TGS 2006: Metal Gear 4 Stage
Kojima shares new details on 2007's biggest PS3 game.
by Anoop Gantayat  
   
 
September 22, 2006 - The biggest thing at TGS was, expectedly, Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer. Thankfully, Konami, perhaps realizing that shaky-cam versions of the trailer would be leaked in a matter of seconds anyway, decided to give us a direct feed version of it, which we made available for download in record time.
 
After a short download, you were basically able to experience MGS4 as we did today (minus the 200 inch screen from the Sony theater, of course). What you weren't able to experience, though, was Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4 theater presentation. Konami brought out Hideo Kojima and crew for the 2006 TGS Live Stage. In addition to giving us a commentary-filled look at the E3 MGS4 trailer, the presentation was filled with new insights and revelations on what's sure to be 2007's biggest PS3 title.
 
The stage show began with an opening filled with the typical Kojima Productions production values. Set against MGS4 music, text like "New Experience at TGS," "New Experience for Gamers," "New Experience with Special Guests" and "New Experience From... Kojima Productions" lead us into an appearance by the guests of honors, producer/director/writer Hideo Kojima and director/writer Shuyo Murata.
 
Interviews with Kojima tends to be filled with jokes -- you'd be laughing if you had an apartment in the Roppongi Hills high-rises. The father of Metal Gear started things off with a background check on Murata. We were given Murata's stats and list of titles, accompanied by his wedding picture taken in Hawaii.  
Kojima talks Metal Gear Solid 4 at TGS
 
 
 
Things switched to MGS4 after this. Kojima first had last year's Tokyo Game Show trailer play on the giant monitor behind him. The sound was cut-off so that he and Murata could give their analysis. Most of what was discussed today was already revealed at the original trailer's release. The point of this first trailer, Kojima commented, was to show players the setting for the game. The trailer also revealed that we'd be controlling old Snake and introduced us to the new Otacon, who appears in battle indirectly through the Metal Gear Mark II robot.
 
Next, the background footage switched to the trailer from E3, with the sound again cut off so that the two could continue providing analysis. This trailer introduced some of the themes that would go into the game, in particular the PMCs, noted Kojima.
 
Prior to moving on to the new TGS trailer, Kojima went into an explanation about the new Octocam camouflage. To explain the system, Kojima showed the audience picture of a room, then asked the MC where she'd hide if she were playing hide and go seek. The MC selected first a closet, then under the bed. Kojima pointed out that these could be quickly discovered by anyone.
 
Moving the analogy to Metal Gear Solid 4, in previous Metal Gear Solid games, Solid Snake used the MC's methods of hiding, hiding in boxes or in lockers. In MGS4, the hiding mechanics now have players blend into the background rather than hiding in objects. Noting that this is how a chameleon blends into its backgrounds, Kojima pointed out that an even better example of this form of camouflage exists in nature: the octopus. Hence the name for the new system.
 
Yes, Kojima brought with him sample footage of a real octopus to prove that it changes color.
 
Murata made mention of the technical hurdles involved in this form of camouflage system. That sort of texturing requires the power of the PS3, he noted.
 
The dialogue switched to the new TGS trailer. As we noted in a preview from earlier in the week, the trailer was made by editing together clips from someone's actual gameplay session. The only difference from the real gameplay experience is that cinematic camera angles are used in the trailer.
 
Following a showing of the trailer, Kojima revealed that he and his team have done a lot of research for the development of the game. They went through military training and traveled to different parts of the world. Kojima shared pictures taken in the Middle East which closely resemble the setting for the trailers.
 
Then, Kojima brought out his first surprise for the day. He revealed that Metal Gear Solid 4 will feature real people. That is, the game will have 3D models created from real people through 3D capturing. The first example provided was of the MC, whose likeness will appear in the game. Kojima showed the process of converting the MC' face into 3D data, and the resulting model. This model looked close to the real MC, and Kojima stressed that there was a lot of hand-work to be done before it could be considered final.
 
Kojima wouldn't go so far as to reveal why the game will use real people. Regarding the MC, Kojima said that she's just one member of a group. He also said she'd be Japan's representative in that group.
 
We'll understand, at the game's release, the need to use real people, Kojima explained. But if you want to hear our current theory on the matter, here it is. Konami has said that Metal Gear Solid 4 will have online elements. The PS3 is going to have a high definition Eye Toy camera. Perhaps Kojima is planning on letting players capture their faces and put them onto characters for the online mode of play.
 
It's just a theory, so don't send hate mail if we're wrong.

Moving on, the stage switched to a discussion of music, with a discussion of composer Harry Gregson-Williams' role. Kojima appeared thankful that despite the composer's busy schedule, they were able to get him to compose for the game.
 
Gregson-Williams appeared via a video message in which he mentioned that between work on parts 3 and 4 of the MGS series, he worked on over 40 films! "I feel very fortunate to be doing Metal Gear Solid 4," said the composer, "because it seems to be a combination of everything we've been doing with the previous games. Kojima was here recently, and he seemed to be bouncing up and down on the couch, which I hope means he likes the music. This is only a start -- it's safe to say that we have a long way to go with the music, but it's fair to say we've made a good start.
 
"Being a film compser, I'm used to watching a picture and getting my inspiration from there. But with MGS4, I had to depend a lot on what Kojima told me he wanted. One theme he told me is that Snake is on his last legs. Acoustic guitar was his idea, and I kind of liked it, so we went with that.
 
"He showed me some of the images, and I was very impressed. He's almost making a film."
 
Next, the dialogue changed to another one of the game's Hollywood connections -- the logo. The game's logo was made by a Logan, a group of artists that has worked on recent Madonna and U2 videos. Taking the stage, the logo designer revealed that Kojima was hoping for a classic look for the logo, something that would remind players of something like Godfather. But at the same time, he wanted a modern logo.
 
Logan will also be designing the Metal Gear Solid 4 opening, Kojima revealed to close off the stage. The opening will have even more impact than the opening from part 3. It will be highly unusual for a videogame opening and will have game-like elements, said the logo designer.
 
We'll have to wait until the game's release date to find out specifics on the opening. But the wait won't be too long. While Kojima said in recent interviews that over a year of development still remains on MGS4, the producer confirmed today that Konami is still targeting a 2007 release.

Après il faut être honnête, le personnage principal manque encore de détails, et même s'il est parfaitement animé, on a parfois l'impression d'incarner le vieux modèle de Dante légèrement affiné dans un nouveau manteau

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/734/734471p1.html
 
 If you were wondering just how big Sony's game development studios have gotten in the 10+ years since the release of the original PlayStation, you only need to hear this bit of news. Phil Harrison, head of Sony Worldwide Studios, revealed to Japanese site Famitsu.com today that the company's vast array of international studios now has around 190 titles in development for the PlayStaion 3, PlayStation 2, PSP and other systems.
 
That's a whole lot of games, especially considering how many games currently bear the Sony Computer Entertainment name on release charts in the likes of Famitsu.
 
Of the 190 titles, Harrison disclosed that 100 are for the PlayStation 3. Sony's focus has clearly shifted to the new generation of gaming.