Metal Gear Solid 4

MGS4 PRE-RELEASE FAQ

9.24.07
Under the HP Gage is the 気力ゲージ Strength Gage, which replaces the Stamina Gage. When Snake continuously kills enemies, when he is hot or cold, when he carries heavy weight weapons, and when he feels stress, the gage goes down. Read a gravure magazine, eat food, or rest in the shade, and relax, the gage refills. Refilling the Strength Gage through the reading of gravure magazine seems to take a long time. There is a new Smell Gage in the game. With high smell, even with high Camouflage Meter reading, Snake will still be detected. For example, if Snake hides in a carbage container for too long, smell will stick to him. There will be other smell related concepts in the game. Previously, equipping the cardboard box will make the playable character run up stairs and hills faster. This is disabled in MGS4. In MGS4, running up without a box will be quicker. Shaking an enemy that's asleep or unconscious will drop items, just like before. There are about 70 different weapons for Snake to use. Customizable such as adding scope, etc. 8 weapons and items can be equipped at the same time. Changeable in the Start Button Menu. Arms Tech seems to have a prominent presence in the MGS4 world. Snake's position seems to be an "監査官 inspector" of the UN. Eva returns in old design to complement Old Snake. Sunny is described in the promotional pamphlet as "愛国者達から逃げてきた子供 Child That Escaped From The Patriots". She is a little kid resembling Olga Gurlukovich. Sunny is described as a "child genius". The Metal Gear Mk.II seems to be built by Otacon and Sunny together. The name "Sunny" is named after the sun. Revolving around the sun are many stars, symbolizing many different characters all revolving around this character. Sunny is said to be a very important character in MGS4. It seems that during gameplay, image of Sunny can be accessed at any time, possibly for the purpose of checking on her safety. The Metal Gear REX in the trailer is piloted by the Mk.II. Jonathan's mohican hairstyle resembles an "!" mark when viewed from behind. It seems Jonathan hates it when people come at him from behind, which is why he lost his temper and fired madly after being attacked from behind. As Director Kojima put it, even when extremely angry, nanomachines can return a person's emotions to normal instantly. Jonathan's motion capture actor is Mr Mori Motosada. Johnny in MGS4 loves Akihabara (秋葉原), it seems that is the origin of his name "Akiba". It seems Johnny Akiba might be the same soldier that got stripped down to his underpants by Meryl in Shadow Moses. Ed is a big man, measuring over 2 meters tall. The "Frogs" Ed referred to are Liquid's private army called the "Haven Troopers". Very strong when attacking in unit formation. The Haven Troopers are all female. Vamp is "interested" in Raiden who now possesses an undying body. It seems the purpose of his presence is to find out more about this undying body. Director Kojima mentioned the movie "裸の銃を持つ男 The Naked Gun" when introducing the new character Drebin, saying "if I say more, I will spoil it." There is a possibility that the name "Drebin" came from Leslie Nielsen's character "Frank Drebin" in the movie "裸の銃を持つ男 The Naked Gun". Director Kojima repeated several times for gamers to "like Raiden more". Director Kojima's speech patterns strongly suggest that he will be making more Metal Gear games. Solid Snake's series will be completely concluded, but a new Metal Gear game series is hinted to be already in the works.

