Konami planning MGS3 Limited Edition in Japan
And the game should be out there in October. We may have to wait a little bit longer, mind.
Konami is planning to release a special edition version of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater alongside the vanilla version in Japan this October, according to the latest sales schedule from Japanese retailer Ichibankan.
Alongside the regular version, which will retail for 6,980 yen (€51), Konami is apparently planning a 12,800 yen (€94) limited edition version, although details of the pack have not been made available.
Back in 2001, Konami did a similar thing with the Japanese release of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Although that game launched in the US first, the Japanese were able to buy a limited edition version featuring a 72-page colour booklet, a 'premium' disc and a Solid Snake action figure.
There's no suggestion that the MGS3 limited edition will make an appearance in North America or Europe, but Konami has given the likes of us incentive in the past - the European MGS2 originally shipped with a Making Of DVD.
As for the game's release date outside Japan, the current thinking amongst US retailers is November over there, with many already accepting pre-orders. The recent E3 demo had said 'winter 2004'. Although unconfirmed at this time, however, we suspect gamers in Europe may have to wait a little longer - possibly until the first few months of 2005.
Expect final confirmation within the next few months. And for more (much more) on Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, please refer back to our coverage of the E3 trial version.