Metal Gear Online gets new expansion pack to download

Konami has announced that the latest downloadable content for its Metal Gear Online title for PLAYSTATION 3 will be released on November 25th. Entitled MEME EXPANSION, the download adds new characters and gameplay elements to Hideo Kojima’s hugely popular online epic.

Konami has announced that the latest downloadable content for its Metal Gear Online title for PLAYSTATION 3 will be released on November 25th. Entitled MEME EXPANSION, the download adds new characters and gameplay elements to Hideo Kojima’s hugely popular online epic.

The MEME EXPANSION unveils two new special characters, which are playable for the first time. Liquid Ocelot enters the fray with the ability to manipulate the Sons of the Patriots’ lock system using his Guns of the Patriots skills, and can also deactivate the weaponry of a targeted for within Metal Gear Online’s multi-player modes. Similarly, Mei Ling comes into play with three unique attributes, including the Trench Mortar weapon, Soliton Sonar capabilities, and the means to transfix enemies.

Three new maps have also been created, with the rough, uneven industrial elements of Silo Sunset, the dense foliage of Forest Firefight and a snow-blown deserted factory called Winter Warehouse available for the first time. The download also implements a number of new rules, which are also now available without the MEME EXPANSION update. A new ‘No Headshot’ setting allows players to attribute the same level of damage when shot in the head to that of a regular body shot. ‘Stealth Death Match’ allows users to compete with the stealth elements switched on automatically; while the ‘Interval’ setting allows used to practice and chat with each other within the battlefield, without their ranking or records being adversely affected.

An official Tournament lobby has also been created to pit players in battle situations where points are up for grabs and can be spent on the customisation of a character or on new gear. Likewise, a series of familiar humorous elements can also be used within the customise field, including the Crocodile Cap made famous in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, the Ghillie Suite camo from the same game, and an afro hair style.

Metal Gear Online fans will be able to pre-purchase the MEME EXPANSION elements for 7,99 Euro from November 18th, with a bundle containing both the new elements and the previous GENE EXPANSION update also available at the same date for 12,99 Euro. Users can access the new additions of the MEME EXPANSION after the official start on November 25th.

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Metal Slug 7 video game for Nintendo DS

Metal Slug 7 for Nintendo DS will be released this fall.

Developed by SNK Playmore Corporation and published by Ignition Entertainment, Metal Slug 7 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors by continuing to deliver the high-energy and frantic, fast-paced 2-D shooting action that the franchise has always been widely renowned for.


Players will join Marco, Tarma, Eri, Fiolina, Clark and Ralph as they prepare to take on Modern's Forces across 7 new missions that will bring them from Garbage Island to the Fortress of Ruins and beyond. Aside from featuring 7 brand new and fully detailed missions and six playable characters, Metal Slug 7 will also feature a host of new weapons, colossal new bosses, new Slugs to pilot and new gameplay modes for added replay value.

"Truth be told, I have a pink DS and was embarrassed to play it in public. Now with Metal Slug 7 loaded, I have no qualms," said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. "Needless to say, and in all seriousness, we are very excited to announce our partnership with SNK Playmore USA to give both core and casual gamers a whole new insight into the unique, all-action, eye-popping world that is Metal Slug."

First released in 1996, the Metal Slug series has continuously dazzled legions of fans with its awesome variety of frenetic action and superbly balanced, non-stop gameplay. Its unique art style and memorable boss battles have been hailed as sheer artistry and have been acclaimed by game fans of all genres.

Rumor: Metal Gear Solid to Hit XBLA

Yes, I’m British. I spell “rumour” with two u’s. What U going to do about it? Well hopefully you’ll have no time to do anything, because either you’ll be embedded in Snake’s final mission on the Playstation 3, or engrossed in one of Snake’s first on the Xbox 360.

More on Ripten here

Metal Gear Solid 4 Review- IGN- 10/10

An great ending to a great series

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Kojima: MGS4 too big for 50 GB Blu-ray disc

t's not much of a shocker to learn the latest (and final) installment in the Metal Gear Solid series is a sizable one -- MGS games have a history of being big (and beautiful). However, a recent interview with series creator Hideo Kojima revealed a startling fact about MGS4

read more | digg story

MGS4 impressions - a movie's worth in four hours

We've played through the early part of Metal Gear Solid 4 and have some first thoughts about the length and frequency of the cut-scenes.

