PS3 Fanboy

Here are some more Metal Gear Solid 4 codes for all of you who want "free" stuff. It's technically free because you don't have to exert any effort in getting them, but it's all content already on the disc, which means you already paid for it. Go figure. Anyway, these items are not as great as last week's, but we're sure you'll enjoy them just the same.

• skynytktjp - Scanning Plug S.
• mgo2play - Subsistence Action iPod Music

Just like last week, there's another item for download in addition to the codes. "Metal Camo" is available which causes Life and Psyche gauges to decrease at half the normal rate. Your Camo Index will also go down by 10 percent. You can grab all three items by accessing the "Extras" menu.

Ryan Payton, assistant producer on Metal Gear Solid 4 and Kojima Productions' token gaijin, has decided to leave the company. "... It feels like this is how it's supposed to be. It's fate," he said in an interview with Kotaku. Working in Japan and being away from family is hitting him hard; so, when he heard some "pretty heavy news concerning [his] mom," he realized that sticking close to family was all too important.

Most people will probably not remember the name 'Payton' as much as 'Kojima,' but keep in mind that it was Payton who helped develop MGS4 into a more Western-friendly title -- opening the traditionalist Japanese crew to more Western influences (which is why MGS4 plays like a charm). We wish you the best of luck Ryan in your future endeavors and hope you continue to help make amazing games. We guess you'll always have the memories ... and that awesome shirt.

Hideo Kojima sat down in an interview with Kikizo to discuss everything from his age to Killzone 2 to his possible involvement in the next Metal Gear Solid title. To start things off, let's all wish Mr. Kojima a happy belated birthday, who turned 45 years old this past Sunday.

Kikizo notes that the influential developer has stated he wants to stop working on the MGS series after the completion of every game since MGS2. Kojima insists that he still feels that way, even currently, but because of "political, business or technology reasons, there is always a time when I have to return ... when we look ten years into the future, maybe yes, I may well end up spending more time on the Metal Gear series!"

When questioned about his trademark long cutscenes, Kojima had this to say: "In MGS4, yes, I put everything in the cut sequences, which I kind of regret to some extent, because maybe there is a new approach which I should think about." He feels games like Halo and Bioshock, while brilliant in their own ways, "lack a kind of deeper storyline or the expression of the feelings of the characters." He thinks the key is to somehow offer both the freedom of an interactive story and the emotions brought on by FMVs. It looks like we'll definitely be hearing more from the famed video game designer, whether it is another MGS title or something entirely new. For more, the full interview can be read here.

[Via 1UP]

Two new passwords have been revealed for Metal Gear Solid 4. Inputting the access codes in the 'Extras' menu gives players two new weapons: Thor .45-70 large-caliber hand rifle and The Boss' Patriot from Metal Gear Solid 3. Here are the two codes, respectively: tshsniammr and pkhhnwhsjt.

In addition to the new codes, there's also new music for the in-game iPod titled "Battle." It's a track from the Plant Chapter in MGS2. It seems Konami is really cranking up the fan service ... and we like it!

How many of you have semi-long term memory? Can you remember stories we wrote about back in March? Do you remember that mystery game that Konami and Mercury Steam were working on? As it turns out, that game is this: Lords of Shadow. While the image above has nothing to do with the game, we do have some new information on this previously shadowy title.

Set in southern Europe during the middle ages, Lords of Shadow is best described as a "dark fairy tale." It's a third-person, action-adventure title which pits players in the role of protagonist Gabriel. His struggle seems to be all about discovering "true meaning of sacrifice amidst murder and betrayal." It sounds like an intriguing title, but one you won't be able to touch until 2010.

[via press release]

For the tech savvy who like numbers, the game runs at 720p at 60fps and also support 5.1 sound with a remix of the original arcade's music by Atjazz. It also supports the PlayStation Eye, allowing users to keep watch over online opponents during play. Free Run, Arcade, and Bomb Tag are several of the modes mentioned in this new release. The game is set for release this November (for Europe at least). Update: Added a gallery with 20 new screenshots. Update 2: Trailer attached, after the break.

