Metal Gear Solid

After taking on more of a background role for Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, Hideo Kojima will be stepping up to the forefront again by writing, directing and doing the game design for Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes, as well as producing it. This was reported by Japanese gaming website Game Watch.

This means Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes will be ‘a Hideo Kojima game’, or in other words a game of which he is responsible for everything and not just the producing.

Source: Game Watch, neoGAF

According to an article on the Japanese gaming website 4Gamer.net, the characters in the Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes video can be heard talking about Chico and Paz, as well as Mother Base. Furthermore, the voice of Tomokazu Sugita can be heard, who is the Japanese voice actor for Miller in Peace Walker.

Of course this doesn’t necessarily mean that any or all of them are in the game, but they seem to play a part in the story at least.

Source: 4Gamer.net, neoGAF

Kojima made an interesting comment relating to his quarter century career:

Avi-san’s speech yesterday reminded me of the days in 25 years ago. Back then Internet didn’t exist tl.gd/j3o4lr

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) augustus 31, 2012

Avi-san’s speech yesterday reminded me of the days in 25 years ago. Back then Internet didn’t exist and I had no budget so had to give up on doing location scout nor military training, instead had to spend my own money to purchase materials. One day I went to my boss if I can go to library to plan the setting, but he declined my request saying “Game does not need story”.

Things have changed a lot since Kojima took on his job in the game industry 25 years ago, and not without Kojima’s help.

Source: Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

“FOX” and “XOF”.twitter.com/Kojima_Hideo/s…

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) augustus 31, 2012

Kojima posted a photo on Twitter that caused some internet debate. Underneath the already known artwork of Snake from Ground Zeroes, is another sheet of paper of which only the corner can be seen. We can see the word ‘Snake’, but not much more. It seems to be a picture of Old Snake, which leads some people to believe he will appear in Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. But it’s hard to tell for sure.

There is also the text ‘FOX and XOF’. Does this refer to the two characters on the sheets? Could the one underneath be Gray Fox? Or Major Zero?

Of course, it could be something insignificant, but with Hideo Kojima you never know.

Source: Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

Konami has announced a new Metal Gear Solid bundle, that is available for both the PlayStation 3 and the XBox 360 at a price of $149,99. It can be purchased through the Konami Style Store and includes the HD Collection, a Play Arts Big Boss action figure (sneaking suit version), a Metal Gear Solid tote bag, a Metal Gear Solid iPhone 4(S) case and a set of limited edtion Metal Gear Solid head phones.

Source: Examiner.com, Konami Style Store

Hideo Kojima posted some photos on his Twitter of new Metal Gear merchandising products.

The 25th Anniversary book set.

The Metal Gear Rising watch, made in collaboration with SEIKO and designed by Yoji Shinkawa.

Play Arts Raiden figure (special color), which Kojima explained is not white Raiden from MGS4, but a white version of black Raiden in Metal Gear Rising Revengeance.

Source: Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

Kojima left an interesting message on his Twitter today:

To people in US, will see you in Seattle. I’ll bring FOX to PAX.

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) augustus 31, 2012

Yesterday he already said this:

Thank you very much for coming to MG 25th anniversary event today. I’m going to Seattle tomorrow to kick axx!

— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) augustus 30, 2012

The PAX convention will be held from August 31st to September 2nd 2012, in Seattle. Does this mean we will get to see the Ground Zeroes demo sooner than expected? Or is Kojima talking about something else? We will find out soon enough.

Source: Hideo Kojima’s Twitter

Below are a piece of artwork and two screenshots for the newly announced Metal Gear Social Ops for the GREE platform.

The official Japanese website for the game is up as well.

Source: All Games Beta

Kojima Productions released a new image on their Japanese 25th Anniversary site. It shows the same piece of artwork as before, but now there is a mirrored text that says ‘From “FOX”, two phantoms were born’. What this refers to is still up to debate, but it could be Big Boss and Zero, who each have their own idea of how the world should be shaped according to The Boss’s will.

Source: Japanese Metal Gear 25th Anniversary site

Konami has revealed some new merchandising products in celebration of the series’ 25th anniversary. They will be available at the Konami Style Store in Tokyo Midtown as well as the Japanese Konami Style online shop.

The products

Book set including a total of seven books: The Art of Metal Gear Solid Studio Works, The Art of Metal Gear Solid Gallery Works, the revised version of the Metal Gear Solid 1 – 3 scenario books, and Metal Gear Solid 4 and Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker scenario books. Only 2500 available. Link.

Metal Gear Music Collection 25th Anniversary CD, including nine tracks from MGS4 and MGSPW. Link.

Metal Gear Ration Lunch Box. Link.

MGS 25th Anniversary stickers. Two kinds in two colors. Link.

Metal Gear Rising Revengeance badges and phone strap. Link.

Metal Gear 25th Anniversary badges and phone strap. Link.

Metal Gear Rising watch.

Source: Kojima Productions Official Japanese Twitter, Konami Style Store Japan