Kojima confirms MGS4 as PS3 Exclusive

[Flint]

I know we have MGS4 threads already, but here is an article pasted from Gametrailers.com where Kojima says MGS4 will be PS3 exclusive:

Apr 5, 2007 @ 2:13pm


Summary:
Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima simultaneously appeases Sony's fanboys and disappoints Microsoft's by stating that MGS4 will remain PS3-exclusive.


Full Text:
By Eugene Huang

Gaming blog Kotaku recently caught up with Hideo Kojima, the brains behind the influential Metal Gear series, shortly after his keynote address at last week's GO3 expo in Perth, Australia. Although both Kojima's speech and the subsequent interview run across the whole gamut of Kojima's development experience, Kotaku asked the question that has been plaguing the minds of PS3 and Xbox 360 fanboys alike:

Will Metal Gear Solid 4 remain PS3 exclusive?

To answer this question, Kojima, perhaps appropriately, equated the three next gen systems to a moviegoing experience.

"The PS3 is like the theatre, it's a little bit high-priced but it has to be high quality as well," he explained. "The 360 is a DVD, it still needs to be high quality but you need more variations, while the Wii is almost like a TV channel, because every game you have it with your family".

So how does this relate to PS3 exclusivity, you may ask? When the subject changed to Devil May Cry 4 going multiplatform, Kojima knew exactly where the conversation was going.

"[L]ike I said, MGS4 is aimed for the movie theatre, it's aimed for the PS3, so the game's scenario and graphics need this theatre-type hardware," Kojima responded. "It's when a producer has a game that can work on the 'DVD level' that a game will go multiplatform."

Kojima also stated his belief that any decision made regarding a particular game's multiplatform status is mostly the decision of the game's producer.

The interview also touched on several other hot topics, including motion sensing versus rumble. Kojima stated that he would prefer to include force feedback, and because of the recent settlement between Sony and Immersion, that may be possible. However, he calls the possible implementation of rumble a "race against time", depending on how soon Sony brings forth a controller that once again includes rumble technology.

But Kojima fans also wanted to know if MGS 4 would truly be his last Metal Gear game. In response, Kojima stated:

"If users want more Metal Gear, then I will probably step up as producer, like the James Bond series does. That way I can have new, upcoming directors making MGS while I oversee the project, and then perhaps I can move onto something new."



So at last can all the 360 fanboys shut up about MGS4 now?

[Flint]

Here's the full story from Kotaku (where the Gametrailers article above got it's info from). I've put the bits about PS3 exclusivity in bold text:

So Kojima's address at GO3 contained...not much, aside from a casual stroll down memory lane. Straight afterwards, though, I had a chance to sit down with Mr. Kojima (sadly, no tea OR biscuits) and talk Metal Gear, movies and "the rumble guy".

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Metal Gear. 20 years. It's a long time to be making the same game. So I ask him if he's surprised that he's still churning out Metal Gear games this far down the line. "I'm very surprised", he says. "Twenty years ago when I created my first one, I thought it'd just be over. To be more extreme, I didn't think the fist one would sell at all!".

Oh, but sell they did, and when games sell, you make more of them. "But I have kept making Metal Gear games", he says. "When I look back, while it looks like the same game, I've been adding new features and using new technology each time, so it's never felt like I've been making the same game."

This focus on new tech was a big part of his address, as with each advance in console hardware he says he was able to make fundamental changes to the series, culminating in the crazy wartime escapades of MGS4. "I have to say, the evolution of technology, that has helped me to keep 'creating' Metal Gear", he adds.

Since Metal Gear Solid 4 has come up, I do the polite thing and ask how it's coming along. "Its almost at the 'shooting stage' of creating a movie", Kojima says. "All the design and scenarios are finished, we're just completing the actual game".

It's been a long time coming, so it can't have been easy. Kojima agrees. "Nothing was easy", he says. "Everything has been hard, because we've set not just a high bar for ourselves but a number of bars. So there's nothing easy, everything is hard!"

With rumble having been a key aspect of the series thus far, I ask him his thoughts on the issue now that Sony and Immersion have made kissy-kissy. "I want to use rumble, yes", he says, "but it's a race against time. If it can make it in in time I'd like to use it, yes."

"The part that's troubling me, I cant really say...". He pauses. Oh, do go on: "...but we always designed the game without rumble, and I had great ideas without rumble, so if rumble comes back we have a decision to make whether to leave that new feature in or to take it out and replace it with rumble".

