HappySqurriel on 30 March 2007
johnlucas said:
Slightly off-topic but relevant to this story.
"Controversy!! Metal Gear Solid 4 will NOT go to the Playstation 3"
http://www.popzart.com/?page=view&topic=267
And my reasonings on that is based on the same things EIDOS has said about the PS3.
Big resource invested projects like THAT game need good userbases to return a profit.
I'm not talking about losing exclusivity. That's already long been a given for MGS4.
I'm talking about not appearing on the PS3 *AT ALL*.
Games planned for a system HAVE been cancelled before so don't think this is some surprise.
Even almost complete games at the last minute: cancelled, transferred over to another platform.
Sony's competitors crowd them out of the market. The machine is too expensive just that simple.
Even though we're in the afterglow of the PAL territories launch you will see PS3 sales stall soon.
While headstarted XBox 360 & buzz-powered Wii get larger & larger representation on the market.
That cameo of Snake in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is no coincidence believe me. Konami's getting ready to bail. The 3rd party exodus is beginning. THIS TIME to Sony's detriment.
When THQ wouldn't put "WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2007" on the PS3 but instead put it on the PS2, PSP, AND breaking exclusivity for the first time going to the XBox 360 I knew something was up. WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2007 would've been a good launch title for the PS3. They released nearly at same time. Wrestling games are always big business. So why wouldn't THQ take advantage of that opportunity?
Userbase, that's why. Even PSP had SOME measure of reasonable userbase to work with.
And just to underline what many may think is delusional foretelling. Listen to Hideo Kojima here.
"Kojima Ain't Feeling HD"
http://www.popzart.com/?page=view&topic=345
Those kinds of words don't sound too encouraging for someone developing for the PS3. He makes MGS4 sound like a chore & you can tell he & Sony are not on the same page with the direction of the project.
But ultimately it's the execs at Konami who decide the fate of the game & if they don't feel it's worth it to release on the PS3, they won't do it. The bigger the budget, the riskier the payoff. 3rd party's biggest concern is sales numbers. They need those numbers to make money. This underlines each and every one of their decisions & alliances which is why Gamecube began being overlooked last generation.
Just wait and see. EIDOS is just the beginning. You'll be hearing bombshells like this all year. And just wait until that ultimate bombshell of MGS4. Actually swerving Sony & moving platforms may give the entry a boost in sale power. Just because of the controversy.
John Lucas
I have no clue as to whether Metal Gear will/will not apear on any particular platform so I won't comment on that ...
One thing I want to mention is that there have been rumors that Kojima has grown tired of the Metal Gear series and has wanted to stop being involved with it. It is well know that Kojima has wanted to work with several of Japans major "Game Directors" before he/they retire so I wouldn't be surprised to see that (after MGS 4 is complete) he ends up working in colaborations between Konami and Sega/Nintendo/Capcom/Namco/Square-Enix on games ...
