Kojima Report podcast talks MGS4 on 360
by Christopher Grant 
{ May 18th 2007 at 12:57PM }
Every ten-thousand years or so, an event of such magnitude occurs that life, as we know it, is changed forever. Nope, Metal Gear Solid 4 hasn't been announced for the Xbox 360 (yet) but that didn't stop some 1UP guys from cramming into the Kojima Report podcast and talking about the possibility of the genetically-enhanced aging super soldier simulator, Metal Gear Solid 4, coming to the 'box. Kojima Reports' Ryan Payton ducked into a locker, stating, "... we have not changed the game in any form with the idea of 'oh, we got to do this on 360.' Put aside whether or not we're developing for 360 or not, the game is built on the PS3 hardware ... ." Using our relatively limited reading skills, we've managed to determine that one of two possible conclusions can be irresponsibly jumped to. The first: that the game will not be coming to the Xbox 360 and, as a result, they haven't changed anything; the second: the Xbox 360 introduced no limitations to their production and, as a result, it didn't need any changing. Either way, the lesson we can all take away from this is that Kojima doesn't change things. Except his metaphors.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lp47 @ May 18th 2007 1:02PM
I hope they keep it Sony Exclusive!
Mike @ May 18th 2007 1:08PM
I think the most likely read is:
MGS4 is being designed for the features of the PS3. If it is released on 360 in the future, the existing game will have to be adapted to that hardware.
By the way, later in the podcast, they discussed different regions of the game shipping on one disc:
Shane: Hey Ryan, wouldn't it be great if the Japanese version had english language too since there's room on the Blu-Ray disc?
Ryan: Yeah... you'd think so... (sarcasm)
If MGS4 does come to 360, getting it on DVD is clearly going to be a hurdle.
rom @ May 18th 2007 1:08PM
Why would you want it exclusive? I mean, almost every Metal Gear game has been ported. Why do you all the sudden care that it does?
jordan @ May 18th 2007 1:08PM
I hope they don't ;-p
JesseJames @ May 18th 2007 1:08PM
You gotta be kidding right? How is this even newsworthy. Kojima stated long ago that he was developing games for both the 360 and the wii. He also stated that this Metal Gear is a PS3 exclusive.
It's being built for the PS3 on Blu Ray.
His comment:
Put aside whether or not we're developing for 360 or not, the game is built on the PS3 hardware ... ."
In other words; don't get it twisted brother; let's put aside the fact that whether or not we are developing games for the xbox 360; The Metal Gear Game is being built for the PS3.
Fanboys; that comment right there says that the chances of this metal gear being on the 360 have gone from slim to NONE!!!!!
ROFLMAO!
Robert @ May 18th 2007 1:08PM
Being a 360 owner, I hope it comes over.
I don't feel like dishing out almost $700 for just the game.
mushiking @ May 18th 2007 1:09PM
umm... the third conclusion would be that they would have to complete redo the game for 360, which would mean timed exclusive depending on how next year ends up.
jsn @ May 18th 2007 1:11PM
the game WILL be on 360, bank on it. It might be a few months behind the ps3 version, as VF5 is, but it will be released. They simply can't make enough money off the ps3 alone to cover all the costs involved. Porting to 360 is a no brainer.
BlindsideDork @ May 18th 2007 1:15PM
Wow you take an article about MSG4 NOT coming onto the Xbox360 and turned it into a maybe or probably coming to XBox360...
*stands up and claps* bravo!
I am flabbergasted by this work here, no biased views or fanboyism here! Hooo-rah!
Lewis @ May 18th 2007 1:17PM
Exclusive or not, switching to both systems gives everyone an opportunity to play the damn game, which Kojima should want.
TheGuy @ May 18th 2007 1:19PM
To all the people who want MGS4 to come to the 360, I believe this picture best describes what would come out of it:
http://www.clubccas.com/gt/cartman360.jpg
Anyways, at least for the short-term I doubt this game will come-out for the 360. People may draw parallels between MGS4 and DMC4 going to the 360, but don't forget Capcom is a lot closer to Microsoft than Konami. Besides, the game is being created to optimize use of the PS3's hardware, so it may turn out to be a not-so-great looking port on the 360 if it's rushed onto it.
