"Sent in by a Best Buy employee, and confirmed by other BB employees, it's an 80GB PS3 bundled with copies of two of the biggest games on the system: Metal Gear Solid 4 and Killzone 2. All that for the asking price of a standard PS3, $400."

"When I was a child, there were a bunch of cool games... the Sonic ones, the Mickey ones, the Donald Duck ones, etc. But these were all "cute"... then, after sometime, with the evolution of video game, it was delivered to us a game that kicked butt: Metal Gear Solid.

It was not about fighting, but it was about the art of stealth. Being an ocidental ninja, per say... and Solid Snake was that new kind of John Rambo of secret agents. And man, it was a cool game and I'm definetely waiting a mov..."

"Allegedly, a leaked picture of the movie poster for the upcoming Metal Gear Solid movie has emerged. The photo is supposedly from the office of Sony Pictures in Culver City, CA. The picture, if it's legit, reveals the movie will star Christian Bale(The Dark Knight, Terminator Salvation) and Daniel Craig(Quantum of Solace), presumably as Solid and Liquid Snake respectively. It also indicates the movie will be due for the summer of 2011."

"Sony is releasing the second patch of Greatest Hits games for the Playstation 3 today. Army of Two, Battlefield: Bad Company, Devil May Cry 4, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction are joining the club."

"In celebration of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots’ one year anniversary, Konami has announced today that they will release “exciting” Metal Gear announcements all week long. Each day this week, Metal Gear fans can expect to receive game updates and other highly anticipated announcements about the best-selling series direct from Konami."

"Hey lvlone users we would like to thank everyone whose been visiting the site and commenting on our posts. We here at lvlone have been working hard on getting new content on the website and we are proud to announce our first podcast ever."

"Hamamura: ---'s XXXXXX?
Kojima: But, ---. It's ---
Hamamura: Ah! I get it!!
Kojima: "XXXXX XXXXX XXX". Well, it's not "X", but a "X" kind of feeling. That's him. I can't say the title yet, but it's this kind of feeling. But it's the Metal Gear saga's tradition.
Hamamura: The time period is XXX?
Kojima: No, it's XXX. I'm saying everything, maybe XXXXX. I'm designing and directing all of this game.
Hamamura: Wha!
Kojima: I think the focus will be domestic, and we're launching it globally..."

"Show Notes | Topics

Pre-E3 Discussion/Predictions/Desires

Starlight v.3

NEWS:

3D Realms Isn’t Closed, Even Though It Closed

Capcom Japan, Koei and Square Enix limiting E3 Presence Because of Swine Flu

Warner Bros. Makes a Bid to Buy Midway

Kojima’s Countdown

Fallout 3 DLC coming to PS3 aka JW gloats

Jack Thompson’s Louisiana Video Game Bill Gets Gutted

Terminator Salvation on PC is *sigh* Terminated

TRITTON Announces New Headsets for E3"

"In my never-ending quest to fill the giant open spaces of my life I call work, I decided to compile a list of video games guys who are b.a.mf.’s. By this I mean these guys probably couldn’t ever successfully have a girlfriend, can kill without losing sleep, or guys who should really pay a visit to some of the scum that are allowed to exist in this world. Just guys who you don’t want to mess with- ever."

"Cover systems aren’t exactly something that have been there since the start for the shooter genre. My own first experience of the cover systems are the snap-on cover mechanics used in Metal Gear Solid, and also the flawless chunky cover system in Gears of War for the Xbox 360. I am a huge fan of developers implementing cover systems into any shooting games, but then again I may be outspoken. For example, a massive number of gamers may play Gears 2 online which may suggest that covers system..."

We've all seen the countdown and the huge amounts of speculating following it. Japanese e-Commerce database 7-Eleven is now claiming that this game is indeed a Metal Gear game set to be featured in Famitsu PS3+PSP on the 30th May.

"The website has lighting and thunder and wind blowing noises as well as a countdown clock that ends in three days. Another announcement of another announcement? If so, that would make this whole affair an announcement of an announcement of an announcement."

"I was emailed an interesting rumor earlier this morning concerning the upcoming Konami announcement coming from the Kojima team. Now, some of this information I have heard previously from outside sources, but with it now circulating a little more, I feel as though it should be shared."

"In a recent blog post on Playstation.Blog, Brandon Laurino of Konami Online wrote the following:

“Stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks, as the one-year anniversary of the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4 approaches, we’ll be revealing even more awesome stuff to celebrate!”

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was released on June 12, 2008. The one year anniversary coincides with E3 2009, which takes place from June 2nd to June 4th."

The next Metal Gear Solid has been revealed! And in a sudden strike of genius and originality Hideo Kojima has made it revolve around...Cyborg Ninja Colonel. Well not really, but its April 1st, what did you expect? Watch this well made spoof on Colonel Campbell taking up the fight where Raiden left off, viewable at the source.

""

"If you've followed the Live Blog of the Kojima's GDC 2009 Keynote, you might be asking yourself, "What's the deal with the last startling images of the presentation?".

After a rousing speech taking audience members through the entire Metal Gear franchise the last image we were left with was a bold still which reads "Mission: The Next MGS". Furthermore, planted in the top right corner of the still is a clear impression of the cyber ninja Raiden"

"With releases on just about every platform from the past twenty years, numerous sequels, remakes and non-canonical spinoffs, Metal Gear is one of the most prolific and longest-living series in gaming. It paved the way for stealth gaming in general, and in particular, broke ground for tech-stealth games like Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Syphon Filter. It's impossible to do justice to such a wide-ranging experience in so few words—that this history can only hope to scratch the surface is a ..."

"On the subject of MGS4/MGO trophies and Konami ID - we hear you. We have been circulating these issues internally, and we will report back as soon as we are able."

"HIGHLIGHTS:

- Raiden and Vamp gameplay (Haven Troopers too!)

- Three new maps: O.O. , H.H. , R.R.

- Possible new skill? Female soldier distracted male soldiers, similar to Mei Ling.

- New animations/skills for CQC?

- Snake in Shadow Moses...with a Patriot...and a kerotan!"

"So the global economy is taking a giant dump, and your job is among the waste. Your house is worth less than you owe the bank. Your town/state/country is bankrupt. Big banks are rolling in your future taxes. Meanwhile, you couldn't get a loan if you offered a shylock your ring finger up front. Times are tough, but you can take comfort in this undeniable fact: Never in your life have you had so much time to game. Sure, you could use your time on the unemployment dole to take some classes and i..."

The first proper trailer for Metal Gear Solid Touch, the remake of the award winning PS3 game onto the iPhone is now up, and while its definitely not the game everyone was expecting it seems to be shaping up pretty nicely, these are definitely some high quality graphics for a handhold. Nice music too.

"Think Services Game Group’s 2009 Game Developers Choice Awards, the highest honours in game development acknowledging excellence in game creation, will honour Hideo Kojima with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s ceremony taking place at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), it was revealed today."

"Konami Digital Entertainment has announced that its heralded PLAYSTATION3 epic Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be released as part of the budget Platinum range from March 5th across Europe."

"February is Black History Month. As an African-American I want to take this opportunity to study some of the issue surrounding games and the portrayals of African characters or those with African heritage. I'd like to make comparisons between stereotypical, defective and one-dimensional characters like Barrett and Augustus Cole and more complex, but still problematic characters such as Carl 'CJ' Johnson. I'm also going to pick out some positive black characters in other entertainment media, a..."

"In a recent statement, Konami Customer Service revealed that it has taken action against 113 individuals accused of cheating in Metal Gear Online.

quote

Konami has a firm policy regarding cheating in Metal Gear Online. It will not be tolerated. In keeping with this position, we have taken action against 113 accounts participating in prohibited behavior.

The role of the gaming community in keeping Metal Gear Online free of this type of activity cannot be overstated. You are the first lin...

"

You've gotta give some gamers credit. They're either really dedicated to their games (or just really impulsive). A Japanese lady has sent Kotaku a picture of her new Solid Snake tattoo that covers most of her midriff!
Let's hope she doesn't regret it in 10 years!

"I am sure that everybody, at some point in their lives, has been playing a videogame and suddenly found themselves questioning the sexual preferences of the characters involved. Ultimately, one finds one's self asking the final and most pressing question of all -- is that character a dom or a sub?"

"What are the best-selling games in America, Japan, and Europe (UK, France, Germany) this week? Thanks to Amazon online sales data here are the games that are the most popular right now.

Call of Duty: World at War stays #1 on the Xbox 360 chart, while LittleBigPlanet regains its first spot on the PS3 chart. World of Goo claims 1st place on the PC chart. Wii Fit returns to the healthiest spot on the Wii top 5. Mario Kart DS remains on the DS chart. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 stays on the ..."

"

1. Quake
2. Halo 3
3. Half-life
4. Grand Theft Auto IV
5. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
6. Pac-Man
7. Doom
8. Resident Evil 5
9. Mortal Kombat
10. Contra
11. BioShock
12. Metal Gear Solid
13. wipEout
14. Portal
15. flOw
16. Resistance 2
17. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
18. Guitar Hero
19. Gran Turismo
20. Donkey Kong
21. Castlevania
22. Super Mario Bros. 3
23. Left 4 Dead
24. Street Fighter IV
25. Rock Band

"

"If we think about LittleBigPlanet, Age of Conan or Mirror’s Edge, we notice they have two things in common: very successful and well received demo versions (or beta stages) and very poor, lower than anticipated game sales. And since these are not the only titles in which a demo (or the lack of it) appears to be connected with their commercial success, I believe we should analyze the influence demos have in the game world and debate: are game demos game killers?"

"Konami is attempting to wrangle in more new Metal Gear Online gamers today as it announced a "Welcome Rookie" campaign for the online tactical shooter. The campaign aims to provide new users who register up until February 16th, 2009 with a special codec pack which includes new voice content and 5,000 in-game reward points which can be used to get new items for players' characters."

"Fanboys have been plaguing the Internet for quite some time with their silly propaganda, heinous slander, & a laggard intellect that leaves the rest of us sane humans flabbergasted at the fact that these are the type of people we not only have to deal with on forums or blogs, but also in person typically at retailers where I purchase my games from. I just don't understand the logic behind being a fanboy, I mean the way I see it it's a lose lose situation. These companies do not compensate you..."

"In years past, NeoGAF has done their favorite moments in gaming, using only MS Paint to show you. Looking back at 2008 brings us some of the coolest moments, great memories that can look amusing to just plain epic, even when in Paint. I purposely left out the names of the games as half the fun is guessing (but if you can’t figure it out, right click and hit properties to see the file name where I put the game)."

"Sony has been on the playing field since the days it had been rejected by Nintendo and their idea of creating a CD based gaming device. This generation the competition has been different, but this has not deterred the company to give up on pushing a steady and stellar quality of games on its platform. We recently spent some time talking with a Sony rep, who had an interesting anecdote when broached upon Killzone 2. Since this is not an official statement by the company or the developer, the a..."

"Let’s not forget about the console wars! There are sale charts, there are fanboys slamming other fanboys’ data, there are all sorts of ways to “decide” the winner of the console wars… One of them is, of course, checking the exclusive games and that’s exactly what we’re planning to do now. So, the battle is on: PS3 vs. Xbox 360 vs. Wii – which console has the best exclusives?"

"

1. Grand Theft Auto Series
2. Metal Gear Series
3. NHL Series (EA Sports)
4. Street Fighter Series
5. Bioshock Series

"

"As we all know, the one thing that sets videogames apart from other forms of media is interactivity. Being the catalyst for your own adventure is something that makes gaming more interesting to me than any movie or book. With videogames, one can stop being a mere passive observer and actually be a part of the action.

That said, if there's one thing I may have done more than playing videogames, it's watching videogames. Whether patiently waiting for my turn or being astounded by the skills..."

"

In quite possibly the most bizarre clip of 2009, the cast from Metal Gear Solid 4 improvises a scene in which they're "suffering from delusions of being the characters they portray in the game."

Voice actors David "Solid Snake" Hayter, Jennifer "Naomi Hunter" Hale, Paul "Colonel Roy Campbell" Eiding, Christopher "Otacon" Randolph, and Quinton "Raiden" Flynn do an off the cuff, fifteen minute session for Sadie's Gaming Infection, one that really must be seen to be believed."

""Could video games actually be helping struggling students learn? According to researchers at the National Science Institute and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, they are.

These video games are not your typical blockbuster game like Metal Gear Solid 4 or Gears of War 2, though. They’re educational video games, designed with the specific intent of teaching the player a fact or concept.""

"It’s Tuesday, 30th December 2008 – the sixth day of Christmas. And that, of course, means it’s time for the sixth instalment in The Twelve Games of Christmas. A feature series running on each of the twelve days of Christmas here at Electronic Theatre, The Twelve Games of Christmas aims to highlight some of the industry’s top achievers of 2008, running through one month’s worth of disc-based releases everyday. Today, we look at June 2008, and give you the top-picks for those January sale ..."

"So here's the thing, Wii Fit has mass-market appeal, and Wii Sports comes packed in with the Wii, so it's understandable for them to outsell AAA titles from the other consoles. Wii Play, however, isn't even a GOOD GAME. No one will tell you that it is. Yet the fact that it comes with a Wiimote for only $10 more has encouraged nearly 20 MILLION PEOPLE to drop down their precious cash for the thing. More people own this game than Halo 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Gears of War COMBINED.

I think..."

"After 12 months of playing and enjoying as many games as possible, it’s time to take a break, look back and choose the best of the best - the best 10 games of the year 2008. As you can imagine, it’s a really tough mission, especially because the overall quality of the games released this year was pretty high (there were exceptions, of course), but we must choose the game of the year here, at the Unigamesity!"