9.24.07

Under the HP Gage is the 気力ゲージ Strength Gage, which replaces the Stamina Gage. When Snake continuously kills enemies, when he is hot or cold, when he carries heavy weight weapons, and when he feels stress, the gage goes down. Read a gravure magazine, eat food, or rest in the shade, and relax, the gage refills.
Refilling the Strength Gage through the reading of gravure magazine seems to take a long time.
There is a new Smell Gage in the game. With high smell, even with high Camouflage Meter reading, Snake will still be detected. For example, if Snake hides in a carbage container for too long, smell will stick to him. There will be other smell related concepts in the game.
Previously, equipping the cardboard box will make the playable character run up stairs and hills faster. This is disabled in MGS4. In MGS4, running up without a box will be quicker.
Shaking an enemy that's asleep or unconscious will drop items, just like before.
There are about 70 different weapons for Snake to use. Customizable such as adding scope, etc.
8 weapons and items can be equipped at the same time. Changeable in the Start Button Menu.
Arms Tech seems to have a prominent presence in the MGS4 world.
Snake's position seems to be an "監査官 inspector" of the UN.
Eva returns in old design to complement Old Snake.
Sunny is described in the promotional pamphlet as "愛国者達から逃げてきた子供 Child That Escaped From The Patriots". She is a little kid resembling Olga Gurlukovich.
Sunny is described as a "child genius".
The Metal Gear Mk.II seems to be built by Otacon and Sunny together.
The name "Sunny" is named after the sun. Revolving around the sun are many stars, symbolizing many different characters all revolving around this character. Sunny is said to be a very important character in MGS4.
It seems that during gameplay, image of Sunny can be accessed at any time, possibly for the purpose of checking on her safety.
The Metal Gear REX in the trailer is piloted by the Mk.II.
Jonathan's mohican hairstyle resembles an "!" mark when viewed from behind.
It seems Jonathan hates it when people come at him from behind, which is why he lost his temper and fired madly after being attacked from behind.
As Director Kojima put it, even when extremely angry, nanomachines can return a person's emotions to normal instantly.
Jonathan's motion capture actor is Mr Mori Motosada.
Johnny in MGS4 loves Akihabara (秋葉原), it seems that is the origin of his name "Akiba".
It seems Johnny Akiba might be the same soldier that got stripped down to his underpants by Meryl in Shadow Moses.
Ed is a big man, measuring over 2 meters tall.
The "Frogs" Ed referred to are Liquid's private army called the "Haven Troopers". Very strong when attacking in unit formation. The Haven Troopers are all female.
Vamp is "interested" in Raiden who now possesses an undying body. It seems the purpose of his presence is to find out more about this undying body.
Director Kojima mentioned the movie "裸の銃を持つ男 The Naked Gun" when introducing the new character Drebin, saying "if I say more, I will spoil it."
There is a possibility that the name "Drebin" came from Leslie Nielsen's character "Frank Drebin" in the movie "裸の銃を持つ男 The Naked Gun".
Director Kojima repeated several times for gamers to "like Raiden more".
Director Kojima's speech patterns strongly suggest that he will be making more Metal Gear games. Solid Snake's series will be completely concluded, but a new Metal Gear game series is hinted to be already in the works.

7.11.07
MGS4 takes place 9 years after the Shadow Moses Incident, making the year 2014, and Solid Snake 42 years of age. The ソリッド･アイ Solid Eye is a multi-purpose goggle that not only gives you battlefield information, but can also be used as a scope and night vision goggles, switchable with the O button. Players will be able to control the MkII.

9.22.06
Hiding in obvious hiding-places such as boxes and lockers leads to easy discovery, since searchers look in those places first. This time, Snake must stand in the open and blend into the surroundings, and not hide. MGS4 will for the first time in the series feature 3D models created from real-life people through 3D computer graphics. An example was shown, of actress 菊地由美 Kikuchi Yumi, one of Kojima's favorite actresses. (She was the poster girl posted inside the Snake Eater Operation opening infiltration drone.) She will be the Japanese representative of a certain group in the game. Harry Gregson-Williams returns to compose for MGS4 despite his busy schedule which had prevented him from signing on to the project at the beginning of production. The new MGS4 logo was made by Logan (http://www.hellologan.com), the company responsible for the TV spots of iPod, Volkswagen, and Xbox, and worked on recent Madonna and U2 music videos. Logan's Alex Tylevich said that Kojima wanted for the logo something with a classic taste reminiscent of The Godfather and at the same time have a touch of modernism. Kojima wanted a new logo with a complete new look because this is a new beginning of the MGS series, since the previous installments have already come to a conclusion as a trilogy. Logan will also be producing the opening sequence for MGS4, replacing Kyle Cooper who produced the opening sequences for MGS2 and MGS3. Kojima said the opening sequence will be something completely surprising and unexpected. In the previous games, players are able to control the camera in the opening sequences, this time it will be even better and more startling. MGS4's co-director Murata Shyuuyou said he was completely surprised when Kojima told him about it. Logan's Alex Tylevich said, "It's going to be highly unusual for a video game opening. It's going to be very futuristic."

