Next-gen Metal Gear out of site – Kojima – ‘Sony expectations too high’
New Snake offering further away than thought…
In an interview popping up on Boomtown, Metal Gear Solid producer Hideo Kojima has made some more than interesting comments about the production of his next-generation incarnation of the stealth classic.
“I actually haven’t started developing on the new consoles yet,” said Kojima-san. “My impression is, for PS3, Sony is aiming for a very high level. I’m not sure if everyone can live up to that high standard that Sony is expecting. So if everyone is expected to meet that high level, I am not sure that every creator, every publisher will be able to meet these high expectations.” This comment from such a senior Japanese developer will serve to compound mutterings in the wake of E3 that spoke of Sony setting the gaming community’s expectations unrealistically high.
However, according to Kojima, the Xbox 360 is a far more practical solution. “For Xbox 360, it’s a little bit more down to earth, more realistic, so people maybe can join easily to start creating on the 360.”
And on Revolution: “Speaking about Revolution, there are still a lot of secrets and I don’t know everything, but from what I heard, like you could connect your portables or you could play old games, I get the impression that the developers could create games on less budget (sic) or create titles that are not super-high expensive in cost.”
“I actually haven’t started developing on the new consoles yet,” said Kojima-san. “My impression is, for PS3, Sony is aiming for a very high level. I’m not sure if everyone can live up to that high standard that Sony is expecting. So if everyone is expected to meet that high level, I am not sure that every creator, every publisher will be able to meet these high expectations.” This comment from such a senior Japanese developer will serve to compound mutterings in the wake of E3 that spoke of Sony setting the gaming community’s expectations unrealistically high.
However, according to Kojima, the Xbox 360 is a far more practical solution. “For Xbox 360, it’s a little bit more down to earth, more realistic, so people maybe can join easily to start creating on the 360.”
And on Revolution: “Speaking about Revolution, there are still a lot of secrets and I don’t know everything, but from what I heard, like you could connect your portables or you could play old games, I get the impression that the developers could create games on less budget (sic) or create titles that are not super-high expensive in cost.”
People:
Hideo Kojima
Read More Like This
Comments
Ditto 1 Jun 2005 16:03
1/9
That's really interesting, so Mr Kojima thinks that Xbox360 and Revolution will be developer-attractive but not so much PS3 due to Sony's pre-rendered E3 hype. Quite a turn around compared to the current gen.
His comments on the Revo appear to support what Nintendo have been saying too.
His comments on the Revo appear to support what Nintendo have been saying too.
tyrion 1 Jun 2005 17:36
2/9
Adam M wrote:
That's really interesting, so Mr Kojima thinks that Xbox360 and Revolution will be developer-attractive but not so much PS3 due to Sony's pre-rendered E3 hype. Quite a turn around compared to the current gen.
Remember that a lot of devs were saying the PS2 was hard to program for before it came out, and after, come to think of it. Still made it as the no.1 platform this generation.
Also Epic said that the PS3 was easy to develop for.
With good libraries for the Cell and OpenGL for the graphics, I don't see why devs couldn't be concentrating on the shaders to make games look cool and the gameplay to make them play cool too.
Adam M wrote:
His comments on the Revo appear to support what Nintendo have been saying too.
To be honest, he sounded like he was paraphrasing Nintendo there. :-)
more comments below our sponsor's message
PEN15 1 Jun 2005 17:49
3/9
tyrion wrote:
Adam M wrote:
That's really interesting, so Mr Kojima thinks that Xbox360 and Revolution will be developer-attractive but not so much PS3 due to Sony's pre-rendered E3 hype. Quite a turn around compared to the current gen.
Remember that a lot of devs were saying the PS2 was hard to program for before it came out, and after, come to think of it. Still made it as the no.1 platform this generation.
Also Epic said that the PS3 was easy to develop for.
With good libraries for the Cell and OpenGL for the graphics, I don't see why devs couldn't be concentrating on the shaders to make games look cool and the gameplay to make them play cool too.
Adam M wrote:
His comments on the Revo appear to support what Nintendo have been saying too.
To be honest, he sounded like he was paraphrasing Nintendo there. :-)
Take Epic claiming it is easy to program for with a grain of salt... they have to say that so that their game engine looks attractive to game developers. Even if it was hard they couldn't say so because they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.
