We were starting to think that the new camo patterns available for download via Metal Gear Solid 4's "Extras" screen were going to be fairly mundane. Silly us! This is Hideo Kojima we're talking about here, and behind his stoic stare the guy has quite the sense of humor.

Case in point: the two new OctoCamo patterns available today. Called "Laughing Camo" and "Raging Camo," they cover Snake in text when equipped (which doesn't exactly sound like the best thing for, you know, stealth gameplay). These patterns aren't about hiding from enemies, though ... their effects are actually seen when you get near them. They cause PMC soldiers and other foes to break out into laughter and howling on sight, rendering them temporaily stunned. (Making the new camo settings something you'll want to use only on your second, third, fourth, or fith play-through, lest you ruin a "pure" first-time experience.)

Taking on The Patriots and getting kooky with Kojima? That's what we call a fun way to spend the Fourth.

Now that Solid Snake's story has come to an end, some of us are still having a hard time dealing with the loss. James has begun living on the New York City streets in his cardboard box costume and Chris just screams "SSNNNAAAKKKUUU!" at the stars every night. But some members of the Joystiq family have gotten proactive, talking out their thoughts on the series instead of bottling them up inside.

So, join Joystiq's Ludwig Kietzmann and Ross Miller, and Nintendo Wii Fanboy's David Hinkle as they discuss their final thoughts on MGS 4, their hopes for the future of the series and just generally take an hour-long trip to Nerdtown. (Oh, they're also going to Lower Spoilersburg, so if that's a locale you want to avoid, you should spend your eartime elsewhere.)

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Hosts: David Hinkle, Ludwig Kietzmann and Ross Miller

Music: "Metal Gear Saga" by Harry Gregson-Williams

When we told you that Metal Gear Solid 4 wouldn't be the last of the Metal Gear games, we had no idea the next towering achievement in the series would be announced so soon and that it would be so ... small. Gamesindustry.biz reported today that Metal Gear Solid Mobile (winner of two 2007 International Mobile Gaming Awards) would be coming to no one's favorite platform: The N-Gage.

Expect N-Gage-exclusive content in the game, set to launch shortly after MGS 4 hits stores. But also, expect it to be on the N-Gage, so expect yourself to have forgotten about the whole shebang before hour's end.

We've really been enjoying Gametrailers' well-researched and engaging Star Wars retrospective, so we were happy to see this morning that they had turned their attention to everyone's favorite sneaky soldier with their Metal Gear retrospective. The first episode, seen above, covers Metal Gear, Snake's Revenge and MG2: Solid Snake.

It's a good way to refresh before Metal Gear Solid 4, but we hope the narrator is prepared for when he has to start recapping Metal Gear Solid plots. (Exploded brain washes out of microphones, right?)

The US PlayStation Blog has unleashed a massive amount of Metal Gear Online details in preparation for the oncoming beta. The client becomes available for download on April 17, with online play beginning April 21. According to the blog, a Konami ID will be required for play. You can register in the client or go ahead and make one now.

You'll be able to customize your character's appearance extensively, which will likely only deter people for a few minutes from playing as (a now self-made) Solid Snake. Skills in the game will be upgradeable, and you choose four to specialize in. Said the blog, "Close Quarter Combat (CQC), knife fighting, quickness, alertness, heavy weaponry mastery, demolition, and sniper mastery are just some of the skills you can specialize in."

Also revealed are a list of weapons and items you can use in the game, two new sepia-infused maps are also revealed, Blood Bath and Groznyj Grad, and the best idea so far: catapults for launching your character across maps.
[Via PS3 Fanboy]

What's VGA, you ask? No, it's not Spike's Video Game Awards. It's the Video Game Authority, a group that issues grades based on the condition of old video games, in a manner similar to action figures and trading cards. After paying a fee, gamers send in their beloved collectibles, which are graded and sealed in tamper-evident acrylic cases, marked with the official hologram of the organization. The first of these VGA-graded items are currently up for auction on eBay.

Currently available are near-mint copies of Super Mario Bros. 3, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear and others, all in the 75-85 grade range. Final Fantasy is notably already up over $200, and Super Mario Bros. 3 isn't far behind. If nothing else, those NES games look damn sexy in those plastic cases.

Read - First VGA Graded Games Hit eBay [GameSniped]
Read - BigHedToyz [eBay]