Konami responds to MGS4 review limitations

Amid complaints that Konami forced early reviewers not to disclose install times and cut scene lengths, Metal Gear Solid 4 assistant producer Ryan Payton tells why.

According to Payton, review limitations of the reported non-disclosure agreement included install times, length of cut scenes (particularly the ending), number of environments, opening movie, product placement, and a half dozen story elements.

"The game requires an eight minute install, as well as a number of two to three-minute installs between acts," Payton told Kotaku in an email on Thursday. Regarding the length of cut scenes, the assistant producer said Konami didn't want to "ruin" the story experience, but immediately lifted the imposed limitation in a statement.

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

Metal Gear Solid 4 arrives on PS3 on June 12. It carries an MSRP of $59.99 and is rated mature.

Comments [155]

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Pincho

i really dont care for the install, and longer cut scenes just immerse you more into the story, theyre not meant to be a drawback. Just q more week!

MGS4FINISHTHEFIGHT

I could care less how bad the reviewers feel. I'm going to get this game anyway. Theres also a reason why this game is getting many perfect scores.

MGS4FINISHTHEFIGHT

chiodos Posted at: 06/05/08 at 8:06 AM PST 1st! And this is BS on Konami's part
I think its BS on guys like you, making this bigger than it really is.

MGS4FINISHTHEFIGHT

As far as the Installs i honestly could care less. When your installing just flip back to normal TV and watch TV until its done. No big dea.

Dr_Jones

Snake is THE coolest character in gaming history, bar absolutely none. I would bear hour long installations for this game. Screw the non-believing scum!!

greensabre

MGS4FINISHTHEFIGHT Posted at: 06/05/08 at 8:15 AM PST chiodos Posted at: 06/05/08 at 8:06 AM PST 1st! And this is BS on Konami's part I think its BS on guys like you, making this bigger than it really is
You're probably right. I'm sure MGS4 is an incredible game, and a game that is this anticipated is publisher's gold and will be reviewed ASAP. I can understand limitations on the story, but Konami should not have barred reviewers from writing about the install times or cutscene length. I think that was just a poor decision on their part and it left them open for criticism. Of course many people are going to exploit this and exaggerate the effects it has had on MGS4's glowing reviews. I personally could care less about things like install or loading times for a great game like MGS4, and I'm sure that no one who is at all familiar with MGS 1-3 is surprised that MGS4 has the long-winded cutscenes and dialogue that Kojima is notorious for.

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