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Sit down with Metal Gear Solid 4's Hideo Kojima

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, the epic action-stealth game from famed designer Hideo Kojima is out today, concluding his more than 20-year directorial involvement in the series. I got a chance to sit down with Kojima and ask him about his popular franchise and what's up next for him.

Read More Here

Gag order? Bah! EGM refuses to review Metal Gear Solid IV

So Konami doesn't want reviewers can't mention the 90 minute cutscenes, the grotesque install size, and other items if they want to review MGSIV? EGM said, "Screw that! We got journalistic integrity over here. Keep your damn MSGIV." Well done EGM.

read more | digg story

Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima artist Yoji Shinkawa at HMV London

'Metal Gear Solid' creator Hideo Kojima and artist Yoji Shinkawa meet fans at HMV Oxford Street.

WHAT: Signing session

WHERE: HMV London, 150 Oxford Street W1

WHEN: Monday 2nd June at 12 noon

Fans of the game ‘Metal Gear Solid’ will have the chance to meet the creator Hideo Kojima and lead artist for the series, Yoji Shinkawa, when they visit HMV’s flagship Oxford Street store in London’s West End on Monday 2nd June.

Hideo and Yoji will be at the store from 12 noon to meet games fans and sign pre-release HMV exclusive sleeves of ‘Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots’*.

The ‘Metal Gear Solid’ series is the brainchild of Hideo Kojima and his Kojima Productions team, and is published by Konami. Mixing stealth and action elements, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots tells the final tale of series hero Solid Snake. Set in the near future where armies are run by huge business conglomerates and where soldiers are mere figures on a balance sheet, Snake is called upon for one final mission: eliminate his old adversary, Liquid Snake. So begins one of the most detailed and cinematic games for any format, as Kojima Productions unveil a twisting tale of heroism and conclusions, set within a beautifully realised 3D world that truly shows what the PLAYSTATION 3 can do.

Hands-on with final version of Metal Gear Solid 4

We were whisked from the title screen – a real-time scene showing a suit-wearing Old Snake in the graveyard from previous trailers – to the Middle East, where after only a few minutes we realized that Kojima has done it again: he's taken MGS in a new direction, with wild ambition, yet still kept sneaking the No. 1 priority.

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Rumor: Konami Already Hinting at Metal Gear Solid 5?

Tuesday's Metal Gear Solid 4 press event in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills concluded with an audio clip of a phone conversation between franchise foe Revolver Ocelot and an unknown character, with only Ocelot's side of the conversation presented in the clip (with subtitles shown on the screen). Could they already be hinting at the next iteration of MGS?

read more | digg story

Metal Gear Online - delayed

Konami was slated to release the beta version of "Metal Gear Online" or MGO yesterday, April 21st, but the release date has now been deferred to Saturday, April 25th. Subsequently, the end date for the beta has also been postponed from May 5 to 11. Server failure due to extraordinary traffic on Konami's Web site is the reason for this delay, reads a statement on the official MGO Web site.

The game was due to start it's betas spanning two weeks in USA and Europe on separate dates. Players faced a lot of problems downloading the beta package as well as registering with the IDs that were provided to them. A lot of gamers who were getting ready to start playing on Monday complained of installation issues over the weekend. Both the US and Europe betas have now been deferred by four days.

The official statement on the MGO Web site says, "As a temporary measure, we will be deferring the European public beta test and starting it once we stabilize our server. We would like to apologize for all inconvenience as well as confusion caused." Apparently, a spokesperson for Konami UK advised gamers to try the game ID registration process once again after a few days.

"Metal Gear Online" is an extension of online components from "Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence" and "Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops" and was originally intended to be a stand-alone product. However, it is now bundled as part of the "Metal Gear Solid 4" package. For additional information, here.

Metal Gear Online beta coming soon to North America on PlayStation 3

PLAYSTATION 3 System Online Beta

Coming soon for IGN Insider and Founders' Club members!