P.S. Don't forget the billion times Kojima has stated in the past MGS4 is still an exclusive for the PS3.
copa @ May 18th 2007 1:19PM
May 2007. Konami board meeting.
Director 1: The Xbox 360 has a much larger install base than the PS3, and the 360 is still outselling the PS3 on a monthly basis. If we do a multiplatform release, we are guaranteed to double our sales at least. The cost of porting will be a fraction of the cost of original development, so we will more than double our profits.
Director 2: Yes, but if we go multiplatform, we will hurt sheppyboy's feelings.
Director 3: So, let's summarize. If we do an Xbox 360 release, we more than double our profits. If we don't, we piss off this guy:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3074/truegangsterio4.jpg
Director 4: That gun looks pretty scary. Do you think it's real?
Director 5: Let's not take any chances. All in favor of a PS3-only release say, Aye!
All directors: Aye!
Director 1: I wonder what's going on at Square-Enix right now.
JesseJames @ May 18th 2007 1:24PM
Some of you katts are hysterical! Sticking to one system over the other.
I own all three. I can tell you this; if MGS 4 was coming to the 360 exclusively or not; I wouldn't buy it. That system is wack as hell compared to the Wii and PS3. I have never been so disappointed with a system in my life; wait a sec; yes I was.....The Atari Jaguar. Damn!
Anyway; yall can kill that noise about the MGS4 on the 360; AINT GONNA HAPPEN!
If the release date was pushed back to 2008; it's because they want to take advantage of the ps3 07 holiday sales. If it was a case of needing to make more money, they would already have announced a timed exclusive like Sega did with Virtua Fighter 5.
This is why Konami gets my respect; they aren't like Capcom and Sega in this new generation who can't afford to keep a franchise exclusive to one system.
Geoff Gibson @ May 18th 2007 1:25PM
Come on guys...
We all know how this is going to go down. We are all going to sit here and speculate that Kojima actually shot down the rumours, and that the game is not happening on the 360, or that what Kojima said was actually about how the game WAS going to be put on the 360.
Blah, blah, blah.
Don't you guys ever get bored with this? I swear these companies do this just for fun now. They love to make us jump through hoops and get all fired up about their products. It gives them notoriety.
Time will tell whether or not it happens, not your little back and forth bickering.
Fernando Rocker @ May 18th 2007 1:28PM
Snake on Super Smash Bros Brawl will sell more than Snake on Ps3...
Digi Smalls @ May 18th 2007 1:31PM
yes, more flame-bait non-news. yay.
its being built on, and for PS3. we get it.
but if the economics of the time demand it, something they won't know (much less us) until its closer to release - they'll financially be forced to fashion it for 360 later along in the process.
unless Sony buys Konami, they'll still have shareholders to answer to.
.
Grindstone @ May 18th 2007 1:33PM
From a logical money making standpoint, if I were a 3rd party developer, I would be hard-pressed to keep anything exclusive to the PS3. And I say that without any bias, just common sense -- especially with well-known name titles such as Metal Gear.
Jonathan Tran @ May 18th 2007 1:33PM
@15
Indeed, indeed.
$700 entry price vs 300 for some Snake on Pokemanz action
Jack of No Trades @ May 18th 2007 1:36PM
@18
$300 just to fight with a traditional controller and SSB64 graphics. YAY! What a deal!
arrrgh @ May 18th 2007 1:38PM
fuckin kids...it's NOT a matter of IF...they would lose WAYYYY too much money if they just ignored the 360. Sony would have to give them so much cash to keep it exclusive that it wouldnt even be worth it. COMPANIES LOVE MONEY. that's the only reason they're doing what they do. If Sony managed to get an exclusive at ALL, it will be short lived (a la RE4 coming to the ps2 after GC even though the ps2 could barely run the damn thing)
Kilika @ May 19th 2007 4:37AM
Well you never know, making it an exclusive will get more people to buy PS3s thus bigger fanbase, but there is no way a single game is gonna change the tide of battle. Sony has to get several quality exclusives and a major price cut in order to match the 360.
