Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Konami pre-E3 show gives the scoop on MGS5, Castlevania on June 6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/konami-pre-e3-show-gives-the-scoop-on-mgs5-castlevania-on-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/konami-pre-e3-show-gives-the-scoop-on-mgs5-castlevania-on-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/konami-pre-e3-show-gives-the-scoop-on-mgs5-castlevania-on-june/#commentsKonami preE3 show gives the scoop on MGS5, Castlevania on June 6 Konami's third annual pre-E3 show is penciled in for June 6 at 1 p.m. ET, streaming live online via Konami's events site, on Gamespot and via the Xbox Live Gamespot app. For the second year in a row, Konami will show off a new trailer for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, which was announced during last year's pre-E3 briefing.

Konami also plans to show off some behind-the-scenes footage of the next Pro Evolution Soccer game, and will have "new announcements" from Kojima Productions. Kojima recently made a splash with the Joakim Mogren marketing campaign for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Surely nothing will be able to compete with that.

Continue reading Konami pre-E3 show gives the scoop on MGS5, Castlevania on June 6

JoystiqKonami pre-E3 show gives the scoop on MGS5, Castlevania on June 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2e3-2013Kojima-ProductionsKonamimetal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesmicrosoftpcplaystationpro-evolution-soccerpro-evolution-soccer-2014ps3the-phantom-painxboxTue, 14 May 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[David Hayter: Hearing someone else as Snake 'makes me a little ill']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/david-hayter-hearing-someone-else-as-snake-makes-me-a-little-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/david-hayter-hearing-someone-else-as-snake-makes-me-a-little-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/david-hayter-hearing-someone-else-as-snake-makes-me-a-little-i/#comments David Hayter on his absence from MGS5David Hayter, the voice of Snake since 1998's Metal Gear Solid, won't reprise his role in Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain - and that sucks, Hayter writes in an elongated Twitter post.

"If it were my choice, I would do this role forever," Hayter says. "To hear anyone else's voice coming from Snake's battered throat, makes me a little ill, to be honest. But the truth is - it's not my choice. Any and all casting decisions are the sole purview of Hideo Kojima, and Konami itself. And that's fair."

Konami never approached Hayter for the role, Hayter writes. He found out the production team "wouldn't be needing" him in December, when the recording sessions for Phantom Pain began in Los Angeles.

"No reason, or explanation was given beyond that. And that was it," Hayter says. He was "bummed" by the news. Konami head Hideo Kojima wants Phantom Pain to represent a "new Metal Gear game" and hasn't revealed who the new voice actor will be.

"To be clear, I love being a part of the world of Metal Gear," Hayter writes. "I admire its technological innovations, the gameplay, the political message of it all. But primarily, I love the fans of these games. Two grown men burst into tears upon meeting me at the Vancouver Fan Expo last year. Now that ... Is a rare and excellent role. You know you're making an impact. And I love doing it."

Read Hayter's full description of events here. Yes, it's elongated by Twitter standards, but it's by no means a long read; it's simply concise and quietly sad.

JoystiqDavid Hayter: Hearing someone else as Snake 'makes me a little ill' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-hayterKonamimetal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesplaystationps3snakesolid-snakethe-phantom-painMon, 01 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kojima explains Metal Gear Solid 5's 'Mogren' fakeout, Hayter's absence]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/kojima-explains-metal-gear-solid-5s-mogren-fakeout-hayters/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/kojima-explains-metal-gear-solid-5s-mogren-fakeout-hayters/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/kojima-explains-metal-gear-solid-5s-mogren-fakeout-hayters/#comments

Moby Dick Studio Head CEO Joakim Mogren is not CG. "We found a Swedish guy to stand in" for Hideo Kojima in his terror inducing Mogren mask, Kojima told GameTrailers.

Kojima explained that the bizarre, counterintuitive campaign for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, during which a non-Metal Gear version of the game was shown off by a fake studio at the Spike VGAs, was meant to get fans active on social media. "We wanted to do something to really energize the community." The campaign, which was conceived and planned with Geoff Keighley over two years, was also meant to help Kojima Productions "evaluate the FOX Engine," as it meant every frame of The Phantom Pain's trailer would be examined in detail.

Kojima mentioned once again that Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain will be released separately. "We can't comment just yet on how these things will be distributed and sold," he said. Ground Zeroes, the prologue, will come first, Kojima said, and will introduce players to the gameplay "on a smaller scale."

He also confirmed that voice actor David Hayter was not asked to perform for MGS5. "Yes, I can say it will be a new person. I can't say who." This reflects Kojima's desire to set Metal Gear Solid 5 apart as a "new Metal Gear game."

