We weren't surprised to read in this month's Edge Magazine that
Metal Gear Solid series creator, Hideo Kojima, isn't entirely satisfied with his latest creation. Why? That's just the nature of being an artist, especially one as famously exacting as Kojima. Every sequel to the Metal Gear series is another iteration; another re-tuning of an increasingly polished gameplay experience. So, when envisioning the fourth (and final?) chapter in the Metal Gear Solid saga on a brand new and as-yet-untested piece of hardware, Kojima shot for the moon, looking to "create something revolutionary." When confronted with the limitations of the actual PlayStation 3 hardware (it's human after all), Kojima says "we weren't really aware of what the full-spec PS3 offered – we were creating something we couldn't entirely see."
It's less a case of the PlayStation not being up to snuff (or, perhaps, of not living up to Sony's impossible-to-match marketing message) as it is with Kojima not being satisfied with technological limitations. He says, "The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress." We'll all get a chance to experience the technology that powers
Metal Gear Solid 4 this Monday, when the
Metal Gear Online beta goes live. Something tells us we won't be as dissapointed as Kojima is.
Check out the full ten-page
MGS4 cover story in the May issue of Edge.
[Via
Kotaku]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
RoboChamp @ Apr 18th 2008 6:07PM
GET IN DA CHOPPA!!
DangerMouse @ Apr 18th 2008 6:11PM
I think we're out of room.
hvnlysoldr @ Apr 19th 2008 1:46AM
Was that a reference to Brawl where Snake's Final Smash is Grenade Launcher from a chopper, to Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Go! Run! Get to da choppa!" line from Predator, any reference to Metal Gear Solid series, or a combination of them? Yes I'm aware explained jokes aren't funny.
JoSav @ Apr 18th 2008 6:09PM
eat my ass kojima you lying bitch.
el serpiente @ Apr 18th 2008 6:14PM
This is not the appropriate forum to request a salad tossing. Perhaps a private e-mail to Mr. Kojima would be more suitable...
tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 18th 2008 6:22PM
You act like it'll be a terrible PS2 port
Benny @ Apr 18th 2008 6:29PM
Oh JoSav, I'm glad you've exposed Kojima for the awful, untruthful individual that he is. Your unparalleled eloquence really does show up the immaturity of Kojima and his clearly Xbot fanboy comments.
You keep going soldier, you keep on going.
Haggard @ Apr 18th 2008 6:10PM
I don't buy them suggesting that the 7 CPUs in the PS3 isn't enough. My PC has an ageing dual core athlon CPU and can still fly through games with far more 'going on' than MGS4 should.
The only practical limitation of the PS3's hardware should be the graphics system, and MGS4's visuals look sharp enough..
Hyams @ Apr 18th 2008 6:13PM
I guess he wanted them to be even better?
After all, he's not saying the PS3 can't run the current versino of MGS4, he's saying the current version of MGS4 isn't as good as the one he wanted to make.
DangerMouse @ Apr 18th 2008 6:17PM
7 CPU's sounds nice, but not when you're dicking around with 256MB's of memory.
Fernando Rocker @ Apr 18th 2008 6:32PM
The PS3 doesn't have 7 cpu's or 7 seven cores... it has 1 Core and 7 SPU's...
It's very different...
Tranando @ Apr 18th 2008 6:48PM
Laughable. PS3 has 512MB of memory, the same as the 360, and whilst it's NUMA, rather than UMA, that has both advantages and disadvantages. Also the fact that Cell can read/write the RSX mem, and viceversa, who needs UMA..
Raikage (LDF CRAB BATTLE!!!) @ Apr 18th 2008 7:21PM
"Your mom is the one who dicks with the eggnog, not me!"
/Tourettes Guy
Having 7 SPUs is all fine and dandy, but when you don't have enough RAM/VRAM to support them... they're kind of a waste...
Also I hear something about 1 of the SPUs almost always dying in the Cell, but it really doesn't matter because they don't use it anyway. Is there any truth to that or am I (or the person I was talking with) delirious?
gregory mitchell @ Apr 18th 2008 9:02PM
then you also should know that its not about 7cpu's if the buses for them arent up to the task L2 cache is only 512Kb.....
aslo the video card ram is a mere 256 is
so even with the all mighty cell there stoll are some bottlenecks in their setup
Johndude @ Apr 18th 2008 9:09PM
You have to remember that the Processor in your PC or Mac works in a very very different way than that of the PS3's.
