Kojima countdown reveals another countdown [update]

by Randy Nelson { May 21st 2009 at 9:15PM }

The countdown timer on Kojima Productions' teaser site for its next project -- launched one week ago today -- has reached zero, revealing ... another countdown! This one is set for a little more than 8 days, expiring on May 30, Tokyo time. It's also raining now, as if the sky itself is crying along with all of Kojima's patient fans.

Given the news earlier today that Japanese gaming mag Famitsu will unveil a Metal Gear project for a PlayStation platform on its May 30 issue's cover, we're literally counting the days until it hits. Still, keep your eyes on the skies.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Kojima and company were listening in on your theories of what the reveal might be. Maybe next time?

Update: If you watch the scene on the site long enough, you'll see the characters "5," (what is likely the typeface's equivalent of) "@," "E" and "3" briefly flash on the screen, one after the next. "5@E3" it is, then! We've added a gallery showing the not-so-cryptic characters below. The timer has also been adjusted for 120 hours -- 5 days -- ending on May 26. Just maybe the sun will come out a little early?

Gallery: Kojima Countdown: The Sequel

Tags: countdown, hideo-kojima, kojima-production, konami, teaser

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Lionbacker steamID: detfan1957 @ May 21st 2009 9:17PM

Fuck you Kojima

supakoopa @ May 21st 2009 9:26PM

Now PS3 fans know how the Brawl delays felt.

Ed @ May 21st 2009 9:36PM

KOJIMA? KOJIMA!? KOJJJIIIIMAAA!!!!!!!!!!

BryanVP @ May 21st 2009 9:42PM

it's going to snow(it looks like snow) then after that timer it's going to get sunny and then after that timer they will reveal the MGS game.

metal_gear_solid_legend_cdl @ May 23rd 2009 1:07AM

As much as I hate to say it, didn't Kojima say that MGS4 was going to be Snake's last game. I mean the Foxdie Virus was really doing a number on Snake in MGS4. Is he going to even be alive after the ending of MGS4, *spoiler alert* where he sticks the gun in his mouth, and the camera pans away. yes he will.. but really the Foxdie is killing him and he's growing old fast. I actually had a thought that maybe Raiden, would take over the series, but with all the things that's happened to him over the period of game 2 to 4 is a mystery...to me at least

BUGz @ May 23rd 2009 5:15PM

OMG it's "Lord of Shadows" how the hell did i not see it DAMMMM
look it if you don't know what it is.

Xa31nov1s @ May 21st 2009 9:17PM

Enough with this horse shit!

Wes @ May 22nd 2009 12:10AM

Agreed. I don't really care about this hype/viral marketing at all. Ohh wow a countdown that lead to a countdown that leads to a magazine? Geesh, why not just write a comment on a blog somewhere or drop something in an interview saying that a new game would be annouced on May 30th in some magazine and be done with it?

Instead an elaborate ploy to show countdowns, leading to countdowns? Lame lame lame. Guess what everyone, I'm going to tell you what I'm going to do in 15 seconds....

wait for it...

wait for it...
I'm going to hit the add comment button! YESSSS, what's that fun, cool, viral and mysterious?

Woz @ May 22nd 2009 10:08AM

Agreed. I think it's time we just stop caring anymore. If readers stop caring, Joystiq will stop posting, and Konami will stop playing these games and go back to making games.

UK31337 @ May 22nd 2009 4:03PM

Bungie did it twice as well for ODST because MS pulled the first announcement at pretty much literally the last second - if I remember rightly the timer literally ran down to zero and then it said sorry, we can't actually tell you right now. They could have stopped the timer early for those that cared instead of fans hanging on for something which turned out to be nothing anyway even when the announcement did finally come out. ODST is just a short (by Bungie's own admission it'll likely be about 4 hours long) side-strand for a minor part of the Halo 2 campaign let alone Halo 3 and the multiplayer is identical to Halo 3 with nothing special exclusive to ODST owners apart from, perhaps, a few unannounced maps that won't be part of the standard Mythic map pack part 2 which comes on the disc.

Essentially, viral marketing like this gets people psyched for something which turns out to be nothing at all, but it's a good way to build hype and suspense I guess - even though, in this case, the announcement has already leaked.

dynnnbag @ May 21st 2009 9:19PM

Has anyone else realised that the letters have changed?