The interview is densely packed with information, including details about the open-world gameplay and the reasoning behind the switch to Roman numerals.

JoystiqKojima explains Metal Gear Solid 5's 'Mogren' fakeout, Hayter's absence originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hideo-kojimametal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesmicrosoftplaystationps3the-phantom-painxboxFri, 29 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metal Gear Solid 5's Fox Engine in pictures]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/metal-gear-solid-5s-fox-engine-in-pictures/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/metal-gear-solid-5s-fox-engine-in-pictures/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/metal-gear-solid-5s-fox-engine-in-pictures/#comments Metal Gear Solid 5's Fox Engine in picturesMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain was the big news for Joystiq readers to come out of the Kojima Productions panel at GDC, but the studio also had a lot to say about the engine that powers the game, the Fox Engine. The talk involved a lot of technical terms we won't pretend to understand (linear workflow, something about "light probes"), but the pictures speak for themselves.

Fox Engine allows for some impressive visuals, fueled by some interesting technology. One key component is the ability to scan real-life objects or take pictures of them to easily create in-game models and textures. Kojima Productions created an in-engine mock-up of its own studio conference room, and the result was eerily similar to the real thing. Using an array of cameras, the studio was able to fully scan a little boy into the Fox Engine with surprising fidelity and drop him right inside the virtual conference room alongside Snake and an enemy soldier.

Gallery: Fox Engine panel (GDC 2013)

Continue reading Metal Gear Solid 5's Fox Engine in pictures

JoystiqMetal Gear Solid 5's Fox Engine in pictures originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc-2013kojima-productionskonamimetal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesthe-phantom-painThu, 28 Mar 2013 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen@GDC: The Phantom Kojima]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/seen-gdc-the-phantom-kojima/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/seen-gdc-the-phantom-kojima/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/seen-gdc-the-phantom-kojima/#comments SeenGDC The Phantom KojimaWhen Hideo Kojima unveiled the trailer for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, he did so while wearing a head bandage like the one worn in the game by the character known as Ishmael. (He took the bandage off later, so we know it was him.) Joakim Mogren, as far as we could see, was not in attendance.

JoystiqSeen@GDC: The Phantom Kojima originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc-2013hideo-kojimakojima-productionskonamimetal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesthe-phantom-painThu, 28 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[David Hayter says he wasn't asked to voice Metal Gear Solid 5 [update 2: separate games]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/david-hayter-says-he-wasnt-asked-to-voice-metal-gear-solid-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/david-hayter-says-he-wasnt-asked-to-voice-metal-gear-solid-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/david-hayter-says-he-wasnt-asked-to-voice-metal-gear-solid-5/#comments One thing you should have noticed in the today's trailer for Metal Gear Solid 5 is the supposed voice work of Kiefer Sutherland. Sutherland is most certainly not David Hayter, previous voice talent for Big Boss and Solid Snake since the series' humble beginnings on PlayStation, who's indicated he won't be reprising a starring role.

"Well look, at least I had a good run," Hayter tweeted today, likely after seeing the news himself. He also replied "nope" to another Twitter user, who inquired if Hayter was asked to reprise his roles as voice actor. Snake losing his voice is quite a phantom pain in itself, except for the whole Kiefer Sutherland part.

Update: To clarify, the supposed voice of Sutherland can be heard from the bandaged man that is guiding Snake in the trailer, not Snake himself. Presumably, another voice actor has replaced Hayter.

Update 2: Contrary to what Kojima said during the GDC panel today, Konami has confirmed with Joystiq that Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain are indeed separate games.

JoystiqDavid Hayter says he wasn't asked to voice Metal Gear Solid 5 [update 2: separate games] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-hayterkiefer-sutherlandKojima-ProductionsKonamimetal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesthe-phantom-painWed, 27 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Ground Zeroes' is the prologue portion of Metal Gear Solid 5 [update: separate games]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/ground-zeroes-is-the-prologue-portion-of-metal-gear-solid-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/ground-zeroes-is-the-prologue-portion-of-metal-gear-solid-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/ground-zeroes-is-the-prologue-portion-of-metal-gear-solid-5/#comments 'Ground Zeroes' is the prologue portion of Metal Gear Solid 5In typical Kojima fashion, Metal Gear Solid 5 was shown off, separately, as three different things: Ground Zeroes, an open-world game about a rescue mission; The Phantom Pain, about a recovering amputee under attack, and finally, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. In a tweet (or, technically, a Twitlonger post) following the panel, Hideo Kojima cleared up the relationship between all these seemingly different properties.

