So where does Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain fit into the Metal Gear timeline for Solid Snake?

When you create the egg, then create the chicken, what happens in between? That's a tough scenario that Hideo Kojima is having to face with his latest brainchild Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain. Having taken place a few years after Peace Walker, but before Guns of the Patriots, just after the Vietnam war ended one can understand how it can be hard to fill in the blanks for a game that takes place "in between Metal Gear stories". Kojima made a few statements in recent interviews about explaining how evolving the Ground Zeroes and Phantom Pain has been for him and his team.

"When you try to write something that was supposed to be in the middle there will be some inconsistencies when you go into very small details. "The most important part is writing something that is fun, something that is impressive, something that is better than it was before. So sometimes in the interest of doing this, of having a better experience, we sacrifice some consistencies in the story."

Also, in case you've been out of the loop for a while, both PS4 and Xbox One versions will be getting exclusive content for Ground Zeroes. Classic Solid Snake from the first Metal Gear Solid for PS1 will be a playable character, a low polygon style with a low polygon playing area. Kind of takes you back to a golden year doesn't it?

The Xbox One version exclusive content will be there, but it's not known right now as to what that will be. More classic content?, who is to say. As far as a release date for Phantom Pain, Kojima wants to wait until the PS4 has taken a much better foothold in the gaming community before releasing it. Not to mention the time needed to finish developing a game that is 200 times the size of Ground Zeroes. That should explain why GZ is being released so much earlier, since the prologue is necessary to get fans into the act of learning the mechanics and storyline for TPP. Fans also want a taste right now of the new Metal Gear game, so it only makes sense.

Ground Zeroes will be releasing in Spring time next year on the Xbox One, PS4, PS3, and Xbox 360 respectively. Next generation consoles will see a higher resolution than current ones, according to Kojima. Can't wait to get a taste of that Solid Snake action in a few months myself.

Xbox One and 360 users can relax, as you too will be getting some exclusive content for your version of Ground Zeroes

A few days ago people found out that there will be exclusive content for the PS3 and PS4 versions of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. Knowing that gave a bit of an upset to the Xbox One and 360 fan base, perhaps even some jealousy to boot. But those folks can relax now, as there is a pot at the end of your rainbow too. It has been confirmed that the Xbox version of GZ will in fact be getting exclusive content for it as well as Playstation, according to Spike TV's Geoff Keighley.

Since it's already known that the PS3 / PS4 version of GZ will be getting a classic Solid Snake skin based on the original Metal Gear Solid game from the PS1 years ago, what could this exclusive Xbox content be? Of that no one knows as of right now, but feel free to take a big guess if you think you might know the answer. Perhaps a skin of its own, perhaps something else related like a cameo appearance of another character or the ability to use someone else besides Snake. As soon as it gets out there, I will post about it here as always.

Japan has its pick of multiple bundle packs of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes to choose from

So lucky to live in Japan, and who knows if these gems will even make it to other parts of the world. But nevertheless, they are awesome just to even look at. All of the different bundle packs of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes below each come with either the game only, or Solid Snake action figure and booklet. You have different versions for both PS3, PS4, and Xbox 360. I guess the Xbox One didn't make the grade in Japan this time. Perhaps due to a lack of demand, since even 360 titles don't see nearly as good as their PS3 versions have done in the past.

Besides seeing these great looking photos below, you can also take a closer look at the Solid Snake action figures at the official Konami of Japan site, where there are story lines, videos, and other items of interest there. So far there is no word if any or all of these bundle sets will even make it outside of Japan. There is also a limited edition watch being sold separately, which should be a nice addition to any one's existing Metal Gear arsenal. Just looking at it makes me want one badly, how about you?

Check out more information here.

Publisher for Skullgirls Autumn Games and Konami wave bye bye and end their business partnership to get patches going

Sometimes all good things come to an end, and sometimes it's for the better. Skullgirls is another account of that, as the publisher Autumn Games and co-publisher Konami have decided to end their business partnership, in an effort to get patches going for both the PS3 and Xbox360 versions of the game. Developer Lab Games CEO Peter Bartholow made a few statements in a post recently talking about it.

"As it’s been alluded to in the past, things have not always been hunky-dory between Autumn Games and Konami. Around the time of the last update, it became clear that it would not be possible to proceed with the new patches as long as Konami was involved with Skullgirls."