"It's hard finding a trailer that sticks with you and keeps itself glued to the walls of your memories. Trailers that manage to do such a feat are easily worthy of some kind of media recognition. So in the good spirit of acknowledging awesomeness where awesomeness deserves recognition, Blend Games has proudly put together a list of the Top 10 Coolest Game Trailers of 2008. So without wasting a whole lot of words on a pointless lead-in to the list, you can check out our top ten picks for the co..."

"If you're married make sure your wife isn't in the same room with you, otherwise you could be sleeping on the couch for the next couple of weeks. If you have a girlfriend it would be best if she weren't with you while checking out these trailers, otherwise you might not getting any late night "snacks" for about a month. And if you're not old enough to close your bedroom door, you probably aren't old enough to be watching these trailers. But for the mature minded youth, you better not let your..."

"The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 have been locked in a deadly battle for graphical supremacy since their respective launches. The multi-platform games have been an interesting aspect of the current graphical arms race, with video comparisons online grabbing a lot of attention and comment.

Despite the PS3’s much talked about processing power superiority, the 360 versions have managed to hold their own and often have the ability to outshine their PS3 counterparts.

Even though exclusive tit..."

"I played through dozens of games this year and tried at least a hundred more. And through them all, I experienced some amazing moments.

As I have done in years previous, here are my picks for My 10 Favorite Moments in Video Games for 2008. (As spoiler-light as I can make them.)"

Metal Gear Solid 4 has had a large supply of downloadable content since its launch. Map packs, new camo patterns and music all sifting through on a regular basis. One thing that I and I think a fair few others noticed was the lack of podcasts. The first already present within the game offered funny and interesting commentary, and promised more episodes, episodes which have still yet to appear. However it looks like finally the first of hopefully many episodes is on the way, the first schedule...

"

First off, you'll get a new Sackboy costume… the Gurlokovich Soldier.

Plus tons of new stickers (72), materials (12), decorations (10), and objects (18).

Our Premium Level Packs include new Story Levels and they’re filled these new objects. That’s because, Media Molecule teamed with Konami to create 5 new Story Levels and 1 new Challenge Level for you to enjoy.

Now we couldn’t just build a level using the basic tools above, we need music, new sound effects, and new element...

"

"We look at the top 12 games from several platforms in order to determine which are the Top 12 Overall Games for 2008, and you might just be surprised at the ‘overall’ winner for 2008 - coming from an Xbox site. OXCGN (aka XboxOZ360-gamer) has always maintained that the staff are “gamers” - not fanbois. Most have more than 2 consoles and platforms to play games on and simply enjoy ‘gaming’ period.

So what better way to round off the year than to take a look at what we believe to be th..."

"Award Winners

* Best Shooter: Gears of War 2 (Epic Games)
* Best Xbox 360 Game: Gears of War 2 (Epic Games)
* Best Indie Game Voted by the Fans: World of Goo (2D Boy)
* Big Name in a Game: Kiefer Sutherland (Call of Duty: World at War)
* Gamer God Inductee: Will Wright (Sim City, Spore)
* Best RPG: Fallout 3 (Bethesda)
* Best Music Game: Rock Band 2 (Harmonix)
* Best Soundtrack in a Game: Rock Band 2 (Harmonix)
* Studio of the Year: Media Molecul..."

"

In a video post on YouTube, Russian men present Hideo Kojima with a musical piece that appears to resemble the MGS theme. Hideo smiles at first, perhaps recognizing the song and thinking that it is a tribute to the franchise, until the men explain that the recording is actually from "Pushkin's Garland," written by Georgy Sviridov in 1979."

"GAME OF THE YEAR:

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV
LITTLEBIGPLANET
FALLOUT 3
METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS
GEARS OF WAR 2"

X-Play has a video up detailing the best games of 2008. Sure, it ain't over yet, but it seems like the best of it done with. Oddly, Fable II wins game of the year, but is beaten by Fallout 3 for RPG of the year. Huh?

Other categories include Best Handheld Game, Best Action/Adventure Game, and Best Music/Rhythm Game.

"But we've been doing our detective work here at Hardcasual, and for us, that means sitting back and thinking "What would Ghostwriter do?" And we think we've figured it out - "A Next Metal Gear" isn't just broken English. It's not another sign that perhaps Hideo Kojima may not have the best grasp on how to put a sentence together, let alone an epic narrative. No, in all the genius that is Kojima, he's constructed... an anagram."

"Of course, with a new Metal Gear we know that the series long time protagonist, Solid Snake, probably won’t be the hero this time around. At the end of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots he is in retirement and possibly, you never know with Kojima narratives, on his way to the grave. Otacon’s final comments to Sunny was a poignant reminder to long time fans that Snake has gone above and beyond the call of duty and needs to rest. LET HIM REST!"

Today, a mysterious new webpage was made available on Kojima Productions' website, as noticed today by Japanese newssite Famitsu. The Konami logo is shown which fades to the image shown on the right.

Could there be a new Metal Gear?

Check it out for yourself here.

"The relationship between introverted computer genius Hal "Otacon" Emmerich and his charge Sunny (seen above) is a diamond-polished window into the soul of the young men who work for Japanese game companies. A doe-eyed nine- or ten-year-old who resembles a child less than she does a scaled-down maid café waitress, she waits on her guardian hand and foot, cleaning, assisting with programming, and serving meals. The pair live as virtual hikikomori shut-ins on a high-tech aircraft that serves as..."

"Enter our "meta-metareview," a list of every game released this year that's scored above 85% on average from reviewers around the world. You won't be surprised by the games that made the list; you will be surprised that some of your (and our) favorites didn't make it.

-

The best-reviewed game this year? April's Grand Theft Auto IV (98%), followed by a three-way tie between LittleBigPlanet, BioShock (PS3) and World of Goo (95%) -- all three of which were released in October. Metal Gear S..."

"

1. Battlefield: Bad Company
2. Left 4 Dead
3. Fable II
4. Ace Attorney Series
5. BioShock
6. ToeJam and Earl
7. Double Dragon Arcade
8. Metal Gear Solid Series
9. Earth Defense Force 2017
10. Baldur’s Gate Series
11. Mario and Luigi

"

"

1. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
2. Half-Life
3. God of War
4. Gears of War 2
5. Metroid Prime
6. Halo: Combat Evolved
7. Steel Battalion
8. BioShock
9. Street Fighter franchise
10. Madden NFL
11. NBA Live 09
12. Mega Man franchise
13. Tomb Raider
14. Super Mario Bros. franchise
15. Sonic the Hedgehog
16. Mario Kart Wii
17. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
18. Final Fantasy VII
19. Burnout Paradise
20. Ninja Gaiden
21. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
22. Castlevania, LEGO Indiana Jones
23. Stubbs The Zombie: Rebel Without A Pulse
24. Bonk series
25. Ghosts 'N Goblins

"

"In true gamer fashion a Turkish man has escaped from a German prison Solid Snake style by making use of a cardboard box..."

"To see the EE for yourself, then just check out the Spec Op's ammo crate after "prototype ammo berserk" has been activated. We haven't tried this ourselves yet this weekend, but we're sure we'll run into it sometime."

"Show Notes:

This week we have been gaming on: Earthworm Jim (Virtual Console), God of War (PS2), Pac-Man Championship Edition (XBLA), Guitar Hero World Tour (Xbox 360), Soulcalibur IV (Xbox 360), Oblivion (PS3), Tetris Splash (XBLA), Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)

Random Guitar Hero vs Rock Band ramblings

The News:

Atari to publish 'Ghostbusters' game

User created Guitar Hero content could be "subscription opportunity"

PETA suck the ass

Scientology sucks

Xbox Diamond Club, ..."

"Unplayable cut scenes, cinemas, or in-game movies have been a part of video games for more than 20 years. They help advance the plot, serve as a rest area for players and produce shock and awe like any good movie.

While the technique is evolving (some developers like Valve shun them altogether in favor of total interaction), cut scenes often make games feel bigger than they really are. And nobody does it better than the following games when it comes to memorable cinematics."

"If you have a PS3 and don't own the game yet, then I don't know what is wrong with you. This game was the system seller. Having a demo come out so far after the game has been released is just about unheard of and really makes me unsure of the strategy being used here.. BUT, at least this means Sony is staying consistent as far as how the whole company seems to be run, which is having no real strategy. ("Lets release a demo for a game everybody has, but stick without having a small patch to p..."

What do gamers do when people in America are going to the booths to vote? They hold their own elections, for video game characters of course!

Take your pick from the likes of Sackboy, Tom Nook... and even 12-Pack! Even gamers like a good old beer now and then, right? Each candidate has a badge, their promises and their slogan.

So who gets your vote?

"Post Metal Gear Solid 4 Hideo Kojima is still alive and kicking in the game development world it seems. In the latest Famitsu, the Konami producer mentioned that he's working on his newest game, to be announced next year!"

"Mandatory installs come from complications developers meet when switching from DVD to Blu-ray. Blu-rays have more space, but they have a different way of reading data that causes longer loading times when given exactly the same data DVDs use. Installs fix the problem, at a cost, but alternative methods are being devised. Fallout 3 has enough space on the Blu-ray disc to copy the game's assets over more than once on the disc, which reduces load times significantly. This kind of innovation is n..."

You saw the Amazing MGS Custom PS3, but that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to PS3 mods.

Here is a list (with lots of images) of some of the best from around the net, as compiled by PS3 Maven.

Ranging from game inspired mods, to ridiculous extraneous hardware modifications (think water cooling and external HDDs), prepare to be impressed.

Be sure to check out all of the other images and descriptions after the jump!

"Morpheon Mods has crafted an incredible MGS4-themed PS3 system that's not only completely blinged out, it's signed by Hideo Kojima himself. The quantity and scope of the modications applied are mind-boggling. "The entire PS3 and controller is a combination of Carbon Fiber and Midnight Black done in our own digital camouflage technique ... The final product is a uniform finish that reflects like a mirror."

"It has been specially fitted with 15 white micro LEDs that back light not only the m..."

"The first is where the reviewer, Robert Workman, said, "Despite these modes, glitches ruin the fun. Constant freeze-ups force you to reset your PlayStation 3, there's no time limit on your matches and no ability to simply drop out if you're frustrated or tired of losing."

According to Sonarus, who has played the game several times since the release last week, that is simply inaccurate. "He claims games have no time limit but that is just false. You can set the time for each round and you ..."

"What I think (and this is of course my interpretation; I'm not trying to put words in Leigh's mouth) is that in the case of games that are different in some way (like a new IP, or a sequel from a new developer as in the case of "Silent Hill: Homecoming"), a lot of videogame critics obsess about the small stuff because they don't like the big picture. Here's my best example: "The Simpsons Game." Yes, it had some camera problems and yes the gameplay wasn't too fresh. But it was a parody of vide..."

"Konami, in yet again denying rumors that Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) is in the works for the Xbox 360, made a quote from its PR man disappear in the night.

The persistent rumor popped up again after Konami PR rep Yoshitaka Arai told the Japanese branch of investment firm Morningstar, "we are investigating releasing a 360 version." But GameCyte picked up that Japanese game blog my game news flash noticed that the story was quietly changed."

"The Sniper Rifle is a powerful, if misunderstood beast. For the special breed of action junkie, who is blessed with enough patience to wield it, the weapon says the following: “Provided you sacrifice all of your peripheral vision, I solemnly swear to destroy – not wound or incapacitate, destroy – any son of a bitch you dislike from half a world away, using a bullet longer than most ballpoint pens. That is why they designed me. That is why this multiplayer map has a book depository building..."

"While at TGS, Konami PR mouthpiece Yoshitaka Arai told Morningstar:

quote

The worldwide demand for an Xbox 360 version (of MGS4) is quite high, and it is something we are currently looking in to.

"

The trailer for the second expansion pack for Metal Gear Online was showcased at TGS and looks to be fantastic at this stage. Introducing characters Mei Ling and Liquid Ocelot, as well as three new maps titled Silo Sunset, Forest Firefight and Winter Warehouses and much more. Even if you're not interested in the game, it still has some laughs to keep you entertained... Especially right at the end.

"When did you first show interest in videogames? What games did you enjoy playing, what companies did you respect?

Well, I first had interest in filming….but could not be involved…I was facing frustrations at that time. But then there came the Famicom (NES), and I fell in love with Super Mario Brothers."

The guys over at Pwn or Die have done their best to photoshop Alaskan Governor turned potential Vice President Sarah Palin into some of our favorite video games as some of our favorite ladies.

From Cortana in Halo to Meryl in MGS, and even Samus and Lara Croft - it is worth peek for a laugh.

"What are the best-selling games in America, Japan, and Europe (UK) this week? Thanks to Amazon online sales data here are the games that are the most popular now.

Mario Kart Wii races to the first place on the Wii chart. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed holds on to the #1 spot on the PS3 chart. Rock Band 2 remains on top of the Xbox 360 hitlist. Lego Batman stays on the PS2 chart. Spore evolves to the first place in the PC top 5. Kirby Super Star Ultra debuts on the DS chart. And lastly, aft..."

"Microsoft Game Studios head Phil Spencer told Edge on Wednesday that the firm has added a "group of industry heavy hitters" to its lineup, including former Kojima Productions assistant producer Ryan Payton, confirming recent rumors."

"

quote

Kojima:
I have three concepts for MGS5 already. What would be ideal for me with MGS5, though, is that we don't do those. If the team picks one of those concepts, I have to get involved again, which I don't want to do. There are already so many good ideas from the staff, so if we select one of those, that would be really good. At that point I could really rely on them and take the step back to be the producer, which is the ideal situation, I think.

