Konami executive Kazumi Kitaue, head of Konami North America and European ops, dropped a bombshell today saying that Metal Gear Solid 4 may move to other consoles in an attempt to recoup development costs. He also said the PS3 price drop may not turn the ship around. The natural assumption, given the console hardware technology, is that Metal Gear Solid 4 will see its day on the Xbox 360, destroying one of the final feathers in Sony's hat of exclusives.
In regards to the PS3 price cut, Kitaue unleashes the backhand with quickness. "I don't expect a substantial impact ... with $500, you can buy a person computer," Kitaue told Reuters. It's been surprising to see the mainstream media pick up on the $100 price drop without acknowledging that there is a new "better" model at the same price which caused all the calls for a price drop in the first place.
But for gamers, the first acknowledgment that Metal Gear Solid might find its way to other consoles is what's really going to shake things up. Kitaue says, "Since Metal Gear Solid was born for the PlayStation, we would like to keep it a PlayStation game. But we might have to take some steps." Whether those steps are announced this week or if this is some last ditch effort by Konami to force Sony to pony up exclusivity cash, which they say they do not do, is worth wondering about. If MGS goes to the Xbox 360 ... well, all eyes will be on Final Fantasy XIII as the last famous third-party man standing.
Reader Comments (138)
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:15AM orionzdrm said
As someone who sold his PS3 but was looking to buy another one for the bluray and this game It may make me hold off on buying one until they hit a lower price point. I would buy the game on the 360 just as I did the last one on the xbox. It would be one of those first day out purchases.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:30AM (Unverified) said
Two reasons I'd ever buy a PS3: MGS4 and Fumito Ueda's next game. Check one off the list. And I'm sorry, but $500 is too much to pay for the next Ico. I'd rather wait until PS4 comes out and play it then. I don't think Sony will be trying to push any new formats down anyone's throat anymore.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 11:26AM (Unverified) said
so sync. you think the ps4 will be cheaper then $500.lol
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 12:25PM Duke said
As a PS3 owner it makes me feel robbed again. My GF was pissed when I got it in the first place, as we already had a 360. So what did I need with this machine? Yeah, I thought it was worth it for the exclusives....and those are vanishing. It seems to me that the exclusives vanishing really makes it a one console world again. There is little to justify both systems in your library, and the 460 library is simply better (no matter what fanboys wanna tell themselves).
Sony needs to get some tight exclusives back or create some new amazing ip to make them stand on top.
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Sony needs to get some tight exclusives back or create some new amazing ip to make them stand on top.
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:16AM (Unverified) said
I've said it's going to happen since the first rumor surfaced, no surprise here.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:16AM (Unverified) said
Here it comes again. Isn't this like the 5th time?
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:20AM (Unverified) said
Being that I have all major consoles, I really want to see this game at its best on the PS3. Hopefully if they decide to port it, they don't make it worse for the system it was intended on.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 12:09PM (Unverified) said
See that's my dilemma. I love achievement points and if a game comes out for both systems, I get it on the 360. But I don't think that MGS4 would be better on 360 besides the achievement points. And screw paying for additional content. I just want to play through the game on this one.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 12:06PM (Unverified) said
Amen brother! You don't think this game cost Konami a fortune? Loyalty is one thing, but who in their right mind would ignore 10 million users on the leading console? This is a business people!
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:20AM zerito said
Im not really a fanboy, I mean I guess Im not since I own both a 360 and a PS3 (and the Wii is hiding somewhere around there) But I wouldnt like Metal Gear (or other exclusives) to go multiconsoles. I mean games made for a specific console are the games that make people buy said console, if they go multi console people will be buying the cheapest console to get said games.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 12:08PM (Unverified) said
Holy smokes, you win at teh economics! That's exactly what you're seeing in sales figures. Why buy a PS3 when you could go Wii60 and enjoy much more for the same price. If/When blu-ray wins, players will drop to $100 quick.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:21AM (Unverified) said
You can buy a personal computer or a Wii AND a 360 (if they in fact reduce the price). Should be an easy decision for people this holiday season.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 12:49PM (Unverified) said
You're going to fight this thing until death aren't you? give it a rest already.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 1:17PM (Unverified) said
Sorry, that was meant to be a reply to BulletToothTony
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:21AM (Unverified) said
i guess Kazumi didn't turn on his pc yesterday, and didn't notice that the ps3 went up 2800% in amazon alone.. and yesterday me and my friend tried to buy a ps3 and were sold out everywhere..