Could you patch it? A later update would at least give players the choice. "I want to implement it, rumble, yes", he says. "I'm not thinking about a patch, though". Oh. Well, early days, I guess. Maybe rumble and motion-sensing can't get along after all?

He won't say, but if he had to choose between the two, it looks like rumble would win out. His "other" idea doesn't have a nickname and a long-term relationship with the company. "Ever since MGS1 there was a specific guy, nicknamed the 'rumble creator', who worked on it for us", he says. "But he's been on a long vacation since we didn't think rumble was going to be in MGS4, so we're calling him back right now". Hmm. Long vacation sounds...ominous.

Moving on, I remind him of a comment he made last year comparing each of the three current consoles to "different kinds of dinner". Did he still think that was the case, now that all three are on the market? Nope. "They're more like a movie theatre metaphor", he says.

"The PS3 is like the theatre, it's a little bit high-priced but it has to be high quality as well. The 360 is a DVD, it still needs to be high quality but you need more variations, while the Wii is almost like a TV channel, because every game you have it with your family".

I look for a funny/revealing insight into the comment, then realise he's probably quite close to the mark. Still, by that admission, if the PS3 is Hollywood, is he feeling the heat of being the system's first big, exclusive title? "Yes, there is pressure", he admits, "but there is Final Fantasy XIII coming out as well, so it's not all me!".

Still on MGS4, I ask whether this really is the end. He's said repeatedly he wants to walk away at the end of this game, and the trailers seem to show everyone from the series getting together for one final shootout. So when MGS4 hits, will you hang up your boots? "Well, atually its really up to the users, its up to them to decide", he offers.

"If users want more Metal Gear, then I will probably step up as producer, like the James Bond series does", he says. "That way I can have new, upcoming directors making MGS while I oversee the project, and then perhaps I can move onto something new".

Something new, eh? Like your long, and oft-rumoured collaboration with Suda? "The collaboration with Suda is a little different", Kojima says. "It's something I've been thinking about for about 10 years now, but unfortunately can't concentrate on right now because we're so busy with MGS4".

Pity. So, Devil May Cry 4, going multiplatform. Thoughts? Comments? "I think it's up to each project, and the individual producer", he says. "If they want to take it multiplatform, they will". I'm going somewhere with this question, and he knows exactly where that is...

"But like I said, MGS4 is aimed for the movie theatre, it's aimed for the PS3, so the game's scenario and graphics need this theatre-type hardware. It's when a producer has a game that can work on the 'DVD level' that a game will go multiplatform", he says. Sorry kids. Your "OMGMGS4360" banners will have to come out another day.

Since we've opened up this can of worms, I may as well get his thoughts on it. Why, I ask, do you think this rumour simply refuses to go away? "Because 360 owners want it on 360, obviously", he quips.

Righto. Moving right along, I ask about Kojima Productions. Does having your own company make it easier to focus on games, or are you finding yourself caught up in boring business stuff?

"That's a very difficult question to answer, because I can't really say", he says. "It's both. It's now quicker, the speed of making games is faster. But at the same time, because of this speed you need to make tough business decisions quicker, so it's had both its good and its bad points".

Anyone who's sat through a good, hearty MGS talk-fest knows Kojima loves his movies. So I ask, if you had your time again, would you have still gone into games? Or would you have rather made movies for a crust?

"Well, if I could go back in time to the point where I hadn't created a game yet, and didn't know how much fun they were, then I would probably choose to become a movie director", Kojima says. "But, don't get me wrong, it's really fun to create games, and knowing how much fun games are I'd take the same path. I hope I can continue to create games for as long as I live".

But what about media outside of movies? Do you draw inspiration from books, comics and music? "Well, yes, everything", he says. "Novels, comics, it all effects me and inspires me. I only have 24 hours a day, so I listen to music while I work, I can read books when I get home and only after those, because they take so much time, do I watch movies. But they all inspire me".

And that was that. Charming fellow. And rad MGS4 shirt to boot.

[Xion]

his whole theatre vs DVD kind of makes him look like an ass, saying any other experience is basically inferior..

[Flint]

nowhere near a clear answer..smoke and mirrors..it will come unless he doesnt want to make ALOT of money? his whole theatre vs DVD kind of makes him look like an ass, saying any other experience is basically inferior..

You're just annoyed because you're a 360 fan!^_^

It's this bit that is the clincher:

"But like I said, MGS4 is aimed for the movie theatre, it's aimed for the PS3, so the game's scenario and graphics need this theatre-type hardware. It's when a producer has a game that can work on the 'DVD level' that a game will go multiplatform",

He's saying it's specifically designed for the PS3 hardware - it's not designed to be a multiplatform game. The implication is that a 360 version would be at best a compromised port, which would do neither Konami or Microsoft any favours.

