It’s been years since Konami and Kojima Productions talked about adding trophy support to Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. But finally, four years after the game’s original launch with all clamoring for such a patch having long since subsided, MGS4 is actually getting trophies.

The Konami and Metal Gear Solid Facebook pages have confirmed rumor reports that sprang up this morning stating trophy support would be introduced in a budget-priced MGS4 re-release coming out later this year. Alongside this new version, a downloadable update will be released to reward existing owners with the shiny virtual trophies they’ve been waiting so long for. Additional details about trophies and the budget re-release will be announced soon.

I don’t think the old saying “better late than never” could be any more appropriate. I’ve been wanting to go back for another MGS4 replay for a year or two now, and this will give me the perfect excuse to finally do so. Now if only we could get other developers to update trophy-deprived games. My most-wanted trophy list looks a little something like this (though I’m resigned to the fact that none of these will ever happen): Heavenly Sword, Folklore, Eternal Sonata, The Bourne Conspiracy, The Club, Viking: Battle for Asgard, Condemned 2 and Valkyria Chronicles.

Metal Gear Solid [Facebook]

From the very first second Sony launched the PS3’s Trophy system, fans have been begging Konami to patch Trophies into Metal Gear Solid 4. Konami has continued to hint at plans to do so, but a patch has yet to materialize.

But Konami went beyond hinting in the latest episode in the Kojima Productions podcast, reports IGN. Assistant Producer Sean Eyestone had this to say on the topic:

“Just to address one issue that we’ve been getting a lot of comments about. And this is, of course, about trophies.”

“I just wanna tell everybody out there right now that your voices are being heard and that we’re not ignoring you. We hear everything that you are saying. It’s just that we can’t say anything just yet.”

“But as soon as we have something to say, we will announce it. So, if we can just ask everyone to just be patient, we will give you an answer. But right now we can’t say anything. So we just ask for everyone’s understanding with that and just ask for everybody to remain patient and we’ll let you know.”

These comments clearly seem to confirm that Trophies are coming, just without saying the actual words or indicating when or how they will be implemented. IGN suggests the possibility of an expanded MGS4 re-release akin to Substance and Subsistence tied into the release of a Trophy patch, hence the reason Konami “can’t say anything just yet.” Sounds logical to me.

Now if only Konami would drop the crummy Konami ID system from Metal Gear Online already…

Konami Continues To Tease MGS4 Trophy Patch [IGN]

MGS:Save the World with your Finger [GameTrailers.com via YouTube]

Oh yes, my friends. Metal Gear Online is about to get a whole lot better, and it’s already fantastic as it is! The MGO official website has updated with details on the first DLC add-on pack, the Gene Expansion, and it’s loaded with pretty much everything a MGO nut could ask for: three killer new maps (sadly, a Shadow Moses map isn’t one of them, but oh well), Meryl and Johnny as playable characters, the ability to create female avatars, and a new Survival Mode that rewards points to spend in the new Rewards Shop on additional customization gear (YES!!!). The page also makes mention of a Gene Expansion Plus that comes with everything mentioned and an extra character creation slot, so from the looks of it there’ll be two choices.

Now all we need is a release date and a price, neither of which are disclosed. According to the site the expansion is already available, but I think that’s only for Japan right now because I just checked MGO a little bit ago and it wasn’t in the shop yet. The MGO website homepage does mention plans for community site and server maintenance on the 15th, so maybe it’s coming then in the US. You can bet your ass I’ll be all over it whenever it does go live.

Oh, and in other Metal Gear related DLC news, the Extras menu in MGS4 was just updated Thursday with a free new iPod music track. A couple extra camo patterns and another iPod tune are also new as of the past week or two. Great to see Konami and Kojima Pro continuing to enhance the game so relentlessly. Here’s hoping they’ll get some trophy support (for both MGS4 and MGO) worked in sometime soon.

So, you can’t afford to treat yourself to the Limited Edition “Gun Metal Grey” Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle or simply don’t feel like shelling out the big bucks to get one. What’s a gamer to do? Well, you can take a stab at winning one, of course!

Maxim, via its Blog for Gamers, is giving away one of these special edition bundles in a “Beat This Caption” contest. Entry is pretty simple. Just head over to the contest page (link below) and post your own witty caption to the provided screenshot of Raiden clutching the hilt of his sword. Whoever comes up with the best caption takes home the coveted gun metal PS3. You have until July 4th to enter, so there’s still ample time to think up the perfect prize-winning caption.

Beat Our Caption, Win a Limited Edition PS3 and Metal Gear Solid 4 [Maxim’s Blog for Gamers]

And it rocks, folks. Seriously, it’s so packed with historical data, character profiles, timelines and relationship charts I nearly shit myself in awe just skimming through the menus a few minutes ago. I can’t wait to sit down and fully read through it all. After just finishing MGS4 up last night, there are still a couple things I’m a bit hazy on that this database should help clarify for me.