While 7 SPE's sounds impressive, the Cell is actually a lot more limited than your PC's processor as to what it can do, and is only capable of 'in order' processing which limits it even more. Add to that the small amounts of memory in the processor, and the 192MB of RAM the PS3 has to work with and, in reality, the Cell is about as useful as an Intel Core 2 Duo when it comes to playing games (Which is still Great, dont get me wrong). The only thing for the PS3 that actually uses the cell properly is Folding@Home.
The PS3 is awesome, dont get me wrong but really cant live up to Sony's insane marketing
:)
Burnt Meatloaf @ Apr 19th 2008 7:48AM
Yes, yes... and real-world usage of memory on the XBox would be pretty much the same as the PS3 (50% code, 50% graphics), and the CPU and GPU are two separate dies which means bus saturation, and the PS3 only uses a laptop hard drive instead of a striped RAID array, and blah blah blah.
We can argue about specs all day. That doesn't mean even 1% of the people here has any clue whatsoever how the technology actually works. Only 512K of L2 cache? OH NO! The machine obviously doesn't have any means to overcome that limitation, such as the fact that each SPE has its own 256K of cache! Oh wait, it's not even automatic cache, it's full-blown "local storage". Hmm...
I seem to recall that many people said the 360 and PS3 are evenly matched in performance, and the Wii hardly even competes with last-gen technology. So, what's the problem?
The problem is, as usual, developers are always overestimating their resources. What? The PS3 isn't as powerful as Deep Blue?! Yes, it's true. Deal with it, and just do your best. An extra 2GB of memory probably wouldn't be enough for your "vision", either.
Maybe in another couple of years you'll know more about the hardware to push it even harder, so you can fulfill your quest to properly model paint peeling off walls and ants moving blood-impregnated sweat drops across the carefully textured concrete dust.
Provided, of course, that you stop taking several years to make a game in the first place, just to whine that the system doesn't have as much graphics horsepower as you think it should.
Matt B @ Apr 19th 2008 2:34PM
Conveniently overlooked:
"IGNinsider: Now that you're going into the final stretch of making the game, what do you think of your development experience so far? Are you still happy with your choice of PlayStation 2 for a development platform?
Hideo Kojima: It isn't the hardware's problem it is our problem, we will never find hardware that can live up to our expectations."
Hyams @ Apr 18th 2008 6:12PM
What - you mean it's not in 4D?
Nuuuuuuuuuuu!
peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio) @ Apr 18th 2008 6:13PM
Shut up, Kojima. You always say this for every Metal Gear.
If you didn't want limits, you should've made it on the PC.
Ishimaru @ Apr 18th 2008 9:51PM
They did make it for the PC...the abysmal MGS2 port :\
John McPoop @ Apr 19th 2008 12:55PM
With all of the hype that has been surrounding this game for months if not years I think Kojima is probably pulling a little reverse psychology. I think he is trying to lower everyones expectations so that when the game is released we are all blown away instead of let down. Maybe he isn't even doing it intentionally but I think thats the effect it is going to have on people.
Mromson @ Apr 18th 2008 6:14PM
Imagine that all next gen games look around like MGS1 (one). Can you picture it? Got in your head?
Good.
Now imagine MGS4 coming out. Just picture the graphics difference and, well... Everything!
Yeah. Hideo wanted to make a video game that looks like a billion dollar movie.
Ninjakamster @ Apr 18th 2008 6:14PM
How did he feel about the technical capabilities of the PS1/PS2 when he designed the previous games for them?
DangerMouse @ Apr 18th 2008 6:20PM
Well, MGS2 looked damn good for an early release title, and MGS3 is pretty impressive with the stuff it pulled off on a PS2.
DangerMouse @ Apr 18th 2008 6:20PM
Oh, and that's my opinion, not his.
Christopher Grant @ Apr 18th 2008 6:46PM
Agreed DangerMouse -- MGS 2 & 3 are probably the two best looking PS2 games out there in my opinion. I have no doubt that MGS4 will remain one of the best looking games this entire generation.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Apr 18th 2008 7:16PM
You know, I always like to think of Kojima as the kind of guy who after making an MGS game goes on a fucking rampage going: "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT? THIS ISN'T WHAT I WANTED!!! and starts to smack the shit out of his development team.
