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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]
Metal Gear Solid 4 has over 200 developers
How much manpower is Hideo Kojima throwing at Metal Gear Solid 4 to ensure quality? Over 200, according to Kojima Productions' Ryan Payton. In an interview with Gamasutra, Payton noted how important the game is to Sony, remarking that "the way things are turning out, this could be the first 'must have' PlayStation 3 title on store shelves. Or, if not the first, then the second or the third."For clarification, Payton said that the massive team are all working in the same location on the same title, making the size all the more impressive. He did note, however, that following the release of MGS4 the team size will likely get "a little bit leaner and meaner."Although not confirmed, we suspect Kojima Productions currently has the following quote written above its front doors: "No retreat, no surrender. That is Kojima law. And by Kojima law, we will stand and fight...and die. A new age has begun: an age of freedom. And all will know, that 200 developers, gave their last breath to defend it!"
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.
European MGS4 rumble bundle planned "before Easter"
If we were to ask you what games you associate the most with rumble the chances are that a high percentage of you would mention Metal Gear Solid. We know Kojima Productions has a dedicated "Rumble Guy", so it seems only right that Metal Gear Solid 4 is bundled with the PS3 and the Dualshock 3 "before Easter". SCEE VP James Armstrong made public the company's desire to do so when speaking with Meristation.com, a Spanish website.Better than a new bundle announcement is the hint that both MGS4 and DualShock 3s will be out in Europe before Easter, separately. While this is all still very vague and "before Easter" could range from a month to a day before the holiday, we're going to remain optimistic that both will be released as soon as possible. Seeing as MGS4 is slated for a first quarter release, we're looking to see it hit the shelves by the end of March, at the latest. Seriously, Konami - March at the latest.
Could Solid Snake have been a Plissken clone?
It's never been a secret that Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series was inspired by Kurt Russell's Snake and his exploits trying to escape a few cities, but we never really knew how close those similarities are until now. Aint it Cool News recently won an eBay auction for a previously unreleased and unapproved Escape from L.A. script. The site posted pieces of the script, and it's pretty amazing reading it as you can imagine several parts that could have easily have fit into a Metal Gear game.Not only does the script describe several characters with super-human abilities, it also reveals that the movie's antagonist clones Snake in an attempt to create the world's most elite soldiers. Yeah shocking, right? Well, he also plans on "removing certain genetic limitations, and retaining the benefit of the memories and experiences of the original subject."After this revelation, it's interesting to think just how closely the Metal Gear series could have followed Escape from L.A. if this script had been given the green light.[via Level Up]
Konami assures fans Metal Gear continues, with Kojima
Hideo Kojima loves to tease us. When he wrapped up Metal Gear Solid 3, he said he was done with the franchise -- leaving it in the capable hands of his dev team, while he oversees production from a much farther position than usual. Yet, he returned to the helm to navigate Metal Gear Solid 4 into next-gen seas. He said this would be his last, along with the final title with Solid Snake. However, Konami thinks otherwise.Konami's marketing VP Anthony Crouts sang a different tune, assuring us Kojima is " ... never going to let go of Metal Gear Solid-trust me. [Snake's] a big character, so as a franchise I think he'll always hold it near and dear to his heart ... In one capacity or another, he will always be involved in the Metal Gear franchise." We personally think both Crouts and Kojima are correct -- Kojima will stick around for more Metal Gear, but will take a backseat to the development. We do think this is the final story for the Solid Snake arc, though. He's getting old, fast. Literally.
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.
Kojima Productions is done with MGS4 trailers, for now
Counting nine trailers since the original at Tokyo Game Show 2005, Kojima Productions assistant producer Ryan Payton has told MTV Games' Stephen Totilo that their latest video, from this year's TGS (embedded above), "could be the last trailer [for the game].""The pressure is really on to finish work on the game, and we have decided not to be sidetracked by any more promotional work," he said. That doesn't rule out making more cinema once the game is completed, but don't expect that anytime soon.The nine trailers, for those keeping track, encompass three E3 Expos, three Tokyo Game Shows, two Leipzig Games Conventions and a Metal Gear 20th Anniversary Party. It should be noted, as Totilo observes, that one of the videos wasn't a trailer so much as it was 15 minutes of Hideo Kojima playing the in-progress game.
