Marketing group gauges interest in MGS4 on 360

by James Ransom-Wiley { Feb 19th 2007 at 8:27PM }

Evil Avatar reports on a recent marketing survey that's curious about your interest in Metal Gear Solid 4 on Xbox 360. The emailed questionnaire asked: "Would you like to see Metal Gear Solid 4 on Xbox 360?"; and "Would you buy an Xbox 360 just to play Metal Gear Solid 4?"

~~While unnamed, Evil Avatar claims the "reputable" marketing group serves the interests of Microsoft (among other companies).~~ Microsoft is a client of Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc., which created the survey, but it's unclear if the questions, which were accompanied by non-MGS4 questions, were commissioned by Microsoft or first posed by Konami -- or if the responses will have any affect on Konami's current stance. Whatever the case, someone out there is still "polling" for a multi-platform release...

The survey also included this somewhat relevant question: "On a scale of 0-100, with zero being not at all satisfied and 100 being very satisfied, how would you rate Konami's output on Xbox 360 to date?" Um, really? Geez, can we go with a negative number? 'Cause not only did Bomberman: Act Zero and Rumble Roses XX fail to satisfy, they offended us. (At least we have all those Xbox Live Arcade ports...) So to answer the initial question, "yes" -- to whomever is listening -- Metal Gear Solid 4 is not only a game we'd "like to see" on Xbox 360, it's absolutely necessary (in order for us to be satisfied with Konami's 360 output).

Update: identified marketing group that conducted the survey; clarified why MGS4 is "absolutely necessary."

Tags: 360, Kojima, Konami, MetalGearSolid, MetalGearSolid4, MGS, MGS4, Survey, Xbox360

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Ironhide @ Feb 19th 2007 8:35PM

I"d bet money that Konami asked MS to guage 360 interest. The number of 360s out there would be a serious market share if Konami is willing to accept that PS3 will not have the same kind of user base the ps2 has.

steve17 @ Feb 19th 2007 8:41PM

another nail in sony's coffin

Jonah Falcon @ Feb 19th 2007 8:42PM

"Metal Gear Solid 4 is not only a game we'd "like to see" on Xbox 360, it's absolutely necessary."

Because there's no killer apps like Halo 3, Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, Bioshock, or Grand Theft Auto IV coming out for the system. (rolling eyes)

steve17 @ Feb 19th 2007 8:44PM

yeah. they are always willing to back big brother up until they do a double take and figure out they wont be makin their millions on sony's new console.

whats next. killzone 360? get resistance over there too and i no longer have absolutely any reason to want a ps3.

bootsielon @ Feb 19th 2007 8:46PM

Hideo Kojima likes PS3 more, and Kojima already said that 50 gigs might not be enough for the game he has in mind. Hell, 50 gigs are 6 DVD discs; who would tolerate that?

Besides, the game is being made to take advantage of all of PS3's strenghts: Cell, Blu-ray and Hard Drive out of the box. So Konami would be faced with either crippling the game on the engine, crippling the game on the size of it, or crippling the loading times, or all combined.

I also don't even know why it's "absolutely necessary" for a gaming journalist to see MGS4 on Xbox 360 if it already is on PS3. For gamers that it is absolutely necessary to play MGS4, then it would be absolutely necessary to buy a PS3.

Just for the sake of pissing Xbox 360 fanboys off, I hope it never comes to Xbox 360; even when I already have one.

NeverSage @ Feb 19th 2007 8:47PM

All I want is Ueda's Thrico game to come out on 360. But that will NEVER happen ::sigh::

bootsielon @ Feb 19th 2007 8:49PM

Steve17:

Resistance and Killzone on 360? That sure is likely. As likely as you having graduated from high school. I'm sure the rumor of a "reputable" Marketing group is a "nail" in Sony's "coffin" too.

