Kojima Disappointed with MGS4

Scotracer · 19-04-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Looks like Kojima Jr. isn't the only one disappointed with Metal Gear Solid. The latest issue of the UK's Edge magazine contains an interview with Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, who expresses disappointment with the latest game in the series, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It isn't so much the gameplay itself as it is the graphics.

"Game-wise, it's pretty close to the original vision: you sneak into the battlefield and can choose whether to do a stealth game or interfere with the battle more directly. But the graphic, side things like motion-blending and the size of the map, totally was not accomplished to my original vision - to my satisfaction.

Now Kojima is a well-known perfectionist, but it is a bit disturbing to see him voice his dissatisfaction with what is supposed to be the masterpiece of the franchise. So where does he lay the blame for not fully realizing his vision?

"When we first showed the game engine at TGS, the staff were really proud and happy. PS3 was a dream machine, y'know, and we were going to work on this and that - and we had so many ideas. But when we actually started developing the game, we realized there were a lot of restrictions and so it turned out how you see it today. The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress.

So there was certainly progress made, but not enough progress...or more specifically, not enough power for progress. Apparently the team overestimated what the PlayStation 3 was capable of.

I remember saying three years ago that we wanted to create something revolutionary, but in reality we couldn't really do that because of the CPU. We're using the Cell engine to its limit., actually. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing the PS3 machine, it's just that we weren't really aware of what the full-spec PS3 offered - we were creating something we couldn't entirely see.

Well there you have it, straight from the man himself. Metal Gear Solid 4 is not revolutionary. Personally I think the man is being a bit hard on himself, but that's what great minds do.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Kojima Disappointed With Metal Gear Solid 4

I don't want to read too much into this as Kojima is by no means a realist so him being disappointed could have no bearing on the regular audience but still...why would a creator play down his own creation just under 2 months from launch?

Blasterpez · 19-04-2008, 11:55 AM

Not really an MG fan, but the videos and previews make this look like a pretty sweet game. If he is saying it is about 1/10 of what he envisioned, i would be really interested to see what WAS his original vision, and what kind of power it would take to bring it about. Interesting he said the ps3 CPU isn't as powerful as they hoped or needed.

friedkarma · 19-04-2008, 12:05 PM

The Sony PR machine continues to impress.

axeman2008 · 19-04-2008, 12:39 PM

Just out of curiosity how much more powerful is the ps3 compared to the 360? Only when it comes to graphics both machines seem to be capable of producing the same quality.

Scotracer · 19-04-2008, 12:43 PM

General processing power (mathematics): PS3 significantly more powerful
AI integration (branch prediction): 360 more suited
Graphics processing: without the Cell's help, the PS3 is less powerful than 360 but with it, it is more powerful
Memory: Both 512Mb but PS3 has 256Mb of XDR (@ 3.2Ghz) which is significantly faster than the GDDR3 in the 360

Overall: PS3 is potentially more powerful.

axeman2008 · 19-04-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotracer

General processing power (mathematics): PS3 significantly more powerful
AI integration (branch prediction): 360 more suited
Graphics processing: without the Cell's help, the PS3 is less powerful than 360 but with it, it is more powerful
Memory: Both 512Mb but PS3 has 256Mb of XDR (@ 3.2Ghz) which is significantly faster than the GDDR3 in the 360

Overall: PS3 is potentially more powerful.

Dude, wtf is a XDR and a GDDR3? Are they some sort of chip?

friedkarma · 19-04-2008, 12:50 PM

In terms of aesthetics, games like Uncharted and Motor Storm couldn't be pulled off by the 360, but overall there's not nearly the level of disparity that Sony fanboys would like to believe.

Scotracer · 19-04-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axeman2008

Dude, wtf is a XDR and a GDDR3? Are they some sort of chip?

They are both types of volatile memory (memory that only retain state whilst powered up)...aka, RAM.

GDDR3 stands for Graphics Double Data-rate 3rd generation random access memory. It is quite similar to DDR2 found in PCs as main memory but it is designed for lower power consumption and lower heat dissipation.

XDR is a type of memory designed to take on the likes of DDR2 and GDDR4 to be used in small, consumer-based high memory requirement applications. It is based around the principle of high bandwidth per-pin. Very, very fast **** with low latency.

oli · 19-04-2008, 01:30 PM

Nice way to promote your game right there.

Spartan1127 · 19-04-2008, 03:26 PM

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Originally Posted by oli

Nice way to promote your game right there.

I know, this guy's gotta be a moron or something.

IIJoshIII · 19-04-2008, 03:34 PM

No he's not, he's just being honest. Clearly he is all about the games, and not about the mulah, which can't be said about a lot of other game designers.

vote4fairtax · 19-04-2008, 09:52 PM

motorstorm and drakes fortune could have both been played on the 360. There is nothing in either game that was not 360 capable.

BRUTAL1TY · 19-04-2008, 10:17 PM

Unfortunate to hear, stupid to do, hopefully it's not true.

Kona Palangi · 19-04-2008, 10:47 PM

Last I checked, OCD plagued perfectionists are usually never please with their works. Bottom line remains to be thus; people play MGS4 not for graphics but mainly for the story line and gameplay mechanics. Since 4 will supposedly be the "last" MGS (as if we haven't heard that before) it should answer all the questions regarding the Patriots and the La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo. Ask any legitimate MGS gamer and they will pretty much recite what I have said damn near verbatim. I doubt any true Metal Gear fans really ****ing care because although the graphics may not be as aesthetically pleasing as Kojima would have, they will still look great nevertheless.

The most intriguing aspect of this interview in my personal opinion was his "We're using the Cell engine to its limit" comment.

axeman2008 · 20-04-2008, 06:24 AM

On a quick note, that is a brilliant avatar Kona especially the 'douchebag' line.

I'll certainly be pre-ordering mgs4 despite Kojima's comments, theres no point having a ps3 and not having that game.

IIJoshIII · 20-04-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kona Palangi

Last I checked, OCD plagued perfectionists are usually never please with their works. Bottom line remains to be thus; people play MGS4 not for graphics but mainly for the story line and gameplay mechanics. Since 4 will supposedly be the "last" MGS (as if we haven't heard that before) it should answer all the questions regarding the Patriots and the La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo. Ask any legitimate MGS gamer and they will pretty much recite what I have said damn near verbatim. I doubt any true Metal Gear fans really ****ing care because although the graphics may not be as aesthetically pleasing as Kojima would have, they will still look great nevertheless.

The most intriguing aspect of this interview in my personal opinion was his "We're using the Cell engine to its limit" comment.

La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo! I cant wait to find out the real deal of the Patriots! It's worth buying a PS3 for