Beta Access Requirements

Get access to the Metal Gear Online multiplayer beta for the PLAYSTATION®3 system in this Insider and Founders' Club event. North American IGN Insider and Founders' Club members will get a chance to sign up for a beta key starting tomorrow. Click the button below to find out more information on accessing the beta.

North American users only

Find out more here

Metal Gear Solid 4 - Guns of the Patriots screenshots

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Signing Up For Japanese Metal Gear Online Open Beta

1) Go to this page https://id.konami.net/login.do

2) Click on the top left corner blue link

3) On the new page that comes, don't do anything. Just click on the bottom left link.

4) On the new page, click again on the bottom left link.

5) On the new page, you will see this:
*Note that you only need to fill out the boxes where you see the red star*
First star: KONAMI ID: choose your personal MGO BETA ID
Second star: PASSWORD: You need to enter (and re-enter it in the box just under it) your password, which should include minimum 9 symbols, in these 9 symbols at least 2 digits.

6) Then continue scrolling down to find the following:
First star: Do not do anything
Second star: Select and copy the text on the right, and paste it into the box like i show it in this picture:

7) Continue scrolling down to find:
First star: Enter (and re-enter it in the box just under it) your email address
Second star: Like previously, select the text on the right and copy-paste into the box, like i show it in this picture:

Third star: Select any of the 2 choices
Fourth star: Click on the button you see. On the new page, you have to do the following:

This is what it says:
1- Enter the numbers in the box (120 - 0013)
2- Click the button represented by the arrow (it's the one right under the number 120)
3- After doing so, you will see some writings showing at the bottom. Like represented bu the arrow, click on the blue bottom left link that you see to confirm.

8) Almost done, continue down the page: Don't do anything, just click on the bottom left link.

9) On the new page, confirm again by clicking on the bottom left link, and once again on the next page
You will now get an email, so log into your inbox and click on the confirmation link provided in the email to finalize registration.

10) Go to this page:https://id.konami.net/mgo_beta

Here enter your KONAMI ID and PASSWORD you created during the registration. Once that done, you will see a survey, just enter whatever you want at random, then confirm. You will finally have your japanese MGS BETA code.

You will then receive an email with you code.
Now all you have to do is wait until the MGO open beta is available for download on the JAPANESE STORE this mid-april.

Metal Gear Solid 4 delayed

KONAMI announced today that "METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS", the latest in the METAL GEAR series, is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2008.
KONAMI had initially intended to release "METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS" this winter and has been working on the production of the title. KONAMI has decided to delay the title's release in order to make further improvements to the quality of the game and provide even greater enjoyment for more customers worldwide.

KONAMI will continue its efforts to make "METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS" meet everyone's expectations.

Source: VE3D

18,000 attend E for All Expo in LA

The video-game industry deserves some credit for reaching out to fans with the E for All Expo, held last weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center. And the inaugural event drew 18,000 gamers - not bad for the first time, but less than half the attendance of the fan-created Penny Arcade Expo, which attracted 37,000 people to Seattle in August.

"We are thrilled with the attendance, and we are pleased that we delivered the event we aimed for, which was a celebration that truly was for the entire game community," said Mary Dolaher, the CEO of IDG World Expo, which mounted the event. And for gamers who got their first chance to play Konami's "Metal Gear Solid 4" and Nintendo's "Super Smash Bros. Brawl," the trip seemed to be worth it.

Still, IDG needs to get Sony and Microsoft on board if it expects more players to show up. And it needs to rethink its schedule: Next year's E For All is slated for the last weekend of August, the traditional dates for Penny Arcade Expo.

Virtual utopia

Mario, Master Chief, Sonic and company dealt out musical justice alongside members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Sunday night as they presented Video Games Live! (VGL), an incredible celebration of some of the most popular videogame music of all time.

Buffalo welcomed their heroic performers whole-heartedly as Kleinhans Music Hall played host to New York's first-ever performance of this internationally recognized, audience-interactive performance.