"'Ground Zeroes' is a prologue of MGSV," Kojima said. "9 years after that event will be 'The Phantom Pain.'" Metal Gear Solid 5 comprises these two parts, much like Metal Gear Solid 2 opened with the Tanker chapter, then moved onto the Plant portion starring Raiden. "The game play demo I presented today is the opening of [The Phantom Pain] which is tutorial that starts from crawling." [Update: Contrary to what Kojima said during the GDC panel today, Konami has confirmed with Joystiq that Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain are indeed separate games.]

Wow, what is this feeling? Is it ... understanding a Metal Gear game?

Gallery: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (GDC 2013)

Joystiq'Ground Zeroes' is the prologue portion of Metal Gear Solid 5 [update: separate games] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc-2013hideo-kojimametal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesthe-phantom-painWed, 27 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain trailer [update 2: separate games]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/the-metal-gear-5-the-phantom-pain-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/the-metal-gear-5-the-phantom-pain-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/the-metal-gear-5-the-phantom-pain-trailer/#comments
Rather than describe the intricate detail with which Kojima Productions' Fox Engine renders Big Boss dragging himself around on the floor, you can just see for yourself.

You'll also hear the surprise Kiefer Sutherland voice work and Garbage soundtrack behind the GDC trailer for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

Update: Konami has not yet confirmed if this is Kiefer Sutherland we're hearing in the trailer, or if it's the best Kiefer Sutherland impersonator we've ever heard.

Update 2: Contrary to what Kojima said during the GDC panel today, Konami has confirmed with Joystiq that Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain are indeed separate games.

Gallery: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (GDC 2013)

JoystiqThe Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain trailer [update 2: separate games] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc-2013metal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesthe-phantom-painWed, 27 Mar 2013 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[The Phantom Pain is Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain [update 2: separate games]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/metal-gear-solid-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/metal-gear-solid-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/metal-gear-solid-5/#comments The Phantom Pain is Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom PainUpdate: A press release confirms Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is coming to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Update 2: Contrary to what Kojima said during the GDC panel today, Konami has confirmed with Joystiq that Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain are indeed separate games.

As many suspected, The Phantom Pain is in fact a new Metal Gear game. It is Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Kojima Productions head Hideo Kojima revealed during a GDC panel today. Kojima told the audience that Metal Gear Solid 5 is made up of both Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain, and the influences of both could clearly be seen in the trailer.

The game stars a Snake who has been in a coma for 9 years. Its opening section will be familiar to anyone who's seen the Phantom Pain trailer, as Snake wakes up in a hospital and must escape an unknown enemy. He's accompanied by a man with a bandaged face and a voice that sounds very much like Kiefer Sutherland. Naturally, it's pretty hard for Snake to stand up after 9 years of lying down, so most of his escape (and the GDC demonstration) is spent crawling on the floor.

Hallucinations seem to play a role in the game, as Snake spies a woman with a resemblance to Psycho Mantis mystically floating up an empty elevator shaft. The hallway is then engulfed in flame, and Snake and his new friend are accosted by a huge, intimidating man ... who soon spontaneously combusts and disappears. Whether these scenes are real or merely hallucination isn't quite clear.

The hospital section serves as a tutorial, after which the game proper begins. Today's demonstration was running on PC.

The Phantom Pain was revealed during the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards, with many immediately speculating that it was related to Metal Gear.

Continue reading The Phantom Pain is Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain [update 2: separate games]

JoystiqThe Phantom Pain is Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain [update 2: separate games] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc-2013hideo-kojimakojima-productionskonamimetal-gearmetal-gear-solid-5the-phantom-painWed, 27 Mar 2013 14:09:00 EST<![CDATA[The Phantom Pain bizarre interview points to FOX engine, GDC reveal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/the-phantom-pain-bizarre-interview-points-to-fox-engine-gdc-rev/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/the-phantom-pain-bizarre-interview-points-to-fox-engine-gdc-rev/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/the-phantom-pain-bizarre-interview-points-to-fox-engine-gdc-rev/#comments The Phantom Pain bizarre interview points to FOX engine, GDC revealThe Phantom Pain is all but confirmed to use the Konami-built FOX engine. The news comes via screenshots of the game displaying the engine's logo, as shown during what some would call an interview, and others... not so much.

GameTrailers' Geoff Keighley sat down to talk about the abstruse game with its alleged creator, Joakim Mogren of the alleged Moby Dick Studio. As you can see, Mogren was covered in bandages because of "an accident," but he'll apparently be healed in time for GDC (two weeks time) where he'll unveil a revelatory Phantom Pain trailer.

