Heightened Rumor: Metal Gear Solid 4 not a PS3 exclusive

v1cious,

You said, "install base doesn't matter this early. what matters is having the consoles in homes. the install base will make it's self once the good games start rolling out, not to mention franchises people already know and love (Final Fantasy, God of War, etc.)"


Dude, are you retarded? Install base and having consoles in homes are the same thing! There were less than 200K PS3s shipped to the US. Not too mention that probably about 10 to 20% of the PS3s sold in the US are on sale on Craigslist or eBay right now. How the hell do you get that 600K have been sold in the US if that many PS3s don't even exist yet? Do you even know what you are talking about at all?

Due to the PS3s production problems, there will be less than 4 million PS3s WORLDWIDE in November (my estimate and I think it is pretty good). Not every single PS3 owner will buy MGS4. I would think with that install base, or consoles in homes (since it is the same f*cking thing), you would sell less than 1million to PS3 owners. Now, if you sell that same game on a console with an install base of 14 million (Xbox 360 sales by November 2007), you may be able to sell 3.5million. Why would any developer not want to do that?

And somebody show me where the MGS3 to the Xbox and GC were a huge flop? The port costs are so low that you only need to sell a very small portion to make a profit. The development costs are tied into the story, model creation, art work and whatnot, a simple port job is cheap. If they sold 50K they at least broke even.

Sony is losing a ton of money on each console sold.
SOny's financial position is constrained overall.

To be able to uses the word ..EXCLUSIVE.. before a game requires a great deal of money from the console maker.

Can sony really afford exclusives now (especially ones seaking more money)?

http://computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=152210&skip=yes

Its not comming to Xbox 360.

"Konami's word vs. some weird guy that runs a website called "Noooz"

I'll go with Konami."

Whatever let's you sleep at night.

that would suck for sony...I don't care besides the fact that I want sony to grow its install base so developers can make money off of their products. MSG4 not being exclusive would just be another reason NOT to get a PS3 next year...

I'm starting to think that this gen is the final ail in the coffin for third party exclusive games. With the skyrocketing cost of game development it makes good business sence for games to be multiplatform. So far we've seen GTA, Assassin's Creed, Oblivion and other games become multiplatform so the chances of this game going to the 360 is high. Because Konami wamt to reach a broader market in order to recuop some of the developmental and marketing cost of MGS4. It might not be good for Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft but it is good for the gamers, and that is all that matters. Unless you own stock in one of those companies.

@ 14

"As far as the Sony PS3 not being Profitable; C'mon now. It just came out a month ago; LMAO. They would have said the same thing with the Xbox 360 when it launched last year. Just when exactly did it become profitable for any company to make games for the 360? It surely wasn't last year. Have they even reached the 10 million mark yet?"

No, Microsoft knew from the get-go that they didn't even have to sell 10 million to make a profit on their system. Which is why, in little less than a years time, they're already turning a profit on the Core System, and they're poised to turn profit on the Premium packs in a few weeks time.

The same cannot be said for the PS3... allow me to explain as the PS3, no matter how many they sell, will take many years to turn a profit due to the fact that they:

A) Sunk Billions of dollars developing the cell processing system
B) Are sticking an expensive blu-ray player in every system (some people just want a game consle, not everyone needs HDDVD or BluRay)
C) Selling it at a price point that is(while still high to the consumer) way too low to be realistic about turning profits anytime soon. (Hello??? Earth to Fanboy, BluRay standalones players cost almost a grand)
D) While powerful, it's not the most user friendly platform to develop for.

I've done consulting with a local Game Studio that does development work on console games. I've seen the PS3 dev unit (Looks kinda like my HP blade server in the backroom). And I've seen the look of frustration while the developers tried to get all of those sweet cell processors working in perfect harmony.

You guys can all wine, and say that one is better than the other, I'm just a gamer and I'll give you the facts (I pledge allegiance to no system, just to cool games)

Kudos to Microsoft for building a system that is innovative, and could potentially take some serious marketshare from Sony. They took into consideration what people wanted in a "home entertainment system" and put it together in a tight little interface.

Sony gave people Linux (woopity doo, can't wait for some nerd to hack it....I'm not impressed).

Now... getting on topic here... Game developers can ONLY LOOK OUT FOR THEMSELVES, and have to go where the money is. If the 360 is ahead of the PS3 in sales when MGS4 is dropped? Why shouldn't Konami put it out on both systems? Because of DISHONOR? I don't care if the guys from Japan, there's no honor in business here kids, just profit projects Wake up and smell the maple nut crunch.