Robert MacKie @ Feb 19th 2007 8:54PM

@ #5.
"For gamers that it is absolutely necessary to play MGS4, then it would be absolutely necessary to buy a PS3."
This, of course, assumes that all gamers who need MGS4 can AFFORD a PS3. The damn thing is $600, let's not forget. (and please, don't insult us by pointing out there's a $500 version, people. No one's going to buy that thing.)

I've been a fan of MGS since Snake's Revenge. And I NEED MGS4. But despite my love of the series, the characters, and all things Kojima, I still can't justify paying out six-hundred bucks for one or two exclusive titles, really good exclusives though they may be.

Sony is all buy relying on MGS4 and FFXIII to sell their new system. Blu-ray just isn't going to move enough units, neither is 1080P. They NEED those two titles to capture a major cross-section of gamerdom. With MGS4 out of exclusivity, the PS3 goes from a regretably nessicity, to an obvious pass.

Microsoft has a good number of hot titles coming up, some of them even exclusives, but you can't deny the power of the Metal Gear series, and it would be quite the feather in thier cap to take it from Sony, even if it releases a few months later.

steve17 @ Feb 19th 2007 8:54PM

@5
"Just for the sake of pissing Xbox 360 fanboys off, I hope it never comes to Xbox 360; even when I already have one."

lol, its an over hyped franchise anyway. i have never liked MGS that much. if thats the best ps3 has to offer(cause they say this is a big one for them) then it sucks to own a ps3 then.

haha to the gaystation fanboys out there: halo aint goin nowhere bitches. whereas ur exclusives are getting up and looking for greener pastures.

vidGuy @ Feb 19th 2007 8:54PM

It's not necessary because the 360 is set to have a stellar library. A simultaneous release on the 360, or even a release a few months after the PS3 release, of MGS4 IS crucial if MS wants to cripple Sony soon.

IF MGS4 goes, what does Sony have? Not a whole lot of proven franchises would be sticking around as exclusives. The PS3 would be regulated to second-tier games and ports... oh, it has BluRay. ;)

Ironhide @ Feb 19th 2007 8:56PM

@5. *** Hideo Kojima likes PS3 more, and Kojima already said that 50 gigs might not be enough for the game he has in mind. Hell, 50 gigs are 6 DVD discs; who would tolerate that? ***

He's already said the 360 is more than capable of handling MGS4.

***Besides, the game is being made to take advantage of all of PS3's strenghts: Cell, Blu-ray and Hard Drive out of the box. So Konami would be faced with either crippling the game on the engine, crippling the game on the size of it, or crippling the loading times, or all combined.***

How so? Cell: Countered by the 6 cores of the 3 chp gpu. BluRay: Not needed. If you think it takes 50gigs for that game, then you don't understand the wonders of modern modelling in 3d. Textures can be compressed with no loss in quality. This is disc bloating plain and simple. Oblivion required BluRay size because it replicated so much of the data all over the disc to compensate for the shoddy load times.

*** I also don't even know why it's "absolutely necessary" for a gaming journalist to see MGS4 on Xbox 360 if it already is on PS3. For gamers that it is absolutely necessary to play MGS4, then it would be absolutely necessary to buy a PS3.***

Once again you aren't seeing the big picture. Or perhaps lack of any picture at all. If Konami ignores this positbility, then they may no, sorry strike that, will NOT break even. This is a gold mine for game companies and an opportunity that would result in great profit for a company attempting to create next gen content.

Dapper Dan @ Feb 19th 2007 8:59PM

sam fisher could whoop solid snake's ass.

nuff' said

Dapper Dan @ Feb 19th 2007 9:00PM

i would rather have devil may cry, metal gear just never felt fun to me.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 19th 2007 9:04PM

"Absolutely necessary"?

Better get used to disappointment.

Sony throwing Kojima a movie deal probably means MGS4 will be exclusive to PS3 for quite some time if not forever.

Besides, if he really does go forth and use 25GB+ of content, he may have some trouble getting it onto the 360 without using a platoon of discs.

