Metal Gear Solid 4 is turning into a third-party anomaly on the PS3. For Sony's sake it continues to be an officially non-timed PS3 exclusive even when
others have left for greener pastures, but on the other hand its
production costs are extreme for publisher Konami, and the big question is: How are they going to make that money back? Ryan Payton, assistant producer for
MGS4, told
Reuters that the game needs to sell one million units on its first day due to its production costs. We don't know if Payton is expecting a global launch, but just for a point of reference, in the US that would require
50% of PS3 owners to buy the game on the first day.
One million units on day one is a
Reed Richards stretch; we're certainly curious to know how Konami is going to
justify the exclusivity of
MGS4 financially. If an efficiently produced game like
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune cost
$20 million, we can only wonder what a game with the production levels of
MGS4 cost. There's a much deeper story here about the cost of
MGS4 and Konami, but those answers probably won't shake out until long after
MGS4 releases.
[Via
PS3 Fanboy]
(Page 1) Reader Comments
This game is going multiplatform. Its painfully obvious to everyone except Sony Fanboys and Kojima.
Reply
Their shareholders would be cool with that.
In the same article Payton says that the only way to play MGS4 is to have a PS3.
I just said that it wouldn't necessarily suck out the bat. And I've still never played it, though reviews aren't good.
Their shareholders don't give a fuck about double disks or exclusivity. They only care about money( or at least they should).
Preemptively, if Sony were going to pay them to keep it a 360 version secret, they would probably just pay them not to make it at all.
the US though...if the reviews come in and it get's 360 like ratings, it will sell very well, and Sony will sell consoles as well.
No it won't. If Mario couldn't sell a million copies in one day, do you really think MGS is going to?
Anyway, if there was a reason for me to buy more than one copy of MGS4 on launch I would probably do it :p
Frank! RABBLE RABBLE!
time will only tell after all who thought MGS2 was going to release for the Xbox, it did poorly thus no MGS3 on the DXbox, the game has changed some since then though.
Apparently, nobody really gives a shit about MGS4, especially Japan.
Nobody gives a shit about MGS4? That's hard to believe. People will buy the PS3, just to play this game. Am I wrongz?
"The Japanese audience have been complaining that MGS has become too "westernized". This isn't going to sell very well to the Japanese."
You do know that they are releasing different controls to please both Western and Japanese gamers... they are trying their most to please everyone and offering multiple options.
If there is a franchise that has "Made in Japan" written all over it is this one, one of the main characteristics is the cinematics, deep storyline, Raiden (seriously, he is your typical anime character...)
So Crono, please, THINK before posting something, it does make you look bad...
oh, and for the record, I will buy MGS4, hey, I need to Finish the Fight, lol
Even Nintendo is selling a lot more software than Sony.
Crono just said that Japanese fans feel the series is become more Western-oriented. Thus, it may not be as appealing to them.
Of course there are going to be fans in Japan who still buy it (Hell, even Halo 3 was the #1 selling on its debut week in Japan!), but how well it will sell is the big question.
Your right, people do give a crap about MGS4. That is, only sony fanboys do. Do you really think the average gamer gives a shit about MGS? If they saw a poster of the game at their local gamestore do you think they'll be like, "OH MAN, I SO NEED THAT PSTRIPLE!!!!" No! They're just going to walk right past it and buy Madded or some fps.
Gaging by the triumphant squeals of joy whenever there is a multiplatform rumor...I'd say there is a fair amount of interest.
Maybe not a 1mil/day interest, but just a "little" more than you assert. Don't bend reality just to take a stab at your fanboy opposite.
Oh come on, it's not just Sony fanboys that care about the game. That's just a stupid statement. If this is ever confirmed as multiplatform you can bet that "magicailly" a lot more people will suddenly care. As to the topic, no way this will sell 1 million on day one, but I just had to address your statement because of the obvious fallacy.
"Your right, people do give a crap about MGS4. That is, only sony fanboys do. Do you really think the average gamer gives a shit about MGS?"
I think your wrong here. I think the entire gaming community cares about MGS4, like they care about a Halo or Mario. It's one of those games that transcends the consoles.
Time will tell. It will be fun to watch.
Please go cry me a river.
Anyways, what I'm saying is true. It has nothing to do with me liking the series or not. Outside of the fanbase, no one really gives a crap about the series. Do you think that mainstream gamers (the target audience for sony, microsoft, and nintendo) really want to finish the fight with Solid snake? No. They'd rather be playing CoD4 or Halo. MGS4 lacks that certain thing that games like GTA, Mario, and Halo have.
Backpedal as you want, but this statement:
"That is, only sony fanboys do."
is clearly wrong.
What does me liking DBZ have anything to do with my intelligence? Fucking weak man. I like it, you don't. Big fucking deal. It's called we have different tastes. Deal with it.
Wow, dude...now I know your nuts. MGS, in general, has a cult status that allot of videogame company CEO's would lob off their right arms for. It's money in the bank. And, historically speaking, has been one of the most well regarded and best reviewed games in gaming history.
Vegeta, dude..you need to check yo self. Respect!