Whatevs. We all know what's really ..."

"What are the best-selling games in America, Japan, and Europe (UK) this week? Thanks to Amazon online sales data here are the games that are the most popular now.

Mario Kart Wii races to the first place on the Wii chart. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed force grips itself to the #1 spot on the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and PSP charts. Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning debuts first place in the PC top 5. Lastly Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir enters the DS chart."

"Solid Snake’s story is finished, but that doesn’t mean Konami is going to seal the Metal Gear Solid franchise in an early grave. The first sign of a new Metal Gear Solid game comes from the Japanese Trademark database where Konami registered Metal Gear Existence with the boring image on the right. It’s made to be used with video games so it’s likely, very likely, the name of a future Metal Gear Solid game."

"It's curious that on the job announcement page for the Kojima Productions site, Hideo Kojima states:

quote Kojima

The creativity of video games is now on the verge of crisis. Massive advertising campaigns are executed for games before their entertainment values are put into consideration all too often, resulting in sell-off tactics happening without hesitation.

The irony is that Konami is guilty of the hype Kojima seems so critical of."

"VideoGamer.com: Do you think games are too easy on gamers these days then?

BJ: Yes, I do. I think that if you look at one of the highest praised games of last year, Bioshock. BioShock was easy as Hell, I don't care what anybody says. That's what people want. They want to play through it. They want to die once or twice. It's like an interactive movie, sort of. Gamers have lost their will to continually drill down on something. It's also the fault of the developers. If you make enough restar..."

"The Metal Gear Solid series was created by Kojima Productions, a development unit at Konami Digital Entertainment. Kojima Productions has also given us popular series such as Zone of the Enders and Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand. The team has three directors: Hideo Kojima, Yoji Shinkawa and Shuyo Murata. There is a program manager, design manager, script manager and sound manager, as well as many other artists and programmers.

In the development of MGS4, about 100 staff members were invol..."

"Rumor has it that Ryan Payton, late of Kojima Productions, has landed a pretty impressive job here in the states.

Our very reliable sources tell us that Payton has been hired by Microsoft to be the creative director on the upcoming, and still not dead, Peter Jackson Halo game.

The news, very reliable news, comes weeks after we broke the news that Gearbox Director of Technology Corrinne Yu had been hired by Microsoft Game Studios to be Principle Engine Architect for Microsoft's Halo Fran..."

"Paul K. asks: This is something I think I might have heard about awhile ago, but can't remember: Is there going to be a way to access your PSN profile from a PC?
PS3F answers: Yes, it's been available since July. It's called the "PlayStation Network Portable ID." It links your PSN account to your PlayStation Underground (Official PlayStation community) account. You can read the full details here.

Conor R. asks: Is it possible to earn trophies for your PSN ID while not signed in to the Pla..."

"1UP: We can't believe you actually managed to tie up all the series' dangling plot threads. What was the hardest plot element to resolve? Did you have to cut any corners or fudge facts to make things work? It's okay, you can be honest.

Ryan Payton: The stories of MGS2 and MGS3 were truly written without any backup measures if the series continued, leaving dozens of confusing and unexplained plot elements in the wake. The fact that we were able to tie up all the loose ends with MGS4 was not..."

The official PlayStation website is hosting a Metal Gear Solid 4: Octocamo Suit Contest. All you have to do is create a OctoCamo suit, like Solid Snake's, and submit a screenshot or videotape showing it! The prize will be a "Limited Edition Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Bundle Pack".

The official contest rules can be found here and more details about it can be discovered by hitting the source.

"10. The "PSP Brite's" non-existent battery problem

When Sony announced the PSP-3000, it seemed like a nice little incremental update to the platform. Sure, the brighter screen and tweaked cosmetics wouldn’t lure many existing owners into a repeat purchase, but it would help keep the aging platform relevant.

But within just a few days of its announcement, it came out that in one key way the “PSP Brite” would actually be a downgrade over existing models: battery life. In an interview w..."

"Q. Do you feel that PlayStation 3 (PS3) has expanded sufficiently for the release of large-scale titles such as "Resident Evil 5"?

A. We believe that PS3 has finally reached full swing after looking at the success of "Metal Gear Solid 4," as well as future large-scale title lineups. In addition, some reduction in the PS3's price was announced at the 2008 E3, and we can expect its spread to increase by next March when our "Resident Evil 5" for PS3 will be released. Moreover, as we are not o..."

"Over the years, gamers have seen dozens of high-profile titles make their world debut by being featured on the cover of Game Informer. In fact, if you’re a regular shopper at GameStop, you’re probably one of the magazine’s more than two million readers.

But does a game getting on Game Informer’s cover signal it’s going to be great?

Can you be confident that these debuts will, one or two years later, become games you want to buy and play? Perhaps the magazine has a “Madden” curse ..."

"Phil Harrison and Satoru Iwata have expressed the view that demand for expansive, epic titles like MGS4 is shrinking. What are your thoughts on that?

Kojima: I think that's not happening. Even if that is a fact, I still think that there are gamers who love these epic games or hardcore games because some people still really live with games, and really receive something from games, and I regard them as real gamers. Now, as long as these gamers exist I feel a responsibility that someone has t..."

"It's hard to say if the last week of the Olympics gave Segas' Beijing 2008 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games a boost, but that hasn't stopped the PlayStation 3 version of the game moving up four spots from the previous week, into sixth spot. The Xbox 360 version of Beijing 2008 also made it into the charts, though at the much lower position of number 10. Nintendo's Brain Training series are regular contenders in the charts, with Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brai..."

"It's not just Metal Gear Online but Konami's online games as a whole that have had a rocky ride online, but Konami is keeping the updates coming.

The recent server maintenance on the game's servers, which have seen several temporary outages in play over the past couple of weeks, has finished and Konami has detailed the changes that you may notice, small though they may be:

"1)Players will gain 5 reward points when they have finished a round in the automatching lobbies 'SNAKE:EX', 'LIQUI..."

""It'll be hard not being involved in MGS5, but I've got the utmost confidence that Hideo Kojima, Ken Imaizumi, and our amazing team will put together another blockbuster game. I'll be cheering from the sidelines.""

""I've been doing a lot of interviews and stage shows, and half the questions are like 'Will MGS4 be coming out on 360 or other formats?', and in the near future I hope they'll ask me about Metal Gear, about us, about our future projects, and will stop caring about the hardware,".

Pressed on MGS4's exclusivity and the possibility of an Xbox 360 port, Kojima reiterated that the PS3 had been chosen because he believed that the series' success had been entwined with PlayStation's, and admitted..."

"Kojima:

"I say frankly, on a private level, that I always intend to stay true to these statements; I do always say what I actually feel at that time, after each Metal Gear, when I say I am going to move on to the next project. But it's like when Hayao Miyazaki says he is not going to do more, and then always ends up doing it. I think I am kind of in a similar situation; I have ideas other than Metal Gear, and I want to go on to make other new games, but for political, business or technolog..."

"We were, at first, blown away by this digit-ized spin on Metal Gear Solid 4. "Amazing production values!" we thought. "His nails are even filthier than those of SCEE boss David Reeves!" we noticed. What turns out to be an ad for Metal Gear AC!D Mobile is also the best sight gag we've seen in a long time, proving that thumb wars have changed."

"So yeah, Metal Gear Solid 4 closes the chapter on Solid Snake. And Kojima Productions have confirmed that MGS4 will be the last canonical game to feature Snake. But does that mean there won't be another Snake in the future? Game creator Hideo Kojima explains:

quote Kojima

The heroes in most animations and movies don't age. They are often immortal. Snake, on the other hand, has aged with the times. I made him this way because of the unique characteristics of the game medium. Snake is a ficti...

"

"Unlike most industry award shows, G-Phoria's twelve month of eligibility run from August of the preceding year through July of the current year.

Xbox 360 was named the station's favorite system -- which falls in line with the award distribution. Of the show's 18 game awards, only four went to titles not available on Microsoft's system: Best Graphics and Best Voice Acting for Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Best Racing Game for Nintendo EAD's Mario Kart Wii, an..."

"Metal Gear Solid 4 has shipped 3.94 million units worldwide, according to a recent sales report from Konami.

We don't know the exact number of copies sold, but about one out of every four or five PS3 owners has purchased Metal Gear Solid 4. Simply put, there's a lot of tactical espionage action going on.

With sales that have started to become slightly sluggish in Japan, will the game reach the lucrative five million sold mark before the end of the year?"

"The chart on the left represents Konami's video game software sales for the April to June quarter from 2007. The chart on the right? The same quarter from 2008, the quarter in which Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was released. The Kojima Productions game helped boost PlayStation 3 game sales from 1.3% to a solid 57.3% of Konami's total game sales, with MGS4 representing about 56.8% of that."

Curious about what's selling in the UK right now? Chart Track has you covered with an all-format list. The attached image shows us what's doing good (Soul Calibur IV, Big Beach Sports, Call of Duty 4, New Super Mario Bros., NFS: ProStreet) and what's waning (Lego Indiana Jones, Super Smash Bros., Metal Gear 4, Race Driver). Check it out!

"In the recent Metal Gear Solid 4 game, there's a scene where Naomi Hunter and Sunny Gurlukovich cook three sunny-side up eggs on a frying pan. The tender sequence is punctuated by a cooking timer in the shape of a no-nonsense duck. To get the cooking time for the eggs proper, Sunny sets the GA-KO Timer so that it'll shake and sing out "Dah-Dah" when the eggs are ready.

Konami brings the GA-KO Timer home this summer but the company transitions the product into a more useful GA-KO Alarm Clo..."

"Since playing through Metal Gear Solid IV, I've gone through a dozen eggs a week. I never used to eat this many eggs, but there I am, nearly every morning, cracking open fresh ones into a hot frying pan, pausing to watch the egg white turn from translucent to opaque, humming a little song to myself. Hell, I never really ate eggs sunny side up before the damn game came out. I was a scramblin' man. Quick, easy, no fuss. What has this stupid game done to me?

Is this an isolated case, or have..."

"#24: skate
#23: Heavenly Sword
#22: MLB 08: The Show
#21: Battlefield: Bad Company
#20: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
#19: Rock Band
#18: Burnout Paradise
#17: Ninja Gaiden Sigma
#16: PixelJunk Monsters
#15: Everyday Shooter
#14: Gran Turismo 5: Prologue
#13: Warhawk
#12: Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online
#11: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition
#10: Super Stardust HD
#9: Assassin's Creed
#8: Resistance: Fall of Man
#7: MotorStorm
#6: The Orange Box
..."

"1. [NDS] Dragon Quest V (Square Enix) - 643,764 / NEW
2. [PSP] Gundam Battle Universe (Namco Bandai Games) - 137,550 / NEW
3. [PS2] Persona 4 (Atlus Co. ) - 40,680 / 233K
4. [PS3] Tears to Tiara: Kakan no Daichi (Aqua Plus) - 34,431 / NEW
5. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) - 27,198 / 2,380K
6. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) - 23,992 / 1,584K
7. [NDS] Daigasso! Band Brothers DX (Nintendo) - 21,419 / 212K
8. [NDS] Derby Stallion DS (Enterbrain) - 16,248 / 223K
9. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable..."

"From blog.wired:

If the Uniqlo line of Metal Gear Solid 4 t-shirts wasn't to your liking, maybe the new designs from Konami will be more your thing.

The "Konami Style" online store in Japan is currently taking orders for the three new tees. The black model is the same one worn by the Kojima Productions staff during the game's worldwide launch and signing events. It even includes tour stops on the back, like a proper tour shirt should.

All three designs are available in two sizes (M ..."

"History so far:

We started out early 2006 with this project. After a few months the general idéa had taken form and began preperation and the search for props. Early morning September 9 the boat left the harbour at Kapellskär. Still in early post production we are looking forward to bring you the final cut. But until then, here is a little sample."

"Before I get flooded with hate mails, let me say, yes I only own a 360. And as much as I want to, the chances of MGS4 appearing on the 360 is pretty slim. You see, MGS 4 is akin to Halo 3. If you port Halo 3 to the PS3, the whole internet will be up in riot. If you port MGS4 to the 360, not only will the entire internet end up taking arms, but personal lives (read: Kojima’s) might be at stake."

"Before Kojima Productions and Konami get Hideo Kojima that editor he so desperately needs, perhaps the company should hire someone who knows how to launch an online multiplayer game. The Metal Gear Online "Gene Expansion" was released yesterday and promptly melted Konami's servers, resulting in the closure of the game's MGO Shop and Reward Shop and difficulty logging in to the service. Some MGO players have reported paying for the new expansion and getting nothing in return.

Konami's solut..."

"1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) 774,600
2. Guitar Hero On Tour (DS) 422,300
3. Ninja Gaiden II (360) 372,700
3. Wii Fit (Wii) 372,700
5. Wii Play (Wii) 359,100
6. Battlefield Bad Company (360) 346,800
7. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) 322,400
8. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (Wii) 294,500
9. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (DS) 267,800
10. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure (PS2) 260,300


Oh, and just a quick note re the MGS4 figure: thos..."

The NPD Group's hardware and software numbers for the month of June has been released, representing sales for the United States in the five week period of June 1st to July 5th.

This month, there are three notable happenings:

• Wii overtakes 360 in the United States in Lifetime to Date sales, with 666.7k units sold vs. 219.8k units sold for the 360, bring the Wii's total to 10.9 million units sold in the United States in its 20 months of release.
• Metal Gear Solid 4, being the only major rel...

"Metal Gear Online's first expansion pack - Gene - has been dated during Konami's E3 address yesterday. And that release date is...today, July 17!

