Xbox 360 has 'the power to run MGS4,' says Schappert
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Oct 16th 2008 at 10:00AM }
One of the main points of argument against a potential port of Hideo Kojima's senior citizen sneak-em-up has always been steeped in the technical capabilities of the Xbox 360, versus that of the PlayStation 3. While Microsoft's ability to run MGS is currently in question, Software and Services VP John Schappert tells MCV that there's no doubt about the manufacturer's power to run MGS4. "I can't speak on behalf of Konami, but I can shed more light on the fact that we definitely have the power to run MGS4," he said.
We could take your word for it, John, but we wouldn't be a snarky video game blog if we didn't wonder if players had the power to run in-between the couch and the disc tray every few hours. That there is what we call a "world without compression" joke.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
SexyKittyKat2U @ Oct 16th 2008 10:03AM
Uh huh....
So why don't you guys just announce it already and tell us when it will be released. A year from now?
If this turns out to be true it could just be the worst kept secret in gaming...
DigDug @ Oct 16th 2008 5:32PM
In other news, Microsoft makes some other claim to try and convince people that the XBox360 is not really being left behind..
I mean come on, Microsoft telling us, that Xbox can run MGS4, that is jsut stupid on so many levels.,
1. Why should we believe this, it's Microsoft after all, the masters of lies.
2. They clearly won't admit that Xbox couldn't run i.
3. It's clear to even an idiot, that it can't run it. For starters, that 50GB of game would take 9 DVD's, left alone the fact it would not have the losless 7.1 soundtrack, clearly would be gimped to accomate the 360 Core/Arcade.
Pedobear @ Oct 16th 2008 6:28PM
It takes 9DVDs to fit 50GB? Wow I didn't realise that DVDs held so little.
SimbaDogg @ Oct 16th 2008 9:29PM
dig dug may have messed up thinking about only single layer dvds, but still...w/out cutting the quality of cut scenes, and running as much compression as possible (not that i would think it would help, because i believe hideo said it was barely able to fit on a 50GB disc) it would still be an epic requiring 5 maybe 6 discs. i know this isn't a fair comparison since they were CDs, but i thought FF8 and 9 wwere bad requiring 4 discs
anonim1979 @ Oct 16th 2008 9:58PM
First
BR with MGS4 is ~30GB
http://i32.tinypic.com/2b1574.jpg
It take 30GB because:
*THERE IS SECOND GAME ON DISC - MGO*.
There is system update (0,25GB)
There are (probably) repeated files for speed up loading/installs/uncompressed audio data/etc.
IF X360 will come out I hope , that like practically all multiplatform games X360 will be superior to PS3 one:
For a start how about making it HD game and not SUB-HD?
Metal Gear Solid 4 - 1024x768 = 786,432 pixels (SUB-HD)
(Full 720p - 1280x720 = 921,600 pixels)
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1174920&postcount=226
Extinction @ Oct 17th 2008 3:51AM
MGO counts as part of the game. You don't get to exclude it.
Kamizar @ Oct 16th 2008 10:03AM
This just won't die will it...
GearSecond!! (a.k.a AwesomeStuff) @ Oct 16th 2008 10:09AM
B-B-B-BUT THE POWER OF THE CELL!! :O
Pudge @ Oct 16th 2008 11:34AM
When will people learn the lessons of Blast Processing?
Sony does what MicrosoftDon't
el serpiente @ Oct 16th 2008 3:10PM
Well, it was a Microsoft employee making the statement. What did you expect him to say?
"Uh, yeah kids, the cell processor pwns my balls and I pray to it 5 times a day."
Bucket @ Oct 16th 2008 5:00PM
When will people learn? NO ONE EVER SAID that the XBox 360 is incapable of running MGS4. In fact, I'm sure the 360 can run it spectacularly! But see, here's the thing, so go grab a pen.
Even though the 360 is perfectly able to run MGS4... YOU WON'T GET IT. BECAUSE KONAMI WON'T DEVELOP IT. BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. BECAUSE FUCK YOU.
Are we all on the same page now?
ExMcCloud @ Oct 16th 2008 10:13AM
Its obvious the damn 360 COULD run it the question is how many disc it would take....I for one couldn't give a rats ass about switching the disc...I did it before I'll do it again....And those f#$%ing 3 minute installs every chapter are just as long if not longer and FAR more irritating than getting up of my black ass and switching the disc.