oh well.. i always knew that if the ps3 didn't sell enough copies it would go to the 360.. but still, the game should have a couple of more months to come out.. we'll see how much the ps3 sells, and if they change their mind..
after all SUPPOSEDLY, the game wasn't made with the 360 in mind, it should take them a while to port it right?? unless they had it in mind all along
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oh well.. i always knew that if the ps3 didn't sell enough copies it would go to the 360.. but still, the game should have a couple of more months to come out.. we'll see how much the ps3 sells, and if they change their mind..
after all SUPPOSEDLY, the game wasn't made with the 360 in mind, it should take them a while to port it right?? unless they had it in mind all along
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:26AM MosquitoControl said
Yeah, but that figure means nothing as it stands. It could be going from 1 unit sold to 28 units sold.
I don't think people need to worry, though. Even if it comes out for the 360 it will likely be better on the PS3. It was designed for the PS3, as the designer keeps saying, and any porting to the 360 would likely be by a different team. It might still be very good, or even as good, on the 360, but usually ported games are better on the original system. Usually if not it's when it moves to a significantly more powerful system, like GTA3 to the Xbox.
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I don't think people need to worry, though. Even if it comes out for the 360 it will likely be better on the PS3. It was designed for the PS3, as the designer keeps saying, and any porting to the 360 would likely be by a different team. It might still be very good, or even as good, on the 360, but usually ported games are better on the original system. Usually if not it's when it moves to a significantly more powerful system, like GTA3 to the Xbox.
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:28AM (Unverified) said
Bestbuy.com has plenty in stock...
As do most of their stores...
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As do most of their stores...
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 11:10AM (Unverified) said
But what if they add extra content ala RE4 on PS2?
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:23AM (Unverified) said
what happened to Kojima saying PS3 exclusive?
the ps3 is getting dogged by the same team that are trying to make it for them...
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the ps3 is getting dogged by the same team that are trying to make it for them...
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:26AM (Unverified) said
so who cares if people buy the cheapest consoles to play the game. why would it matter? not everyone has the cash to buy every console! i think the fanboys are more upset or happy about it coming to the 360 then anyone else. they get the bragging rights or the potential backhanded dis to their counterparts.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:29AM (Unverified) said
ps3 sold out everywhere? right.....*wink* well you give me $1200 us dollars i if find one on a shelf somewhere? move out of the sticks, the damn things are still everywhere!
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 6:31PM (Unverified) said
Yeah...I just went to Costco, they had one palette of Wii's(only two left)one for 360(about half gone)and the PS3's were actually overflowing onto another palette making it about one and a half palettes(almost completely untouched)
A Vita-mix saleswoman actually commented, out of the blue, on how outrageously expensive it was.(with her mic on) Her booth was set-up right across from them.
Bottom line; 360 was pushing it with it's 399 price, no casual mother, etc. is willing to spend $600.
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A Vita-mix saleswoman actually commented, out of the blue, on how outrageously expensive it was.(with her mic on) Her booth was set-up right across from them.
Bottom line; 360 was pushing it with it's 399 price, no casual mother, etc. is willing to spend $600.
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:30AM (Unverified) said
If it does goes to the 360, will sony fanboys boycott this game as well?
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:30AM (Unverified) said
As long as its built around the ps3 hardware, no problems here. If Konami ever port his game over from the 360 though I will personally hunt Kazumi Kitaue down and eat his liver.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:32AM (Unverified) said
Uh, the guy is the head of the North American and European ops, not part of the Kojima development team. I can't say this source is completely credible. Plus, I haven't ever hear of him.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:41AM MosquitoControl said
The head of ops probably knows more than the dev team.
The company owns the code, not the dev team. So if the company wants it ported the company will have it ported, either by the dev team or a different dev team.
Kojima really has no say in the business aspect. Obviously he carries some weight, but he really has no true say in whether the game gets ported. Games have been ported without the original dev team being involved quite often.
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The company owns the code, not the dev team. So if the company wants it ported the company will have it ported, either by the dev team or a different dev team.
Kojima really has no say in the business aspect. Obviously he carries some weight, but he really has no true say in whether the game gets ported. Games have been ported without the original dev team being involved quite often.
