Metal Gear Online beta is live

By Robert Purchese Published 25 April, 2008

Weekend gets suddenly shorter.

The European Metal Gear Online beta is now up and running.

You spotted it and you reported it. And you will hold a place in our heart.

There was panic that the beta, pushed back from earlier in the week, would not make it for the weekend.

These worries have been dispersed like a bad smell in the open and you are free to competitively give it to each other online.

Metal Gear Online - you should know by now - is the online game in the Metal Gear series. It's coming out on the same day as Metal Gear Solid 4 and is jolly good fun.

Pop over to our Metal Gear Online gamepage to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (74) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • paulf #1 4 years ago

    live in the way that you get the error message 'our server is too busy at the moment to take anymore connections. Please try later' that is

  • Moz #2 4 years ago

    aww bugger not going to get home for another 3 hours *sigh* so board at work!!

    Anyone who's at home care to give a first impression?

  • paulf #3 4 years ago

    had a try eariler moz an unfortunately my previous post was my first impression, hopefully the game will be good enough (when you can log in) to fill in the wait for gta4 though

  • elephant_stone #4 4 years ago

    Woo hoo - updating now! *stops all other internet activity in the house in order to increase download speed!*

  • superjag86 #5 4 years ago

    I've just tried it and it's solid (no pun intended!) but don't expect too much. Takes abit of getting used to and doesn't feel responsive enough to be an online shooter. Also it doesn't compare favourably to CoD4.
    I'm definitely going to stick at it, but probably only until Tuesday... ;)

  • tonynibbles #6 4 years ago

    Cant wait!

  • Widge #7 4 years ago

    going to team up with some people to have some decently structured games against some non-randoms. onliners always start off a bit weird until people accustomise to the quirks and whatnot.

  • Moz #8 4 years ago

    I'm guessing there's no split screen for 2 people to play together online?

  • mclovin69 #9 4 years ago

    the constant disconnections make it hard to make an opinion. wee bit fiddly control wise when you do get a game and the menu system is attrocious. imo anyway.
    Edited by 1 at 25/04/08 @ 15:31

  • f00b_inc #10 4 years ago

    Hmm.. my updating is stuck at 98% - bugger - anyone have this problem?

  • GreasyWeasel #11 4 years ago

    I managed to go through the training stuff before the servers gave up under the strain.

  • Man_s #12 4 years ago

    Has the client been taken off of PSN Store? I can't seem to find a download link for the life of me.

  • Moz #13 4 years ago

    Sounds like they still don't have enough server power behind it!

    Does the website say it's up? cos is possible they are bring on one server at a time.

  • Moz #14 4 years ago

    Just look on site and it's still saying that the beta goes live tomorrow, so might not have all the servers running yet.

  • ElasticTangent #15 4 years ago

    Server busy errors for me as well. Bugger....

  • ElasticTangent #16 4 years ago

    @Man_s - Just checked and I can't see it either. It's also not on the US Store as far as I can see. Looks like it's been removed.

  • Carlo #17 4 years ago

    GREAT antidote for waiting for GTA IV

  • rhinoxious #18 4 years ago

    Total Pain in the Ass.

    turn on PS3, download latest update ... wait
    install latest update ... wait
    download beta .. wait
    install beta ... wait
    update beta to latest version ... wait a long time
    get a konami log-in thingy ... website paralysed
    try and get on a game ... no joy

    I've never wasted so much time trying to play a demo/beta.

    Massive kudos to IW for the COD4 beta, nil points for Konami for this shit.

  • Pedrolot #19 4 years ago

    Well..

    My update is complete.

  • penhalion #20 4 years ago

    Finally played it and.......what the hell was the fuss about?

    Trank guns that mean you have to go kill the person anyway otherwise they just wake up and kill you. team-o-vision or whatever they call those strange symbols. No actual objectives.

    I bloody well hope the single player experience is a hell of a lot better than this.

