And the bashing continues...

I think MGS4 will sell better than MGS3, despite the lower user base.  First games of a series on a new generation console generally do very well. 

wow all you people are so quick to jump on the PS3. why am I not surprised...

I have to agree with Sieanr. Did anyone really think this game would be released in 2007? I don't think it has anything to do with PS3 sales though, I just never thought the game would make it out in 2007 to begin with. Although, I find it laughable that anyone would think that MGS4 would sale more on PS3 than MGS3 did on PS2 given the difference in user base.

I think the pre-PS3 launch expectations for MGS4 sales have been scaled back, given hardware sales to date. At the same time, I don't recall any firm release dates for MGS4 being announced, so if it slips into '08, it'll still be a fine game when it arrives. And given that it's reputedly one of THE largest and most expensive development projects in the works for PS3, if I were Konami I'd want to wait until the PS3 userbase was as large as possible before releasing this flagship title.

great news, hope now MGS4 will even better, then if it would have to relased earlier due some people expectations. :)

Plug? It's appropiate for the conversation so I included it. It beats having to repeat myself over and over all over the threads.

Money talks and Bull Shannon walks. Put the delay in context.

PS3 is sluggish in the market NOW. They sell the system at a loss already. Unlike their previous systems which had an advantage of cheaper game sticker prices, PS3's have gone UP to $60 in USA. We don't have to get into the well tread topic of system's price. Game dev costs are getting ridiculously high. Slow moving game sales undoes their plan to have the games make up the losslead difference. All that game dev expenditure not paying off as a result. High profile games can make that plan work. Their star lineup is lacking in face of XBox's Halo 3 and Nintendo's seemingly endless monsters. Mostly everybody talks about MGS4 or FF XIII as the key to buying a PS3 among a couple of other titles. With MGS4 pushed back that adds another minus for PS3 in 2007.

PS3 is often compared to N64 in how the previous champ ended up the underdog in the next generation. But it also mirrors the Saturn in short-circuited momentum during gen-change. The other PlayStations launched in weak competitive periods and benefitted off of the mistakes of those competitors. PS2 entrenched itself so securely in the slow demise of the Dreamcast that the other competition had no chance. Too late by the time they arrived to make a difference—both GC & XBox1.

The competitive period between consoles is always small. Unless the competitors are close by each other for a extended time like in SNES Vs. Genesis (in certain regions only) the winner is decided fairly early. And let me tell you why. Momentum is made when enough people buy the system to make Others WANT to buy the system to be able to PLAY WITH those "ENOUGH PEOPLE". Once a system is made a favorite it extends its lead throughout that generation becoming inpenetrable. Momentum carries over from gen to gen due to trust from giving the people a product they like. "If I like McDonalds Fish-O-Filet I might like their Mc Rib too" But betray this trust or have someone offer something they see as better and it dissipates. Very fragile.

PS3 doesn't have TIME to build a lead. They aren't working in relatively non-competitive times like with PS2 and somewhat with PS1. This is the strongest competition Sony has ever faced in their time in the gamemarket. XBox 360 mirrors what they can do and as result is slowly siphoning what would have gone on PS3 onto their system. Wii is obviously trumping them all and is on its way to clearcut dominance this summer.

Then think of the regions. In homebase of Japan it's a total shutout. Nintendo has taken over Japan on both sides of the gaming equation-handheld and console. Sony is in the company of XBox 360 over there and they will be fighting for a distant 2nd at BEST. Most important region developer-wise since console gaming is a Japanese beast and will always be tied to Japan (check history). What's done here influences how Japanese developers align alliances. This is why Dragon Quest IX chosen was for Nintendo's DS. Sony has irrevocably lost this region. That fight is already over. I think once Japanese choose a favorite they lock onto it better than other regions. Which is why PS2 still has power from last gen and Gamecube can't even get arrested in game city.

The USA is best region moneywise. Americans are spenders and have a giant set of people to choose from. Here developers split difference between Wii which is powerful worldwide and XBox 360 which has good presence at least here in America. Though the difference is not as great as people make it out to be XBox 360 can be used for graphical tours-de-force and Wii for the rest. They pick titles appropiate for the audiences of both systems and max out their selling power. Sony still has loyals here but the other competition is making them forget about Sony slowly but surely. Developers will smell what the people are cooking and layeth the smacketh down on the PS3's support.

Australia/New Zealand is less than half the size population-wise of Japan but it's not a bad region to pick up since if courted properly you have a loyal audience that will want to stick with you since so many other companies overlook them as a go-to region. XBox 360 is strong here too with Wii close by. Because of these two already rooting in and with PS3's price factor it makes it hard for them to make way here either.

Europe is a populous region of growing influence. A complicated region however due to language/culture/geographics. Not to mention money factors. Euro Vs. Pound. UK that rebellious island is probably the star of the European gamebody. Once again half the size population wise of Japan UK like much of Europe has loyalties to Sony but the VAT that affects Aussieland affects here as well. That premium on gamegoods makes it a harder hill to climb. Sony has its best chance for restoration here since XBox 360 hasn't put the work in to win loyalty here and Nintendo still flubs the region when it comes to timely releases and support. It makes me wonder why Europeans stay console gameplayers when they seem to be so disregarded so often by game companies. Sony won this place by being the first to cater to the region way back when. According to kber81 from Poland other companies aren't a factor there due to history so Sony could draw on this. But the competition is gradually improving with the complicated region. Sony's attack on Lik-Sang didn't help matters since Europeans have become experts at importing due to disregard with game releases. Handheld wise they are losing the fight against DS. And Wii is taking root here in its toughest proving ground. Sony's N64-reminiscent release intervals do not help. I remember those days well trust me.

The rest of the world—those that are in market viable regions (technologically sound/not wartorn/not famine stricken) either don't make up enough physical numbers to make a big difference, are too poor due to country setup and resort to bootlegging, or are committed to PC gaming instead. Sony's giant priced onyx brings the same worry here too.

All this means that the longer PS3 struggles the less chance it will have to recover. These games took a lot of money to make and the investors demand that they get a return on thier investment. So they need proper sales. And they will crossplatform, uproot any title they choose to achieve this. It's pure and simple business and nothing else.

Money talks and Bull Shannon walks. Mark my words that delay is only delaying the inevitable. Metal Gear Solid 4 will end up NOT going on the PS3 due to what I just talked about.

John Lucas