MGS4
Latest
Metal Gear Solid 4 needs a million sold on day one
Kojima Production's upcoming PS3 exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 is a very pricey game to make. Making it exclusive to one console is a risky proposition, especially in an era of skyrocketing game development. Ryan Payton told Reuters that the high-profile title "needs to sell over a million copies on the first day it goes on sale due to its costly production." Will this be likely considering the PS3's small userbase?Sony says that it's been prepared for the loss of third party exclusives from the get-go, understanding that publishers will want to recoup their costs differently in this generation of hardware. "We understand publishers are needing to recoup their investment," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing for Sony. "From our perspective, as long as the games aren't going exclusive to other platforms, PS3 gamers are not actually losing anything." Their strategy? To have the most first party development -- more than Nintendo and Microsoft combined.Metal Gear Solid 4 isn't the last of Sony's big exclusives. In the far future, fans can also look forward to Final Fantasy XIII. In addition, Dille noted that "15 PS3 exclusives released between September 2007 and April 2008."
A quick exploration of PS3 game delays
It's a funny fact that PS3 games seem prone to delays more than any other console currently available, so we thought it would be nice to bring your attention to something that lists the most notorious delays. In addition to listing the delays, there's an explanation by GamesRadar why each game has been pushed back. It's an interesting read, but if you're too lazy to find out, the following games are mentioned: Fatal Inertia The Orange Box Unreal Tournament 3 Home Haze Metal Gear Solid 4 With the exception of the "who-cares" title Fatal Inertia, we'd agree that those games have made us groan upon delay announcements. The really weird part is most of the titles above are touted in some form as "PS3 Exclusive". Hopefully the issues with the PS3 melt away next year, or people really will start calling it the DelayStation outside of the intertubes.
Rumor: BioShock on PS3, new Metal Gear on PSP
Got a crazy craving for that sweet ADAM flavor that all the kids are talking about, but only own a PS3? According to 1UP's Quartermann's Nostradamian prediction you might be able to get your BioShock fix soon. In the latest rotation of EGM's rumor mill, the exclusivity of the underseas fiasco has been brought into question, and PS3 owners could find themselves frolicking through Rapture sometime in 2008. However, this report contradicts the statement of BioShock's lead designer Ken Levine that the game is not PS3 bound. 2K Games, would you kindly confirm or deny this rumor?Quartermann also has great news for the feverish fans of FOXHOUND who were upset by the recent MGS4 delay - a new Metal Gear game for the PSP is on it's way, ready to heal those wounds. Reportedly, Kojima Productions is working on the title right now, which will "take Snake back to the early days of his career." Not his career as a master of espionage, mind you, but his first career as a pastry chef in a small Rhode Island bistro.Also rumored: Sega isn't letting the lukewarm reception of their two first next-gen Sonic games break their stride, as they're apparently hard at work on a new, "real" Sonic game. We don't know whether "real" means a return to the game's classic platforming roots, or if we can expect more creepy interspecies make-out sessions.
Konami stocks slide after MGS4 delay
It seems more than just gamers are hinging on Metal Gear Solid 4 to give their purchases some well-deserved credibility. For gamers, it's a reason to flaunt their PS3's in addition to all those other games they've gotten, but for investors, MGS4 was apparently a reason to buy Konami stock. With the announcement of a second MGS4 delay, somehow faith in Konami has plummeted, reducing the stocks a substantial amount, almost 6%. Konami claims the fall is due to concerns that earnings growth may slow, but all gamers really want to know is when Konami will let Metal Gear Solid 4 enter their PS3's and give the system a much needed discgasm. Solid Snake knows how to please the consoles, after all.[via Next-Gen]
Metal Gear Solid 4 delayed to Q2 2008
Cast your minds back in time. Remember when Metal Gear Solid 4 was due out this Christmas? Konami were so sure that was the case that they even made a joke about a delay in one of their trailers this year. Well that was a lie (as are many other things) and the game really did get pushed back to 2008. Now, it seems, there will be another delay until the second quarter of 2008. Konami promises that the delay will provide "greater enjoyment for more customers worldwide." Of course, it's difficult to compare these worldwide enjoyment levels without releasing the game twice so this may too be a lie. Have patience - there are enough games coming out this year to keep you busy until the middle of summer. MGS4 will be out before you know it. Unless it's delayed again.