    Well I'm permenantly offline from the MGO beta now (deleted from my PS3) so someone who actually likes it can have a go in my stead.

  • thomasbeff #21 4 years ago

    @penhalion
    Do you think it looks fugly?
    Fuck all improvement over MGS3 imo.

  • superjag86 #22 4 years ago

    ooh it does run in 1080P tho! not that anyone really cares about that...

  • Widge #23 4 years ago

    no it doesn't, 655p apparently. has AA for no jaggies and lots of processing effects

    interested to read that COD4 was a "sub-HD" game too
    are the best ooh factor games for the consoles ones that skimp on resolution to produce added effects.
    Edited by 1 at 25/04/08 @ 16:47

  • Greebo #24 4 years ago


    Dunno why I bothered buying a 1080p screen. No bugger uses the extra resolution . . .

  • superjag86 #25 4 years ago

    oh :(

  • rhinoxious #26 4 years ago

    Blu-ray?

  • penhalion #27 4 years ago

    @thomasbeff

    Looks better than MGS3 but, not by much. The environments look good it's just the gameplay itself that turned me off. Any metal gear fans will understand where I'm coming from on this. The controls are like the single player metal gear. Even down to how you go about selecting stuff. You are given the option of some powerful guns that fire tranquilizers?!?!?!

    There is zero benefit to using them as people simply wake up and use REAL ammo to kill you. It looks funny putting the entire opposing team to sleep except it doesn't actually help you in any way shape or form. I actually killed the entire enemy team after they all seemed to have choosen trank guns??!! They seemed genuinely suprised by this.

    Maybe I'm missing some deeper gameplay elements but, I doubt it.

  • DjanGOH #28 4 years ago

    Finally got in after 20 minutes trying to log in and got to create my character. Went to play a game and got kicked back to title screen. Trying to log back in.

  • Kryon #29 4 years ago

    Where are you guys downloading it from? doesn't seem to be there in my store?

  • WiseNail #30 4 years ago

    It's taking forever to download the 1.1 patch and now I have a 1.2 patch to download after that, ugh.

    I don't have the gaming time to waste on crap like this, I'm going to delete it and wait for the full game in June. However, if the hassles with the beta are anything to go by, I don't think MGS online will be getting much of my time.

    Konami - first impressions count, take note.

  • Apostle #31 4 years ago

    @thomasbeff

    I thought it looked pretty poor yeah, considering the hype behind MGS4. Also noticed the framerate drop pretty bad on the Blood Bath map I think, at the start. Was not impressed with my first five minutes, just as well it comes free with MGS4, but I will now have just a small element of doubt about that game, and may hold off until some reviews.

    @penhalion

    Agree about using the single player controls. They don't work well in MP. I'm not too sure how the tranquilliser gun is supposed to improve gameplay if it's as useless as you say, seems very silly.

  • Starbow #32 4 years ago

    I agree with the "meh" comments. Gameplay definately gets some used to, and seems to play very slugishly at times especially trying to do CQC. Noticed some framrate drops as well. I'll probably play some over the weekend, but after all the bloody hassle of getting on to play this, I am somewhat disappointed.

    On the plus side, it only took 2 attempts to get in! Been dropped from 2 games so far, but thats out of like 20 so its in the minority.

  • bad09 #33 4 years ago

    It would be nice to actually test this beta test Komani, I hope I can get on the server at some point this weekend :(

    *cough* Xbox Live *cough*, sorry couldn't help it! :)

  • Kryon #34 4 years ago

    Seriously, what's going on? Where are ppl downloading this from?

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #35 4 years ago

    Just waded through every little box and category on the PSN store. It's not bloody there!

  • solidSnake04 #36 4 years ago

    guys i have been a fan of MGS series since the PSX times.
    if you have played the MGS3 online then expect something similar...similar, not equal. it does take sometime to get used to and it surely must play like the single player mode. some interesting moves for you to pull off like lying on your back, and the CQC is a bit different.
    I'm not that impressed. Don't know if I ever will be after playing COD 4

  • JediMasterMalik #37 4 years ago

    I really like it, not the most intuitive of games, but it's definitely fun.