For all I know, Kojima has MGS4 for the 360 in development, but if they want the ps3 version to be profitable, it would seem like a bad idea to let everyone know they don't have to buy a ps3 for MGS4, and since it costs a whole lot of money to develope a game for the ps3, they want it to seem exclusive for a while.


If they are making it for the 360 because I just don't know yet.

If you look at the US numbers, Sony has sold 35 million PS2s in the US. The bulk of that 100 million were all abroad.

When you consider at least half of the original Xbox sales were in the US, the numbers are much closer (at least in the US) than people are discussing.

Microsoft has achieved 1/3rd of Sony's business in their initial attempt in the US. They started from scratch. Sony released a their PS2 a year prior to the Xbox and always maintained that lead. Sony also had a built in customer base from the PS1.

It's be interesting to see how many consoles Microsoft and Sony sell in the US this generation.

There is only a handfull of interesting facts in this post which is just damned entertaining. The biggest two Is What the GEEk calling out and dropping the gauntlet on Nitroid, and the AWESOME BACk PEDDLE I watched happen. Back peddle like a kid on a bike going down an Icey hill into the maw of Maddness! I mean I am not calling anybody out, but lol What the Geek I salute you! Unless you except Nitroid then way to stick to your guns!

Next people need to go here and read what Hideo Kojima power is over the MGS franchise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo_Kojima#Kojima_Productions

See kids let me tell you about a magical world, were you can just make videogames and people will just toss you money, cause you are so special. Much like movies, I mean any of us can make a movie right now, and Warner bros will just give us the money cause.....You know what I forgot THIS IS A MAGICAL WORLD. This is just for those who don't want to actually read the WIKI.

On April 1, 2005, after Konami merged several of its subsidiaries, Kojima's team at Konami Computer Entertainment Japan was transformed into "Kojima Productions." With this new team, Kojima is no longer burdened with the business management and administrative responsibilities he had as KCEJ's vice president, and thus is able to focus solely on creating games. [1] Kojima Productions has already released three products under the new management: Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, Metal Gear Acid 2, Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel, and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

The studio is currently working on Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PlayStation 3. After completing Metal Gear Solid 2, Kojima openly opposed the idea of working on a new Metal Gear Solid game.[1] However, he later retracted his comments in the June 3, 2005 issue of Weekly Famitsu, claiming his earlier statement that "[he] will focus more on producing" was misinterpreted as stepping down from the director position. During the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, he confirmed that he is assuming the role of director and designer. Co-directing MGS4 with him is Shuyo Murata, director of Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner.

Other upcoming projects include Project 'S' and Lunar Knights.

Next to these revealed projects, Kojima and his team are also working on a game for the upcoming Wii console. After the revelation of the controller, Kojima showed interest and excitement[2] about its possibilities and later stated that he will be making a game to utilize its features specifically for the Wii. No further details have been revealed on this project. It is possible that this is the aforementioned Project 'S'.

Kojima personally requested for Solid Snake to appear in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and got his chance with the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Nintendo's Wii console (the former could not have been done due to the fact that Melee was already far in production at the time of the request). It is confirmed that he will be working on one level for Snake in SSBB." - Wikipedia.

Kojima does not cough up the cash to make these games himself, he has free reign over content he can put in them. Now many people are mistaking this for what he says goes, or if he says no to the XBOX 360 Konami will just have to take it. Yeah that is cause you live in magic land. Here is what probably happens, Kojima says no, and if PS3 install base is not large enough, they ignore him and put that game on 360 anyway. OR they listen to him and when the install base is still not large enough they OWN Him flat out right. What you think if MGS4 doesn't sell enough they just let it fly? That is not how entertainment media industry works. Your album doesn't sell, you pay that money back, out of your own pocket you don't get any earnings. PS3 fails to move and MGS4 stays exclusive, they own his ass hook line and sinker and he will produce what they want when they want. Now you think he will take that chance, or just port the damn game to xbox360?

I seriously wonder about some people where do you think this money comes from, Kojima is a designer/ developer. He doesn't publish the title, he doesn't produce this game out of pocket he works for a company that does. Furthermore, why would he bet his lifes work on a system? Take in account Kojima productions is what would be under the gun, while they can't force him to make games, the can take is production company. Asking Kojima to move it to 360 is a show of respect to him and that they want him there nothing more.

well this would make a lot of sense since the xbox360 is the most sold console to date, and I don't really think sony is gonna get 8+ million consoles in the market by next year with that price tag :P

Konami would only be smart to make MSG4 a multiplataform game since it would rain cash for them :)

Now if square-enix would do the same with FFXIII I'd be extremely happy.

