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.

And now even Microsoft is using the Konami code with the Xbox One to win some prizes

Are you ready to put an Xbox One under your tree? If you are, you might also get a chance to win some prizes. How is that? Well well, it seems that even Microsoft has taken full advantage of the old Konami code. Yes, once again, the old code used for Contra, Gradius, Lifeforce, and whatever else you can imagine for the last 26 years is now being used once again. This time it is integrated into popular sites like IGN, Eurogamer, and OXM. Here is what I understand so far from what I've been hearing lately. First you need to be within the sites listed above, and then do the Konami code, which is Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A.

Now wait just a second though, make sure to replace the B, and A, with X, and B (for X Box obviously). I don't want to send you in the wrong direction.

This is using your keyboard of course. If you are at the right place, doing this should cause the site to get a bit messed up, and then reveal a teaser for the launch title Forza Motorsport 5. After this occurs, a message appears that tells you to tweet #keycode. This should be followed by another message that states if you do this, it will give you a chance to win Xbox One prizes. Some fine advertising there Microsoft. Exploit the Konami code, and ye just might receive. Might even make a great stocking stuffer just in time for the holidays. Anyway, for you Xbox One owners, give it a try and see what happens for you.

Now that the PS4 and Xbox One are out in stores, what games are you looking forward to getting?

So many choices, and a lot less time. That's what kind of world you live in if you're a die hard gamer. Sure you have your MMORPG fans, Steam fans, and those who only stick to console gaming. Now that the two most anticipated gaming systems have graced our living rooms, it's all about the games right? With Ground Zeroes looming in the horizon, there are so many other titles people are looking to seeing land on their new consoles. A new Suikoden 6 game would be nice for those folks, while Silent Hill fans are waiting on a new one of theirs to hit the scene, hopefully backed by the Fox Engine.

Me personally, my needs are pretty straightforward, Lords of Shadow 2, Ground Zeroes, followed by The Phantom Pain. I certainly hope Konami sees fit to start production on new Suikoden game in 2014. Will that happen?, one can only hope as it's been far too long since the series has basically died without a serious second notice from the powers that be upstairs. Now that the PS3 and Xbox One are officially out, (at least in North America) what new titles are you looking forward to seeing land on your local store shelf? I'd like to hear some of your feedback below in the comment section.

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.

Which came first, the Metal Gear chicken or the Metal Gear egg?, and this might take a while

It's a sequel, no wait, prequel. No, actually it takes place in between one Metal Gear game, and follows up as a game that takes place a few years before a storyline that took place in another story that happened a few years ago. Did you get any of that? I didn't think so, and even Hideo Kojima is having a challenge making heads or tales of his next brainchild, The Phantom Pain. Ground Zeroes is a story that happens after Metal Gear Solid 3, but before Metal Gear Solid 4. I believe someone on Kotaku pointed out the timeline a bit like this.

MGS3>MGS:PO >MGS:PW >MGSV >MG >MG2>MGS>MGS2>MGS4

Let's see what that looks like. Snake Eater, Portable Ops, Peace Walker, Metal Gear Solid 5, Metal Gear 1, Solid Snake (MSX), Metal Gear Solid (PS1), Sons of Liberty, and finally Guns of the Patriots. Did I miss anything? Feel free to shed some more light if you like in the comment section below.

Kojima in an interview with Kotaku made a few statements about how there might be a few inconsistencies with MGSV.

"The first thing is, I shouldn't have talked about clones."

"I'm pretty sure that the guys at Star Wars had the same issues. 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. I hope the fans and players understand this, but I need to write the best we can, even if there are some small discrepancies."

Aside from trying to figure this all out, Spring of 2014 Ground Zeroes will grace our living rooms at the cost of a pleasant $30. How well it is received and how well the Xbox One and Playstation 4 sells will be the main deciding factor on when The Phantom Pain will be launched, according to Konami. I think we both need some aspirin by now. Solid Snake is about to trip over himself. See?

Kotaku interview

Here is what will determine how soon Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain is released

With all of the available footage of Ground Zeroes hovering over our heads, one can't help but wonder when Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain will be released. Well, that depends on a couple of issues. The first one is based on Ground Zeroes itself and how well it will be accepted and sell upon its release. Metal Gear has taken a big change in not only the way it looks, but how it plays.

Yes the same stealth based action is still there, but there have been a few new elements added in the process. Bullet time, enemy tagging, (which can be turned off, but not advisable) and a few other odds and ends. Since no one can guarantee the actions of the fans of past MG games, Konami is waiting to see how things play out for GZ.

Number two on the list, is based on the PS4 and Xbox One. In just five days time, The Playstation 4 launches, while the Xbox One will follow on November 22nd. Even though expected sales are supposed to reach about 5 million by the end of this coming March, Konami is waiting to see the results of said sales as it will also impact the release time for The Phantom Pain. So what is the final verdict? 2014 or 2015. Vague?, yes. and the anticipation is a bit hard to handle. Ground Zeroes and next generation console sales are the key right now. Good luck to Kojima's latest handywork.

Original report Explosion

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.

 

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

I'm already exhausted, says Hideo Kojima in regards to the gaming console war between Microsoft and Sony for Xbox One and Playstation 4

Is developing games an exhausting career? It certainly can be according to Hideo Kojima. Even the mighty man of Metal Gear Solid games has a dark cloud over his head every now and then. Lately, the battle of the console wars going on between Sony and Microsoft with the upcoming Xbox One and Playstation 4 systems are knocking some third party developers for a loop. Konami being one of them, as they have been working around the clock with Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain to make it the best it can be for both current generation and next generation consoles. Here is a few aches and pains of what he said recently.

"I’m already exhausted from being involved in the console war (laughs). Metal Gear Solid V is being basically developed on PC. That’s the meaning of multi-platform, multi-generation, multi-device. It was originally planned to be made for the current machines."

Somebody send in some cute ladies to give Kojima a back massage. From what we've all seen so far from the latest footage from the Tokyo Game Show, both Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain have definitely cut their work out for their development team. The end product can't get here fast enough to suit we the gamer, but then again, it's not meant to. Perfection and patience go in hand.