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Metal Gear Solid 4 will only have local voice tracks
Ryan Payton has confirmed in the latest Kojima Productions podcast that the European and American versions of Metal Gear Solid 4 will not have the Japanese voice tracks. Likewise, the Japanese version of the game will not have any English voice tracks either. This is apparently down to a lack of space on the Blu-Ray disc due to the large amount of story in the game.Wait a second, running out of space on a Blu-Ray disc? Well, we knew this would happen at some point but this is definitely earlier than we expected. Our only worry about this is regarding the European release - will it only have English vocals? If so, then non-English speakers might have to settle for subtitles of their mother tongue. Fans of the Japanese language will either have to survive with English or risk importing from Japan and hoping there'll be English subtitles. [Via Joystiq]
US/Euro MGS4 lacks Japanese voice over tracks
Go figure. There really is a limit to the once-unfathomable expanse of the Blu-rays. Speaking on the latest Kojima Productions Report session, Metal Gear Solid 4 producer Ryan Payton confirmed that the game's chatter will be as indulgent and convoluted as ever -- even more so than past entries. Meaning: "Unfortunately because of disc space, we don't have the space to include other languages, other voice over files for the respective versions. So the Japanese version's not gonna have English VO, and the North American and European versions won't have Japanese VO." Hayter it is then!
MGS4 launching in Europe on June 12th - no sign of pre-order bonuses yet
Konami Europe may have been a day late in announcing their Metal Gear Solid 4 release plans, but luckily that delay doesn't translate to the actual launch of the game because (as we suspected) the game will be available in Europe on June 12th. The same day that America and Japan get their copies. The press release states that Metal Gear Online will be included on the disc and that full details of the public beta program will be announced shortly. We'll have more on that when Konami feel the desire to release more information.Unfortunately there's no sign of any pre-order bonus material. While the Japanese and Americans will be able to get their hands on a bonus DVD containing making-of documentaries and character profiles, it seems no such disc will be made available to those on the other side of the pond. We expect to see a large number of Europeans importing from the US for just that reason. You never know, though - maybe we'll hear something when they announce the MGO beta. Fingers crossed!
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.
Metal Gear Solid 4 coming June 12, confirms Konami
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/Metal_Gear_Solid_4_confirmed_for_June_12_2008'; Although announced yesterday at the Destination PlayStation event, Sony America was quick to distance itself from the June 12 release date, saying instead "late Q2 2008." Konami has now confirmed via press release that Metal Gear Solid 4 is indeed coming out June 12, 2008. Konami also reaffirmed the pre-order bonus: reserve your copy of MGS4 starting April 2008 and get Metal Gear Saga 2.0, a DVD to catch you up to speed on the series, as well as a beta code for Metal Gear Online. You got that? Snake? Snake? Snaaaaaaaaake![Via press release]
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.
Europe getting 40GB PS3 bundles packing Gran Turismo, Blu-ray movies
While we chew on that incoming Metal Gear Solid 4 80GB PS3 (with DualShock 3) in the States, Europe has a pair of SKUs of its own to look forward to. Sony's hitting with a "movie bundle" on March 19th that includes Spider-Man 3, 300 and Casino Royale on Blu-ray, along with a 40GB PS3, all for the regular €399 price. If you can wait until March 29th, for the same price you can nab a 40 gigger bundled with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. Both bundles promise to be quite appealing, but apparently neither come packing HD cables, which could be a bit of a hangup for those ready to make the Blu-ray plunge. GT5 box art is after the break.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
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.