"In short, they owe him and he can do whatever he pleases."

Like Gunpei Yokoi, the hardware engineer behind Donkey Kong, and the GameBoy; and head of Nintendo Research and Development 1, the Nintendo division which created Metroid, and Dr. Mario? After a high-profile flop, Japanese companies have a tendency of humiliating the responsible party to serve as an example to the other employees. Such was the case with Yokoi. He was given the task of sitting alone in a convention center booth, explaining to passers by why his dying creation was still worth owning. They essentially chased him out of the company. After 35 years and a string of major successes, he left Nintendo in disgrace.

Hironobu Sakaguchi, co-founder of Squaresoft and the creator of Final Fantasy, has a somewhat similar story. When "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" was a financial disaster, Sakaguchi took the fall. He was demoted from his post as an executive in Squaresoft. Despite having both literally and figuratively made the company, he eventually left Square.

Both of these men have brought their companies untold millions of dollars. And both of these men have fallen from grace after a single high-profile flop. Don't expect for a second that Kojima is any different. Japanese corporate culture does not tolerate failure, and not even the most insanely successful executive is immune. If MGS4 loses enough money, you can expect to see Kojima hip-deep in the muck.

Rumour has been officially shot down in flames as nothing more than blathering fanboi speculation. Next, move along now.


via cvg

"The internet was aflutter with rumours this weekend, as reports speculated that the massive PlayStation 3 Metal Gear Solid instalment, Guns of the Patriots was stealthing its way over to Xbox 360 - rumours that Konami has since debunked to CVG."

"Konami has no plans to bring Metal Gear Solid 4 to the Xbox 360 at this time," a Konami representative told CVG, reiterating that the Hideo Kojima stealth-em-up was still "exclusive to PlayStation 3"

Multiformat release is what this game needs. With xbox 360 version we would experience the true Kojima story with smooth framerate, highres textures and level of detail to blow our minds.

The ps3 version could tell the story yes and you could even tilt your controller just like in Gameboy Advance - Yoshi Topsy Turvy, but the damage to quality of visuals because of rsx and cell are too much to overcome... 25 frames per second would hurt the gameplay too.

I don't see why any developer with deep enough pockets wouldn't hedge their bets and at least cross test/develop any PS3 "exclusives" they are working on.

We all know that the developing costs for each MGS title has been astronomical, and MGS4 will only further raise that roof. Porting costs will be a drop in the bucket relative to dev costs for the PS3, and the distribution channels are so much wider. Ubi moved forward with this for Assassins' Creed, so we know it is fiscally advantageous.

What will be interesting, though, is to see if Sony's pride has a price tag, and if they're willing to cough up more incenvtive to keep it exclusive (and thus maintaining the Metal Gear appeal for the still-red-inked PS3 marketability and sales), or if Microsoft can partner with Kojima to add efficiency to the market and bring the title to the broader market with the added bonus of royalties to Konami. Which speaks louder, loyalty or greenbacks?

maximus - how is "at this time" a debunking? If anything that just adds more to the rumors.

As others have mentioned, we'd heard the same about Guitar Hero and Assassin's Creed. And we'd heard that there were no plans to bring Oblivion to the PS3 "at this time."

How can you trust a source? If Kojima says one thing, and another person outside Konami says another, who arte you more likely to go with? Konami did ask Kojima to go none exclusive, everyone knows that, but its Kojima's game, therefore he decides what he does with his game, not Konami, they can only advise or kick him out. Its under the name Kojima productions. So as far as I am concerned the source can talk all the bull it wants, until there is proof from Kojima himself, speculations mean nothing.

And 360 fans, if one game is all you have an interest for, don't bother buying, you just miss out on the game, you should know that by now. A PS3 or Wii fan can't excpect to want a 360 but refuse to buy a 360, they just miss out, stop saying you want the game but refuse to buy a PS3 for it. We couldn't care less what you refuse to buy, its your own loss.

This game is going to be long and most likely will incorperate the PSP into missions, or so it was said to give you extra goodies and secrets. If this does happen, PS3 owners will need a PSP and considering most probably will anyway, it won't be so bad.

This isn't the only game that I'm looking forward to. Although it is 'A' game I'm looking forward to playing :)

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=152210&skip=yes


obviously the topic on digg is way wrong... the only thing confirmed is that there is NO plans to release MGS4 on 360 at this time.