Kojima is a very moody bitch.
Trev @ Apr 18th 2008 7:50PM
Production team: Well, the PS8, even though it's a hovering ball of pure, ethereal computation linked directly to the Core Mind, is only giving us 30% more real than reality.
Kojima's head (on cyborg body to live forever): DAMN YOU! I said I wanted 50% more real! Make it 100% I want this game TWICE AS REAL AS REALITY. You'll just have to create a pocket universe for it.
I think it goes something like that, Vegeta. Even if the game is awesome, he always wants more out of it.
Dan CiTi @ Apr 19th 2008 1:37PM
Chris,ZOE2 is also one of the best looking PS2 games.
rdj75 @ Apr 18th 2008 6:15PM
Oh yeah, nothing like flame bait to start the weekend off right.
Johnny @ Apr 18th 2008 6:15PM
the man has said nearly the same things about every MGS game to date.
I think its his excuse to be honest.
If metal gear happens to suck. say its cuzz the current consoles available aren't good enough.
friedgold @ Apr 18th 2008 6:16PM
I reckon it'll still kick ass. Bit annoyed I have to buy a PS3 for it but still.
HighFiveJesus @ Apr 18th 2008 6:17PM
he believed the sony peoples that he could render crazy shit in 4D!
HighFiveJesus @ Apr 18th 2008 6:21PM
this is nowhere where it was intended to go, how akward.
Jnas @ Apr 18th 2008 6:23PM
Who'd have though Kojima would have ignited a flamewar on the Joystiq comments section.
Kojima you f**king 360 fanboy. ^_^
zero2dash @ Apr 18th 2008 6:27PM
I smell bullshit.
He must be eating lunch at the same cafeteria as the Crysis developers, because they're making games for hardware that does not exist yet.
Do I expect him to toot his own horn about his own game? Absolutely. Lay off the FUD, Kojima. You've made games with less before. Say it with me - OPTIMIZATION. Good. Now go look up the definition and apply it to your coding and programming procedures.
Mr Khan @ Apr 18th 2008 6:28PM
A man of crazy vision
This is why this game couldn't be ported to 360, at least not without a large overhaul, its absolute optimization for PS3 hardware would just make it hard to readjust for 360 architecture
gregory mitchell @ Apr 18th 2008 9:04PM
um no
RobLink (MKWii code : 0989 1866 6646) @ Apr 19th 2008 10:20AM
umm, no:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=539251&id=648042443&ref=nf#pid=30405137&id=83500482
WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus @ Apr 18th 2008 6:32PM
Until we have CPU power equivalent to the main computer on a Starship developers will always want more power. Since the PS3 is so early in its lifespan, I doubt ANY developer knows how to get everything out of the Cell. I am sure that Kojima got as much out of the Cell that is CURRENTLY possible, but I would assume that as the years roll on, more and more power will be coaxed out of the Cell and we will see a jump in game quality every year just as we did for the PSone and PS2.
Nevertheless, MGS4 will more than likely be an awesome game both in the way it looks and the way it plays.
Cesaria (SSBB: 3136-6466-5083) @ Apr 18th 2008 8:15PM
Man, people must really not like you. I see nothing in this post to warrant you getting voted down. +1 from me, which will probably never happen again.
Ninjakamster @ Apr 19th 2008 2:05AM
I see nothing wrong with your post, I also repped you up. : )
Vohaul79 @ Apr 19th 2008 10:44AM
Why was this voted down? Man I get sick of Joystiq...VOTE HIM DOWN!! .... He didn't say anything inflamitory in the slightest.