Metal Gear Solid 4 delayed until Q2 2008
Geriatric neck-snapping spy news now, with Konami of Japan announcing a delay in Solid Snake's arrival on the PlayStation 3. The press release coldly increments the previously expected Q1 release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots to Q2 2008, sparing little thought as to the taste of bitter tears and follicle-wrenching pain we had to endure whilst reading it. There's some consolation to be found in the assurance that the delay will allow "further improvements to the quality of the game and provide even greater enjoyment for more customers worldwide."Konami further promises that pushing Metal Gear Solid 4 into the April-June arrival window will ensure it "meets everyone's expectations." We certainly hope so, as our expectations have been sitting at the airport with nothing to do for years now but read interviews with Ryan Payton.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
More Metal Gear Solid 4 figures spotted
Toy manufacturers are banking on the success of Metal Gear Solid 4. Here's yet another set of meticulously designed figures from the upcoming PS3 tactical espionage game. Raiden (pictured above) looks quite cool in his new robotic ninja outfit. Too bad his face doesn't look quite good when you open his mask.Old Snake is also available ... but at a price! These figures go for a whipping $179 each! (Budget consumers should check out this other set instead.) Toy collectors are used to such extravagant prices, but will you be able to afford to pre-order one?[Via NeoGAF]
See Metal Gear Solid 4 demo in English
Hello, friend. Do you have a comfortable chair? Do you have a refreshing beverage? If so, it's high time that you snuggle in and prepare yourself for an approximately 12-minute long demo of Metal Gear Solid 4 in English. Just a warning, the player of the demo occasionally blows through some of the dialog when it goes on a bit too long. Wow, it's just like you're playing at home!Speaking of which, if you want to grab a controller and pretend like you're playing, we won't tell anyone. The demo starts with the first part above, and then continues below the jump. Enjoy.
Joystiq interview: MGS4's Ryan Payton
While E For All may have been sparsely attended, we did manage to catch up with a few notables while we dodged tumbleweeds and worked our way through the cavernous South Hall. Konami's booth with its Metal Gear Solid 4 demo easily had the longest line, which kept some of the attendees behind barbed wire fences until they were treated to a lucky 15 minutes of glory.So, we decided to sit down with one of the men behind the game. Namely, Konami's Ryan Payton, who has the enviable position of being one of the Assistant Producers on MGS4. He is also one of the extremely few Westerners working on this title. Mind you, he is fluent in Japanese and is currently living over there, which certainly makes things a bit easier. Check out our interview with him about the game after the break.%Gallery-8799%
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.
Your weekend just got better: Metal Gear Solid 4 footage
Your weekend just got better. Live from E for All, here's English language footage of the Metal Gear Solid 4 demo. You won't have a chance to play the game again before its release, so enjoy. The rest of the videos (three more!) are after the break.
Joystiq at E For All 2007
So, we came, we saw, and we'll be back for more throughout Friday and the weekend, but the big question you all wanna know is ... will there be an E For All 2008? Signs point to "not very likely." Judging by some of the empty rows of gaming stations we saw, and the fact that it doesn't fill the South Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center, it's hard to imagine this show being a giant success.In fact, since it's held in the exact same place that E3 used to be, it's impossible not to compare it to the other shows. In fact it sort of feels like E3 reborn, except that they forgot to send out invites and let people know about it. There were a few busy areas, like the Konami booth which had a line of people all day long waiting to play the MGS4 demo (which was sweet, more on that later), and the Nintendo booth had bleachers set up where people patiently waited to get their hand on Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which was also sweet. If by sweet you mean button-mashy, which we do.Also popular was Link's Crossbow Training, which we'll be playing tomorrow, and of course, Guitar Hero 3. We also witnessed several people pulling Peter Moore's at the Rock Band trailer, which was an extremely cool setup ... but sort of sparsely attended. Probably due to the fact that no one really wants to hear perfect strangers butchering The Clash's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go."While there's not a ton of material out there that hasn't already hit the shelves, we did have fun playing around at the EA booth (we still love you, The Orange Box), and Civiization: Revolution is a lot of fun, which we'll be telling you more about soon. For now, the obligatory Guitar Hero III stations, the elaborate Rock Band stages, the ubiquitous cosplay shots and an overdose of Fatal1ty await you in the gallery.%Gallery-8799%
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]
MGS Portable Ops+ gets dated, no MGS4 PSN demo
Do you remember when your fake ID couldn't fool the bouncer, leaving you outside sober, cold, and distanced from the girl you were looking to at least play ball with? That's kind of how we're feeling right now, after learning on the latest Kojima Productions podcast that there are no plans to bring a demo of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots to the PlayStation Store prior to launch.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." And definitely, he added, no plans of "uploading [on PSN] next week." His statements were echoed by Konami's new flak master, Michael Shelling, adding "[E for All] is going to be your one chance to actually play it prior to it launching next year."Yeah, while this news is certainly a crushing blow to the Metal Gear Solid fan base (many of which help run Joystiq), there was at least a little positive news: Shelling revealed that Konami has gone gold with Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops+, and is planning to release the game on November 13. That's a little antiseptic to the wound, no?
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!"
Kojima's Ryan Payton talks more underwear monkey
We're not sure if you're on Metal Gear Solid 4 overload yet, but we thought some of you might find this new interview with Kojima Productions producer Ryan Payton of some interest. Sure, he talks about some of the Western influences on the game and some of the nuances of Metal Gear Online, but he also gives up the details you crave on monkey in a diaper and his buddy Sisqo/Demolition Man-era Wesley snipes.As Payton is quick to correct, it's a monkey in pants (boo!) whose taken on a larger role in the game (yay!) as development has progressed. Also, Sisqo is actually named Drebin and is actually an arms dealer, not a fallen star of dance hall R&B. Let me see that claymore! Clay-more-more-more-more-more.
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.
