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Kojima doesn't care about HD, likes Wii
Taken from a recent issue of Gamepro magazine, Metal Gear guy Hideo Kojima said the following things when asked about HD gaming and the possibility of working with the Wii. Given the past (Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes), we think the possibility of a Kojima project, whether it be Metal Gear related or not, is good. What kind of project would you like to see from Kojima on the Wii? Maybe a port of Metal Gear: Portable Ops or perhaps a brand new IP?
Konami really wants to do a Metal Gear PSP sequel
Back in November there was an IGN interview with Kojima Studios Ryan Payton in which he stated "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." Well, Ryan is at it again, this time on PSM's podcast saying "If it's successful on the retail level there will definitely be a sequel. ...that's something I really, really want to do." If the Japanese sales are any indication, Snake may be on another PSP sneaking mission very soon. Just to make sure, go out and buy five copies at your local retailer today to appease the Konami gods. The way I feel about it is, the PSP game library is like a bachelorette party; the more Snake the better. [Update 1: Fixed links.]
Gasp: MGS Portable Ops may see sequel
The effects of Konami's most recent stealth adventure, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, have been frightening to say the least. A simple "hello" to one of the bloggers currently playing it is often unreturned, met only with a vacant stare at the greeter's neck and a forlorn sigh. It is with great, neck-preserving displeasure then, that we report on the status of a sequel to Snake's card-free PSP outing. In a recent (ish) PSM podcast, Ryan Payton, the assistant producer for Kojima Productions, underlines the strong possibility of a sequel. "If it's successful on the retail level there will definitely be a sequel." It's quite simple. If you desire said sequel, you'd best go buy the game ... and possibly discover that you don't really want a sequel after all.[Via Eurogamer]Listen -- PSM Podcast (15:50)
Japanese release day highlights: 12.21.06
Trains are great. We ride them most days of the week. In fact, today we took a train ride in order to buy two new train-based videogames. That's the scary extent of our railway passion. To avoid those funny looks we keep getting from the station master, we also picked up copies of the games listed here. Just so that we could look at their non-train-related packaging on the way home, to pretend that we weren't really thinking about trains. Mmm ... the 16:09 Express to Kyoto ... Sorry, those games: Ys Origin (Falcom's legend returns, again; PC) Seiken Densetsu 4 (Mana, Mana, Mana; PS2) Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (ice cool Capcom; Xbox 360) Let's Go By A-Train HX ("Artdink" is the funniest developer name ever; Xbox 360) Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (Snake crawls back to Japan; PSP) Armored Core 4 (PlayStation 3) Railfan (for the jotter and flask crowd; PS3)
Metareview - Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
A true Metal Gear title on PSP? Not exactly. Yes, gone are all those stinkin' cards, but Portable Ops is no epic. Then again, this could be the game's greatest strength: it's not trying to be a PlayStation 2 title on the go.With brisk missions, bold Infrastructure modes (see: Cyber-Survival), and gracious load times, Portable Ops is proof that PSP is a capable platform. (Kojima and company even found a use for the GPS attachment.) 1UP (95/100) - "[A] game that essentially pushes the PSP in all of its features: graphics, portability, Internet, extra hardware doohickeys, and multiplayer. Sure, it might have hiccups ... [but] it's also a damn good showcase for the PSP." Games Radar (90/100) - "Portable Ops feels like what you'd get if you took the Metal Gear Online game from MGS3: Subsistence, simplified it for the PSP and then built a single-player adventure around it ... but rest assured that Portable Ops is anything but shallow ... Portable Ops is one of the only games that's really tailored to all of the PSP's unique strengths. The controls work surprisingly well, the action doesn't feel like a pared-down console game and even the loading goes quickly." Gamepro (80/100) - "[It] succeeds because it boldly strays away from the familiar path that was forged by its big console brethren ... But for all its willingness to be different, Portable Ops still suffers from some of the familial defects."