9.22.06

Hiding in obvious hiding-places such as boxes and lockers leads to easy discovery, since searchers look in those places first. This time, Snake must stand in the open and blend into the surroundings, and not hide.
MGS4 will for the first time in the series feature 3D models created from real-life people through 3D computer graphics.
An example was shown, of actress 菊地由美 Kikuchi Yumi, one of Kojima's favorite actresses.
(She was the poster girl posted inside the Snake Eater Operation opening infiltration drone.)
She will be the Japanese representative of a certain group in the game.
Harry Gregson-Williams returns to compose for MGS4 despite his busy schedule which had prevented him from signing on to the project at the beginning of production.
The new MGS4 logo was made by Logan (http://www.hellologan.com), the company responsible for the TV spots of iPod, Volkswagen, and Xbox, and worked on recent Madonna and U2 music videos.
Logan's Alex Tylevich said that Kojima wanted for the logo something with a classic taste reminiscent of The Godfather and at the same time have a touch of modernism.
Kojima wanted a new logo with a complete new look because this is a new beginning of the MGS series, since the previous installments have already come to a conclusion as a trilogy.
Logan will also be producing the opening sequence for MGS4, replacing Kyle Cooper who produced the opening sequences for MGS2 and MGS3.
Kojima said the opening sequence will be something completely surprising and unexpected. In the previous games, players are able to control the camera in the opening sequences, this time it will be even better and more startling.
MGS4's co-director Murata Shyuuyou said he was completely surprised when Kojima told him about it.
Logan's Alex Tylevich said, "It's going to be highly unusual for a video game opening. It's going to be very futuristic."

9.20.06
The Octo-Cam in action will be shown in the upcoming TGS 2006 trailer. Snake can hide in oil drums. Snake can interrogate enemies and get items and weapons from them. Metal Gear MKII will have offense capabilities, such as electric shocking enemies. MGS4 will no longer be about sneaking. There is a mission, a goal, and the player has the freedom to decide how to reach the goal. The mission can be a stealth mission where you reach the goal unnoticed, or the mission can be a killing spree mission eliminating all the enemies along the way. Snake will be going all around the world like James Bond 007. Not only are the graphics more detailed, Snake's movements will also be more detailed. The story of MGS Portable Ops will have connections with MGS4. Kojima is attempting to incorporate more psychological warfare into the game. He describes enemy actions in previous MGS games as unrealistic, for they act as cold blooded killing machines without feelings or thoughts. More realistically soldiers are more psychologically fragile, and if you surprise them with a sudden noise, you can temporarily disable them. Kojima said MGS4 will more probably be released at the end of 2007, if they are able to keep the 2007 release at all.

9.20.06

The Octo-Cam in action will be shown in the upcoming TGS 2006 trailer.
Snake can hide in oil drums.
Snake can interrogate enemies and get items and weapons from them.
Metal Gear MKII will have offense capabilities, such as electric shocking enemies.
MGS4 will no longer be about sneaking. There is a mission, a goal, and the player has the freedom to decide how to reach the goal. The mission can be a stealth mission where you reach the goal unnoticed, or the mission can be a killing spree mission eliminating all the enemies along the way.
Snake will be going all around the world like James Bond 007.
Not only are the graphics more detailed, Snake's movements will also be more detailed.
The story of MGS Portable Ops will have connections with MGS4.
Kojima is attempting to incorporate more psychological warfare into the game. He describes enemy actions in previous MGS games as unrealistic, for they act as cold blooded killing machines without feelings or thoughts. More realistically soldiers are more psychologically fragile, and if you surprise them with a sudden noise, you can temporarily disable them.
Kojima said MGS4 will more probably be released at the end of 2007, if they are able to keep the 2007 release at all.

6.10.06
Mysteries left by MGS2 will all be resolved in MGS4. For example, questions like "who are the 愛国者達 Patriots?" and "why and how was Solid Snake born?", and the like. Solid Snake will not die in MGS4. Maybe. In this installment, Snake will be sneaking into many different kinds of places in the world. Though in the E3 2006 trailer the background stage was the Middle East, Snake will be sneaking into even more surprising locations. There is hidden meaning in the new game logo. It was hinted that the secret lies in the "L" letters and the letters "ID4". In this game, explosions will blow away buildings and ground surfaces, hence the "No Place To Hide" situation. The production team is leaning towards eliminating them, but whether or not there will be "!" and "?" marks above enemy soldiers' heads is still under discussion. The maps this time will be very big, unthinkably bigger than the maps in the previous game. Maps will be big enough to get lost in.