BustyKrusty 1 Jun 2005 18:33
4/9
are newly established Kojima Productions completely autonomous!?
Why in a world he'd be talking against Sony?
perhaps it's a conspiracy or the way he felt all the way back?
Why in a world he'd be talking against Sony?
perhaps it's a conspiracy or the way he felt all the way back?
dmgice 1 Jun 2005 20:24
5/9
I think that Koijima is refering to price tags when speaks about this, not performance. The PS3 has a lot of hype to live up to, the machine has some *snicker* impressive specifications to the under informed. When developers finally sit down with the unit, they'll find that the ability to do more dust particles than they could on the Xbox 360 means extremely little to the actual gaming community.
The price tags though are the main thing. PS3 games will have more voice actors to hire, more to worry about in terms of development and use. The Xbox 360 already has the benefit of XNA, and lowered expectations. They won't have to spend as much. Nintendo's Revolution allows companies to make profits in many new ways.
For example: Namco could work on a new Bomberman game, and also release their one NES, three SNES, and two N64 Bomberman games for $1 to $5 each as downloads. Or they could offer a coupon code with the purchase of a new Revolution Bomberman game that allows you to get the NES and either two of the SNES or one of the N64 ones for free. That way they can maximize profits off of a pre-existing catalogue. The ability to revitalize older non-profitable game software as a "new" downloadable (and profitable) medium is too sexy for sales. Would you pay $10 for the ability to download Final Fantasy 6 to your Revolution? How about getting a discount on FF6 when you buy Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles? See how that works?
In the accessory market, the term given to an easy to create product with maximum sales margins and ready utility is a: "Popcorn Product." Popcorn products being items like screen protectors for the PSP, stylus products for the Nintendo DS, and faceplates for the Game Boy Micro & Xbox 360. Easy to make, easy to sell. Nintendo is hoping to create "Popcorn Games" with this next generation.
He could also be refering to the attitudes each company has on games. For example: Nintendo has let N-Space work on Geist for HOW long? Microsoft has even let companies like Rare miss whole generations. Sony has a history of forcing out games.
I liked his meal comparison, but he's a bit unclear with it.
Sony is a fine resturant that requires reservations.
Microsoft is McDonalds.
Nintendo is your local grocery store.
There we go, Koijima explained! Now he can go back to working on Boktai 3.
The price tags though are the main thing. PS3 games will have more voice actors to hire, more to worry about in terms of development and use. The Xbox 360 already has the benefit of XNA, and lowered expectations. They won't have to spend as much. Nintendo's Revolution allows companies to make profits in many new ways.
For example: Namco could work on a new Bomberman game, and also release their one NES, three SNES, and two N64 Bomberman games for $1 to $5 each as downloads. Or they could offer a coupon code with the purchase of a new Revolution Bomberman game that allows you to get the NES and either two of the SNES or one of the N64 ones for free. That way they can maximize profits off of a pre-existing catalogue. The ability to revitalize older non-profitable game software as a "new" downloadable (and profitable) medium is too sexy for sales. Would you pay $10 for the ability to download Final Fantasy 6 to your Revolution? How about getting a discount on FF6 when you buy Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles? See how that works?
In the accessory market, the term given to an easy to create product with maximum sales margins and ready utility is a: "Popcorn Product." Popcorn products being items like screen protectors for the PSP, stylus products for the Nintendo DS, and faceplates for the Game Boy Micro & Xbox 360. Easy to make, easy to sell. Nintendo is hoping to create "Popcorn Games" with this next generation.
He could also be refering to the attitudes each company has on games. For example: Nintendo has let N-Space work on Geist for HOW long? Microsoft has even let companies like Rare miss whole generations. Sony has a history of forcing out games.
I liked his meal comparison, but he's a bit unclear with it.
Sony is a fine resturant that requires reservations.
Microsoft is McDonalds.
Nintendo is your local grocery store.
There we go, Koijima explained! Now he can go back to working on Boktai 3.
Ditto 2 Jun 2005 11:26
6/9
You make some really interesting points there, and most of your comments about the "small sales" aspect of Revo and Xbox is probably true.
I'm looking forward to Geist. The graphics don't look too bad to me, and it's different to most crap conventional 1st persons (Halo). Just a pity it hasn't made it out yet.