Mogren revealed nothing else beyond that, except for some screenshots that oh so subtly displayed the big fat FOX engine logo in the corner. We'll give the man credit: when the eagle-eyed Keighley pointed out the FOX logo, Mogren's shock (cough splutter) was a thing of beauty (see after the break).

In completely unrelated news, Hideo Kojima is giving a talk at this year's GDC, and it'll feature a demonstration of the FOX engine.

Continue reading The Phantom Pain bizarre interview points to FOX engine, GDC reveal

JoystiqThe Phantom Pain bizarre interview points to FOX engine, GDC reveal originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fox-enginegdc-2013Joakim-Mogrenkonamimoby-dick-studiothe-phantom-painFri, 15 Mar 2013 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Phantom Pain trailer, screens are figments of imagination]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/the-phantom-pain-trailer-screens-are-figments-of-imagination/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/the-phantom-pain-trailer-screens-are-figments-of-imagination/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/the-phantom-pain-trailer-screens-are-figments-of-imagination/#comments
Undoubtedly the biggest surprise of the VGAs, the trailer for The Phantom Pain has been the subject of intense speculation. The debut showing for unknown Swedish developer Moby Dick Studio featured an amputee who looked a lot like Snake of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. And if there's one guy in the video game industry who's always been fond of a mysterious tease, it's Hideo Kojima.

Over the weekend, we rounded up the many threads of thought produced by the trailer, touching on everything from the appearance of white petals a la the ending to Metal Gear Solid 3 to movie title sequence designer Kyle Cooper, whose portfolio includes MGS 2 & 3, wearing a The Phantom Pain t-shirt.

Gallery: The Phantom Pain (VGA 2012)

JoystiqThe Phantom Pain trailer, screens are figments of imagination originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Joakim-Mogrenmoby-dick-studiomoby-dick-studiosthe-phantom-painvga-2012Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Phantom Pain speculation round-up: Metal Gear?!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-phantom-pain-speculation-round-up-metal-gear/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-phantom-pain-speculation-round-up-metal-gear/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-phantom-pain-speculation-round-up-metal-gear/#comments The biggest surprise to come from last night's Spike TV Video Game Awards was undoubtedly the announcement of The Phantom Pain, a seemingly new IP from a completely unknown Swedish development house called Moby Dick Studio. The debut trailer showed a hospital under attack from an ominously obscured figure, and ended on a macro shot of an amputee that bore a striking resemblance to Solid Snake of Metal Gear Solid fame.

Wait, Solid Snake? Metal Gear?! But, how could that be possible in a new franchise from a new developer that isn't Konami or Kojima Productions? Hey actually, now that we think about it, why is a brand-new studio getting to premiere a teaser for its first-ever game at an event generally reserved for AAA titles from global publishers?

Perhaps there's more to this than meets the eye. Let's take an in-depth, spoiler filled look at what evidence there is so far, and why all signs point to this being a new entry in the Metal Gear mythos.

Continue reading The Phantom Pain speculation round-up: Metal Gear?!

JoystiqThe Phantom Pain speculation round-up: Metal Gear?! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysishideo-kojimaJoakim-Mogrenla-li-lu-le-lometal-gear-solidmetal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesmicrosoftmoby-dick-studiomoby-dick-studiosplaystationplot-analysisps3speculationthe-phantom-painvga-2012xboxSat, 08 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Phantom Pain announced, main character looks like MGS's Snake [update: video pulled]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/the-phantom-pain-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/the-phantom-pain-announced/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/the-phantom-pain-announced/#comments The Phantom Pain announced, main character looks like MGS's SnakeThe most cryptic trailer so far for the Spike Video Game Awards 2012 was one for a game called The Phantom Pain. We have no idea what it is, since we've never heard of developer Moby Dick Studio.

All we know is that it had a bunch of patients being mowed down and blown up in what looks like a hospital. It ends with a close-up on some dude who had a hook hand and kinda looked like Snake from Metal Gear Solid. We'll update as soon as we figure this out.

Update: Check out the trailer yourself just beyond the break!

Update 2: Sadly, this trailer's been pulled. We'll update this post (and the rest of our VGA 2012 posts with video) as soon as it's back up.

Continue reading The Phantom Pain announced, main character looks like MGS's Snake [update: video pulled]

JoystiqThe Phantom Pain announced, main character looks like MGS's Snake [update: video pulled] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>moby-dickmoby-dick-studiosphantom-painthe-phantom-painvga-2012Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:17:00 EST