The reason for the Metal Gear Solid rumors is quite simple. Konami is encouraging them. They have Kojima scream exclusive, and then a few other guys say it can be ported to another platform. Basically it is a aggressive business tactic. Designed to at the very least get Sony to buy exclusive rights, and to generate hype. They have certainly got the hype, and I wouldn't be surprised if the tactic got Sony to shell out for exclusive rights or at the very least timed rights. In that sense Microsofts pressure would have paid off. They forced Sony to spend more money.

The same hold true for Square. Microsoft keeps pushing to get these games on their console. Sony cannot afford to let that happen. Square has to know this. So once again I would be shocked if they have not come to Sony with a hand out looking for exclusive rights. I would also be shocked if Sony did not pay. This is the sheer genius behind Microsofts strategy.

All they have to do is talk about the titles, and make a token effort to get them on their platform. The developers then have leverage over Sony. Pay up or we walk and doom your console is pretty strong stuff. I am sure they have already done so and I am sure Sony folded like a house of cards. Not only can Konami and Square point towards Microsoft. They can also point towards Nintendo.

Will Microsoft get these games. Personally I doubt it for no other reason then these companies probably cornered Sony and basically mugged them at gunpoint. They have all the power to do so. Sony dominates no market, and is in fact losing ground in most markets. Nintendo owns Japan, and Microsoft is doing quite well in North America. Both Nintendo and Microsoft also have serious price advantages which will only increase over time. Sony would have no choice in the situation.

Right now the speculation probably just shores up hype, and might convince some people to buy a PS3. Since they have worked themselves into a frenzy for a game they were not going to get in the first place.

I believe MGS 4 will reach 360 eventually, though it will probably be a timed exclusive on PS3.

It's one heck of a bloody war between these two.

Am I the only one here that is getting tired of these same arguments about MGS4 & FFXIII!? If MS can get them great if not then Sony can get some kind of momentum. It is true that if MS can pull off a coup like that it would deal Sony a strong blow.

 what does 2K have to do with Konami? It's owned by Take Two, so your point here is meaningless and shows your a blantant troll just trying to post up random points trying to defend your worthless arguement. 

Nice you blanked Dimedes post in this quote since that is where Bioshock/2k was first mentioned in this thread.

Do you even read posts, or do you jump straight to unjust conclusions?

To excahnge opinions on whether or not MGS4 and FFXIII come to the 360 after every "rumor" or "hint" has become boring and obsolete and for your own brain health I suggest everyone who reads this thread to just forget about the topic until there is some hard facts , like an official announcement.

There can be no doubt that they're talking to these companies whenever they get a chance. I'm sure there are offers on the table that the top management (not Kojima -- people with power over the direction of the company) will keep considering as time goes on. There are always nationalistic people who have a problem with supporting a western company, especially one like Microsoft, over a Japanese company, but the people making the corporate decisions are obligated to consider profits above all else because that's their job.  It's easy for someone like Kojima to slag MS and suggest they'll never port Metal Gear Solid.  He doesn't have to consider profits.

The PS3's installed base is getting better relative to the 360s, and I think most companies developing games that will be released in late '08 or so assume the PS3 will have a comperable installed base in most of Europe as well as a decent base in Japan. However, the PS3 is quite far from even approaching the 360 in the US so I suspect a lot of Japanese companies will still consider releasing games on the 360 for that purpose alone.

Take 2 seems like a good company to target because they consistently have monetary problems. They may have an agreement with Sony to release GTA IV simultaneously, but what would Sony do if they broke that agreement? Give them a less favorable licensing fee? The PS3 needs GTA IV more than GTA IV needs the PS3. Take Two has all of the power in that relationship right now.

LISSEN...MGS2 went 2 XBox 1 even though at the time the Xbox had roughly 1/3 of the PS2... why would Konami NOT release MGS4 on 360 when it has a user base which is 2.5x bigger then the PS3s... it makes NO sense...

P.S I think MGS 4 will be exclusive 2 PS3... but only a timed exclusive.. When they release MGS 4 with all da extras that will be on 360 and PS3

Actually, they'd be looking at regional installed bases.  They wouldn't likely port it to the 360 in Japan, for example, but they may do so in America.  And in America the 360 has more than 3.5x the installed base of the PS3 by any measure.  That's a big deal, because MGS' biggest audience is the US.  Final Fantasy also relies heavily on the US market.