But it does not have mass appeal. Sorry, but its the true... only real Metal Gear Solids fans are going to buy this game. Not the average people. And believe... there are more MGS fans in the 360 side.
PS3 owners are not buying games... you guys keep saying that Wii doesnt sell games... well... Wii is selling a lot more games that the PS3.
Sorry, but is the true. And the true hurts.
Look I'm not saying the game is bad, and in fact it probably will be good. What I am saying is that MGS lacks that certain something that GTA, Mario, and Halo has that makes it instantly recognizable to almost everyone. And it's part of the reason why I don't believe that the game will sell a million copies in one day.
I change my original statement from sony fanboys, to MGS fanbase since there are fans who also own 360 and wiis.
What does me liking DBZ have anything to do with my intelligence? Fucking weak man. I like it, you don't. Big fucking deal. It's called we have different tastes. Deal with it."
It's not weak. It tells me you have no taste which pretty much invalidates everything you said.
I can deal with you not liking MGS, but not when you go around this thread stating that fact over and over. Not to mention comparing it games like Halo, Mario and COD. Which are totally different genres.
* * *
My fellow gamers, fanboys, fangirls, and those guys with their collars up asking their dorm room cohorts to play MADDEN... An odd email came into my hands today, proclaiming a million units of MGS4 must be sold day one to compensate for production costs and effort. Initially, that sounds highly overwhelming and ill-timed to speak of on Mr. Payton's part, given the uneasy ground that SONY treads upon with the PlayStation3 console and marketing. Add in the consumers still on the fence about not only paying more than the cost of the Nintendo Wii for the PS3 system(of which you can also get your METAL GEAR fix by playing as Solid Snake in SUPER SMASH BROS BRAWL on Wii); but the huge rivalry of BLU-RAY vs HD-DVD is still ongoing with no clear cut majority winner worldwide.
In addition, I'll state yet again for the record that I do indeed favor MGS quite highly in all aspects of media its covered. However, that in itself has its own problem. Unlike "everybody" games like the MARIO series or even HALO... METAL GEAR never really has had the "pick-up-and-play" instant appeal throughout its tenure. Granted, with MGS4, there are options for the user to select to allow them to view tidbits of METAL GEAR history throughout the game if they aren't knowledgeable or up-to-speed with the previous titles. It also does feature multiple gameplay control modes for those who enjoy first or third person tactical warfare. Graphically, it's easily in the top tier of seventh generation gaming in visual appeal... displaying that aformentioned "power of the cell technology" that has been blabbed about by SONY public relations since day one.
So why won't this game sell a million copies?
1) There's no doubt in my mind that this will be rated 'M for Mature'.
2) I don't have nearly enough money to buy that many copies myself.
3) Yes, the earlier generalized statistic of needing 1 in about 3 to 5 of the worldwide PlayStation3 owners to buy a copy would be necessary. Doubtful as it seems.
4) Despite the name recognition and publicity, without any serious television hype(it's still early, mind you); casual gamers will obviously need to be swayed. HALO is a casual gamer game as well as that enjoyed by the hardcore fanboys. MGS... not so much. The game is much more engaging, complex, and story driven(don't believe me? Look at the craziness of MGS2! The torture sequences of MGS3! And MPO's constant rabblerousing of ethics!).
5) It missed the holidays. :(
Attach rates are about 1.5:1 for PS3, 3:1 for Wii and 6:1 for 360.
The Wii is estimated to sell 17.5 Million systems by Mar08. If I'm not mistaken, that's more than PS3 and 360 combined.
Just amazing for a box that everyone had written off in summer of 07, when Nintendo finally revealed the name.
I'm glad I got mine. It's a fun system. I'm glad I have my PS3 as well. And, as soon as Jasper hits, 360 will be mine, till then, I've got Bioshock and Orange Box for the PC, soon GOW, when it hits $29.99.
PEACE!
Didn't you say you were waiting for the falcon, or the 65 nm proc's to hit?
Quit putting it off, buy the 360, and mass effect.
You'll be glad you did.
Wow man, just wow, its one thing to say Vegeta's opinions are wrong,
but its plain jackass ish ignorance/stupidity to just complete
validate all of his opinions are wrong because he likes DBZ. What
next, everyone who likes mario has a mind of a ten year old?
Everyone who plays gta/halo can't go ten seconds without killing
something? Everyone who actually like playing as raiden in MGS2 is
going to turn into a little emo punk? Everyone who didn't like Okami
doesn't know what art is?
Are you saying he has a closed mind because he doesn't agree with
your closed mind?
1) Halo
One million for MGS is really reaching. Crisis Core got pretty close in Japan alone (even though it kind of sucks), so if anything FF will be the franchise to hit one mill in one day, not MGS.
You really think theyd rather take a loss than go multiplatform? Go to the 360 and make a lot more money than they will on the PS3. You think that they think that's a bad idea? Your reasoning is because of 2 discs .... wow
G4 has shown the trailer many times.
Casual gamers will want to buy MGS4.
It's that simple, but it's hard to say if one million copies will be sold.
THIS THREAD SHALL OVERFLOW TO THE NEXT PAGE
Also, FOXHOUND, very well said. I vote you for President Of The Comment System!