Ultimatly it depends on how many units each of them shift. DFI have estimated that the best-case senario for max market share for the three next gen consoles is:
50% PS3
40% Xbox360
35% Revolution
However, they also commented that many developers have unwisely already written Nintendo off.
I'm looking forward to Geist. The graphics don't look too bad to me, and it's different to most crap conventional 1st persons (Halo). Just a pity it hasn't made it out yet.
Ultimatly it depends on how many units each of them shift. DFI have estimated that the best-case senario for max market share for the three next gen consoles is:
50% PS3
40% Xbox360
35% Revolution
However, they also commented that many developers have unwisely already written Nintendo off.
Joji 2 Jun 2005 13:19
7/9
To Philip
I think Kojima's meal pun is just about right, whereas you are putting your perspecive from the industry as it currently stands. This is easy to do but Kojima is looking at the big pictre of the future, where home consoles are now doesn't matter much as the next round offers a clean slate on all three front.
I think Nintendo and MS have different visions that are both worthy of attention. Nintendo understand that people miss simpler gaming and will do well in japan because of this. I also think with every generaation people miss out on a lot of games due to money so they have to choose carefully. Offering those games again for download will have a lot of people investing.
MS and Xbox Live is a sweet concept that is busting Sony's bad online service. Sony are getting understandably worried but instead of concentrating so much on the PS3s specs they should be looking to better their online service up to if not above MS's standard. Currently I don't recall hearing anythng at E3 regarding PS3s online service which is worrying. (if they have then do correct me)
And Adam, it's all very well going by predictive DFI stats but who knows what the future holds and it would be boring if everything went the same as the current gen. Nintendo are holding their cards to their chest which may seem boring and bad to some but it's a wise move still. MS may take the lead from Sony since 360 looks promising enough. I'd buy them all mind.
Like was once said in Terminator, ''The future is not yet set.''
I think Kojima's meal pun is just about right, whereas you are putting your perspecive from the industry as it currently stands. This is easy to do but Kojima is looking at the big pictre of the future, where home consoles are now doesn't matter much as the next round offers a clean slate on all three front.
I think Nintendo and MS have different visions that are both worthy of attention. Nintendo understand that people miss simpler gaming and will do well in japan because of this. I also think with every generaation people miss out on a lot of games due to money so they have to choose carefully. Offering those games again for download will have a lot of people investing.
MS and Xbox Live is a sweet concept that is busting Sony's bad online service. Sony are getting understandably worried but instead of concentrating so much on the PS3s specs they should be looking to better their online service up to if not above MS's standard. Currently I don't recall hearing anythng at E3 regarding PS3s online service which is worrying. (if they have then do correct me)
And Adam, it's all very well going by predictive DFI stats but who knows what the future holds and it would be boring if everything went the same as the current gen. Nintendo are holding their cards to their chest which may seem boring and bad to some but it's a wise move still. MS may take the lead from Sony since 360 looks promising enough. I'd buy them all mind.
Like was once said in Terminator, ''The future is not yet set.''
Ditto 2 Jun 2005 16:17
8/9
Joji wrote:
And Adam, it's all very well going by predictive DFI stats but who knows what the future holds and it would be boring if everything went the same as the current gen. Nintendo are holding their cards to their chest which may seem boring and bad to some but it's a wise move still. MS may take the lead from Sony since 360 looks promising enough. I'd buy them all mind.
Like was once said in Terminator, ''The future is not yet set.''
LOL, yeah, I totally agree.
As I put above, it would be unwise to write Nintendo off at the moment.
PEN15 2 Jun 2005 18:04
9/9
Adam M wrote:
Joji wrote:
And Adam, it's all very well going by predictive DFI stats but who knows what the future holds and it would be boring if everything went the same as the current gen. Nintendo are holding their cards to their chest which may seem boring and bad to some but it's a wise move still. MS may take the lead from Sony since 360 looks promising enough. I'd buy them all mind.
Like was once said in Terminator, ''The future is not yet set.''
LOL, yeah, I totally agree.
As I put above, it would be unwise to write Nintendo off at the moment.
But in Rise of the Machines we learn that nothing can be done to change the fact that Judgement Day will occur.
Anyway yes Kojima is basically saying:
Sony: For people with lots of money.
MS: For people who like things close to what the pricing we see today.
Nintendo: Cheap, but gaming of high quality and depth, but less complexity.