MGS4
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Warning: This dog bites!
Kylie Prymus is the first columnist for PS Fanboy. A Ph.D candidate in philosophy, Kylie specializes in the sociology of technology. Through this new weekly column, Kylie will explore the impact of PlayStation on thought and culture. I'm talking about this dog. Not just any dog. The Big Dog. It may not have teeth (though I'm sure those servo-motors could put a hurtin' on) but when I was shown this video earlier in the week I felt sure it had taken a few nips at my soul. Cut the dog down to two legs and increase its size tenfold and you've got a nearly perfect real life version of the Geckos from MGS4. While I've mentioned MGS4 to a greater or lesser degree in previous columns, thus far I've avoided tackling anything in the game head on. This is largely because, as readers of my last post are aware, my PS3 is several states away and I haven't been able to watch play the game through to its conclusion. Don't worry, I'll pick up Snake's saga in a couple weeks (he's at the front of the line just ahead of Niko and Zack), but I should be able to make a few observations about the game given what I have played (up to the middle of Act 3). If you haven't yet done so I suggest you hit the first link above and check out the video of Big Boss Dog.
Get your Snake camo for Snake in Metal Gear Solid 4
Konami's newest camo is named Snake and you can download them from the Extras section of Metal Gear Solid 4's main menu. The Snake camo resembles snakeskin and "it allows you to knock normal soldiers unconscious with one hit, eliminates stress from carrying heavy weapons and items, back pain and screw ups when rolling." All of this for the price of a 10% decrease in your Camo index. The question now is, will it be also be your symbol of your individuality, and your belief in personal freedom? [Thanks, lee!]
Kojima hints at 'a Snake for a new era'
It was only a short time ago when Hideo Kojima and his team unleashed Metal Gear Solid 4 to the world. It's meant to be a farewell to the ten years of entertainment Snake has provided us. "One decade has passed since the release of Metal Gear Solid," Kojima explains to The Cut Scene. "I believe that fans have shared these past 10 years with Snake. The final story of Snake equals closure for these fans. Therefore, the Snake that has existed over the past 10 years could have only existed during this time."Of course, what's next for Kojima? We don't know yet, but if it does involve some tactical espionage action, it will involve a completely different kind of character. "If there ever were to be a new Snake (might have a different name), he will be a Snake for a new era."[Via Joystiq]
Three new MGS4 t-shirts available at Konami Style Japan
With 100% of the PS3 Fanboy E3 team donning multiple UNIQLO Metal Gear Solid 4 tees during E3 week, it's clear that they're popular purchases (or that we really are fanboys). Konami Style in Japan has decided to take advantage of this by releasing their own set of MGS4 related t-shirts. These shirts are to commemorate the worldwide tour that Kojima and company engaged in to publicise the new game.The t-shirt on the left is a replica of those worn by the production crew during the tour, including the list of destinations on the back. For $40, you have to be pretty a pretty big fan of the game to grab one. But we know our commenters. We can almost hear you opening your wallet and tapping in your credit card details right now.Are we tempted? Of course we are. All that's missing to make this a done deal are the words "limited edition."[Thanks Kristopher; Via Wired]
June NPD figures: over 400k units for PS3, MGS4 best selling title
Guess what? PS3 sold pretty well because of this "Metal Gear" game. The PS3-exclusive and limited edition 80GB bundle accelerated sales to over 400k. PS3 sold 405,488 systems, 84% higher than the Xbox 360. Year-over-year sales in June went up 311%, and month-over-month growth went up 94%.Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was the best-selling video game, with 774,647 units sold. More than 2.4 million software units were sold for PS3 in June, representing an increase of more than 300% from this time last year. (Software totals do not include software units sold as part of the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots PS3 retail bundle).The incredible success of the PS3 this month shouldn't come as a surprise. We really hope that Sony will be able to continue the momentum of the PlayStation brand in the coming months with its upcoming holiday lineup. Sony's official word, after the break.
New camos for MGS4 will leave you crying and screaming
In addition to new DLC for MGO today, Konami has released two camouflages for your OctoCamo in Metal Gear Solid 4 for those of us who wish to keep our adventures offline. Like the Laughing and Raging camos, the Crying and Screaming camos are each imbued with the respective emotion. When Snake puts one of these babies on, approaching an enemy and placing them in a CQC hold and letting them go will result in either crying or screaming. You can download them from the Extras section of MGS4's main menu. Have fun![Thanks, Vivas K.!]