Get the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database for yourself via the PlayStation Store now. Again, it’s completely free, and at only 77 MB it’s a quick download. If you aren’t around your PS3 yet to check it out, hit the jump for a few screenshots Konami just sent over.

Konami has secretly cooked up a sweet little surprise for MGS4 fans and it’s going to make tomorrow’s PlayStation Store update the best one EVER! Revealed today via the official PlayStation blog, Konami is all set to launch the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Database with this Thursday’s store update. What is the MGS4 Database you ask? Well, according to Konami it’s a “downloadable interactive application that contains the official knowledge base of everything that is Metal Gear, reaching all the way back to the very beginning of the franchise. Including complete storylines, character profiles, relationship diagrams, and much more!”. So basically it’s a compendium of MGS lore. How fucking cool is that!? Best of all, it’s going to be completely free to download and will even feature built-in spoiler blocking for those who are still playing through the MGS4 storyline.

In other news on more MGS4 goodies, Konami has also updated the game’s “Extras” menu with the first round of bonus downloadable content, including new camo and a new tune to play on Snake’s in-game iPod. Very cool stuff, keep it up Konami!

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Database on the way! [PlayStation.Blog]

Ah yes! The day I’ve been waiting for years to come has finally arrived. Metal Gear Solid 4 has launched at long last and, as you can see, I’m now back from the nearest GameStop where I picked up my pre-ordered Limited Edition copy. Well actually, I picked it up about four or five hours ago, but I certainly wasn’t going to waste any time blogging about it when I first got home. I had to pop it in and start playing immediately, of course. But after about a four-hour play session, I’ve come up for air before diving back in for another hour or two. A review will be coming soon (hopefully next week), but all’s I’m going to tell you for now is that the game thus far is living up to all the hype.

I would like to take this time to share some quick impressions of the Limited Edition contents, though. While I haven’t watched the bonus Blu-ray disc or popped in the soundtrack quite yet, from the packaging alone I can say without question this is one of the best collector’s edition game packages I’ve ever seen. The outer shell is a very sturdy cardboard-like material, and it’s got a cool angle-cut lid providing access to the two standard Blu-ray cases inside. I’m also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the art book I got with the purchase. Normally pre-order art books are measly little pamphlets or booklets, but this sucker is a full-sized book with beautiful glossy pages, a stunning collection of artwork and a lot of historical info on the series. Very impressive stuff. Only problem is the super-glossy cover, it’s a frickin’ fingerprint magnet!

It’s just after midnight here on the east coast, so you know what that means, don’t you? Of course you do, silly. Yep, that’s right! Metal Gear Solid 4 has officially launched and any of you lucky east coast launch party goers are no doubt knee-deep in PS3 espionage action. While I don’t have anything truly exciting to post on the MGS4 launch front just yet since I won’t be able to pick up my Limited Edition pre-order until late tomorrow, I do have an interesting little nugget to share regarding the MGS4 PS3 bundle.

Per the latest PlayStation Underground newsletter, I’ve just learned that the bundle also comes with a voucher for the free download of the PSN game PAIN. I knew the bundle came with the game, 80GB PS3 console and DualShock 3 controller, but I don’t recall ever hearing anything about it coming with a PAIN PSN voucher. It’s hardly something that’ll make or break your decision on whether or not to get the bundle, but hey, it’s a nice extra little goodie to sweeten the deal.

It’s hard to believe Metal Gear Solid 4 is coming out next week. After so much waiting and anticipation, Solid Snake’s final mission is finally at hand! It’s going to be one momentous occasion for fans and a pivotal launch for the PS3 as a console, no doubt.

Big-name, massively-hyped games like this always get the extravagant launch party treatment, and MGS4‘s June 12th debut will be no different. Next week, Konami will be hosting three huge launch events spanning Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, with top talent behind the game on location to meet attendees and put their John Hancock on copies of the game. Hideo Kojima himself will be signing autographs at the NY and San Fran launch events set for June 11th and June 14th respectively, while David Hayter, the famous voice actor behind Solid Snake, will headline the LA event. Find complete event listings after the break.

– LOS ANGELES –

Where:
Best Buy
1015 N La Brea Ave
West Hollywood, CA 90038
(323) 883-0219

When:
Wednesday, June 11
11:45 pm – 1:00am

Talent Appearing:
David Hayter (Voice of Solid Snake)
Producer Kenichiro Imaizumi
Associate Producer Ryan Payton

– NEW YORK –

Where:
Virgin Megastore
1540 Broadway
Bet. 45th & 46th Street
(212) 921-1020

When:
Wednesday, June 11
11:45 pm – 1:30am

Talent Appearing:
Mr. Hideo Kojima (Autographs)
Model Yumi Kikuchi

– SAN FRANCISCO –

Where:
PlayStation Store at Metreon
101 Fourth Street
(415) 369-6000

When:
Saturday, June 14
4 pm-6 pm

Talent Appearing:
Mr. Hideo Kojima (Autograph)
Producer Kenichiro Imaizumi
Associate Producer Ryan Payton
Model Yumi Kikuchi