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MGS1 on PSN could happen if Japanese interest is high enough
It makes so much sense for Konami to build hype (as if it needs any more) for Metal Gear Solid 4 by releasing Metal Gear Solid for the PS1 onto the PSN Store. So far, however, it's only confirmed for the Japanese market with no word on a European or American release. This is nothing new - Japan has been receiving large numbers of PS1 games twice a month since the store opened. (The last PS1 game the EU store saw was Reel Fishing. Oh dear.)There is still hope, however. Ryan Payton, on the latest episode of the Kojima Productions Report podcast, stated that they will be gauging the response in Japan and seeing how many people download it. If interest in high then it could be released elsewhere. Considering we're putting our hopes in a nation who hates digital distribution, chances are you may want to just grab a copy of the Metal Gear Solid Essential Collection. Just in case.
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.
MGS4 Japanese box art unveiled
With all the MGS4 news flying around this week, unveiling the game's official Japanese box art was only the natural next step. You could even say it had "no place to hide." Oh my, enough of the horrible puns. The Japanese box art seems a little bit drab compared to it's predecessors; we wonder if the US box art is going to be a whole lot snazzier. A headshot of Snake is nice, but we'd love to see Liquid Ocelot too; and of course, Raiden -- because we just know how much you all love Raiden. But seriously, this artwork is a nice way to salute the aged Snake ... or maybe it's just a fun way to show off his saucy mustache.
English version of MGS4 to be more difficult
Finish the fight."What can I say about the ending ... it's the final chapter of Solid Snake, no joke about it. There's no smoke and mirrors, no jack in the box trick, this is the final chapter in his life, and in his story," Ryan Payton from Kojima Productions says in his revealing Metal Gear Solid 4 interview. In addition to promising a fulfilling end to the MGS saga, there are hints at unannounced gameplay modes (vehicles, perhaps?).Most surprisingly is the differentiation between both the English and Japanese versions of the game. "It's going to be harder than the Japanese version, I can say that right now." The main reason for the difficulty change? The new FPS controls: "That over the shoulder view is going to be, I hope, the focal point. I want to make that the default setting." Honestly, we like it better that way. Make sure you read the rest of the Joystiq interview for more.
No Metal Gear Solid 4 demo for PSN
Kojima Productions revealed in its latest podcast that it has no plans to release a downloadable demo of Metal Gear Solid 4 on the PSN. Host Ryan Payton stated: "I can tell you, as of right now, we don't have any plans of uploading this demo on the PlayStation Store." Instead, those interested in catching an early glimpse of Snake's next espionage game will have to do so at E for All in Los Angeles. Michael Shelling added: "[E for All] is going to be your one chance to actually play it prior to it launching next year."Considering the immense hype behind the game, it seems Konami is confident that it can simply release the game without a demo. Certainly, there are very few that need to be convinced of its quality.[Via Joystiq]
Payton gives us some insight into Kojima Productions
In an interview with Gamasutra, Ryan Payton of Kojima Productions gives some information about the development process of Metal Gear Solid 4. Extraordinarily, over two hundred people are currently on the development team for the game, making it one of the largest single teams working in one place on a single gaming project. This bodes well for the game but, if so many people really are working on it, then why did it get delayed until 2008?Nevermind - all that is water under the bridge now. We're just glad to see that the game is getting the developmental attention it deserves. Payton also hints at some DualShock 3 innovations being used in the game that "people are going to really dig." This is no surprise - Kojima has always been a big fan of using rumble imaginatively, ever since Metal Gear Solid 1.
No more Metal Gear Solid 4 trailers
Did you know that there have been nine trailers for Metal Gear Solid 4 already? And that game's not even coming out until 2008. Why does Kojima Productions love making such over-the-top presentations? Ryan Payton explains to MTV: "Making epic trailers of our upcoming titles has been a tradition of our studio ever since we unveiled the original Metal Gear Solid at E3 in 1997 ... I think that really set the stage for what has become an integral part of our studio's approach to making games." Trailers are a vital part of the Metal Gear tradition. Trailers for Metal Gear Solid 2 single-handedly proved the power of the PS2 back in its infancy and became one of the must-have games for the platform. Such heritage means that the team at Kojima must meet constantly high expectations. "I think we're afraid to disappoint people who expect us to make big splashes at every show." In addition, Payton notes, "Trailers are a great way to remind people of one of our studio's strengths - cinematic gaming." Of course, creating trailers is time-consuming, and now that the game is drawing near its release, the team at Kojima Productions has to focus. Could this mean the end of Metal Gear Solid 4 trailers? Most likely. "TGS 2007 could be the last trailer for "MGS4." The pressure is really on to finish work on the game, and we have decided not to be sidetracked by any more promotional work." Read the complete interview here.