Metal Gear Online free and paid expansions available today
Today's PSN update will feature the Metal Gear Online "Gene Expansion." It will come in two varieties, starting at $11.99. The basic expansion will add Meryl and Akiba as playable characters, and three new maps: Coppertown Conflict -- Wide streets, underground passages, and rooftop areas that are ideal for close to medium range combat. Tomb of Tubes -- An intricate labyrinth of underground passages that are ideal for close to medium range combat. Virtuos Vista -- An outdoor map with natural terrain that is ideal for medium to long range combat. In addition, there will be a new "Survival Mode" and you will be able to create a custom female character. For $14.99, players will also get an additional character slot.If paying money doesn't suit your tastes, Konami is still adding free DLC to the Metal Gear Online experience today. Metal Gear Online will also be updated with MGOnline Reward Points and an in-game shop. By playing the game, filling out questionairres and winning tournaments, players will earn Reward Points which can be used to unlock new gear for your character. This will be available for all players of Metal Gear Online.%Gallery-12719%
Deal: Guns of the Patriots for $50, with $10 gift card
So if you haven't heard, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a pretty amazing game. If for some reason, you read this blog, and you don't have this game (why is that?!), this deal from Circuit City should help you get Solid Snake's latest adventure. The retailer is offering the game with a $10 discount, making it only $50 -- but they're throwing in a free $10 gift card for good measure. This is an incredible deal for such a recent release.[Thanks, Juan S.!]
Give me a reason to fight!
Kylie Prymus is the first columnist for PS Fanboy. A Ph.D candidate in philosophy, Kylie specializes in the sociology of technology. Through this new weekly column, Kylie will explore the impact of PlayStation on thought and culture. This may not sound like a paradigm shattering piece of news, but I'm excited about Soulcalibur IV. Virtua Fighter may hold my heart for technical fighting games, but that tale of souls and swords, eternally retold still manages to bring out the button-mashing kid in me. You remember transcending history and the world, don't you? You don't?I remember that tale. I remember long nights debating the merits and flaws of the Soul Edge and Soul Blade and trying to understand the metaphysics behind good and evil swords transforming to fit their wielder. It was a mighty fine fighting game too, but it was the story that kept me coming back to complete the game with each and every character. Back then I could tell you the motivations of just about every character in every fighting game I played. Nowadays you're lucky if you even get endings.
Hayter clarifies his Anime Expo statements
David Hayter, voice actor for Metal Gear Solid series' Solid Snake and Hollywood scriptwriter, has responded to the reports about statements that came out of the recent Anime Expo. " ... I have a somewhat acerbic sense of humor and occasionally, the things I say get taken out of context, or misinterpreted by the press or the Internet Community (I know that sounds hard to believe, but it happens.) Also, large crowds of people tend to freak me out," said Hayter.1Up, who originally ran the story about Hayter's "frustration with Kojima," has posted a letter written from Hayter to 1Up clarifying that his words were taken out of context. "I made a joke about another "notorious" moment from Metal Gear Solid, the first game that I recorded, in 1998 ... Anyway, I referred to performing the scene as "humiliating," but if you watch the videos of the panel, I hope that it is clear that I was trying (perhaps failing,) to be funny."Hayter continues, "I not only owe a huge portion of my career to Metal Gear, and to Hideo Kojima, the genius who created them, but I am also a rabid fan of the games. I have played through each and every one to the end. I have watched every cut-scene, listened to every codec conversation. I have Metal Gear posters on my walls." Read the full letter over at 1UP.[Thanks, konungr!]
Konami continues MGS4 DLC support with new music
As if Metal Gear Solid 4 weren't impressive enough, Konami continues to add small bits of free DLC into the title on a regular basis. Boot up the game, and go to the Extras section -- you'll find a new song for your in-game iPod awaits. "Battle of Highland" is "designed to accompany battles in South America. Different from the game's South America combat music, it possesses a more ethnic tone."The last MGS4 update added two new camo for Snake to use, and that was less than a week ago. How long will Konami keep on sending us these digital treats?[Thanks, Martin S.! Image Source]
Fan-made animated short pays tribute to MGS
This fan made animated short was created by a group of creative and really bored minds called the Duo Group. Titled Metal Gear Solid: Cold Blooded, we're taken through quite an impressively produced piece that pays tribute to the Metal Gear Solid series -- specifically the era of games in which you play as Big Boss. We liked it very much and thought all of you would like to watch it as well. Enjoy.[Thanks Graham!]