6.10.06

Mysteries left by MGS2 will all be resolved in MGS4.
For example, questions like "who are the 愛国者達 Patriots?" and "why and how was Solid Snake born?", and the like.
Solid Snake will not die in MGS4. Maybe.
In this installment, Snake will be sneaking into many different kinds of places in the world.
Though in the E3 2006 trailer the background stage was the Middle East, Snake will be sneaking into even more surprising locations.
There is hidden meaning in the new game logo.
It was hinted that the secret lies in the "L" letters and the letters "ID4".
In this game, explosions will blow away buildings and ground surfaces, hence the "No Place To Hide" situation.
The production team is leaning towards eliminating them, but whether or not there will be "!" and "?" marks above enemy soldiers' heads is still under discussion.
The maps this time will be very big, unthinkably bigger than the maps in the previous game.
Maps will be big enough to get lost in.

5.21.06
The lower leg half of the 月光 Gekkou is cyborg based. Because the 月光 Gekkou itself is still a mech, in the beginning the legs were designed more mech based, along with many other different ideas. In the end, the legs were decided to be biological, to be a blend of human-like and dinosaur-like. When the 月光 Gekkou runs, it is extremely fast. When the 月光 Gekkou is hit by a bullet, it is left with a burnt mark. Enemy soldiers' equipments are different with each person. For example, there are guys wearing hats, and there are guys wearing helmets. A lot of effort was put into the equipments in MGS4.

5.21.06

The lower leg half of the 月光 Gekkou is cyborg based.
Because the 月光 Gekkou itself is still a mech, in the beginning the legs were designed more mech based, along with many other different ideas.
In the end, the legs were decided to be biological, to be a blend of human-like and dinosaur-like.
When the 月光 Gekkou runs, it is extremely fast.
When the 月光 Gekkou is hit by a bullet, it is left with a burnt mark.
Enemy soldiers' equipments are different with each person. For example, there are guys wearing hats, and there are guys wearing helmets.
A lot of effort was put into the equipments in MGS4.

5.18.06
Ocelot will no longer be the Ocelot in the previous games. Ocelot is completely controlled by Liquid. Raiden will not be playable in MGS4. The only playable character will be Snake. The game system is greatly changed as compared to the previous installment(s). Elements of camouflage will also be present in this installment. However, it was hinted that the camouflage system will not be like it was in MGS3 where it can be changed manually by the player. Instead it will change automatically. Graphic quality will become even prettier in the finished game. Scheduled to appear in the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, maybe with new information. More information to be released in September.

5.18.06

Ocelot will no longer be the Ocelot in the previous games.
Ocelot is completely controlled by Liquid.
Raiden will not be playable in MGS4.
The only playable character will be Snake.
The game system is greatly changed as compared to the previous installment(s).
Elements of camouflage will also be present in this installment.
However, it was hinted that the camouflage system will not be like it was in MGS3 where it can be changed manually by the player. Instead it will change automatically.
Graphic quality will become even prettier in the finished game.
Scheduled to appear in the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, maybe with new information.
More information to be released in September.

5.13.06
The entire E3 2006 trailer shows real time polygon rendering in action, it is a demonstration of the graphic during gameplay. The story will conclude with MGS4. In this installment, all the various mysteries left in the Metal Gear series will be resolved. Number of participating characters will be the biggest in the series. The background time will be the further future of MGS2. It is said, that at the end of MGS2, Liquid's arm that was transplanted onto Ocelot has completely overtaken the mind of Ocelot. In MGS4, Ocelot will appear in the storyline with his mind already overtaken by Liquid Snake. His name will be Liquid Ocelot. There are several big PMC organizations, but all of them will be connected to one company. The name of the one company is "Outer Heaven". Liquid Ocelot is connected to this Outer Heaven in a certain way. All the unsolved mysteries of the six installments of the Metal Gear series will be resolved. It was said that a lot has happened to Raiden between the end of MGS2 and the beginning of MGS4. Rose, Raiden's girlfriend, will also appear in MGS4. The view perspective during play will not be the standard top looking down view used in the series up to this point. In MGS4, the view perspective will be the looking from behind view, similar to that implemented in MGS3 Subsistence. There are big changes made to the entire game system. Camouflage elements will also be present in MGS4. One of the elements will be the technology called the "オクトカム Octo-Cam", short for Octopus Camouflage. It will change not only in color, but in surface texture as well. Online Mode will be included as a standard. MGO (Metal Gear Online) released in MGS3 Subsistence was a beta version, or an experimental trial version. In MGS4 there will be a fully developed version of MGO. The online mode of MGS4 is hinted to be possibly fee based. Release will be in the year 2007, possibly December. 2007 is the 20th anniversary of the birth of the Metal Gear series.