TGS hands-on: Metal Gear Solid 4
Imagine yourself, surrounded by hundreds, nay thousands of people, bustling about. A constant murmur rings in the background, as the sounds of endless explosions, gunfire, and bouncy anime music intertwine in a cacophony of disarray. Finally, come to the grasp that you must navigate a complex game in a language which you are completely unfamiliar with. It was under these extraneous circumstances that we've come to play Metal Gear Solid 4 on the Tokyo Game Show floor, having survived the hours-long wait for a brief time with Hideo Kojima's latest.Simply thrown into the game was a daunting challenge, one that borders on insurmountable. Once again, Snake has an incredible variety of moves at his disposal -- and he must use them in order to survive the challenges at hand. Metal Gear Solid 4 is far from the most intuitive game we've played, and unguided play didn't lead to much success in the battlefield. It's clear that, in spite of its warlike setting, the game remains true to its "tactical espionage" roots. Stealth is highly rewarded, and bravado will usually lead to some trialling battles that undoubtedly end in death. For example, a tank will be able to gun down Old Snake in all but a few seconds: sneaking past the tank, and the troops that support it, is essential for mere survival. Navigating through the environments felt natural, and the context-sensitive icons that appear at the bottom of the screen are certainly a refreshing addition. Snake will be able to walk, crouch and crawl with relative ease, and with the improved camera, navigating the environment has become far easier. The box and barrel, in which Snake can hide, both appear in the TGS demo, and give Snake a few options in remaining hidden in the environment.But, it's not like Snake will be helpless in the face of combat. Old Snake still has access to his CQC moves, and when faced with enemies one on one, they'll likely face a quick death. The gunplay has been improved, though. The game's over the shoulder mode feels natural, allowing Snake to move and shoot at the same time. The targeting reticule is surprisingly intelligent, indicating when objects and walls get in the course of your shot. Although some may be able to play MGS4 as a quasi-FPS game, the number of enemies will make that a daunting challenge.
Swagwatch???: Metal Gear Solid 4 loot from Konami's press meeting
At Konami's pre-TGS press conference, attendees were given a collection of intriguing artifacts which ranged from bizarre to chucklesome to really pretty cool. A bottle of Konami and Winning Eleven branded water is promised to make you fit, healthy and beautiful, just like Konami's upcoming games. Apparently. Another priceless relic included in the bundle is what appears to be a dishcloth with the Konami code written on it. Just in case you needed to remember it whilst drying the dishes. Our favourite item, however, is the Metal Gear Solid 4 artbook which includes a whole bunch of concept art, photos of Kojima himself and stills from the game. There's some text in there too which, we're sure, is incredibly interesting to those who can read it.Check out the gallery below for photos of the swag, including some close ups of the book. %Gallery-7594%
TGS07: Metal Gear Solid 4 to include Online Starter Pack
Metal Gear Solid 4 will include a small taste of the Metal Gear Online experience through an included "Starter Pack" mode, Hideo Kojima revealed at the Konami press conference today in Tokyo. A new trailer highlighted the game's sharp graphics, which nearly match the visual fidelity of its single-player counterpart. In addition, fun gameplay bits, such as the ability to roll down enemies in a barrel were shown. The trailer ended with a soldier launching himself helplessly into the air by using a massive cannon device (a Halo nod, perhaps?).Both Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Online will be playable at TGS. Stay tuned for more.
TGS07: the new Metal Gear Solid trailer (script)
We're at Tokyo Game Show right now at the Konami Press Conference. We can't show you the new Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer quite yet but we do have the script! Whilst reading this script, imagine giant robots fighting each other and monkeys dancing around (seriously). Oh, and add a fart joke at the end. At the very least, we're hoping the mech battles end up something like Zone of the Enders. Stay tuned for continued TGS coverage soon.Naomi: That's why Liquid has me helping him hijack the System.Naomi: Because I know FOXDIE works.Naomi: Please, you must rescue me.Naomi: Preparations for his insurrection are nearly complete.Naomi: There's no time to waste.Naomi: Snake, hurry!
Metal Gear Solid 4 playable at Tokyo Games Show
We have been reliably informed (by Ryan Payton of Kojima Productions) in the latest Kojima Productions podcast that Metal Gear Solid 4 and Metal Gear Online will be playable at Tokyo Game Show. While not necessarily "news" in itself (not for those of you who won't be able to make it to TGS, at least), it means we'll be able to get you some hands on impressions while we're there. It will be interesting to see how the game plays when one of the game's producers isn't handling the controller. There will also be a new trailer shown which promises to be a bit spoilerific, so those of you who are saving yourselves for the actual game will have to sit out for a few months while those that care less about the game will know more about the story than you do. How hellish that will be. [Via Kotaku]
Oops, HMV admits error in MGS4 Xbox listing
HMV admits that a pre-order listing for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on Xbox 360 found on the site over the weekend was an administration error. The listing caused quite a stir over the weekend as the MGS4 rumor that the game will make its way to Xbox 360 just won't die, recently spurred on further by Konami executive statements. What lent the listing a strange twinge of respectability was that the date set for the Xbox 360 version was five months after the expected spring release of the PS3 version, giving Sony that extra time to still use that word "exclusive" which keeps being attached to the game.HMV says that the error occurred because someone got overexcited and that the company originally wanted to simply "ask customers if they wished to receive an alert in the event of this title one day coming out on this platform." They say they didn't intend to start taking pre-orders. HMV says, "We're sorry to have caused such a stir." So watch out for those HMV listings, when they get excited, games magically appear.