Hatchetforce @ May 18th 2007 1:48PM
MGS4 isn't exclusive as in a paid exclusive or Sony would have announced that specifically. It has been stated there is a hardware (storage) barrier.
MGS isn't a market buster in Japan. It is the US and Europe. Since Sony didn't buy the exclusive, let's see how long it takes once Konami is unable to turn a profit on a game they have dumped over $20 miilion (and rising) into. Even if they do turn a profit, it will be slim. Not even close to the cash they could manage by turning to the 360. Unless Sony, with their recent losses drops the money to Konami, the all 360 owners need to do is to be patient. Money will remove plenty of obstacles.
If I were a Sony fanboy and didn't like crow pie, I wouldn't be crowing yet because "it ain't over 'till it's over."
0ldb0y @ May 18th 2007 1:56PM
The two possible conclusions I arrived at are (1) MGS4 is coming to Xbox360, and (2) MGS4 is NOT coming to Xbox360.
My hope is one (1). My bet is on (2).
Jack of No Trades @ May 18th 2007 1:51PM
@ arrrgh
arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh right back at you.
Paul Gale @ May 18th 2007 1:53PM
I wonder, if PS3's sales continue to dwindle, and if by November-ish, 2007, the console is far under Wii and Xbox 360, will Konami end up porting Metal Gear Solid 4 to another platform. At this point, you have to have a much higher percentage of PS3 owners buy a game, to equal the same sales figures of that same title on one of the other two next gen machines. We'll see; interesting times are ahead.
sheppy @ May 18th 2007 2:02PM
@copa...
copa, copa, copa... I'm not opposed to multiplatform games. In fact, if you recall, I wasn't one of the voices bitching when DMC4 went multiplatform. Why could that be? Maybe because I own a 360 and a PS3. And truth be told, not all that interested in MGS4.
Clever writing though. Incidently, yes. That is a real tommy gun with wood stock. However, firing pin is soldered still. That picture was taken at one of those "vitage photo" booths at Six Flags. Gotta say, guns were heavier back then. I prefer the lightweight of a tactical shotgun. But I'm not a big gun guy regardless.
haywood jablomey @ May 18th 2007 2:06PM
@19. Versus $700 to play on a has-been controller w/shiny graphics.
Wow...what a deal.
gullum @ May 18th 2007 2:09PM
This game will do well on the PS3. With the PS3's small library, anyone who owns a PS3 will buy this game instantly. Now if we see some triple-A (Lair, heavenly Sword, LBP, etc.)titles on the PS3 before MGS4 is released, then the install base will grow considerably and the whole argument becomes moot.
Either way its win for Konami and somewhat for Sony.
Aex @ May 18th 2007 2:14PM
Every month this question is raised, and every month the answer is "no". I have no idea on what Kojima has planned for MGS4, so I couldn't say it is definitely coming to the 360.
There is a chance, cause there is always a chance. Though, for now, I'm going to have to side with Kojima and the several times he has answered the question... No.
GoonieGooGoo @ May 18th 2007 2:28PM
C'mon guys....this is one of the worst kept secrets. Its coming to 360 because PS3s install base is so small.
No way KONAMI says no to a BOATLOAD OF CASH.
Benjamin09 @ May 18th 2007 2:23PM
@13 If the release date was pushed back to 2008; it's because they want to take advantage of the ps3 07 holiday sales.
Ah no, Them and Sony would want this game to be out for the Holiday to sell consoles and copies of this game. Not saying it wont sell in March 08 but this will sell better during the 4th quarter and during the holidays. March misses all the returns from Christmas presents and is a down time on consumer spending. Sony would also want it out to combat console sellers on the 360 like Halo 3, which should be out in plenty of time to cover the holidays.