Gurumin to feature accomplished VAs
Tara Strong, voice of Final Fantasy X's Rikku, joins a surprisingly strong voice acting cast for the upcoming PSP RPG Gurumin. Other VAs include Amber Hood (Psychonauts), Dee Bradley (Viewtiful Joe), Kim Mai Guest (Metal Gear Solid), Robin Atkin Downes (Prince of Persia), and more. The voice acting will be directed by Kris Zimmerman, the voice director of all the Metal Gear Solid games (all of which feature excellent voice acting).It's great to see a PSP RPG finally get some solid voice acting. We've had way too many quests with minimal voice acting-- hopefully, publisher Mastiff sets a standard for all PSP RPGs to come. We'll have more on the ultra-cute Gurumin in the future.[Via GameDaily]
Metal Gear Solid 4 in late 2007, hopefully -- new trailer for now
According to a Famitsu report, Hideo Kojima estimates that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will need at least another year's worth of development time before it's finished. While Kojima had previously promised to deliver in 2007, he's narrowed that window to late 2007 -- at the earliest. For now, Konami is offering a new trailer, which is currently premiering at Tokyo Game Show.The new trailer -- partially captured in bootleg form from the show floor here & here -- is allegedly 100% gameplay, although Konami has tweaked the camera perspective for clarity. At just 6 minutes, it's significantly shorter than the E3 presentation, but reveals new gameplay elements, including stealth items (e.g. an oil drum), the Octocam suit, and a shift from stealth-orientated missions to player's choice gameplay (i.e. you have a goal and are free to decide how to achieve it).[Thanks, nijah]
NPD releases top 20 U.S. games for August
While the DS has been killing just about everything in Japan, it doesn't appear to be as dominant according to NPD's August sales chart. And with news that the PSP's Tales of Phantasia Full Voice Edition taking the top spot in Japan, could the tide of war be changing? 1. Madden NFL 07 (PS2) 2. Madden NFL 07 (360) 3. Dead Rising (360) 4. Madden NFL 07 (Xbox) 5. Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus (PS2) 6. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) 7. NCAA Football 07 (PS2) 8. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2) 9. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day (DS) 10. Ninety-Nine Nights (360) 11. NCAA Football 07 (360) 12. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (PS2) 13. Big Brain Academy (DS) 14. Guitar Hero bundle (PS2) 15. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) 16. Star Wars: Battlefront II (PS2) 17. Madden NFL 07 (PSP) 18. God of War (PS2) 19. Mario Kart (DS) 20. NCAA Football 07 (Xbox) (* NPD does not release sales numbers) Okay, so the PSP only has Madden in the top 20. The PSP is going to enjoy an extremely strong surge in the quality of its library in the coming months with the pending releases of Bounty Hounds, Killzone: Liberation, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Lumines II and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, just to name a few. Stand strong, my fellow fanboys because the future is bright. (Via PSP Advanced)
Price and more revealed for PSP camera, GPS addon [Update 1]
A German video-game news site is reporting Sony has finally released some solid information about its two upcoming PSP peripherals - the camera and GPS add-on.According to the site, the PSP camera will be released in Japan Nov. 2 for 5,000 Yen (roughly $43) and will have 480x272 resolution for videos and 640x480 resolution for photos. In addition, it will be able to record 15 seconds of video and will be bundled with Chotto Shot photo software. The GPS add-on will be released in Japan Dec. 7 for 6000 Yen (about $51) and will include Navigation software. Also, it the following games will have GPS support: Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, HomeStar Portable, and Everybody's Golf. Still no word on a North American release date. Schucks.[Thanks daniel-kun! Via Evil Avatar][Update 1, from Andrew, because he loves you. New, shinier pictures attached. Stolen from Joystiq]
Metal Gear to support GPS
There aren't too many high-profile games that use Sony's upcoming GPS peripheral. Off the top of my head, I can only think of two: Hot Shots Golf and Homestar. Well, Konami has added one incredibly huge title to the list of GPS-compatible games: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops. It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, considernig how the last Metal Gear game on our system came with another crazy peripheral: the Solid Eye. Konami hasn't revealed how the game will support the device, but what kind of crazy ideas can you think of?[Via IGN]
Kojima to design Snake's Smash Bros. Brawl stage
Sparked by remarks from a Nintendo Power contributor, reports indicate that Hideo Kojima will design Snake's stage for Wii's Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Nintendo Power's Chris Hoffman recently commented, "If you want to talk about something big, how about the news Hideo Kojima, Snake's creator, is designing Snake's level in Brawl? Snake's inclusion means we're not only getting one of the best characters in gaming, but one of the best developers as well."With Sakurai at the helm and Kojima lending, not just Snake, but his actual development talent, are we anticipating the ... Best. Smash Bros. Ever?
