Konami Message Board older than one year ago

Konami announced new details regarding Mercury Steam's upcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, revealing that a large portion of its gameplay will take place in a modern-day, open-world setting.

Expressing a desire for the game's world to "grow organically, and not level-to-level," Mercury Steam's Enric Alvarez notes that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will allow players to freely explore the game's world without loading times. While much of the game will take place in Dracula's castle, players will also be able to explore a surrounding modern-day city, providing a stark contrast with the franchise's typical medieval fantasy setting.

Alvarez describes the game as darker in tone than its predecessor, and notes that its story is defined by "intense and contradictory feelings." Combat will be more strategic and tactical, thanks to more complex enemy behavior.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will be released this winter.

Wow! I guess David Hayter is really upset he won't be returning to the role of Snake for the next Metal Gear Solid game. Or maybe he's still participating in a long con with MGS creator Hideo Kojima? Check out what he just tweeted: Ah well,Can't fault @realkieferGreat actor, good man.The game will probably still be excellent.Like New Coke! — David Hayter (@DavidBHayter) June 6, 2013 New Coke, of course, was Coca-Cola's failed attempt to change the formula that people loved. If Hayter is serious, it's one hell of a dig. Then again, this is just the latest in what has been a long chain of Hayter trolling Kojima and crew on Twitter. Last week, he hinted that he'd be making an appearance at E3... I'm so excited for E3!I just hope I don't lose my voice.;-) — David Hayter (@DavidBHayter) May 29, 2013 But then... Uh oh,I think I feel laryngitis coming on... — David Hayter (@DavidBHayter) June 5, 2013 So, yeah. Is this part of one big Kojima-fueled conspiracy? I say probably. Then again, Hayter did seem rather emotional when he wrote about the news back in April.

Snake? SNAAAAKKKKKEEEEE!!!! Konami's E3 press conference is today at 1pm Eastern, and we've got it streaming right here. Some things to expect from this conference: Metal Gear Solid news, Castlevania news, Pro Evolution Soccer news. Also, they probably won't mention Suikoden. BUT WHAT IF THEY DO.

Jack Bauer will play Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Konami just announced during their pre-recorded E3 press conference. Kiefer Sutherland, best known for his role as super-agent Bauer in the show 24, will do motion capturing and voice work for the new Metal Gear game, which takes place after the upcoming Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (and way before the events of Metal Gear Solid IV). "This role differs from every other video game I've done," Sutherland said.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow: Ultimate Edition has been officially announced for PC and will whip-it good this August. The game, which hinted at a PC release on the Steam registry this past March, includes the regular game plus two add-on chapters (Reverie and Resurrection).

The PC edition will be available through Steam on August 27, a boxed retail edition is scheduled for August 30 in Europe.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 has been announced by Konami for Xbox 360, PS3, Windows PC and PSP. In this latest incarnation, the series will switch to using the Fox Engine. There's no word on Wii U, PS4 or Xbox One in the press release, but we've contacted Konami for further details.

The 2014 game will feature what is dubbed as "TrueBall Tech," a system governing physics and controls centered around the ball. The Motion Animation Stability System (M.A.S.S.) is designed to present more realistic and dynamic player collision behavior and tackles, and footballers will now have mental statistics that can be affected throughout a match by fan support and teamwork.

The Fox Engine is a multi-platform development suite powering Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

This brief, teasing video is for Konami's upcoming Pro Evolution Soccer 2014. It's a bigger deal than this clip is making it out to be, though, as it's going to be the very first game released on the publisher's new Fox Engine. The same thing that'll be powering the upcoming Metal Gear games (though Pro Evo's is of course slightly modified). That's not to say it's not a big deal for sports fans either, though. Pro Evolution has played second fiddle to FIFA all generation long, with an engine that in places feels lightyears behind EA's, and in other places looks straight-up last-gen. Fox should hopefully change that, which is good news for football fans.

Ever since David Hayter tearfully announced that he wouldn't be returning as Snake for the next Metal Gear Solid game, I've had a gut feeling that he will be returning as Snake. Get this: the longtime Snake voice actor tweeted yesterday that he'll be making an appearance at E3 in a week and a half: I'm so excited for E3!I just hope I don't lose my voice.;-) — David Hayter (@DavidBHayter) May 29, 2013 And today, Konami sent out the above teaser video for their pre-E3 conference on Thursday, June 6. They're going to take that opportunity to announce who's voicing Snake this time around. My guess? Come on. Leave it to Hideo Kojima to tease us into thinking that Hayter is gone, only to surprise us again two months later. Dude likes his mind*crag*s.