Jake @ May 18th 2007 2:23PM
I'm sure they've thought about it. I'm sure you could do MGS4 on 360. But in all honesty, the last MGS didn't sell all that well to a massive install base and the new one probably won't either. It would probably sell more copies on 360 than PS3, but it will likely just stay PS3.
mccomber @ May 18th 2007 2:27PM
So, what we're deciding is that when a developer says "we aren't building this around a version we aren't planning on making" it means "we won't have trouble porting this title over to the machine it wasn't designed around".
So, no is the new maybe? But maybe always means no, I learned that as a child.
GoonieGooGoo @ May 18th 2007 2:33PM
Also....@ 31
Even if Konami did create a 360 version.....HOW WOULD THAT ALIENATE THEIR FANS (as it would still be going to the PS3 ala DMC4)???
Spoken like a true Fanboy.....you seem to equate that a good game should be console biased.
A good game if its made by a 3rd party has the right to goto as many platforms as possible and gain as many fans as possible.
Matt B @ May 18th 2007 2:40PM
Considering the current offering of games for the PS3, I think they could easily sell 1-2M Of this game shortly after it drops. The small install base grows bigger every week. Maybe at a slower pace, but still growing.
Matt B @ May 18th 2007 2:41PM
I say easily because most Ps3 owners are game starved and this is one of the IP's that people bought the system for.
rfom @ May 18th 2007 2:48PM
I just wonder...by the time this comes out the PS3's install base would be, say 6-8 million (if it comes just before xmas 2007, even more if it gets delayed)
So if Dead Rising, Lost Planet and Gears got launched on a similar install base and were succesful, whats the big deal?
And MGS4 probably wont sell much anyway on 360...most of the xbots want it to be multiplatform simply to vent their hate on the PS3, they dont really want to play this, all they want is brainless, same-old-story alien shooters like Lost Planet, Halo3, Gears
Jason @ May 18th 2007 2:47PM
It's coming to 360, no doubt about it! Maybe not same-day, maybe a slightly less "something" version, but I have yet to see a "NEVER on 360" quote from anybody at Konami or Kojima.
The PS3 is in HUGE trouble. You can't rationalize those NPD numbers. There is almost nothing A-worthy coming this summer for it, and with Halo kicking off the fall schedule... It's just over son, you bet on Playstation and lost. Better luck with blu-ray!
GoonieGooGoo @ May 18th 2007 2:51PM
I find it amusing that # 27 is listing LAIR & HEAVENLY SWORD as AAA TITLES even in the same league as MGS4. Thats blasphemy!!!
MGS has earned its AAA Status....
While Lair and Heavenly Sword have a loooong way to go....especially from the reviews from this week's GAMER'S DAY.
LAIR is looking like another MOTOROSTORM....pretty but shallow. Like that blonde at the coffee shop with big bazongas.
Benjamin09 @ May 18th 2007 3:03PM
@41 And MGS4 probably wont sell much anyway on 360...most of the xbots want it to be multiplatform simply to vent their hate on the PS3, they dont really want to play this, all they want is brainless, same-old-story alien shooters like Lost Planet, Halo3, Gears
I am a "xbot" and I want to play this game, I hope it does come to the 360 because I am not buying a PS3 nor are my brothers. We all have 360's. I have played all the other Metal Gear Solids on the playstations and enjoyed them. I do hate the PS's controller, but there is no way this one title is going to get me to buy a PS3. I had to borrow my brother PS2 to play the last MGS.
Also Gears isnt an alien shooter...their are from the same planet! :)
copa @ May 18th 2007 3:12PM
@rfom: "all they want is brainless, same-old-story alien shooters like Lost Planet, Halo3, Gears."
I'm still trying to get my head around this. Someone who uses Resistance: Fall of Man as their alias is dumping on brainless, same-old-story alien shooters?
Tom @ May 18th 2007 4:56PM
"most of the xbots want it to be multiplatform simply to vent their hate on the PS3, they dont really want to play this, all they want is brainless, same-old-story alien shooters like Lost Planet, Halo3, Gears"
1. I own an Xbox360 and I want to play MGS4. I don't even know how owning this game would "vent" my "hate" at PS3, that makes no sense.