Metal Gear Solid 4: PS3 exclusive, like it always was
At Sony's conference, a lot of games were spotlighted. We mean a lot. While we'd love to go over the 15 first party exclusives, you all know them already, we're sure. So, we're going to move along and debunk the most annoying rumor we've had to put up with for the past year. Metal Gear Solid 4 was announced as a PlayStation 3 exclusive during the conference, met with a loving nod by our favorite Hideo Kojima (we know about twenty, but this one is our favorite). Hopefully this dispels rumors completely. Set for an early 2008 simultaneous worldwide release, MGS4 has come along nicely and has a new trailer up on the PS Store, as you may know. Well, get ready to hear all the "timed exclusive" rumors now, which we're a little more ready to agree to. But not happy about.
Konami may "take some steps" away from MGS4 exclusivity
Who knows, perhaps all this time, Konami was waiting for an excuse to make Metal Gear Solid 4 a multiplatform title. They think the price cut won't significantly increase sales of the PS3, which we feel differently about. This isn't coming from Kojima, who ultimately has control over the fate of Metal Gear Solid 4, but from Konami's North America and Europe boss, Kazumi Kitaue. He said "I don't expect a substantial impact... With USD 500, you can buy a personal computer." Oh, really? What would that computer be able to do? Word process and search the internet. S'about it.This is the big quote people are jumping all over: "Since Metal Gear was born on the PlayStation, we would like to keep it a PlayStation game. But we might have to take some steps." What this means to us is exactly what we've predicted. Metal Gear Solid 4 is a timed exclusive if the game does not sell systems. We think it will, but we don't think it will be enough for Konami, so they'll release MGS4 on the 360 about a year later. Sucks for loyal Sony fans, but it's the most likely situation.
Konami hints at MGS 4 jumping ship
Talking to Reuters, head of Konami's North American and European operations Kazumi Kitaue expressed their less than optimistic feelings about the PS3 and its latest price cut. "I wonder if Sony can win back user support by the price cut of just $100" Kitaue said, "I don't expect a substantial impact ... With $500, you can buy a personal computer". Very opinionated and strong words coming from a developer who is supposedly creating a highly anticipated game (see Metal Gear Solid 4) exclusively for Sony. So, it's even more interesting and revealing to hear Kitaue's response to a question asking about MGS 4 exclusivity where he goes on to say that "Metal Gear Solid was born for the PlayStation, we would like to keep it a PlayStation game. But we might have to take some steps".There you go fanboys, we've added some fuel to the Metal Gear Solid 4 is 360 bound fire as it has yet to be drowned out. You're welcome.[Thanks, blackrome]
Kojima Productions announces new MGS4 trailer at E3
This post serves as a sort of double-whammy. A really cool new trailer of Metal Gear Solid 4, rumored to be voiced in English, will appear at E3. This trailer will appear at the "Sony and Konami Conference" portion of the Electronic Entertainment Expo. This will probably be the only place MGS4 will pop up, so, sorry 360 owners, but we don't think you'll get that MGS4 on 360 announcement just yet.The trailer is, as we've said, supposedly voiced in English, but also will detail an entirely new environment. We'd been wondering when Snake and the gang would get out of the dismal, cow-robot overrun city. Chances are, though, it won't be horribly different from what we've already seen. It's rare that Kojima and crew show off later parts of a game before the release, but we might get a glimpse of what to expect. Perhaps something a little more futuristic than a middle-eastern city? Like ... a space station! That'd be a change.[Thanks, TheGuy!][via NeoGAF]
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 23
PSP Fanboy offers the latest and greatest movie and game trailers, formatted for the PSP in this new weekly feature. Check it out every Saturday. PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)New for PSP: Get selected videos delivered automatically to your PSP via our new RSS feed. Metal Gear Solid 4 [PS3]Download MP4 (84.9MB) | Download JPG The following videos are featured after the break: Kane & Lynch (PS3 & 360), PLAYSTATION Network, You Kill Me
Kojima considers MGS4 Limited Edition tin
You've seen the new video, so no doubt your excitement for Metal Gear Solid 4 has once again reached the dizzy heights it did after last year's E3. Now CVG is reporting that Hideo Kojima is currently contemplating releasing a Limited Edition. Sounds like a fun idea to us. Make it so, Hideo! While nothing more has really been said since it was mentioned in his latest "HIDECHAN Radio!" show, two weeks ago, that doesn't stop us from pondering on what such a tin could contain. Game? Check. Soundtrack? Would be nice. Artbook? Always fun to have. Replica bandana and dogtags? Why not! What would you like to see in there, if it ever materialises?