Update: American gamers can now get in on the action. For details, click here.

Fancy a trip to Tokyo with five of your friends? Konami has announced that a European Metal Gear Online Tournament will begin very shortly which will allow you to win exactly that. Check out the official website and sign up today and you'll take part in one of the preliminary tournaments over the next few weeks. These will be straight Team Deathmatch games, with the best two teams being flown to Tokyo for the world final (indicating that Japanese and American tournaments should be announced soon) during the Tokyo Game Show.

Tokyo Game Show takes place from the 9th to the 13th of October, so it's probably best that you make sure you're free for those dates before taking part. Over 250 teams will be competing, which sounds a lot, but really you've got a 1-in-125 chance of going through. Pretty good odds, if you ask us. If you play MGO regularly in a team you'd be stupid to pass this opportunity up. So go for it and, if you win, let us know. We'll see you in Tokyo!

With SCEA bringing word of cross-peripheral compatibility for PS3 rhythm games yesterday, consumers looking for that "one music set to rule them all" seems to be a reality drawing closer. However, making sense of the fickle plastic instruments jungle is still quite a daunting task and knowing where each individual peripheral fits into the mass is still a convoluted process. Making life easier on all of you, Joystiq have provided a simple to read chart which clearly illustrates compatible peripherals across all platforms -- behold the Instrument Compatibility Matrix, version 3.0. Color-coded and accompanied by lots of visuals, hunting for that perfect set to fit your needs couldn't be more convenient.

Konami is in a good mood. Well, you would too if you were touting number spikes like a 116 percent jump in net revenues. Konami is reporting massive positive growth in its first quarter earnings and no doubt a huge chunk of that is due to the success of Metal Gear Solid 4 -- which has shipped three million units worldwide on its first week. Konami stated that sales for the PS3 exclusive Solid Snake adventure were "sensational" with sales still "steadily increasing."

As for all the final numbers for Konami's first quarter earnings for the period ended June 30, here they are: ¥70.8 billion ($654 million) in net revenues, operating income climbed over 165 percent to ¥11.6 billion, and net income grew about 47 percent to ¥5.66 billion ($52.3 million). Konami expects these numbers to rise to ¥330 billion, ¥45 billion, and ¥26 billion respectively for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.

Konami's newest camo is named Snake and you can download them from the Extras section of Metal Gear Solid 4's main menu. The Snake camo resembles snakeskin and "it allows you to knock normal soldiers unconscious with one hit, eliminates stress from carrying heavy weapons and items, back pain and screw ups when rolling." All of this for the price of a 10% decrease in your Camo index. The question now is, will it be also be your symbol of your individuality, and your belief in personal freedom?

[Thanks, lee!]

With 100% of the PS3 Fanboy E3 team donning multiple UNIQLO Metal Gear Solid 4 tees during E3 week, it's clear that they're popular purchases (or that we really are fanboys). Konami Style in Japan has decided to take advantage of this by releasing their own set of MGS4 related t-shirts. These shirts are to commemorate the worldwide tour that Kojima and company engaged in to publicise the new game.

The t-shirt on the left is a replica of those worn by the production crew during the tour, including the list of destinations on the back. For $40, you have to be pretty a pretty big fan of the game to grab one. But we know our commenters. We can almost hear you opening your wallet and tapping in your credit card details right now.

Are we tempted? Of course we are. All that's missing to make this a done deal are the words "limited edition."

[Thanks Kristopher; Via Wired]

Have you been playing Metal Gear Online? Experiencing some major technical difficulties, login problems, or getting overcharged on the MGO shop? Konami has apologized for all of these hiccups, not expecting the game to get such overwhelming traffic on a regular basis. The "Gene Expansion Pack" is the cause of many issues and those overcharged in the shop have had their money refunded.

Konami, however, has "no permanent solutions we can announce at this present moment" in regards to the technical snafus the game has run into. They are working on it, and plan to resolve the issues in the quickest amount of time possible. So, if you're having troubles, don't worry. A patch will come, but no date is set.