MGS4 gets a graphical Upgrade

[Bodhesatva]

Borkachev said:

i can do that big a change by playing with my tv settings.

You can add particle effects and change costumes by adjusting settings? That's some TV!

And I can't believe I have to explain this, but it's clear that a lot of people don't get it: you can't infer sales numbers of MGS4 based on MGS3, or FFXIII based on FFXII, or GT5 based on GT4. Why? Because there is a world of difference between big games promoted at the start of a console's life, where excitement over new technology and graphics drives hype to a fever pitch, and big games buried towards the end of a console's life, when everyone is already looking forward to the next generation. Of course FFX sold more than FFXII, GT3 more than GT4, and MGS2 more than MGS3 - these games were a major leap beyond their predecessors on the PSX, while the sequels were only a minor jump. We're going to see the same thing this generation, too - FFXIV, MGS5, and GT6 aren't going to see the sales of FFXIII, MGS4, and GT5, unless those games are total crap.

MGS4 is a system seller, and probably a big one. And to know why, you need to look at the hype around it today, not the hype around the game that came before it.

Finally, the trailer? Yes, it's real-time. Christ. If it's not, then those are some damn elaborate shenanigans in the videos of the game being manipulated in real time. Would those of you who doubt it happen to be members of the Flat Earth Society?

This isn't entirely fair, Bork. Most imporantly, there are counter examples: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas sold better than Vice City sold better than GTA 3. Clearly, the games don't need to go down in volume, but Metal Gear Solid did.

Both "Simpsons: Hit and Run" and "Medal of Honor: Rising Sun" were released within six months of "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater," and both sold 500,000+ copies more, despite the fact that few think of either game as a major title. Final Fantasy XII was released two years after Metal Gear Solid 3, but sold over a million more copies. I wouldn't say Metal Gear Solid isn't a system seller, as I agree it is -- but it's several tiers down from Grand Theft Auto, Gran Turismo or Halo, and at least one step down from Final Fantasy. This isn't about quality at all, as I agree the gameplay is superb; it's a matter of sales, and MGS simply does not have the sales to support the claim that it's a top flight system seller.

Edit: Bork, I'm not sure if you've noticed how often I reply to your comments. I want to emphasize that it's not because I strongly disagree with you; in fact, quite the opposite. I usually agree almost entirely with your posts, which makes subtle distinctions and more sophisticated discussion possible. If you came in here and said "Wii rules Sony sux ROFL," I'd just ignore you.