DailyTech - Metal Gear Solid 4 Delayed Until Q2 2008

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Marcus Yam (Blog) - November 1, 2007 3:27 AM

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27 comment(s) - last by rdeegvainl.. on Nov 4 at 4:03 AM

Snake's latest gripping tale won't be in the hands of gamers until Q2 2008

MGS4 needs more time in the oven

It’s sad, but true. The most highly-anticipated PlayStation 3-exclusive game since the launch of the system has been delayed. Metal Gear Solid 4 will now ship sometime in the second quarter of 2008.

Fans of the series rejoiced when trailers for Metal Gear Solid 4 told of a winter release date, which some pegged for as soon as February or March, but alas, Old Snake won’t be appearing in finished form until several months after that.

According to the press release, “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.”

The announcement of the delay is certainly a disappointment, but definitely one that is permissible. All those eagerly waiting for the game would rather have the polished experience that all are expecting rather than some rush job.

Besides, with the number of games that were originally slated for Q4 2007 now being moved to Q1 2008, there really won’t be a shortage of hot titles on the PlayStation 3... as long as Grand Theft Auto IV stays on track.

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Trendy

By therealnickdanger on 11/1/2007 8:48:07 AM , Rating: 2

Of all the companies to believe, I trust Konami when they say they are delaying in order to improve the game, but it seems to be a hip trend now to delay games "to improve the quality", but then still release a steaming coil. Most often, it's simply a financial decision. Picking a release window with the best penetration.

RE: Trendy

By Bigjee on 11/1/2007 11:59:56 AM , Rating: 2

I agree. it's not whether the game is developed completely or not. Games on all three platforms are being delayed or moved up every now and then. Launch dates shud be taken with a grain of salt from now on.

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RE: Trendy

By darkpaw on 11/1/2007 4:17:26 PM , Rating: 3

quote:
Launch dates shud be taken with a grain of salt from now on

Where have you been for the last 15 years of gaming or so?

Launch dates are about as believable as anything coming out of the mouth of a politician. Until the game is gold announcement is released, don't believe anything [especially if gamestop is advertising it]. Put your $5 down now on DNF, it'll be out soon we swear!

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RE: Trendy

By ZimZum on 11/2/2007 5:35:30 AM , Rating: 2

Indeed, I'm still wating for Duke Nukem 3D :(

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RE: Trendy

By piroroadkill on 11/2/2007 6:37:32 AM , Rating: 2

Well you're in luck, since it came out in 1996.

Unless you mean Duke Nukem Forever, in which case yes, we're still waiting.

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RE: Trendy

By mikefarinha on 11/2/2007 8:49:43 AM , Rating: 2

And I'm still waiting for Team Fortress 2.....

oh, wait!

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RE: Trendy

By maverick85wd on 11/1/2007 8:16:22 PM , Rating: 2

I don't see how not making your game available for Christmas would make logical sense on any business model. I don't claim a business degree so I could be wrong, I just don't see how it makes any sense not to have a highly-anticipated product ready for the highest sales period of the year.

As far as I'm concerned, they can take their time... MGS3 being as perfect as they can make it is worth the wait :)

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RE: Trendy

By maverick85wd on 11/1/2007 9:03:09 PM , Rating: 2

MGS4... I am dumb. Sorry....

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RE: Trendy

By mikefarinha on 11/2/2007 9:01:11 AM , Rating: 2

Its about quality control and name brand image.

If they release a highly anticipated game that turns out to be a steaming pile of poo the next version will be not be as eagerly anticipated and thus harder to sell.

Yes having a Christmas launch is a good idea to move the product with out a lot of advertising, but as Halo 3 shows, it isn't always necessary. It is definitely a trade off for the publisher, but that is what business is all about.

I do claim a business degree however I never really thought of this concept as a particularly complex one.

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RE: Trendy

By maverick85wd on 11/2/2007 11:06:47 AM , Rating: 2

So basically that approach is meant for businesses that don't have a great deal of confidence in their product. I highly doubt this is the case with MGS4. And if a company DOESN'T have confidence in their products what are they doing in business in the first place? I don't think this delay is for name brand image, I think they are delaying to make the game better like they said.

I do see where you're coming from, but I still don't see how not releasing your product for Christmas is a good business strategy... especially for someone like Kunami with a game like MGS4. Which is why I believe them whey they say the delay is for quality purposes.

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RE: Trendy

By mikefarinha on 11/2/2007 11:42:17 AM , Rating: 2

I don't understand your logic.

On one hand you say that you don't understand why they wouldn't release their product to take advantage of Christmas shoppers.

Then on the other hand you say you understand why they are delaying the game due to quality concerns.

Are you saying that it makes better business sense to release an unfinished product to take advantage of a short-term opportunity while risking long-term sales than it is to release a quality product that would miss the short-term opportunity but have the potential to enjoy long-term sales?

As Shigeru Miyamoto once said

quote:
A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever.

I don't think MGS4 is the type of game that is developed to make a quick buck.

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PS3 for 2008

By Bioniccrackmonk on 11/1/2007 12:53:49 PM , Rating: 3

Seems like all the games that would have made the PS3 move more units for Christmas have been post-poned or were already scheduled for release in 2008. Sony will be hard pressed to move extra units for the holiday season even with the 399 model unless they add more value. My prediction is that sales won't drop, but probably won't be what they were hoping it would be.