New York Times review thinks Metal Gear Solid 4 isn't a game
Seth Schiesel of the New York Times declared twice in his review of Metal Gear Solid 4 that it "isn't really my kind of game." He started off by stating his prejudices early; blatantly telling the reader that his "favorite games provide a sort of social framework within which the players set their own storylines" and that he favors one-player games like SimCity that deliver open-ended gameplay. Surprisingly though, he still claimed MGS4 is very much enjoyable.Schiesel saw MGS4's production values and attention to detail as quasi-negatives, which lead him to "pretty much stopped caring about playing the game." He then gave a backhanded compliment to the game by saying the "combat scenes ... are just as good, if not better in their intensity, than anything I have ever seen in a film. No lie." Because ultimately, Schiesel thought it is too much like watching an interactive film. According to him, the player lacked control over the storyline. He though it's "Mr. Kojima's world, and you are just passing through for the moment." He ended the review on fully negative note, with an implication that MGS4 isn't even game: "By the time those credits did roll, I was ready for the MGS4 experience to be over ... I was ready to play a game."Schiesel also thought MGS4 as-it-is would not be possible on the Xbox 360 and that "the PS3 has more pure silicon horsepower under the hood" which will eventually result in "Microsoft ... playing catch-up." Perhaps by lavishing praise on the hardware, Schiesel thinks he will sound neutral. We can't help but think his view on MGS4 is from a guy who walked into a restaurant ordering Omakase from a world-renowned chef whose specialty is an ingredient he is mildly allergic to.
The Joystiq July 4 Weekend: 2008 edition
Over the weekend, we bought ourselves some fancy new Octo-Camo suits. Unfortunately, the suit failed about one minute after this picture taken, as it became so effective that we got sat on by a trio of quite rude individuals. Check out the highlights for this weekend:JoystiqueryThe Best of Big Download; June 29-July 5, 2008DS Fanboy Lite: June 28 - July 4Japanese hardware sales, June 23 - June 29: Nineteen hundred and ninety-five editionJoystiq Podcast 056 - Womb of Freedom editionJoyswag: C&C 3: Kane's Wrath (Xbox 360) giveaway, Day FourJoyswag: C&C 3: Kane's Wrath (Xbox 360) giveaway, Day FivePS Fanboy Week in Review: 6/30 - 7/6This Week in Review is evolution, babyWRUP: American EditionWeekly Webcomic Wrapup, now with more YahtzeeNewsPeter Moore explains EA Sports' PC snubRaven Squad to marry RTS, FPS this fallEA sorry over Irish anthem gaffe in UEFA Euro 2008Capcom.co.jp lists Devil May Cry for PSPSee a hot anime clip from Street Fighter IVWario Land Shake intro and gameplay videosWrath of the Lich King beta registration now open in USHudson explodes onto the iPhone with Bomberman Touch video"On the Seven7th Day" Bungie shows you Cold StorageSiren: Blood Curse priced, dated for Europe - £19.99, July 24thDiablo 3 to emphasize cooperation, PvP to be includedProfessor Noel Gallagher gives lecture on game violenceVideo: PSP app uses GPS to remix tunes as you walkLeaked box art shows maraca attachments for Samba de AmigoNew MGS4 camo DLC hits with LOLs aplentyWall-E becomes first Arabic-language game for current-gen consolesZeppelin's Jimmy Page uncomfortable lending master recordings to rhythm gamesMercenaries 2 developer walkthrough previews different 'approaches'New Mortal Kombat vs. DC screenshots are fairly brutalBurnout Paradise 'Cagney' update for Xbox 360 delayed until July 14Confront the SOCOM: Confrontation trailerAtlus bringing Persona 4 to North America on December 9Chrono Trigger DS countdown ends, 'reveals' Chrono TriggerHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and the debut trailerRumors & SpeculaitonDiablo 3 'theoretically possible' for console port Rumor: Rock Band 2 setlist reportedly discovered by two sourcesCulture & CommunityCondi, other foreign ministers receive custom DSHandheld NES ... in an NES cartridgeBrawl on the go with homebrew Super Smash Bros. Rumble
Hayter discusses MGS film, Kojima creative differences
It seems that David Hayter really wants to pen the script to the Metal Gear Solid movie. He has been recently trying to get fans of the series behind his banner by asking them to email Sony and make it happen. Now, over at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, Hayter chats things up with 1Up, taking time to talk more about his vision for Solid Snake's cinema debut and even divulging about a bit of frustration with Hideo Kojima's over-the-top direction."Kojima and I have different styles," said Hayter. "But I've certainly learned things from him, especially about ambiguity and telling a story without giving all the answers." While he can appreciate Kojima's work, there are quite a lot of areas where Hayter just couldn't agree with what was going on with Snake. In particular, he refers to Snake's suicide tease in previous MGS4 trailers: "I didn't buy it at all." He believes that Snake, with all his years, shouldn't have to hesitate. "If he knows it's time, then it's time."Another folly in his eyes was a fan favorite scene from MGS1. "It's a delicate thing to discuss love blooming on the battlefield with Otacon," he said. Another one was the alternate ending with Otacon: "It felt like it was written to be romantic. It was just humiliating." So what does Dave have in mind for MGS: The Movie? He'll obviously avoid doing any of the above nitpickings. With that in mind, it would be interesting to see where he would go with the film.
