inclusion of Sega's Sonic and Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid line of games, the inclusion of one of Capcom's characters (oh, let's say ... Mega Man) quite possibly would've been too much for this blogger's weak little heart. The rest of the world, however, probably would've liked to see one of Capcom's characters make it into the already overstuffed line-up of playable brawlers. What Capcom character would you have liked to see in Brawl?
New Metal Gear Solid 4 footage details some of the new weaponry
If you've been looking for some Metal Gear Solid 4 footage, you may have stumbled upon the above footage from the English demo. If not, enjoy. Back at TGS, Hideo Kojima said there would be about 70 weapons in the game and the new demo shows many of those new weapons in action. It also shows Snake in a variety of, uh, situations where the weapons come in handy. It's looking great and we're excited to get our hands on it at some point this year![Thanks NukeAssault!]