The expansion will introduce a new gameplay mode (survival), three new maps, two new selectable characters (including Meryl) and a "reward shop", where you can spend the points you earn in survival mode on new gear for your character."

"Following fervent speculation that Metal Gear Solid 4 would follow Final Fantasy in becoming a PlayStation-associated brand that moves onto Xbox 360, SCEA CEO Jack Tretton has argued no other console could handle the technical demands of Konami’s the Konami title.

Speaking to assembled press at the platform holder's conference in LA earlier today, Tretton added that the Blu-Ray capabilities of PS3 had already seen of HD-DVD – and would now see off the company’s console competition."

"One of our eagle-eyed Official Australian PlayStation magazine readers (our sister publication), Mr. Alistair Richardson, recently found himself in the presence of the man and, as you can see from the image above, took photographic evidence of the fact. To double check we merged the man with his in-game costume and hey presto, we had a match!

What were the events that lead to this historic discovery? We’ll let Alistair explain…

"

"" The much awaited ""METAL GEAR ONLINE GENE EXPANSION"" is now available!! DO NOT miss this opportunity to become a part of the evolution that is MGO!! Throw yourself onto new and unconquered Maps!! Make use of a whole new set of gimmicks and Characters! Why not try out the awesome new game mode "Survival"!?

The ExpansionPack includes an amazing 3 new Maps!!
Ever wanted to play as a character from MGS4 on MGO? Now's your chance as 2 seasoned warriors join the ranks!

Reward Points you e..."

"Nostalgia is a funny thing. It can make a person feel inexplicably happy and sad at the same time. It can make a person yearn for the past while feeling happy that they had witnessed something amazing long ago. Why am I rambling crazy talk about nostalgia, you might ask? It is something that came to me while browsing Youtube recently. I was searching for a certain Metal Gear Solid 4 video and accidentally clicked on an old MGS1 video instead.



Ahhh it brought back good memories. The cla..."

"10. Wii Play (Wii) 411,416 copies
9. Mario Kart DS (DS) 416,935 copies
8. Mario Party DS (DS) 497,547 copies
7. Wii Sports (Wii) 544,958 copies
6. Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) 576,437 copies

Not sure which is more impressive: A month old game like MGS4 making it into the top ten or a two and a half year old game like Mario Kart DS doing it. YOU DECIDE! Hit the jump for the top five.

5. Pokémon Ranger: Battonage (DS) 576,467 copies
4. Wii Fit (Wii) 1,443,167 copies
3. Mario Kart Wii (..."

""

"Real news from the virtual world:

_BEST OF 2008 (SO FAR): E3, the video-game industry's big trade show, is next week, and you'll be hearing a lot about all the new software coming between now and Christmas. But there's a bit of a lull until Aug. 12, when "Madden NFL 09" unofficially marks the beginning of the fall game season. July is a good time to catch up on some of the games you may have missed. Here are the best of the year so far:

1. "Grand Theft Auto IV" (Rockstar, for the Xbox 3..."

"Is it just me or has Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots not recieved much hype after its release? No, no, before you accuse me of insanity let me explain. MGS4 has recieved superb reviews and will arguably be the game of the year. But that's it. Gaming sites have reviewed it and now gone strangely quiet. There are no blogs on silly Metal Gear related topics, there are no bouts of hysteria from overzealous site editors and there are no top 10 MGS4 lists on Gamesradar. Am I the only one f..."

"Solid Snake voice actor David Hayter was surprisingly candid at Anime Expo's centerpiece guest-of-honor panel, where he admitted to being frustrated at times with Metal Gear Solid series director Hideo Kojima's over-the-top scriptwriting and direction. He specifically called out the suicide scene highlighted in Metal Gear Solid 4 trailers, saying that Snake, a man who's killed thousands, shouldn't flinch at pulling the trigger on himself. "I didn't agree with that at all, and I begged them to..."

"Kojima, who lived in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures for 30 years from the age of 3, cannot forget the spirit of entertainment or comedy for which his home region, Kansai, is known.

MGS 4, too, is filled with giggle-inducing aspects. "I'm often asked not to include such elements in a hard-boiled game. But I can't help it," Kojima said with a laugh. "My ideal game is something that makes you want to come back to the world later. It is not enough only to make you enjoy the sense of tension. I w..."

"Picking up almost four years after the "Big Shell Incident" from MGS 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 takes place in a world where the restriction of military intervention on foreign soil has been eased, fuelling the need for private military companies to fight proxy wars for business purposes. Nanotechnology has become prominent, both to enhance the capabilities and enforce the loyalty of mercenaries and five of the largest PMC’s are owned by Outer Haven, a company operated in the Middle East by Liqui..."

"inspiration from the existing “Sneaking Mode”, which sees Snake use Octocamo to collect Dog-Tags from warring teams, this mode is a battle of two teams with different gear.

The mode consists of a Sneaking Team and a “Normal” Team going head to head. Like Snake, the Sneaking Team is stealth-equipped (thus virtually invisible) and to win must either eliminate all enemies or return KEROTAN or GA-KO to their goal. The defending team must defeat the sneaking team or keep KEROTAN or GA-KO sa..."

"It takes more than a big time PS3 exclusive like Metal Gear Solid 4 to beat Nintendo. Way more. While MGS4 did give Sony a bump in sales, it wasn't enough, and the Wii outsold the PS3 in June. This is the seventh consecutive month that the Wii has come out on top in The Land of the Rising Sun. For those interested in the number crunching, data from Famitsu publisher Enterbrain has the Wii moving 235,990 consoles during June, while the PS3 shifted 139,494 consoles. In short: Even without a new..."

"According to translated Japanese gaming forums (citing information from the newest edition of Famitsu), the pack will retail for 1200 yen, with another option of a 1500-yen pack that gives you a new character slot. Both packs will feature Johnny and Meryl, the ability to make female characters, a new Survival Mode, and three fresh stages: Shadow Moses, Mei Ling's Ship, and the Heliport from the original Metal Gear Solid on the PS1. Furthermore, as of Friday, we can expect a couple new rules f..."

"Jonny says the above frame came from the segment "Hideo Kojima's Gene" in the bonus features disc, for those who have it and want to watch."

Narrative, dynamic game play, installs, awesome graphics? What are all these things? Fuchal of NextGG.com offers a satirical guide for Xbox Fanboys who may wish to explore their feelings towards Metal Gear Solid 4.

"Video in Link"

"According to Japanese news site IT Media, Metal Gear Solid 4 has been knocked down to number two by PSP game Super Robot Taisen A Portable. During its first week, MGS4 sold 476,334 copies — so says Enterbrain sales data. In its second week (June 16th to June 22nd), IT Media states the game's sales dropped to 68,000 copies. Still, an impressive number, but not impressive enough to overtake Super Robot Taisen A Portable, which went on sale June 19th. Good news: MGS4's sales have now topped 500..."

"There was one MGS4 idea that we hadn't discussed that I thought was deserving of an NYT spotlight: How sad the game is. And how rare it is that we get a chance to play a sad game.

quote

So it was a bit strange when the first major MGS4 trailer premiered a few years ago and culminated with Old Snake finding a quiet spot of the battlefield away from the gunfire an placing the barrel of a pistol in his mouth. That's what feels so unusual about MGS4 even compared to the other MGS games. This is...

"

Here are some tips for playing Metal Gear Online multiplayer that will give you an edge over your online opponents. If you are new to the multiplayer, this survival guide will enable you to stand a fighting chance against more experience players.

"The publisher says that the title has sold a million copies in Europe since its release on June 12th, and has shipped many more SKUs to its retail partners.

Konami also confirmed that 25,000 copies of the the Limited Edition were made available across Europe, but “were snapped up almost immediately.”"

"Konami has announced that a free downloadable add-on for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots will be made available on PS3 on Thursday (June 26th) in Europe.

The Metal Gear Solid 4 Database is a comprehensive archive detailing characters, weapons and plot elements from 1987’s original Metal Gear title right through to the most recent title.

According to Konami, the system allows users to search via three central hubs: GENE (a glossary), MEME (which maps the relationships between c..."

"The Metal Gear Solid 4 publicity machine keeps on trucking! Konami's even using its arcade games to publicize MGS4 Hobby Blog's Frankie points out. He tells us:

quote

Few days ago I found that the arcade game Magical Quiz Academy, while in demo mode, promotes METAL GEAR SOLID 4.
Basically, while everyone is talking about in-game advertisement, Konami has made a "game's in-arcade game promotion". I think this is a pretty smart move to reach hardcore users without speding a yen...

Cle..."

"Gamestation exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 watch.

Only 500 units available worldwide, individually numbered 1 to 500 with a Konami certificate of authenticity and approved by Hideo Kojima.

Watch Gift box with MGS 4 print, black flock interior with matching cushion, Gamestation branding and black card exterior box with silver MGS 4 stamped logo.

This very limited and worldwide exclusive item will be £99.99 and a must have for all true Metal Gear Solid fans."

"Oddly, it’s something of an accurate send off that’s true to the rest of the series. It embodies the era of gaming in which it was first conceived. But old times and everything that once stood as grand and mighty within them ultimately slip away as distant memories of what was once common and accepted. For all your shortcomings Old Snake, you will always remain an old and timeless symbol of heroism. But like like all legends, you exist better in memory."

"After a few days I called him up to check in, make sure he hadn't gone down the rabbit hole of virtual unreality. I asked him what he thought of the game.

"I think," he said slowly, "that they need to decide if they want to make a game or make a movie."

Had he given up, I asked. No, he hadn't done that, instead he had buckled down and muscled forward, enjoying a lot of what he had experienced.

I told him I had suggested the game because I thought he would like the themes of military ..."

"If you're European, and ran to your PS3 this morning, clawing like a madman for the Metal Gear database that Japan and the US got, you'll no doubt already be sitting in a puddle of your own anguish, wondering aloud why SCEE couldn't follow suit and make it part of this week's downloads. Which they didn't. No doubt it's got something to do with translating Kojima's tangled storyline into 17 languages. If you've bothered setting yourself up with an American (or Japanese, it has an english-langu..."

"1. [PS3] Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots (Konami) - 465,000
2. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) - 38,000 / 1,444,000
3. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) - 37,000 / 2,227,000
4. [PSP] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 (Konami) - 27,000 / 187,000
5. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (Capcom) - 26,000 / 2,203,000
6. [NDS] Hisshou Pachinko Pachislot Kouryaku Series DS Vol. 2 CR Shinseki Evangelion ~Shito, Futatabi~ (D3 Publisher) - 22,000
7. [PS3] Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit (Bandai N..."

"What's included? Complete storylines, character profiles, relationship diagrams(!), plus "much more." The best part? Spoiler protection, as sensitive information that might ruin your MGS4 experience is "blacked out" until you've completed the game."

"

• A brilliant mixture of storytelling and gameplay
• Mind-blowing audiovisual presentation
• Tight and compelling shooting mechanics
• Gratifying stealth mechanics
• Lots of cool gadgets and weapons that you can tailor to your own style of play.

"

"As expected Metal Gear Solid 4 has rocketed to the top of the All Formats All Prices video game chart, knocking Activision's LEGO Indiana Jones down to No.2 and GTA 4 down to No.3

1: METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS
2: LEGO INDIANA JONES: ORIGINAL ADVENTURES
3: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV
4: MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
5: DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING"

"Konami proudly announced partnerships with Apple, Uniqlo, and Triumph Motorcycles. The publisher also made a surprising deal with Playboy that gives Old Snake access to the magzine. You can “read” issues of Playboy by switching to FPS mode which benefits Snake by boosting his psyche. The item can also be used as a “weapon” by placing it on the ground in the path of a male soldier. Since the magazine is "guaranteed to arouse the interest of males ages 18 to 80" virtual copies of Playboy ca..."

"The launch of the brilliant MGS4 is "only the beginning" of a rush of triple-A PS3-exclusives, says Sony's seemingly pleased VP of product marketing, Scott Steinberg

With some of the console's big titles like Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, GTA IV and Singstar now out the door, Steinberg paints a positive picture for PS3 owners for the rest of the year.

"This is only the beginning of an ongoing software avalanche for PS3 that includes titles such as LittleBigPlanet, SOCOM: Confrontation, Moto..."

"After the first cut scene, you gain temporary control of a shrouded Snake. Look under the nearest truck for an early ration, and then turn left and crawl under a second truck to trigger another cut scene. After this second cut scene, grab the AK-102 on the ground just at Snake's feet. You'll need to equip the gun from the pause menu before you can use it. Continue to the end of the street on the right—don't worry about fighting anyone—to trigger another scene."

"Okay folks, I promised you all another announcement and here it is. This is really cool. As far as I know, this is the only one that will be on sale in the USA. Sam's Club presents ... SNAKE STATUE!

Once the auction goes live next week, you can go to the auctions page and search for "metal gear solid" to find this unique item. Once the bidding starts, we will be watching it closely. One Member will win this auction and own a portion of gaming history."

"Media Create has just posted the latest statistics on the Japanese software sales for PS3 exclusive, Metal Gear Solid 4. According to the sales records, the game has sold over 300,000 copies, not including the MGS4 PS3 bundles.

First day sales

PS3 Metal Gear Solid 4 Breakdown:
Normal Edition - 130,000
Limited Edition - 170,000
Total - 300,000
(Bundles not included)

Boasting these kind of numbers, Metal Gear Solid 4 should become one of the highest selling tit..."

"In notes to investors today, Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter said he was again surprised at GTAIV's inability to drive hardware sales. And without new Xbox 360s and PS3s finding their ways into consumers' hands, the game could lose its sales momentum in a hurry.