IGN's weeklong MGS feature highlights [Update 1]
We told you IGN was going to make their Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops coverage a week-long event. However, some of you may have forgotten. Here are a few highlights from the week so far: As you may already know, the story begins with Snake thrown into a South American jail six years after the events of Snake Eater. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Russia abandoned many of its soldiers, leaving one military commander named Gene very sour. He plans on sabotaging the negotiations between Russia and the US by using nuclear technology stolen from both countries. Obviously, Snake will be in the middle of all of this. The character-generation system uses data from both the access point and PSP system information. You'll want to rotate characters in your party, as they'll suffer from exhaustion, and in the worst case scenario, fall unconscious during a mission. Let them heal their wounds. There's a lot to manage: "During your mission briefings, you'll be overseeing seven separate units for your army: Sneaking, Spy, Technical, Medical, Independent, Rookies and Prisoners." You can enter a unique Sleep mode which will transfer character data to any nearby PSP that's also in Portable Ops sleep mode. There's a mode called "Cyber-Survival," which is turn-based and similar to the Metal Gear Acid series. "Real Combat" is high stakes: if a character dies in multiplayer, they're dead in singleplayer as well. For obvious reasons, Snake can't partake in this mode. Is this too much info for you? Well, don't forget that these are just highlights. The real meat of the stories can be found on IGN. Prepare to never have a life again starting December 5th.[Update 1: MGS. Yes. That's what happens when Andrew-bot writes stories. Bad, evil things. Typo corrected!]
MGS:PO interview confirms game's awesomeness
The fine folks at IGN have interviewed Ryan Payton, Associate Producer at Kojima Productions, to kick off their week-long hype-fest on the soon-to-be-released Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. Just in case you weren't excited enough for this project, Mr. Payton reveals a few nice tidbits that will surely please any PSP owner. "Single and multiplayer modes are totally integrated, thus prolonging the life of the campaign mode. Online is accessible from the campaign mode for good reason -- players bring one of their 1P Sneaking Units to the online arena." "We have a number of Wi-Fi-enabled modes. First off is Game Sharing, allowing you to play MPO multiplayer with friends who don't own a copy of MPO." (Yes!!!) "The official soundtrack is coming to Japan. It's a forty-four track, beast of a soundtrack. Norihiko Hibino, best known for his composition of the Snake Eater theme, is back with some really cool tracks for MPO." Oh, and two more things:IGN: Are there plans to port Portable Ops to the PS2, in the event that the game receives poor sales on the PSP? Ryan: Absolutely not.IGN: Will there be sequels if this proves to be the PSP's killer app? Ryan: Absolutely. If the response to MPO is as good as we're expecting, you can look forward to new chapters in the Big Boss legacy on PSP. We still have many stories to tell about the early years of Metal Gear Solid -- I hope we can continue to do that on PSP.::jaw drops::
TGS 06: MGS Portable Ops has best trailer ever [Update 2]
Words can not express how amazing the new Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops looks. Stream the video by clicking above and watch your jaw drop, with saliva literally gushing out.[Via IGN Boards][Update 1: Now embedded after the cut.][Update 2: New gameplay video added.]
Metal Gear Solid case free with pre-order
You're probably going to get Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops anyways, but if for some crazy reason you're still on the fence, Konami has offered one of the cooler pre-order bonuses I've seen in quite some time. Pre-order the game at Gamestop and you'll get a case for your system for free. Not just any case, though. A pretty spiffy-looking silver case with the image of Snake giving a salute. This is some classy stuff, and is sure to be as eye-catching as the $500 Signature Edition PSPs.[Via Gamespot]
Between the darkness and the light: Lunar Knights
Konami with a vampire hunting game? Say it ain't so! But there's nary a Belmont in Lunar Knights (psst, don't call it Boktai), the action RPG coming to the DS in November. Like the newest installment in that other gothic franchise, Lunar Knights features two heroes: Lucian and Aaron. But they're not exactly regular guys -- their power is dependent on a solar cycle, with Lucian's power waxing at night and waning during the day, when Aaron comes to the fore. The top screen of the DS will display weather and solar cycle effects. This new 'paraSOL' system (how's that for a pun?) will impact every aspect of the game, from the polar opposite heroes to the enemies they face. As Aaron and Lucian fight to save their futuristic world from a dark fate at the hands of an undead army, they are supported by Terrenials, embodiments of the elements the world is built from. These Terrenials have their own attacks and can enhance the man characters, allowing them to take on even more powerful forms. And just because space vampires are awesome, when the planet-side evil is vanquished, Lucian and Aaron blast off for all new adventures as they try to dispose of their enemies once and for all. We're not quite sure how the light/dark cycle might function there, but the Terrenials, at least, accompany our heroes into the final frontier for further support.
Metareview - Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel
It's not a game. You know that, right? Good.For Metal Gear fanatics, Digital Graphic Novel is a must, containing countless (unlockable) tidbits of data that are used to piece together the Shadow Moses Incident. But if 'Shadow Moses' doesn't ring a bell, then you're better off waiting for Portable Ops to get your Metal Gear fix on PSP -- unless you're a sucker for graphic novels. DailyGame (85/100) - "Whoever thought of creating the Digital Graphic Novel needs a raise." GamePro (80/100) - "MGS: Digital Graphic Novel will probably confuse the heck out of you." GamerFeed (70/100) - "Seeing as how it's $20, MGS:DGN is one of those 'what the hell' purchases."