Mr Khan @ Feb 19th 2007 9:10PM

Japanese sales and Kojima taking advantage of a hardware's very specific features

There's the reason why MGS4 360 would probably only appear in a manner similar to the multiplatform MGS3 spinoffs

MGS4 will be a PS3 title first and foremost, if only to promote Japanese sales

mmxzero @ Feb 19th 2007 9:14PM

steve17,

You have the gall to say MGS is overrated and then mention Halo? lol, wow...

Ritz @ Feb 19th 2007 9:12PM

Absolutely necessary in terms of improving Konami's name on the 360. Not so much that the system _requires_ MGS4.

steve17 @ Feb 19th 2007 9:19PM

mmxzero,

i like to look at sales figures for examples. whats ps2's install base? like 6 times that of xbox1. halo 2 sold over $100 million dollars in 24 hours. more than any game or movie ever. so while there are 6 times as many people out there who will have MSG instead of halo. halo seemed to deliver more than MSG

Jetlag @ Feb 19th 2007 9:23PM

I never liked MGS that much anyway. They're great games and all, a lot better than most, but I can think of 10 off the top of my head that I like more.

Pedro @ Feb 19th 2007 9:25PM

"Sony throwing Kojima a movie deal probably means MGS4 will be exclusive to PS3 for quite some time if not forever."

Just like with spiderman 3. Wait a minute...the spiderman series is on every platform! Why...your reasoning makes no sense at all!

Brandon @ Feb 19th 2007 9:23PM

I believe the point of the 'absolutely necessary' comment was that it would be 'absolutely necessary ' for 360 owners to see Konami in a positive light again, not to save the system.

Demaar @ Feb 19th 2007 9:27PM

Honestly, I don't know why people are making such a big deal about MGS4. Theres a buttload of Sony first party titles that sell much more than the Metal Gear series does.
If MGS4 comes to 360, it does NOT spell doom for PS3. It just means it's more convenient for those that like to choose what console they buy their games for.

Sensai @ Feb 19th 2007 9:29PM

Mmxzero, you're my hero.

I remember reading somewhere that to break even (as in, you're just then starting to gain money) on an average PS3 game, you'd have to sell 400k copies. Assuming that MGS4 is an average costing game (pshaw?), they'd have to become what was considered a 'greatest hits' on the PS2.

Or, they could simply port it over to the 360, maybe downgrade things if they really need to, and gain a lot more money for not much more work.

Optimus Prime @ Feb 19th 2007 9:31PM

Kojima will finish MGS4 for PS3; 6-12 months later, someone else will take over and do a half ass port for to xbox360... this is what happened to MGS2.

Hiroken @ Feb 19th 2007 9:33PM

"Just like with spiderman 3. Wait a minute...the spiderman series is on every platform! Why...your reasoning makes no sense at all!"

Except Spider Man isn't a killer app and there isn't a famous game director involved! In fact, it's a completely different situation! Why...your reasoning makes no sense at all!

~

4life @ Feb 19th 2007 9:36PM

It wont happen..mgs4 wont be comin out for the 360...especially when sony is all over it..and they are even goin to be makin a mgs movies....sony is keep this exclusive thats for sure..

snake will eat fisher anytime..what a gayy name that is sam fisher..lmao..to bad no one cares for the splinter cell series anymore..its sucks!!

bootsielon @ Feb 19th 2007 9:40PM

"He's already said the 360 is more than capable of handling MGS4."

Uh, no. He didn't. He said the perfect machine would be a PS3 with a Wii controller.

"How so? Cell: Countered by the 6 cores of the 3 chp gpu."

Cell: Better processor than Xbox 360's; it's not just about the GPU pal; it's about gameplay, AI, physics; you know, everything. The only advantage the 360 has over PS3 is that it is easier to program for; but being an efficient programmer doesn't require an efficient machine.

"BluRay: Not needed."