"Sales were once again led by GTAIV selling 1.3 million units compared with our estimate of 1.7 million units," Pachter said. "This implies a tie ratio of 28 percent, implying potential for tempering demand over the next..."

"This week's charts, with data taken from June 12th, 2008, find Metal Gear Solid 4 leading worldwide PS3 software sales, while Lego Indiana Jones continues to do brisk multiplatform business in its second week of release. Data for "Saling The World" comes courtesy of the public sales information on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.co.jp, with sales split out for each platform and territory, and pre-orders disregarded.

This results in a true sense of what games are selling worldwide on t..."

"Metal Gear Solid 4 will drive more PS3 hardware sales than the mighty GTA IV did, say industry analysts, despite GTA IV having been the biggest-selling entertainment launch in the history of the universe.

Sales of PS3 are up 150 percent over last year and, according to Eedar's Jesse Divnich, this storming success will continue, and even accelerate, with the release of Konami's blockbuster.

"Sony's PlayStation 3 can claim a relative small victory as its hardware unit sales were up 150% ..."

"Closing Comments:

Is it possible to give a game an 11? If so, this would be the game that would merit that score. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a title that exceeds all of the hype that was attached to the title. Regardless of whether you've seen every trailer and screenshot, read every preview and heard every interview, you won't get a full sense of how phenomenal this title is unless you sit down and experience it for yourself.

Legends die hard and deserve a heroic stor..."

"HW
PlayStation 3 208.7K
PlayStation Portable 182.3K
Xbox 360 186.6K
Wii 675.1K
Nintendo DS 452.6K

SW Top 10
Top 10 SKU's May 2008 Rank # Units
(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc.)
360 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE (CORP) APR 2008 1 871.3K
WII MARIO KART W/ WHEEL NINTENDO OF AMERICA APR 2008 2 787.4K
WII FIT W/ BALANCE BOARD NINTENDO OF AMERICA MAY 2008 3 687.7K
PS3 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE (CORP) APR 2008 4 442.9K
WII PLAY W/ REMOTE NINTENDO OF AME..."

"Metal Gear Solid 4 has launched pretty much everywhere. Well, everywhere save for Spain. The game hasn't yet launched there because of a transportation strike against the high price of gasoline. Konami Europe isn't able to get the game to stores. Here's the statement from Konami Europe:

quote

Konami Digital Entertainment Spain regrets to info of possible delays, through no fault of the company, may occur in the distribution of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for PLAYSTATION 3 in th...

"

"During the 9-minute or so loading screen of Metal Gear Solid IV, gamers are treated to a close up view of old Snake sucking through cigarette after cigarette as game tips, warnings and public service announcements pop-up on the screen. They're certainly not worth sticking around to watch, but if you do you'll get two bits of wonderful hypocrisy. The first couple of times Snake taps his cigarette ash onto the unseen ground an message shows up telling you not to litter and to use an ashtray for..."

""

Discard silly rumors that say the Japanese aren't interested in MGS4, because the hundreds of people lining up for the launch of the game will gladly say otherwise!

Today, hundreds of people in Tokyo and Osaka queued at the front of game stores for hours, waiting for the doors to open and for the game to be released. Take a look at the groups of Japanese business men who will be late for work just to get MGS4 early!

With the release of Metal Gear Solid 4 comes the mad rush from businesses to profit from it. And Japanese clothing chain Uniqlo is no different. They have recently put some MGS4 themed shirts up for sale. Judging by the images, it looks like they're just obscure enough to not infringe on copyright laws too.

"The storyline that's finally wrapping up in MGS4 has spanned six games and 20 years, so things have understandably gotten a little ... convoluted along the way. The series has seen some of the most oddly codenamed characters outside of G.I. Joe and more story twists than can be found crumpled up in M. Night Shyamalan's waste basket.

For those of you heading into MGS4 fresh - or have simply lost track of who's who and what's what along the way (we wouldn't blame you) - we present this pain..."

"The Associated Press is reporting that Konami is canceling its Metal Gear Solid 4 launch events after a deadly stabbing rampage. Tomohiro Kato, a 25-year-old factory worker, carried two knives on him when he was arrested. Kato used one knife to stab more than dozen people in Tokyo's Akihabara district, a popular destination for manga, anime and video games.

Kato began his rampage by crashing a rental truck into a group of pedestrians, killing three. He then jumped out of the truck and star..."

"Chances are, you've heard of this small PS3 game called Metal Gear Solid 4. Hunter217 sent us a few pics captured from the game ... and lo and behold, we see Sony's beloved handheld hidden away in the game as a small easter egg. Kojima's home is on the PlayStation systems, and it's nice to see the PSP isn't neglected in the upcoming console game."

"Liquid Snake
A clone of legendary hero Big Boss and thus Snake's genetic twin, Liquid is the man behind the whole Shadow Moses operation or, at least, the man who thinks he is. Cold-hearted and manipulative, Liquid's evil is born of jealousy and anger towards Snake. Believing his body to be the recipient of Big Boss' recessive genes (necessary to give Snake all the good ones before birth), Liquid hopes to take control of Metal Gear REX and offer it to the highest bidder. After failing to des..."

"Gamepro (100/100): The Playstation 3 finally gets its "savior", Kojima gets his masterpiece, and gamers get one of the best games of all time.

IGN (99/100): "If you've ever loved any one of the Metal Gear games, or any moments from the series, there will come a moment when MGS 4 will send your spirits soaring. If you've loved them all, well then there'll be many, many more. It's a masterpiece."

Maxi Consolas (95/100): Metal Gear Solid 4 is a work of passion by Hideo Kojima. Often touch..."

"MGS4 makes last stand against casual games. Kojima worries about "death" of hardcore gaming - but do we need to take sides?

“We’re in the era of casual games, and it’s time to say ‘this is for the hardcore gamer’,” says Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid 4. “So it’s really, really important [MSG4] succeeds.” Has he got a point? With budgets spiraling (a decent next-gen title costs anywhere from $20-40 million) companies are becoming more risk-averse, keener on pumping out s..."

"Konami look set to announce that the ultimate Metal Gear Solid experience, MGS for the PSOne, will be making its way to Sony's Playstation Network sometime in the next month, after the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns Of The Patriots. Along with further rumours that they are also planning to launch a software update with MGS4 to include cross media bar integration and those infamous trophies, it seems this is another rumoured aspect of the MGS saga.

The series has always been rumoured to..."

"With the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots upon us, speculation surfaces this morning that Konami may be ready to unveil a new Metal Gear title for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) at this year’s E3.

The rumor comes from Russian site StarSniper, which was down at the time of this writing. However, a member on the PlayStation.com forums dropped some information about the supposed upcoming PSP title.

“The game is titled Metal Gear 3: Revolver Ocelot and it takes place be..."

"While the game doesn't go on sale until June 12th, Reader Snake-87 tips us that as of 10:00AM today his local shop had 500 copies of MGS4. Each copy is priced at 20KD (US$75) — and hey, that's pretty damn close to Japan prices! Certainly, this isn't the only store breaking the street date — just the only store we've heard of in Kuwait doing it! Hit the jump to see how well MGS4 goes with Kuwaiti license plates."

"Metal Gear Solid 4, 'insert disc 2'

This isn't going to spoil the story for you, but it may spoil a funny joke hidden within Metal Gear Solid 4. We don't want to say anything more, or it might just ruin the surprise ...

quote

Otacon: Hold it, Snake. Time to change the disc. I know, I know... It's a pain. But you need to swap Disc 1 for Disc 2. You see the disc labeled "2"?

Snake: Uhhhh. No.

Otacon: Huh? Oh, wait! We're on PS3 system! It's a Blu-ray Disc. Dual-layered, too—no nee...

"

"MGS4: Guns of the Patriots
Japanese Press Event Report

With development concluded, it was time to let the press see the finished product first-hand.
Special guests included director Hideo Kojima, Konami's president Tanaka, Sony's president Kaz Hirai, and Japanese model Minami Akina.
Each of them were amazed at the final result of MGS4 and how it pushed the PS3 to the limits."

"Xbox 360:

Nascar 09

Don King Presents Prize Fighter

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit

Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm

PS3:

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Nascar 09

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit

Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm

Nintendo Wii:

Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy

Backyard Baseball '09

PS2:

Nascar 09

Jeep Thrills

Backyard Baseball 2009

Nintendo DS:

Looney Tunes Cartoon Conductor

Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles

My Fashion Studio

PC Games...

"

"A random gamer who has scored an early copy of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has uploaded a video to YouTube that displays the functionality of the in-game iPod. While it would be cool to be able to utilize music from your PlayStation 3's HDD, there has been no confirmation on if you can or not."

"Despite the measurements taken by any publisher, high-profile games always seem to have one store, if not more, break their legal street date. This had been the case with many games before Metal Gear Solid 4 and it will be the case with many following it. This week, a couple of Wal-Marts were reported to have sold the Metal Gear Solid 80GB PS3 bundles up to a week before the scheduled release of the title on June 12.

Earlier in the week, Pete Stone, Konami's UK General Manager had commente..."

""

"Your first thoughts may be that the Metal Gear Solid 4 marketing juggernaut maaaay have gone a step too far this time. The offer? Buy a gunmetal or regular MGS4 bundle in Japan and (while stocks last!) you get this...bag. It's one of those cotton, canvas-y type bags that you all should be using to throw your groceries in instead of plastic bags. Which may sound boring, but seeing as it's big enough to hold a PS3 box in, it's also mighty practical! After all, most gaming trinkets are just junk..."

"Well, good job folks. We told you that amazon.com would sell the Metal Gear Solid 4 80GB bundle today. And you all listened. Thousands of you swarmed the site, got rid of their inventory in seven minutes, and best of all -- you killed amazon.com.

Demand for the Metal Gear bundle was so high, that the popular online retailer simply couldn't handle the traffic. If this is the fervor in just one store, imagine how well the bundles are going to sell when they release nationwide next Thursday."

""

"Hi again, Mister Gear. It's been a few years and it's good to have you back. We've had some good times and some bad times. But let's not forget the "holy hell, what on earth am I watching and why did I decide to play this with my girlfriend in the room" moments. Because those were the best.

"

"Q: You've indicated that this will be your last "Metal Gear Solid" game. Are you looking forward to other projects or will you continue to be involved in the series?

A: "MGS will ALWAYS be around. I feel a responsibility to continue this series as long as users demand it. But it doesn't mean I'm going to sit in completely. I'll probably take a different role in the next game. Maybe I'll sit in as producer and let the young staff take control of the new series. I really want to go on to new..."

"UK general manager for Konami Pete Stone made the statements to MCV following continued controversy at retail that saw Wii Fit drop out of the All-Format Charts due to stock deficiencies, plus the well-publicised cases of broken street dates for Grand Theft Auto IV.

Stone also commented on stock for the triple-A title: “With demand for MGS4 at such a high level, I am delighted to confirm that we are continually manufacturing stock to meet the phenomenal demand. We want to make sure that ..."

"Minor spoilers:

Laughing Octopus, Raging Raven, Crying Wolf, and Screaming Mantis comprise the B&B Corps, each with their own specialized abilities. Each woman was once innocent and beautiful, but due to the horror of war they have been mentally and physically transformed into beasts, continually emoting as they cross the battlefield. This trauma has made them more like machines of war than humans, which could prove to be quite a challenge for Solid Snake.

On top of these four deadly wa..."

"Speaking to MCV UK, Konami general manager Pete Stone mentioned that the publisher has very solid written agreements with retailers which safeguard against the early release of the much awaited PS3 title.

Here’s a quote taken directly from Stone as he explains Konami’s stand regarding the matter:

"We pride ourselves on working closely with retailers and have a continuation of the signed agreement system we used so successfully before. All major retailers are supplying written agreemen..."

"

quote Ryan Payton

Believe it or not, I've been so busy working on a special surprise for MGS4 buyers (that not even those who have leaked copies of the game can spoil! Haha!), that I haven't had time to catch up on most of the pre-launch excitement.

A special surprise? I love surprises! What ever could it be? It's something that people with leaked copies of the game can't spoil, meaning probably DLC of some sort to kick things off? A special outfit? A new weapon? A cutscene only available t..."

"There seems to be two discussions going on about Metal Gear Solid 4. One is about the game's actual reviews, and the other is about actually reviewing the game. Rumors swirled that reviewers weren't able to talk about MGS4 cutscenes and installs — rumors that were later confirmed in IGN UK's MGS4 review and by EGM's decision not to review the game."

"Apparently someone has already got their hands on Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and has posted a video of the XMB load screen when the game disc is put into the PS3. There are no spoilers here, so don't worry."

"I love high quality making-of game movies, and wanted to get my hands on the Metal Gear Solid 4 Blu-ray, but I sure as hell didn't want to pay double the price for a special edition. So I pre-ordered MGS4 from GAME (UK chain)."

"The fourth installment of one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots features a cinematic experience and visual masterpiece that will break new ground for the stealth-action genre. The Metal Gear Solid series has been around for more than a decade, sold millions of units, and has garnered critical acclaim worldwide. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, a PlayStation 3 exclusive, pushes the graphics and gameplay of the franchise to ..."

"

1. The review should be written by a fan, not a journalist
2. The review should be written by a journalist, not a fan
3. Reviews should be objective (ie concerned with facts), not subjective (ie personal opinion).
4. Ditto. But vice-versa.
5. More at the source

"

"

Commercial translations:
Metal Gear? Or food?
Metal Gear? Or phone?
Metal Gear? Or ...
Woman: "Let's get married."
Propose?
I choose Metal Gear."

"Yes lady and gents, now is the time to bail out of the internet. It seems a chap called Paul has leaked every single piece of information about the game as possible, including all the names of the patriots.