5.13.06

The entire E3 2006 trailer shows real time polygon rendering in action, it is a demonstration of the graphic during gameplay.
The story will conclude with MGS4.
In this installment, all the various mysteries left in the Metal Gear series will be resolved.
Number of participating characters will be the biggest in the series.
The background time will be the further future of MGS2.
It is said, that at the end of MGS2, Liquid's arm that was transplanted onto Ocelot has completely overtaken the mind of Ocelot.
In MGS4, Ocelot will appear in the storyline with his mind already overtaken by Liquid Snake.
His name will be Liquid Ocelot.
There are several big PMC organizations, but all of them will be connected to one company.
The name of the one company is "Outer Heaven".
Liquid Ocelot is connected to this Outer Heaven in a certain way.
All the unsolved mysteries of the six installments of the Metal Gear series will be resolved.
It was said that a lot has happened to Raiden between the end of MGS2 and the beginning of MGS4.
Rose, Raiden's girlfriend, will also appear in MGS4.
The view perspective during play will not be the standard top looking down view used in the series up to this point.
In MGS4, the view perspective will be the looking from behind view, similar to that implemented in MGS3 Subsistence.
There are big changes made to the entire game system.
Camouflage elements will also be present in MGS4.
One of the elements will be the technology called the "オクトカム Octo-Cam", short for Octopus Camouflage.
It will change not only in color, but in surface texture as well.
Online Mode will be included as a standard.
MGO (Metal Gear Online) released in MGS3 Subsistence was a beta version, or an experimental trial version. In MGS4 there will be a fully developed version of MGO.
The online mode of MGS4 is hinted to be possibly fee based.
Release will be in the year 2007, possibly December.
2007 is the 20th anniversary of the birth of the Metal Gear series.

4.15.06
E3 2006, a new trailer is released. Raiden is featured heavily in the new trailer. Raiden will protect Snake in a portion of the game. Players are shown how active and cool Raiden has become. The sequence in the trailer and his role in the game are made to win over Raiden-haters.

4.3.06
The background stage of MGS4 is hinted to be around the Middle East. At least during portions of the game, Ocelot will be completely controlled by Liquid. It was hinted that the main character won't be just the old aged Snake, but a young regular aged Snake as well. It was hinted that the game will be consisted of 2 portions, similar to the MGS2 Tanker/Plant and the MGS3 VM/SEO. There is a special reason behind Snake's old age, it is also related to the theme of the game. The reason was also hinted to be related to FOXDIE. Kojima wanted to touch on and show how a person with age battles. Raiden will be extremely cool in this installment, and he will play a big part and be very active. The love scene is done to death in MGS3. There will be about no love scenes in MGS4. The affection that takes the biggest role in MGS4 will be the friendship between Snake and Otacon. Radio contact will be completely renewed into something that has never been used before. The possibility of a real time radio system was hinted very slightly. As gamers who's read about past production processes should know, a real time radio system had always been attempted by Kojima but was never succeeded.

4.3.06

The background stage of MGS4 is hinted to be around the Middle East.
At least during portions of the game, Ocelot will be completely controlled by Liquid.
It was hinted that the main character won't be just the old aged Snake, but a young regular aged Snake as well.
It was hinted that the game will be consisted of 2 portions, similar to the MGS2 Tanker/Plant and the MGS3 VM/SEO.
There is a special reason behind Snake's old age, it is also related to the theme of the game.
The reason was also hinted to be related to FOXDIE.
Kojima wanted to touch on and show how a person with age battles.
Raiden will be extremely cool in this installment, and he will play a big part and be very active.
The love scene is done to death in MGS3. There will be about no love scenes in MGS4.
The affection that takes the biggest role in MGS4 will be the friendship between Snake and Otacon.
Radio contact will be completely renewed into something that has never been used before.
The possibility of a real time radio system was hinted very slightly. As gamers who's read about past production processes should know, a real time radio system had always been attempted by Kojima but was never succeeded.

