Konami says MGS4 may be a multiconsole game

[Benstamania]

Source: Joystiq

Konami executive Kazumi Kitaue, head of Konami North America and European ops, dropped a bombshell today saying that Metal Gear Solid 4 may move to other consoles in an attempt to recoup development costs. He also said the PS3 price drop may not turn the ship around. The natural assumption, given the console hardware technology, is that Metal Gear Solid 4 will see its day on the Xbox 360, destroying one of the final feathers in Sony's hat of exclusives.

In regards to the PS3 price cut, Kitaue unleashes the backhand with quickness. "I don't expect a substantial impact ... with $500, you can buy a person computer," Kitaue told Reuters. It's been surprising to see the mainstream media pick up on the $100 price drop without acknowledging that there is a new "better" model at the same price which caused all the calls for a price drop in the first place.

But for gamers, the first acknowledgment that Metal Gear Solid might find its way to other consoles is what's really going to shake things up. Kitaue says, "Since Metal Gear Solid was born for the PlayStation, we would like to keep it a PlayStation game. But we might have to take some steps." Whether those steps are announced this week or if this is some last ditch effort by Konami to force Sony to pony up exclusivity cash, which they say they do not do, is worth wondering about. If MGS goes to the Xbox 360 ... well, all eyes will be on Final Fantasy XIII as the last famous third-party man standing.

So unless Sony throws a ton of cash at Konami MGS4 will be on the 360. Can't say I'm surprised.

 

[Superman1314]

Me neither. I think the days of Third Party Exclusives are numberd for both PS3 and X360. With the exception of First party titles, I don't expect to see many exclusives on either system. It's just good business frankly. When you don't go exclusive, you get a wider fanbase, and practically double your consumerbase.

 

[arachnid-guy]

Ho hum. If this is true, then there'll be no end to the Xbot barrage of abuse.

God, I HATE that incessant 'rivalry'.

 

[Superman1314]

^

No kidding.

 

[L.A.]

They're trying to save face but the numbers keep coming back red.
They're greasing the way for a version in a green box.
Not that I personally care; its not my kind of game.
But I do see it as significant that we're seeing the "Wii/60" scenario that MS predicted a year ago playing out to a "t". Basically, since all Wii games are in effect Nintendo exclusive *and* Nintendo buyers outside Japan overwhelmingly only buy first party games, japanese developers are facing the prospect of developing for Wii for japan and for PS3 for export. And since PS3 alone can't support next-gen games, they are forced to support 360 to meet payroll. End result, MS wins japanese developer support for 360 even if japanese consumers don't support the box.
Sort-of a backdoor win, but a win nonetheless, no?

 

[Benstamania]

I'll take an Xbot and Nintendork over a Sony ****e any day, all fanboys are annoying but Sony fanboys are snooty...and tend to have an "I'm better then you" attitude.

That's what I hate, play whatever freaking game you want...I don't care, but don't deny the facts that exclusive games are going the way of the dodo.

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

I'll take an Xbot and Nintendork over a Sony ****e any day, all fanboys are annoying but Sony fanboys are snooty...and tend to have an "I'm better then you" attitude.

That's what I hate, play whatever freaking game you want...I don't care, but don't deny the facts that exclusive games are going the way of the dodo.

same can be said about nintendorks. 360 fans to a lesser extent.

 

[Avalanche]

Seems like Konami are either playing, or making a shrewd attempt at getting something from Sony in return for exclusivity. I can understand their situation, but to make an announcement that they may port to the 360 just seems underhand. By all means port the game if you think you're not going to get enough profit, but announce it when you've actually decided.

In breaking news, Konami may think about developing a new fighting game.

Yeah, just tell us when you're actually developing it.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Wow, what a surprise

 

[Mr. Credible]

Me neither. I think the days of Third Party Exclusives are numberd for both PS3 and X360. With the exception of First party titles, I don't expect to see many exclusives on either system. It's just good business frankly. When you don't go exclusive, you get a wider fanbase, and practically double your consumerbase.

yeah... pretty much.


sadly, with the technology getting more and more expensive, the cost of making games getting higher and higher, you simply have to expand your fanbase.

i just don't see why microsoft exclusives (halo, mass effect, etc...) aren't having to follow suit. i mean, i know microsoft has deep pockets, but i don't think that they're that much deeper than sony's.

 

[WolfCypher]

I'm not that surprised. One less reason to buy a PS3 over a 360...

 

[블라스]

How many hardcore Sony fans would actually want play a Ps3 Halo, though?
Same thing with hardcore MS fans never even wanting to tough a MGS game

Ugh, I hate fanboys.