xFenixKnightx @ Apr 18th 2008 6:54PM
Hey...TO ME this is great news as I seriously want to see what my "big black behemoth" can really do. AMIRITE? Judging from the MGO trailer (atleast right now) I dont even think it looks better than COD4 but who knows maybe that trailer was made with an earlier build (I hope) and it will end up looking better when I get to play it =)
John McPoop @ Apr 19th 2008 7:17PM
@Fenix
I hear you but its hard to say without seeing it on your actual TV ... The graphics have always been pretty in MGS games but for me the biggest part is the gameplay and story ... Have you seen the gameplay trailer? .... check it out if you haven;t ... http://www.gametrailers.com/player/22703.html
You spend a lot of time in the HUD but it becomes second nature after a while ... Kind of like RE 4 ... Anyway, to me this is going to be the GOTY ... Also remember all we have seen is the one battlefield scene ... We haven't seen the other exotic locations ... I am not just judging it on how it looks but also how well it plays and the story (always good) ... I think Uncharted,Resistance, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet And Clank Future, GT:Prologue and to some extent even lair had amazing in game visuals and massive amounts of characters with no lag have shown the graphical power of the PS3 plenty already ... If all you like is shooters its probably not the system for you (not saying all you like is shooters ... (just saying) ... Call Of Duty 4 is not the best looking game I have seen ... It has a buttery smooth frame rate and I think that why most people are so impressed with it ... The NBA2k series or some other Visual concepts sports game has the best and most photo realistic human graphics ever ... those models look exactly like the real people and with all the sweat its amazing ... I would reccomend checking out GT:Prologue at least as a rental because the interiors, exteriors, tracks and elements are as photo real as I have ever seen in a game bar none ... The amazing thing is I have not had any lag at all playing online ... I think they match up the better connections ... I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder ... Im a huge fanboy for MGS anyway ... Kojima has said he wants more of a James Bond feel in terms of international locations ... If you remember the other games have mostly taken place in 1 or 2 enviornments only ... I think this game will not only show what the PS3 can do but it will also show what developers can do and far video games have come ... This will be GOTY unless it somehow lays an egg ... Just looking at the gameplay video and the options for MGO ... all I can say is its amazing ... Also a new SOCOM was announced for September ... Also looks incredible ... I hope HAZE is good because it looks super fun to me but not visually impressive ... It did have some amazing physics ... Warhawk has showed me you don't need photo real graphics to enjoy a game ... Oh that and my wii
Leobebes @ Apr 18th 2008 6:55PM
This is such a masturbatory comment by Kojima. If this guy is friggin obsessed by making a game light years ahead of his vision why did he have such a hard on for the vastly inferior platform like the PS2 when the Xbox was in its full swing and superior technologically?
Kojima is one of the most nationalistic, self important, pompous programmers and supposed over protective guardians of his medium I have ever witnesses in this industry. His rabid fanbase are incapable of cynicism and god forbid you criticize his game and his "vision" on internet forums.
Raikage (LDF CRAB BATTLE!!!) @ Apr 18th 2008 7:14PM
Wut?
I'd go out on a limb and say MGS is my favorite series of all time... and I don't care what you think about it, and neither do most of us who ENJOY his games.
Leobebes @ Apr 18th 2008 7:18PM
"and I don't care what you think about it"
see what I mean, Kojima fans have this "Us against the world mentality". I guess when you are hypnotized by endless amounts of cutscenes, you might have the propensity to have cult like mindset.
Raikage (LDF CRAB BATTLE!!!) @ Apr 18th 2008 7:32PM
Ok reasonable argument, MGS is known for its cutscenes. And I have said myself that Splinter Cell is everything (gameplay wise) that MGS wishes it could be, but this still does not deter from the fact that MGS is an amazing series of games. And if MGS is so cutscene dependent then why do I have a strong distaste for Final Fantasy? According to you it's the same thing.
MGS3 was much much better gameplay wise than the previous games. When I think MGS 1&2 I think bosses and stories, but MGS3 had a lot more gameplay to it and less run, tranq, roll, tranq, run. Oh and it has the best boss battle EVAR.
Hopefully MGS4 will show people like you that MGS is more than just pretty sets of cutscenes...
DangerMouse @ Apr 18th 2008 8:05PM
"the PS2 when the Xbox was in its full swing and superior technologically? "
Full swing where? Oh yeah, everywhere else except Japan. Forcing his team to put all effort into understanding the XBox architecture when hardly anyone in their country has one would've been a waste of time. MS is still struggling with the 360 there now, so what's the point?
And his control over his games is great. While money hungry publishers milks out there IP's for the stock's sake and give rights to the likes of Uwe Boll to destroy, Kojima makes sure his stories are done right and 100% quality every time. Pompous? Perhaps, i consider myself on the winning end when i play his games.