11.22.05
When sneaking into a battlefield where Country A and Country B are at war, a choice selection will occur for the player to decide whether and which side to aid. If the player simply intends to complete the mission, just don't inferfere and remain unnoticed by either Country A or Country B. If the player kills a soldier from Country A, it would mean the player has declared war on Country A. If the player kills a soldier from Country B, it would mean the player has declared war on Country B. Continue fighting against Country A, and the player will become an ally of Country B, and eventually become the hero of Country B. And vice versa. After Kojima's official announcement of not directly participating in the production of MGS4, Konami received a lot of worried mail requesting him to reconsider. Knowing of this, the production staff got extremely nervous. It was a serious problem at the time.

11.22.05

When sneaking into a battlefield where Country A and Country B are at war, a choice selection will occur for the player to decide whether and which side to aid.
If the player simply intends to complete the mission, just don't inferfere and remain unnoticed by either Country A or Country B.
If the player kills a soldier from Country A, it would mean the player has declared war on Country A.
If the player kills a soldier from Country B, it would mean the player has declared war on Country B.
Continue fighting against Country A, and the player will become an ally of Country B, and eventually become the hero of Country B. And vice versa.
After Kojima's official announcement of not directly participating in the production of MGS4, Konami received a lot of worried mail requesting him to reconsider.
Knowing of this, the production staff got extremely nervous. It was a serious problem at the time.

9.20.05
The destination of Snake's sneaking mission is a "battlefield". Because of the stage being a battlefield, in the beginning there is no distinction between "enemy soldiers" or "ally soldiers". Depending on the actions of the player, "enemies" and "allies" change. "MEME 文化的遺伝子" → "GENE 遺伝子" → "SCENE 時代", and this time "SENSE 感覚". Character emotions won't need words, the PS3 is capable of expressing emotions through movements of characters' eyes and facial expressions. Staples such as the "?" and the "!" will not be necessary. Solid Snake will not die in Metal Gear Solid 4. MGS4 will be Director Kojima's last one, he has no intention to make MGS5. The reason for not making MGS5 is because for his next project he wants to make something that has "impact". However, it doesn't seem MGS4 will be the end of the Metal Gear series. In MGS4, weapons can be customized. Customization variations is said to be "several hundred variations". MGS4 will not be FPS, it will remain MGS. The time is set to be several years after MGS2, so all the characters have aged somewhat. But Snake's old age is caused by other factors. Snake's beard is created full polygon strand by strand, just that alone is equivalent to 1 enemy soldier in MGS3. At TGS 2005 a new trailer movie is released, which is made using the early development kit of the PS3 engine. Because the kit is not the final finished version of the PS3 engine, the final graphics of MGS4 will be even more beautiful. The game will be played in the same graphic quality as that seen in the trailer. "MGS3", "MG", and "MG2" completes the "Big Boss Trilogy ビックボス三部作". "MGS", "MGS2", and "MGS4" will complete the "Solid Trilogy ソリッド三部作". The bi-pedal two footed tank is the new model metal gear, its name is "月光 Gekkou/Moonlight". Because the 月光 Gekkou/Moonlight can run in super high speed, it is very difficult to shoot it. The feet of the 月光 Gekkou/Moonlight are cyborg-based, if hit by a bullet they bleed, similar to Metal Gear Ray. Metal Gear MK2 being remade in full polygon was very nostalgic and touching for Director Kojima. Production will put emphasis on areas that are unseen. "I want to show what this means in next year's TGS (TGS 2006)." - Director Kojima.