Metal Gear Solid 80GB pack announced
SCEA has officially announced a new PS3 bundle, which will include an 80GB PS3, Metal Gear Solid 4 and a DUALSHOCK 3 controller for $499 (that's the same cost as the current Motorstorm bundle). "Working closely with our retail and publishing partners and sharing our hardware and software roadmaps at Destination PlayStation gives us a great opportunity to outline some key milestones for the year. In response to incredible demand, we will be manufacturing more 80GB PS3s for North America and the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 80GB PS3 bundle is an ideal way to offer that continued value to our consumers," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. "With Blu-ray having won the format war, our stellar software line-up and a broad product portfolio, we will continue to drive the incredible momentum we've been generating since last fall." This confirms our previous reports that the 80GB Motorstorm bundle was being phased out. Good to see that it's being replaced with such an attractive upgrade.
Pre-order Metal Gear Solid 4, get access to online beta
Metal Gear Solid 4 will launch on PS3 later this year. In addition, players will be able to enjoy a Metal Gear Online "Starter Pack." Online features support for up to 16 players using "the latest weapons and stealth techniques."Konami will introduce a pre-order campaign through a nationwide pre-sell promotion will enable gamers to pre-order Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and be guaranteed access to a multiplayer beta test. The beta would occur in late April.This is a great incentive for fans that already planned on picking up MGS4. We're curious as to see how extensive the "Starter Pack" for Online will be.
$499 80GB PS3 bundle includes MGS4, DualShock 3
If you haven't already purchased one, there's a hot new PS3 SKU coming in June to commemorate the release of Metal Gear Solid 4, confirmation of something we heard earlier today. The bundle includes the game, a DualShock 3 and an 80GB PS3 for the extremely reasonable price of $499. We're not sure of an exact date, but expect it sometime in late Q2, according the the press release.We've heard plenty of predictions that 2008 is going to be the PS3's year, and if this extremely attractive SKU is any indication, the future could be very bright indeed.
Metal Gear Solid 4 dated for June 12th
More release date news has leaked out the Destination PlayStation retailer conference. Metal Gear Solid 4, that other will-it-won't-it game, has finally had a release date nailed down. When the game comes out on its June 12th release date we wonder exactly how many people will be taking the day off from work to play it - we certainly will be! We're hoping this date is correct (we're looking to confirm it with Konami). Kojima promised a simultaneous worldwide release for the game. Could this be the date everyone can pin on their calendars?
Metal Gear Solid 4 dated for 'late Q2 2008' [update]
As you've probably figured out by now, practically any release date you hear for Metal Gear Solid 4 should probably be punctuated by the word "Probably." We'll have to actually open our retail copy up and see that there's not just a note with the words "Coming Soon" written on it before we'll believe that it's actually out.That said, there's apparently a new "official" date coming out of retailers conference Destination PlayStation: June 12, 2008. Before you get out a calendar: Yes, that date falls on a Thursday. No, we don't get it either. We've emailed Konami for official word, but for now we feel pretty comfortable in reporting that June 12 is the new future former release date of Kojima's baby.Additionally, there's word that a new PS3 bundle featuring an 80GB system (apparently still in production), MGS4, and the DualShock 3 controller is in the works. We've reached out to Konami for confirmation.Update: An SCEA press release distances itself from the reported June 12 date, stating only a vague "late Q2 2008" release for MGS4. The statement does confirm the aforementioned bundle (more here), along with news of a Metal Gear Online beta test (details here).
Rumor: MGS4 leaked release date? [Update]
Over at the NeoGAF forums, a member posted a supposed Metal Gear Solid 4 advertisement from Famitsu magazine. In the ad, it clearly states a release date that reads "2008.06.12". It's most likely this date is for June 12; however, other members have confirmed this magazine scan is a fake. Despite being proven an ad that doesn't even appear in the Famitsu issue in question, this rumor does pique our interests as anything MGS-related would. A release date for June 12 does sound reasonable, since MGS4 shouldn't miss its Q2 2008 schedule. So while fake, it's a fair estimate for a release. Just don't get your hopes up if you see this ad floating around elsewhere.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!][Update: This isn't real. Sorry, folks. It's a confirmed Photoshop job, as stated in the NeoGAF forum.]