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:32AM Zertoss said
"I don't expect a substantial impact ... with $500, you can buy a person computer," Kitaue told Reuters.
The hell is a person computer? Is that like Chobits?
Anyway, I'm not a Metal Gear fan, so this news doesn't bother me. I do agree with Kitaue about the $500 price though. You could easily buy a PC with that. The quick burst in sales probably won't last too long.
Personally, I'm waiting for some PS3 games that I want to play. I'd have even paid $600 for the console if there were just one game I really wanted to play.
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The hell is a person computer? Is that like Chobits?
Anyway, I'm not a Metal Gear fan, so this news doesn't bother me. I do agree with Kitaue about the $500 price though. You could easily buy a PC with that. The quick burst in sales probably won't last too long.
Personally, I'm waiting for some PS3 games that I want to play. I'd have even paid $600 for the console if there were just one game I really wanted to play.
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 12:07PM (Unverified) said
Not another MGS hint. Even though the possibility of MGS4 on the 360 will tip the balance in favour of either console, I'm sick of hearing it. Let's just wait until someone from Konami says the word 'definitely', eh Joystiq?
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:38AM hvnlysoldr said
This is the largest ship ever built and it's unsinkable!
I've noticed there aren't enough life rafts for everyone.
I struck it rich on the internet (American oil).
"Full steam ahead." "But Captain there's reports of iceburgs in the area." "This ship is unsinkable."
"This is Madness."
NO
This
Is
TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
NNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIC!
Reply
I've noticed there aren't enough life rafts for everyone.
I struck it rich on the internet (American oil).
"Full steam ahead." "But Captain there's reports of iceburgs in the area." "This ship is unsinkable."
"This is Madness."
NO
This
Is
TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
NNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIC!
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:49AM SSUK said
That was pretty rad, if you thought that up yourself then you sir, made my day.
I think MGS4 should go multi-platform anyway. They released MGS2 on Xbox to try and get extra cash out the game, released MGS:TS on Gamecube for $$$, why don't they just open the flood gates and let the money pour in and then please all the disillusioned PS2 fans (myself included) have the game on a console which Europe aren't getting fucked about with... So much.
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I think MGS4 should go multi-platform anyway. They released MGS2 on Xbox to try and get extra cash out the game, released MGS:TS on Gamecube for $$$, why don't they just open the flood gates and let the money pour in and then please all the disillusioned PS2 fans (myself included) have the game on a console which Europe aren't getting fucked about with... So much.
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 12:53PM (Unverified) said
Wow, the 300 comments are just getting fuckin retarded
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:39AM (Unverified) said
Well when it does get 'Ported' It Will Run Smoother, Better Detail, Better online play, & just a Better experience like all 360 Games!!!
Isn't that sad... It was made for the ps3 & yet will be better on the 360!!! Wow have times changed...
HAHAHA Sony, your console Blows...
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Isn't that sad... It was made for the ps3 & yet will be better on the 360!!! Wow have times changed...
HAHAHA Sony, your console Blows...
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:45AM (Unverified) said
Freakinf hallarious ain't it? Konami wants to MAKE Sony pay them for Exclusives when just a week ago Jack said "we don't BUY exclusivces" hahahahahahahaha funny...
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:53AM SSUK said
Uhm... No, idiot. Konami hasn't said they WANT money to remain exclusive, but common sense does dictate after that article where Sony said they don't pay for exclusive titles, that the reason everyone is jumping ship is because there's very little hope they'll see returns on their high-expenditure PS3 titles as soon as they'd like. No different with Konami, they don't see the game making back it's multi-million development costs very quickly with the PS3's flakey install figure.
It's all business, I'm afraid.
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It's all business, I'm afraid.
Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:44AM (Unverified) said
No one is really clear what 'take some steps means'. It could also mean charging $79 for the game. Sony Pictures is making the MGS movie and I am not ready to say it is going multiplatform yet.
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Posted: Jul 10th 2007 10:50AM (Unverified) said
"If MGS goes to the Xbox 360 ... well, all eyes will be on Final Fantasy XIII as the last famous third-party man standing."
===============
Last one?
Ever heard of a little game called God of War?
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===============
Last one?
Ever heard of a little game called God of War?
Posted: Jul 12th 2007 10:17AM (Unverified) said
uhh..thats because god of war is a FIRST party game. They said THIRD-PARTY. Learn to read, dumbass!
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