Go ask Kojima.

"If you think it takes 50gigs for that game, then you don't understand the wonders of modern modelling in 3d."

No, you don't understand that not everything consists of 3d modelling, procedural synthesis or compression. Simply put, the less you rely on procedural synthesis and compression, the more CPU power you can use for other things.

"Textures can be compressed with no loss in quality."

It does take processing time to decompress. Why not save it for something else?

"This is disc bloating plain and simple."

Well, then games should still be on cartridges. I mean, N64 never needed cut-scenes. Gamecube and Dreamcast didn't need bigger games, longer cut-scenes and orchestrated audio (Midi anyone? looking at zelda).

The truth is, not only is it more comfortable to have everything on a single disc; racing games, fighting games, sandbox games, and non-linear adventures have to remain on a single disc. So, if the game surpasses the 8.5 Gigabyte limit, then developers would have to sacrifice some content, just as Dead or Alive had to get some cut-scenes removed, just as Oblivion had to be heavily compressed. I'm glad PS3 is complete in that sense.

Also, gamers like cut-scenes. Maybe you don't, maybe Xbox fans don't, maybe FPS fans don't. But a lot of people do. Also, developers don't like being limited. Developers, excluding Sony's first and second parties, like Square, Konami, Epic, Tecmo, EA, and Ubisoft actually praised the extra storage space. The developers of "the darkness" are even going to add some features (video features) on PS3 that will not be available on Xbox 360 due to space constraints. Games also tend to get bigger and bigger; using procedural content for everything would be a nightmare for developers to make, let alone would waste the processing power; after all, you have space, so why waste processing power? That's why you have the resources. That's why PS3 has more potential in the end, and that's why MGS4 is more than 25 Gigabytes big.

"Oblivion required BluRay size because it replicated so much of the data all over the disc to compensate for the shoddy load times."

And in the end, it became the better version; loading times included. Besides, Bethesda already clarified that it was only a rumor, and that loading times were eliminated through the hard drive, not through replication of the information.

By the way, talking about information being replicated, games that use multiple DVDs (linear games, mainly, such as Blue Dragon) also have to get information replicated. It's also a pain for developers at the moment of testing the game if it comes in multiple discs; not to mention you can ship a single SKU with every version of the game, more languages (subtitles and voice), and so on.

Blu-ray is not needed for games; there were consoles that didn't use it, and some won't; like the Wii. Still, it is definitely benefitial, useful, and experience enhancing. Just ask actual console game developers, instead of relying on amateur joystiq reader information. Blu-ray games FTW.

"Once again you aren't seeing the big picture. Or perhaps lack of any picture at all."

What picture? My point was that a gaming journalist shouldn't need the game to be released on every console since he, as a respected gaming journalist, should be able to play constantly all consoles (not necessarily owning them all). So no, it's not necessary from a gaming journalist viewpoint.

"If Konami ignores this positbility, then they may no, sorry strike that, will NOT break even."

Uh, did Capcom not break even? Did all the game devs that made exclusive PS2 titles not break even? Will Take Two not break even for Bioshock? Yeah, didn't think so.

"This is a gold mine for game companies and an opportunity that would result in great profit for a company attempting to create next gen content."

Well, Xbox got some PS2 leftovers of metal gear, so maybe it'll happen; not exactly MGS4, but a spin-off. It is not necessarily a gold mine to port the game to Xbox 360, especially if you have to take off all the cell-specific functionality, reprogram it for Xbox 360, see if it actually works, optimize the game for multiple discs, logistics... it's a lot of work, and it might be cheaper to not even bother to port it.

If this game is a PS3 mover (and I don't doubt it), then there is no reason why Konami shouldn't brake even and make a huge profit of the game. Metal Gear Solid has critically and comercially been a success, so why would they not brake even? It's a widely acclaimed genre and series, unlike Halo which is mostly acclaimed in the west; some japanese like it, but it's not a million (or Xbox 360) seller over there.

