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]

Reputable European publication Edge magazine is reporting that the upcoming Animal Crossing for Nintendo Wii is indeed going the MMO route, as previously rumored by fellow Future Publishing siblings Next-Gen. "A Japanese source has confirmed to Edge that the upcoming Wii iteration of Animal Crossing is set to be a social networking MMO," reports the magazine.

No other details are known at the time, Nintendo has not provided any official confirmation. The article is found on page nine of the latest issue, which prominently features the PlayStation 3 on both the front and back covers.

Okami won Edge magazine's "favourite" title of the last year during an awards ceremony closing the first day of the Edinburgh Interactive Festival. The game beat out Generation GBA, Bully, Dead Rising, DEFCON, Final Fantasy XII, Test Drive Unlimited and Wii Sports. The winner was decided by the five staff members of UK magazine Edge. They say the game won because it "takes your breath away" and "it proves the PlayStation2 is still capable of giving us fun, innovative games."

That may be true, but it doesn't look like Edge's winner is going to take a victory lap. Clover Studios, which created Okami and Viewtiful Joe, was a division of Capcom that was uncermoniously dissolved late last year. Members of the Clover team are now working on Resident Evil 5 and a Wii game the last we heard. Looks like Okami got a lot of attention, but not a lot of sales. Guess Capcom can take their award and pretend they got it for their latest Mega Man title.

UK gaming magazine Edge recently conducted a poll searching for the 100 best videogames of all time. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time came out as top dog, while A Link to the Past settled into sixth along with two Mario games cozy and warm in the top ten. OoT is one of five games to receive a flawless 10/10 score from Edge. It was also the first to achieve a perfect score from Japanese magazine Famitsu. The entire list will be published in a special issue of Edge magazine in the near future.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
   
2. Resident Evil 4
3. Super Mario 64
4. Half Life 2
5. Super Mario World
6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
7. Halo: Combat Evolved
8. Final Fantasy XII
9. Tetris
10. Super Metroid

Empowering the development community, Sony has unveiled the PlayStation Edge: advanced graphics tools and technologies for PlayStation 3 development. A meeting on the tools is taking place later today. From the lecture announcement:

"Three first party technology teams within Sony -- the WWS Europe Advanced Technology Group, WWS America ICE team, and WWS America Tools and Technology group -- have combined to create PlayStation Edge, a set of cutting edge technologies for imminent release to all PlayStation 3 developers. Rather than overarching engine, these teams have chosen to create specialized systems that demonstrate best practices of SPU and RSX utilization. A unique tool for RSX performance analysis, extensively used in the turning of first party titles, will also be presented."

Those without technological backgrounds should find Wikipedia helpful. A video of Killzone 2 was shown last night to showcase the Edge technology. We'll be at the Edge presentation, hosted by Vince Diesi, Jon Olick and Mark Cerny, later today.

Among video game magazines, Britain's Edge stands head and shoulders above all competitors. The magazine's intelligent editorial voice, interesting features, and excellent layout/presentation made it well worth tracking down every month at your local bookstore. Subscribing was never really in the cards for us Yanks, though, as the exorbitant international direct subscription price of roughly $118 (62.02 pounds) per year was actually more expensive than the roughly $9/issue they charge on the U.S. newsstands (Amazon is charging an even more ridiculous $153.05 for a year-long subscription).

American fans of good game journalism can rest easy, though, as Edge has now set up a new subscription system especially for the U.S., complete with a lower subscription price of $75 per year. That's still a bit steep (especially considering mags like EGM practically give their subscriptions away) but at least now there's a pricing incentive to reserve a year's worth of issues (getting two years for $135 is an even better deal). All this and subscribers get a free T-shirt! Score!

Read - Edge Magazine Special Offer

Nintendo's Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! has received Edge magazine's 'Edge Award,' which recognizes games that show "the willingness to aim higher and try something new." Brain Age beat out cult hits like Guitar Hero (PS2) & Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (DS), along with Amped 3 (Xbox 360), Dragon Quest VIII (PS2), Electroplankton (DS), Indigo Prophecy (PC/PS2/Xbox), and Killer 7 (GameCube). "Only Nintendo could make arithmetic fun," remarked Nintendo UK general manager David Yarnton upon accepting the award.

Edge also presented an award to InfoSpace's Dirty Sanchez for best mobile game.

Developed for the Sinclair ZX81 twenty-five years ago, 3D Monster Maze occupies a tender spot in European gamers' hearts; consisting of a maze rendered in contemporary 3D and complete with a monster, it truly lived up to its title. As the first 3D title for a home computer, and the first corridor-based horror game, 3DMM is considered by some to be the first FPS, a precursor to the likes of Doom -- technically the game features no shooting, but there are similar elements.

However, it wasn't developed as a game at all, as this behind-the-scenes look by Edge reveals. Originally a learning exercise, the frightening T-Rex only came to life after a casual suggestion, and the game's air of horror and suspense developed from there. This story really brings to life the days of bedroom coders and the times when a game could change on the creator's whim, although anyone who remembers the cold sweat induced by the words "HE HAS SEEN YOU" is probably quite glad they're over.

When you think of British cultural and design icons, there are some images that automatically spring to mind: red phone boxes, double-decker buses and the London Underground map (which you need a Ph.D in topology to fully understand).

However, there are some new faces shortlisted for the "Great British Design Quest", including none other than Tomb Raider and Grand Theft Auto. Interestingly, while other technological designs are deemed aesthetically pleasing--the British-born World Wide Web, and Verdana typeface, among others--no television or film icons have made the shortlist.

A vote will tell whether the public considers videogame icons as influential as other great design motifs--but the cultural and international appeal of Lara and GTA may help them wing their way to the top.

[via Edge Online]