A stunning spectacle of sight and sound, Video Games Live! creates a unique experience that is highly innovative and entertaining. Their aim is to delight and dazzle audiences in ways that showcase how culturally relevant videogames have become, while romanticizing the artistic validity and beauty of the music that accompanies these games.

"Videogame music is more than just beeps and bleeps," boomed Tommy Tallarico, co-creator and host of VGL, as the show got under way.

Judging by the increasingly feverish applause as the night pressed on, the audience definitely agreed with Tallarico's sentiment. There wasn't a flicker of discontent from anyone, avid videogamer or not.

For those unfamiliar with the gaming world, a lack of knowledge mattered not as the abundant sensory stimulators provided enough unbridled energy.

The powerful sound of the full-scale orchestra, an impressive syncopated light show and the passion of the music being performed left even the most skeptical audience member clamoring for more.

As for the serious game aficionados, they were having the time of their lives.

"I knew this would be good, but they've gone above and beyond what I expected," said Matthew Kanner, UB student and videogame lover. "I was expecting a few well-orchestrated Mario pieces; this is so much more than that."

The majority of the audience could be found somewhere in the middle of the videogame sub-culture; they were not completely obsessive, but many them spent a good deal of their childhood getting lost in the world of Super Mario Bros.

The concert kicked off with a medley of classic arcade hits such as Pong, Donkey Kong, Tetris and others. On the backdrop of the stage was an enormous projection screen on which clips from the games were timed perfectly with the music. This fittingly classical start gave people only an inkling of what was in store.

Spurred on by the boundless youthful energy of Tallarico with co-creator and conductor Jack Wall, anticipation and excitement began to rise through the crowd like a princess-rescuing plumber rising up through a giant green pipe.

The anticipation gave way to the thunder of fans applauding musical scores from the most socially prominent and fanatically revered games to date. Dark, dangerous, profoundly moving pieces emerged from games such as God of War and Medal of Honor.

Contrasting this were songs from the epic and enchantingly whimsical Zelda soundtracks. Fan-favorites such as Sonic and Metal Gear Solid were also included, along with a theatrical performance of a live action Solid Snake.

Computer games, not to be left out of the mix, were also brought to life with scores from blockbuster phenomena Warcraft, Starcraft and Civilization.

Each piece was masterfully matched to clips from the showcased game and further synced with a stunning light show.

Adding interactivity to production gems, Video Games Live! also contained a costume contest (Princess Zelda won), a videogame cover band and audience participation in which a few lucky fans got on stage to show off their Frogger and Space Invader skills.

The last acts of the night came when nostalgic excitement had reached its peak.

First came music from the most influential and timeless character in the history of the industry: the music of Mario. The music of Halo, currently the most popular game in the world, was included in the show's encore.

"Art imitates life, videogames imitate life, so in a way the two (art and videogames) are very closely connected," said Scott Loblaw, UB alumni and longtime gamer.

The multi-sensory spectacle delivered by Video Games Live! bedazzled a Buffalo audience giving testament to the feeling that this touring troop will likely be glorifying the game for years to come.

Final Fantasy VII No1 in Japan

New entries make up half of the latest sales top ten

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII has remained at the top of the Japanese software sales chart for a second consecutive week, despite pressure from new entries which include a new Metal Gear Solid title.

Portable Ops Plus, an expansion to the original PlayStation Portable title sold 93,000 units in its first week of release, according to data from Media Create, while Crisis Core racked up another 109,000 in the week ending September 23.

Pokemon titles took third and fourth places, while four other new entries, including Super Mario Strikers and Samurai Warriors: Katana also made the new top ten, with Nintendo platforms accounting for seven titles, and Sony platforms for three.

The full top ten is as follows:

01. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)

02. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus (PSP)

03. Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon: Toki no Tankentai (DS)

04. Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon: Yami no Tankentai (DS)

05. Katekyoo Hitman Reborn!! DS Flame Rumble Kaien Ring Soudatsuen! (DS)

06. Super Mario Strikers (Wii)

07. Kiniro no Corda 2 Anchor (PS2)

08. Mario Party 8 (Wii)

09. Samurai Warriors: Katana (Wii)

10. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Ring of Fates (DS)

Source: games Industry