Sony has announced that Media Molecule's adorable physics-based platformer LittleBigPlanet (PS3) will next week gain the long-awaited variety of downloadable outfits and levels inspired by Kojima Productions' stealth-action series Metal Gear Solid. No price was named for the Metal Gear Solid Level Pack, which features 5 new story levels, 1 challenge level, 12 new trophies, and a variety of Metal Gear Solid-themed level parts and stickers along with an exclusive Gurlokovich Soldier outfit.

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A new weapon, the Paintinator, is also included in the level pack. However, those who don't buy the pack will still be able to experience it, either by joining... Read more

Konami, in yet again denying rumors that Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) is in the works for the Xbox 360, made a quote from its PR man disappear in the night.

The persistent rumor popped up again after Konami PR rep Yoshitaka Arai told the Japanese branch of investment firm Morningstar, "we are investigating releasing a 360 version." But GameCyte picked up that Japanese game blog my game news flash noticed that the story was quietly changed.

Without update or retraction, the original Morningstar story was edited to mention the Winning Eleven (known over here as Pro Evolution Soccer) and Castlevania series in place of Metal Gear Solid 4.

"The talk about a 360 version of Metal Gear Solid 4 has somehow completely been replaced with talk about Winning Eleven!!!" exclaimed the Japanese blog.

Microsoft VP John Schappert added to the continued discussion of the zombie-like Metal Gear Solid 4 on Xbox 360 rumor, stating that Solid Snake's elderly romp would be welcome--and technically feasible--on his company's console.

"I can't speak on behalf of Konami, but I can shed more light on the fact that we definitely have the power to run MGS4," Schappert said to MCV, adding his two cents to debate centering on whether the system is capable of running Kojima Productions' hardware-intensive PlayStation 3 exclusive.

"We've got an amazing amount of horsepower and graphics power," Schappert continued, citing a number of Xbox 360 exclusives running "in true high-def."

The executive's words about Sony were less critical than previous Microsoft statements, perhaps because Microsoft declared a second-place victory over the PlayStation 3 in the console wars last month.

"I'm certainly in the fan club that would love to see Kojima-san's masterpiece come our way," he concluded.

The persistent rumor of Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) coming to the Xbox 360 has appeared once more, this time on the other side of the pond.

IGN spotted a report from the Japanese branch of investment firm Morningstar (link is in Japanese) from last week's Tokyo Game Show, in which a PR rep from publisher Konami said, "Looking forward, we are investigating releasing a 360 version."

The last time the rumor popped up, it was met with stern denial from Konami: "For the record, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and there are no plans to develop an Xbox 360 version of the game," said a PR rep.

A number of obstacles would theoretically stand in the way of a 360 release, including the sheer size of the game's Blu-Ray disc and its PlayStation 3-specific optimizations. However, during the game's development producer Ryan Payton stopped short of denying that a 360 version was being considered.

If you've already finished Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) and are wondering where the story could possibly go from there, the answer appears to be backwards.

According to MGS4 producer Ryan Payton, Metal Gear Solid 5 may be a prequel.

Metal Gear Solid 4

Speaking with 1UP, Payton reminded gamers that though series lead Solid Snake's saga may have ended, there's still "a lot of room for filling in the gaps as far as [series antagonist and MGS3 lead] Big Boss is concerned."

"There are some misunderstandings that this is the final Metal Gear game," Payton added. "But it's really the final chapter of the Solid Snake story. That's all."

Series creator Hideo Kojima made similar remarks last month. Prior to that, the MGS4 writer-director revealed that he will no longer be directly involved in the... Read more

This week's update to the PlayStation 3's digital store includes a new downloadable title, a digital encyclopedia detailing the Metal Gear saga, and the regular roundup of downloadable content.

As previously reported, today's update marks the release of Koei's Fatal Inertia EX, a retooled edition of the 2007 Xbox 360 combat racer with new tracks, difficulty settings and a modified Sixaxis control scheme. The game is priced at $29.99.

This week also sees the debut of the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database, available free of charge. The database spans the entirety of Kojima Productions' stealth action series from the original Metal Gear to the newly released Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3), and includes an encyclopedia, relationship map, and series timeline.

