Comments on: Why Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4 Should Be Multiplatform

By: dionusos

dionusos — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:16:08 +0000

“Konami has spent millions on the game and hopes to move 1 million copies in itâ€™s first week. Looking at the numbers, how do they expect to move 1 million copies when the best PS3 title to date, Uncharted: Drakeâ€™s Fortune, has only been able to move 552,000 copies worldwide?”

Well the numbers are in and they moved 2 million the first week.

By: Deviant.Ninja

Deviant.Ninja — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:56:38 +0000

There is one and only one reason why the 360 will never see MGS4 – it’s simply too big. The finished game was more than 50GB’s in space, and had to be compressed to fit onto the PS3’s Blu-Ray disc (which holds up to 50GB of data). The Xbox 360 uses HD-DVD’s that can hold only up to 9GB’s of data. If they did launch MGS4 for the Xbox, it would come in a 6-7 disc bundle, which would look fuckin stupid.

So QQ more, it won’t happen.

By: phoenix92

phoenix92 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:29:28 +0000

1st of all, “Sega and Namco all went multiplatform and are reaping the rewards.” To this I say, remember the Sega consoles? Remember the Namco game-thingies (forgot what they’re called XD) in arcades? Ever since they went multi-platform all forms of their consoles have been eradicated and (seemingly) nobody remembers them any more because they released their 1st party exclusive games onto other consoles.

Secondly, can you imagine Bungie turning around and suddenly stating the release of Halo onto the PS3? Because after all, Halo was made by Bungie. It’s the same thing hoping that Konami will release MGS or the 360.
Never gonna happen, or at least not for a LOOONG time.

Also, “You dont see Universal Pictures, Sony and Paramount each creating their own specific player and format for their movies.” Do Universal and Paramount even make their own format of DVDs? Oh and yes, Sony have released Blu-ray which is “better” than a DVD. But the way I see it, a film is a film.

If you ask me, every platform should come TOGETHER, and jointly release a game console. That way everyone makes money, all the gamers are happy because they don’t have to spend millions on different consoles and don’t have the torture of having to choose between one or the other, and there’s no “PS3 SUCKS AND 360 RULEZ” and being marked as a ** fanboy.

But let’s face it. Everyone is too greedy to think about the consumer.

By: darkshine.king

darkshine.king — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:07:18 +0000

Daniel: I know consoles wont be like DVD players, and they wont be for some time. I know all companies want is to live the “Wii-dream”: insane sales, and who could blame them?
Thats why I say the closest thing we will ever have is multiplatform games. Games everybody can play no matter what console they have.

By: Daniel Bright

Daniel Bright — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:43:44 +0000

darkshine.king: In a perfect world, consoles would be more like DVD players, as you said. But it’s not like that. There’s HD-DVD and Blue-ray. There’s the 360 and PS3. The only thing we can hope for is that each console slowly develops it’s own, unique features, lowers in price (eventually evening out to the same level), and every game becomes multi-platform.

By: imaballa

imaballa — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:40:29 +0000

Torrence, If all 3rd parties had no exclusives and the only distinguishing “game” factor were 1st party titles that would be like waiting for the next great Mario game that comes out once every 3 years.
What incentive would there be to purchase a $400 ps3 when you can get a $280 Xbox 360?

Kojima knows and realizes that Sony needs MG4, even in a interview Ryan Payton the PR for Kojima Productions said:

“Ryan Payton also reconfirmed that Metal Gear Solid 4 is STAYING PlayStation 3 exclusive. “We’re telling our fans that if you want to play Metal Gear Solid 4, you have to buy a PS3,” stated Ryan Payton, “The PlayStation brand has always been good to us, and we’re pretty bullish on the PS3.” ”

That sounds like Kojima’s E3 speach; basically saying Playstation has been good to us, time to return the favor.

indicating they realize MG4 is very important to PS3.