REUYL @ Feb 19th 2007 9:51PM

If MGS4 comes to the 360, I will go hysterical with joy... srsly.

Fierce360 @ Feb 19th 2007 10:01PM

@27
no one is going to read all your bullshit. first of all, he did say the 360 could handle metal gear. second of all, the metal gear 2 for xbox wasnt a spin off, it was the one from ps2 with 10x as much stuff. you are just a stubborn ps fanboy who refuses to see sonys death this generation. sorry, wii60 is where its at, ps3 doesnt fit in anywhere.

steve17 @ Feb 19th 2007 10:02PM

"Uh, did Capcom not break even? Did all the game devs that made exclusive PS2 titles not break even? Will Take Two not break even for Bioshock? Yeah, didn't think so."

u forgot a big detail there. numbers. any ps2 game under the sun can break even because of the ps2's billion units. ps3 has sold like 1.4, 1.5 million units. and xbox has 10.4 million units and sells in larger numbers by the day than the ps3 does. so while kojima may like sony. they need money like everyone else. if it came down to it they would gladly port to 360 if the ps3 hasnt answered their dreams by then.

"If this game is a PS3 mover (and I don't doubt it), then there is no reason why Konami shouldn't brake even and make a huge profit of the game. Metal Gear Solid has critically and comercially been a success, so why would they not brake even? It's a widely acclaimed genre and series, unlike Halo which is mostly acclaimed in the west; some japanese like it, but it's not a million (or Xbox 360) seller over there."

umm...who gives a shit about japanese market. we are talkin america here. or at least i am. the two markets are irrelivant and non-comparable because of culture standards. (remember, whats come out of japan? pokemon, yu gi oh, naruto, other shitty anime franchises. some good rpgs) but i would not expect halo to appeal to japanese as much as over here.

so while the japanese are playing hide and seek in cardboard boxes and rolling around in empty barrels. im gonna be savin humanity!!

Pedro @ Feb 20th 2007 7:31AM

Hiroken

Dude, read what he said/ His reasoning was that Metal Gear movie is being done by sony, so the game won't go to 360. But the spiderman movie is also done by sony and it went to MSt just the same.

Hense his reasoing is flawed, and you are an idiot.

K.R @ Feb 19th 2007 10:10PM

And I'm sure the research data is going to turn up an overwhelming YES vote. Even for myself not having Metal Gear 4 on the 360 was my only problem with the console..... oh nvm and then there is the fact that I dont have the money for it. Oh well.

JJ @ Feb 19th 2007 10:10PM

Well see the thing is, if you just go by overall numbers, then why not make it for the Wii which will in all likely hood outsell the 360 in the next several months?

Or even just make it for the PS2 as that market is MUCH MUCH larger?

You can always just got by what system sells the most, other wise there'd never be any games on a new system.

I mean why make Dead Rising for 360 when they could of for the OG xbox? it had WAY more users out there at the time?

Why not make MGS4 for Wii too? its selling tons of systems?

I'm sure Konami and every dev who EVER makes a system exclusive, has a reason to do so, otherwise... why make ANYTHING other than first party games system exclusive?

mmxzero @ Feb 19th 2007 10:11PM

I think my original comment still stands, steve, you missed the point... Sensai knows.

OmahaGTP @ Feb 19th 2007 10:19PM

@27, why post all that babble, when you got stuffed right out of the gate?

http://www.xbox365.com/news.cgi?id=GGPriPLuLd12160521

http://www.joystiq.com/2005/11/16/kojima-mgs4-demo-could-run-on-the-xbox-360/

Writings on the wall. Do you need a translation guide?

StevO @ Feb 19th 2007 10:23PM

haha i think this is something for the Wii Voting channel!