The entirety of today's PlayStation Store offerings is viewable below... Read more

Today marked the official launch of Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and the game is finally available to folks like me whose local game retailers didn't host midnight release parties last night. Those jerks.

As such, please continue to swap war stories, cool discoveries, and tales of hour-long cutscenes in the comments. Again, be wary of posting spoilers, as many of us are just tearin' into the game.

Finding yourself idle during the game's installation or one of its epic cutscenes? Busy yourself with our copious MGS4 coverage:

• Limited edition gunmetal gray PlayStation 3 info
• Kojima Productions on the fate of the MGS franchise
• The latest trailer
• MGS4 review dramabombs
• 90-minute cutscenes!? Not so, says Konami
• Shack PSA: Buy a PS3 this week, get a $100 Wal-Mart Gift Card
• iPod, Playboy Magazine featured in-game

Metal Gear Solid 4 developer Kojima Productions has allayed fears that the PS3-exclusive stealth-action title, due June 12, includes 90-minute cutscenes.

"There are no 90 minute cutscenes in [Metal Gear Solid 4]," associate producer Ryan Payton informed Kotaku. "The ending is long, but 90 minutes is a gross exaggeration. And here I thought gamers liked long endings!"

Reports of cinematics approaching 90-minutes in length first emerged from CVG and print magazine PSW, but were later denied by GamePro reviewer Sid Shuman. According to Shuman, MGS4 continues the series tradition of "elaborate and occasionally lengthy" cutscenes, though not one "even approaches 90 minutes."

Despite Shuman's denial, suspicions were once again raised when it was revealed that publisher Konami had requested some, but not all, advance reviewers to remain mum on cutscene length and installation size in their writeups.

In response, Payton said that "the game requires an eight minute install... Read more

Several publications have reported that publisher Konami instructed pre-release Metal Gear Solid 4 reviewers not to speak on the title's reportedly massive cutscenes and PS3 install size.

According to two anonymous gaming media sources speaking to MTV Multiplayer, Konami representatives asked print reviewers to omit details concerning the cut-scene length and installation size. Moreover, a recently published MGS4 review on IGN UK says that the concessions were made in exchange for a pre-release review.

"In return for letting us play Metal Gear Solid 4 before its release," wrote IGN UK editor Dave McCarthy. "Konami issued us with a list of things that we're not allowed to discuss. This list of prohibited topics is pretty long, and even extends as far as several facts that the company itself has already made public."

The most recent issue of gaming magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly makes a similar statement, noting that the publication of a round table discussion ... Read more

Konami sends along an official video preview of Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3), an epic said to feature lengthy, but not 90-minute long, cinematics.

As a bonus, the trailer includes the vocal talents of everyone's favorite big movie voice.

A PlayStation 3 exclusive, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is slated for a worldwide release on June 12.

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Update: Game journalist Sid Shuman has stated that while MGS4 includes some lengthy cutscenes, none of those cinematics comes close to the 90-minute mark.

"I've completed the game twice, and am the author of the forthcoming [GamePro] review," Shuman told GamePro. "Some of the cut-scenes in the game are elaborate and occasionally lengthy. But not a one, to my recollection, even approaches 90 minutes."

Original Story Kojima Productions' tactical epic Metal Gear Solid 4 will feature multiple cutscenes that each approach the 90-minute mark when it is released on June 12, according to CVG.

The news apparently comes out of PSW magazine, which played ... Read more

Konami just sent over a bunch of new screenshots from Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3), due worldwide on June 12.

According to associate producer Ryan Payton, MGS4 and its in-game Playboys mark the "last chapter of the saga of the Solid Snake story," but not the last entry in the series.

Clarifying past comments made by Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid 4 associate producer Ryan Payton has stated that the upcoming sequel is not the last Metal Gear game, but rather the "last chapter of the saga of the Solid Snake story."

Series lead character Solid Snake, the characters surrounding him and the ever-present Metal Gear weapons of mass destruction have served as the focal point for the stealth series since its debut in 1987.

"[Solid Snake] was a burden [for Kojima] because of all those loose ends," Payton explained to MTV Multiplayer. "I think he is kind of nervous about it. You can't continue from this step. You can't start next chapter. We really do close up the story."

