–Jan 20, 2009, 19:05, Tokyo–Media retailer Tsutaya kicked off a campaign today in celebration of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Hideo Kojima. The retailer has set up a corner showing off the fifteen films that Kojima lists has having influenced the MGS series .

For those without access to Tsutaya shops, the online arm of the retailer is taking part as well and has opened a special campaign site.

According to the site, Kojima selected the following titles as having had an influence on the award-winning series:

• The Guns of Navarone
• The Great Escape
• Goldfinger
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Planet of the Apes
• The Deer Hunter
• Dawn of the Dead
• Full Metal Jacket
• Predator
• Die Hard
• Heat
• Black Hawk Down
• Children of Men
• The Bourne series
• Casino Royale

At the Tsutaya page, Kojima offers short comments for these movies. He says that the 007 series had the most influence on Metal Gear’s birth. Black Hawk Down was used as a reference for the lighting, color and atmosphere in the opening Middle Eastern section of MGS4. Regarding 2001, he notes that Snake and Otacon’s real names, David and HAL, come from the Kurbick classic. Die Hard offered hints for the conversion to 3D with the original Metal Gear Solid. Regarding The Deer Hunter, he says that while many believe Snake’s bandana comes from Rambo, it’s actually from Robert De Niro’s character in this movie.

The online site is also holding a present campaign. Interested parties can fill out their name and address information at the site to win a special MGS4-themed head-phone set, MGS4 t-shirts, and MGS4 character stickers.

The site also has one inactive section that’s listed as "coming soon."

To view this campaign in the flesh, head out to one of the following Tsutaya shops:

• Tsutaya Sapporo Kotoni (Hokkaido)
• Shibuya Tsutaya (Tokyo)
• Shinjuku Tsutaya (Tokyo)
• Tsutaya Shinbashi (Tokyo)
• Tsutaya Nishi Gotanda (Tokyo)
• Tsutaya JR Nakano Station (Tokyo)
• Tsutaya Sbisubashi (Osaka)
• Tsutaya Bellparle Route 1 (Osaka)
• Tsutaya Abenobashi (Osaka)
• Tsutaya Matsui Yamate Station (Kyoto)
• Tsutaya Commercial Mall Hakata (Fukuoka)
• Tsutaya Fukuoka Tenjin (Fukuoka)

(source: andriasang.com )

Improving graphics and sound will only go so far, says MGS creator

CVG reports~

"The "next level" of gaming is not yet possible on current-gen hardware, says Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima.

Speaking to BBC’s Click program, Kojima said that improving the visuals and audio in games will only go so far in future console generations.

"We will keep on making games for consoles and the graphics and sound quality will get better and better," he said. "But I think no matter how much we improve the quality, there is only so much we can hear or see.

"The next level will be when we start improving the backgrounds, the things you don’t instantly see but enhance the experience. For example, there are leaves in the background and when you water them they grow. Instead of the backgrounds being pre-programmed, they actually respond to what the player does.

"This is not possible right now but maybe in the future it will be, and that is when we will have entered the next era of gaming," he added.

He’s as technology-obsessed as ever then. Not that we’re complaining; MGS4 is a massively impressive game, and a terrific showcase for the PS3.

Kojima is currently rumoured to be working on a new game based on RPG series Snatcher, with No More Heroes mastermind Suda 51."

(source: CVG)

After three and a half years of hard work, "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots" is finally complete. Director Hideo Kojima talks about the passion that went into the project, and the techniques he used to turn his vision into a reality.

http://www.konami.jp/mgs4/us/interview/01.html

http://www.konami.jp/mgs4/us/interview/02.html

http://www.konami.jp/mgs4/us/interview/03.html

(source: Official MGS4 Site)

Kotaku reports~

For those who missed meeting Hideo Kojima in the States and Europe and for those living in Japan, listen up. Konami has announced dates and places for the Metal Gear Solid 4 autographing spectacular. Kojima, illustrator Yoji Shinkawa and actress Yumi Kikuchi are slated to appear with signing pen. The dates and places and times are:

June 28th, Saturday
•Yodobashi Camera Shinjuku 10:00AM - 11:00AM
•Sofmap Omiya 2:30PM - 3:30PM
•Yodobashi Camera Yokohama 5:30PM - 7:00

June 29th, Sunday
•Nagoya Station Bic Camera 10:30AM - NOON
•Osaka Yamada Denki Labi1 4:00PM - 5:30PM

Seems like signatures are mostly being limited to game packaging (Premium Pack is okay!), so that means no Kojima signed cigarette boxes. Bummer.

(source: Kotaku)

Celebrating MGS4’s release two weeks later.

PS3.IGN.COM reports~

June 25, 2008 - Konami had to cancel the Japanese launch festivities for Metal Gear Solid 4 at the last minute, but fans in Hideo Kojima’s home country aren’t being totally left out of the fun. Two weeks after launch, and Konami has announced a plan for a weekend tour that will take Kojima and other key staffers to five locations throughout the nation.

Set for June 28 and June 29, the "Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of Patriots World Tour in Japan" event will reach major locations from Nagoya to Tokyo. Kojima will appear alongside series character designer Youji Shinkawa for talk shows and signings and will offer attendees some neat bonus goodies.

If you call yourself a resident of Nipponland, of if you don’t mind paying the $400 fuel surcharge fee to cross the Pacific, check out Konami’s website for details.

(source: PS3.IGN.COM)

(source: GameSpot)

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots PlayStation 3 Interview - Video Interview

(source: PS3.IGN.COM)

With MGS4 now complete, Kojima has proclaimed himself done with that series and looks forward to continuing up on past series and creating new ones. Zone of the Enders is one such series. ZoE is a fast paced mech fighting series, and originally launched for the PS2 in spring 2001. While the first one(you know, that free game you got with the demo of MGS2?) was welcomed by a mixed reception, the second Zone of the Enders is largely considered one of the PS2’s most underrated games.

During an interview with PSM UK, Kojima told them:

“I would like to say that Zone of the Enders is quite near the priority list… [after MGS4] it might be good to change to outer space or robots or things like that for a change”

(source: Gamefunk)