When the lightning flashes

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ May 21st 2009 9:19PM

"On the day I was born, it was raining."

I think we can confirm it's Raiden related...

BryanVP @ May 21st 2009 9:43PM

Don't forget Raiden means lightning in Japense which is why the MK guy's name is Raiden too and in MGS 4 Raiden says:

"I AM LIGHTNING, THE RAIN TRANSFORMED"

mezzanine @ May 21st 2009 9:19PM

If I see one more countdown, I'm going to snap. I'll take my clothes off and start screaming and shitting all over the place. No joke.

And by place, I mean the Kojima Productions building. And my shit is acidic.

BryanVP @ May 21st 2009 9:44PM

There will be more.

it's going to snow(it looks like snow) then after that timer it's going to get sunny and then after that timer they will reveal the MGS game.

ArchiGamer @ May 21st 2009 11:27PM

Countdown to Your Rage:

31:05:69

KenSharp @ May 22nd 2009 9:33AM

+1 for saying that your shit is "acidic".

Ameen @ May 24th 2009 7:29AM

What !? Your Shit is Hasidic??? Damn you, Anti-Semite, Holocaust Denier !

PR0F3TA @ May 21st 2009 9:20PM

kojima must be laughing his ass off

Arashikou @ May 21st 2009 9:42PM

I know - I mean, who else could get people to play along this long? We've had what now... A rumor of an announcement of an announcement of an announcement of an announcement, I believe? That's one hell of a lot of indirection.

Popfrogs @ May 26th 2009 12:11AM

Next we'll find out that the game was released 2 weeks ago.

Worsel @ May 21st 2009 9:20PM

SNAKKKKKEEEEEEE!!!! Wait, let me try that again...
*Channeling William Shatner*
KOJIMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Garvey @ May 22nd 2009 8:35AM

Lol @ *Channeling William Shatner*

Zombie Autopsy @ May 21st 2009 9:20PM

BULLOCKS!!!!

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ May 21st 2009 9:20PM

"It was raining on the day I was born."

I think we can call this Metal Gear Raiden at this point.

Wince @ May 21st 2009 9:20PM

I effin' hate this shit... oh, and now an E is flashing on there. Too bad the news was already leaked, rendering all this teaser countdown business pointless.

DarkNessBear @ May 21st 2009 9:20PM

So May 30th? I can't wait, I hope the countdown turns into snow that day revealing 40 more days! So exciting.

Ebichu @ May 21st 2009 9:20PM

First there's the MGS iPhone countdown, then he weird April fools joke during GDC, and now a timer that reveals another timer ...
Kojima, if you want to make another MGS / game then just say so man :/

Chrono @ May 21st 2009 9:20PM

I've waited this long, I guess I'll wait a little longer

Reaper man @ May 21st 2009 9:21PM

damnit I was 3 or so minutes too late in submitting this. Joystiq, you also forgot to mention that it's flashing "e" "5" and "3" now and the timer is now set to 119 hours instead of 199

MariusElijah (Only on PlayStation 3) @ May 21st 2009 9:26PM

Yeah its 120 hours ending on Tuesday at 8pm central time

Cesaria (seh-sare-ee-ah) @ May 21st 2009 9:21PM

This is seriously shit. Why not just start the countdown from today? I'm tired of these countdown sites.

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ May 21st 2009 9:21PM

This comment system has to be run by the patriots.

Worsel @ May 21st 2009 9:25PM

Dont you mean La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo?

Cutty @ May 21st 2009 9:26PM

You can say La Li Lu Le Lo?

Dave @ May 21st 2009 9:50PM

Those La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo-ing La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo-ers! Why don't they La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo themselves!

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ May 21st 2009 10:39PM

Those aren't the patriots thats GW at work,GW is a bi.4@TÊßÓd77010111.sionary I mispelled visionary because this opinion here sucks.

The patriots rule and the snakes drool.

Joining the army is cool and investing in the war business is also [Searching: Great, Good, Awesome, Excelsior ,Outstanding ,Superb, Fantastic, Extraordinary, Cool] Cool and everyone should do it.

Now if you excuse me I have to breath and eat and procreate and die with many many other human activities such as yours.