"So when you play Metal Gear Solid 4 and when you get to the end, I think you're going to feel that 'wow, this is a nice closure.' All of the weird stuff that's gone on in the past, it's all coming to an end. All those weird questions--everything is answered."

A PlayStation 3 exclusive, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots arrives complete with iPod and Playboy product placement on June 12.

With Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots due out June 12 (PS3), developer Kojima Productions has revealed that the long-awaited stealth-action title is finished.

"I can now saw we have finished, Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally completed," series creator Hideo Kojima announced at a press event yesterday. "It was quite a test. Honestly, I feel relieved."

During his presentation, Kojima detailed some of the product placement contained within the game, including a 30GB iPod and Playboy magazines. The iPod can be used to play music found during the game, with Kojima demonstrating the feature by playing a light jazz melody whilst massacring enemy soldiers.

As for Playboy, the well-known nudie publication replaces the generic dirty magazines that have been used to distract enemies in past releases. Kojima noted that flipping through the in-game magazine will help reduce the stress level of protagonist Solid Snake.

Following its press event last night, publisher Konami has unleashed a bonanza of new media, including screenshots of Hellboy: The Science of Evil (PS3, X360, PSP), Lost in Blue (Wii), and New International Track and Field (NDS).

Be sure to check out the full post for all the goods, as there are so many new assets that we couldn't possibly put them all on our front page.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
Metal Gear Online (PS3)
Kojima Productions / June 12

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (NDS)
Konami / Fall 2008

Silent Hill: Homecoming (PS3, X360)
Double Helix / September 2008

... Read more

I have no idea what Solid Snake is doing with an iPod, but here are some new screenshots from Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) that show off all sorts of product placement.

To be honest, I'm just as confused as you are. Will these items actually be in Kojima Productions' finished game, which is due out June 12? Or are the shots merely some marketing thing? Kojima-created Photoshops?

Either way, we're likely to get more details tomorrow in the wake of publisher Konami's upcoming press event.

Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) may not land until June 12, but don't let that get you down. Here, have a new trailer. It comes straight from publisher Konami!

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The online beta for Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Online (PS3) has been updated with a new map and the Sneaking Mission gametype, allowing players to engage foes as series' protagonist, Solid Snake.

Sneaking Mission divides players among a red team, blue team, and one player as Snake. As the grizzled hero, the objective is to stun or hold up enemy soldiers and steal a set number of dog tags before the match ends.

The new map, entitled Midtown Maelstrom, is crafted in the middle eastern locale where Metal Gear Solid 4's single player campaign takes place and includes a variety of intertwining alleyways and passages. Midtown Maelstrom joins Blood Bath and Groznyj Grad as the third map available to players in the Metal Gear Online beta.

The beta went live last Friday in North America following a short delay. In light of the missed launch, Konami has extended the beta's operation by five days, setting a new closure date of May 11 for the test.

Access to the North American Metal Gear Online beta is available via a download code included in the Metal Gear Saga 2.0 DVD, a bonus disc given to gamers who preorder the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3).

Warning: This new trailer for Konami's upcoming PlayStation 3 system-seller Metal Gear Solid 4 is in Japanese. If that wasn't alienating enough, in the absence of David Hayter's gruff voicework, Solid Snake has apparently gone emo.

Just pretend the narrator is saying things like "heart-stopping thrill ride of the summer," and you'll probably be on board.

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Metal Gear Solid 4 is on track to be an action-packed smash hit when it releases on June 12.

Updated: Konami has revealed that the bundle will be available exclusively from Konami.com at a price of $599. The bundle includes the limited edition gunmetal grey PlayStation 3, a grey DualShock 3 controller and the limited edition version of Metal Gear Solid 4.

Original Story: Sony Computer Entertainment America and Konami have revealed plans to bring a limited edition gunmetal grey PlayStation 3 to North America.

Dubbed the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition PlayStation 3 Hardware Bundle--a separate offering from the previously-revealed MGS4 PS3 bundle--the exact contents of the package have yet to be revealed. At the very least, it is expected to include a copy of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and a DualShock 3 controller along with the limited edition console.

A post on the PlayStation.Blog stated it will be a "VERY, VERY Limited Edition bundle."

A PlayStation 3 exclusive developed by Kojima Productions, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots arrives on June 12.