Nick Simpson @ Feb 19th 2007 10:40PM

Absolutely necessary seems a bit strong. Unless you mean for Konami to succeed on the 360.

steve17 @ Feb 19th 2007 10:25PM

"Why not make MGS4 for Wii too? its selling tons of systems?" are u serious? anyone here will tell u why the wii couldnt handle msg4. since ur coveted bluray seems the only one up to the challenge anyway. like i said personally i dont give two shits if msg4 comes to 360 or not.

and jj u missed my point. i wasnt saying new exclusives should never done for new consoles. everyone is a businessman nowasays. are u going to deny urself 8 times the market share because sony is depending on you?

look if i was making a game like msg4, im assuming it has high production costs, i would put it cross platform. but sony needs exclusives right now. if anything they will sign some kind of contract to benifit kojima in the future or something if they keep it 100% exclusive to ps3. if u only want to reach 1/8 your potential next gen customers u have to be stupid or have other things in the works. kinda like how sony signed the GTAs for only themselves for several years.

bootsielon @ Feb 19th 2007 10:29PM

Omaha:

Don't be a dolt. My point was that Kojima never said it would be BETTER on 360. Look up there and see the claim I was refuting. Better luck next-time.

bootsielon @ Feb 19th 2007 10:30PM

Oh, and by the way; he also talked about minor "details" changing; but that was long before the "50 gig not enough" quote. So, I really doubt Konami delivering a 6 DVD game on PS3.

Hell, that would end up being more expensive than delivering blu-ray discs. lol

bootsielon @ Feb 19th 2007 10:31PM

Oops, I meant on 360.

JJ @ Feb 19th 2007 10:32PM

No i understand the reasoning, if a game goes multiplatform you have that many more venues to sell in. I understand that.

But like i said there has to be something done behind closed doors to entince developers to keep certain games platform specific, otherwise, everything but first party games with be multiconsole due to the fact aht you "might" get that many extra sales. See what i mean?

I'm just providing a counterpoint.

and as for MGS4 on Wii, hey stranger things have happened *shrug* if you'd of told me 4 or 5 years ago a game like God of War or FFXII was possible on the PS2 i would of laughed at ya.

nick @ Feb 19th 2007 10:32PM

I've said this before, unless it's being produced from a first or second party, there's no reason to offer an exclusive without some financial incentive to do so. So if Sony is willing to pay for exclusive rights, then it should only appear on the PS3. If not, then the publisher should look to maximize their profits by making the game available on as many systems as possible.

This is business.

LaughingTarget @ Feb 19th 2007 10:32PM

Kojima doesn't run Konami. If Konami says "Put MGS4 on the Xbox 360 and get it released at the same time," he'll have to quit (losing his one and only franchise name) or do it. Don't fool yourself, Kojima is a one-horse show. He hasn't done anything viable outside of the MGS series (don't even try to bust out Boktai). He CAN'T go anywhere else. No MGS, no work for Kojima. Simple as that. He can like the PS3 all he wants, but if the harsh reality says that every single PS3 owner needs to own a copy of MGS4 to break even or 20% of the Xbox 360 base, then which option will we see?

Remember, engineers normally don't run businesses. A good CEO doesn't care if someone likes a certain platform, it it won't bring in the bucks, then they won't care what their opinion may be.

Plus, the survey is going to show more than enough of those 10 million 360 owners saying yes. Why shouldn't they? MGS4 for $60 or MGS4 for $660 (they already have a 360)?

bmac @ Feb 19th 2007 10:33PM

"Evil Avatar reports"
or more accurately, some guy on an internet forum claims...

Imadoood @ Feb 20th 2007 7:49AM

Take away MGS4 and the PS3 is absolutely dead. FFXIII and DMC4 can't carry it all on their own.

I own an Xbox 360 and I'm all for it.

Biofreak @ Feb 19th 2007 10:34PM

i am still waiting for ninja gaider 2. ;[

Zom @ Feb 19th 2007 10:38PM

I owned all the systems last gen and probably will this gen. I've never considered this franchise to be a "system seller" and thought it was average at best. As I recall it was GTA that made me buy a PS2. For some reason the younger gamers think MGS4 is gonna be great because of it's awesome FMV. Try and figure that one out?