Wow, at this point in time, things can't get much worse for Sony. PlayStation 3 loosing Metal Gear Solid 4 as an exclusive is a huge blow. On the other hand, Microsoft gaining this title for its Xbox 360 is a blessing. I would really like to see Konami port it to Wii, make the graphics improved over Resident Evil 4 which would be good enough, but totally make use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. How cool would it be to interrogate someone, and then slit their throat or snap their neck? What about knife fighting? Heck, even the most basic thing: shooting. The Wii would be a great alternative.
Paul Gale
1up.com

"
In bizarro world, this might be true. Unfortunately, this is the real world and Kojima has total control and ownership of the franchise."

No he doesn't. Show proof or stfu.

If people are willing to buy a PS3 just for MGS4, how will it not sell enough? I'm baffled. MGS4 is but one game, one game on PS3 does not make the console a system seller like 360 and Halo 3, if it relied on one game, it would have been dominated already :S

Just because there is only one game you like on PS3 doesnt mean that MGS4 is the only thing it does have :S

MGS4 for the Xbox 360? Hmm... I doubt it, but I have heard of stranger things happening in the game industry. At this point in time, no one (and I mean, NO ONE) can really give the excuse of "lower-than-expected" PS3 sales as a valid reason that Kojima would port MGS4 to the X36o. Yes, by doing so they do reach out to a broader audience, but I suspect (as previously suggested) that Sony has given Konami many good reasons to keep MGS4 exclusivley for the PS3 (see: Huge amounts of $$$), and also I dont think Kojima would bite the hand that helped him become the genius he is today.

PS. I own a X360 now (love GOW), and it would be soooo nice of Konami to save me 700+ dollars. But, seriously folks, dont hold your breath untill you see a MGS4 trailer end with a green X.

"I still wont spend money on it because I for one cant bring myself, morally, to grab it and I want something interesting for my buck.
Sony sucks atm but they can make up for it. I dont want either to fail because competition is GREAT but I will support the one that has always treated me well, Sony."

ImSad, this is what I think all the time. I bought a 360 to stay with my gaming buddies, but all but 2 of them were just waiting out the PS3 launch with it. I buy used 360 games so they don't see profit from me for the most part. I enjoy the thing, but I really don't want MS to lead the console business because of what they've done in other areas. I enjoy them being present enough to force some competition, but I think they'd be like EA if they were at the top. I think Sony shit themselves when MS got in the console market because of how they've squashed many other companies, and I'd bet the entire last year of PS3 blunders has been a result of that pressure.

I hope this, and many other titles remain PS3 exclusive. I know for a fact that we'll see some incredible stuff in the next couple years on PS3 that won't technically be possible on 360, some of which I think make the higher price tag a little more justifiable. Not everyone subscribes to a "lowest common denominator" theory. If they did, we'd all buy our clothes at Wal-Mart and drive Kias.

MGS4: Subsistascience.

If MGS2 came on Xbox when PS2 was outselling it 5:1, what makes you think MGS4 will not make it to Xbox360 with the piss poor sales PS3 is getting?

"Konami has no plans to bring Metal Gear Solid 4 to the Xbox 360 at this time," a Konami representative told CVG, reiterating that the Hideo Kojima stealth-em-up was still "exclusive to PlayStation 3"

This is PR speak, so don't ignore any of the words here... particularily "at this time". Those words leave a back door open for it to happen in the future.... I don't know that it WILL happen in the future, but it is still a possibility

Woohoo!

No more guilt and second thoughts about getting that 360 anymore. Breathe free!

ok where do u ppl et you bs news from there is no way metal gear is goin on xbox 360 maybe next year bu u ant so lucky this year and assassin creed is allso for the new next gen so dont get all happy for nothing microsoft ant that lucky ut u can styll keep ur fingurs cross for next year dont be sad be glad ps3 is the shit ma ppl get it its worth getting

Here's the big question: Will they make a dumbed down version for PS2? I have no interest in getting a PS3. I guees if they don't release for PS2 I'm officially done with the series. all well

i think shane's grammar pretty much described the mentality of ps3 owners

"I guees if they don't release for PS2 I'm officially done with the series. all well"

Don't worry, someone will edit out the 12 minutes of gameplay and post the 18 hours of cutscenes on youtube.

Not sure if you guys remember, but at the end of the original MGS4 trailer Otacon says the Cell is the "key to winning a console war". Since when does the 360 have the Cell?