Either way I bought and played this on PS3 beat it traded it in end of story.....Just like this story needs to end to....lolz
Vidikron @ Oct 16th 2008 10:27AM
Actually, the final two installs are just 1 minute. IIRC it's only the first mid-chapter break that has a 3 minute install. But apparently this rumor started before people played the whole game... surprise, surprise.
ExMcCloud @ Oct 16th 2008 10:33AM
Ok how many acts did I play
Start-up: 8 Minutes
Act 2: 3 Minutes
Act 3: 3 Minutes
Act 4: 2 Minutes
Act 5: 1 Minute
Total of 17 minutes
No rumor thats from a SONY forum
http://www.psu.com/Metal-Gear-Solid-4-infamous-install-times-revealed--a0003930-p0.php
Morisato @ Oct 16th 2008 10:37AM
If I had to get up from my black ass, I'd be worried... considering I'm Asian, having a black ass would mean I was sitting and play games long enough for it to bruise... BRUISE!
Vidikron @ Oct 16th 2008 10:37AM
I knew they weren't all 3 minutes. Couldn't remember the exact breaks for all of them though.
ExMcCloud @ Oct 16th 2008 10:41AM
Understandable but the Breaks arent the point....Hopefully people just dont make that stupid disc switching argument...Its so lame....U know what I bet Koonami is considering it because they didn't make what they spent on the marketing campain....Morisato or your just from India?
kaneda @ Oct 16th 2008 10:57AM
I agree that the disc swapping is definitely a lame argument considering the installs per act take longer than swapping a disc by far. But I think that the konami is probably considering factors such the cost to port and the lower revenue of selling 3-4 dual layer discs and appropriate packaging vesus selling a single bluray and case. Wasn't it that new Id game 'Rage' that wasn't gonna be made for 360 simply because they didn't want to make it a 2 disc game?
kaneda @ Oct 16th 2008 10:58AM
err. I was gonna say 'the publisher' but instead decided on 'the konami'...heh. forgot to delete the 'the'
ExMcCloud @ Oct 16th 2008 10:59AM
Yeah but they sucked it up and made it anyway cuz they knew they would make more money if they do so...Money makes the world go round man...I dont think Koonami recouped from the marketing for MGS 4 and they need to make it multi plat but thats just my opinion
Vidikron @ Oct 16th 2008 11:01AM
@kaneda
Close... the 360 is getting RAGE, but iD altered the game's content and structure on all platforms to accomodate the 360's storage limitations. More specifically, they didn't want to pay the outrageous fees to MS for adding a 3rd disc.
Maverick Saturn @ Oct 16th 2008 11:07AM
Roflmao at Morisato
jimmygotsmack @ Oct 16th 2008 11:29AM
It probably wouldn't be as bad, if you didn't have to reinstall the same chapter after going to a new one..... Generally after I beat an MGS game, I like to go through all the boss battles again. Not that time though.
The-E @ Oct 16th 2008 10:15AM
hmmm this is going to be one of the biggest flame wars in history....its like L.A. Noir times A MILLION!!!!thats like L.A. Noir*1,000,000!!!:P:P it will an interesting read later on but!!
borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Oct 16th 2008 10:50AM
"Multiple disc quick swapping >>> Timely installs aka sandwich makin time"
Can I take "neither" for $100 Alex? Both are a minor annoyance, but annoyance they both are. Though the question is if Microsoft will keep waiving fees for certain titles.
Ye may mock the disk swapping argument Fenix, but it obviously bothers Microsoft enough to actively discourage the process. Still, if they waived the fee for Square I'll wager Konomi would get the same courtesy for bragging rights.
Foetoid @ Oct 16th 2008 10:58AM
L.A Noir times OVER 9000!
CABALLOTE @ Oct 16th 2008 4:20PM
@Borland502
Microsoft doesn't charge royalties per disc, they never did. That rumor was debunked a while ago...
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86513-Rage-Dev-Microsoft-Isnt-Being-Dickheads
Nevertheless, I'm sure people wouldn't mind the multiple discs. Apparently there are many who want to play the game on the 360. Personally, I don't, I just didn't like it but to each his own.
Slayer @ Oct 16th 2008 10:16AM
Nothing wrong with switching discs. Anyone complaining is just lazy bum. It only takes a few seconds.
ExMcCloud @ Oct 16th 2008 10:27AM
Your right and the switching disc argument is old because every chapter has a 3 minute install...So I dont wanna hear any of that crap
xFenixKnightx @ Oct 16th 2008 10:34AM
Multiple disc quick swapping >>> Timely installs aka sandwich makin time
Vidikron @ Oct 16th 2008 10:41AM
I personally hate multi-disc games. For one, the damn cases are always shitty and you wind up with at least one of the discs sliding around freely inside.
