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The iPhone version of Konami's popular "MGS" series now has an official release date of March 19 and a price: $9.99.

As a high-profile "shooter" making its way onto Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, there's been some hype surrounding Metal Gear Solid Touch. However, due to its rail-shooter nature gaming blog Kotaku has been mocking it for being nothing more than a fancy version of Duck Hunt. Ouch.

That's said, what's not to like about a good rail-shooter--and Duck Hunt, for that matter?

Anybody looking forward to dropping 10 bucks on this one?

(Via Kotaku)

(Credit: Konami)

If you haven't checked out Konami's Web site for "Metal Gear Solid 4 Touch," the iPhone version of the popular "MGS" series, we recommend taking a look--even if you don't have an iPhone or iPod Touch. Both site and game look pretty sweet, and Konami's posted new details with some Flash animation showing off the sniping and shooting controls. We also like the whole concept of cursor as giant finger.

The game is apparently sort of a rail-based shooter, and you use your finger to aim and tap the screen to shoot. To zoom in and enter snipe mode, you pinch out (spread your fingers); to zoom out, you pinch in.

Konami is planning to release a special advance release edition that gives you early access to the first half of the "Metal Gear Solid 4" story before the final release. Your saved progress from the advance release automatically carries over when you download the final release.

Another tidbit: according Konami, as you clear stages, you'll collect "Drebin Points" that you can redeem for "more than 40 unique wallpapers."

No word on exactly when the advance release version of "MGS4 Touch" will touch down but we expect it will be in the next month to six weeks (if not slightly sooner) since Konami lists the release date for the game as spring 2009.

Anybody looking forward to downloading this one?

(Via Kotaku)

The less expensive bundle (right) is the far better deal

(Credit: CNET)

By most accounts, the release of Grand Theft Auto IV helped move quite a few game consoles--both Xbox 360s and PlayStation 3s--in the past few weeks. But there's another four--Metal Gear Solid 4--that's eagerly anticipated by many gamers as well. No, MGS4 isn't going to shatter sales records like GTA did, but it's safe to say that Konami's PS3 exclusive is the reason that many forward-looking gamers chose Sony's console over that of archrival Microsoft. And with the game's June 12 release date fast approaching--after a hype buildup that stretches back to at least 2005--the waiting for those faithful PlayStation fans is almost over.

But what about those gamers who still haven't taken the next-generation plunge? ... Read more

(Credit: Mobile Magazine)

The old formula, as was evidenced once again by Tranformers mania last year, is clear: Hype the title, leak word of related merchandise, and cash in just before the release (and before people come to their senses). As gamers have been losing sleep in anticipation of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, a "rumor" of a branded headset mysteriously began floating around the blog circuit. Then, just as miraculously, it turns out to be real and destined for sales that will coincide with the game's June launch.

The Bluetooth headset is not surprisingly done in a military motif with matching case and can be used with mobile phones as well as any PlayStation 3 title. It has 8 hours of talk time and 160 on standby, which should be just enough for the true aficionado, according to Mobile Magazine. And if you're really hard-core, maybe you can use one in each ear.

CNET's Gamespot posted a news blurb today on a report that, "Microsoft has entered into talks with Sony to bring Blu-ray to the Xbox 360." The report comes from a Financial Times story that quotes an unnamed "senior executive," who says that Sony and Microsoft "are not simply discussing a successor to the Xbox 360's now discontinued, dirt-cheap external HD DVD drive," but that "there is also the possibility of an internal Blu-ray drive being incorporated into a new, more expensive 'premium' 360 model."

Cocept art for MGS4, which won't fit on a DVD.

(Credit: www.azeemalim.co.uk)

At the Consumer Electronics Show in January Xbox group marketing manager Albert Penello alluded to the possibility of a Blu-ray option for the 360. However, Penello wasn't talking today and Microsoft denied that it had made any official move to Blu-ray.

While you could argue that having a built-in Blu-ray drive is now a competitive advantage for the PS3, Sony stands to make millions in licensing fees for the technology if Microsoft adopts it. That possibility presumably trumps the potential edge Blu-ray might give the PS3. As for Microsoft, at a certain point it has to consider going Blu--partially because premium game titles are beginning to push the limits of a DVD's 8.5GB storage capacity. The PS3-exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4, due out in June, apparently fills an entire Blu-ray disc, though it's unclear whether it's a single-layer 25GB disc or 50GB dual-layer disc.

What do you think? Will disc capacity force Microsoft to make the move to Blu-ray--or is it just so that it can say it's game console also plays Blu-ray movies? Let us know by posting in the comments.

Ready to rumble in April

(Credit: Sony)

If you're waiting for Sony to finally release its new rumbling DualShock 3 wireless controller here in North America, you won't have much longer to go. Today, Sony announced that the wireless DualShock 3 will be available sometime in April with a somewhat hefty $54.99 price tag (the current nonrumble wireless controller has a list price of $5 less).

Sony also had a few other PlayStation-related announcements. To coincide with the much-anticipated North American launch of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in late Q2 2008, Sony said it will introduce a PS3 bundle that includes an 80GB PS3, MGS4, and a DualShock 3 wireless controller for $499 (MSRP).

In case you're wondering what "late Q2" means, think June. That's also when Sony will release a limited-edition God of War PSP Entertainment Pack for $199.99 (MSRP). According to the press release, the bundle will include a "'Deep Red' PSP with God of War himself, Kratos, silk-screened on the back of the unit," a copy of God of War: Chains of Olympus for PSP, the movie Superbad on UMD, and a PlayStation Network voucher to download Syphon Filter: Combat Ops from the PlayStation Store. The standalone version of God of War: Chains of Olympus arrives March 4.

What's this all add up to? Well, a little pressure for Microsoft and Nintendo. With Sony hot off its Blu-ray victory, a couple of AAA PS3 titles on the horizon, and a little rumble in its controllers, things are looking up for PlayStation fans. What do you think?

You can stop rubbing your eyes--this is the first actual gameplay footage of Solid Snake's final adventure. This 15-minute demo shows off some of the new features of the game in addition to the impressive graphics and presentation. If you have trouble reading the subtitles, try viewing the video in full-screen mode by clicking the arrow in the bottom-right hand corner of the player.

Metal Gear Solid 4 was a game that everyone was expecting to see in action at this year's E3 2007. Unfortunately, all we got was a new, yet undeniably breathtaking, trailer.

UPDATE: If you're having difficulty playing the embedded video above, try here instead.

Solid Snake returns for his last mission in Metal Gear Solid 4. This PlayStation 3 exclusive features all the stealth-based action, giant robots, and confusing plot twists you've come to expect from Konami and Hideo Kojima's epic series. MGS4 hits the PS3 in early 2008.