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Speak no evil: restrictions on Metal Gear Solid 4 reviews clarified

Posted Jun 5, 2008 at 6:16AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3 Tags: EGM, PSOne, Ryan Payton, Solid Snake

PS3 - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Konami - Image 1

Apparently, there's been some controversy surrounding the restrictions that Kojima Productions imposed on Metal Gear Solid 4 reviews. Remember when EGM didn't want to review the game because of these limitations? Ryan Payton contacted Kotaku to clarify the dev team's stand on why they had to give a leash on these reviews.

The long and short of Payton's explanation is that basically all they were trying to do is to protect the gamer's experience and hope that spoilers aren't unintentionally leaked by the reviewer. So for Kojima Studios, imposing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) on these reviewers was the way to go.

Now the NDA was only for certain specific aspects of the game. Reviewers were asked to avoid spilling details about the technical side of things, listed by Ryan Payton as the following:

Install times
Length of cutscenes (the ending in particular)
Number of environments
Opening "movie"
Product placement
(Plus a half dozen story-specific items)

Looking at this list now, Payton says that it's actually a bit outdated and that he's able to clarify/confirm some of them. One of which is item #1 on the list. He says that MGS4 will have an 8-minute install requirement, and a couple of 2- to 3-minute installs between acts. Payton goes on clarifying more items on the list with the following (as emailed to Kotaku):

As for the cutscenes, reviewers are more than happy to comment on whether they're too long or short. We simply want reviewers to refrain from describing which scenes are long, thus spoiling some of the experience because players will know what to expect when a scene is unfolding.

I want to make it clear that, from today, reviewers are welcome to discuss the length of the cutscenes and install times, but we ask that they not get too specific about the cinematic times and what happens in later install sequences...

But as for the next three items, we are still asking reviewers to avoid these topics. We want the opening to be a huge surprise for gamers, and knowing how many environments there are in the game, obviously, is a spoiler. These restrictions will remain in place.

Finally, we've asked reviewers to not write about some of the product placement because of some contractual agreements we have with third parties.

Makes sense. Some technical details could, after all, end up spoiler certain key elements in the game.

Psycho Mantis - Metal Gear Solid - Image 1

Say, if someone reviewing MGS on the PSOne said "there's a boss in the game wherein you have to switch your controller into another port," that'd basically rob you off of some gaming experience right there (given of course that you haven't played MGS - good god, where've you been?). Well, the Psycho Mantis bit isn't so much as a story spoiler, but more a gaming experience spoiler.

So if you think about it, the gag orders for MGS4 reviews are indeed for your protection. And in case you find yourself doing your own review and maybe posting it on your blog or whatnot, it might pay to also keep yourself in check when spilling some details.

To check out Ryan Payton's full email to Kotaku, click the Via link below.

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yeah, i agree. there seems to be something about #1. payton was talking about it at one part, then talked about the cutscenes next... and somehow. he snuck in something about #1 again...

"but we ask that they not get too specific about the cinematic times and what happens in later install sequences..."

those ellipses intrigue me. it's kinda like he's hinting at something big in later install sequences. hmmm i wonder what. makes me giddy all of a sudden.

oh and psycho mantis boss fight FTW! ^_^V

# LOL — whaleshark 2008-06-05 08:17

In the new psycho mantis boss fight, they should make you switch the disk into a xbox, then run to your nearest game cube, jam it in, take it out, lick it, run to the nearest PS5 and then go to your PS3 put it in and downgrade your system.

HARDEST BOSSFIGHT EVER

# I — roca 2008-06-05 08:33

i give a damn about reviews i wanna play the game

# well.. — Someone_PR 2008-06-05 08:48

the part I was sad to read was...

"The game requires an eight minute install, as well as a number of two to three-minute installs between acts."

A so long cutscene in the end of metal gear is good and I will like it. But why they don't let me to install all at the beginning? Install in every act will be like a long psp load time.

# My guess is — GodShiru 2008-06-05 09:04

Everytime a new act is being transfered to your PS3, the old one gets deleted, so as to not take up too much space on your HDD.

