The wave of MGS4 info comes to a crest today as the official PlayStation Blog posts some clarifying details, Kojima Productions launches teaser sites for MGS4 and MGO and the Kojima Productions Report 81 goes live. I’m here to pull everything together and tie up some loose ends.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Foremost, Ryan Payton solidified June 12, 2008 as the simultaneous, worldwide release date for MGS4 on the most recent session of the KP Report (#81). This marks a first for the series, even though regional release differences have usually been modest with the Metal Gear Solid series in the past (North America and Japan anyway).

Payton also gave some details about the Solid Eye item and the voice track for the game. An equip-able, battery-reliant item, the Solid Eye can provide info on enemies including name and faction allegiance, as well as boss health. Also available is at least one image enhancement, Night Vision. Apparently due to space constraints on the 50 GB Blu ray disc (!), North America will not be getting the Japanese voice track—and likewise the Japanese release will not see the English voice track either.

Updated today, the MGS4 Teaser site shows off the new “Dissolve” image featuring Snake.

On the PlayStation Blog, further details have emerged concerning the pre-order program for MGS4. All major retailers will be taking part and the program will begin in April. If you’ve already pre-ordered, it would be wise to check details with your retailer. Those who pre-order will receive the Metal Gear Saga 2.0 DVD which, aside from many extras, will include instructions and a download code for the MGO beta. This package will only be available while supplies last.

Metal Gear Online

The April 21 planned start date of the MGO beta now includes North America. The beta will run approximately two weeks and will be available in Europe as well. The new MGO Teaser site provides what details there are to be had about the game.

Beginning with the starter pack and continuing with future expansion releases that will provide new characters, gear, maps and features, MGO supports a maximum of 16 players and will include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture rules along with new modes.

Communication looks like a focus, which is exciting considering how well MGO: Subsistence emphasized teamwork. Aside from the in-game SOP nanomachine-based, team info-synch system, voice and keyboard chat are included. The preset voice commands return as well. Interesting is also the mention of friend registration, mail and SNS for communication outside the game.

To begin you’ll need to configure your in-game soldier, and it sounds like the appearance of MGS characters in MGO is not outside the realm of possibility. Old Snake and the Mk.II look to be in for sure. I, for one, am curious to see if the concept of team leaders returns. Hmm… .

The five maps included with the Starter Pack are:

- Ambush Alley
- Groznyj Grad
- Midtown Maelstrom
- Urban Ultimatum
- Blood Bath

Groznyj Grad will be familiar to MGS3 players, though it wasn’t a multiplayer battlefield. Midtown Maelstrom is reminiscent of the old Brown Town, while Urban Ultimatum looks similar to City Under Siege. Blood Bath seems like the Killhouse variant, most similar perhaps to Killhouse B thanks to the elevated walkways. Ambush Alley is the level where most of the MGO media we’ve seen so far has been set. It invokes a mix of the new with the decrepit structures of Ghost Factory. Here’s hoping we see some of the jungle locales return too.

The starter pack will also include the game types and communication tools that MGO is built on.

No doubt this week has been MGS4’s big emergence, or at least the start. Surely there will be more information to follow, but even though the release is only a few months away it’s going to be a tough wait. For those of you looking for something to do until the beta, scour the “Dissolve” Snake image to see how many MGS elements you can pick out.

I will be lamenting my lack of HDTV and probably any chance of being in on the party when the MGO beta hits and Guns of the Patriots is finally on store shelves. My Metal Gear Saga Vol. 1 DVD is going to be lonely… .

MGS4 Sneak Out

3 Photos

 

Sources: blog.us.playstation.com, Kojima Productions Websites

Right at the end of the podcast, Ryan announces a set of announcements that are to come. Announcing announcements is not that exciting, aye? Perhaps not – but he does say that Kojima are working on three other projects to hit the US this summer.

Ryan wanted permission from Konami to announce at least one of three products, but he was turned down. For now the only news we have that there are these three products (interestingly not all digital content) that Metal Gear fans can get excited about.

I thought a Kojima hibernation was about to begin, but it seems that the veils are going to be taken off in the coming weeks. Ryan reveals that a train is about to start chugging along with announcement after announcement, trailers and screenshots, MGS4’s release date and other new information.

The details are coming week on week, so keep your ears and eyes open (well your ears don’t close…but you know what I mean).