Metal Gear Solid

Konami released some new screens for the 3DS remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. First, here are some cutscene screens.

There are also some new gameplay pictures.

Lastly, Konami released some photos of the merchandise that launches alongside the game.

Source: Konami

At this very moment Kojima is working on a new game, of which very little is known. Usually we don’t get more information than a photo of Kojima’s lunch on Twitter, accompanied by the text that he’s having a ‘Project Ogre’ lunch meeting. However, over the last few years we have had little snippets of news regarding Hideo Kojima’s mysterious project. Because it was easy to miss some of them, I have collected them all in one place, while separating rumors from facts.

Updated April 13th 2012

• Aside from ‘Project Ogre’, Kojima also refers to the title as ‘Devil Project’. Kojima stated on his Twitter that the title doesn’t refer to a game ‘like an ogre’, but a game ‘with the use of ogre’. What this means exactly remains to be seen.
• Some time ago Kojima talked about a taboo game that was so controversial it could cost him his job. It’s not entirely clear wether the taboo game and Project Ogre are one and the same thing, but it seems likely. At the Smithsonian Museum interview in March 2012 Kojima mentioned that Project Ogre would confront delicate issues.
• Project Ogre will be ‘a Hideo Kojima game’, which means Kojima is the ‘author’ of the game, he plays an important role in the game’s development.
• It will be a multiplatform title, but won’t come to Wii U.
• It will be transfarring enabled.
• It will run on the Fox Engine.
• Project Ogre will be a ‘subdued experience’, as Kojima describes it.
• On the surface it will look like Kojima’s previous work (Metal Gear), but once you get into it, it will be a different experience.
• Project Ogre will take a lot of time to develop, according to Kojima.
• Rather than making something very cinematic, Kojima wants to make something very open and free with this game, where players can walk around and explore.
• Players should even after 100 hours of playing be able to find new stuff in the game.
• Kojima released a single screenshot on his Twitter:

Which looks similar to this earlier photo of a presentation:

The jungle environments in turn look similar to those in the Fox Engine tech demo Kojima showed at E3 2011:

It is unknown wether or not they are related.

• In the Kojima Productions podcast of January 26th 2012, in reaction to the complaints that Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance wouldn’t feature stealth, the staff members mentioned that Kojima is working on a more traditional title that the fans would appreciate, and that uses the Fox Engine. It isn’t confirmed wether or not this is Project Ogre, but it is likely, since it was talked about in the context of Kojima working on a new IP. It’s the most logical conclusion I can draw.
• Project Ogre will probably be shown at E3 2012.

Sources: Kojima’s Twitter, OPM, CNN, GameTrailers, The Kojima Productions Report (Hideoblog)

During the Kojima Productions report, a listener asked how the Fox Engine would relate to next gen consoles. The Kojima Productions staff shed some light on this issue.

• The Fox Engine is dynamic and scalable, so it is suitable for multiplatform and next-gen systems.
• Compared to previous engines made by the studio, such as the Metal Gear Solid 4 engine  it’s much easier to make games on.
• Some features for easier use include: (almost) drag and drop level design, realtime collision detection, everything being dynamic, recalculated on the fly (such as enemy routes).
• Kojima Productions can make games faster and better with it, so expect more games from them.

Source: The Kojima Productions Report (Hideoblog)

In their latest podcast, staff members of Kojima Productions have revealed some new details about Metal Gear Rising Revengeance.

Some of the info comes from the latest Famitsu magazine, whereas others are responses to questions sent in by listeners.

• The disparity between the Raiden of MGS4′s ending and Metal Gear Rising’s Raiden will be explained.
• There is a new Zan Datsu system, which has been rebalanced and tweaked, and made more fast paced and dynamic to match the action gameplay.
• In this game you are not hiding from the enemies, but they are hiding from you, and they will try to ambush you.
• The game will have CODEC conversations, probably even more than MGS4 did.
• You will still be able to cut almost everything.
• There are two ways to approach enemies: you can cut very quickly, or cut more strategically, aiming for specific parts.

Source: The Kojima Productions Report (Hideoblog)

The new Famitsu, a famous Japanese game magazine, features an article about Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, including some new screens.

On this image, Raiden can be seen holding the spine of an enemy he has defeated.

Yesterday Tsubuyaki, Kojima Productions’ spokesperson, posted some photos of the same article, which you can see here.

Source: Metal Gear Aimgehess

Kojima has posted some more pictures of the Metal Gear Solid snake skin 3DS.

Here the device has been switched on:

Earlier today Kojima also had a Project Ogre lunch meeting, but other than the dish he ate during the meeting, he didn’t share any details.

Source: Kojima’s Twitter

One new interesting tweet today, by Tsubuyaki, Kojima Productions’ spokesperson.

An unhealthy looking Raiden tearing out a robotic spine.

This single new screen appeared in the Japanese gaming magazine Dengeki PlayStation. It shows that the spine ripping mechanic is still in the game.

Update January 27th:  Another screen has been posted on the internet.

On a side note, Kojima made a business trip to Platinum Games, most likely to check up on Rising’s progress. He posted some interesting photos of the developer’s studio.

Kojima’s gift to Platinum: the razor blade business cards.

Bayonetta’s guns

Kojima didn’t come alone, he brought Rising’s scenario writer, Mr Tamari, with him.

Source: Kojima’s & Tsubuyaki’s Twitter

This may be slightly old, but still interesting to see. During the motion capture of the car chase scene that was recorded for Metal Gear Rising a few days ago, Yuji Korekado (the man in charge of the game) posted some photos on his Twitter. The most interesting one being this one, of a wooden katana with motion capture markers on it:

Additionally, he posted some other pictures of the motion capture session.

Korekado writes additions and modifications were being made on the fly

Rising’s scenario writer suddenly has to join in

Source: Yuji Korekado’s Twitter

The English web shop Zavvi, which is the exclusive seller of the limited edition for the European MGS HD Collection, has posted information on their blog about the exact contents of the package.

In a video recorded at Konami London Office the set is getting unboxed.

MGS HD Collection Unboxing

The package contains:

• A big paper box with an artwork on it
• A copy of the game in the regular case
• An exclusive tin case
• An 250+ page artbook
• An exclusive t-shirt with Shinkawa’s artwork on it

There will only be 13000 copies of this edition available, 8000 for PlayStation 3 and 5000 for Xbox360.

Source: Zavvi’s Blog

Kojima Productions’ Twittering staff has posted some new photos of Metal Gear related items. Firstly, Jiroo Tsubayaki (member of the Kojima Productions staff) reminded his followers the MGS 3D Primium Package is available on the Konami Style site. He posted a picture of the limited edition handheld that is included.

Looks like he’s comparing the snake skinned system with a normal one.

Kojima posted a photo of the Metal Gear Solid 4 themed risk game. Appearantly there are two versions: the limited edition and the normal edition.

Kojima wrote it will only be available in North America.

Lastly the game designer posted a picture of Zone of the Enders HD.

Source: Kojima’s & Tsubuyaki’s Twitter