"So, as of today, Autumn and Konami have terminated their business relationship, allowing us to move forward with the PS3 and Xbox 360 patch in a more timely and cost-effective manner."

"Testing on the patches is nearly complete, and we’re happy with how thorough our testing partner, Digital Hearts, have been in their review. But we’re still not out of the woods yet - before we can submit the patches to Sony and Microsoft for certification, the game needs to be transferred to a new publisher in their systems."

He went on to say that Konami had been "completely unresponsive in their requests" when the developers needed help with Microsoft certification checks. Skullgirls as some of you know is a unique one on one versus fighter with a twist. You can check out the rest of the statement from Bartholow here, and a screen shot and video below if interested.  The video is the PC HD version.

Digital downloads for Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes will be ten bucks cheaper on current generation consoles

As we start to see the beginning of the Xbox 360 and PS3 fade ever so slowly away, there is still a breath of life left in them yet. Next spring Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes will make its way to both next generation, and current generation systems. There is one slight difference between the two however. Besides the Xbox One and PS4 having higher resolutions than their other counterparts, the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will be ten bucks cheaper. $30 for the next gen digital downloads, and $20 for current gen downloads. Recently Hideo Kojima also made a few comments about Ground Zeroes I'd like to share with you.

“The advanced capabilities of the FOX Engine are allowing me to express the story of Metal Gear Solid in a new way. There will be a significant difference in what Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain brings to the series, so we want to ease players into the new open world environment and its potential, allowing them to fully benefit from all that the new game offers. As such, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes has been designed to introduce key elements, while setting up the events of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.”

Ground Zeroes has been looked upon as being something of a diagram for gamers, sort of preparing them for "The Phantom Pain". Even if it is, it certainly looks like an incredible one. Konami has yet to give a specific or even general time frame as to when The Phantom Pain will land in our living rooms. Kojima is expecting it to be 300 times the size of Ground Zeroes though. Who knows, with a game that size, maybe gaming has gotten to the point where some games do need a prologue game to prepare them for a much bigger one. Although the concept is a bit odd. If you missed the post I did with the new images released for GZ, check them out if you like here.

 

An official release date for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Collection has been confirmed for both Xbox 360 and PS3

Looks like it will be after Halloween, ever so slightly as Castlevania: Lords of Shadow collection has gotten an official release date from Konami for both Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. November 5th is the release day for North America, with a retail price of $39.99. UK will see their release on November 8th, with a set price of £29.99. What's included in the package?

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, with both the Reverie and Resurrection DLC expansions.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, the High Definition version, which could breathe new life into it this time, since its initial sales for the Nintendo 3DS were not so hot.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - DEMO - Get a chance to play a bit of the new title, (and last Castlevania from MercurySteam) before it launches February next year.

Mirror of Fate and LOS2 both come with voucher codes, a nice addition to the mix.

A non linear experience is in store for you, as Hideo Kojima describes the replay value of his new open world brainchild

Have you ever bought a game, took it home and played for a few hours, finished it and then didn't like the fact that you completed it so fast. Replay value is a must if you're going to fork out 50-60 bucks for a game. That's exactly what Hideo Kojima wants for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, as he discusses in an interview with Inside Games about how the player will be getting a non linear experience with his new brainchild.

“In some missions there are ‘No Kill, No Alert’ challenges, and all those challenges are connected by social [rankings] and can be played any number of times. In addition to that, even in the same mission there will be different situations, like different ways to attack and different weather conditions."

“Everything you do will eventually be evaluated at the base. For example, if you bring back the wrong target in a hostage rescue and you should do it again to improve your result. That’s the (non-linear) replay value due to the freedom enhanced by an open world.”

If you can read Japanese or have a decent translation app in your browser or whatnot, you can read the rest of the story from the source page. The Phantom Pain is planned for release on the PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. Next generation systems will have a higher resolution than current gen.

“Everything you do will eventually be evaluated at the base. For example, if you bring back the wrong target in a hostage rescue and you should do it again to improve your result. That’s the (non-linear) replay value due to the freedom enhanced by an open world.”

Read more at http://gamingbolt.com/metal-gear-solid-5-hideo-kojima-details-challenges-and-missions#VGs9QE7lZPYtJyU0.99