By: darkshine.king

darkshine.king — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:24:47 +0000

I agree with Torrence, but for a different reason. As a gamer I think having different platforms sucks. As a videogamer I could care less about “loyalty” to an specific platform. Im in for the games! I want to play cool, entertaining and immersive games and that means Im going with that console with the most and (very important) better games library. Who actually buys a console without a good game library? Anyone who do that its either very wealthy or very stupid.
I think videogame consoles should be like the dvd players. Different brands, but they all can play the same movie. You dont see Universal Pictures, Sony and Paramount each creating their own specific player and format for their movies. They all release their movies on dvd, and any dvd player can play that movie. And thats how videogaming should work for me.
Now, whats the closest thing we have to that? Multiplatform games. If I were a PS3 owner It would be unfair not being able to play Bioshock, and certainly I think its unfair that I wont be able to play MSG4 on my 360. And whats that? You say “just buy both consoles, cheapskate”? Well, sadly I dont wipe my ass with $100 bills everytime I go to the bathroom, so buying both is out of my budget and will be for some time. And I think as a customer I have the right to choose. Im not going to buy a PS3 just because Konami wants me too or because Hideo and Kaz are best buddies, and poor Sony its not getting enough money. I should be able to choose a console and play whatever games I want.

By: Daniel Bright

Daniel Bright — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:29:57 +0000

I’ve seen tons of people who say they’re waiting on MGS4 to buy a PS3. I’m dead serious. If Uncharted was to Gears of War; MGS4 will be to Halo 3 (in terms of sales and/or hype). I guarantee it will be the greatest selling game for the system. Easily.

Uncharted and Heavenly sword are both new series for a system that’s already considered shaky. Very few people will buy a game if there’s even the slightest chance of it being a dud. That’s why review sites and rentals are so huge. It’s the Psychonaughts syndrome, man. People will completely ignore a game if the hype-o-meter isn’t very high.

As for gamers who own both systems, I don’t know if that’s going to be as big as it used to be. Systems aren’t 100 bucks anymore. Plus, as you said before, 3rd party exclusives are getting few and far between these days. That kills a lot of the motivation for owning multiple consoles. And even though brand loyalty can be strong… that will really only account for… what? 10, maybe 20% of hardcore gamers out there?

Oh well. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I hope I’m wrong. I really do.

By: Torrence Davis

Torrence Davis — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:55:10 +0000

So you think that if it goes multiplat that it will hurt PS3 sales? I see your point but I don’t think it will hurt PS3 sales. People still want the Sony brand and hardcore gamers are still gonna buy both systems. It will be interesting to see the sales. They do need a smash hit but shit man, Uncharted, R&C, Heavenly Sword and others are all worth the $60. R&C isn’t even my cup of tea but I can see the value of a game of this calibur. I simply cannot believe people are waiting solely for MGS4. Maybe I feel the same way most Playstation 3 owners feel about Halo 3. I don’t think MGS series is all that hot, but people love it.

By: Daniel Bright

Daniel Bright — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:12:07 +0000

I know multi-platform helps 3rd party devs. I’m not denying that. But I’m not one, either. So it doesn’t really effect me as a customer. Major exclusives drive console sales. If the consoles were on more even terms, or were cheap and offered their own unique features -In other words, in a perfect world- then every game could be multi-platform and allow the CUSTOMER to choose which way to go. Unfortunately, it’s not like that. Multi-platform sales tip on the side of the cheaper platform and you know it. MGS4 goes multi-platform, the 360 out-performs the PS3 in over-all sales and buries it into the dirt. Like I’ve said before, I want an even race so that competition can give the customer the most of the situation.

Lost Planet was released before the PS3 came out and yet it’s being planned for the PS3. Both Oblivion and Half Life 2 (before the Orange Box) were released on the 360 and then released to the PS3 once it was released. Hell, Half Life 2’s PS3 release was 2 years later than it’s 360 counterpart. Two years. Two.

MGS4 is one game. In my opinion, this game will tip things more in favor of balance in the industry. More money for Konami is great and all…. but it’s not like these guys are poor and homeless. Konami is one of the biggest 3rd party developers in this industry and it won’t kill them to let this exclusive stay exclusive (at least for a little while) in favor of helping the greater good. Or better yet, in favor of keep their good word. Konami and Kojima have both stated that MGS4 will stay exclusive and if it doesn’t, that’s pretty much a slap in the face of those who stay loyal to the company. They won’t be happy and that will eventually effect sales.