On the other side of this though, I bought my 60 gig PS3 when it came down a hundred dollars and still feel it was completely worth it just based on all the things it can do; stream music from my computer, play movies and games, as well as fold while I can't be there. It also came with 5 free movies, Blazing Saddles in HD FTW.

Even though there are a lot of great games scheduled for release next year, I personally feel there are a couple games worth it right now which are fun. Resistance, Armored Core 4, Warhawk, Heavenly Sword, all the online games I can buy from days of old, are fun to play in their own way and look great on my 90" 1080i projector. So even though they have a decent library now, I am willing to bet their sales increase drastically once those premier games come out. Not everyone likes the same thing, but those games have a following.

To quote Joe Dirt(e):
"Its not what you like, it's what the consumer likes."

RE: PS3 for 2008

By SavagePotato on 11/1/2007 1:14:07 PM , Rating: 2

There are still quite a few good games for before christmas.

Ratchet and clank, Assassins Creed, and Call of Duty 4 come to mind. I just got Ratchet and clank and it is immensely fun, probably the best looking game so far on the ps3 as well.

Metal gear solid defiantly falls along the lines of the expectations of a "killer app" so to speak. The 360 got it's killer app in about the same time frame. Gears of war was released I believe about a year and a half into it's life cycle.

It would have been so much better if grand theft auto 4, metal gear solid and even ut3 had made it out before Christmas. I can live with waiting for them though I guess. If assassins creed turns out to be worth the wait it will be more than enough to tide me over.

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RE: PS3 for 2008

By SavagePotato on 11/1/2007 1:15:57 PM , Rating: 2

Stupid Firefox spell check...

metal gear definitely falls along the lines of....

not defiantly.

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RE: PS3 for 2008

By maverick85wd on 11/1/2007 8:13:06 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Sony will be hard pressed to move extra units for the holiday season

I can see where you're coming from, but with the knowledge that these games are coming out AT ALL, people that don't have a PS3 will still probably ask *or buy them self* one for Christmas and just get the game as soon as it is available. And even if their unavailablity does fail to move a few units, look how many 360's were sold when Halo came out. Don't see why it would be all that much different for MGS3. I may even buy one myself just for that game, I've always been a fan of the MG saga. Not to mention it's BD capabilities ;-)

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RE: PS3 for 2008

By maverick85wd on 11/1/2007 9:03:50 PM , Rating: 2

Don't know why I was thinking 3... once again I meant MGS4.

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hah

By sj420 on 11/1/2007 1:03:12 PM , Rating: 2

Another good reason to wait to get one.

However I will root for the company that has the opposite outlook:

Do Doulbe the work in half the time to make the quality better. :D

IF any team can do that they are respectable. Sure anyone wants a polished game but we pay $50+ for a game that needs a patch a week later. If not the day you get it. However I bet it sure does suck not having one of the best games to play - And - You never know what they are throwing in. They could adjust some color settings or some objects in the game, maybe like Gran turismo and throw in episodes of something.

It could be worth it, it could be a failure. Like MGO.

RE: hah

By SplargFaatang on 11/1/2007 5:12:37 PM , Rating: 5

quote:
Do Doulbe the work in half the time to make the quality better. :D

I have another maxim - from the world of IT project management - that given your comment, I find particularly appropriate:

Getting nine women pregnant will not get you a baby in one month.

:)

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RE: hah

By mikefarinha on 11/2/2007 9:03:27 AM , Rating: 2

I'm sure some people wouldn't mind trying though!

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RE: hah

By rdeegvainl on 11/4/2007 4:03:45 AM , Rating: 2

And have to deal with 9 pregnant women, NO THANKS.

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Awesome Pic

By AnnihilatorX on 11/1/2007 5:51:12 AM , Rating: 2

Topic aside,
I find the picture hilarious.

RE: Awesome Pic

By sj420 on 11/1/2007 1:05:35 PM , Rating: 1

Actually this is an actual move. It can send a shock to the heart if you hit them under their crotch hard enough with a firm palm. If you hit them right & hard enough you can probably kill them from the shock directly to the heart.

Have to be a 1337 ninja to be willing to hit some guy in the nuts with your palm.

Source-
http://www.groonk.net/blog/images/monkeystealsthep...

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RE: Awesome Pic

By JasonMick

(blog) on 11/1/2007 2:42:10 PM , Rating: 2

The inclusion of that picture deserves a 6 if anything ever did.

I wonder whether Snake is skilled in chi kung, or if he is a member of the iron fist clan (read what the iron fist technique does)?

The iron fist one sounds like a finishing move from Mortal Kombat days of yore! =P

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RE: Awesome Pic

By sj420 on 11/3/2007 9:16:21 PM , Rating: 1

Heh, I meant to put the title of the name of the pick incase no one saw it, but the name of the move is:

The money steals the peach.

I guess snake is now monkee. (No y)

Hah

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Good

By gramboh on 11/1/07, Rating: 0

RE: Good

By T4RTER S4UCE on 11/1/2007 4:01:43 PM , Rating: 2

And everyone hates Nintendo.

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By Sungpooz on 11/2/2007 3:21:08 PM , Rating: 2

Looks like I won't be getting it for my birthday, but my brother will.

"Game reviewers fought each other to write the most glowing coverage possible for the powerhouse Sony, MS systems. Reviewers flipped coins to see who would review the Nintendo Wii. The losers got stuck with the job." -- Andy Marken