  • Kryon #38 4 years ago

    Can someone who has downloaded the thing tell us where/how to get it, or is it not available to everyone in the UK yet?

  • solidSnake04 #39 4 years ago

    it has its moments but in all my honesty, by todays standards its not that much of a robust and/or impressive online experience... maybe 1 hour play wasn't enough but i doubt it very much

  • Miths #40 4 years ago

    I've only been through the first part of the training parts a few hours ago, but I'm looking forward to playing tonight - assuming I don't end up in line on the login server.

    Can't say I was all that impressed by the visuals in the training levels though. It certainly makes it look like the developer quotes a week or two ago about having to scale back their original vision quite severely because of hardware limitations, was just plain bullshit.
    They might not have been referring strictly to graphics alone, but surely that always what's going to put by far the most pressure on the system? Doesn't really look like that's the case here from what I've seen so far, even assuming the singleplayer MGS4 does manage to impress a bit more visually.

  • Greebo #41 4 years ago


    Can someone who has downloaded the thing tell us where/how to get it, or is it not available to everyone in the UK yet?

    +1

  • solidSnake04 #42 4 years ago

    Im pretty sure the single player will be well impressive. MGS have always been spot on, to me at least...
    Online is one hell of a different story.
    For instance, MGS3 was impressive in almost every respect, apart from the online component which i disliked somewhat.
    Edited by 1 at 25/04/08 @ 18:45

  • solidSnake04 #43 4 years ago

    I would think the last day to download it is today....

  • bad09 #44 4 years ago

    Just played with the training and plays good, I'll have a better look later

  • AZA #45 4 years ago

    Still cant get on. Mind you Konami and crap servers go hand in hand, remember PES 08?

    Just further showcases Sony need an Online similar to LIVE with dedicated servers etc.

  • superjag86 #46 4 years ago

    I think the download was only available April 17 - 21

  • Apostle #47 4 years ago

    @AZA

    In what way? I was under the impression most games on Live are peer to peer? Halo 3, CoD4 etc? Not knocking Live as I have a 360 and am happy with the multiplayer, CoD4 runs great 99% of the time online. Warhawk for example though uses dedicated servers as well as p2p. I dunno how Konami does the online, but dedicated would be the way to go, I agree.

    Just a guess here, but it wouldn't surprise me if Sony removed the download so no more people got hold of the client to put any more stress on the servers than there already is. Although it was an open beta, maybe they've had a change of heart and seen sense since what seems like the whole install base of PS3 has downloaded this beta.

  • thomasbeff #48 4 years ago

    @Apostle

    Exactly. The basic game mechanics and graphic simply aren't good enough. Before this i would have bought MGS4 without any doubts. Now im really going to have wait for reviews.

  • Kryon #49 4 years ago

    "I think the download was only available April 17 - 21"

    Hmm...Well that's pretty disappointing if true, ah well, doesn't sound like I'm missing out on much anyway judging by the comments here...

  • JediMasterMalik #50 4 years ago

    It looks fine and it plays well. Buncha whiners.

  • betahoven #51 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • Hughes. #52 4 years ago

    If there are people who were expecting this to be anything like CoD4 they need to report to their nearest euthanising centre to do their bit to clean up the gene pool.

    Be an hero.

  • Kryon #53 4 years ago

    Jedi Master Malik is an hero.

  • Miths #54 4 years ago

    I can certainly appreciate the comments that this shouldn't be compared to CoD4, as the two are very different, but I must admit that after my first matches (TDM) I'm leaning heavily towards disappointment. The pace and the entire "feel" of the game just doesn't feel like something that suits me - and I'm actually a very new shooter convert (been favoring genres like RPGs and racing games most of my gaming life), which means that I really shouldn't have grown into a set of stubborn habits just yet :).
    I'll certainly give it a few more shots during the beta period though.