So please MGS fans, STAY AWAY FROM GAMING SITES FROM NOW ON."

"Metal Gear Solid 4 Assistant Producer Ryan Payton tells Kotaku that the 90 minute cutscene claim is a "gross exaggeration." Hit the jump for his full statement and POSSIBLE SPOILER.

quote Ryan Payton

I'm surprised nobody has stepped forward to debunk this rumor. There are no 90 minute cutscenes in MGS4. The ending is long, but 90 minutes is a gross exaggeration.

And here I thought gamers liked long endings!

So there ya go, no 90 minute cutscenes and a lengthy ending says Kojima Prod..."

"Despite any perceived shortcomings we see and play, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is still thoroughly wonderful. The emotional impact and the player’s investment in the story and characters are the game’s greatest assets. It refines the MGS formula and introduces just enough new (or respectfully influenced) ideas to ensure that it stands on its own as a game. But where MGS4 really succeeds is in delivering an experience unlikely to ever be surpassed by Kojima ever again, providin..."

"As the sale of Metal Gear Solid 4 coming up, are you interested in the game?

Already own the PS3 and plan on purchasing MGS4: 28 percent (186 votes)
Plan on purchasing it and a PS3: 14 percent (88 votes)
Own a PS3, but don't intend on purchasing: 14 percent (91 votes)
Interested, but don't plan on purchasing it or a PS3: 46 percent (300 votes)"

"Margaret Robertson on how games and gamers are attracting more and more recognition.

Like many commuters, one of my milder vices is leafing through a free copy of Metro on the morning train. It rarely disappoints - cute animals rescued from improbable peril, TV stars revealed to be dieting hoaxers, lovelorn fugitives betrayed by sausage addiction - but it's rarely worth slowing down from a rapid flick.
Today, though, I was brought to a standstill, not by the enduringly inexplicable photo..."

"Somewhere out there someone has broken the worldwide street date for Metal Gear Solid 4.

Posts have appeared from a gamer going by the name of Paul-H-UK who claims to have a copy of the game in his possession and has photos to prove it. He's posted numerous pictures over in the official PlayStation Forums of the game in various states of undress, including images of it playing on a TV.

Quite where the game came from is something of a mystery. Paul-H-UK says he got it from eBay. From th..."

"Konami diffuses images of the European Metal limited edition GEAR Solid 4: Guns off the Patriots on PlayStation 3 which will thus contain in addition to the play, a making-of Blu-ray, the original soundtrack and a figurine of Old 20 height cm Snake. Available 25.000 units only, this pack will leave next on June 12, and should cost a little less than 100 euros."

"Japanese magazine Famitsu is giving upcoming PS3 title Metal Gear Solid 4 a perfect 40/40. Famitsu has only done this seven times.
This makes MGS4 the first PLAYSTATION 3 title to get the coveted 40/40 score.

Eds Note: This has been confirmed as true. Hit the jump for a scan."

"Did Sony make a mistake by not stocking store shelves with 80GB consoles during this crucial period in the console life cycle? They’re on the upswing after a poor launch, but could they have garnered even more sales during the first half of 2008? With the enormous launch of Grand Theft Auto IV in April, how many gamers chose the Xbox 360 version of the game because they couldn’t get backwards compatibility in a PS3 and didn’t want to wait? How many of those customers bought an Xbox 360 ins..."

With the recent news surrounding Metal Gear Solid 4 about Konami restricting reviewers on what they can reveal in their reviews, it seems to have come to light that not all of the reviewers had any restrictions put on them.

Editors of Game Informer and Playstation: The Official Magazine were two who were not asked to keep quiet about any bit of the game that they played. Could the review by PTOM reveal exactly what was asked of the others to be kept quiet?

"Paul Fitzpatrick, The man behind the first review of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, shared some information of the game in an interview with Gamesradar. According to him the length of the game is around 29 hours before you reach the end of the game.

The game feels like a real MGS game, where the sneaking is still the most viable option. The cutscènes would be one third of the playing time."

"With Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots due out next week, the PlayStation 3’s install base and lack of TV marketing for the game may hinder sales, according to Newsweek’s N’Gai Croal.

According to Croal, Metal Gear Solid 4’s mechanics makes it a better game than Assassin’s Creed, but pointed out that MGS4 may fall behind in marketing.

“Assassin’s Creed was marketed phenomenally well,” Croal said. “It had great TV spots. So they’re not doing TV spots for this game, that..."

"Metal Gear Solid 4 is a masterpiece, arguably the best in the series and – though many will fiercely disagree – ever so slightly disappointing. About 40% through, our notepad was scarred with breathless superlatives like 'Genius', 'Amazing' and 'Wow!!!' but by the game's conclusion, they'd given way to considered criticism and stark cries of 'WTF?'. Will you enjoy it? Yes, definitely, but while most hardcore fans will adore it, a tiny minority may be left slightly deflated by the weight of ..."

What more could you want but for Piggyback Interactive, the authors of the MGS4 Guide, themselves to give you tips regarding Metal Gear Solid 4? The first thing to note is that this article is FULL of spoilers, and so you should read only at your own peril. In short the top 12 tips relate to:

1. Life Guage
2. Psyche Gauge
3. Stress Level & Combat High
4. Choosing your Equipment: Weapons
5. Choosing your Equipment: Items
6. Choosing your Equipment: Weight
7. The Solid Eye
8. The OctoCamo
9. The Threat Ring
10. The Metal G...

"The recent buzz online has been about thrashing anyone who has dared to give Metal Gear Solid 4 a review below 9.5 and EDGE and Eurogamer.net seem to be at the receiving end by daring to give the game a 8/10."

"We risked being trampled by 300 rabid Hideo Kojima fans to bring you some photos and coverage of the event at HMV Oxford Street."

"If you haven't played all of the games in the series, there's every chance that some of it will leave you feeling slightly adrift and a bit confused. Heck, even if you've been following every labyrinthine twist and Byzantine turn of the story so far, there's every chance it will leave you pretty confused. That's because with each new game in the series, the story so far has got more elaborate, more complex, and more convoluted, to the extent that trying to make sense of it all is a bit like h..."

"1. The epilogue is an hour long.

2. Some cutscenes are 30-40 minutes long, but are extremely compelling.

3. hitting "X" during certain sequences will trigger flashbacks.

6. Liquid's position amongst the Patriots will be revealed.

8. Metal Gear Solid 4's story just defies belief with each passing act.

20. Actual gameplay time is not more than 10-13 hours which has been confirmed. The nature of Metal Gear Solid 4 is highly open ended, borrowing heavily from a very well known sand..."

"New York City got a giant Wii Fit add. Los Angeles got a Grand Theft Auto IV hotel. Tokyo? Tokyo's Shibuya gets a couple giant Metal Gear Solid 4 billboard overlooking the insanely busy Hachiko Square. Hit the jump for a wider shot."

"Konami are imposing restrictions on what publications can and cannot talk about when reviewing Metal Gear Solid 4. No mention of 90-minute cutscenes please, and while you're at it, no talky-talky about install sizes either, K? IGN are cool with that. EGM, refreshingly, are not. Due to "limitations Konami wanted to impose on our comments", the editorial team decided to refrain from giving the game a score, and in lieu of a "review" posted a lengthy roundtable discussion about the game instead...."

"Metal Gear Solid (or MGS for short), is one of those rare games that blurs the line between movie and game; thanks to the solid “no pun intended” dynamic gameplay in which you can play however you wish, be it all guns blazing or stealth. Although the game reminds you that stealth is sometimes the best approach, as MG is actually the father of stealth action games. With that out of the way, the rest of the games feels like AAA Hollywood film with fantastic, mind wrapping script backed up by ..."

"Take your gaming to the next level with the 80GB PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system featuring PlayStation®2 backward compatibility***, new DUALSHOCK®3 wireless controller and the highly-anticipated Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots game."

"Hey guys and girls, in a follow up to all my other reports from my exclusive insider on 2.40, I have some small news on 2.40. You may have heard all the rumors about 2.40 arriving this month, with some even as going as far as stating a release on June 10th.

Some Points from videogaming 247:

• Sony’s currently going through PS3’s library to check whether or not in-game XMB’s full compatible. While it’s expected that the the new menu system, in-game messaging, and so forth, will work...

"

"While reporting MTV Multiplayer’s week-long series about game reviews I’ve heard from members of the gaming press about restrictions publishers place on game reviews. I’m familiar with some of these. It’s common for a publisher to specify plot details that they don’t want revealed in reviews.

What I heard about print reviews for “Metal Gear Solid 4” was different.

I’ve been told by two gaming media sources who asked to remain anonymous that Konami representatives had been asking..."

"It is the ultimate in fan service, but it is also hard to see how this could be anything other than one man's uncompromised vision of what a videogame should be. The action sequences are faultless. The cut-scenes – well, yes, you could argue that there are too many of them, that they're too long, and that the dialogue is occasionally leaden. Indeed many of the most dramatic cut-scenes might make you crave action, or wonder why they couldn't have been turned into interactive sequences. But th..."

"The latest Famitsu featured some new scans of Konami's upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. In the scans, two new characters are revealed: Rosemary and Mai-ling."

"Its a Spanish magazine i get over here, really good mag and well they are pretty hard on their reviews, GTA got 9,6 to, Halo got 9,1... God of War 9,6 so u can expect this game to be awesome... btw... they say the actually "CRIED" with the story, simply amazing.... I would give yo some scans but i aint got a scanner but really its true..... Pretty amazing screens to, Jungle and all that stuff.... amazing"

"The first images of the European limited edition of Metal Gear Solid 4 have sneaked out, and it looks like a box with some pictures on it. A nice box with some pictures on it, but there we are. The shots are here and here."

"Metal Gear Solid fans have been met with confusion in the last few days as to whether Guns of the Patriots will include cutscenes that last for over 90 minutes.

The rumor began at PSW magazine who claimed:

quote PSW mag

"MGS4's story is massive. The videogame equivalent of all three Godfather
movies
on one disc,"

"As you'd expect, you'll spend a lot of time watching cut-scenes, so if you found previous games' story exposition laborious, then you'd better find yourself a nice cushion...

"

"From CVG today comes a pretty wild rumor about Metal Gear Solid 4: the penultimate title in the Solid Snake series will feature rather lengthy cutscenes.

How lengthy? Try 90 minutes. And that's not 90-minutes in total, that's a 90-minute cutscene.

Trouble is, it's not entirely accurate. Will MSG4 have lengthy cutscenes, like the 45-minute one in MGS2? Yes, says GamePro's own Sid Shuman, but nowhere near 90 minutes.

"I've beat the game twice, and am the author of the forthcoming [Game..."

"We know the Metal Gear Solid series is famous for its long cut-scenes, but this tops everything! Metal Gear Solid 4, the latest instalment in Hideo Kojima's seminal stealth series, has cut-scenes (note the plural) that approach the 90 minutes mark."

"Metal Gear Solid 4 isn't even out and whaddaya know, the game's creator Hideo Kojima is already thinking about Metal Gear Solid 5. While MGS4 was supposed to be Kojima's last entry the series, he seems to have had a change of heart recently. Isn't he ready to move on to other things? Dunno. What we do know is what he told Famitsu:

quote Kojima

I gotta start thinking about MGS5... Even though, well, Snake's story ends in MGS4.

...About MGS5, that would be something that Kojima Productions...

"

"You can spot loads of cool features going on - see Snake in one shot using the SixAxis to control a small droid, or Snake dressed in the Altair (of Assassin's Creed fame) costume. There even seems to be some sort of bike race going on in there."

"Konami has temporarily ceased taking pre-orders on the Metal Gear Solid 4 hardware bundle, after a US deal launched on the official site yesterday went belly up.

Eager fans hoping to get hold of the limited-edition Gunmetal PS3 bundle, sold exclusively through the official online Konami Store, were greeted to "503 errors", according to Kotaku, who described the ordeal as "a cluster*bleep* of massive proportions".

The Store works at the moment. But it says the allocated pre-order stock ..."

"Unfortunately for UK Snake lovers, there will not be any MGS limited edition bundles coming to the British Isles, with a Konami UK spokesperson confirming to GameSpot UK today that "no bundles other than the limited edition Play.com figurine set have been planned for the UK.""

"The last adventure of Solid Snake is almost ready for gamers. It’s been a long time coming — more than four years of development — but on June 12, “MGS4″ will finally become a reality on PlayStation 3s worldwide.

Fans can stop worrying, though; this isn’t the last “Metal Gear,” explained associate producer Ryan Payton in an interview with MTV Multiplayer. “I think there’s been some misconceptions that this is the last ‘Metal Gear,’” said Payton. “This is really just the last c..."

""

""

"The gameplay itself is a different spin on the typical first-person shooter, and as such, it controls differently than you might think. If you're a fan of Metal control scheme, it should come pretty naturally, but players should run through some training levels first just to be safe. The matches provide a mix of slow and frantic gameplay scenarios, although when you get in a full lobby, the game types generally devolve into the same-old shooter gametypes you've played a million times (Deathma..."

"Hideo Kojima appeared on stage to announce the completion of his four-year long project.
"I'm very happy that we can announce the completion of MGS4 in front of everyone here today," he said, beaming.
"MGS4 has been an extremely difficult project. At one point, it was like an eternal spiral where the game felt like it would never get completed no matter how hard we worked on it."

Interestingly, Kojima also took the opportunity to make some comments on the current situation of the game..."

