Metal Gear Solid

If you register at the Konami booth (#1914) at the Game Developer Conference 2012, you will receive a free t-shirt with the recently released artwork of a recruiting Big Boss.

On the back is a picture of the Kojima Productions and the Fox Engine logo, as well as the link that leads to the recruitment page. The t-shirts will have a limited quantity according to Hideo Kojima.

For the people who can’t attend GDC, Kojima Productions promises ‘something’ on their Twitter, and tells us to ‘stay tuned’.

Source: Kojima Productions Twitter, Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

Kojima Productions was back in the motion capture studio today.

On his Twitter Kojima wrote actors were getting basic training on how to move.

An impressive line up of actors, and an equally impressive amount of weapons can be seen. They are getting instructions from the man pointing the gun, possibly Motosada Mori, Kojima Productions’ military advisor for the Metal Gear games. But since he is out of focus it’s hard to tell. Kojima didn’t specify wether this was just training in general, or preparation for the motion capture of a specific game, like Project Ogre, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance or Metal Gear Solid 5.

Source: Kojima’s Twitter

Project Ogre updates

Hideo Kojima posted an update regarding the Project Ogre title on his English Twitter:

Oh BTW, my Ogre Project doesn’t mean a game like a ogre nor a game create w/ soul of ogre but a game w/ the use of ogre.

It seems like the ‘Ogre’ part has to be taken quite literal, and the game may feature ogres, or monsters in some form. But it remains quite vague.

In addition, Kojima wrote he is doing some experiments related to the Ogre Project.

REX gets a price and release date

ThreeA Toys have announced the price for their impressive looking Metal Gear REX model, as well as a release date. Not surprisingly, it will burn a hole in your pocket. The mech will be for sale in the Bambaland Store on March 2nd for $490.

More photos of the extremely impressive looking statue can be found here.

Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D Promo Material

Febraury 21st Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D was released in North America, and March 8th will be the Japanese release date. Kojima Productions posted some photos on Twitter of promotional material for the title.

Play Arts Action Figures

The studio’s official Twitter account posted some more photos of the Play Arts Gray Fox figure as well.

Also available in the Square Enix store, is a Solid Snake action figure from the same line.

For more pictures, or if you are interested in purchasing the figures, go to the Square Enix Store.

Metal Gear Online gets a sendoff

In Japan, Kojima Productions will hold Metal Gear Online tournaments and events before the closure of the service on June 12th. The staff will also be participating in events. For more information check the official site.

Source: Kojima’s, Korekado’s, Tsubuyaki’s & Kojima Productions’ Twitter, Tomopop

Kojima posted some new pictures on his Twitter of a Raiden figure that’s in the works, and being developed by Play Arts. It is Raiden from Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, sporting his futuristic cyborg ninja outfit and bandana in front of one eye. He also seems to be holding something that resembles a Rail Gun, or maybe it’s a special sheath for his sword.

Update: Kojima posted some more photos of the action figure, which can be seen below.

In addition, Kojima posted some new photos of the Solidus Snake action figure.

It is likely that both figures are being made to celebrate the Metal Gear 25th Anniversary this year, in addition to those that have already been announced.

Source: Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

On the Kojima Productions Recruitment Site that just went up, a link can be found leading to ‘classified information’, urging you not to click on it. It appears as a brown envelope with a photo sticking out.

Clicking on the link will reveal a picture with artwork of Big Boss on it, with a dog standing at his side.

Notice the patch on Big Boss’ shoulder with the head of a dog on it, and a text that says ‘Diamond Dogs’. Kojima posted a picture on his Twitter showing such a patch:

Diamand Dogs is the name of an album of David Bowie, as well as a movie from 2007 about a mercenary hired to protect a group of fortune hunters in the wilderness of China. It is also the name of a science fiction story written by Alastair Reynolds. Also, mercenaries are referred to as ‘Dogs of War’. Whether it refers to one of those things or not, remains a mystery for now.

Interesting is the fact that the dog looks similar as the one in the FOX Engine demo that was revealed last E3.

What could it all mean? A new Metal Gear Solid game? One of the reasons Kojima Productions is recruiting for new staff? Hopefully more will be revealed during the Game Developers Conference next month.

Source: Kojima Productions Recruitment Site, Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

Kojima Productions will be holding a new round of recruitments during the Game Developers Conference Next Month. This is what they posted on the official website:

Kojima Productions will be returning to the GDC Career Pavilion (March 6th – 9th) to search for skillful engineers, artists, and game creators including:

• Project engineers for the latest Metal Gear Solid targeted for high-end consoles and PC
• Engineers to help develop next-gen game engine technology for use with the “FOX Engine.
• Kojima Productions Brand Manager

If you are interested in becoming part of our team, please visit the Konami Group booth, #1914, in the Career Pavilion.　We look forward to meeting lots of enthusiastic and talented candidates.

Interesting is the mentioning of a ‘next’ Metal Gear Solid Game, targeted for high end consoles and PC, and the FOX Engine, that most likely will be used to run the game studio’s new games.

You can find more information here. The studio is looking for programmers, character and environment artists, animators, game designers and composers, and more.

Source: Kojima Productions Recruitment Site

In a newsletter the Smithsonian Museum for American Art confirmed that Hideo Kojima will be appearing at the GameFest, which marks the opening of the video game exhibition, that will among other games feature Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2. The legendary game designer will be holding a conversation with the museum’s curator.

“Hideo Kojima is considered one of the most important and innovative video game designers of his generation. Best known for the Metal Gearseries, published by Konami, Kojima introduced a new cinematic style of video game that blended narrative, character development, and artful graphics. Join us for a fascinating conversation with a video game design master and The Art of Video Games curator, Chris Melissinos.”

The conversation will take place on March 17 2012, from 12:oo to 1:30pm. Tickets are free, but registration is required. For more information follow this link.

Source: Smithsonian Museum Official Website

Kojima has been busy doing an experiment on 3D capture, as he wrote himself. He posted some photos on his Twitter showing full body capture by means of a colorful device, some including military equipment.

Kojima pointed out that the last photo was meant for texturing.

Wether these are just tests or actually will be used in a game remains to be seen. Likely it has to do with the FOX Engine, but Kojima didn’t specify.

Source: Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

Kojima posted two photos on his Twitter of two impressive looking bust statues representing Solid Snake and Big Boss. They are made by Heavy Gauge for the Wonder Festival.

Kojima noted that Solid Snake has been colored black by Shinkawa, while Big Boss will stay white.

Kojima also posted a short message saying that he forgot to attend a Project Ogre meeting, a ‘spec presentation’, because he was busy checking out Metal Gear Rising at Korekado’s desk.

Source: Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

During the Kojima Productions podcast it was announced Kojima Productions will be recruiting for new staff members during the upcoming Games Developer’s Conference, which will be held in March. Two years ago, the company successfully recruited several new programmers during the conference. According to Kojima Productions, this news is ‘bigger than you think’, which could be interpreted in a lot of ways, including possible development for next generation systems.

More details will appear in the next few days on the podcast’s official homepage, as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: Kojima Productions Report