Calling all Metal Gear fanboys: Kojima Productions wants you!
If you're interested in developing the online gameplay of Metal Gear Solid 4 or Metal Gear: Portable Ops, and not getting paid isn't a concern*, now's your chance -- join the 'improvemgsonline' club at 1up.com. You'll be able to vote in polls and post your gameplay ideas, which theoretically, could be chosen by Kojima Productions. There's already a plethora of suggestions blossoming on the forum, so you best get those 'gears' in motion!*Technically, you could receive exclusive Metal Gear Solid wallpapers.
Konami to blogs: How does that work again?
At this very moment, Konami is holding a mysterious press conference in the depths of LA, presumably revealing details on their flagship title, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, as well as several new titles that will be available on the E3 show floor. Sadly, Konami decided earlier today to unceremoniously lock Joystiq out of the conference due to a heinous act that was committed yesterday. It seems that Konami is still trying to wrap their heads idea around the blogosphere, struggling to come to grips with the concept of us providing readers with information on forthcoming games. Konami requested us to remove the offending snaps of their booth on the show floor, snaps which revealed some games that were not due to be announced until, well, now most likely. Since we believe that to be an unreasonable request that will disadvantage our readers, the post will not be coming down. We apologize for not being able to provide more excellent liveblogging from their conference.We'll still be providing normal coverage of Konami's many titles on the show floor and will not let their rampant blog-o-phobia affect our writing. C'mon, how could we not be excited about more Solid Snake?
Oldboy director sought for Metal Gear movie
Park Chanwook, director of 2003's Oldboy, recently revealed to The New York Times that he was approached about a movie adaptation of the Metal Gear Solid series. Anyone familiar with Oldboy will recall the exaggerated fight scene shot entirely from the perspective of a classic side-scrolling brawler. This sequence, as Chanwook claims, earned him idol status in the gaming world. Oddly enough, Chanwook admits, "I've never played [a video game]."When a "Japanese designer" from the Metal Gear staff approached Chanwook about directing the movie, the two found there was little to talk about. Despite Chanwook's uncanny disposition to meld gaming with film — and dream up wildly twisted plots — he was not the right person for the job. Thankfully, neither is Uwe Boll.[Thanks LaughingMan]
Metal Gear Awesome cartoon is SO awesome
This Flash cartoon hosted at deviantART, titled Metal Gear Awesome, is funny enough to warrant a pants wetting warning. Fans of Kojima's original PlayStation masterpiece will revel in the in-jokes, like Meryl's always popular posterior (pictured), her secret codec number, and all things DARPA chief. This cartoon is very NSFW, not only because of the excess of violence and profanity, but chances are your snorting laughter will arouse the curiosity of your nosy coworkers. Note: We are aware this is almost two years weeks old so, if you've seen it before, watch it again![UPDATE: It wasn't as old as we thought! However, since it doesn't come from the future, some will inevitably complain that it is still, in fact, too OLLLDDDDD/lame/yawn!][Thanks, Ludwig]