"During an interview with PSM UK, Kojima told them:

“I would like to say that Zone of the Enders is quite near the priority list… [after MGS4] it might be good to change to outer space or robots or things like that for a change”"

""

"Metal Gear Solid 4 offers more than great gameplay and solid graphics. It also offers product placement! From an in-game iPod and Triumph motorcycles to cell phones and energy drinks, MGS4 has tactical advertising down pat. Click through the gallery below!"

"Watch the first 10 minutes of the MGS4 campaign.

Watch video"

"Konami has released a bunch of new ads in anticipation for the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. The ads promote real world items that appear in the game, and we've even heard mention of iPods! There's even an ad that supposedly promotes the Sony Ericsson W62S."

"That Ubisoft/Kojima April Fool's joke was pretty elaborate! Snake running around MGS4 dressed as Altair, looking for all the world like it was actually in the game...so would it surprise you to hear that it wasn't really a gag? Yeah, that's right. It was announced at the MGS4 wrap party today that MGS4 players will indeed be able to unlock an Assassin's Creed outfit for Snake"

"
NOTE: SPOILERS!"

"We've seen a teaser that suggests that Metal Gear Solid 4 will feature significant flashbacks to the story's early days, so it's possible that everyone's favorite tragic soldier-turned-despot will show up alongside the other blasts from the past. But Big Boss is dead for good, right?

Right?

It sounds farfetched, but then again, so does the idea of the President turning out to be a clone, or the late Liquid, evil Big Boss copy, controlling Russian jack-of-all-trades and gunslinger Ocelo..."

"Retail sources have informed us today that the Australian market will not be seeing the release of the Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle that was announced in February. The bundle in the US will include a limited edition 'hagane' coloured 80GB PS3, a Dual Shock 3 controller and, of course, a copy of MGS 4, all for $US 499.99.

Sources also told us that the recently released GTA IV 40GB bundle didn't fair so great in Australia on release, which may have influenced the decision (although that bun..."

"With its release a bit over a month away, more MGS4 information continues to trickle out; however, this time it speaks volumes to the PAL regions.

Play.com is listing the Metal Gear Solid: Guns of the Patriots box set which confirms the rumors of a special edition packaging of the game.

The Limited Edition will include:

• 6″ Old Snake ‘Olive Drab’ action figure
• “The Making Of Metal Gear Solid 4″ documentary on Blu-ray Disc
• Official Metal Gear Solid 4 soundtrack

The price is £79...."

A trailer from the glory years of the franchise with footage from the very first MGS to sequels and even spin-offs. Near the end is a small footage of the new MGS4 game, and Snake's dream that he keeps having.

"NOTE : This quote is from the alternate source. Original source is Spanish.

Well this is a U-turn in opinion for the ages. In a recent interview (warning: español) with Spanish wesbite Meristation, the creator of the Metal Gear Solid series has gone on record to say he is “very satisfied” with the game and that consumers will be too come June 12th.

Kojima may be doing his best to remedy recent stories which reported him saying that he felt the game was “just one step” out of the ten he..."

"Here’s a joke: Did you hear the one about Uwe Boll directing a movie version of the acclaimed video game series “Metal Gear Solid”? So did Uwe Boll – only he’s not laughing.
“This was an absurd story,” Boll told MTV News about how his name got attached and then removed from a cinematic adaptation. “Two French guys wrote a script, said they are from Konami hired to write the script, said ‘You wanna direct it?’ I read the script, I liked the script. I said, ‘Yes, I can do it.’”
A quick deal..."

"the title says. It's a (mostly) new Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer. Lots of new footage of Metal Gears and lady-robots with tentacles, lots of footage of men being whacked over the noggin with guns, only some footage of monkeys wearing pants. I must say, while the graveyard scenes were brief, it's awful nice seeing green grass and flowers in a MGS4 trailer. That desert town was getting boring.
[Thanks everyone!]"

"BBFC passes game for release; avoids ‘18’ classification
Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots has been passed by the BBFC with a ‘15’ age rating.

The classification was made without any cuts having to be applied to the game."

"METAL GEAR SOLID 4 is a third person tactical/stealth game. The player takes on the role of an aging soldier, Snake who can be armed with knives, guns and grenades. The game has been classified '15' for strong violence.

During battles enemy soldiers die with small puffs of blood. The weaponry includes petrol bombs, however there is no detailed portrayal of injuries. During cut scenes slightly more detailed violence is portrayed, such as enemy creatures spearing friendly soldiers and one pr..."

""When we first showed the game engine at TGS, the staff were really proud and happy. PS3 was a dream machine, y'know, and we were going to work on this and that - and we had so many ideas. But when we actually started developing the game, we realized there were a lot of restrictions and so it turned out how you see it today. The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress."

[...]

"I remember saying three years ago tha..."

"SCEE has told videogaming247 this morning that it’s waiting for official word on whether or not Europe will receive the gunmetal special edition PS3 for the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4.

“I’ve asked if we’re getting this but have yet to have an answer confirmed,” said a rep."

"Aussie gamers will be able to take part in the beta test for Metal Gear Online very, very soon. The new look PlayStation Store goes live tomorrow, on April 15, and a fresh batch of content will be downloadable from the 17th – including the MGO beta.



Two maps will be included with the beta: ‘Blood Bath’ and ‘Groznyi Grad.’ The latter, adapted from the setting for Metal Gear Solid 3, will include man-cannons for launching players through the multi-level environment."

"Not real. Pffft. What the hell do I know. Turns out that Bluetooth MGS4 headset is real, as over the weekend we learned that the product is not only already appearing in the catalogue of peripheral manufacturer PDP, but has also begun turning up in retail databases across Europe and the US. You can see above part of the entry in PDP's latest retailer catalogue (full-page version after the click), which not only confirms the headset's existence, but its feature set as well. For $60, you'll be ..."

"The writer of design blog ProsumeThis says this Metal Gear Solid 4 headset he designed is real, in production, will cost $60, is officially licensed and will be available on June 12, same as the game. While I'd love to believe him, I don't, but that doesn't make the design any less pleasing on the eye."

"Rob Smith, Editor in Chief of PlayStation: The Official Magazine - possibly the only person outside of Sony to have finished both GTA IV and Metal Gear Solid 4, two of this year's biggest releases.

GR: After having played both GTA IV and Metal Gear Solid 4 to completion, how would you compare them as next-gen experiences?

RS: Well, they are fascinating, because they’re both huge, but they’re apples and pears. I mean, there’s no comparison, because of what they sort of do. Metal Gear ..."

Kojima is working on a new game outside the Metal Gear Solid series. Nothing as of yet is revealed about this game only that it's got nothing to do with the MGS series.

President Fumiaki Tanaka has told us that a formal announcement won't be making it this year too. Although more about the title will be revealed once Kojima completes writing the title's scenario but this won't happen until MGS4 is released and after MGSO gets a huge push.

"It's official, it's in production and it is on shelves by the game launch on June 12th.


I've been working with contacts over at Konami and manufacturers in Asia to develop the licensed Metal Gear accessories for several months now. You are looking at the Solid Works renderings of the licensed headset which is being mass manufactured right now and will be available at game launch for $59.99."

"“The beta phase features two maps, four gameplay modes, the SOP System that encourages up to 16 players to team up and share information, and deep skill-customization. Also equipped with auto-matching and training modes, the game offers players a sneak peak of this totally new approach to console-based competitive gaming.”"

"We spoke to one of the few US journalists that have played the full game and under condition of anonymity, and they agreed to divulge a few gameplay elements that gamers have never been exposed to before. Although most folks laugh at Sony’s implementation of motion controls, after playing MGS4 with the DUALSHOCK3 controller, you just might change your mind!"

"Metal Gear Solid 4 is a huge game, but most previews have only scratched the surface. GamePro senior editor Sid Shuman has played the game: here are 25 gameplay features that surprised and delighted him...


MGS4 voices real social concerns:

A socially relevant storyline: Private military companies (or "PMCs") are a key threat in Metal Gear Solid 4 because they've escalated combat into a never-ending war economy. But in a case of truth being stranger than fiction, PMCs are a serious con..."

"Metal Gear?! Such an exclamation will no doubt emanate from a friend's mouth as he steps into your extravagant living room and gazes upon a "Gunmetal Grey" PlayStation 3. Konami's Brandon Laurino has confirmed on the official PlayStation Blog that this "VERY, VERY Limited Edition" system will be available in North America as part of a special Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle. You may recall caressing its steel-colored curves (in your mind) back when it was unveiled as the 40GB 'Hagane' model in Japan."

"ABOUT METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS STANDARD EDITION
Marking the return of Hideo Kojima's legendary tactical espionage action series, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots features a cinematic experience and visual masterpiece that will redefine this landmark franchise as a revolutionary game for the PLAYSTATION®3 system. The game is the final chapter in the saga of Solid Snake which sends him around the world in pursuit of his arch nemesis, Liquid Ocelot. Armed with new gadge..."

"MGO is included with MGS4, but it will be the bare bones to be added to and upgraded in time.

The opening credits (of MGS4) were designed by Logan, the people that did the hugely successful ipod ads.

The story visits more locations and embraces more styles than any MGS to date."

"The European box art for Konami’s up and coming sneak-fest Metal Gear Solid 4 has found its way onto the internet, sporting a similar design to the covers of previous titles by featuring Old Snake in concept sketch style. New details on the game’s cut scenes have also recently been revealed. The game is said to contain cut scenes that last 30+ minutes, all of which are real time. Some cut scene are even interactive, with players being able to alter the camera angle of the scene."

80's TV hunk, Tom Selleck, known for such hit shows as Magnum P.I. has an uncanny resemblance to Konami's, Solid Snake. A user by the name of Brianemone has done a MGS4 coverart with Mr. Selleck. I have to admit, it looks pretty cool. I know i'd play it. Where can I get my hands on MGSelleck 1 through 3? Enjoy the boxart!

The Metal Gear Solid 4 boxart has been sighted. Featured on Amazon, the PS3 retail cover art features none other than good "old" Snake in all his geriatric glory. He may be old, but he can still accomplish a mission.

"Animation of everything, from Snake to the actions of the PMCs to the evasion of Gekkos and FROG soldiers are incredibly fluid and slick. For the most part, what we've seen ran at a stable 60 frames a second. There were only a few instances in which the framerate dipped for a second or two, but that was typically caused by large onscreen explosions coupled with screen effects (such as dirt being kicked up on the camera lens).

As for visual fidelity, the trailers that have been released for..."

"Nestled in the snowy heart of Nasu, Japan, Konami and Kojima Productions recently held a secret "boot camp" where the companies showed off a nearly complete version of the anticipated PlayStation 3 action-epic Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Only a handful of gaming insiders were invited, but GamePro was there to get exclusive access to an enormous portion of the game. This is our report, complete with extensive hands-on impressions."

"The best part? It's learning that Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops captures an entirely different, younger market in Japan than the console titles:

quote Kojima

I have a son in that particular age group, the 13-15 year old age group, and he's been with me watching me create the Metal Gear series. But he has always criticized it: 'Oh, Metal Gear is such a s****y game.' Until the point I released Portable Ops. So these kids are really into these handheld machines, and my son is really into Porta...

"

"Regardless of this, one comment Kojima made during the whole trip really struck me, putting in perspective the whole idea of ‘next gen’ and the subtle disappointment we’ve had as gamers with our PS3s and our 360s.


But before I put this out there, I don’t want this to be interpreted as a ‘Kojima hates the PS3, or MGS4 sucks’ quote, because neither are even close to being true – but Kojima claimed, through a translator, that when making Metal Gear Solid 4, he started out trying to m..."

""

Destructoid member ArrestedDeveloper blogs about obtaining the DVD titled 'Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2' which is obtained when you pre-order MGS4 for the PS3.

Some very nice artwork both on the case and disc make this DVD even more appealing. Getting your hands on one of these will also net you a beta key to the MGS4 Online beta. Good luck on finding one of these, however, as they seem a bit difficult to get (limited supplies).

"GamePro readers have spoken: the most eagerly anticipated PS3 title this year is none other than Metal Gear Solid 4.

The news might be unsurprising to some, given the amount of hype and anticipation surrounding this upcoming system seller, but what is slightly surprising is just how much of a win MSG4 achieved over other highly anticipated PS3 IP in GamePro's most recent readership poll.

The Hideo Kojima title pulled in 57.7% of the vote, a full 46.4% higher than second place finisher (..."

"Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition Revealed
Of all PlayStation 3 exclusive games this year, none has a higher anticipation level than Metal Gear Solid 4. In fact, Sony has created a special system bundle SKU specifically for Metal Gear Solid 4. To capture the hardcore fan of the series, many of whom already own a PS3, Konami has created a Limited Edition version of Metal Gear Solid 4, which will include a metal box, bonus Blu-ray Disc with extra documentaries, chapters from the graphic novel..."

"Obviously, the console won’t be really steel, but it will instead be painted to give a metallic impression. A special steel DualShock 3 will also be part of the bundle."

"With the June 12th release date looming in the distance for fans of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4, Konami has decided to tease them even more with 5 new screenshots of the game. Image gallery after the break."

"According to Kojima, it is theoretically impossible to create a game as ambitious as Metal Gear Solid 4. Given recent findings in quantum physics, computer science, and information there, there is simply not enough space, time, or matter in the known Universe to convey his exact ambitions for Metal Gear Solid 4."

"This includes reading up about the series, viewing the franchise’s gorgeous artwork, pulling apart previously released trailers etc. During this time I was also in search for some Metal Gear propaganda and as I was searching around I stumbled upon this cool little Otacon clock widget for your desktop:

[Image]

The sprites are taken from MGS2 (end of the Tanker chapter). As you move your cursor around Otacon follows it with his eyes, he also blinks as well. Very cute."

