Metal Gear Online Comments by Rob Fahey

Pretty good for free. I wonder how big this "Starter Pack" will actually be though.

Someone point Konami at the Orange Box, and free it might be.

I hope the long range conventional battles are reigned in (or at least, there's an option to restrict weapon classes) in favour of stealth assasination. There's more than enough standard chaotic machine gun and rocket launcher deathmatching around, with Warhawk, COD and Team Fortress (and the inevitable dozen others which will land in the meantime) doing it more than well enough.

What there isn't is an online stealth/assasination game. MGS mechanics, with just a knife or other sneak weapon, where the skill is in getting close to the victim without being seen, would be a real breath of fresh air in the online deathmatch field, and would make MGSO stand out from the crowd.

I really don't like the sound of the developing skills though. Will put those of us that don't want to devote thousands of hours to the game, or n00bs coming late to the party at too much of a disadvantage. It's hard enough enjoying an online game when you're not as practiced as the hardcore fans or are new to it (WarHawk's getting a bit that way now), without them getting equipment and skill advantages as well.

Ninty have shown that (one of) the keys to success nowadays is accessability. I hope Konami were listening, and are not tempted to jsut serve the hardcore crowd.

I want.

So Metal Gear Solid 4 has an online mode... I had no idea until I read this article. Not particularly bothered about it personally as I'll be buying the game for the single player but I'll certain check it out once or twice.

So is the stealth tactical game now a run-and-gun?

/is confused

This sounds pretty great, purely from a MP perpective (as opposed to an MGS one). If the character customisation can allow for a lot of variety in online pay, provided it's baalnced well, it would be excellent. Sniper versus CQC experts could be classic, I just hope that kind of differentiation is possible.

So this is a real virtual reality murder simulator?

From what I can make out this is a separate game for a very good reason in the game play bares no resemblance to the main MGS games, but more gives you a chance to partake in the gun battles you'll going on around you in MGS4.

As for reference to Orange box, firstly MGS4 is BIG and has alot more voice acting etc then HL2 plus epis, even if the game isn't as long the content on orange box there is alot more direction and acting which is costly. Secondly HL2 and epi1 are old and already sold in their millions so Value could afford to practically give them away.

As long as MGO and other spin offs of it's kind of other francises are a sensible price then that seems fair enough.

Orange box was the bargin of the year but don't go expecting other companies to follow suit. And don't forget that comparisons can only truely be drawn if half the box content has been previously released at full price.

I hope it's just because it's the "Online Part", but an awful lot of those environmental textures are particularly low-res and blurry. Not a good look.

Sounds like good business sense to me to include a "free" online mode with the MGS4 box, but with just a few areas built in. Basically just enough to whet every ones apetite for more after having played through the single player campaign.

Then, about a month after release, start putting out reasonably priced DLC packages, containing more maps, more weapons, mrore gametypes et cetera. Maybe even a campaign mode and so on. Such a franchise can strech out for years and net as much money as the original release + keep the franchise alive.

Seeing as the single player campaign is not really uitable for such mini-expansions (unlike Oblivion, in which it worked bacause the game is pretty much a free form experience allowing the player to access content whenever he or she feels like it), added multiplayer stuff seems the best choise for expensions to MGS. Trying to fit in another 30 hours of gameplay in a DLC addon just don't make sense for MGS4.

PSN already did somwhat similar stuff (DLC strategy) with Motorstorm and Warhawk, so I'm betting this is the route they'll go with this.

This all sounds very nice - possibly the first real killer app (in addition to MGS4 itself, of course) for the PS3.

Aw man, can't wait!

Loved MGS3 online and the PSP version was pretty slick too. This will kick ass!

Visually its not doing anything for me at all. it just looks like everything else out there imo. some of it, looks like that recent turd conflict denied ops. im sure the full game will look fantastic, but at the mo it just looks average.

This is shaping up nicely. Can't wait.

We might have to set-up a little EG clan when this is out.

i loved MGO on MGS3 subsistence and am looking forward to this almost as much as the MGS4 full game.

looks good ...

Looks like it is coming on well...Sure this will be awesome

Looks awesome!
Damn it! Another reason I will have to part money with a PS3.
Think it will be a dedicated MGS/MGO machine though. Which isn't a bad thing!

Looks tasty. Hopefully there will be the same content in MGO as MGS and they don't have to cut to much content/mechanics out.

I have a huge "have to play this game immediately" erection right now...

Meh, I'll stick with Splinter Cell.

/Gone so giddy I'm about to be sick

Cannot wait!

damn! now I really have to buy a PS3!

It looks ok, I thought that the online SOCOM looked better.

...^...

"Each weapon class is heavily specialised - shotguns for close-up work, assault rifles at longer range, sniper rifles purely for the patient camper "

So like every other online shooter ever then?

2UP: "I want to be Snake"

1UP: "No, I'M Snake! I'm the Host! You have to be Otacon!"

2UP: "Otacon? WTF? He's no good for stealthing it up! I want to be Snaaaaake!"

3UP: "I've already bagged Meryl, I'm gonna stare at her ass!"

2UP: "I want to be Solidus... he is sort of Snake anyway"

1UP: /kicks 2UP from server.

This will be great fun, and a nice break from single player probably.

Sounds like it's crying out for a Halo-esque custom game system... that would allow people to make it as stealthy/not as they like. It'd be cool to have a mode where half the players on each team are only allowed tranquilliser weapons, and the rest only melee - or different loadouts for different teams.

still not convinced I should get a ps3...

Mnnn... sad really I loved my ps2

"As for reference to Orange box, firstly MGS4 is BIG and has alot more voice acting etc then HL2 plus epis, even if the game isn't as long the content on orange box there is alot more direction and acting which is costly."

Yeah, HL2 man. Cheap production.

MGS4 may be BIG (as in, all caps, man!), however, it's obvious that HL2 plus episodes is BIG as well.

It's obvious that The Orange Box is a happy exception to normal game value. MGS4 will probably be perfectly fine value, no need to drag down HL2 to prove that MGS4 is 'better' or 'bigger'.

In response to Carlo (and the article in general) is no, the stealth is definitely there. Hiding in boxes, CQC kills, even early footage of MGO in action witnessed some stealth sneaks to apprehend opposing members.

I was disappointed to see a lack of mention of the Link system which offers a comprehensive update on your team's status, right down to their exact location-- not on a HUD, but rather through walls, buildings, anything so you know their position-- something that Meryl's Rat Patrol squad has stated so eloquently in the trailers. Compound that with voice chat and onscreen text, and you've got this makings of something truly special.

This will offer a true team effort never seen before in squad-based online combat. The better you stay connected to your team, the better your chances for overall victory. Try and be a lone wolf on your team without "re-connecting" after respawning from being killed, and you'll find yourself possibly killing one of your own teammates accidentally as well, or worse, surrounded without any idea if backup's in the area to call out to.

There's no shame in getting help. Kind of increases your odds for survival too.