Sorry, but that's from the man himself...

[Rekhyt]

his whole theatre vs DVD kind of makes him look like an ass, saying any other experience is basically inferior..

*Gasp*

Blasphemer

[Xion]

"But like I said, MGS4 is aimed for the movie theatre, it's aimed for the PS3, so the game's scenario and graphics need this theatre-type hardware. It's when a producer has a game that can work on the 'DVD level' that a game will go multiplatform",

He's saying it's specifically designed for the PS3 hardware - it's not designed to be a multiplatform game. The implication is that a 360 version would be at best a compromised port, which would do neither Konami or Microsoft any favours.

http://images.xboxyde.com/gallery/public/5179/904_0001.jpg
http://images.xboxyde.com/gallery/public/5179/904_0002.jpg

yeah it would TOTTALY need to be downgraded

[Flint]

http://images.xboxyde.com/gallery/pu...9/904_0001.jpg
http://images.xboxyde.com/gallery/pu...9/904_0002.jpg

yeah it would TOTTALY need to be downgraded

Mass Effect has no relevance whatsoever to this discussion. It is a completely different game of a completely different genre by a completely different developer. And anyway, there is more to a game than just nice graphics, I would imagine that as MGS4 is being made specifically for the PS3 that all the logic, AI and gameplay routines would be designed specifically to get the best out of the cell/rsx architecture - this would make porting the game to any other machine incredibly hard. This works the same in reverse as a game designed specifically around the 360 architecture would be just as hard to port to the PS3.

Honestly, why do 360 fans take so much offence at the prospect of PS3 exclusive games? Why do they think that every game should be on 360 and get so upset when some developers choose PS3 over the 360? Some games just wont be released on 360, so either deal with it or buy a PS3 if you have the money.

[Xion]

Mass Effect has no relevance whatsoever to this discussion. It is a completely different game of a completely different genre by a completely different developer. And anyway, there is more to a game than just nice graphics, I would imagine that as MGS4 is being made specifically for the PS3 that all the logic, AI and gameplay routines would be designed specifically to get the best out of the cell/rsx architecture - this would make porting the game to any other machine incredibly hard. This works the same in reverse as a game designed specifically around the 360 architecture would be just as hard to port to the PS3.

Honestly, why do 360 fans take so much offence at the prospect of PS3 exclusive games? Why do they think that every game should be on 360 and get so upset when some developers choose PS3 over the 360? Some games just wont be released on 360, so either deal with it or buy a PS3 if you have the money.


im not a 360 fanboy, and i dont detest the PS3 either.. i simply take offense at the system wars..any PS3 game can be on 360, and any 360 game can be on ps3..its a matter of optimization....if a game cannot be on another console, the reason aint tech.

regardless, this whole ps3 vs 360 s*it is stupid

[Allen Walker]

If MGS4 was to go to X360, it would have to come in a box like this.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j174/snakeraser/mgs4.png

LOL

[Flint]

im not a 360 fanboy, and i dont detest the PS3 either.. i simply take offense at the system wars.. any PS3 game can be on 360, and any 360 game can be on ps3..its a matter of optimization....if a game cannot be on another console, the reason aint tech.

Same here, I'm not a PS3 fanboy and I don't hate the the 360 - I was not addressing you personally with my remarks about 360 fans, it was more a reference to some of the idiots I have encountered on certain other gaming forums.

I started this thread because it was an interesting piece of news, not to start a system wars argument!

The point is, I think converting a game designed specifically for one console architecture to another completely different architecture is much,much harder than a lot of people seem to realise. I think this will become more clear as the developers gain familiarity with both PS3 and 360 and in the long term I actually think there will be a greater focus on exclusives rather than multiformat titles, in order to show off the individual capabilities of both machines. PS3 is better at some things than 360 and 360 is better at some things than PS3 and we will see this in the long term.


regardless, this whole ps3 vs 360 s*it is stupid

Agreed 100%! I seem to recall our discussion in the Lost Odyssey thread...:)

[Fenristh]

his whole theatre vs DVD kind of makes him look like an ass, saying any other experience is basically inferior..
You just called Kojima "an ass"? :nag:

Either way im glad its exclusive. I dont have a problem with the 360 but Microsoft are being pricks lately.

[Kadaj]

HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO HIDEO. :nag:

I never thought it would go multi, but im glad its secured.