    And obviously I'm not at all suggesting that it's necessarily a bad game at all, but it certainly doesn't look like a potential home for all the CoD4 refugees hoping for an even remotely similar replacement.
    Fortunately I've only been playing CoD4 for a month myself, so I'm not quite tired of it yet, but after the recent info on and gameplay videos from Haze - as well as now my brief experience with MGO - it's starting to look more and more like I'll have to wait for either Battlefield: BC or Socom: Confrontation as a CoD4 replacement or alternative.
    Although I guess there's a chance GTA4 might fit the bill of course - but as much as I'm looking forward to that game next week, it seems to me like the multiplayer gameplay in it would be even further from CoD4 and other first person shooters than MGO is. But hopefully it will still be a whole lot of fun :).

  • Carlo #55 4 years ago

    This beta fucking owns.

    Anyone who has honestly played it and thinks differently is nuts.

  • Lubey #56 4 years ago

    Fuck you Konami.

    The following info appears on the MGO beta site:

    "Metal Gear Online Premiere Beta is available as a free download on the PLAYSTATION®Store from April 17th (12:00 CEST) until May 6th (10:00 CEST)."

    So where the fuck has the download gone?

  • Prodigy_BE #57 4 years ago

    It's a Metal Gear game, it's all about sneaking around and patient, tactical gameplay. If people were expecting a run-and-gun replacement for COD4 then I'm not surprised some are disappointed.

    Euhm... I did sneak around, but the controls are just awkward and slow, and if they really want to promote the sneak and peak gameplay, they should have come up with playmodes that are NOT simple deathmatch. And the 16 players doesn't help either.

    Graphics are high end, but everything is way too blocky and square-like, if you compare it to the GFX of COD4.

    Frankly, they should just stop doing MGO, and focus on the singleplayer. Because this... it's not that bad, but it doesn't do the MGS name justice.

  • alpha-0ne #58 4 years ago

    Is the MGO downlaod still on the uk psn store? cant find it..
    Edited by 1 at 26/04/08 @ 09:14

  • Kryon #59 4 years ago

    @alpha-0ne

    It doesn't seem to be, looks like Konami fucked up, anyway, it seems most who have played it think it's pretty pants so I wouldn't worry about it too much...

  • bad09 #60 4 years ago

    well I have to say I was quite impressed it was pretty good. I do't know why people are talking COD4 it MGS and that's what it gives you. Not perfect but not terrible.

  • Kryon #61 4 years ago

    ^ Well, I wouldn't know because Konami are obviously a bunch of fuckwits who didn't anticipate demand hence have pulled the beta two weeks early :/

  • Moz #62 4 years ago

    Only had time for a quick go late last night.

    I think this is a definate grower, i think that once people get used to it clans start to form then it could be somethng very special, just right now everyones running around like headless chickens fumbling the controls (Which i must admit are a bit of a let down, but then if they are similar to the single player then once people have played through that there shouldn't be a problem). Once people start working together and forming tactics it could be a lot of fun.

    I can see paintball players really liking this one.

  • Apostle #63 4 years ago

    I love all these comments about it "being a beta". You're either naive, or a very optimistic person if you think there is going to be major changes made to the game before launch. This isn't a true beta in the sense of the word, like you would have on a PC a couple of years ago. This is more a publicity event, and stress testing. The "beta" that's release has probably gone through multiple internal testing sessions to polish it up for its public showing. Like it or not, it a beta-demo, used to create hype. Framerate issues will still be there at launch, I'd bet my hat on it.

  • GamesConnoisseur #64 4 years ago

    Carlo

    "This beta fucking owns.

    Anyone who has honestly played it and thinks differently is nuts."

    Err.. I have given it a good go and its not a disaster as others made out, it do have the fun elements in there but certainly not the best out there. I checked your profile and your game collection is only of DS, Wii and PS3. That may explain something as people who have other online shooting/deathmatches games will have wider experiences of what they have to offer and MSO beta whilst not a finished article have a long way to go to be the best in the field. COD4, Halo3, Team Fortress 2, Battlefield and even good old CounterStrike have winning elements that made them what they are.