2. The Locust in Gears are NOT aliens, foo! They are indiginous to the planet and live underground.
copa @ May 18th 2007 3:17PM
@blowstiq: "All indications have been that they're taking their time to really push the PS3 hardware and deliver a killer app, even if it means it'll take a while... games that are being developed to the LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR end up looking like it."
As you've said, all indications are that they are optimizing for PS3 first, and porting to other platforms later. And I sincerely doubt that they will push back the PS3 release date to wait on the 360 port. So you have nothing to worry about.
Maybe the 360 version will require us to swap 12 DVD's, and become utterly unplayable due to the lack of Sixaxis waggle. I kind of doubt it, but either way it does not compromise the PS3 version in any way, so you have no reason to object to it.
RHP @ May 18th 2007 3:20PM
If they weren't making for the 360, they would simply state we're not making for the 360. We never will. Leave us alone.
Instead we get, it not anything that couldn't be done on the 360.
It's being developed on PS3 hardware.
Aex @ May 18th 2007 3:23PM
@copa
There is one reason to reject it. If the Xbox 360 gets a MGS4 port announced before the PS3 sales reaches its peak demand, then the Internets will explode. Think of the Internets...
Not to mention Kojima said it wasn't, but when has that ever been a reason to believe something wasn't going to happen?
Chris @ May 21st 2007 1:18PM
I know this has been stated a million times, but this wouldn't be a talkback if it hadn't.
But fanboyness aside or brand loyalty aside, I just can't understand why Konami would not want to make money. I mean if they were directly owned by Sony, of course it wouldn't come out here, but even if Sony is paying a lot of money for an exclusive, wouldn't they make a lot more money if they released it for the 360 as well?
It just seems silly to limit their biggest game to one platform, and the lowest selling one at that.
Killer @ May 18th 2007 3:27PM
This is how much I care about MGS4....
EXACTLY I DON'T, NEVER HAVE. (Oh no, I'm a 360 owner so this is my response to not having it on the 360." Hardly, I don't even care about Halo 3 that much, also I hate Japanese made games. Everything is too Theatrical for my taste. Capcom got me with games that more in my area, Dead Rising for istance. Sure there were some streches, but not at much as most japanese games. That's why capcom got my money.
Mr Khan @ May 18th 2007 3:29PM
So basically the question: "MGS4 on 360 4 Me?" can seem to be answered thus
short answer no with an if (low install base + high budget)
long answer yes, with a but (drop from CELL to Xenon, and from Blu-ray to DVD9)
rellik_san @ May 18th 2007 3:31PM
You know I love the way your all ignoring the most likely conversion, and thats to Blu-Ray PC disc. Also I doubt any games for a long time will use up the entirety of the Blu-Ray storage, meaning if it did come out on X-Box I'd wager it'd be a 3 disc game, which lets face it isn't anything new. Coupled with how ill received the PS3 is, I think a universal format such as PC and 360 are likely to happen at some point in the future. Especially after Snake Eater failed to set the world ablaze comparatively to MGS and MGS 2. So give it a year, maybe a year and a half after launch, and most of us will playing "Metal Gear Solid 3 - Guns of the Patriots - Substence."
Either that, or this project will turn into Konami's Shenmue and cause massive losses and lay offs and their productions in Osaka and Tokyo.
Sidepocket @ May 18th 2007 4:24PM
@ Jack of No Trades
Your fanboyism astounds me and makes me horrified that you are classified as a gamer. If you cannot tell the difference between Smash Brothers on 64 and Brawl on the Wii then you are out of your fucking mind. Please do not pro create, you will be doing humanity a favor.
Also, yest Gears has aliens. Are the locus from Earth? Are they Human? Guess, what, THEY ARE FUCKING ALIENS! Anything life that is not human or from earth's origin is an alien. I am sure as hell the Locus are just not an evolution of the dog species on planet Earth. Dumb asses! -,-;