New MGS4 camo DLC hits with LOLs aplenty
We were starting to think that the new camo patterns available for download via Metal Gear Solid 4's "Extras" screen were going to be fairly mundane. Silly us! This is Hideo Kojima we're talking about here, and behind his stoic stare the guy has quite the sense of humor.Case in point: the two new OctoCamo patterns available today. Called "Laughing Camo" and "Raging Camo," they cover Snake in text when equipped (which doesn't exactly sound like the best thing for, you know, stealth gameplay). These patterns aren't about hiding from enemies, though ... their effects are actually seen when you get near them. They cause PMC soldiers and other foes to break out into laughter and howling on sight, rendering them temporaily stunned. (Making the new camo settings something you'll want to use only on your second, third, fourth, or fith play-through, lest you ruin a "pure" first-time experience.) Taking on The Patriots and getting kooky with Kojima? That's what we call a fun way to spend the Fourth.
MGS4 soundtrack now available from European Konami store
Click for higher resolution Lots of Euro news today, which is unsurprising, considering the entire North American continent is on holiday. Konami's European PR rep has contacted us to let us know that the Metal Gear Solid 4 soundtrack is now available for purchase on the Official Konami Store. Check out the gallery below for the front cover, back cover and a view of the innards (which can also be seen above). The soundtrack costs £9.99 or €12.95 and includes free shipping.Unfortunately, while the cover art is very pretty, we're going to suggest that you don't go ahead and buy it. A quick glance at the track list shows only 16 tunes - a far cry short of the 47 on the two-disc Japanese soundtrack. In fact, this is just the Limited Edition soundtrack "taster" disc repackaged for sale separately. Bit sneaky, if you ask us. Pony up the extra cash and get the full soundtrack -- you won't be disappointed.%Gallery-26855%
Two new camouflages available for MGS4
We're not sure we'd class these new MGS4 camouflages "DLC" as such, but they're definitely appreciated. Mostly because they're free, but also because they actually add something interesting and quirky to the game. Two new camouflages for your OctoCamo are now available to grab from the "Extras" section of Metal Gear Solid 4's main menu. These are named "Laughing Camo" and "Raging Camo" -- no doubt "Crying Camo" and "Screaming Camo" will be coming at a later date.These new camouflages look pretty cool when applied via in-game menu, covering Snake in large Japanese script, but the fun really happens when you approach an enemy whilst wearing them. Depending on which one you have currently donned, you will cause your opponents laughter or rage rating to increase, sometimes causing them to burst out into hysterics or rawr at the sky. The easiest way to see this is grab someone in a CQC hold for a little while and then let them go. We have no idea whether this works on bosses, but we'd love to find out. Consider this your 4th of July homework. Class dismissed.[Thanks Brandon!]
Deal of the Day (for Midwesterners): Metal Gear Solid 4 $40 at Meijer
Here's an incredible deal on an incredible game: Metal Gear Solid 4 for $39.99. Unfortunately, it has two major restrictions. First, this must be purchased in-store so you must be in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, or Ohio and close to a Meijer. Secondly, this deal only lasts up till tomorrow, the 5th. Considering today is July 4th, the only chance you'll be able to get this deal is July 5th. Fortunately, if you live in these states you are most likely not far from a Meijer and some of them are open 24 hours. At this price, Midwesterners now have zero excuse for not having this certified triple-A title.[Via FatWallet]
Care for some Metal Gear Solid wine?
If auctioning a life-sized Snake yesterday wasn't enough for all you collectors, then here's one more Metal Gear Solid item that might be of interest. Pictured is a bottle of Andiera Cabernet Sauvignon which is specially labeled for the Metal Gear Solid launch way back in 1998. It was given only to the game's designers and business partners.The bottle is being auctioned on eBay with a starting bid at around $250. Whether the actual beverage contained inside is actually quality wine, we don't know -- this blogger isn't a wine drinker. So make sure you know what you're getting into. Perhaps, on a light note, it might be a good time to pick it up; drink some slightly more aged wine and celebrate the end of Solid Snake's story. We couldn't think of a finer time for a toast.[Via Gamesniped]