Originally scheduled for June, Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection will arrive via cardboard boxes to North and South America on July 9, publisher Konami announced this afternoon. The PlayStation 3 exclusive bundle includes Metal Gear (Metal Gear? Metal Gear!) Solids 1-4, including Peace Walker and VR Missions. The package is priced at $49.99.

The bundle also includes two Ashley Wood "digital graphic novels" and the 100-page art book featuring the series' marketing art over the past 25 years. The Legacy Collection was previously dated July 11 for Japan, and it appears to include the same items now announced for the Americas.

That new PS3 Metal Gear Solid collection got bumped back to July 9, Konami just announced. It'll retail for $50.

The news infiltrators of Joystiq have blown cigarette smoke over the laser-beams of the internet to reveal that a Hideo Kojima podcast contains the enigmatic announcement that Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance will be coming to PC. This has apparently been confirmed by some kind of senior chat at Platinum Games. “I am excited to see Rising hit the PC,” he says. Well, us too, twitter man.

There’s a trailer for you to be pleased with, below.(more…)

From the frozen Alaskan tundra to the jungles of Russia, the Metal Gear series has covered nearly every corner of the globe, with a story spanning over 50 years of history and four generations of consoles. And for the first time in series history, every core title will be available in a single box, starting July 9th, 2013 on PS3.

Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection contains every canon Metal Gear release to grace PlayStation platforms from 1998′s Metal Gear Solid to 2008′s Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots to 2011′s Metal Gear Solid HD Collection* — all for $49.99. Perfect for newcomers or collectors looking for rare titles like Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions or the Metal Gear Solid digital graphic novels, this is the most massive Metal Gear release ever created with something for every infiltration expert to enjoy. All of this is included in a lovely new package that includes a 100-page art book containing rare marketing art from around the globe!

Want to start at the beginning of the series? Boot up Metal Gear Solid 3: HD Edition and play the original (updated) MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Want to jump straight into the story of Big Boss without touching the original PSone and PS2 Classics? (A weird decision, but who am I to judge?) Pop in Ashley Wood’s beautiful digital graphic novels for MGS1 and MGS2 (first time ever released outside of Japan!) to get caught up with all the events of the Shadow Moses Incident and Big Shell. Did I mention it includes VR Missions? Three words: playable Gray Fox.

War has changed, and it has never been easier to join the fight. Keep an eye out for the release of Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection, in stores July 9th, 2013. You can pre-order now at Amazon.

*(containing Metal Gear Solid 2: SONS OF LIBERTY, Metal Gear Solid 3: SNAKE EATER and Metal Gear Solid: PEACE WALKER)

David Hayter -- the voice of Snake -- runs us through his five favorite memories from the franchise.

The official Japanese site for the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection includes a few more details than was seen in the bundle's initial announcement. For starters, the pack will include "a 100-page artbook filled with [series artist Yoji] Shinkawa's work," according to a translation by MetalGearSolid.nl. The official Japanese site also lists a July 11 release date for Japan.

The English site for the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection also notes that the inclusion of both Metal Gear Solid 1 and Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions are via PSN download vouchers packed in to the bundle. The 100-page artbook isn't listed for the North American version of the collection.

In a bid to expand its presence in the mobile marketplace, Konami has partnered with Bellator: MMA Onslaught developer Kung Fu Factory as part of a plan to "publish multiple mobile titles throughout 2013."

"As we continue to build upon Konami's social and mobile offerings, we look to partner with more independent developers like Kung Fu Factory to expand the variety of content," said Konami Digital Entertainment's director of digital publishing John Coligan. "Kung Fu Factory does a great job of creating engaging and unique gaming experiences for audiences of all kinds, and we intend to support them through the entire development and release process."

Konami was an early supporter of the App Store, having released iOS-exclusive entries in its Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid franchises alongside original efforts like Dragon Collection and Alcatraz Breakout. Kung Fu Factory is no stranger to the platform, either; its most recent release is the top-selling Nickelodeon-published platformer Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rooftop Run.

Specific titles under development by Kung Fu Factory will be announced soon.

This week in 1986, the release of Gradius ushered in the era of the Konami Code, a series of button presses that would become synonymous with not just gaming on the NES, but gaming in general. This Week in Gaming History: Happy Birthday Konami Code! [Jace Hall/PSP]

As rumored a few days ago, a new pack of Metal Gear Solid games is coming to PS3 this June. Not to be confused with the one that came out a year and a half ago. Here's Konami: Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the METAL GEAR SOLID franchise, this PlayStation®3 exclusive package will include METAL GEAR SOLID, METAL GEAR SOLID 2: HD Edition, METAL GEAR SOLID 3: HD Edition (which includes the original MSX versions of METAL GEAR and METAL GEAR 2), METAL GEAR SOLID: Peace Walker HD Edition, METAL GEAR SOLID: VR MISSIONS and METAL GEAR SOLID 4: Trophy Edition. In addition, the collection will also include two Ashley Wood digital graphic novels. No word on price or any specific release date just yet.