# hummm... — Someone_PR 2008-06-05 09:49

that will be interesting really for the people without hdd space. But if they gave us an option to install everything at the beginning will be better for me.

But if what you said comes true will be a new way to make hdd install.

# WTF!?!?!?!?! — ISOHaven 2008-06-05 10:58

I hope not. I want to install the game and know I can play the whole game.

Can you imagine installing MGS4, playing through a few acts, then after having bought some new rockband songs the game fails to continue because the next act is bigger then the last act you were on?

Unless they implement some sort of designated buffer I don't see how that would work....

# obviously... — fiberwire 2008-06-05 11:45

there is a cutscene or something to accompany the installs otherwise they would call them "sequences." what better way to sneak in an install then when you're engrossed in a cutscene? unless of course your the kind of person who likes to skip cutscenes, then what?

# oops — fiberwire 2008-06-05 11:47

i meant "wouldn't"

# WTF!?!?!?!?! — ISOHaven 2008-06-05 13:33

As long as the next cutscene was already on the HDD. You can't read from two different parts of an optical disc in a productive manor.

Either way this theory seems bunk. What happens when you restore an old game save? This theory just doesn't work.

I bet they just divided up the install time.

# I Can't Wait! — CHUCKINGROCKSATSPACESHIPS 2008-06-05 14:24

I went to Blockbuster today and put down money for my copy. I can't wait to play it!

# . — NarooN 2008-06-05 14:27

All they probably did was divide up the install, most likely not to keep people away too long from the game so players won't lose interest.

# HARDEST BOSSFIGHT EVER — trigger 2008-06-05 16:36

ROFL! star up for you, dude! BUT!!! don't you mean MOST IMPOSSIBLE BOSSIGHT EVER?

"In the new psycho mantis boss fight, they should make you switch the disk into a xbox, then run..."

impossible bossfight because if what you presuppose is true, gamers won't even make it past that xbox part! the moment they throw in the disk into the 360, it will RROD!!! hahahaha! i kiiiiiiiid i kiiiiiiiiiiid! :-p

# Hehehe — trixter 2008-06-06 08:03

No no - you've got it wrong. They'll make you watch a compulsory 30 minute cut-scene before the boss...if you fail you have to watch the cut-scene again because it's so "masterful"! hahaha

# very fishy indeed — xche78x 2008-06-06 17:24

i dont complain about long load times and or install times, but those succeeding install times before another chapter could poise to be another problem, and those trolling fanboys can go fiesta about it.

and yes ISOhaven you are exactly correct. if you dont want spoilers, just dont watch or read em. and to EGM, hey konami just wants to protect its product, who wouldnt want to specially if your product is burndened to the liberator of the console. try knowing both sides of the story first before you go anouncing anything publicly.

# no no that can easily be programmed — xche78x 2008-06-06 17:33

in example if the initial install uses 5gb, the succeeding installs just writes over the 5gb it previously acquired and nothing more. konami MGS4 quality control and planning department is sure to have noticed this way beforehand.

but still a full install is a better option, and we dont care if its 10gb 30mins to 1 hour install as long as its a one time job. its very annoying to stay still and calm after a climatic sub boss battle, 3 minute chapter installs are not the best design. it should be all or nothing!

# if you load a previous save from a previous chapter — xche78x 2008-06-06 17:35

then the game will just erase the chapter it has and install the chapter you are supposed to play, 2 to 3 minutes!

# bad design choice if this is true — xche78x 2008-06-06 17:39

frankly most people would rather install the full game, then watch any video or make a sandwhich or anything time consuming then go back to the ps3 and play the full game.

# WTF!?!?!?!?! — ISOHaven 2008-06-09 05:49

That would be unacceptable. Imagine having to wait 2-3 minutes for the next "chapter" to load. You get stuck, reload a game before the chapter load. Now your waiting 2-3 minutes again....get to the next chapter again and yup! Another 2-3 minutes.

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