 

[Avalanche]

i just don't see why microsoft exclusives (halo, mass effect, etc...) aren't having to follow suit. i mean, i know microsoft has deep pockets, but i don't think that they're that much deeper than sony's.

A lot of the Sony exclusives have jumped ship because the PS3 is selling poorly. Were the PS3 as successful as the Wii for example, I doubt we'd be seeing Sony lose quite so many exclusives.

 

[Spidey]

A lot of the Sony exclusives have jumped ship because the PS3 is selling poorly. Were the PS3 as successful as the Wii for example, I doubt we'd be seeing Sony lose quite so many exclusives.

This is true.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

How many hardcore Sony fans would actually want play a Ps3 Halo, though?
Same thing with hardcore MS fans never even wanting to tough a MGS game

Ugh, I hate fanboys.

But those arent the total population, they are a small percentage of it. So if Sony offends a few hardcore fans, big deal, but if they offend the rest...BIG problem.

 

[블라스]

But those arent the total population, they are a small percentage of it. So if Sony offends a few hardcore fans, big deal, but if they offend the rest...BIG problem.

So making MGS4 for 360 (which will happen) would be offensive to the rest of the Sony fans?

 

[ProjectPat2280]

So making MGS4 for 360 (which will happen) would be offensive to the rest of the Sony fans?

It shouldnt be no. Only the fanboys would be up in arms about it, the casual population doesnt care.

 

[블라스]

Ahhh...then we're all cool!

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Ahhh...then we're all cool!

I think i might have misinterpreted what you said, and poorly phrased what i said, o well, i think were on the same page tho.

 

[블라스]

Yeah, it was confusing but I just kept typing
But yeah, we seem to be thinking the same thing

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

yeah... pretty much.


sadly, with the technology getting more and more expensive, the cost of making games getting higher and higher, you simply have to expand your fanbase.

i just don't see why microsoft exclusives (halo, mass effect, etc...) aren't having to follow suit. i mean, i know microsoft has deep pockets, but i don't think that they're that much deeper than sony's.

halo is first party. mass effect,they paid to have exclusive so money does'nt really come ofthe developers pocket.

 

[hippie_hunter]

i just don't see why microsoft exclusives (halo, mass effect, etc...) aren't having to follow suit. i mean, i know microsoft has deep pockets, but i don't think that they're that much deeper than sony's.

1. Halo is a first party title, it can't go the Playstation 3 or Wii because Microsoft is making it.

2. Mass Effect is a second party title, Microsoft isn't making it, but they're publishing the game.

3. Microsoft's pockets are A LOT deeper than Sony's. They paid Take-Two $25 million to get two downloadable levels for Grand Theft Auto IV only on the Xbox 360.

 

[Dark_Lord]

OXM rumor: MGS4 on 360 a few months after PS3

Alright, so Konami's secret, poetic announcement turned out not to be Metal Gear Solid 4 for the Xbox 360. It turned out to be Silent Hill 5 (which is actually bigger news for some people). Still, a good rumor never dies (and a great rumor comes true).

While the MGS4 360 rumor has yet to come true, a reliable tipster tells us that Official Xbox Magazine has taken it upon themselves to toss another log on the fire. In the most recent Rumor Mole section, OXM declares that a "bankable source" told them that Metal Gear Solid 4 is definitely coming to Xbox 360. The game is reportedly being ported by a separate team -- which isn't headed by Hideo Kojima -- and should ship "a few months" after the PS3 version.

source: http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/07/19/oxm-rumor-mole-mgs4-on-360-months-after-ps3/

 

[sandwraith]

Never doubt the power of a death threat my friend. It's what's kept Kojima on MGS for years now. But considering how MGS is Kojima's baby I don't think it would be right for Konami to go around his back and port the game to other consoles without his say-so.

And honestly I'm tired of rumors like this. Why is it so important for MGS4 to go multi-plat? Bragging rights? 360ers have plenty of other games to play so why is it so important for Microsoft to get MGS4? Undercutting the competition?

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Never doubt the power of a death threat my friend. It's what's kept Kojima on MGS for years now. But considering how MGS is Kojima's baby I don't think it would be right for Konami to go around his back and port the game to other consoles without his say-so.

And honestly I'm tired of rumors like this. Why is it so important for MGS4 to go multi-plat? Bragging rights? 360ers have plenty of other games to play so why is it so important for Microsoft to get MGS4? Undercutting the competition?

It's just business. Konami execs want MGS4 to have the largest sales potential possible, Kojima's fighting to keep the game exclusive.

My take: the game releases on the PS3, Konami gives the code to another dev team to port it to the 360, it shows up on the 360 a few months later.