Metareview - Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Metal Gear Solid 3 was released today, again. The remix, which includes the debut of online play, a new camera system, ports of the original MSX Metal Gear titles, and the addition of numerous other gameplay modes, spans two discs and is available for a mere $29.99. This substantial package has garnered an unprecedented Metacritic score of 99 (6 reviews). While this average is sure to drop in the coming days, there's no doubt that Subsistence has made an early bid for game of the year and has reassured current-gen gamers that the PS2 is far from dead. Peep the word: PSM Magazine (100/100) - "...we wish our review scale went to 11." IGN (98/100) - "For the price and the extras, you can't go wrong with Subsistence -- even for those that have played and beaten the first game once or several more times, it still can't be missed." Yahoo! Games (90/100) - "Subsistence is easily the greatest same-gen remake ever..."
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The season of sequels has officially come to an end-or perhaps, just begun-with the arrival of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Like many of the other blockbuster sequels sprouting up, Snake Eater inherits its backbone from its predecessors, while managing to surpass them in every way-we certainly don't miss the mind-numbing philosophical ramblings of MGS2. But no radar? Don't fret, there's some Snake-friendly gadgets that will ease the pain of losing your most valued crutch. The new health/stamina/inventory systems may be different, but you'll find it helps to propel the gameplay, as does the camouflage. And certainly, some players will welcome the new close quarters fighting. With Snake Eater, the developers have pushed the PS2 hardware to the max, without going overboard (see Killzone). Still, the dated camera system is annoying as ever, but the thrilling(!) boss battles and breathing environments are some of the best we've seen-and the number of available options you have to approach these scenarios is equally impressive. And c'mon, MGS characters are always priceless! Despite twists and turns around every corner, Snake Eater is clearly the best this series has to offer. But is it the best sequel this season has to offer? That remains to be determined...
Metal Gear Solid 3 available now
Yes folks, you can now eat snakes. As Solid Snake. It doesn't get much more poetic than that. Or maybe in the game, Snake eats himself... Who knows... For those of us who are fans of the Snake they call Solid, the latest iteration of the series has shipped. Expect more stealthy action, hardcore violence, and lots of great music, especially the Harry Gregson Williams pieces. (I'm a fan, what can I say.) And, of course, the always snazzy visuals an MGS game provides. The kind of visuals that, when they debuted with MGS2: Sons of Liberty, actually made grown men weep. (Happened at E3.) A word to the wise: A lot of people complained that the demo of MGS: Snake Eater was too easy. The official story is that the difficulty was tuned back considerably in the demo. Don't expect such an easy journey in the full version. Even if you have no interest in the game, the demo on the recent Jam Pack demo DVD in stores is worth checking out, purely for the opening segment. Spectacular stuff. Note for trivia fans: David Hayter, the voice of Solid Snake, is also the voice on all EA Sports "It's in the game" intros. He also wrote the screenplays for the two X-Men movies.
Konami employs Hollywood no-names for MGS3
Konami has joined forces with some legitimate, albeit unknown, Hollywood talent for the latest Metal Gear installment. David Hyter, Harry Gregson-Williams & Kyle Cooper join the team. Those names ring any bells? Well, Hayter is actually the (English language) voice of Solid Snake and will once again lend his talents-he's also a screenwriter (X-Men, X2 & Scorpion King). Gregson-Williams is composing another original score for the series (he's responsible for the MGS2 score). Some of his Hollywood credits include, Shrek 1 & 2, Enemy of the State, Team America & Man on Fire. Finally, Cooper, a director/producer, is working with Hideo Kojima (MGS creator) on an interactive opening title sequence. Cooper's worked on title sequences for Spider-Man, Seven & Mission Impossible. Metal Gear Sold 3: Snake Eater will be available on November 17. [Good lookin' out, David]
GTA: San Andreas and Metal Gear Solid 3 clips on Worthplaying
Once again, Worthplaying delivers on the game clips. Today's list includes the brand new Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater movies. Oh yeah, there's also a Gran Tursismo 4 trailer thrown in for you racing fans. All in all 130 MB of worthy downloads. MGS 3 is gorgeous, of course, but will be facing some stiffer competition in the genre this time around. Hey, it's a strong enough title to push Tom Clancy's next Splinter Cell to next year. GTA: San Andreas looks dreamy, doesn't it? Sorry - fawning complete. Hey, it could end being awful. Yeah, right.
Metal Gear Solid 3: go deluxe for the price of two
Konami has confirmed that the Japanese release of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is set for December 16 (roughly a month after the projected US release). But there's a bonus in it for Japanese fans, that is, fans with deep pockets. That's right, for 12,800 yen (or $115), you'll secure yourslef a limited-edition MGS, complete with DVDs, booklets, and a model figurine. Expect Konami to reveal more details at the Tokyo Game Show this Friday.
