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~

"During Sony’s mid-term strategy meeting, PlayStation president Kaz Hirai pointed to Metal Gear Solid 4 as an example of the PlayStation 3’s full abilities - noting that it shipped 3 million units worldwide within two weeks of launch, as Famitsu reported yesterday.

Hirai said MGS 4 is "the first title to fully utilize the capacity of dual layer Blu-ray disc…. Metal Gear Solid 4has created a world of gaming entertainment that can only be realized by PS3."

He also said MGS 4 drove console sales. "In the first week of the release of Metal Gear Solid 4, sales of PS3 in the Japanese market grew significantly, [an] eight times increase as compared to the week before, proving that Metal Gear Solid 4is a platform driver for PS3.""

(source: Kotaku)

IGN has put up quiet a few guides now for Metal Gear Solid 4 covering the following:

• BASICS // Extensive strategies for stealthy play. Read this first to dominate the PMCs.
• WEAPONS & ITEMS // Our picks for best weapons plus tips for using items.
• WALKTHROUGH // A Metal Gear Solid 4 walkthrough—beat every boss and find the best items.
• MULTIPLAYER // Multiplayer strategies to help you destroy your opponents.
• SECRETS // Unlockables and completion emblems discovered.

Be sure to click here for all of their guides for MGS4 and future updates.

(source: IGN)

IGN reports~

Kojima’s latest is selling like hot Metal Gear!

June 26, 2008 - With Metal Gear Solid 4 confirmed at half a million sales in Japan and one million in Europe, the big question is, just how many copies has the game sold overall. While we don’t have sales figures just yet, we do know the game’s shipped number: three million.

Famitsu.com, in its coverage from a Sony investor meeting in Tokyo today, reported that the game has topped this milestone in worldwide shipped units. Speaking at the meeting, Sony Computer Entertainment president Kaz Hirai also noted that the game helped shift hardware.

Games were put a bit on the back burner for this particular briefing though, as Hirai announced a number of non-game initiatives for the PS3 and PSP, including new video and news services.

(source: IGN)

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: Zero Punctuation)

Tech Reporter Ben Hoffman checks out the midnight release of this highly anticipated game in a very funny video.

(source: Thanks Jason)

SarcasticGamer reports~

"…in association with Konami. The appearances of an iPod and several Apple computers in MGS4 were just the start of a fruitful business relationship between these two corportate giants. More of these 100% genuine, SarcasticGamer.com-exclusive posters after the jump."

(source: SarcasticGamer)

…..now if this were true that would be cool but its not, but hey the pictures look cool :P.

N4G reports~

"The Japanese version of the MGS4 Database is up at the Japanese PSN!!

After installation it is not found under Extras in the game menu but rather a separate DLC game. The Japanese download has the option of Japanese, English, French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish. It does indeed asks you if you want to use your save file to unlock any spoilers. Spoilers are locked by default and you need a save of the cleared game to unlock it. There’s also a menu for "Briefing" which is for people who have already beat the game, so maybe you get an extra Mission Briefing.

Log on to the Japanese PSN if you want this MGS Encyclopedia one day early!"

(source: N4G)