9.20.05

The destination of Snake's sneaking mission is a "battlefield".
Because of the stage being a battlefield, in the beginning there is no distinction between "enemy soldiers" or "ally soldiers".
Depending on the actions of the player, "enemies" and "allies" change.
"MEME 文化的遺伝子" → "GENE 遺伝子" → "SCENE 時代", and this time "SENSE 感覚".
Character emotions won't need words, the PS3 is capable of expressing emotions through movements of characters' eyes and facial expressions.
Staples such as the "?" and the "!" will not be necessary.
Solid Snake will not die in Metal Gear Solid 4.
MGS4 will be Director Kojima's last one, he has no intention to make MGS5.
The reason for not making MGS5 is because for his next project he wants to make something that has "impact".
However, it doesn't seem MGS4 will be the end of the Metal Gear series.
In MGS4, weapons can be customized.
Customization variations is said to be "several hundred variations".
MGS4 will not be FPS, it will remain MGS.
The time is set to be several years after MGS2, so all the characters have aged somewhat.
But Snake's old age is caused by other factors.
Snake's beard is created full polygon strand by strand, just that alone is equivalent to 1 enemy soldier in MGS3.
At TGS 2005 a new trailer movie is released, which is made using the early development kit of the PS3 engine.
Because the kit is not the final finished version of the PS3 engine, the final graphics of MGS4 will be even more beautiful.
The game will be played in the same graphic quality as that seen in the trailer.
"MGS3", "MG", and "MG2" completes the "Big Boss Trilogy ビックボス三部作".
"MGS", "MGS2", and "MGS4" will complete the "Solid Trilogy ソリッド三部作".
The bi-pedal two footed tank is the new model metal gear, its name is "月光 Gekkou/Moonlight".
Because the 月光 Gekkou/Moonlight can run in super high speed, it is very difficult to shoot it.
The feet of the 月光 Gekkou/Moonlight are cyborg-based, if hit by a bullet they bleed, similar to Metal Gear Ray.
Metal Gear MK2 being remade in full polygon was very nostalgic and touching for Director Kojima.
Production will put emphasis on areas that are unseen.
"I want to show what this means in next year's TGS (TGS 2006)." - Director Kojima.

9.12.05
The stage(environment) of Metal Gear Solid 4 will be the battlefield. This game will be something like a combination of "Rambo" and "Black Hawk Down". Snake will enter an intense war zone inside a city. An AI controlled "partner (possibly Raiden)" will battle side by side with Snake in realistic human motions. New system of "3D Camera" will be a very important element for searching for places to hide and surviving the battlefield.

9.12.05

The stage(environment) of Metal Gear Solid 4 will be the battlefield.
This game will be something like a combination of "Rambo" and "Black Hawk Down".
Snake will enter an intense war zone inside a city.
An AI controlled "partner (possibly Raiden)" will battle side by side with Snake in realistic human motions.
New system of "3D Camera" will be a very important element for searching for places to hide and surviving the battlefield.

5.15.05
The main concept this time is "隠れる場所がない no place to hide". What it means is that hiding places won't be so obvious like before. Player must observe the changing environment and moving enemies to assess the situation and think up strategies, making this a more realistic game. Metal Gear Solid 4 will switch to the PlayStation3 platform. The stage is the continuation of the future of Metal Gear Solid 2. The main character will be Solid Snake, together with an all star cast of past characters. Online mode will be implemented as a standard. Director and Producer is the standard of the series, Mr Kojima Hideo. Also, character design is the standard Mr Shinkawa Yoji. MGS4 will feature entirely new concepts and situations. MGS4 will give us the most severe and extreme sneaking mission the main character Solid Snake has ever been in. In past games of the series the stage is focused on man made environments and jungle environments, but this time the emphasis is not on location but on "situation". The situation is said to be one with no hiding places, putting Snake in a situation with no place to hide. The infiltration theme this time will be "situation". Details unknown. Hardware change, graphical leap forward, combined to make a more fun game. More details to be released at E3 2006.

5.15.05

The main concept this time is "隠れる場所がない no place to hide".
What it means is that hiding places won't be so obvious like before.
Player must observe the changing environment and moving enemies to assess the situation and think up strategies, making this a more realistic game.
Metal Gear Solid 4 will switch to the PlayStation3 platform.
The stage is the continuation of the future of Metal Gear Solid 2.
The main character will be Solid Snake, together with an all star cast of past characters.
Online mode will be implemented as a standard.
Director and Producer is the standard of the series, Mr Kojima Hideo.
Also, character design is the standard Mr Shinkawa Yoji.
MGS4 will feature entirely new concepts and situations.
MGS4 will give us the most severe and extreme sneaking mission the main character Solid Snake has ever been in.
In past games of the series the stage is focused on man made environments and jungle environments, but this time the emphasis is not on location but on "situation".
The situation is said to be one with no hiding places, putting Snake in a situation with no place to hide.
The infiltration theme this time will be "situation". Details unknown.
Hardware change, graphical leap forward, combined to make a more fun game.
More details to be released at E3 2006.