    The visual of MSO is more like a PS2.5, Sony crowd poured insults on Halo 3 for more like Halo 2.5 but still MSO is a very bad comparasion even to Halo 3 in the visual stake, but what important for me is that its play smooth, and retains all Metal Gear features and MSO does have that. This is what I liked and visual is something you can just get used to and they are not ugly but just bit too bland, still with only two maps what more to see? Please dont consider MSO owning all until you have properly tried the other competitions and having final MSO product!

    I believe MSO will be popular but PS3 owners who expected this to be the cream of cream is under a false expectation that would only disappoint them, rather we should see it as a fun extension of Metal Gear universe.

  • TONYgr #65 4 years ago

    its okey.just that.after all i considering it as an extra.nothing more,nothing less.mgs was always a sigle player game.im sure i will play it from time to time when it ships with the full game.thats all folks.

  • solidSnake04 #66 4 years ago

    MGS is an excellent single player game. whether we like it or not, whoever has played the beta and played the MGS series will know that some heavy balancing and adjustments need to be made, in order to make MGO a truly compelling online gaming experience.
    Sure with some fine tuning it will be something impressive but right now it doesn't seem to excel in many areas.

  • Madlax #67 4 years ago

    According to the gamers at Neogaf, game is tremendous fun, hype is up the roof.

    The microsoft trolls in here should really get a rest, bill is proud of all of you. ;)

    Posting history shows that the people trolling this game are actually the very ones to lick anything Microsoft....how surprising. ;)

    I just love the fact that the few trolls trolling the game in here saying that its graphicly no improvement over MGS3 are actually the same ones who will tell you that Halo 3 is a graphical leap over Halo 2.



  • bad09 #68 4 years ago

    Madlax why are they MS trolls if they do not like the game? Let people have their own views and stop being such a fanboy!

  • sonmi451 #69 4 years ago

    it's okay. i'd be interested in the full game from playing this, but for me it's not a great multiplayer experience, ok i understand it's a beta version, just a bit slow, find myself getting shot and unable to react. is fun running around as a cardboard box though. nice graphics too.

  • bad09 #70 4 years ago

    @ sonmi451

    Yeah I liked the boxes as well, although I blew my team mates cover by breaking his box, doh! :)

  • solidSnake04 #71 4 years ago

    I have own every Sony Playstation console.
    Have own pretty much everything with the name Metal Gear attached to it.
    Still I speak for the facts not for how much I am a fan of the series.
    MGS4 is the reason I bought a PS3 and I will be top class, but the online portion just doesn't do much justice to the MGS brand.
    Thats how I see it.

  • GamesConnoisseur #72 4 years ago

    Two days later after playing quite a bit of MSO, its does grow on me more, and certainly can see that it will be popular. Control of the game can just get used to and then you forget about the earlier issues you had in getting to grip with the different layers of control.

    I still think the visual is more functional but focusing you on the actions is a good thing anyway, and I certainly am glad to have beta to try out but can see why people are disappointed. I believe it is less about being Xbot/Anti Sony (or whatever prejudices they are accused of!), but on the expectations/promises that need to be upheld and compared to what already available elsewhere.

    Encourage everyone who has been put off to give it several tries, but like I say its not about being the best there is, but what you can enjoy and there is plenty in there to do.

    Only couple of days before I suspect GTA4 will take up a good proportion of our time and traffic on MSO may ease?!

  • JediMasterMalik #73 4 years ago

    It's MGO not MSO. ;)

  • Widge #74 4 years ago

    yeah, apparently its one you have to learn how to get into the vibe of the game. I found it the same with Warhawk. As people find tatics and niches, it'll get better. Also well worth remembering that this is a limited portion of the game, there should be more to it in the final version.

    Oh, apparently AOL users can't play the game, something about AOL screws it up. GO AOL!