Would You Rather ... Exclusives Edition
With the recent inclusions of Ask X3F and our upcoming Community Content to our features list we here at X3F are always looking for new ways to interact with our amazing community. With that in mind we bring you Would You Rather... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. In week one of WUR we spare no expense with a question that might be too difficult to answer. It's time to choose between Mass Effect's exclusivity or a port of the upcoming PS3 exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 to the Xbox 360.Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.
MGS4 doesn't need 1m day one sales, Payton misquoted
As fun as it's been to dream about the vague, but imminent peril hinted at by Metal Gear Solid 4 assistant producer Ryan Payton when he allegedly told Reuters that the game must sell over a million copies on day one (or else...?), it's time to wake up -- all bets are off! Speaking on the Bionic Commando podcast, Payton denied ever quoting the ominous figure, admitting, "I don't even know how many figures we'd need to sell to be profitable." (Figures? Aren't we talking about game sales?)"More importantly, that's not something you really talk about in an interview," Payton continued, "I've been trying to contact Kemp Powers over at Reuters to see, I don't know, if he recorded it on tape, but I'd love to hear it. So we can set the record straight." Well Payton, consider the record straighted with us. (This whole thing never made much sense anyway ... What if it took two days to break a million -- then what?) [Via PS3 Fanboy]
Payton misquoted: No need for MGS4 to sell a million at launch
Ryan Payton has stated on the official Bionic Commando podcast, on which he was a special guest this week, that he was misquoted when it was reported by Reuters that Metal Gear Solid 4 would need to sell a million units on day one to profit. He states that he never said such a thing to Reuters, or to anyone, because it simply isn't true - and even if it was, "that's not something you really talk about in an interview. It's nothing I'd ever say..." says Payton.It was reported by many sites (including us) that MGS4 would need to sell a million copies on day one in order to make it profitable due to high production costs. It now seems "that million dollar figure is incorrect. I don't even know how many figures we'd need to sell to be profitable." No doubt MSG4 will sell excellently and will reach well above a million units during its lifetime. The game is due out within the next few months, though an official release date hasn't yet been pinned down. We'll keep you abreast of any developments.
New screenshots of Metal Gear Solid 4 discovered
!That's what pops up over our heads whenever we catch a glimpse of anything Metal Gear Solid. The upcoming Guns of the Patriots is shrouded in a good bit of mystery, and these new screenshots from XGN (a Netherlands-based gaming site?) don't help make anything clearer.We could speculate, but considering this ia Kojima Productions game, we'd probably be embarassingly wrong. Why not check them out for yourselves?[Via The Magic Box]
Konami (once again) confirms there will be no MGS4 demo
When it comes to Metal Gear Solid 4, there are two rumors that will just not die. First up, of course, is the zombie-rumor that the game is going over to the Xbox 360. Second only to that though, is the often denied rumor that there will be a MGS4 demo coming out prior to the game's release. Now, Konami has gone on the record a number of times to say that it is not happening, but yet still fans hold out hope.Unfortunately, PSX Extreme reports that once again Ryan Payton has denied the reports of an upcoming PSN demo in his regular Kojima Production Report podcast. While it's annoying we won't be able to get a taste of MGS4 until this Summer, it's important to remember that demos aren't always a good way to really sample a game (think about Heavenly Sword's demo). Instead take solace in the fact that all the development cycles that are involved in making a demo are instead focused towards making MGS4 one of the top exclusive PS3 games of 2008.
Rumor: Metal Gear Solid 4 demo coming after all?
Sure, if Kojima Productions' Ryan Payton is to be believed, there won't be a Metal Gear Solid 4 demo, but if you're a reader of the Ultimate PlayStation 3 Mag, you're probably scratching your head right now. That's because after previewing a level from the game in the January issue, they say the stage they played will be available on the PlayStation Store in February.While this most certainly isn't concrete proof of the demo heading our way, it does certainly keep the hope alive. After all, would it really be that much trouble for Konami to throw its diehard fans a bone?