A Korean classification rating for something called Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection may point towards a MGS compendium on PS3. The rating notes the PS3 platform and Konami as the registrant. Meanwhile, a tweet from series creator Hideo Kojima points to some sort of collection including the first four numbered MGS games, as well as Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

That's based on an image Kojima tweeted earlier today (see below the break), featuring the different guises of Snake across the five games, emblazoned across the words 'METAL GEAR SOLID.' Then again, that Kojima's a bit of a cheekster, so maybe this is just a front for the almost inevitable Joakim Mogren spin-off.

One man. Two Dance Dance Revolution pads. No shoes. What follows is nothing short of amazing. The DDR player's name is TAKASKE, and he is Japan's barefoot arcade wonder. ゲームはスポーツだなｗｗｗｗｗｗ [ぴょんそく] Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.

SHOCKING DEVELOPMENTS. Metal Gear Solid 5 is an actual, factual thing, as revealed during Kojima Productions’ GDC panel. But wait, that’s not all. Are you ready to ratchet up the vein-searing voltage? OK, here goes: The Phantom Pain was just a promotional stunt! It was Metal Gear all along, just like no man, woman, child, infant, or single-celled organism could’ve surmised from painfully obvious evidence. Now, though, you probably ought to flee into your local neighborhood tire factory, because here comes the most electric news of all. In spite of Hideo Kojima’s repeated claims that Metal Gear Solid 5/Ground Zeroes/The Phantom Pain’s demos have been running on PC, Konami still won’t confirm or deny a PC version for some reason.

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#metalgear This is Ludvig Forssell. He might look more familiar when he's covered with bandages and pretending to be a Swedish game designer named Joakim Mogren. More »

There's an idea of parody, a kind of abstraction at play here, but we can't see it. Maybe there is no real parody, only a joke, something illusory? Maybe you can even sense our humors are probably comparable? Oh, no? Okay then.

Think you’ve mastered Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance? Prove that you’re a true cyborg ninja by downloading the PS3-exclusive Virtual Reality (VR) Missions DLC right now! VR Missions are a Metal Gear Solid staple, and we’re pleased to offer these exclusively to PlayStation fans.

In these 30 all-new VR missions, you’ll test your blade skills in a host of new challenges. Get ready to face off against METAL GEAR Ray, fend off sliders with machine gun turrets, infiltrate as dwarf gekko and much more. The 30 missions feature a host of different challenges and it’ll take real skill to conquer them all.

To kick off the launch of the downloadable content release for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, we’re making this particular pack free in North America and Canada until April 3rd, 2013. Grab it now on PlayStation Network, then check out the official Metal Gear Rising Facebook page for more information on all upcoming DLC updates and assets.

Once you pick up today’s DLC, let us know your favorite new mission in the comments below.

#showus The beat 'em up genre flourished in the nineties, with Capcom and Konami leading the way on the SNES and on the SEGA Genesis, as well as with a huge amount of great arcade games that never got a home console port. More »

#review Castlevania has a serious identity crisis. More »

Prep your Fulton Recovery Devices and dust off your Love Box! Today we’re confirming that the critically acclaimed PlayStation Portable version of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker will be available on PS Vita as a PlayStation Store download later today!

Step into the shoes of the legendary Big Boss and infiltrate the lush forests of Costa Rica, recruit soldiers and construct your own Mother Base as you lay the groundwork for your band of Militaires Sans Frontières (Soldiers Without Borders).

Or work together with other players in special, four-player CO-OPS (Cooperative-OPerationS), and six-player competitive matches using the PS Vita’s Ad Hoc capabilities in this title originally released for the PSP in April 2010. (Note: Transfarring functionality not available in this version of the game.)

Will you be picking up Peace Walker today? Let us know in the comments and share your favorite Peace Walker moments on our official Metal Gear Solid Facebook Page.

Stealth and tactics still play a role in Platinum Games' action romp through the Metal Gear Universe.

Raiden's first solo outing is finally hitting consoles with this new launch trailer.

Unlock higher difficulty levels right off the bat in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, without having to beat the game three times beforehand!

#dancedancerevolution I'm all about seeing my favorite franchises represented in the mobile gaming space, but Dance Dance Revolution seems like a series best left to controllers that won't shatter if you stomp on them. Maybe Dance Dance Revolution: Dance Wars will prove me wrong. More »