""

An exclusive interview with Hideo Koijima, the creator of the Metal Gear Solid series complains that 50GB is still not enough and have exceeded the capacity which led the team of developers to compress sections of the game to save disc space.

Kojima: I am not satisfied with the quality yet, however...there isn't enough space.

Interviewer: Not enough space..on..Blu-ray..?

Kojima: Yes.(laughs). Not enough space.

"Kojima has chosen to take the ‘less is more’ approach in Metal Gear Solid 4, and has even removed motion controls from several places where they were previously planned, like maneuvering Snake’s Mk. II robot for example."

"Konami has officially confirmed what it has long promised; June 12 will not only see the game hit shelves in North America, but also the rest of the world. This will come as a relief to European gamers in particular, who have had to wait six months to a year after the US release of recent MGS games to get their hands (officially, at least) on Solid Snake."

The official Japanese website representing Metal Gear Solid 4 has officially been launched and it features a countdown, some movies and a cool wallpaper for all the MGS fans out there. For reassurance the release date is also up on the website (12th June).

We will most certainly see more updates added to the website as we come closer to the release date.

"

Following opening remarks made during the General Session at the 2008 Destination PlayStation retailer event in Scottsdale AZ, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. confirmed several new initiatives related to Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, including a North American street date, online multiplayer, and pre-sell program.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the final chapter in ..."

"The title says it all. Those who preorder Metal Gear Solid 4 will have guaranteed access into the multiplayer beta test of Metal Gear Online, which starts in late April. MGS4 comes bundled with a basic “Starter Pack” for Metal Gear Online, and now MGS fans can test out the game themselves before official release. I guess I’ll reserve it when I go to pick up GOW: Chains of Olympus.

I remember how excited I was when I heard there was going to be a beta test for MGO way back when, and then..."

"Word from Destination PlayStation, a retailers-only conference for all things PlayStation related, is that Metal Gear Solid 4 is coming to the PlayStation 3 on June 12, 2008. According to sources there now, the release of Kojima Productions action-stealth game will arrive on a Thursday, oddly enough. Even more interesting is that we're hearing word that Sony will be offering a hardware bundle that features MGS4, an 80GB PlayStation 3 and a DualShock 3 packed-in.

We're checking with Konami ..."

"More gasoline was added to the fire when MGS4 assistant producer Ryan Payton said in an interview with Reuters that in order for the game to be profitable, MGS4 would have to sell 1 million copies on the first day of its release. Fanboys, analysts, videogame editors, and forum jockey’s were left scratching their heads wondering why MGS4 could only turn a profit if a million were sold on it’s release date. The fires of discussion continued to burn and and speculation raged on."

According to the UK's PSW magazine, the demo of Metal Gear Solid 4 that they got to play will come to the Playstation Store in February! This is great news, considering Kojima recently promised that MGS4 would go through no further delays. It lends some credibility to Kojima. Personally, I can't wait for it!

"Metal Gear Solid 4's nearly done. They promise! On his latest podcast, Kojima Productions' Ryan Payton has told listeners the game's in its "last push". While a few late features or tweaks can be expected, for most of the team work's winding up, and the project is about to enter the bug-testing stage. And that means no more delays. Why no more delays?

quote

Mr. Kojima of all people is really committed to [the date] because he really hates to disappoint people, and I know he is embarrassed b...

"

"According to the game gurus over at PunchJump, the game build presently on show at CES 2008, which showcases the same exterior warzone first seen at the E for All expo in August of 2007, is fluctuating between 30 and 60 frames per second – depending on the intensity levels attributed to its on-screen action."

"It seems the editors of Famitsu may have hired a new staff writer: in the latest issue, the magazine has enlisted the help of Assassin’s Creed producer Jade Raymond in interviewing famed Japanese developer Hideo Kojima.

In the piece, translated by Develop, Raymond spoke of the differences in culture and play style between different game markets, and asked Kojima how he creates games that are anticipated in both his native Japan and the West.

“The fundamentals of game design, and how t..."

"TheGameReviews.com had the opportunity to speak with Konami’s PR about this latest rumor, and unsurprisingly, Konami is baffled by claims that Metal Gear Solid 4 is going multiplatform. In a rush to get the word out, it seems that those who broke the story talked to everyone except Konami, who made this statement "For the record, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and there are no plans to develop an Xbox 360 version of the game." Nuff said.."

"Since the announcement of Metal Gear Online, it’s been left unclear whether or not it would be released as a standalone title or bundled together with Metal Gear Solid 4. It’s only commonsense that the two should be paired together, but early talk didn’t seem to suggest that they would be. Well, the January ‘08 issue of the new PlayStation: The Official Magazine (formerly PSM) was just dropped off in my mailbox headlined on the cover with exclusive confirmation that MGS4 and MGO are in fa..."

"Hello everyone. When we last spoke, I posted some ads for PS3 third-party heavy hitters Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty 4. Well, as promised, we have more up our sleeves and have a couple more spots to debut for you all before they officially air the week of November 19th.

We’ve brought back the same pulsating music track (Saliva’s “Ladies and Gentlemen”) from our PS3 brand spots and feature games from our 3rd party friends like Burnout Paradise, WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008, Madden NF..."

"KONAMI announced today that "METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS", the latest in the METAL GEAR series, is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2008."

"Producer Ryan Payton talks about the new features that will propel Metal Gear Solid into the next-gen era.

"

"We get a first hand look at the US translation for Solid Snake's final mission.

"

In a podcast called KP (Kojima Productions) hosted by Ryan Payton he interviews MGS4 producer Ken Imaizumi. Amongst things such as the new PSP they also talk about the English playable demo of Metal Gear Solid 4, which, will be playable at E For All 2007. Konami plans on having 12 PS3 kiosks set up with MGS4 for your playing enjoyment. The demo is the same which was shown at TGS tweaked a bit from the response by attendants of TGS.

Our very own VeGiTAX2 will be attending E For All so we'll...

"1. (1 / 1) Dragon Quest IX NDS Square Enix
2. (2 / 2) Final Fantasy XIII PS3 Square Enix
3. (3 / 3) Biohazard 5 PS3 Capcom
4. (4 / 4) Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 Konami
5. (6 / 6) Monster Hunter 3 Wii Capcom
6. (5 / 5) Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii Nintendo
7. (7 / 7) Dragon Quest VI NDS Square Enix
8. (8 /10) Dragon Quest IV NDS Square Enix
9. (12/ 9) Lost Odyssey Xbox 360 Microsoft
10. (11/14) Final Fantasy IV NDS Square Enix
11. (9 / 8) Shin Sangoku Musou 5 PS3 Koei
12. (14/20) Dragon..."

"According to PS-Gamer.com, it seems Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be arriving in Europe before Easter, and even better, Sony and Konami are planning a "console-and-game" bundle, too! Yeah, this is the kind of thing the whole world wants, Sony, so while we're happy for our friends across the pond, don't you dare limit this bundle to one territory! In speaking to Spanish website MeriStation.com, SCEE vice-president James Armstrong apparently confirmed it:

“We are working on ..."

""

The official TGS site of Konami states that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be released on the Playstation 3 as early as Winter 2007. Could our dreams comes true that we can be messing around with Snake in our grasp before the end of the year?

Well we knew it was coming, Tokyo Game Show and a new trailer of Metal Gear Solid 4, they really do go hand in hand. Ruliweb managed to video the trailer and put it on their site, however the site has since then gone down due to the imploded servers. Fortunately, we have gamersyde, and bittorrent.

Go to the source and take your pick on what version you want to view the trailer in, and enjoy.

UPDATE: Translation Added (Check The Screenshots Below)

"Famitsu magazine is reporting that yes Metal Gear Online will come with Metal Gear Solid 4. Great news for MGS fans."

"Hideo Kojima has confirmed that the PS3 Metal Gear Solid 4 will not be the last Metal Gear Solid game as the franchise will continue on.

Hideo Kojima was asked whether or not it would be hard to say goodbuy to the Metal Gear Solid franchise.

He stated that it would not be the end of the Metal Gear Solid franchise after Metal Gear Solid 4 on the PS3.

He stated that the Metal Gear Solid franchise would be the like James Bond franchise and continue on even without Snake.

Kojima state..."

"Video games have a long tradition of creating tough-as-nails protagonists that fight hordes of oncoming enemies. Still, few have been able to elevate themselves to true “badass” status. Sam Fisher and Solid Snake are two characters that have been known for years for their ability to strike fear into enemy NPO’s and let gamers unleash their inner Special Ops soldier. However, there is only room at the top for one badass to rule them all. Myarcadeplanet is putting that power in your hands. I..."

"For the online play, the main difference is that Metal Gear Online is it's own title, not included with the game. The camouflage is different, as in Metal Gear 3 has face masks, and Snake's new suit lets him take the appearance of any wall or floor he's next to. Read the full article on the click of the scan."

""

"When asked a horridly conceived question about the game's soundtrack, Kojima responded with what he described as a bit of a slip, telling the crowd that "there will be a special feature where maybe you can play your favorite [soundtrack]." We're not sure if that means Kojima and crew are planning to include just a demo for Metal Gear Online [in Metal Gear Solid 4] or if it will feature some other facet of the online component."

"Today GamerSquad brings you superb new media for Aion, Time Crisis 4, Zack & Wiki, Jeanne D’Arc, Wipeout HD, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Call of Duty 4, Need for Speed ProStreet, Haze, PlayStation Eye, Metal Gear Solid 4, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, Ferrari Challenge, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, and Wet.

Why would you go anywhere else when GamerSquad has it all in a one-click, one-stop package.

Click the sou..."

"To summarize the trailer, it showed four bosses from the game -- all based on women. That is going to be the theme of MGS4: Beauty and the Beast. The bosses are beasts, but underneath they are beauties."

"Lepizig 2007 Content

* Leipzig PSN Trailer
* PlayStation Eye Trailer
* MGS4 Gameplay Trailer
* Heavenly Sword Trailer
* Snakeball Trailer"

"Here are some new images from the closed beta showing off more of Metal Gear Online on the PS3. Featuring characters, stages, and the same control scheme as found in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4, this reloaded MGO experience packs in additional environments, game modes, and team-based multiplayer mayhem to make this the ultimate online companion to MGS4."

"The lucky bastards who signed up for the Metal Gear Online Beta successfully are now starting to receive their invitations to download the software on their PS3. Of course, only Japan applicants are actually being picked, and those who slyly managed to sneak in their non-japanese applications haven’t received invites, meaning they were probably denied. Or at least, they better be. And yes, I am being a hater."

"Solid Snake has been through a lot; 20 years of gaming history will do that to you. Not many gaming franchises live to still be relevant 20 years after their initial deployment but Sony is hoping Snake’s shoulders are broad enough to carry their gaming system to the next level. As the game is yet to be playable, at least by anyone outside of Konami, there is a lot of speculation on Hideo Kojima’s latest potential masterpiece."

"According to Play, Hideo Kojima has some surprises lined up for us at this month's Leipzig Gaming Convention. Not only will there be a playable Metal Gear Solid 4 on-hand, Konami has mentioned that they will be also be announcing new Metal Gear Solid projects from Kojima Studio. It's interesting to see that the franchise is staying with Kojima Studio, considering Hideo Kojima has said he will no longer have a hand in Metal Gear Solid after MGS4. But it's cool to hear that he'll still at least..."

"Another day and another one of Michael Pachter's far-reaching predictions for the gaming industry, this time concerning yet another PlayStation 3 price cut, reports Next-Gen.

The Morgan Wedbush Securities analyst, who GamerSquad swears just wants cult status amongst gamers (we're hours away from printing our first batch of "Pachter Rules!" T-shirts), has stated that he expects the price of Sony's high-definition behemoth to drop at the beginning of next year in order to take advantage of ..."

"A HMV representative told GameSpot, "In his enthusiasm, one of our online games team indicated that hmv.co.uk would start taking pre-orders for MGS4 on XBox 360, when, in fact, he simply meant to ask customers if they wished to receive an alert in the event of this title one day coming out on this platform."

He continued, "We're sorry to have caused such a stir--the oversight has now been corrected. He is now sitting on the naughty step.""

"Legendary Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto is generally credited with the quote that "A delayed game is eventually good. A bad game is bad forever.""

"HMV is now taking pre-orders for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Metal Gear Solid. But the 360 version isn't due until five months later...

Here we go again. The latest 'MGS4-going-multi-platform' rumour is interesting for two reasons. Mega entertainment retailer HMV is taking pre-orders for the 360 version right now and the firm even dates both version of the game.

Metal Gear Solid 4 will apparently be available from April 18, 2008 on PlayStation 3 only according to the listing...."

"Konami's recent financial analysis meeting has revealed important information for all fans of Metal Gear Solid. Apparently, MGS4 will launch in March 2008, and a solid release date for MGS4 will be announced at TGS.

A Japanese insider who attended the meeting revealed these bullet points:

• Metal Gear Solid 4's exact release date will be announced at the Tokyo Game Show.
• President Fumiaki Tanaka of Konami Digital Entertainment stated that release is likely Q4 March 2008
• Preside..."

"Some things, it is valid to say, never change, and here’s another one: the debate over whether or not Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will go multi-platform will rumble boringly on.

Yep, less than three weeks after series creator Hideo Kojima stood on a stage in Santa Monica and reassured us all that yes, Metal Gear Solid 4 would be a PlayStation 3 exclusive, here’s Konami Digital Entertainment President Fumiaki Tanaka to upset the applecart again: "As we are aware of the popula..."

"And now, the potentially exciting bit: this first-rate collection could - we repeat, could - be seeing a US release, according to hints dropped by Konami reps at Comic Con International, the annual comic book convention that’s held in San Diego. GamerSquad hopes against hope..."