ExMcCloud @ Oct 16th 2008 10:44AM
Sandwich time??? I forgot who said that....Was that capcom or sumthing?
Maverick Saturn @ Oct 16th 2008 11:09AM
I dunno, I for one dislike disk swapping as much as I do installs, they can both be annoying in thier own rights.
Loose a disk and your gameplay days are over unless you find a replacement, and because of one disk, you can't play an entire game.
And installs are just annoying when you have nothing else to do.
xtremeholymuffin @ Oct 16th 2008 11:21AM
I saw the sandwich thing in a Penny Arcade comic but I think it was Sony.
Just Mr ESC. @ Oct 16th 2008 11:51AM
You could also be learning sanskrit.B*tches love sanskrit.
Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 16th 2008 12:38PM
I think the sandwich quote actually came from the DMC4 devs.
aristokrat @ Oct 16th 2008 12:44PM
More like bong-ripping time...
bobartig @ Oct 16th 2008 2:03PM
@ExMcCloud: It was the Capcom guys with Devil May Cry 4. People were complaining about the install time on PS3, vs. relatively less install time on the X360. The Devs basically said "Stop complaining, go make a sandwich! Once you install the game, the load times will be so fast, you won't have time to pee or blink or anything!" ...more or less..
Erik Stroud @ Oct 16th 2008 3:12PM
I agree, and if you think about it, you could probably fit it onto one disk if you downgrade the textures or take out the high def vids. i mean, Gears looks better in my opinion, so does Crysis, but neither were over 25gbs. And, I know crysis wasn't on 360, I was just pointing out that games that look better than MGS 4 aren't as big.
Skyshroud3 @ Oct 16th 2008 10:19AM
I think any self-respecting gamer would have no problem cartwheeling to change the disk if it meant we got to play the lovely MGS4 on our lovely 360s.
Markez @ Oct 16th 2008 12:30PM
I think you overestimate the amount of gamers that can do cartwheels :P
I didn't play the previous iterations, so how lost would I be if I were to jump in on 4?
Chin-Poh @ Oct 16th 2008 3:52PM
Markez, you would enjoy 4 a lot more if you have played the previous games because it wraps up a lot of loose ends presented in the previous games, concludes the story that's slowly been weaved throughout all the games.
deaftly @ Oct 16th 2008 10:18AM
FAB-U-LOUS
DMeisterJ @ Oct 16th 2008 10:19AM
Newsflash!
VP of company believes in product! j/k
But what do you expect him to say? No, the 360 can't handle it?
I don't know if it can or can't handle it, but let's not go to an obviously biased source for an answer... mmmkay?
Haggard @ Oct 16th 2008 10:44AM
It can run it. You could run Crysis on a ZX Spectrum if you wanted - it's just it'd take about two days to render each frame.
Metal Geario 360 @ Oct 16th 2008 10:46AM
@ DMeister:
Your right about that completely. "VP" isnt going to admit any failings out the door, he'd lose his job.
But from our own observation, non biased...whats there that the 360 cant handle?? Even if its multiple discs, thats a big whatever. Graphically it is good, but by no means leaps and bounds over the 360. MGS4 is still going to sell a few million copies for those that do not own a PS3
horngreen @ Oct 16th 2008 10:19AM
Oh god this thread is going well over 100 comments!
Popfrogs @ Oct 16th 2008 10:19AM
After yesterday's flogging I'm not even gonna chime in on this one. While I find it suspicious that someone at MS claims the 360 could run this game without decompiling it or some other form of testing...ok I'm gonna stop now.
David @ Oct 16th 2008 11:10AM
I find it suspicious that anyone still believes there's a PS3 game that the 360 can't run. The PS3 is given way too much credit for its graphical power, and everyone questions whether the 360 could keep up. I think it's time we lay to rest the idea that the PS3 is cell-powered dynamite and it's been some miracle that the 360 has "kept up" for the past three years. The PS3 is graphically equivalent to the 360 until further notice. So many other PR baseless boasts fall to the wayside, why has this one survived?
Popfrogs @ Oct 16th 2008 11:20AM
Well shit, here we go again.
Seriously, the number of armchair experts on this site amazes me. You, and the dude from MS, probably don't have the first clue what kind of tech this game is using. You don't know how much load the SPE's are carrying.
Can it be done? Sure. Can it be 1:1? That's what I'm doubting.