Ironhide Delta @ Feb 19th 2007 10:59PM

***Cell: Better processor than Xbox 360's; it's not just about the GPU pal; it's about gameplay, AI, physics; you know, everything. The only advantage the 360 has over PS3 is that it is easier to program for; but being an efficient programmer doesn't require an efficient machine.***

Most developers have said the 360 cpu is much better for AI. Physics and gameplay depend exclusively on the programmer. So a sloppy programmer can work with Cell and get decent results? Actually most programmers who have worked on Cell say it's pain in the ass to work on. I know because I work with some of them. Sony barely provides any kind of support in regards to utilizing thier hardware. Microsoft on the other hand have been praised for the hands on work they do with developers.

***No, you don't understand that not everything consists of 3d modelling, procedural synthesis or compression. Simply put, the less you rely on procedural synthesis and compression, the more CPU power you can use for other things.***

Actually it does consist of mostly that. Everything else is intangible. Besides, with the processors in both console, AI, gameplay and physics, and even procedural rendering, you can have one entire core devoted to each aspect and still have plenty left for otehr things. The GPU handlles things like normal mapping, lighting and scene composition.

***Also, gamers like cut-scenes. Maybe you don't, maybe Xbox fans don't, maybe FPS fans don't. But a lot of people do. Also, developers don't like being limited. Developers, excluding Sony's first and second parties, like Square, Konami, Epic, Tecmo, EA, and Ubisoft actually praised the extra storage space. The developers of "the darkness" are even going to add some features (video features) on PS3 that will not be available on Xbox 360 due to space constraints. Games also tend to get bigger and bigger; using procedural content for everything would be a nightmare for developers to make, let alone would waste the processing power; after all, you have space, so why waste processing power? That's why you have the resources. That's why PS3 has more potential in the end, and that's why MGS4 is more than 25 Gigabytes big.
**Cut scenes, especially cutscenes in HD can eat up a lot of disc space. Gears of War used in game engine to illustrate the cut scenes. These cut scenes were for all intents and purposes, as good as if not better than a lot of the prerendered stuff out there. Dead Rising, while somewhat rough, is showing the Japanese develoeprs that similar results can come out of real time cutscenes as opposed to prerendered.

**It does take processing time to decompress. Why not save it for something else?***

See above regarding cpus.

***And in the end, it became the better version; loading times included. Besides, Bethesda already clarified that it was only a rumor, and that loading times were eliminated through the hard drive, not through replication of the information.
***

Not sure where you got your info from, but the developers did not clarify that this was a rumour. Everything I've read regarding this is that this is in fact correct. OF course an extra year of development on a 'superior' system, it should look at least a little better than the 360 version.

***Uh, did Capcom not break even? Did all the game devs that made exclusive PS2 titles not break even? Will Take Two not break even for Bioshock? Yeah, didn't think so.***

Actually they broke even because of the established user base of the 360. You're also citing games that have already made a profit on PC (refering to bioshock) so any additional sales they make on 360 is more money in thier pocket.

Look, the point here is simple. If Konami sees money here, they will come. This is a business after all. This is the one thing that fanboys just don't seem to understand while staunchly defending thier system of choice. If it makes financial sense to publish on a different platform they will, barring of course 1st and 2nd party companies developing exclusively for a console. This is why Final Fantasy defected to Sony in the first place. CD-rom would provide much more soace for cutscenes, that a cart could never do.

Having said that, we've reached a point with both consoles that real time cutscenes can be done with virtually no loss in quality compared to prerendered.

I'm not a fan of MGS to begin with. It's just not appealing to me, but there is no reason (technical or otherwise) why we won't see it on the 360, barring Sony driving a dumptruck full on money on Konami's lawn.